Greatly Used of the Lord
Today’s Passage – 1 Kings 6 – 7; Proverbs 18
(Second Milers also read – Mark 7 – 8; Memorize – Philippians 3:8 – 11)
Not every Christian is gifted by God to be a teacher or a preacher. In this passage, we see Hiram, a man from Tyre, who was uniquely gifted by God to make all of the works of brass that were to be used in the Temple. Back in the Book of Exodus, we saw two other fellows. Bezaleel and Aholiab, who were also uniquely filled with wisdom (gifted) to build the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. As far as we know, these men never taught the Scriptures; they were not priests, or prophets; but they were greatly used of the Lord.
We have many people in our churches today who have also been uniquely crafted by the Lord to fulfill His purpose. They may be builders, like the men referenced above. They may be men or women that have a knack for cleaning, or landscaping. These are all very necessary and important jobs in the service of our churches today. As I read this passage today, I thought of a man in our church who was used of the Lord to build our platform in the auditorium along with the sound booth. He did a wonderful job, and our church building is much more beautiful and functional as a result of his using his gifts for the Lord. We also have some folks in our church that like to cook, and when we have a dinner of some kind, these people go to work, preparing delicious food for the rest of us to enjoy. They work mostly behind the scenes, but their work is very important to the Lord.
God tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:
“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” – (1 Corinthians 12:18)
Not every member is an eye or an ear: some are hands, some are feet. Not everybody is a preacher or teacher; and those that are gifted in areas other that teaching are just as important to the work of the ministry as those who teach or preach.
What is your gift? What is your sweet spot? The thing that you were born to do. Hiram was born to make brass, and he did it very well. God will be well pleased with your life if you find the thing that He has equipped you to do, and then do it for His glory.
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Almost Heaven
Today’s Passage -1 Kings 3-5; Proverbs 17
(Second Milers also read – Mark 5 – 6; Memorize Philippians 3:8 – 11)
“Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.” (1 Kings 4:20)
“And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:25)
This is about as close to heaven as you could possibly get while still living here on the earth. Notice that Israel had the complete protection of God; and the abundant provision of God. And in these early days of Solomon’s reign the people were busy serving God by building His temple, which took about seven years to complete. So it seems that God is on His throne and the people are dwelling safely. It sort of reminds me of the history of America. We had to fight some battles in the early days; but God eventually gave us abundant provision and protection from our enemies. We are still the most blessed nation in the world.
Unfortunately, we will see in the upcoming chronicles of Israel’s history that all of this prosperity, which was given by God, will eventually cause the people to forget about God. I think we can safely say that America is in the same boat. The people in this “land of the free” have forgotten that it was God who gave them their freedom and all of the prosperity that comes with it.
Christian, let us never forget that it is God that has protected us; and it is God that has provided for us. Have you thanked God today for His blessings?
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The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Reading: 1Kings 1-2, Mark 3-4, Proverbs 16
Today’s Passage: Mark 4:35-40
After reading the last part of Mark chapter 4, I was reminded of a song from a cassette given to me to listen to. The passage I’m referring to is Mark 4:35-39. Jesus and His disciples are in a ship, crossing over to the other side of the sea. All of a sudden, a storm hits. The winds sent waves of water which filled the ship threatening to sink it. Where was Jesus? He was asleep on a pillow in the rear of the ship. Well, preaching takes a lot out of you. He must have been exhausted. Besides that, He is God: what did He have to fear? Nothing, of course. Just remember, as the Bible says in Philippians chapter 2, God the Son humbled Himself and was obedient to God the Father’s will, even the death of the cross (see Phil 2:5-8). So, here is Jesus, asleep in the back of the ship, while all His disciples are in a panic because they think the ship is going to sink. I would guess they did not understand just how powerful their God really is. They did not understand that they were in the same boat as the Creator of the universe. And they woke up Jesus saying, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Of course He cares, He was on His way to die on a cross so we would not perish…
“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40).
Do you see the world in turmoil? It’s just a sign that we are getting close to the Lord’s return. All the prophecy that needed to be fulfilled has been fulfilled. We are just waiting because the Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Peter 3:9). That brings me to the song I heard. It was from the album, ‘My Favorite Hymns’ by Roy Clark, and called ‘Safely In The Arms Of Jesus’. The first verse and chorus go like this…
I said, old time preacher man
Help me understand
What you’ve got that’s always got you smiling
I’m afraid to die
And I don’t know how to live
He raised his worn out Bible and he said
I’m safely in the arms of Jesus
Held like a mother holds her babe
And safely in the arms of Jesus
I will be when he calls me away
You see, even though the world around us is in turmoil, the winds of change are blowing, and the worldly waters could wash us all away, we are all in the same boat with Jesus. We are safely in His arms from our second birth to our appointed time. Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:37-40).
How about John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”
Let me paint a picture, and please don’t be offended because this is for every Christian…
Jesus is taking a nap, while He waits for you wake Him. Instead we run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off, in a panic from whatever tumult is attacking our lives. Isn’t that a sight for the unbelievers eyes. Is it any wonder that Jesus would ask, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”
Before we get overwhelmed by life, let’s run to Jesus first. Allow Him to demonstrate in your life just how powerful of a God He is.
Peace. (Mark 4:39)
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Today’s Reading 1 Kings 1, 2; Proverbs 16
(Second Milers also read Mark 3 -4; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)
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Was It David’s Fault, Or God’s?
Today’s Reading – 2 Samuel 23, 24; Proverbs 15
(Second Milers also read – Mark 1 – 2; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)
“And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.” – (2 Samuel 24:1)
“And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.” – (2 Samuel 24:17)
This is one of those passages of Scripture that I have a difficult time understanding. The Scripture clearly says in verse 1 above that God moved David against Israel; but then in verse 17, David confesses what he had done against Israel to the Lord as sin. Here we have another example of the sovereignty of God in conjunction with the free will of man. In our passage today it certainly looks as if God was forcing David to sin against Him, which in turn bring about the wrath of God upon the people of Israel. However, I do not think this is what is happening here. I believe that it was in David’s heart to number the people long before the actual numbering took place. Man’s heart is desperately wicked. There is all kinds of sin inside of it. I believe that God kept David from fulfilling what was in his heart for a while, but then because of His anger at Israel (and David), He now allows it. I believe the same thing happened with Pharaoh of Egypt. The Scripture says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, but it also says that Pharaoh’s heart was already hardened. I don’t think that God caused Pharaoh to hate Israel. He already did. God finally just removed the restraints that was keeping Pharaoh back. Satan is on a leash too. He can only do what God allows him to do.
This brings me to an application of this principle in our lives. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit of God is the restraining power that keeps all evil from breaking loose on the earth. The bottom line in all of this is that God will not cause you to sin; but He will allow you to sin. However, I also believe that there are many times when He keeps us from sinning against Him.
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” – (James 1:13-14)
By the way. You may be wondering why God would be against the numbering of the people. The reason is simple. He did not want Israel trusting in their numbers. He wanted them to trust in Him. They could beat any opposing army out there, regardless of size, as long as they were right with God.
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God Doesn’t Forget
Today’s Passage – 2 Samuel 20-22; Proverbs 14
(Second Milers also read Matthew 27 – 28; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)
“Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.” (2 Samuel 21:1)
Remember back in 1 Samuel when King Saul was mad at the priests because they had helped David. (See 1 Samuel 21 & 22) Saul ended up killing all of the priests (85 of them) and then proceeded to wipe out Nob, the city that the priests lived in. What Saul did to the priests and to their families was bad enough; but there was also a group of people who lived in Nob as servants to the priests who were not Israelites: they were Gibeonites. Now you may also remember from the book of Joshua that the Gibeonites were the people who tricked Joshua into making a covenant with them. Joshua promised these people with an oath that Israel would let them live, and in return the Gibeonites would be Israel’s servants. God never forgot that covenant, so when Saul (acting on behalf of Israel) broke the covenant and slew the Gibeonites living in Nob; God held them (Israel – not just Saul) accountable. God doesn’t forget, even when we want to. Here an entire nation is suffering for the decision of one man.
We should be admonished when we read passages like this. First of all, we should realize that our actions affect more people than we think; and we should carefully consider the outcome on others around us from the decisions we make today as well as the impact they will have on future generations. Secondly, we need to think about any unfinished business we may have with God or other people. We are so quick to promise things; but so slow to deliver the things that we promise. God never forgot the promise that Israel made with the Gibeonites.
Note – A separate thought from this passage of Scripture. Notice in 21:8 that five of the “sons of Saul” (actually grandsons) that were to be killed were the sons of Michal, David’s first wife. Michal had lived a troubled life due to men who have used her for their own gain. Saul promised her to David and reluctantly gives her to be his wife; later Saul took her back and gave her to another man; After Sauls death when David is in power he takes her back, away from a man that loves her; and now here she is losing her sons.
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Bittersweet
Today’s Passage – 2 Samuel 18 – 19; Proverbs 13
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 25 – 26; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)
“And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.” – (2 Samuel 19:2)
This was a “no win” situation for David. David won the nation back, but lost his son. After his son Absalom rebelled against David, and forced him to flee from Jerusalem with all of his men, David had to do something. Absalom certainly wanted to see his father dead; but David, however, wanted somehow to undo the damage that Absalom had done to the nation, and still keep him as a son. He asked his men in the final battle to “deal gently… with the young man”, which they did not do. The men were right. Absalom had to die. David should have realized that. I can understand, though, how David felt. He did not blame Absalom for the way he turned out. I think David blamed himself. And even though David and his men won the victory and got the kingdom back, he still wished that he could go back and re-do some things with his son Absalom.
I can relate to that. I wish that I could go back and re-do some things with my family as well. I know one thing that I would change is that I would give each one of them a little more of my time. Instead of consuming my life with my goals and ambitions, I would give a little more of myself to helping them reach theirs. David ignored his son Absalom for a long time, and now he wished that he had the opportunity to give him his attention. The rebellion of Absalom grew with every passing day that his father neglected him. Most of my children are grown now, but I am trying to spend more time with them even now. I cannot re-claim what I missed, but I can make the most of what I have left. I do have one daughter, Hannah, who is young and still at home. I am doing things differently with her. If you still have children to influence, I encourage you to take every opportunity to do it. I bet you if David was to do it all over again, he would trade some of his successes as king for a good relationship with his children.
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Come Unto Who?
Today’s reading – 2 Samuel 15-17;Proverbs 12
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 23 – 24; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)
“And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!” – (2 Samuel 15:3-4)
In today’s reading, we see the gradual rise to power of Absalom. David’s son. Absalom has developed into a calculating, sneaky, and conspiring rebel, who slowly stole the hearts of the people of Israel away from their God chosen leader. In the verses above, he is standing in the gate, and pulling people aside before they go into the king. He befriends them, and promises them that if he were the king things would be different; things would be better. No doubt, he is bad mouthing the king to everyone who would listen. Absalom is a snake; a rat. He has done nothing on his own; he has built nothing, conquered nothing. Instead, he is a destroyer, and a stealer of that which belongs to another man.
I have observed people like this throughout the years. They steal wives away from husbands; they steal the hearts of children away from fathers; they steal churches away from pastors. They tell the wife who may be having some struggles in her marriage that if he were her husband, he would never mistreat her. They do the same to church members. They want people to come to them. They usually use flattery. They always tear down God-ordained authority. Beware of the Absalom’s of life. God is never for them. Even when it looks like they have all the right answers, you need to stay faithful to the Lord and supportive of the leaders that God has given you.
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The Consequences of Sin
Today’s Passage – 2 Samuel 12-14; Proverbs 11
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 21 – 22; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)
“Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.” – (2 Samuel 12:10-11)
“And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.” – (2 Samuel 12:15)
I have to admit, that I wish passages like this were not in the Bible. In a perfect world, there would be no sin, and none of the pain and misery that come as a result of sin. Passages like this remind us of God’s passionate hatred for sin. In chapter 11, we heard nothing from God until the very last verse of the chapter:
“…But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.”
Of course, the “thing” that David had done was actually more than one individual thing. It began with David’s not being where he was supposed to be. He was the king, and it was the time for king’s to go forth to war, but David was home taking it easy. Next thing he knows, he finds himself lusting after a woman (Bathsheba) that was another man’s wife. Soon he takes her, and she becomes pregnant. When he cannot conveniently cover that situation up, he eventually goes so low as to have the woman’s husband killed in battle so that he can take his wife for his own. As I said at the beginning, God does not say a word to David until he thought it was all over. But once God starts speaking, He doesn’t stop for a very long time. David would suffer much at the hand of God as a result of this “thing” that he did that displeased the Lord.
1 The baby that was born to Bathsheba dies.
2 His son Amnon rapes his sister Tamar. (Notice – another sin of lust)
3 His other son Absalom kills Amnon because of what he did to Tamar.
4 David alienates himself from Absalom.
5 Absalom rebels against David, causing David to have to flee Jerusalem.
6 Absalom sleeps with David’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
7 Absalom is killed.
All of these sins can be traced back to the sin with Bathsheba. Don’t believe me? Look at verses 10 and 11 above again. Does God not say, “I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house”? I am not saying that God caused these people to do what they did. They did what they did because they are sinners, but I am saying, that God did not do anything to prevent all of this tragedy either. Why? Because God wants us to know how much He hates sin, and how much He wants us to stay away from it. We live in a time when sin seems to no longer be sin, but let me warn you that God has never changed his mind on the subject. What are the consequences of sin? A lot of unnecessary pain and suffering for a lot of people. It’s just not worth it.
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Bad Advice
Today’s Reading – 2 Samuel 8-11; Proverbs 10
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 19 – 20; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)
I will resist the temptation this morning to discuss chapters 11 and 12 regarding David, Bathsheeba, and Urriah. I have spoken much about these passages in times past; and I am sure that most of the people reading this are well familiar with that tragic period in David’s life. Instead, I would like to focus on chapter 10. David sincerely wants to shew a kindness to his neighbor to the east, Hanun, the King of the Ammonites. Apparently Hanun’s father was a friend to David, and David wanted to continue the friendship through Hanun.
When David sends some of his servants into Ammon to see Hanun, no doubt bearing gifts and sending a message of comfort from David regarding the death of Hanun’s father, the advisors of Hanun are distrustful of David’s intentions; and convince the king that David is their enemy. The Ammonites then do a stupid thing: they humiliate David’s men by shaving off half of their beards and making them go back to Israel naked. Remember, at this time in history, Israel is the big kid on the block. Now, because of his stupidity, and because of the bad advice he receives, Hanun is facing an all out war with David.
None of this had to happen. Hanun acted impulsively because he had counselors around him feeding him with bad information. We need to be careful about the people we allow in our lives. We need to be careful about the influences in our lives. Bad counsel leads to bad decisions. Let’s surround ourself with balanced, godly people who will be careful to offer only biblically based and prayerful advice to us.
PS – One thought on chapter 11 (I couldn’t resist.) Among all of the other things that helped cause David’s sin with Bathsheeba, I thought about his lack of accountability. David had nobody close to him that could stand up and say, “David, what you are about to do is wrong, and I won’t let you do it, or get away with it.” There were obviously people (servants, etc.) that knew what David was doing, yet nobody challenged him. We need people around us who will stand for the truth even at the expense of going against us.
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