Tag Archives: the book of 1 Samuel

May 2
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness.  The LORD delivered you (Saul) into my (David’s) hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed.  As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”  (I Samuel 26:23-24, NIV)

David had many good reasons — and opportunities — to reward Saul for all of the evil that Saul had done to him, but David had no excuse to avenge himself.

Being a faithful disciple of Jesus means forgoing the exercise of our human “rights” in order to grasp divine peace.

David reminds us that the grace we extend to others is multiplied and returned to us, not by the recipient (it is a bridge too far for some people to return kindness and mercy in any measure); but by the Lord God!

While our neighbors may be the beneficiaries of our restraint, it is the Lord God who sees all; and “rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness.”   Always live for the audience of One!  – Luther

Tagged , , ,
April 29
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned.  I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions.  I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.'”  (I Samuel 15:24, NIV)

It is a sad thing when leaders yield to evil for fear of what others may say or do, as Saul did in today’s reading.

The Christian disciple’s ambition is to always — and everywhere — care more for what his or her heavenly Father says than what others say. When there is disagreement, the child of God always sides with the Father.

Fear not what others may say or may do when you are faced with a moral decision.  “In all your ways acknowledge Him. . .”  – Luther

Tagged ,
April 28
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“‘Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine [Goliath] will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.  The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’  Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you.'”  (1 Samuel 17:36-37, NIV)

Two days ago, we were encouraged to use our memory of God’s goodness to provoke us to be grateful.  Today’s scripture encourages us to use our memory of God’s faithfulness to provoke us to trust and faith in our heavenly Father — at all times, and in every circumstance.

David’s faith, confidence, and courage at the great, public moment of his confrontation with Goliath had as its foundation the lesser, private moments in his life when God had been equally faithful.  God’s power and faithfulness are no less present when we are facing a giant before an audience of thousands, than it is when we were confronting ordinary foes in the wilderness.

When facing the giant (whatever or whomever it might be), recall our heavenly Father’s faithfulness and power in the less public periods of your life.  It will give you the faith, the confidence, and the courage you need to overcome!  – Luther

Tagged , , , ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →