Chapter 15 should be read again. ----- Original Message ----- From: "O.Addison Gethers" <[email protected]> To: "Deaf-blind inspirational life groups" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 9:20 PM Subject: {dbilg} Fw: Daily Bible Reading For Monday March 23
> > > 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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