Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11
Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath but it is so much more than a story of a giant and the underdog. It wasn’t David that was the underdog and David was the only one that recognized this. He understood who God was and what he was capable of and David knew who he was in God. Goliath means “an exile” which is one that is banished from their own country. Goliath stood for Satan. Satan was banished from heaven and sent down to earth to dwell until his time is over. While he is here he does exactly what Goliath did; he taunts God’s people. He uses fear and intimidation to keep us from getting victory over different areas of our lives.
David spent his time in the fields watching sheep and playing his harp. He spent his day in the presence of the Lord and God was bigger to him than any lion or bear or giant. He had seen God’s power in his life and was not afraid of God’s enemy. We should not be either.
David convinced Saul to let him fight Goliath for the whole nation of Israel. If David lost, then Israel would be subject to the Philistines but if he won, the Philistines would be under Israel’s control. Saul had no other choice and since he wasn’t willing to sacrifice his life to fight Goliath, he sent David. All Israel’s army watched David walk out armed with only five stones and a sling. When Goliath saw David, he taunted him and told him what he was going to do to him. David did not give in to fear, he proclaimed exactly what he was going to do back. He was going to strike him down and cut off his head. Then he was going to throw his body to the birds and beasts to eat because he had defied the army of Israel. But first, David told him the name in whom he was going to do this in - the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel. Then David ran toward him and sent his stone. His stone was the Word of God. We know what happened.
After Israel won that day, Saul asked what David’s name was. He hadn’t even asked him because he didn’t think it would matter. Saul took David into his family. Saul’s son, Jonathan and David became best friends.
David had eyes to see who God was. Jesus spent his life trying to teach that concept to Israel but they couldn’t grasp it. They were too steeped in tradition and what they thought God was. Jesus concluded that they would die in their sins. Our Proverbs sums this up: “Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord - how much more the hearts of men!”
Lord, open our hearts to see your truths and who you are.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Sat.’s Devo. -The Spirit of Power
Read: 1 Samuel 13:23-14:52; John 7:30-53; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7
Today, we can learn some principles that God puts out in his Word. Jonathan’s armor bearer is a type of the Holy Spirit that is our helper and fights our battles with us. Their victory came because they agreed. When what we are doing agrees with the Father, nothing is impossible for us. Jonathan went down a pass with a cliff on either side. One of the cliff’s name was Bozez which means “surpassing white; glistening”. It was a picture of the glory of God. The other cliff was named Senah which mean “thorny” which is a picture of the curse. They had a choice which one they would side with but Jonathan went straight for the win. His zeal for God caused God to respond. God shook the earth and caused such panic that the whole army fled before Jonathan and his armor-bearer. That can be us. We can go out in the power of the Holy Spirit and cause the enemy to run if we go in the agreement of heaven.
Saul made a vow which affected his whole army even if they didn’t hear the vow. Jonathan didn’t hear the vow, yet God held him accountable. That is the importance of the things we say from our mouth. We can curse or bless. Saul caused a curse to fall on his own son, Jonathan and if it hadn’t been for the defense of his men, Jonathan would have had to die.
We see the same principle in our reading in John. Jesus walked in the power of the Holy Spirit and nothing could harm him until God said it was time. Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and it was the last day of the feast. On this day, the priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and bring it to the Temple and pour it out on the altar. The Pool of Siloam was known as the “living water”. This was when Jesus stood up and said, “if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drynk. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from with in him.” Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit that would be given after he left.
When the Pharisees asked the temple guards why they didn’t arrest Jesus, they said that no one spoke like he did. How true a statement.
Lord, You alone have the words of life. Thank you for your Word.
Today, we can learn some principles that God puts out in his Word. Jonathan’s armor bearer is a type of the Holy Spirit that is our helper and fights our battles with us. Their victory came because they agreed. When what we are doing agrees with the Father, nothing is impossible for us. Jonathan went down a pass with a cliff on either side. One of the cliff’s name was Bozez which means “surpassing white; glistening”. It was a picture of the glory of God. The other cliff was named Senah which mean “thorny” which is a picture of the curse. They had a choice which one they would side with but Jonathan went straight for the win. His zeal for God caused God to respond. God shook the earth and caused such panic that the whole army fled before Jonathan and his armor-bearer. That can be us. We can go out in the power of the Holy Spirit and cause the enemy to run if we go in the agreement of heaven.
Saul made a vow which affected his whole army even if they didn’t hear the vow. Jonathan didn’t hear the vow, yet God held him accountable. That is the importance of the things we say from our mouth. We can curse or bless. Saul caused a curse to fall on his own son, Jonathan and if it hadn’t been for the defense of his men, Jonathan would have had to die.
We see the same principle in our reading in John. Jesus walked in the power of the Holy Spirit and nothing could harm him until God said it was time. Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and it was the last day of the feast. On this day, the priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and bring it to the Temple and pour it out on the altar. The Pool of Siloam was known as the “living water”. This was when Jesus stood up and said, “if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drynk. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from with in him.” Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit that would be given after he left.
When the Pharisees asked the temple guards why they didn’t arrest Jesus, they said that no one spoke like he did. How true a statement.
Lord, You alone have the words of life. Thank you for your Word.
Friday, May 12, 2017
Fri.’s Devo - The People's Choice
Read: 1 Samuel 12:1-13:22; John 7:1-29; Psalm 108:1-13; Proerbs 15:4
Samuel gave Israel his last speech at Saul’s dedication as king. He reminded them of his reign as their judge and prophet. He had not taken any money or done anything deceitful. Through the judges, God had given them peace on every side but when the king of the Ammonites came against them they cried out for a king. So here was the king God gave them. This was not God’s will but there’s and just to let them know that God sent thunder and rain. The people were afraid but it was too late to change what they had set in motion. They had a king and his name was Saul. He was 30 years old and served as king 42 years.
Six thousand of the men that came to Saul’s dedication were chosen by Saul to stay and fight the Ammonites. The Ammonites assembled 9,000 men to fight Israel. Saul waited for Samuel to come and bless his battle with sacrifices to God but Samuel was late and Saul’s men were quaking in fear and dropping like flies. Saul was also afraid and decided to take matters into his own hands. He offered the sacrifices and as soon as he was finished, Samuel showed up. Samuel rebuked Saul and told him that his decision would cost him the kingdom. God would give it to someone who had a heart after God and would obey him.
Saul’s army had whittled down from 6,000 to 600 and because the Philistines had taken all the blacksmiths out of Israel no one had a weapon except Saul and Jonathan, his son.
Once again, it was the time of the wheat harvest which has to do with Pentecost (spiritual warfare, betrothal and the Holy Spirit). Israel had betrothed themselves to a king and the Holy Spirit had left. They were in the midst of a war they had no way of winning.
In John, it was the Feast of Tabernacles. The fulfillment of this feast will be Jesus coming back to earth in the clouds on a white horse. He will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and everyone will see and know who he is. So it is no wonder that the disciples were wanting Jesus to become public and exalted in the earth. Jesus told them that this was not the time for that. Instead he waited till a few days into the feast and showed up teaching them publicly. He read their thoughts and spoke directly to their questions in their heart.
Lord, help us to know the season we are in and respond to what your heart is saying.
Samuel gave Israel his last speech at Saul’s dedication as king. He reminded them of his reign as their judge and prophet. He had not taken any money or done anything deceitful. Through the judges, God had given them peace on every side but when the king of the Ammonites came against them they cried out for a king. So here was the king God gave them. This was not God’s will but there’s and just to let them know that God sent thunder and rain. The people were afraid but it was too late to change what they had set in motion. They had a king and his name was Saul. He was 30 years old and served as king 42 years.
Six thousand of the men that came to Saul’s dedication were chosen by Saul to stay and fight the Ammonites. The Ammonites assembled 9,000 men to fight Israel. Saul waited for Samuel to come and bless his battle with sacrifices to God but Samuel was late and Saul’s men were quaking in fear and dropping like flies. Saul was also afraid and decided to take matters into his own hands. He offered the sacrifices and as soon as he was finished, Samuel showed up. Samuel rebuked Saul and told him that his decision would cost him the kingdom. God would give it to someone who had a heart after God and would obey him.
Saul’s army had whittled down from 6,000 to 600 and because the Philistines had taken all the blacksmiths out of Israel no one had a weapon except Saul and Jonathan, his son.
Once again, it was the time of the wheat harvest which has to do with Pentecost (spiritual warfare, betrothal and the Holy Spirit). Israel had betrothed themselves to a king and the Holy Spirit had left. They were in the midst of a war they had no way of winning.
In John, it was the Feast of Tabernacles. The fulfillment of this feast will be Jesus coming back to earth in the clouds on a white horse. He will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and everyone will see and know who he is. So it is no wonder that the disciples were wanting Jesus to become public and exalted in the earth. Jesus told them that this was not the time for that. Instead he waited till a few days into the feast and showed up teaching them publicly. He read their thoughts and spoke directly to their questions in their heart.
Lord, help us to know the season we are in and respond to what your heart is saying.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Thurs.’s Devo - Saul’s Rise to Kingship
Read: 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15; John 6:43-71; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 15:1-3
Saul was invited to eat and stay with the prophet of Israel. He had no idea what Samuel was about to tell him. Saul was just an ordinary young man. Saul took him aside to anoint him king. He anointed him with a flask of oil pouring it over his head. He kissed him and told him some things that were about to happen so Saul would believe that Samuel heard from God about the kingship. Israel had never had a king so there was no palace or throne. Saul just went home, but on the way, everything that Samuel said would happen did.
Days later, Samuel called the people of Israel to Mizpah which was their sacred meeting place. There he proclaimed Saul their king in the presence of the people. Saul had to be found because he was hiding. Saul had been called to the highest position of the land, so no wonder he was intimidated and afraid.
Once again, Samuel explained all the regulations of the king, but the people weren’t listening, they were shouting “Long live the king!” Saul didn’t have the heart of all the people; he had a few enemies among the people.
It didn’t take long for the people to need Saul’s leadership. The Ammonites came against Saul’s town to make them tribute slaves. The only way they would make a treaty of friendship with them was if Saul’s people agreed to gouge out their right eyes. Saul cut up and sent pieces of oxen to the tribes and told them that if they didn’t help him he would do the same to their oxen. Three hundred and thirty thousand men showed up to help and they won. Now, the people were convinced Saul was a worthy king and they wanted to kill all the men who had opposed Saul at first. Saul refused to retaliate against them because God had given them victory.
Saul started out as a very good king.
In John, Jesus made a very important statement. He said that no one could come to him unless God drew them. He told them that he was the only one who had ever seen God. Then he explained that he was the bread of life. He was the fulfillment of the manna from heaven. Whoever eats of his bread will live forever. His bread was his flesh. When the religious people questioned how they were suppose to eat his flesh Jesus threw an even greater analogy at them. He told them that if they didn’t eat his flesh or drink his blood they would not have life. The only way anyone could understand this would be to have spiritual understanding, which they didn’t. Jesus was whittling down his followers and looking for those who would follow even if they didn’t understand. These would be those who chose to walk by faith. Jesus will offend our flesh to speak to our spirit.
Lord, help us to walk by faith even when it doesn’t make sense to our carnal understanding.
Saul was invited to eat and stay with the prophet of Israel. He had no idea what Samuel was about to tell him. Saul was just an ordinary young man. Saul took him aside to anoint him king. He anointed him with a flask of oil pouring it over his head. He kissed him and told him some things that were about to happen so Saul would believe that Samuel heard from God about the kingship. Israel had never had a king so there was no palace or throne. Saul just went home, but on the way, everything that Samuel said would happen did.
Days later, Samuel called the people of Israel to Mizpah which was their sacred meeting place. There he proclaimed Saul their king in the presence of the people. Saul had to be found because he was hiding. Saul had been called to the highest position of the land, so no wonder he was intimidated and afraid.
Once again, Samuel explained all the regulations of the king, but the people weren’t listening, they were shouting “Long live the king!” Saul didn’t have the heart of all the people; he had a few enemies among the people.
It didn’t take long for the people to need Saul’s leadership. The Ammonites came against Saul’s town to make them tribute slaves. The only way they would make a treaty of friendship with them was if Saul’s people agreed to gouge out their right eyes. Saul cut up and sent pieces of oxen to the tribes and told them that if they didn’t help him he would do the same to their oxen. Three hundred and thirty thousand men showed up to help and they won. Now, the people were convinced Saul was a worthy king and they wanted to kill all the men who had opposed Saul at first. Saul refused to retaliate against them because God had given them victory.
Saul started out as a very good king.
In John, Jesus made a very important statement. He said that no one could come to him unless God drew them. He told them that he was the only one who had ever seen God. Then he explained that he was the bread of life. He was the fulfillment of the manna from heaven. Whoever eats of his bread will live forever. His bread was his flesh. When the religious people questioned how they were suppose to eat his flesh Jesus threw an even greater analogy at them. He told them that if they didn’t eat his flesh or drink his blood they would not have life. The only way anyone could understand this would be to have spiritual understanding, which they didn’t. Jesus was whittling down his followers and looking for those who would follow even if they didn’t understand. These would be those who chose to walk by faith. Jesus will offend our flesh to speak to our spirit.
Lord, help us to walk by faith even when it doesn’t make sense to our carnal understanding.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Wed.’s Devo - Israel's First King
Read: 1 Samuel 8:1-9:27; John 6:22-42; Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 14:34-35
Samuel and Eli both had sons that were evil. Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah took bribes from the people and distorted justice. Samuel was the last judge and the people were demanding a king since Samuel’s sons were not like Samuel. Samuel took their request before God who told him to listen to all the people were saying because they were not rejecting Samuel but they were rejecting God.
Samuel warned the people of what a king would require of them. He would take their sons and make them serve in his army. Their men would serve him as gardeners and women as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He would take their best vineyards and olive groves for himself and a tenth of their grain and vintage for his officials and attendants. He would take from the people their best servants, cattle, flocks, and donkeys. They would all become his slaves in the end.
The people refused to listen and wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations. They wanted a king to lead them and fight their battles.
When we walk out of God’s will for us and choose what we think is best or what we want it always starts out looking great. Little by little, we lose ground until one day we wake up and realize the devil has taken everything from us. This is just how he works…it’s a slow decline from light into darkness. Our Psalm for today explains the whole rebellion in the wilderness. They rebelled against the Spirit of God and refused to kill the people in the land. Instead they mingled with them and adopted their customs and their gods. They wanted to be like all the other nations which is a temptation we still fight today. The temptation to “fit in” is in opposition to God. God set us apart for God’s workmanship. We are never to look like the world.
God sent what they asked for. He gave them a king that looked just like they would want. Saul was taller than any other man and handsome. His name means “requested” - the people requested him.
In John, we find the people totally perplexed that Jesus would be on one side of the lake that night and the next day be on the other side. They had just witnessed Jesus make a feast to feed a multitude from a single sack lunch and were ready to make him king. He could end poverty and the food shortage for sure. Jesus explained to them that he was the bread of life and that if they came to him they would never be hungry. The people had a hard time with this saying because they only had natural eyes and heart. They were spiritually blind and depleted.
Lord, help us to seek your kingdom over the one we can see with our eyes.
Samuel and Eli both had sons that were evil. Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah took bribes from the people and distorted justice. Samuel was the last judge and the people were demanding a king since Samuel’s sons were not like Samuel. Samuel took their request before God who told him to listen to all the people were saying because they were not rejecting Samuel but they were rejecting God.
Samuel warned the people of what a king would require of them. He would take their sons and make them serve in his army. Their men would serve him as gardeners and women as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He would take their best vineyards and olive groves for himself and a tenth of their grain and vintage for his officials and attendants. He would take from the people their best servants, cattle, flocks, and donkeys. They would all become his slaves in the end.
The people refused to listen and wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations. They wanted a king to lead them and fight their battles.
When we walk out of God’s will for us and choose what we think is best or what we want it always starts out looking great. Little by little, we lose ground until one day we wake up and realize the devil has taken everything from us. This is just how he works…it’s a slow decline from light into darkness. Our Psalm for today explains the whole rebellion in the wilderness. They rebelled against the Spirit of God and refused to kill the people in the land. Instead they mingled with them and adopted their customs and their gods. They wanted to be like all the other nations which is a temptation we still fight today. The temptation to “fit in” is in opposition to God. God set us apart for God’s workmanship. We are never to look like the world.
God sent what they asked for. He gave them a king that looked just like they would want. Saul was taller than any other man and handsome. His name means “requested” - the people requested him.
In John, we find the people totally perplexed that Jesus would be on one side of the lake that night and the next day be on the other side. They had just witnessed Jesus make a feast to feed a multitude from a single sack lunch and were ready to make him king. He could end poverty and the food shortage for sure. Jesus explained to them that he was the bread of life and that if they came to him they would never be hungry. The people had a hard time with this saying because they only had natural eyes and heart. They were spiritually blind and depleted.
Lord, help us to seek your kingdom over the one we can see with our eyes.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Tues.’s Devo - Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Read: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17; John 6:1-21; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 14:32-33
Today’s reading gives us a picture of how God feels about other gods. The Philistines had put the ark of God in Ashdod in the temple of Dagon. I guess they were going to add God to their gods. The ark of God’s covenant made a mockery of Dagon’s power. Dragon was the fish god. God is the creator of all the fish in the sea so Dagon had to bow before his creator. God’s judgment on the people of Ashdod was tumors. The Hebrew word for tumor is “ravager”. What a description of cancer!
The ark of God was in Ashdod for 7 months before they decided to do something about it. The ark had to be returned and their priests told them not to send it back without a guilt offering. Since their were five Philistine rulers from five Philistine towns that had been affected by God’s plague, they sent five gold tumors and five gold rats with the ark. They knew that if they did this it would assure their healing and the plague being lifted. Sometimes the world catches on to God’s dealings faster than the church. We seem to forget that God is a God who chastens and disciplines those He loves. God requires the enemy to pay back what he steals and more.
Next the priests of Ashdod told his people to take two cows that that just given birth and never been yoked and yoke them to the cart that would carry the ark. They were to put the guilt offering and the ark on the cart and just let it go. There are so many supernatural things about what happened. Cows that have just given birth would never have left their calves. Cows that have never been yoked would have put up a fight. And… how did they know where to go? God defied natural instincts and had the cart go straight up to Beth Shemesh. Beth Shemesh means “house of the sun”. When they got there it was wheat harvest making it the season of Pentecost. Pentecost represents spiritual warfare and the bringing in of the Holy Spirit. Through spiritual warfare the Presence of the Lord was coming back to the people.
When the ark got to Beth Shemesh, they set the ark on a rock which represented Jesus. Jesus would be the one God would place his spirit in and send to earth. Seventy of the men of Beth Shemesh were killed because they looked into the ark. Next came the victory. Now that Israel had repented and had God’s presence back, they were able to fight and win against their enemies, the Phistines.
Jesus, as our example, walked in the presence of the Lord and nothing about his life was natural. He healed the sick, fed the multitudes, walked on the water and translated his disciples out of a storm safely to the other side. We are to walk in this type of power. In our Psalm we read that God gave the Israelites what they asked for; it was calamity.
Lord, we don’t want calamity, we want the power of the Holy Spirit to live a supernatural life. We ask for that!
Today’s reading gives us a picture of how God feels about other gods. The Philistines had put the ark of God in Ashdod in the temple of Dagon. I guess they were going to add God to their gods. The ark of God’s covenant made a mockery of Dagon’s power. Dragon was the fish god. God is the creator of all the fish in the sea so Dagon had to bow before his creator. God’s judgment on the people of Ashdod was tumors. The Hebrew word for tumor is “ravager”. What a description of cancer!
The ark of God was in Ashdod for 7 months before they decided to do something about it. The ark had to be returned and their priests told them not to send it back without a guilt offering. Since their were five Philistine rulers from five Philistine towns that had been affected by God’s plague, they sent five gold tumors and five gold rats with the ark. They knew that if they did this it would assure their healing and the plague being lifted. Sometimes the world catches on to God’s dealings faster than the church. We seem to forget that God is a God who chastens and disciplines those He loves. God requires the enemy to pay back what he steals and more.
Next the priests of Ashdod told his people to take two cows that that just given birth and never been yoked and yoke them to the cart that would carry the ark. They were to put the guilt offering and the ark on the cart and just let it go. There are so many supernatural things about what happened. Cows that have just given birth would never have left their calves. Cows that have never been yoked would have put up a fight. And… how did they know where to go? God defied natural instincts and had the cart go straight up to Beth Shemesh. Beth Shemesh means “house of the sun”. When they got there it was wheat harvest making it the season of Pentecost. Pentecost represents spiritual warfare and the bringing in of the Holy Spirit. Through spiritual warfare the Presence of the Lord was coming back to the people.
When the ark got to Beth Shemesh, they set the ark on a rock which represented Jesus. Jesus would be the one God would place his spirit in and send to earth. Seventy of the men of Beth Shemesh were killed because they looked into the ark. Next came the victory. Now that Israel had repented and had God’s presence back, they were able to fight and win against their enemies, the Phistines.
Jesus, as our example, walked in the presence of the Lord and nothing about his life was natural. He healed the sick, fed the multitudes, walked on the water and translated his disciples out of a storm safely to the other side. We are to walk in this type of power. In our Psalm we read that God gave the Israelites what they asked for; it was calamity.
Lord, we don’t want calamity, we want the power of the Holy Spirit to live a supernatural life. We ask for that!
Monday, May 8, 2017
Mon.’s Devo - The New Order
Read: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22; John 5:24-47; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 14:30-31
Eli heard rumors of all the wicked things his sons did and tried to warn them they were sinning against God who would punish them. But Eli continued to let them serve as priests and didn’t command them to stop what they were doing. God sent Eli a prophet to rebuke him. He told him that since Eli honored his sons over God, then every one of his descendants would die in the prime of their life. God would raise up someone else who would be faithful to him and have God’s heart and mind. This person was growing up in his house.
Samuel had not learned to hear God’s voice so when God called him, he thought it was Eli. It took three times before Eli realized it was God speaking to Samuel. God told Samuel what would happen to Eli and his family and that there was no atonement left for the house of Eli.
As Samuel grew in the Lord, the people recognized him as a prophet and Samuel taught the people from what God told him. The Philistines came to conquer the Israelites. They killed both of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas and took the ark of the covenant. By this time Eli was 98 years old and his natural eyes were as weak as his spiritual eyes. He was told that both his sons had died and the ark was taken. When he heard the ark was taken he fell back and died. Phineas’s wife was pregnant and went into labor. The labor was so hard, she died but not before she could name her son, Ichabod. Phineas means “mouth of pity” and Ichabod means “woe, the glory”. The glory had departed from Israel.
In John, Jesus talked about eternal life and his second coming. At that time, all the dead will rise from their graves and go to judgment. Some will enter into life and some will be condemned. Jesus explained that John testified of him but Jesus’ testimony was even greater than John’s. Jesus’ miracles were the proof that he came from God. Then Jesus rebuked the leaders and told them that they diligently studied the scripture but they didn’t understand them because if they did, they would realize they spoke of Jesus. They didn’t have the love of God in their hearts which made them blind to the truth.
Both Eli and the priests of the New Testament were blind to the truth. They were so caught up in their traditions, they couldn’t see the new thing God was bringing to the world. God is bringing a new order to the world today. He wants the church to rise up and do the works that Jesus did and not be afraid of the devil and his threats. We are to rule and reign on this earth as kings and priests of the Most High God.
Lord, help us to be bold and courageous for You!
Eli heard rumors of all the wicked things his sons did and tried to warn them they were sinning against God who would punish them. But Eli continued to let them serve as priests and didn’t command them to stop what they were doing. God sent Eli a prophet to rebuke him. He told him that since Eli honored his sons over God, then every one of his descendants would die in the prime of their life. God would raise up someone else who would be faithful to him and have God’s heart and mind. This person was growing up in his house.
Samuel had not learned to hear God’s voice so when God called him, he thought it was Eli. It took three times before Eli realized it was God speaking to Samuel. God told Samuel what would happen to Eli and his family and that there was no atonement left for the house of Eli.
As Samuel grew in the Lord, the people recognized him as a prophet and Samuel taught the people from what God told him. The Philistines came to conquer the Israelites. They killed both of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas and took the ark of the covenant. By this time Eli was 98 years old and his natural eyes were as weak as his spiritual eyes. He was told that both his sons had died and the ark was taken. When he heard the ark was taken he fell back and died. Phineas’s wife was pregnant and went into labor. The labor was so hard, she died but not before she could name her son, Ichabod. Phineas means “mouth of pity” and Ichabod means “woe, the glory”. The glory had departed from Israel.
In John, Jesus talked about eternal life and his second coming. At that time, all the dead will rise from their graves and go to judgment. Some will enter into life and some will be condemned. Jesus explained that John testified of him but Jesus’ testimony was even greater than John’s. Jesus’ miracles were the proof that he came from God. Then Jesus rebuked the leaders and told them that they diligently studied the scripture but they didn’t understand them because if they did, they would realize they spoke of Jesus. They didn’t have the love of God in their hearts which made them blind to the truth.
Both Eli and the priests of the New Testament were blind to the truth. They were so caught up in their traditions, they couldn’t see the new thing God was bringing to the world. God is bringing a new order to the world today. He wants the church to rise up and do the works that Jesus did and not be afraid of the devil and his threats. We are to rule and reign on this earth as kings and priests of the Most High God.
Lord, help us to be bold and courageous for You!
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