I SAMUEL

It is Saturday, and in a little while I must go to a Men's meeting at Church, so I will write a few thoughts down this morning: 1) A MULTITUDE AGAINST 600- In I Samuel 13, Saul was the new king.  The Philistines came down upon Israel with a multitude of people.  Verse 5 says:  "thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude:"  Verse 15 says:  "And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men."  Now the reason Saul only had six hundred was that when the Philistines came upon Israel, the men of Israel fled and even left their country.  Even the 600, "followed him trembling" verse 7 says.  Hey, it get's worse.... Verse 22 says:  "that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan:  but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found."  Verse 21 tells us that all they had were farm tools to fight with, but "they had a file" to sharpen them and that was all.  So, how did the 600 beat the multitude?  Well, they didn't, but God did!  In chapter 14:20 it says:  "every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture."  God still fights our battles! 2) IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?  I Samuel 17:29, David says to his brother:  "Is there not a cause?"  David had been talking about Goliath and the Philistines as he heard for the first time Goliath cursing the people of Israel and their God!  He could not stand for that and volunteered to go and fight the giant that was nine feet, nine inches tall.  God gave the victory, but the saying is still true today.... "Is there not a cause?"  Isn't there a reason to live for Jesus?  Isn't there a reason to go to the mission field?  Isn't there a reason to win souls to Christ?  Yes there is! 3) WHY THE OPPOSITION?  Why do we struggle and face battles in life?  Why do things seem so overwhelming?  David understood it while he faced Goliath in Chapter 17.  He said in verse 46 and 47:  "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."  and (vs. 47) "And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear:  for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands."   We face such overwhelming opposition so that the world may know God is real, and that we may know it is God who saves us and not we ourselves! 4) BEWARE!  David said in I Samuel 24:10- "I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed."  Saul was trying to kill him at this time, and yet David would not touch him for harm.   Friend, do ever go against God's man!  It is foolish for you and your family to stand against a pastor or other man of God.  If you cannot agree then find another man of God to follow, but to go against him is to go against God.... God corrects His men and God deals with them, but it is up to God to do the correcting.  The reality is that it is probably you that are wrong, not the man of God.  He knows things you do not know and has insights given him by God.  Follow him... don't fight him. Well, I've got to go for now.  May God richly bless!   Dr. Mike Mutchler