June 23, 2010
The people of Jabesh are attacked by the Ammonites. They offer to surrender to them. But the Ammonites wouldn't accept the offer to surrender until they could also inflict pain and humiliation upon them by gouging out their right eyes. It wasn't enough to control them, they had to humiliate them as well. Saul heard about it, gathered all the people as one, and the LORD gave them the victory over the Ammonites.
Samuel gives his farewell speech to the people of Israel. He asked them specific questions. Have I done anything wrong? Have I stolen? Have I cheated? Did I hurt anyone? If I have done any of those things I will make it right. They replied he had not done any of those things. Samuel then said, "The LORD is a witness and his appointed king is a witness today that you did not find anything wrong in me."
Samuel recounts their history. When they (the Israelites) cried out to the LORD, God listened and sent help. Then Samuel admonished them. I Samuel 12:14–15 - "You must honor the LORD and serve him. You must obey his word and not turn against his commandments... IF you do this, it will be well with you. But, IF you turn against his commands, HE WILL BE AGAINST you. He will do to you what he did to your ancestors." Then, I LOVE what Samuel says next: I Samuel 12:16 - "Now stand still and see the great thing the LORD will do before your eyes."
We're standing! We've been standing for three years. "The storm" rages on ... but we are standing and we believe with all our hearts that we will see the LORD do great things.
Then Samuel prayed to God and the thunder and rain came. The people were afraid. Samuel said, "Don't be afraid... serve the LORD with all your heart. Idols are of no use, so don't worship them... you must honor the LORD and truly serve him with all your heart. But if you are stubborn and do evil, he will sweep you and your king away."
The choice is ours. Blessing—or—Curses.
Next Entry: I Samuel 13:1 – 15:35
The people of Jabesh are attacked by the Ammonites. They offer to surrender to them. But the Ammonites wouldn't accept the offer to surrender until they could also inflict pain and humiliation upon them by gouging out their right eyes. It wasn't enough to control them, they had to humiliate them as well. Saul heard about it, gathered all the people as one, and the LORD gave them the victory over the Ammonites.
Samuel gives his farewell speech to the people of Israel. He asked them specific questions. Have I done anything wrong? Have I stolen? Have I cheated? Did I hurt anyone? If I have done any of those things I will make it right. They replied he had not done any of those things. Samuel then said, "The LORD is a witness and his appointed king is a witness today that you did not find anything wrong in me."
Samuel recounts their history. When they (the Israelites) cried out to the LORD, God listened and sent help. Then Samuel admonished them. I Samuel 12:14–15 - "You must honor the LORD and serve him. You must obey his word and not turn against his commandments... IF you do this, it will be well with you. But, IF you turn against his commands, HE WILL BE AGAINST you. He will do to you what he did to your ancestors." Then, I LOVE what Samuel says next: I Samuel 12:16 - "Now stand still and see the great thing the LORD will do before your eyes."
We're standing! We've been standing for three years. "The storm" rages on ... but we are standing and we believe with all our hearts that we will see the LORD do great things.
Then Samuel prayed to God and the thunder and rain came. The people were afraid. Samuel said, "Don't be afraid... serve the LORD with all your heart. Idols are of no use, so don't worship them... you must honor the LORD and truly serve him with all your heart. But if you are stubborn and do evil, he will sweep you and your king away."
The choice is ours. Blessing—or—Curses.
"Observe a solemn principle: There are times when hearts grow so hard and ears so dull that God turns us over to endure the consequences of our choices." ~ From The Great House of God by Max Lucado.
Next Entry: I Samuel 13:1 – 15:35
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