I SAMUEL

Today is Tuesday.  I finished up I Samuel and have many different items written down in the margin of my Bible.  I would like to share a few thoughts, but will not develop them very much.  Just thoughts about the passage of Scripture:

1) SAUL'S DIRTY DEED- King Saul left serving God, but who would have imagined that he would eventually kill the priest of the LORD?  In I Sam. 22:21, it reads:  "And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests."  The priest Ahimelech had helped David very innocently, and Saul because of his anger towards David, had Ahimelech and all of his household killed.  In verse 18, we see that Saul had 85 priests killed that day, and in verse 19 we see that he killed every man, woman, child, and animal in the city of the priests.  What a dirty deed!  Not only would Saul die for this, but no doubt... he is in Hell right now for all eternity.  God repays!

2) A FRIEND STRENGTHENS A FRIEND- A wonderful passage is I Sam. 23:16, "And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David in the woods, and strengthened his hand in God."  Notice that he went to his friend that was hurting.  David was hiding out for his life, and constantly on the run.  He no doubt was getting very weary.  Jonathan goes to find his friend and encourage him.  Notice that he strengthens his hand.  He encouraged him!  Now notice one more thing:  He encourages his hand in God!  Friendship can only do so much, but one who encourages you with the Word of God and do wonders!  Our hurting friends don't need worldly wisdom, they need spiritual strength that comes from God.  Let us share biblical principles to help our friends.

3) HOW TO HANDLE ENEMIES- David shows us how:  In I Sam. 24:12, it reads:  "The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee:  but mine hand shall not be upon thee."  Let God handle your enemies.  Vengeance is mine, saith the LORD; I will repay!

4) A STRONG MAN LISTENS TO A WOMAN?  Yes, that is part of being a strong man is being wise enough to listen to advice that comes from any good source.  In I Sam. 25, David listens to Abigail, the wife of Nabal.  David is upset because Nabal has mistreated his servants and shamed them, but Abigail comes out with food and drink and warns him of slaying a foolish man and getting blood on his hands.  Fight for right not for vengeance is her advice to David so that when you rule one day you will have no regrets.  In verse 33 we read:  "And blessed by thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand."  David listened and heeded her advice.  Wise men will do the same!

5) WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?  This statement comes from the lords of the Philistines and is found in I Sam. 29:3.  David and his men are living among the Philistines and they are just mounting a war with Israel and David shows up to fight with them against his people.  They are very fearful that David will change sides in the midst of the battle, and so they ask their king this question:  "What do these Hebrews here?"  Even the world knows where Christians don't belong!  Let us be found in places we belong.

6) ALL THE VALIANT MEN AROSE- Saul and his sons have been killed in battle.  The Philistines have killed him and his sons.  They have cut off his head, put his armor in the house of their gods, and hung his body on the wall of the city Beth-shan.  When the men of Saul's hometown hear about it, it says in I Samuel 31:11-12 "And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;  All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there."  What valiant men!  How we still need them today.

Well, that is a few of the thoughts I had as I read this morning.  Hope you have a blessed day in the LORD! 

Pastor Mike Mutchler