I SAMUEL

Today, I've been reading in I Samuel chapters 11-31.  Here are a few thoughts: 1) VAIN THINGS-  I Sam. 12:21 says: "And turn ye not aside for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain."  Why do people seek after "vain things" when we can follow the LORD and the things of God?  Well, because our flesh pulls the wool over our eyes... having eyes they see not.  We need to see all things clearly and focus on the LORD.... looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith! 2) THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD- In I Sam. 16:13 it says when David was just a lad anointed by Samuel, that "the spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward."  No wonder David was so mightily used of the LORD, for he was yielded to God's Spirit and God's Spirit was upon him his whole life!  We too have the Holy Spirit, not upon us, but indwelling us!!  This is even better!!  Let us be just as yielded to the precious Holy Spirit as David was! 3) THE BOY GROWS UP! In I Sam. 17, David sees Goliath and hears him and then volunteers to fight him.  Saul says in verse 33 "thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.";  In verse 42, Goliath "disdained him: for he wwasbut a youth,"; but in verse 58, after Goliath has been killed, Saul says: Whose son art thou, thou young man?"  Now he is referred to as a man!  He grew up in eeveryoneseyes when he killed Goliath. 4) TWO DIFFERENT MEN--SAME HOUSE!  In I Samuel 25, we see two different men.  One is David, the anointed King of Israel, and one is Nabal.  In verse 3 it reads: "but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb."  Now, Caleb was of the tribe of Judah, and so was David.  Two different men from the same house of Caleb, or Judah!  One walked with God's blessings and one was selfish and aarrogantand later died because of it!  If one Christian is sweet, and one is sour.... let us decide we will be one of the sweet ones!  Well, the day is passing me by and I have run out of time.  May God richly bless!  Pastor Mike Mutchler