1 Samuel 13-14

Day 90

Chapter 13  Going to war with the Philistines and Saul has to muster his troops and wait for 7 days....during this time the army slowly dwindles away.  But Saul didn't wait until the 7th day. He got impatient and his disobedience and arrogance got in the way and HE offered up the sacrifices himself....No, no, no, no, no!  Only the priest can do this! OH MY!!!  The king is going to cost himself his own "dynasty."  

Also, interesting to note that "not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel" (v. 19). And it was because of the control of the Philistines....how convenient for them!   So, the Israelites had to take their tools and weapons to the Philistine's to have them sharpen the stuff.  Sounds like a good deal for the Philistines, but they forgot one thing......God is on the Israelites side! Not theirs! :)  

Chapter 14  Jonathon, son of Saul,  and his armour-bearer caught the Philistines off guard. The whole war and theology here is that God is in control. Jonathon leads the victory and they win against the Philistines.

Hungry kids......gotta go!  

Tomorrow:  chapters 15-17  

1 Samuel 9-12

Day 89

Ahhhhh.....my OWN bed with my family! Nothing as good as being gone and coming home!!!  Sigh.  :)   

Chapter 9-10  Saul gets chosen as king!  In the midst of searching for the lost donkeys, of all things, Israel's future King ends up meeting with Samuel.  All Israel knows the prophet/judge Samuel but not Saul.  But hey...they've asked for a king and they are getting one.  The Israelites didn't realize how special they are to be God's chosen people and they He is their King, but they wanted to be similar.....not special!!  So there's Saul, been out looking for 3 lost donkeys all over the countryside.....he's bound to be filthy and dirty and he's been annointed with oil.  Sounds like a mess to me!  But God is with Saul (v. 9) and there is nothing he cannot do with God.  When God is with us, powerful things happen.....with God is with us we are attuned to him and we can do whatever our "hand finds to do," because it will be God working through us, directing u, and fulfilling His purpose through us!!!  

Chapter 11  Saul's first victory   Here we have Saul rescuing the city of Jabesh.....God moved him to make this move (v. 6) and then the people respond (v. 7)....."they turned out as one man."  Meaning, that for the first time, since maybe Joshua, the nation is united!!!  This is a good start to the new king's reign.

Chapter 12  Pretty stern words here in Samuel's farewell speech.    This is marking the end of the period of the judges.  Samuel has always alerted the people to be aware of the reign of a king in their midst to be like other nations.  So ironic that this prophet took nothing from the people "what have I done against you?"  and the people found Samuel innocent.  But here will a king that will take and require everything from them.  He is replacing a prophet who asked for nothing.   Ironic, huh?!  All in the name of progress?!  

Tomorrow:  13-14

1 Samuel 4-8

Day 88

Well now...THAT was some snow!!!! I'm headed back to Weatherford today! Finally. I've missed my kids and hubby!! But I got TONS of pictures in their books.....about 70 pages....35 in each book...give or take! :)

1 Samuel 4-8 Here's the rundown so far......Hannah grieved and Hannah sang (chapter 1); we had the scandal of Eli's sons (chapter 2); Samuel finally heard and answered God's call (chapter 3); and now....oh the Philistines!!! They seized the Ark (4:1-11) and the shocking news literally kills Eli (4:12-22). Now, the Philistines think THEIR god is this Dagon guy and that he has given them victory of a "trophy"...its really the ark of the covenant and even their "god" Dagon bows down his face in worship. Then, the next day the figure of Dagon is dismembered and then God's power breaks out of the temple and falls upon the people in the form of plagues. Every time they move the ark more plagues break out and the diseases spread and spread. Do you think they'll get the picture yet?? After this happens for 7 months, the Philistines have had enough already! The religious leaders advise the Ark's return....but they do it in a way to see if it's really Israel's GOD that is doing all of this. The cows aren't trained to go in a certain direction and they are expected to stay with their calves. But rather, they take off for the border like they had been in a yoke a million times before and they head right to the Israelites country. The ark is returned and there is rejoicing......but not for the 70 who look inside the ark...even Israel is still called to be humble and not overstep their ground with God! Chapter 7 gives us Samuel ruling as a judge after 20 years of being reverent to the Lord and actually worshipping only him.
Saul will become the first King even after the people have been warned as to what he will do to them and how they will be treated by the king. So God says to Samuel....fine...appoint them a king. Boy...THIS is going to get interesting!! Hang on for tomorrow!

Lessons learned: be careful what you ask for! :)