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: Sunday, March 22, 2009 9:06 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Monday March 23 >1 Samuel 13-15 (The Message) > > 1 Samuel 13 > > "God Is Out Looking for Your Replacement" > 1 Saul was a young man when he began as king. He was king over Israel for > many years. > > 2 Saul conscripted enough men for three companies of soldiers. He kept two > companies under his > command at Micmash and in the Bethel hills. The other company > was under Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. He sent the rest of the men > home. 3-4 Jonathan attacked > and killed the Philistine governor stationed at Geba > (Gibeah). When the Philistines heard the news, they raised the alarm: "The > Hebrews are in revolt!" > Saul ordered the reveille trumpets blown throughout > the land. The word went out all over Israel, "Saul has killed the > Philistine governor-drawn first > blood! The Philistines are stirred up and mad as hornets!" > Summoned, the army came to Saul at Gilgal. > > 5 The Philistines rallied their forces to fight Israel: three companies of > chariots, six companies > of cavalry, and so many infantry they looked like sand > on the seashore. They went up into the hills and set up camp at Micmash, > east of Beth Aven. > > 6-7 When the Israelites saw that they were way outnumbered and in deep > trouble, they ran for cover, > hiding in caves and pits, ravines and brambles and > cisterns-wherever. They retreated across the Jordan River, refugees > fleeing to the country of Gad > and Gilead. But Saul held his ground in Gilgal, his soldiers > still with him but scared to death. > > 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel. Samuel failed to show up > at Gilgal, and the > soldiers were slipping away, right and left. > > 9-10 So Saul took charge: "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace > offerings!" He went ahead and > sacrificed the burnt offering. No sooner had he done > it than Samuel showed up! Saul greeted him. > > 11-12 Samuel said, "What on earth are you doing?" > > Saul answered, "When I saw I was losing my army from under me, and that > you hadn't come when you > said you would, and that the Philistines were poised > at Micmash, I said, 'The Philistines are about to come down on me in > Gilgal, and I haven't yet come > before God asking for his help.' So I took things into > my own hands, and sacrificed the burnt offering." > > 13-14 "That was a fool thing to do," Samuel said to Saul. "If you had kept > the appointment that > your God commanded, by now God would have set a firm and > lasting foundation under your kingly rule over Israel. As it is, your > kingly rule is already falling > to pieces. God is out looking for your replacement > right now. This time he'll do the choosing. When he finds him, he'll > appoint him leader of his > people. And all because you didn't keep your appointment > with God!" > > 15 At that, Samuel got up and left Gilgal. What army there was left > followed Saul into battle. They > went into the hills from Gilgal toward Gibeah in Benjamin. > Saul looked over and assessed the soldiers still with him-a mere six > hundred! > > Jonathan and His Armor Bearer > 16-18 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the soldiers who had remained made camp > at Geba (Gibeah) of > Benjamin. The Philistines were camped at Micmash. Three squads > of raiding parties were regularly sent out from the Philistine camp. One > squadron was assigned to > the Ophrah road going toward Shual country; another was > assigned to the Beth Horon road; the third took the border road that > rimmed the Valley of Hyenas. > > 19-22 There wasn't a blacksmith to be found anywhere in Israel. The > Philistines made sure of > that-"Lest those Hebrews start making swords and spears." > That meant that the Israelites had to go down among the Philistines to > keep their farm > tools-plowshares and mattocks, axes and sickles-sharp and in good > repair. They charged a silver coin for the plowshares and mattocks, and > half that for the rest. So > when the battle of Micmash was joined, there wasn't > a sword or spear to be found anywhere in Israel-except for Saul and his > son Jonathan; they were both > well-armed. > > 23 A patrol of Philistines took up a position at Micmash Pass. > > 1 Samuel 14 > 1-3 Later that day, Jonathan, Saul's son, said to his armor bearer, "Come > on, let's go over to the > Philistine garrison patrol on the other side of the > pass." But he didn't tell his father. Meanwhile, Saul was taking it easy > under the pomegranate tree > at the threshing floor on the edge of town at Geba > (Gibeah). There were about six hundred men with him. Ahijah, wearing the > priestly Ephod, was also > there. (Ahijah was the son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, > son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eli the priest of God at Shiloh.) No > one there knew that > Jonathan had gone off. > > 4-5 The pass that Jonathan was planning to cross over to the Philistine > garrison was flanked on > either side by sharp rock outcroppings, cliffs named Bozez > and Seneh. The cliff to the north faced Micmash; the cliff to the south > faced Geba (Gibeah). > > 6 Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to > these uncircumcised pagans. > Maybe God will work for us. There's no rule that says > God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving > when he sets his mind to > it." > > 7 His armor bearer said, "Go ahead. Do what you think best. I'm with you > all the way." > > 8-10 Jonathan said, "Here's what we'll do. We'll cross over the pass and > let the men see we're > there. If they say, 'Halt! Don't move until we check you > out,' we'll stay put and not go up. But if they say, 'Come on up,' we'll > go right up-and we'll know > God has given them to us. That will be our sign." > > 11 So they did it, the two of them. They stepped into the open where they > could be seen by the > Philistine garrison. The Philistines shouted out, "Look > at that! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!" > > 12 Then they yelled down to Jonathan and his armor bearer, "Come on up > here! We've got a thing or > two to show you!" > > 13 Jonathan shouted to his armor bearer, "Up! Follow me! God has turned > them over to Israel!" > Jonathan scrambled up on all fours, his armor bearer right > on his heels. When the Philistines came running up to them, he knocked > them flat, his armor bearer > right behind finishing them off, bashing their heads > in with stones. > > 14-15 In this first bloody encounter, Jonathan and his armor bearer killed > about twenty men. That > set off a terrific upheaval in both camp and field, the > soldiers in the garrison and the raiding squad badly shaken up, the ground > itself shuddering-panic > like you've never seen before! > > Straight to the Battle > 16-18 Saul's sentries posted back at Geba (Gibeah) in Benjamin saw the > confusion and turmoil raging > in the camp. Saul commanded, "Line up and take the roll. > See who's here and who's missing." When they called the roll, Jonathan and > his armor bearer turned > up missing. > > 18-19 Saul ordered Ahijah, "Bring the priestly Ephod. Let's see what God > has to say here." (Ahijah > was responsible for the Ephod in those days.) While > Saul was in conversation with the priest, the upheaval in the Philistine > camp became greater and > louder. Then Saul interrupted Ahijah: "Put the Ephod away." > > 20-23 Saul immediately called his army together and they went straight to > the battle. When they got > there they found total confusion-Philistines swinging > their swords wildly, killing each other. Hebrews who had earlier defected > to the Philistine camp > came back. They now wanted to be with Israel under Saul > and Jonathan. Not only that, but when all the Israelites who had been > hiding out in the backwoods of > Ephraim heard that the Philistines were running for > their lives, they came out and joined the chase. God saved Israel! What a > day! > > The fighting moved on to Beth Aven. The whole army was behind Saul > now-ten thousand strong!-with > the fighting scattering into all the towns throughout > the hills of Ephraim. > > 24 Saul did something really foolish that day. He addressed the army: "A > curse on the man who eats > anything before evening, before I've wreaked vengeance > on my enemies!" None of them ate a thing all day. > > 25-27 There were honeycombs here and there in the fields. But no one so > much as put his finger in > the honey to taste it, for the soldiers to a man feared > the curse. But Jonathan hadn't heard his father put the army under oath. > He stuck the tip of his > staff into some honey and ate it. Refreshed, his eyes > lit up with renewed vigor. > > 28 A soldier spoke up, "Your father has put the army under solemn oath, > saying, 'A curse on the man > who eats anything before evening!' No wonder the soldiers > are drooping!" > > 29-30 Jonathan said, "My father has imperiled the country. Just look how > quickly my energy has > returned since I ate a little of this honey! It would have > been a lot better, believe me, if the soldiers had eaten their fill of > whatever they took from the > enemy. Who knows how much worse we could have whipped > them!" > > 31-32 They killed Philistines that day all the way from Micmash to > Aijalon, but the soldiers ended > up totally exhausted. Then they started plundering. > They grabbed anything in sight-sheep, cattle, calves-and butchered it > where they found it. Then they > glutted themselves-meat, blood, the works. > > 33-34 Saul was told, "Do something! The soldiers are sinning against God. > They're eating meat with > the blood still in it!" > > Saul said, "You're biting the hand that feeds you! Roll a big rock over > here-now!" He continued, > "Disperse among the troops and tell them, 'Bring your > oxen and sheep to me and butcher them properly here. Then you can feast to > your heart's content. > Please don't sin against God by eating meat with the blood > still in it.'" > > And so they did. That night each soldier, one after another, led his > animal there to be > butchered. > > 35 That's the story behind Saul's building an altar to God. It's the first > altar to God that he > built. > > Find Out What God Thinks > 36 Saul said, "Let's go after the Philistines tonight! We can spend the > night looting and > plundering. We won't leave a single live Philistine!" > > "Sounds good to us," said the troops. "Let's do it!" > > But the priest slowed them down: "Let's find out what God thinks about > this." > > 37 So Saul prayed to God, "Shall I go after the Philistines? Will you put > them in Israel's hand?" > God didn't answer him on that occasion. > > 38-39 Saul then said, "All army officers, step forward. Some sin has been > committed this day. We're > going to find out what it is and who did it! As God > lives, Israel's Savior God, whoever sinned will die, even if it should > turn out to be Jonathan, my > son!" > > Nobody said a word. > > 40 Saul said to the Israelites, "You line up over on that side, and I and > Jonathan my son will > stand on this side." > > The army agreed, "Fine. Whatever you say." > > 41 Then Saul prayed to God, "O God of Israel, why haven't you answered me > today? Show me the truth. > If the sin is in me or Jonathan, then, O God, give > the sign Urim. But if the sin is in the army of Israel, give the sign > Thummim." > > The Urim sign turned up and pointed to Saul and Jonathan. That cleared > the army. > > 42 Next Saul said, "Cast the lots between me and Jonathan-and death to the > one God points to!" > > The soldiers protested, "No-this is not right. Stop this!" But Saul > pushed on anyway. They cast > the lots, Urim and Thummim, and the lot fell to Jonathan. > > 43 Saul confronted Jonathan. "What did you do? Tell me!" > > Jonathan said, "I licked a bit of honey off the tip of the staff I was > carrying. That's it-and > for that I'm to die?" > > 44 Saul said, "Yes. Jonathan most certainly will die. It's out of my > hands- I can't go against God, > can I?" > > 45 The soldiers rose up: "Jonathan-die? Never! He's just carried out this > stunning salvation > victory for Israel. As surely as God lives, not a hair on > his head is going to be harmed. Why, he's been working hand-in-hand with > God all day!" The soldiers > rescued Jonathan and he didn't die. > > 46 Saul pulled back from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went > home. > > 47-48 Saul extended his rule, capturing neighboring kingdoms. He fought > enemies on every > front-Moab, Ammon, Edom, the king of Zobah, the Philistines. Wherever > he turned, he came up with a victory. He became invincible! He smashed > Amalek, freeing Israel from > the savagery and looting. > > 49-51 Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. His daughters were > Merab, the firstborn, > and Michal, the younger. Saul's wife was Ahinoam, daughter > of Ahimaaz. Abner son of Ner was commander of Saul's army (Ner was Saul's > uncle). Kish, Saul's > father, and Ner, Abner's father, were the sons of Abiel. > > 52 All through Saul's life there was war, bitter and relentless, with the > Philistines. Saul > conscripted every strong and brave man he laid eyes on. > > 1 Samuel 15 > 1-2 Samuel said to Saul, "God sent me to anoint you king over his people, > Israel. Now, listen again > to what God says. This is the God-of-the-Angel-Armies > speaking: > > 2-3 "'I'm about to get even with Amalek for ambushing Israel when Israel > came up out of Egypt. > Here's what you are to do: Go to war against Amalek. Put > everything connected with Amalek under a holy ban. And no exceptions! This > is to be total > destruction-men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, > camels and donkeys-the works.'" > > 4-5 Saul called the army together at Telaim and prepared them to go to > war-two hundred companies of > infantry from Israel and another ten companies from > Judah. Saul marched to Amalek City and hid in the canyon. > > 6 Then Saul got word to the Kenites: "Get out of here while you can. > Evacuate the city right now or > you'll get lumped in with the Amalekites. I'm warning > you because you showed real kindness to the Israelites when they came up > out of Egypt." > > And they did. The Kenites evacuated the place. > > 7-9 Then Saul went after Amalek, from the canyon all the way to Shur near > the Egyptian border. He > captured Agag, king of Amalek, alive. Everyone else was > killed under the terms of the holy ban. Saul and the army made an > exception for Agag, and for the > choice sheep and cattle. They didn't include them under > the terms of the holy ban. But all the rest, which nobody wanted anyway, > they destroyed as decreed > by the holy ban. > > 10-11 Then God spoke to Samuel: "I'm sorry I ever made Saul king. He's > turned his back on me. He > refuses to do what I tell him." > > 11-12 Samuel was angry when he heard this. He prayed his anger and > disappointment all through the > night. He got up early in the morning to confront Saul > but was told, "Saul's gone. He went to Carmel to set up a victory monument > in his own honor, and > then was headed for Gilgal." > > By the time Samuel caught up with him, Saul had just finished an act of > worship, having used > Amalekite plunder for the burnt offerings sacrificed to > God. > > 13 As Samuel came close, Saul called out, "God's blessings on you! I > accomplished God's plan to the > letter!" > > 14 Samuel said, "So what's this I'm hearing-this bleating of sheep, this > mooing of cattle?" > > 15 "Only some Amalekite loot," said Saul. "The soldiers saved back a few > of the choice cattle and > sheep to offer up in sacrifice to God. But everything > else we destroyed under the holy ban." > > 16 "Enough!" interrupted Samuel. "Let me tell you what God told me last > night." > > Saul said, "Go ahead. Tell me." > > 17-19 And Samuel told him. "When you started out in this, you were > nothing- and you knew it. Then > God put you at the head of Israel-made you king over > Israel. Then God sent you off to do a job for him, ordering you, 'Go and > put those sinners, the > Amalekites, under a holy ban. Go to war against them until > you have totally wiped them out.' So why did you not obey God? Why did you > grab all this loot? Why, > with God's eyes on you all the time, did you brazenly > carry out this evil?" > > 20-21 Saul defended himself. "What are you talking about? I did obey God. > I did the job God set for > me. I brought in King Agag and destroyed the Amalekites > under the terms of the holy ban. So the soldiers saved back a few choice > sheep and cattle from the > holy ban for sacrifice to God at Gilgal-what's wrong > with that?" > > 22-23 Then Samuel said, > Do you think all God wants are sacrifices- > empty rituals just for show? > He wants you to listen to him! > Plain listening is the thing, > not staging a lavish religious production. > Not doing what God tells you > is far worse than fooling around in the occult. > Getting self-important around God > is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. > Because you said No to God's command, > he says No to your kingship. > > 24-25 Saul gave in and confessed, "I've sinned. I've trampled roughshod > over God's Word and your > instructions. I cared more about pleasing the people. > I let them tell me what to do. Oh, absolve me of my sin! Take my hand and > lead me to the altar so I > can worship God!" > > 26 But Samuel refused: "No, I can't come alongside you in this. You > rejected God's command. Now God > has rejected you as king over Israel." > > 27-29 As Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed at his priestly robe and a > piece tore off. Samuel > said, "God has just now torn the kingdom from you, and > handed it over to your neighbor, a better man than you are. Israel's > God-of-Glory doesn't deceive > and he doesn't dither. He says what he means and means > what he says." > > 30 Saul tried again, "I have sinned. But don't abandon me! Support me with > your presence before the > leaders and the people. Come alongside me as I go back > to worship God." > > 31 Samuel did. He went back with him. And Saul went to his knees before > God and worshiped. > > 32 Then Samuel said, "Present King Agag of Amalek to me." Agag came, > dragging his feet, muttering > that he'd be better off dead. > > 33 Samuel said, "Just as your sword made many a woman childless, so your > mother will be childless > among those women!" And Samuel cut Agag down in the presence > of God right there in Gilgal. > > 34-35 Samuel left immediately for Ramah and Saul went home to Gibeah. > Samuel had nothing to do with > Saul from then on, though he grieved long and deeply > over him. But God was sorry he had ever made Saul king in the first place. > > > 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. 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