Friday, February 13, 2009

Fri. devo - Don't "Hang" in the House of Ease

Read 1 Sam. 31
We could just sum this whole chapter up with "the witch was right." She said that tomorrow Saul and all his sons would be killed and that is exactly what happened. The Philistines took the bodies of Saul and his three sons and beheaded them, place their armor in the house of Ashtaroth, and fastened their bodies to the wall of "Beth-shan" (house of ease). When the people of Jabesh-gilead found out, they went and took the bodies and came back to Jabesh and cremated them. Then they fasted 7days. What an ending to a life. Saul's head had been his trouble all his life and now finally, he is free of it. His armor, his covering and protection, had not been the Lord for a long time. He had not obeyed Samuel and set himself up to be their priest when Samuel was a little late; he had been given an evil spirit from God to vex him, he had tried over and over to kill God's annointed: David, and finally, he had sought a witch when God wasn't blessing him with victories. I'd say, things did not end well for Saul. And he took his sons with him- even Jonathan. You do reap what you sow and Saul had done a lot of sowing. It reminds me of the verse in Ps. 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." If we live our days with eternity in mind we will be wise.
Lord, show us how we can keep the frailty of life in our hearts and not get so wrapped up in the present. (pun intended) May we end our lives "hanging" out in your courts.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Your post reminds me of Romans 12:2, that we are to be living sacrifices. By yielding to God, we have life; apart from him is only death. If we're going to die, I'd rather be hanging in God's courts of eternal life.

One of those preachers on the cd's you loaned me said that God is out to kill us. And so is Satan. He said, "Be encouraged. The two most powerful beings in the universe are intent on your destruction." Cool beans.

I think I'll go die now...