Monday's Devo - From Judgment to Promises

Read 1Sam 3:20-4:11
Samuel was known as a prophet of God from "Dan to Beersheba". From "Dan to Beersheba"... I remember reading that many times in the Bible so I looked it up. It is a saying that is used 8 times in the Bible. Dan was the most northern Israelite city and Beersheba was the most southern place in the land. I looked them up on a map and it was hard for me to believe they meant south and north since they were not that far apart. So I dug deeper. I found that "Beersheba" means "well of an oath" and these wells were dug about 5 meters deep. "Dan" on the other hand means "judge" and is in the hill country. It makes me wonder if the difference was vertical instead of horizontally. The judges like Samson came from Dan. The Anti-Christ is believed to come from Dan. So could Dan mean "high; pride; self-exaltation?" Beersheba seemed to be a place where God had given His promises and these wells were physical memorials to God's promise. Abraham dug them and Isaac had to contend for the land they were on, then redig them. So Dan and Beersheba seem like opposites: judgment and promises kind of like the Old covenant (judgment) and the New covenant (promises).
On with the story... "The Lord appeared again in Shiloh". "Shiloh" means "tranquility; prosperity; safety."
Into chapter 4: You would think that now a godly man is their prophet that everything would go well, but no. They have to reap the years of rebellion they sowed. The Philistines come against them and slaughter 4,00 of them. So they decide to call on God and go get the Ark of the Covenant. It has become an idol to them, not a way of life. Hophni and Phinehas bring it into the camp with enough shouting and fanfare to scare the Philistines into fighting even harder so they won't become their slaves. The next day the Israelites lose 30,000 men, the ark gets confiscated, and Eli's 2 sons were killed. All of this is fulfillment of God's judgments.
I'm glad God put it "from judgment to promises." We are suppose to love his judgments because they are true and righteous. They lead us to His promises which are yea and amen! Lord, lead us through your judgments to your promises!

Behold!!!

Psalms 133:1 - "Behold, How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
When I typed this scripture I left out the first word "behold". I realized I liked it and put it back in. Then I started thinking about the word "behold" and looked it up. It is used 1,275 times in the Bible. It means look and see the surprise! The reason I was reminded of this scripture is that today our church hosts TOYS FOR TOTS. We will have thousands of less-privaledged families come to our church to get toys for their kids for Christmas. We will shop with them, play with them, entertain them, serve them, and present them with Jesus' love. It is one of the greatest days for our church. Everyone gets involved doing their different tasks. We all come away with such a fulfilled feeling and such an empty feeling. Fulfilled because we have helped so many families and have been able to give them the love of Jesus. Empty, because there are millions others out there that need this and so much more. This is just a drop in the bucket; but at least it's a drop and that is our part today.
So today, I want to "behold" the unity of God's children as they work together for Jesus. I pray we will show forth the goodness and pleasantness of our God.

"Planning the Meal"

It's Christmas time and a great time to reflect on things. Christmas fills me with such opposing and diverse emotions. I love it because Jesus is brought out of the closet, dusted off and put on a shelf for all to see. I was walking through Wal-Mart the other morning and the song "O Holy Night" was playing through the speakers. I have to admit I was almost embarassed because using his name in public places has become a federal offense in our nation. Then, I relaxed and relished in hearing my Savior's name sung so all could hear. People seem to be friendlier and more out-going. Total strangers start conversations while standing in shopping lines. Salvation Army bells ring everywhere. Everyone wants your money from the mall to the non-profit organizations. Churches everywhere have programs to express the real meaning of the season. Kids are making their lists and visiting Santa Clause in the mall. It is such a busy time.
But for me, this Christmas is so different. For one thing, it will be the first Christmas we don't spend with our kids. We will to to La. to see them the week-end before Christmas then come back to OK. Dave has to work Christmas Eve till 7 and also the day after Christmas. We have had invitations for Christmas Day so we don't feel sad about it; actually we feel a little excited. We decided to do something manevolent so I called all the shelters, and organizations I could think of that might be feeding the less fortunate. I had no idea that my idea was such a popular thing to do. They all had enough volunteers. I finally called Day Spring Villa, a shelter for battered women and their children. They had one other couple who had offered to serve on Christmas day. When I asked her what I could do, she replied, "You could plan the meal". Well, that was not exactly what I had in mind. I am not the administrative type and would rather help someone else's plan, not BE the plan. She kept repeating that I could "plan the meal" so I told her I would get back with her. I had to talk to Dave and pray about this one. I finally decided to call back and find out exactly what "planning the meal" meant. Well, it means you decide what 45 people are going to eat, and make out the grocery list. They buy the food and have it there waiting for you Christmas day. You prepare it, serve it, and I imagine, clean up. Well there you have it: "plan the meal".
Come to think of it, that is exactly what God did on Christmas two thousand years ago. He planned the meal. He sent the bread of Heaven down for us to eat. He invited everyone from the peasant to the king to come to his table and eat his meat. He even watched his meal be prepared, killed, and offered up for all men forever to partake of. Many turned up their noses at the sacrificial meal that God gave. I wonder how that makes God feel? I wonder if I will feel a teeny bit of what He feels if they don't like what I plan?

Friday's Devo - "Pick up Your Words and Follow Me."

Read 1 Sam. 3:1-19
I love the way God gives us tangible signs of spiritual things like: "the word of God was precious", "no open vision", "Eli had laid down", "his eyes were waxing dim and he could not see." In other words, the seer anointing that had been on Eli was being passed down to Samuel.
It even goes on to say that "before the lamp of God went out in the temple". God was doing a shifting of temples from Eli's line to Samuel's. In verses 4-14 Samuel is getting his first lesson in seership. I find it very encouraging that Samuel didn't even realize it was God's voice. How many times has God been speaking to me and I didn't perceive it till much later. I think God had it planned that way because now Eli knew there was a word from God and Samuel couldn't hold it back. Of all things, the first thing Samuel has to do is to rebuke his mentor and spiritual father. I think this was a precursor to what Samuel's ministry was going to be like.
God is about to make everyone afraid by the judgement that comes down on Eli and his house. Judgment begins in the house of the Lord with the leaders going first.
Apparently Samuel didn't have a very good night's sleep and in the morning he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. His ministry was just that: to open the doors of the house of the Lord. He brought back the presence and holiness of the Lord to the Temple.
Even though Samuel didn't want to tell Eli what God had said, because he honored him, he did. So Samuel grew and the Lord was with him, "and he let none of his words fall to the ground." That phrase is spoken of a lot in our house. How incredible to have that prophetic track record that every word you gave someone was exactly right and accomplished its purpose.
Lord, anoint our lips to speak only things that bring life, not empty words that would fall to the ground.

Thursday's Devo - My vote - LIFE!!!

Read 1 Sam. 2:12-37
Eli had 2 sons: Hophni which means fists (which I guess means he was a handful) and Phinehas which means mouth of a serpent. They were wicked priests who used the office of God to further their own agenda. They ate the sacrifice that was suppose to be burned, cheated the people, had sex with the women who followed them, and basically treated God with contempt. Needless to say, God was not pleased with them and planned to kill them. God is very merciful until you start leading others astray and profaning what He calls holy. They were doing all this.
But then there was Samuel... the mirror opposite of them. As a child, he wore a linen robe and ministered to the Lord in a very wicked time. Every year his mother, Hannah, would make him a mantle or robe and bring it to him. Eli blessed her with the promise of many children and she had 3 sons and 2 daughters.
Eli had heard of all the wicked things his 2 sons were doing and rebuked them. He warned them that God would take their life if they didn't repent, but they refused to listen. They had no fear of God.
But then there was Samuel... the mirror opposite of them. He had God and man's favor. God sent a prophet to Eli to rebuke him for giving his son's more honor than he was giving the Lord. Because Eli allowed his sons to do this, the priesthood would be stripped from his family and all of his offspring would die young. The life that they would live would be full of sadness and grief and their children would die a violent death. What a curse! To prove this prophecy was true, both Hopni and Phinehas would die on the same day.
But then there was Samuel...the mirror opposite of them. He would be raised up a faithful priest who would serve God and do His will. His family would be established and they would be God's priests forever. They would serve annointed kings. What a blessing!!!
God puts before us life and death, curses or blessing, everyday. We make the choice. Lord, we choose You. Turn our hearts to desire the blessing, no matter how hard the sacrifice.

Wednesday's Devo - God Heard

Read 1 Sam. 1-2:11
Elkanah was a man from Bethlehem who had 2 wives: Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was barren. Every year they took a pilgrimmage to Shiloh to sacrifice at the tabernacle. Elkanah gave each child and his wives meat from the sacrifice. Penninah would taunt Hannah to tears because she didn't have any children. Hannah cried out to the Lord and told him that if He would give her a son, she would give him back to the Lord. Eli was the priest and saw Hannah crying and praying in the temple. He thought she was drunk and rebuked her. She told him she was not drunk but pouring out her heart to the Lord. He told her God would give her what she prayed for. She believed him and was filled with joy.
They went home, Hannah became pregnant and had Samuel which means "God heard". She stayed home till Samuel was weaned (about 3 years old) then took him to the temple and gave him to Eli. She then breaks into this beautiful prayer about how God raises up the humble and lowly and puts down the proud and exalted. She proclaims God's power and strength. Then she and her husband go home without Samuel and he stays to serve Eli.
As a mother I can't imagine doing this. After not being able to have children and finally having your dream come true, you give it up. It would seem like this would be excruciating, but not to Hannah. She lived for this moment. She rejoiced because God gave her strength. She made a vow to the Lord and kept it. In 2:21 God gave Hannah 3 sons and 2 daughters to take the place of what she had given up. God is like that. When we give up something, He blesses us in proportion to what we give him only His return is so much bigger and better.
It's Christmas time and there are more needs this year than ever because of the economy. That means, we have more opportunities to give. I love it because like my pastor always says, "We never look more like Jesus than when we are giving." Lord, help us to open our hearts and give you everything.

Tuesday's Devo - Line Upon Line

Read Ruth 3:13-4:
Last night I started studying about winnowing wheat. This is a symbol of last day judgement. In the end God will winnow his wheat and cast the chaff into everlasting death and the wheat into everlasting life. In Jer. 15:7 winnowing is used to describe God's testing of the people"with a winnowing fork in the gates of the land." Two places associated with justice are used here: the threshing floor where the winnowing was done and the gate, which was the center of business and legal activity. Since Boaz was doing this at midnight, and midnight was also the time Samson took the gates of the Philistines and carried them on his shoulders and put them on top of the hill Hebron (which was the seat of witchcraft), then is that not a picture of what God will do to the spiritual doors and entrances of evil in the Judgment?
Back to the story: Ruth lay at his feet through the night and in the morning she rose up to go home. Not before Boaz gives her 6 measures of barley in her veil. Ruth takes home the good grain to Naomi. Naomi knew Boaz meant business and would tend to it right away. Boaz goes to the gate of the city to talk to the closer of kin. He offers him to buy Naomi's land which the man quickly agrees to do, until he is told that Ruth comes with it. He then changes his mind. It wasn't Ruth he was rejecting, it was the fact that he had to build up the name of Ebimelech, it would mar his own inheritance. Thank God, Boaz didn't care about his own inheritance. He redeemed Ruth just like God redeemed the Gentile to raise up an inheritance among us just like he did in the Jews. Boaz bought all that was Chilion's and Mahlons, to "raise up the name of the dead". I call that resurrection! Then the witnesses blessed Ruth. They prayed that her house be compared to Jacob's which brought forth the 12 tribes of Israel; and may she be famous in Bethlehem. (Interestingly she brought forth Jesus's line which made Bethlehem famous.) Then they prayed that she be like Pharez who was Judah's son, whose mother was Tamar. Another woman who went to great lengths to carry on her family line. All this line led to Jesus (read Matt. 1). This child brought Naomi life and joy. His name was Obed which means "servant". He served Naomi well and the rest of us.
Thank you Jesus for being our Kinsman Redeemer!!!