The Word: Episode 0477 John 11:53-59

“David Grew Steadily Stronger”

May 31, 2018

“David Grew Steadily Stronger”

Blessings folk!

Abner had petitioned for a cessation of the fight.
“Shall the sword devour forever?”

Joab agreed.

Abner continued to flee all night.

Joab also returned home.

The “sporting” battle had been costly.

2 Sa 2:30-32
Then Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David’s servants besides Asahel were missing.

But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abner’s men,
so that three hundred and sixty men died.

And they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb which was in Bethlehem.
Then Joab and his men went all night until the day dawned at Hebron.

Twenty of David’s servants had died.
Abner had lost three hundred and sixty men of Benjamin.

Yet, this was just the beginning.

The first verse of the next chapter states…

2 Sa 3:1
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David;
and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

Long war…

  • Between the house of Saul and the house of David.
  • Between the false king and the true king.
  • Between the false throne and the true throne.
  • Between a kingdom divided and a kingdom united.

David, the true king and kingdom, grew stronger.
The house of Saul, the false kingdom, grew weaker continually.

Note that attaining the kingdom and reaching the fullness of the kingdom was a process!

Much of what is occurring in the church today is pictured here.
The true organism of the Body of Christ, the true church, is growing stronger.
The “organizational” church, the “professsing-yet-not-saved” religionists, continue to grow in weakness.

Of which are you?

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The Word: Episode 0476 John 11:49-52

“Shall the Sword Devour Forever”

May 30, 2018

“Shall the Sword Devour Forever”

Blessings folk!

Abner had just struck the pursuing Asahel.
Asahel died.

Abner continued fleeing.

The brothers of Asahel continued to pursue him.

2Sa 2:24-29

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band,
and they stood on the top of a certain hill.

Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever?
Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end?
How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?”

Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken,
surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.”

So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer,
nor did they continue to fight anymore.

Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night;
so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.

Remember, most of Joab’s men stopped when they encountered the dead body of Asahel, but Joab and Abishai continued to pursue until sundown.

Abner had the sons of Benjamin who had gathered with him.
Abner petitioned for a truce.
He did not want a “civil” war between brothers of the people of the Lord.

Joab’s response is rather confusing in the NASB translation.
The ESV helps…

2Sa 2:27
And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken,
surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.”

Joab relented.
He and his men went home.

Abner was taking no chances.
He and his men pressed on through the Arabah all night.
Upon arriving and crossing the Jordan they walked all morning coming to Mahanaim.
This shows us that the night journey was a fast paced…if not running…time.

Constable provides some insight into this incident…

This passage shows how hostilities between the two factions in Israel escalated,
as they often do in modern nations, neighborhoods, and families.
First, the opposing parties stopped talking (v. 12).
Next, they started fighting (v. 13).
Then, Asahel kept pushing (v. 23).
Finally, Abner insisted on defending himself (v. 23).


Such occurs today in all our lives.

May we handle things in the way of the Lord rather than in the manner of man/flesh.

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The Word: Episode 0475 John 11:47-48

“Asahel”

May 29, 2018

“Asahel”

Blessings folk!

When people say the Bible is “boring”, “uninteresting”, etc. I know they have not read it.

Today’s portion of the Davidic story is interesting, sad and gruesome,

We have a detail about the battle we saw in previous verses.

Read carefully…

 2Sa 2:18-23

Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel;
and Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field.

Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner.

Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.”

So Abner said to him, “Turn to your right or to your left,
and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his spoil.”
But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him.

Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me.
Why should I strike you to the ground?
How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?”

However, he refused to turn aside;
therefore Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear,
so that the spear came out at his back.
And he fell there and died on the spot.
And it came about that all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

Remember,
Abner was the leader of the servants of Saul.
Joab was leading a group of David’s servants.

Asahel was fleet-of-foot and was pursuing Abner, apparently to kill him.
Asahel turned neither to the right nor left.

As they were fleeing, Abner cried out to Asahel to “take hold of one of the young men…”.
Abner did not want to fight/kill Asahel.
There were personal relationships to consider.
Abner was bribing Asahel with the booty from someone else.
Abner was willing for someone else to die so that he could live.
Lovely guy.

Asahel was having nothing to do with it.
He pressed on in single focus and apparently caught Abner.
But, it did not go well.

Abner must have executed some jujutsu move.
Abner killed Asahel with the butt end of a spear.
Not just blunt trama.
The spear came out his back.

Asahel fell and died on the spot.
When his fellow servants came to the place they stopped.
They stood still.

Asahel foolishly ran ahead of the other men.
He sought to “settle-things” in his own strength, on his own.
He left the “protection” of the unit.
He paid dearly.

What is the Lord speaking to you in this?

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The Word: Episode 0474 John 11:44-46

“Let the Young Men Sport…”

May 28, 2018

“Let the Young Men Sport…”

Blessings folk!

Ish-bosheth is king of Israel.
David is king of Judah.

Now, we encounter a rather strange/interesting event.

2Sa 2:12-17

Now Abner the son of Ner,
went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.

And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

Then Abner said to Joab, “Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us.”
And Joab said, “Let them arise.”

So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

Each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together.
Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

That day the battle was very severe,
and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

Abner and some servants Ish-bosheth went to Gibeon.
Joab and some servants of David met them by a pool at Gibeon.

They sat down.
One group on one side.
The other group on the other side.

Abner suggested to Joab a “contest”…a “sport”.
Let the young men fight.

Twelve arose for Benjamin…sons of Saul.
Twelve arose for the servants of David.

All 24 seized each other by the head, thrusted their swords into each other.
All died in the same manner.

Apparently a battle precipitated from the death of the contestants.
The servants of David defeated the servants of Abner and the men of Israel.

A foretaste of that to come…

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The Word: Episode 0473 John 11:38-44

“Ish-boseth"

May 27, 2018

“Ish-boseth"

Blessings folk!

David was anointed king of Judah.
But, who was king of Israel?

Glad you asked. Happy

2Sa 2:8-11

But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army,
had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.

He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim,
and over Benjamin, even over all Israel.

Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.

The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah
was seven years and six months.

Ish-boseth was “made” king one Israel by Abner.
He ruled two years.

The timing elements provided are important…as we will see.

David ruled as king over the house of Judah…for seven years and six months.
But he was anointed king over Israel by Samuel.

Wonder how that is gonna work out?

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The Word: Episode 0472 John 11:29-38

“I Will Also Show This Goodness to You…”

May 26, 2018

“I Will Also Show This Goodness to You…”

Blessings folk!

David and his men are now living in the cities of Hebron.

The following shows two things…
  1. David is anointed king of Judah…
  2. David’s continued outpouring of love and support for Saul and his family…even in their death. He truly honored the anointed of the Lord…in word and deed.

2 Sam 2:4-7
Then the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house of Judah.
And they told David, saying, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”

David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them,
“May you be blessed of the LORD because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord,
and have buried him.

“Now may the LORD show lovingkindness and truth to you;
and I also will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.

“Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead,
and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

The men of Jabesh-gilead had shown kindness to Saul by burying him.
David spoke blessings of the Lord over them for this act.
David called for the Lord to show lovingkindness and truth to them.

But David did not stop there.
He not only spoke blessing.
He blessed.
He would show goodness to them for what they had done.
He would be the vessel by which the Lord would bless.

How often we call upon the Lord to “bless”, yet we refuse to be the vehicle of the blessing.

David called for them to be strong and valiant.
He was now king.
They had nothing to fear from him.

Again, David typifying what we as believers have in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Be strong in the Lord and the power of this might.
Fear not!
It is gonna get worse…

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The Word: Episode 0471 John 11:25-29

“Shall I Go Up…”

May 25, 2018

“Shall I Go Up…”

Blessings folk!

Saul and his sons were dead.
David and his men grieved.
David wrote a lament and required Judah to learn it.

The threat to David and his men was gone.
What were they to do next?

David knew.
He was to inquired of the Lord…

2Sa 2:1-3
Then it came about afterwards that David inquired of the LORD, saying,
“Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.”
So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.”

So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.

And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household;
and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

We learn some things in this incident about discerning the mind of the Lord.

Apparently David had been thinking about going to one of the cities of Judah.
So, he asked the Lord about it.
The Lord told him to “go up” to one of the cities.

The Lord did not delineate which city.

David inquired/asked which city.
The Lord said “Hebron”.

What do we learn?

The Lord may be the source of the thought in our mind.
We are to inquire of the Lord…in all things.
We are to inquire with faith and expectation that the Lord will speak and lead.

David did as the Lord lead.
David, his wives and his men and their households lived in the cities of Hebron.
Note the plural…”cities”… “in the cities of the region of Hebron”.
May we continually inquire of the Lord.


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The Word: Episode 0470 John 11:17-24

“More Wonderful Than the Love of Women”

May 24, 2018

“More Wonderful Than the Love of Women”

Blessings folk!

One more look at the lament David voiced for Saul and Jonathan.

David described them as…
- Israel’s beauty
- Mighty
- Beloved
- Pleasant in their life (yes, even Saul who sought to kill David!)
- Swifter than eagles
- Stronger than lions
- Warriors, fallen in battle
- Weapons of war

David’s response?

He was distressed, especially over Jonathan.
He described his feeling for Jonathan as…
- very pleasant to me
- love more wonderful than the love of women.

You can easily imagine how this has been perverted in today’s society.
Some describe David’s relationship with Jonathan as homosexual in nature.
Nope. Just a lie of the enemy.

David wanted his people to remember the great ones who had gone before them.
He did not want them forgotten.

2 Sa 1:17-27

Then David chanted with this lament over Saul and Jonathan his son,

and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow;
behold, it is written in the book of Jashar.

“Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
How have the mighty fallen!

“Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.

“O mountains of Gilboa,
Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings;
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life,
And in their death they were not parted;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.

“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

“How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is slain on your high places.

“I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.

“How have the mighty fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”


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The Word: Episode 0469 John 11:7-16

“How Have the Mighty Fallen…”

May 23, 2018

“How Have the Mighty Fallen…”

Blessings folk!

Saul and his sons were dead.

David wept and grieved.

We have a lament by David.

For today…
Note how David viewed Saul and Jonathan.
Note how he felt about them.

2Sa 1:17-27

Then David chanted with this lament over Saul and Jonathan his son,

and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow;
behold, it is written in the book of Jashar.

“Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
How have the mighty fallen!

“Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.

“O mountains of Gilboa,
Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings;
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life,
And in their death they were not parted;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.

“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

“How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is slain on your high places.

“I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.

“How have the mighty fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”

David praised and exalted Saul and Jonathan.
He loved them.
He desired for them to be remembered…in a good way.
He commanded the sons of Judah to learn the “song of the bow”…it is written in the book of Jashar.

{Jashar/Jasher is one of several books that are mentioned and/or referenced in the Bible…
- Jashar
- Chronicles of the Kings of Israel
- Book of the Kings of Israel
- Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia
- Jubilees
- Enoch
- Book of the Wars of the Lord
- several others…}

David wanted the mighty King of Israel to be remembered.
David held no aught against Saul.

He came not against the Lord’s anointed…not only in deed but also in thought and word.
Not only in life.
But, also in their death.

He sought to promote the good…

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The Word: Episode 0468 John 11:1-6

“Mourning, Weeping, Fasting”

May 22, 2018

“Mourning, Weeping, Fasting”

Blessings folk!

The biblical book of 1 Samuel ends with Saul and his sons death and burial.

A sad ending to what could have been…

We press on…remembering that we are doing a cursory examination of David.

2 Samuel begins with David receiving the news of what had happened.

Watch how they learned of the outcome of the battle.
Watch David’s reaction.
Watch how David remained faithful to the Lord’s anointed to the end.
Watch what happens when someone seeks to ingratiate themselves to the king.

2Sa 1:1-16

Now it came about after the death of Saul,
when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites,
that David remained two days in Ziklag.

On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul,
with his clothes torn and dust on his head.
And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

Then David said to him, “From where do you come?”
And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

David said to him, “How did things go? Please tell me.”
And he said, “The people have fled from the battle,
and also many of the people have fallen and are dead;
and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

So David said to the young man who told him,
“How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

The young man who told him said,
“By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear.
And behold, the chariots and the horsemen pursued him closely.

“When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’

“He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

“Then he said to me, ‘Please stand beside me and kill me,
for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.’

“So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them,
and so also did all the men who were with him.

They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?”
And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”

Then David said to him,
“How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”

And David called one of the young men and said, “Go, cut him down.”
So he struck him and he died.

David said to him,“Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’S anointed.’”

David and all his men mourned, wept and fasted because of the death of Saul and Jonathan.
Saul the King.
Saul who had pursued them.
Saul who had sought their death.
Yet, they mourned.

Why?

Because he was the anointed of the Lord.

Why did David kill the messenger?

The messenger’s blood was upon his own head.
He testified that he had killed Saul…though that was a lie.
He thought that he was bringing good new to the new king…he literally brought Saul’s crown and bracelet.
He thought he would be well received as the one who would “crown the king”>
He was wrong.

A couple of things:

  1. Do not touch the anointed of the Lord. Allow the Lord to handle things in His time.
  2. Do not ingratiate yourself…through truth or life. Allow the Lord to raise you up.

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The Word: Episode 0467 John 10:34-42

“Fastened to the Wall”

May 21, 2018

“Fastened to the Wall”

Blessings folk!

Saul and his sons were dead.

What did the warriors of Israel do?
What did the Philistines do?

Read…

1Sa 31:7-13

When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, with those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; then the Philistines came and lived in them.

It came about on the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain,
that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.

They put his weapons in the temple of Ashtaroth,
and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.

Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,

all the valiant men rose and walked all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.

They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh,
and fasted seven days.

The men of Israel on the other side of the valley and beyond the Jordan fled.
They abandoned their cities.

The Philistines moved in.

The Philistines stripped the dead of valuables.
They found the bodies of Saul and his sons.

They cut off Saul’s head.
They stripped him of his weapons.
They sent the weapons throughout their land to carry good news.
Good news to their idols…the powers of which are real.
Good news to their people.
Saul and his progeny were dead.

Valiant men of Jabesh-gilead heard what was done to the bodies.
They arose.
They walked all night.
They removed the bodies from the wall.
They burned the bodies.
They buried the bones.
They fasted.

It was a dark time in Israel.

We are entering similar times…

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The Word: Episode 0466 John 10 Psalm 82

“Saul Fell Upon Hs Sword”

May 20, 2018

“Saul Fell Upon Hs Sword”

Blessings folk!

A sad, sad day.

The word of Samuel from Sheol come to fruition.

1Sa 31:1-6

Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel,
and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons;
and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua the sons of Saul.

The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him;
and he was badly wounded by the archers.

Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and pierce me through and make sport of me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.

When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him.

Thus Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men on that day together.

Israel fled from before the Philistines.
They died on Mount Gilboa.
The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons.
Jonathan died.
Abinadab died.
Malchi-shua died.
All sons of Saul.

Saul was badly wounded by archers.

Saul sought his armor bearer to end it all…to kill him.

The servant would not.

Saul fell upon his sword.
Still taking matters into his own hands.

HIs armor bearer fell upon his own sword.

The king and his lineage had come to an end.
In God’s time.

A new king would now reign…

Saul did not live well nor finish well.

Do we?

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The Word: Episode 0465 John 10:33-38

“A Gift From the Spoils”

May 19, 2018

“A Gift From the Spoils”

Blessings folk!

David had set the wicked/worthless straight.
He also had communicated to all the value of everyone.

When they arrived “home” David did one more thing…

 1Sa 30:26-31

Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Behold, a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD:

to those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the Negev,
and to those who were in Jattir,

and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth,
and to those who were in Eshtemoa,

and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites,
and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,

and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Bor-ashan,
and to those who were in Athach,

and to those who were in Hebron,
and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to go.”

David sent some of the spoils of his conquests to the elders of Judah.
A gift.
A gift from the places that David raided/defeated.

David was letting them know that it was he who was behind these raids.
It was he that was fighting on behalf of the Lord and Judah/Israel.
It was he, though exiled, who was surreptitiously fighting against the enemies of the Lord.

Regardless of situation and circumstance, do the work of the Lord.

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The Word: Episode 0464 John 10:27-33

“Wicked and Worthless”

May 18, 2018

“Wicked and Worthless”

Blessings folk!

David and his men had been victorious.
They had recovered their families.
They had recovered their stuff.
They had defeated the enemy.

They were now on their way back…home.

They stop off at the creek to pick up the two hundred who had remained behind…

1Sa 30:21-25

When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them.

Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.”

Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us.

“And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.”

So it has been from that day forward,
that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

Note who initiated the problem - wicked and worthless men.

David had wicked and worthless men with him.

Remember, the initial men that joined David were from his family.
Then, those who were “in debt, distressed and discontented” joined. (1 Sam 22:2)
Totally 400 men.

Now David had 600 men.

There would be some wicked and worthless.

The same occurs today in the organizational church.

There will be those who profess faith and belief, yet they are wicked and worthless.
They are tares.
Many are in leadership.
We can/will know them by their fruit.

The wicked/worthless with David wanted to withhold any spoils from those who had been too exhausted to press on in the fight.

David said “no”.
He then established a principle for Israel from that day forward…”for as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.”

We are all together in the faith and in the battle.
We stand together.
We deal with the wicked/worthless.
We press on!

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The Word: Episode 0463 John 10:19-26

“David’s Spoil”

May 17, 2018

“David’s Spoil”

Blessings folk!

The revived Egyptian slave brought David to where the raiders were.

1Sa 30:16-20

When he had brought him down, behold, they were spread over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

David slaughtered them from the twilight until the evening of the next day;
and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.

So David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives.

But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken for themselves; David brought it all back.

So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, “This is David’s spoil.”

David and his men fought and slaughtered the Amalekites.
From twilight of one day to the evening of the next.
Not a man escaped, except for four hundred young men who fled by camels.

David recovered all that had been taken.
David rescued all…including his two wives.

Nothing was missing.
All the people, returned.
All the stuff, recovered.

David captured the sheep and cattle of the Amalekites.
The people declared that David should retain this spoil.

The same people that were calling for the stoning of David now gave him the spoil of victory.

David inquired of the Lord.
David comforted himself in the Lord.

The Lord was faithful to HIs Word.
He still is.

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The Word: Episode 0462 John 10:14-18

“Egyptian Slave”

May 16, 2018

“Egyptian Slave”

Blessings folk!

David and his men pressed on.
Two hundred were exhausted and could not proceed.
They remained by the creek.
Four hundred more pursued the enemy that had taken their families and burned their dwellings.

1Sa 30:11-15

Now they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David,
and gave him bread and he ate, and they provided him water to drink.

They gave him a piece of fig cake and two clusters of raisins, and he ate; then his spirit revived. For he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.

David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?”
And he said, “I am a young man of Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite;
and my master left me behind when I fell sick three days ago.

“We made a raid on the Negev of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah,
and on the Negev of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

Then David said to him, “Will you bring me down to this band?”
And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this band.”

An abandoned slave had been found.

David wanted information from him.
The man wanted protection.
They seemed to reach an agreement.

There are at least a couple of things for us to see here.

  1. The state of the world at that time…same as today…
- the man found was an Egyptian slave of an Amalekite
- when he became sick, he was simply thrown away…left behind…disposed
- he was without sustenance for three days/nights…serious condition

(2) David is a picture of the Lord
- note what David did for the man…
- brought him out of the field
- gave him bread, he ate
- gave him drink
- gave him a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, he ate
- the man was then revived…”revived” means “his spirit returned to him”

The Lord does/did the same for us.
He rescued us when we were dead in sins.
He revived us as the Bread of Life and Well of True Water.

The Lord gives life.

The Lord used a rejected slave to guide David.
He used David to revive/protect the slave.

He does the same today.

Selah!

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The Word: Episode 0461 John 10:1-15

“The Exhausted Remained”

May 15, 2018

“The Exhausted Remained”

Blessings folk!

David had inquired of the Lord.
Should he pursue those who had taken their families?

One would think that the answer would be “of course”, but David did not make that assumption.

He sought the Lord.

Oh that we would do likewise.

God’s answer was not only in the affirmative, “yes, pursue!”, but He also told David that they would overtake and rescue.

We continue…

1Sa 30:7-10

Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech,
“Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?”
And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all.”

So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him,
and came to the brook Besor, where those left behind remained.

But David pursued, he and four hundred men,
for two hundred who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor remained behind.

David and his six hundred men pursued.

They arrived at the brook Besor, hummm…”Besor” means “cheerful”, guess one was cheerful upon encountering water.

At Besor they left behind two hundred men.

Why?

Because they were too exhausted.

David and four hundred men pursued.

This will reveal an important lesson shortly.

For now, there is nothing wrong with being exhausted.
There is nothing wrong with coming to the end of physical endurance.
There is a time of rest.
There is a time of recuperation.
There is a time of evaluation.
There is a time of awaiting.

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John 2 - Lesson 8

John 2 - Lesson 8

The Word: Episode 0460 John 10:1-6

“David Inquired of the Lord”

May 14, 2018

“David Inquired of the Lord”

Blessings folk!

David was greatly distressed.
His wives were kidnapped.
His men’s wives and children were kidnapped.

They wept…

1Sa 30:4
Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.

But then, his men wanted to stone him.

David’s response is important.
He strengthened himself in the Lord.
Not in situation.
Not in circumstance.
In the Lord.

The Lord was his strength.

1 Samuel 30:6
Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters.
But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.


David wept and cried out to the Lord over the situation.
David strengthened himself in the Lord.

Watch what he does next…

1Sa 30:7-8
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech,
“Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?”
And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all.”

David inquired of the Lord!

The Lord gave answer.
Purse!
You will overtake!
You will rescue all!

May we learn.

When troubled…
Cry out to the Lord.
Strengthen yourself in the Lord.
Inquire of the Lord.
Await the Lord!

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The Word: Episode 0459 John 9:34-41

“David Strengthened Himself in the Lord”

May 13, 2018

“David Strengthened Himself in the Lord”

Blessings folk!

David returned at the behest of Achish.

All was not well when they returned…

1Sa 30:1-6

Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire;

and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, 
without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way.

When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.

Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.

Now David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.

Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters.
But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

The Amalekites had attacked while David and his men were gone.
Their women were taken captive.
Their children were taken.
All, both great and small, were taking…without killing.

David and his mean wept…loudly…until they had not energy

David’s two wives were taken.

Things worsen for David.

His people were speaking of stoning him.
They were embittered, apparently at David, because their children were captive.

David’s response?

He strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

In all things…do likewise.
Strengthen yourself in the Lord.



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The Word: Episode 0458 John 9:25-34

“David Arose Early and Returned…”

May 12, 2018

“David Arose Early and Returned…”

Blessings folk!

Achish listened to the words of his lords and decided to send David back to the land of the Philistines.

1Sa 29:6-11

Then Achish called David and said to him,
“As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords.

“Now therefore return and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.”

David said to Achish,
“But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

But Achish replied to David,
“I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God;
nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said,
‘He must not go up with us to the battle.’

“Now then arise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have arisen early in the morning and have light, depart.”

So David arose early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

The lords feared, justifiably so, David going into battle against Israel with them.
They wanted David gone.
Achish acquiesced.
The king told David.
He let David know that…
- you have been upright
- you have been pleasing in your functioning in the army
- I have found no evil in you
- you are like an angel of God
- you are not pleasing to the Lords.

David protested.
- what have I done?
- why may I not go fight…what have you found in me?

I think David was feigning protest.
He did want to know why, but he would have seen that this was protecting him from fighting against Israel.

David would not be required to bring a sword against the Lord’s anointed, Saul.

The next day…
- David arose early with his men and departed to the land of the Philistines.
- The Philistines went up to Jezreel

Trusting the Lord released David and his men from a precarious situation.

He will do the same for us.

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The Word: Episode 0457 John 9:14-25

“What Are These Hebrews Doing Here?”

May 11, 2018

“What Are These Hebrews Doing Here?”

Blessings folk!

Saul had receive the word.

It was not the word that he wanted.

Saul had Samuel conjured so as to tell him what to do.

Rather, Samuel told him what was to occur…and why.

Saul collapsed.
He then ate.
He then left.

Meanwhile…the account continues with David and the Philistines…

1Sa 29:1-5

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek,
while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel.

And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands,
and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish.

Then the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”
And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault in him from the day he deserted to me to this day?”

But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Make the man go back, that he may return to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, or in the battle he may become an adversary to us. For with what could this man make himself acceptable to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men?

“Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, saying,
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”

The Philistines were preparing for battle with Israel.
Hundreds.
Thousands.

The commanders of the Philistines were concerned (rightly?) with the Hebrews being among them.

They thought David might turn on them.
Achish sought to defend David.

  • David had been with him these days…years…
  • I have found no fault in him
  • He considered David to have deserted to him.

The commanders were angry with Achish.
They demanded that he send David to the rear.
They demanded that he not go to battle with them.
They thought David might seize the moment to ingratiate himself to Saul.

The commanders then declared “Is this not David…?” The one whom they sing in the dances.
“Saul has slain thousands…
David his ten thousands…”

They knew.
They were rightly fearful.

Was Achish wrong?
Were the commanders wrong?
We will see.


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The Word: Episode 0456 John 9:1-12

“Saul Was Terrified”

May 10, 2018

“Saul Was Terrified”

Blessings folk!

Saul had just learned that Israel would fall to the Philistines on the morrow.
He had just learned that he and his sons would die on the morrow.

His reaction?

1Sa 28:19-25
“Moreover the LORD will also give over Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, therefore tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Indeed the LORD will give over the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines!”

Then Saul immediately fell full length upon the ground and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel; also there was no strength in him,
for he had eaten no food all day and all night.

The woman came to Saul and saw that he was terrified, and said to him,
“Behold, your maidservant has obeyed you, and I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.

“So now also, please listen to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you that you may eat and have strength when you go on your way.”

But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” However, his servants together with the woman urged him, and he listened to them. So he arose from the ground and sat on the bed.

The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it;
and she took flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread from it.

She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate.
Then they arose and went away that night.

Saul fell full length upon the ground.
In prayer?
In worship?
Passing out in fear?

We know he was afraid.
We know there was no strength in him due to lack of nourishment.
Sounds like he passed out.

Saw was terrified.

The woman manifested mercy.
She reminded Saul of her obedience to him.
She now asked to be heard.
She wanted to fix supper for ‘em.
She wanted to strengthen Saul for the day to come.

Effectively, she prepared his last meal.

Saul acquiesced to the woman and his servants.

She slaughtered her fatted calf - a great personal sacrifice.
She made made unleavened bread - due to lack of time.

Saul and his servants ate.
Then, they arose and departed.

A sad picture of what could have been.
A sad picture of the desperation of someone who has rejected the Lord and does not hear from Him.

Now saw would go in the strength of this final meal to face his death…

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The Word: Episode 0455 John 9:1-5

“Tomorrow You Will Be With Me”

May 9, 2018

“Tomorrow You Will Be With Me”

Blessings folk!

Saul was desparate.
He wanted a word of direction.
The Lord did not answer.
Saul sought help from “the other side” - a medium.

The medium was not terrified.
She had conjured Samuel only to realize that Saul was before her.
She had just described to Saul what she was seeing.
Saul knew it was Samuel.

The account continues…

1Sa 28:15-19

Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”
And Saul answered, “I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has departed from me and no longer answers me, either through prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I should do.”

Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and has become your adversary?

“The LORD has done accordingly as He spoke through me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.

“As you did not obey the LORD and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek,
so the LORD has done this thing to you this day.

“Moreover the LORD will also give over Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, therefore tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Indeed the LORD will give over the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines!”

This is one of the more interesting and curious events in the Word.

Samuel and Saul were communicating.
Samuel was dead, yet was called up by conjure.
Exactly how was this happening?
We are not told.
Was Samuel speaking through the woman?
Could Saul see Samuel?
We do not know.

We do know what the conversation was.

Samuel wanted to know why Saul had disturbed him.

Saul confesses his motivation:

  • He was distressed
  • The Philistines were waging war against him
  • God had departed from him
  • God no longer answered him
  • He wanted Samuel to tell Saul what to do

Samuel then tells Saul the harsh truth:
  • The Lord was Saul’s adversary
  • The Lord had departed from him
  • The Lord had done as He had spoken through Samuel to Saul previously
  • The Lord had torn the kingdom from Saul
  • The Lord had given the kingdom to Saul’s neighbor, David
  • The Lord did this due to Saul’s disobedience, especially related to Amalek
  • The Lord was giving Israel, Saul and Saul’s sons to defeat on the morrow
  • Saul and his sons would be with Samuel…dead…tomorrow

Whoa!

How did Samuel know this?
“Once a prophet, always a prophet?”
The Lord can do as he desires.
He spoke this through Samuel, even though Samuel was in Sheol…in the bosom of Abraham.

Saul was bearing the fruit of this pride, hubris, rebellion and lack of belief.

Was Saul “saved”?
Did he believe unto salvation…in the old covenant vernacular?
Perhaps.
Samuel did say that Saul would be with him…but Sheol had two parts, the bosom of Abraham for those who believed, and the place of torment for those who did not.

Hummm…

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John Part 2 - Lesson 7

John Part 2 - Lesson 7

The Word: Episode 0454 John 8:58-59

“Bring Up Samuel For Me”

May 8, 2018

“Bring Up Samuel For Me”

Blessings folk!

Saul’s servants told him of a medium in En-dor.

Saul went to see her.

1Sa 28:8-14

Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name to you.”

But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?”

Saul vowed to her by the LORD, saying,
“As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”

Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”

The king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?”
And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.”

He said to her, “What is his form?”
And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe.”
And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did homage.

Saul disguised himself.
He took two men with him…a very small, kingly entourage.

He requested the woman to conjure.
She resisted.
She smelled a trap.
She feared the mandate of the king, as she should.

She finally agreed when convinced that no harm would become her.

Note.
She requested who they desired to conjure.
She had the ability to call exact people,
This is real.
It still is.

Saul asked for Samuel.

The woman panicked when she saw Samuel.
Somehow, we are not told how, the seeing of Samuel revealed that is was Saul before her.

She cried out loudly upon realization of the deception.

Saul calmed her.
No harm would come to her.
He wanted to know what she saw.
She saw a “divine being” coming up out of the earth.

We learn some things…
- Samuel came “up out of the earth”.
Repeatedly we see in the Word that Sheol is in the earth.

  • The woman describes Samuel as “a divine being”…”elohim”. Yep, Elohim. A study of the word elohim is very enlightening…and beyond the scope of this time together. There are elohim - divine creatures. Not angels. Not 24 elders, etc. They are elohim, though they are not Yahweh (God). God alone is elohim and God.
  • Samuel is old looking…
  • Samuel is wrapped with a robe…
  • Is this so Saul will recognize him?

Anyway, Saul knew it was Samuel.
Saul bowed with his face to the ground…rare position for a king…and did homage…he worshipped.


There is a lot here.
Remember, this is real. This does occur. We are warned against such.

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John Part 2 - Lesson 7 LIVE!

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The Word: Episode 0453 John 8:44-59

“Find Me A Medium…”

May 7, 2018

“Find Me A Medium…”

Blessings folk!

Saul inquired of the Lord.
The Lord did not answer.

God is not a “jack-in-the-box” that pops out when we decide to inquire.

1 Sam 28:5
When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him,
either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.


What does Saul do?

He goes to a medium.
A medium that he had banned.

1Sa 28:3
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed from the land those who were mediums and spiritists.


What is a medium?

The Hebrew word is ba’alah and means “mistress”…wow.
The KJV translates “medium” as “familiar spirit”.
This woman was a female owner - mistress - of familiar spirits…unholy spirits.

Such a person can conjure up spirits and is a necromancer (to seek/inquire of…especially pagan gods and the dead)

Saul’s command…

1Sa 28:7
Then Saul said to his servants,
“Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”
And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.”

Saul told his servants to find a medium.
If God did not answer, Saul would go to other gods.
He would break his own law to do so.

For today, know this.
This is real.
Mediums/familiar spirits are real.
Spiritist are real. Other gods are real.
Demons are real.

If we are unwilling to accept the clear teaching of the Word about such, then we will be in constant danger from deception by such.

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The Word: Episode 0452 John 8:40-47

“Urim”

May 6, 2018

“Urim”

Blessings folk!

Apparently Saul had done a good thing.
He had banned mediums and spiritists.

So, what was the problem?

1 Sam 28:5
When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him,
either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.


Saul inquired of the Lord.
The Lord did not answer.
Either by dreams.
Nor by Urim.
Or by prophets.

Saul had not heard from the Lord.
The Spirit of the Lord had left him.

Let’s look a one thing today.

What is “Urim”?

The Urim was used to determine the will of God, usually in conjunction with the Thummin.
“Urim and Thummin” likely means “lights and perfections.

Apparently one would inquire of the Lord and the answer would be received through a series of lights.

Intriguing.

Read the passages where “Urim” appears…

Exo 28:30
“You shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually.

 Lev 8:8
He then placed the breastpiece on him,
and in the [fn]breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim.

 Num 27:21
“Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”

 Deu 33:8
Of Levi he said,
“Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man,
Whom You proved at Massah,
With whom You contended at the waters of Meribah;

 1Sa 28:6
When Saul inquired of the LORD,
the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.

 Ezr 2:63
The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim.

 Neh 7:65
The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest arose with Urimand Thummim.

The Lord did not answer Saul.

Therefore, Saul took matters into his own hands.

Do not do that!

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The Word: Episode 0451 John 8:30-47

“The Lord Did Not Answer Him…”

May 5, 2018

“The Lord Did Not Answer Him…”

Blessings folk!

Read the extended account of what next happens to Saul.
Sad that which occurs to those who know not the Lord…whom the Lord has left.

This is a curious, desperate tale.
Saul inquired of the Lord.
The Lord did not answer…
Either by dreams…
Nor by Urim…
Nor by prophets.

So, Saul took it into his own hands…

1Sa 28:3-19

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed from the land those who were mediums and spiritists.

So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped in Shunem;
and Saul gathered all Israel together and they camped in Gilboa.

When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.

When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him,
either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.

Then Saul said to his servants,
“Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”
And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at Endor.”

Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name to you.”

But the woman said to him,
“Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?”

Saul vowed to her by the LORD, saying,
“As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”

Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”

The king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.”

He said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did homage.

Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul answered, “I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has departed from me and no longer answers me, either through prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I should do.”

Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and has become your adversary?

“The LORD has done accordingly as He spoke through me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.

“As you did not [fn]obey the LORD and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, so the LORD has done this thing to you this day.

“Moreover the LORD will also give over Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, therefore tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Indeed the LORD will give over the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines!”

Do not make this mistake…
To be continued…

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The Word: Episode 0450 John 8:34-38

“Armed Camps Gathering”

May 4, 2018

“Armed Camps Gathering”

Blessings folk!

So, King Achish thought that David would be with him…for life.

1Sa 28:1-2

Now it came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armed camps for war,
to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David,
“Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men.”

David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.”
So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

The Philistines were strengthening and gathering their armed camps for war.

They planned to attack Israel.

David was told that he and his men would go with Achish.

David agreed.
King Achish would know what David could do.

Achish made David his bodyguard.

Wow.

The king thought he had it all figured…

As we will see, he was wrong.

Saul was fearful.

Wait until you see what he does… Sad

Again, aggressively await the Lord as He works.

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The Word: Episode 0449 John 8:30-33

“Odious”

May 3, 2018

“Odious”

Blessings folk!

David fled to hide in the land of the Philistines.
David and his men lived in the land of Achish, king of Gath.

David petitioned Achish for some place to leave.
Petition granted.

1Sa 27:5-7

Then David said to Achish,
“If now I have found favor in your sight, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may live there; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”

So Achish gave him Ziklag that day;
therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.

The number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines
was a year and four months.

(Ever felt as if you have been placed in hiding for 16 months?)

What did David and his men do during this time?
Lay around?
Relax?
Chill?

Nope.

Read.
Learn.

1Sa 27:8-12

Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites and the Girzites and the Amalekites; for they were the inhabitants of the land from ancient times,
as you come to Shur even as far as the land of Egypt.

David attacked the land and did not leave a man or a woman alive, and he took away the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing.
Then he returned and came to Achish.

Now Achish said, “Where have you made a raid today?”
And David said, “Against the Negev of Judah and against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites and against the Negev of the Kenites.”

David did not leave a man or a woman alive to bring to Gath, saying, “Otherwise they will tell about us, saying, ‘So has David done and so has been his practice all the time he has lived in the country of the Philistines.’”

So Achish believed David, saying,
“He has surely made himself odious among his people Israel;
therefore he will become my servant forever.”

David and his men made raids against common enemies of Israel and the Philistines.
They left no one alive.
Why?
Otherwise survivors would tell.
Tell what?

David was defeating common enemies, but he was actually clearing the land of the enemies of the Lord on behalf of Israel.

I suspect that proclamations of “In the name of the Lord”, etc. would have been heard during the raids.

When questioned by Achish, David would shrewdly respond that he was attacking the Negev (“south&rdquoWinking regions of Judah, etc.

Achish believed all this was being done on his behalf.
Achish believed that David was making himself “odious” in the sight of his people Israel.
Achish believed David was seeking revenge upon his own people.
Achish believed that David would therefore be his servant forever.
Achish was wrong.

Even while fleeing the king of Israel…
Even in self-imposed exiled in the midst of the enemy…
Even so, David “aggressively waited” upon the Lord.
He cleared/cleansed the Land.

He waited.

So should we…

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The Word: Episode 0448 John 8:30-32

“Escape to the Philistines”

May 2, 2018

“Escape to the Philistines”

Blessings folk!

The story of Saul and David grows in complexity.

Saul had promised…again…to not harm David.

David did not believe him.

1Sa 27:1-4

Then David said to himself,
“Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul.
There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines.
Saul then will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel,
and I will escape from his hand.”

So David arose and crossed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him,
to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow.

Now it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he no longer searched for him.

David went to live with the Philistines.
Yep, those Philistines.

David was fretting…”I will perish one day by the hand of Saul”.
Was David doubting the Lord?
Was he having “one of those days”?
He declared that the only option was the land of the Philistines.
David felt safer with the enemy than he did with his father-in-law, the king of Israel.

Was David listening to the fear of his flesh and soul or to the Lord?

It was not only David.
His men were with him, 600 of them.
There were more.
The men’s households were with them.
This would be a group of several thousand that followed David.

Saul heard.
He searched for David no longer.

David was not safe.
He knew this.
HIs trust in the Lord was being challenged.

Humm…ever felt that way?

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The Word: Episode 0447 John 8:21-30

“I Have Sinned, Played the Fool. Erred…”

May 1, 2018

“I Have Sinned, Played the Fool. Erred…”

Blessings folk!

As we saw in our last time together, David had spared Saul’s life again.

Saul’s reaction?

1Sa 26:21-25

Then Saul said,
“I have sinned. Return, my son David,
for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day.
Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.”

David replied,
“Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it.

“The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness;
for the LORD delivered you into my hand today,
but I refused to stretch out my hand against the LORD’S anointed.

“Now behold, as your life was highly valued in my sight this day,
so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD,
and may He deliver me from all distress.”

Then Saul said to David,
“Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.”
So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Saul declared that he had sinned.
He asked David to return.
He told David that he would not harm him.
He knew that because of David his life was precious.
He had been handed over to David.
He acknowledged playing the fool.
He acknowledged committing a serious error.

But, did he truly repent?
We shall see as we go along.
Know this.
Sorrow is not necessarily true repentance.
Repentance will bring a change in action.

David’s reaction?

He returned the spear.
(What of the water jug? Hummmm&hellipWinking

Then David said…

  • The Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and faithfulness
  • The Lord delivered Saul out of David’s hand that day
  • He refused to stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed
  • He requested that his own life be valued as Saul’s had been…in the sight of the Lord
  • He asked the Lord to deliver him from all distress

Saul then declared David blessed.
Saul called David “my son”.
Saul stated that David would accomplish much and surely prevail.

Saul knew…his time was coming to an end.
David knew…the time of ascending to the throne was nearing.
They waited.

David went his way…he did not return.
Saul returned to his place.

May we wait and trust upon the Lord.

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