I SAMUEL

Today is Tuesday, and I really enjoyed the service with Dr. Jack Trieber last night.  It was a great blessing!  A great crowd of people as well.  I'm hoping that again tonight we will have a great time.  I'm in I Samuel, and I have a few quick things to share: 1) FALL BEFORE HIM- In I Samuel 4, the Ark was taken by the Philistines, and in chapter 5, they put the Ark into the temple of their god Dagon.  The next morning, Dagon was fallen over on his face before the Ark.  Well, they propped up Dagon that day and stood him up again.  The next morning, he is again lying down, face first, with his arms, and head cut off leaving only a stump of Dagon left bowing before the Ark.  All will one day bow before Jesus!  Either they will be forced to or they will bow with pleasure because He is their King and Savior.  So, fall before Him and worship the LORD! 2) EBENEZER- In I Samuel 7:12, Samuel takes a stone and sets it up between Mizpeh and Shen, and calls the stone:  Ebenezer, meaning:  "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."  They had defeated and ran down the enemies of Israel, and put a stone to say it was God who helped them.  At our church, outside of our original building, we have a stone and on that stone is a bronze cast plate that says:  EBENEZER- "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."  It is meant to be a reminder that it has been God that has brought us to this place!  It is to HIM belongs all of the glory!! 3) FROM THE TRIBE ALMOST WIPED OUT- In I Samuel 9:21, Saul says:  "Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?"  He was not making this up.  In Numbers, when the tribes are counted, Benjamin is the second to the smallest tribe, but in Judges 20, 25,000 of them were wiped out as they fought against the other tribes.  They stood up for sinners and fought the wrong battle and were taken down.  Only 600 men were left so indeed Saul was from the smallest tribe.... Benjamin!  The tribe almost wiped out! Well, I have much more to share, but my time has come and gone.  I must get ready for another great service this morning.  May God richly bless! Pastor Mike Mutchler