O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS
----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 9:34 AM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Saturday March 21 >1 Samuel 7-9 (The Message) > > 1 Samuel 7 > 1 And they did. The men of Kiriath Jearim came and got the Chest of God > and delivered it to the > house of Abinadab on the hill. They ordained his son, Eleazar, > to take responsibility for the Chest of God. > > 2 From the time that the Chest came to rest in Kiriath Jearim, a long time > passed-twenty years it > was-and throughout Israel there was a widespread, fearful > movement toward God. > > 3 Then Samuel addressed the house of Israel: "If you are truly serious > about coming back to God, > clean house. Get rid of the foreign gods and fertility > goddesses, ground yourselves firmly in God, worship him and him alone, and > he'll save you from > Philistine oppression." > > 4 They did it. They got rid of the gods and goddesses, the images of Baal > and Ashtoreth, and gave > their exclusive attention and service to God. > > 5 Next Samuel said, "Get everybody together at Mizpah and I'll pray for > you." > > 6 So everyone assembled at Mizpah. They drew water from the wells and > poured it out before God in a > ritual of cleansing. They fasted all day and prayed, > "We have sinned against God." > > So Samuel prepared the Israelites for holy war there at Mizpah. > > The Place Where God Helped Us > 7 When the Philistines heard that Israel was meeting at Mizpah, the > Philistine leaders went on the > offensive. Israel got the report and became frightened-Philistines > on the move again! > > 8 They pleaded with Samuel, "Pray with all your might! And don't let up! > Pray to God, our God, that > he'll save us from the boot of the Philistines." > > 9 Samuel took a young lamb not yet weaned and offered it whole as a > Whole-Burnt-Offering to God. He > prayed fervently to God, interceding for Israel. And > God answered. > > 10-12 While Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines came within > range to fight Israel. > Just then God thundered, a huge thunderclap exploding > among the Philistines. They panicked-mass confusion!-and ran > helter-skelter from Israel. Israel > poured out of Mizpah and gave chase, killing Philistines > right and left, to a point just beyond Beth Car. Samuel took a single rock > and set it upright > between Mizpah and Shen. He named it "Ebenezer" (Rock of > Help), saying, "This marks the place where God helped us." > > 13-14 The Philistines learned their lesson and stayed home-no more border > crossings. God was hard > on the Philistines all through Samuel's lifetime. All > the cities from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had taken from Israel > were restored. Israel also > freed the surrounding countryside from Philistine control. > And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. > > 15-17 Samuel gave solid leadership to Israel his entire life. Every year > he went on a circuit from > Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah. He gave leadership to Israel > in each of these places. But always he would return to Ramah, where he > lived, and preside from > there. That is where he built an altar to God. > > 1 Samuel 8 > > Rejecting God as the King > 1-3When Samuel got to be an old man, he set his sons up as judges in > Israel. His firstborn son was > named Joel, the name of his second, Abijah. They were > assigned duty in Beersheba. But his sons didn't take after him; they were > out for what they could > get for themselves, taking bribes, corrupting justice. > > 4-5 Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at > Ramah. They presented > their case: "Look, you're an old man, and your sons aren't > following in your footsteps. Here's what we want you to do: Appoint a king > to rule us, just like > everybody else." > > 6 When Samuel heard their demand-"Give us a king to rule us!"-he was > crushed. How awful! Samuel > prayed to God. > > 7-9 God answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking. They are > not rejecting you. They've > rejected me as their King. From the day I brought them > out of Egypt until this very day they've been behaving like this, leaving > me for other gods. And now > they're doing it to you. So let them have their own > way. But warn them of what they're in for. Tell them the way kings > operate, just what they're likely > to get from a king." > > 10-18 So Samuel told them, delivered God's warning to the people who were > asking him to give them a > king. He said, "This is the way the kind of king you're > talking about operates. He'll take your sons and make soldiers of > them-chariotry, cavalry, infantry, > regimented in battalions and squadrons. He'll put > some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to > making either weapons of > war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. He'll > put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks. He'll > conscript your best > fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his > special friends. He'll tax your harvests and vintage to support his > extensive bureaucracy. Your > prize workers and best animals he'll take for his own use. > He'll lay a tax on your flocks and you'll end up no better than slaves. > The day will come when you > will cry in desperation because of this king you so > much want for yourselves. But don't expect God to answer." > > 19-20 But the people wouldn't listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We will > have a king to rule us! > Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king > will rule us and lead us and fight our battles." > > 21-22 Samuel took in what they said and rehearsed it with God. God told > Samuel, "Do what they say. > Make them a king." > > Then Samuel dismissed the men of Israel: "Go home, each of you to your > own city." > > 1 Samuel 9 > > Saul-Head and Shoulders Above the Crowd > 1-2 There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He was the son > of Abiel, grandson of > Zeror, great-grandson of Becorath, great-great-grandson > of Aphiah-a Benjaminite of stalwart character. He had a son, Saul, a most > handsome young man. There > was none finer-he literally stood head and shoulders > above the crowd! > > 3-4 Some of Kish's donkeys got lost. Kish said to his son, "Saul, take one > of the servants with you > and go look for the donkeys." Saul took one of the > servants and went to find the donkeys. They went into the hill country of > Ephraim around Shalisha, > but didn't find them. Then they went over to Shaalim-no > luck. Then to Jabin, and still nothing. > > 5 When they got to Zuph, Saul said to the young man with him, "Enough of > this. Let's go back. Soon > my father is going to forget about the donkeys and start > worrying about us." > > 6 He replied, "Not so fast. There's a holy man in this town. He carries a > lot of weight around > here. What he says is always right on the mark. Maybe he > can tell us where to go." > > 7 Saul said, "If we go, what do we have to give him? There's no more bread > in our sacks. We've > nothing to bring as a gift to the holy man. Do we have anything > else?" > > 8-9 The servant spoke up, "Look, I just happen to have this silver coin! > I'll give it to the holy > man and he'll tell us how to proceed!" (In former times > in Israel, a person who wanted to seek God's word on a matter would say, > "Let's visit the Seer," > because the one we now call "the Prophet" used to be called > "the Seer.") > > 10 "Good," said Saul, "let's go." And they set off for the town where the > holy man lived. > > 11 As they were climbing up the hill into the town, they met some girls > who were coming out to draw > water. They said to them, "Is this where the Seer lives?" > > 12-13 They answered, "It sure is-just ahead. Hurry up. He's come today > because the people have > prepared a sacrifice at the shrine. As soon as you enter > the town, you can catch him before he goes up to the shrine to eat. The > people won't eat until he > arrives, for he has to bless the sacrifice. Only then > can everyone eat. So get going. You're sure to find him!" > > 14 They continued their climb and entered the city. And then there he > was-Samuel!-coming straight > toward them on his way to the shrine! > > 15-16 The very day before, God had confided in Samuel, "This time > tomorrow, I'm sending a man from > the land of Benjamin to meet you. You're to anoint him > as prince over my people Israel. He will free my people from Philistine > oppression. Yes, I know all > about their hard circumstances. I've heard their cries > for help." > > 17 The moment Samuel laid eyes on Saul, God said, "He's the one, the man I > told you about. This is > the one who will keep my people in check." > > 18 Saul came up to Samuel in the street and said, "Pardon me, but can you > tell me where the Seer > lives?" > > 19-20 "I'm the Seer," said Samuel. "Accompany me to the shrine and eat > with me. In the morning I'll > tell you all about what's on your mind, and send you > on your way. And by the way, your lost donkeys-the ones you've been > hunting for the last three > days-have been found, so don't worry about them. At this > moment, Israel's future is in your hands." > > 21 Saul answered, "But I'm only a Benjaminite, from the smallest of > Israel's tribes, and from the > most insignificant clan in the tribe at that. Why are > you talking to me like this?" > > 22-23 Samuel took Saul and his servant and led them into the dining hall > at the shrine and seated > them at the head of the table. There were about thirty > guests. Then Samuel directed the chef, "Bring the choice cut I pointed out > to you, the one I told > you to reserve." > > 24 The chef brought it and placed it before Saul with a flourish, saying, > "This meal was kept aside > just for you. Eat! It was especially prepared for this > time and occasion with these guests." > > Saul ate with Samuel-a memorable day! > > 25 Afterward they went down from the shrine into the city. A bed was > prepared for Saul on the > breeze-cooled roof of Samuel's house. > > 26 They woke at the break of day. Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get > up and I'll send you > off." Saul got up and the two of them went out in the street. > > 27 As they approached the outskirts of town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell > your servant to go on ahead > of us. You stay with me for a bit. I have a word of > God to give you." > > > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
