2 Samuel 7
One day David gets an idea. Poor God. His Ark of the Covenant has been floating around, from tent to tent, while David is residing in a house made of cedar.
David's thought? Why not build a house for God?
He shares his idea with Nathan who readily agrees.
However, that night, Nathan has a dream, and God lovingly but firmly gives His response to all of this.
No.
God doesn't have to have a house.
He is still there whether in a house of cedar or in a tent.
God loves David.
We often hear He is a man after God's own heart.
And reading this chapter, it is obvious.
He is.
God loves him.
He plans on blessing him for years to come.
In fact, he doesn't just plan. He promises. Promises generations of blessings for David and for His people.
But David won't be the one to build a house for God.
That will be David's son.
I love David's reaction to all of this.
He isn't hurt or feeling slighted.
He is in awe.
He can't believe that God loves him and His people SO much.
He pours out words of praise before God.
Isn't that what we all should do?
Even if God's answer isn't what we expect or even want, shouldn't we pour out our words of awe to Him?
Reba
Next reading:
2 Samuel 8-10
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Week 22 Day 2 Long Live the King
2 Samuel 5-6
I actually read this a week ago.
And I have re-read it.
And re-read it.
But I have had trouble posting about it.
This was a hard passage for me to read.
It starts off good.
After all of these years of running and hiding and defending himself, David is finally declared king.
God's favor is obviously with him as he continues to defeat his enemies and his power and his kingdom grew stronger and more powerful.
But even in all of this, David was very human.
And that begins to show through his leadership.
It started with the moving of the Ark.
David wanted to move the Ark to Jerusalem.
So he gathered men (like 30,000 of them) and they had a huge procession to move it.
Except that one of the oxen pulling the cart stumbled.
And a man named Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark.
He was struck dead. On the spot.
I just researched that a little bit to find out why.
I can see how that would be instinct. Something is tipping, I reach out to steady it.
I don't claim to be a scholar but from what I read the Ark was being moved improperly (via cart rather than carried). Only descendants of the Levites should have been moving it. And there were specific instructions from God to not touch it with hands.
All that leads to one dead man and one very angry David.
Isn't it funny how we get angry when we are the ones who are sinning? David should have known better. And maybe deep down he did. I imagine this was all a shock to a man who was watching his kingdom blossom due to his favor with God. Even when we have favor, we still can fall. And we will. And there will be consequences.
The last part of the passage is the part I had a hard time with.
Michal.
Now remember Michal has been removed from her life and returned to this life, the wife (one of many) of David.
She is at home watching the celebration as the Ark is finally brought to Jerusalem.
And she doesn't care for the way David is celebrating.
She feels he is acting improperly.
From these verses, it is hard to know what her thoughts were. Or her motives.
But she reprimands David.
And he rebukes her.
And she died childless.
So in a way God rebuked her too.
And that is where I am...trying to understand all of that. Trying to digest the whys and hows...
Any thoughts out there?
Tomorrow's reading: 2 Samuel 7.
Reba
I actually read this a week ago.
And I have re-read it.
And re-read it.
But I have had trouble posting about it.
This was a hard passage for me to read.
It starts off good.
After all of these years of running and hiding and defending himself, David is finally declared king.
God's favor is obviously with him as he continues to defeat his enemies and his power and his kingdom grew stronger and more powerful.
But even in all of this, David was very human.
And that begins to show through his leadership.
It started with the moving of the Ark.
David wanted to move the Ark to Jerusalem.
So he gathered men (like 30,000 of them) and they had a huge procession to move it.
Except that one of the oxen pulling the cart stumbled.
And a man named Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark.
He was struck dead. On the spot.
I just researched that a little bit to find out why.
I can see how that would be instinct. Something is tipping, I reach out to steady it.
I don't claim to be a scholar but from what I read the Ark was being moved improperly (via cart rather than carried). Only descendants of the Levites should have been moving it. And there were specific instructions from God to not touch it with hands.
All that leads to one dead man and one very angry David.
Isn't it funny how we get angry when we are the ones who are sinning? David should have known better. And maybe deep down he did. I imagine this was all a shock to a man who was watching his kingdom blossom due to his favor with God. Even when we have favor, we still can fall. And we will. And there will be consequences.
The last part of the passage is the part I had a hard time with.
Michal.
Now remember Michal has been removed from her life and returned to this life, the wife (one of many) of David.
She is at home watching the celebration as the Ark is finally brought to Jerusalem.
And she doesn't care for the way David is celebrating.
She feels he is acting improperly.
From these verses, it is hard to know what her thoughts were. Or her motives.
But she reprimands David.
And he rebukes her.
And she died childless.
So in a way God rebuked her too.
And that is where I am...trying to understand all of that. Trying to digest the whys and hows...
Any thoughts out there?
Tomorrow's reading: 2 Samuel 7.
Reba
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Week 22 Day 1 West Side Story...The Early Years
2 Samuel 3:6-4:12
As I read this passage, all I could think about was The West Side Story. As in the musical. But without the music and songs.
David and Saul's armies are at odds with one another.
On one side, you have Abner who is the leader of Saul's army.
On the other side, you have Joab, the leader of David's army.
In yesterday's passage, Abner had killed one of Joab's brothers.
In today's passage, Joab is out for revenge.
See how it reminds me of The West Side Story?
When does it all stop?
Anyway, at the beginning of this passage, Abner is accused by Saul's son of having an illicit affair with one of Saul's slave women.
That doesn't go over well with Abner.
I assume he is innocent by his response OR he is just really guilty and won't admit to it. It is sometimes hard to tell the difference.
Abner lets Saul's son know that he doesn't appreciate the accusation. And that he is done. He is now on David's side.
Again, I am guessing that he is genuine in his response and truly has switched sides. It appears he had. Unfortunately, we will never know.
Because Joab slipped in and killed Abner in retaliation for the death of his brother.
David was not a happy camper.
Then to top everything off, a couple of men slipped in and killed Saul's son as he slept in his royal bed.
Again, David was not a happy camper.
And the men who committed that crime? They were killed too...
And the war rages on...
Tomorrow's reading: 2 Samuel 5-6
As I read this passage, all I could think about was The West Side Story. As in the musical. But without the music and songs.
David and Saul's armies are at odds with one another.
On one side, you have Abner who is the leader of Saul's army.
On the other side, you have Joab, the leader of David's army.
In yesterday's passage, Abner had killed one of Joab's brothers.
In today's passage, Joab is out for revenge.
See how it reminds me of The West Side Story?
When does it all stop?
Anyway, at the beginning of this passage, Abner is accused by Saul's son of having an illicit affair with one of Saul's slave women.
That doesn't go over well with Abner.
I assume he is innocent by his response OR he is just really guilty and won't admit to it. It is sometimes hard to tell the difference.
Abner lets Saul's son know that he doesn't appreciate the accusation. And that he is done. He is now on David's side.
Again, I am guessing that he is genuine in his response and truly has switched sides. It appears he had. Unfortunately, we will never know.
Because Joab slipped in and killed Abner in retaliation for the death of his brother.
David was not a happy camper.
Then to top everything off, a couple of men slipped in and killed Saul's son as he slept in his royal bed.
Again, David was not a happy camper.
And the men who committed that crime? They were killed too...
And the war rages on...
Tomorrow's reading: 2 Samuel 5-6
Monday, October 7, 2013
Week 21 Day 6 and 7 A Nation Divided
2 Samuel 1-3:5
Saul is now dead.
David mourns then prays, asking the Lord where to go from here.
God clearly tells him to go to Hebron.
So David does.
And he is made the king of Hebron.
Meanwhile, Saul's family has selected their own king. His son Ish-Bosheth was selected king of Israel.
And though Saul is now dead, the rivalry between the two men is not.
For the next several months, Saul's family and David's followers are in a constant state of chasing one another. Joab, one of David's commanders, and Abner, one of Saul's commanders, lead the war.
And the battle wages.
Will the nation ever unite?
Next reading:
2 Samuel 3:6-4:12
Saul is now dead.
David mourns then prays, asking the Lord where to go from here.
God clearly tells him to go to Hebron.
So David does.
And he is made the king of Hebron.
Meanwhile, Saul's family has selected their own king. His son Ish-Bosheth was selected king of Israel.
And though Saul is now dead, the rivalry between the two men is not.
For the next several months, Saul's family and David's followers are in a constant state of chasing one another. Joab, one of David's commanders, and Abner, one of Saul's commanders, lead the war.
And the battle wages.
Will the nation ever unite?
Next reading:
2 Samuel 3:6-4:12
Friday, July 19, 2013
Week 21 Day 5 Share and Share Alike
I Samuel 30-31
As you remember in yesterday's reading, David was sent home after the other Philistine kings objected to him joining in the battle against his own people, the Israelites.
When David arrives home (3 days later), he finds that his own city Ziklag has been raided by the Amalekites. Not just raided but all of the wives and children are gone. Not killed, just taken.
I love that you have all of these tough warriors who find this scene and cry until they couldn't cry anymore. They weren't crying over the loss of their property, their valuables, their treasures. They were crying over the loss of their families. This thought is just heartwarming to me.
Obviously, David is a little upset. He starts out on the quest to find his wives.
And as always, God provides a way.
He provides an Egyptian servant who leads the men right to the Amalekites.
A little bit later, the families are reunited.
One other "neat" part of this story is that as David and his men were heading out to find their families, they came upon a ravine. Two hundred of the men were just too tired to cross the ravine. So David left them behind. After defeating the Amalekites, David and his men returned home. They came upon the 200 soldiers left behind. Trouble makers in the group didn't want the men left behind to get any valuables beyond their wives and children since they had stayed behind. David makes it clear that what they have, they have because of God. They will ALL share alike. End of story.
In the next chapter, the Philistines do attack the Israelites. And just like Samuel (the spirit) had predicted, Saul's sons are killed in action. That includes David's beloved friend Jonathan. Saul is wounded and begs his servant to just end his life. The servant just can't do it so Saul does it to himself.
And just like that, Saul's reign is over.
Tomorrow's reading:
2 Samuel 1-3:5
As you remember in yesterday's reading, David was sent home after the other Philistine kings objected to him joining in the battle against his own people, the Israelites.
When David arrives home (3 days later), he finds that his own city Ziklag has been raided by the Amalekites. Not just raided but all of the wives and children are gone. Not killed, just taken.
I love that you have all of these tough warriors who find this scene and cry until they couldn't cry anymore. They weren't crying over the loss of their property, their valuables, their treasures. They were crying over the loss of their families. This thought is just heartwarming to me.
Obviously, David is a little upset. He starts out on the quest to find his wives.
And as always, God provides a way.
He provides an Egyptian servant who leads the men right to the Amalekites.
A little bit later, the families are reunited.
One other "neat" part of this story is that as David and his men were heading out to find their families, they came upon a ravine. Two hundred of the men were just too tired to cross the ravine. So David left them behind. After defeating the Amalekites, David and his men returned home. They came upon the 200 soldiers left behind. Trouble makers in the group didn't want the men left behind to get any valuables beyond their wives and children since they had stayed behind. David makes it clear that what they have, they have because of God. They will ALL share alike. End of story.
In the next chapter, the Philistines do attack the Israelites. And just like Samuel (the spirit) had predicted, Saul's sons are killed in action. That includes David's beloved friend Jonathan. Saul is wounded and begs his servant to just end his life. The servant just can't do it so Saul does it to himself.
And just like that, Saul's reign is over.
Tomorrow's reading:
2 Samuel 1-3:5
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Week 21 Day 4 Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo
And you are NOT it...
I Samuel 29
So the Philistines are ready to go to war.
Against the Israelites.
So David (who is still living among the Philistines) joins in.
Or at least tries to.
Achish doesn't think a thing of David joining in.
The other kings do.
"Um, why is he here?"
There is a little discussion about the faithfulness and loyalty of David, an Israelite, in fighting the Israelites.
In the end, David is sent home packing.
No war for him.
And no facing his own people.
Do you think God was in the middle of that situation?
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 30-31
Reba
I Samuel 29
So the Philistines are ready to go to war.
Against the Israelites.
So David (who is still living among the Philistines) joins in.
Or at least tries to.
Achish doesn't think a thing of David joining in.
The other kings do.
"Um, why is he here?"
There is a little discussion about the faithfulness and loyalty of David, an Israelite, in fighting the Israelites.
In the end, David is sent home packing.
No war for him.
And no facing his own people.
Do you think God was in the middle of that situation?
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 30-31
Reba
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Week 21 Day 3 Calling on the Spirits
I Samuel 28
The fighting never ends.
The Philistines are ready to attack Israel. Again.
But this time, they have David on their side.
And Saul knows.
He knows he is in trouble.
So he calls on God...the same God he has rejected over and over again.
The God who doesn't respond.
And Saul is desperate.
I am pretty sure it is safe to say he is not in his right mind.
In his moment of weakness, Saul seeks a medium to foresee the future for him.
The only problem is that he has forced all of the mediums and fortune-tellers from the land.
Ironically, in spite of that, Saul's men know where to find one.
Saul puts on a disguise and goes to visit her in the darkness of night.
The woman is suspicious but finally does what Saul asks.
She brings up the spirit of Samuel.
I find all of this interesting. I see "fortune teller" advertisements around town. I hear people say in astonishment, "That person really knew me and my past..."
And from what I read here, that is possible.
This story doesn't indicate that all fortune tellers or mediums are false. Or that spirits can't be disturbed. Samuel's was.
What it does indicate though is that it is not God-endorsed. Not God-approved. Not God-driven.
Our faith and hope should be in God. Alone.
Not in people.
I like how Samuel asks, "Why have you disturbed me?"
Not, "Wow, Saul, so good to see you again!"
Saul and Samuel have an entire conversation.
And not a pretty one.
Saul and his sons are going to fall.
I will admit, I am a little confused by the statement "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me."
Does that mean Samuel is not in heaven? Or that Saul (in spite of all of his errors) is? Or just that they would all be spirits (no longer alive)?
After reading a few different commentaries, there are no clear answers. Some say that Samuel is actually Samuel. Some say he was an evil spirit conjured up by Satan.
We just don't know.
Either way, Saul learns his fate.
His time on earth is short.
And he knows it.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 29
The fighting never ends.
The Philistines are ready to attack Israel. Again.
But this time, they have David on their side.
And Saul knows.
He knows he is in trouble.
So he calls on God...the same God he has rejected over and over again.
The God who doesn't respond.
And Saul is desperate.
I am pretty sure it is safe to say he is not in his right mind.
In his moment of weakness, Saul seeks a medium to foresee the future for him.
The only problem is that he has forced all of the mediums and fortune-tellers from the land.
Ironically, in spite of that, Saul's men know where to find one.
Saul puts on a disguise and goes to visit her in the darkness of night.
The woman is suspicious but finally does what Saul asks.
She brings up the spirit of Samuel.
I find all of this interesting. I see "fortune teller" advertisements around town. I hear people say in astonishment, "That person really knew me and my past..."
And from what I read here, that is possible.
This story doesn't indicate that all fortune tellers or mediums are false. Or that spirits can't be disturbed. Samuel's was.
What it does indicate though is that it is not God-endorsed. Not God-approved. Not God-driven.
Our faith and hope should be in God. Alone.
Not in people.
I like how Samuel asks, "Why have you disturbed me?"
Not, "Wow, Saul, so good to see you again!"
Saul and Samuel have an entire conversation.
And not a pretty one.
Saul and his sons are going to fall.
I will admit, I am a little confused by the statement "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me."
Does that mean Samuel is not in heaven? Or that Saul (in spite of all of his errors) is? Or just that they would all be spirits (no longer alive)?
After reading a few different commentaries, there are no clear answers. Some say that Samuel is actually Samuel. Some say he was an evil spirit conjured up by Satan.
We just don't know.
Either way, Saul learns his fate.
His time on earth is short.
And he knows it.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 29
Monday, July 15, 2013
Week 21 Day 2 Living with the Enemy
I Samuel 27
David has learned.
Saul has twice now promised to not pursue killing David.
But David is a little wiser these days.
He knows.
Saul will not give up.
So David escapes.
To the land of the Philistines.
Am I the only one who finds this ironic?
The Philistines.
You know, as in Goliath the Philistine.
The one David killed.
The one that launched him into greatness.
The same greatness that caused Saul to start to resent him...
And now where is David?
Living in the land of the Philistines.
Now wouldn't you think the Philistines would have a little difficulty allowing David to live there? You know, after the whole Goliath incident?
Apparently not.
In fact, the king of Gath just gave David the city of Ziklag.
A whole city!
Meanwhile, David goes out and raids other people.
The king Achish asks him where.
David makes up places (in Israel...so not true).
And Achish believes him.
And the plot thickens...
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 28
Reba
David has learned.
Saul has twice now promised to not pursue killing David.
But David is a little wiser these days.
He knows.
Saul will not give up.
So David escapes.
To the land of the Philistines.
Am I the only one who finds this ironic?
The Philistines.
You know, as in Goliath the Philistine.
The one David killed.
The one that launched him into greatness.
The same greatness that caused Saul to start to resent him...
And now where is David?
Living in the land of the Philistines.
Now wouldn't you think the Philistines would have a little difficulty allowing David to live there? You know, after the whole Goliath incident?
Apparently not.
In fact, the king of Gath just gave David the city of Ziklag.
A whole city!
Meanwhile, David goes out and raids other people.
The king Achish asks him where.
David makes up places (in Israel...so not true).
And Achish believes him.
And the plot thickens...
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 28
Reba
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Week 21 Day 1 Broken Promises
I Samuel 25-26
In Chapter 25, David sends a request to a man named Nabal. Nabal is a very rich man with a lot of sheep and goats. He apparently is also a very cruel and mean guy.
Yet somehow he has a wise and beautiful wife named Abigail. Go figure.
Anyway, David asks for some basic supplies for his men. He appeals to Nabal, reminding Nabal that he has always been kind and peaceful with Nabal's shepherds.
Except Nabal of course is a cruel and mean guy. And he doesn't really care. About anyone or anything other than himself.
So he rebuffs David.
Insults him.
And then turns around and walks away.
Obviously, David is not a happy camper to get such news.
And he goes into revenge mode.
He tells his men to get their swords to attack.
Meanwhile, Abigail hears about the situation and decides to remedy it.
She assembles a whole feast of bread, wine, cooked sheep, and cakes. And she heads over to David's camp.
She humbly offers an apology for her husband's behavior and presents her gifts to David. Then she carefully reminds David that he doesn't need to shed innocent blood due to the foolishness of her husband.
If you haven't read her speech, I HIGHLY recommend it.
It is dripping with wisdom and well said.
In the end, David calls off the attack, Nabal dies of natural causes (at the hand of God), and Abigail becomes David's wife.
Now, moving on to Chapter 26.
Again, Saul is pursuing David.
Guess that promise in the last reading didn't hold long.
One night, David sneaks into the camp and finds Saul asleep.
He takes Saul's spear and water jug and sneaks back out of the camp.
Then he calls to Abner (who should be guarding the camp) and lets him know that he is failing his job.
Saul wakes up, disoriented, but he knows that voice. He recognizes it is David.
Again, David lets Saul know he could have killed him but he won't because Saul is God's appointed king for the people.
And again, Saul seems remorseful for chasing an innocent man.
And again, he promises not to harm David (or attempt to) any more.
Promises, promises...
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 27
Reba
In Chapter 25, David sends a request to a man named Nabal. Nabal is a very rich man with a lot of sheep and goats. He apparently is also a very cruel and mean guy.
Yet somehow he has a wise and beautiful wife named Abigail. Go figure.
Anyway, David asks for some basic supplies for his men. He appeals to Nabal, reminding Nabal that he has always been kind and peaceful with Nabal's shepherds.
Except Nabal of course is a cruel and mean guy. And he doesn't really care. About anyone or anything other than himself.
So he rebuffs David.
Insults him.
And then turns around and walks away.
Obviously, David is not a happy camper to get such news.
And he goes into revenge mode.
He tells his men to get their swords to attack.
Meanwhile, Abigail hears about the situation and decides to remedy it.
She assembles a whole feast of bread, wine, cooked sheep, and cakes. And she heads over to David's camp.
She humbly offers an apology for her husband's behavior and presents her gifts to David. Then she carefully reminds David that he doesn't need to shed innocent blood due to the foolishness of her husband.
If you haven't read her speech, I HIGHLY recommend it.
It is dripping with wisdom and well said.
In the end, David calls off the attack, Nabal dies of natural causes (at the hand of God), and Abigail becomes David's wife.
Now, moving on to Chapter 26.
Again, Saul is pursuing David.
Guess that promise in the last reading didn't hold long.
One night, David sneaks into the camp and finds Saul asleep.
He takes Saul's spear and water jug and sneaks back out of the camp.
Then he calls to Abner (who should be guarding the camp) and lets him know that he is failing his job.
Saul wakes up, disoriented, but he knows that voice. He recognizes it is David.
Again, David lets Saul know he could have killed him but he won't because Saul is God's appointed king for the people.
And again, Saul seems remorseful for chasing an innocent man.
And again, he promises not to harm David (or attempt to) any more.
Promises, promises...
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 27
Reba
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Week 20 Day 7 Hide and Seek
I Samuel 23-24
Sorry I have been MIA.
We were on vacation.
You would think that would be a great time for quiet reflection but instead we were either heading to the beach, coming back from the beach, or on the beach. I actually had little computer time...
So, now it is time to get back to my routine.
So, I Samuel 23-24.
Most of these chapters involve David running from Saul. Saul is right on the heels of David but David gets away each time (undoubtedly due to the favor of God).
One neat part is that Saul's son (also David's good friend) Jonathan comes to David and encourages him. He reminds David that David WILL be the ruler one day. No bitterness. No envy. No sorrow. He just knows what God's plans are and supports them (and David) completely.
Now that is a friend to have.
Anyway, the running, the hide and seek games, all of it continues.
The story ends with an odd situation.
Saul has some private business to attend to in a cave.
Meaning he is in quite a vulnerable position.
In fact, David's men are celebrating.
They believe this is how God will deliver David from Saul.
But David doesn't take advantage of the situation.
Well, not much.
He sneaks over and cuts a corner off Saul's robe.
And then he feels guilty.
Yes, guilty.
Even though this is the man who is trying to kill him. The one who has completely disrupted his life by keeping him on the run. The one who resents him for no logical reason.
So he stops his men. No attack. He lets Saul leave.
Then he confronts Saul (from afar).
He shares how close they were in the cave. He reminds Saul that he has never done anything against him.
And Saul agrees.
He gets it.
And he promises to leave David alone.
Now the question is...will he stick with that?
I guess only time will tell...
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 25-26
Reba
Sorry I have been MIA.
We were on vacation.
You would think that would be a great time for quiet reflection but instead we were either heading to the beach, coming back from the beach, or on the beach. I actually had little computer time...
So, now it is time to get back to my routine.
So, I Samuel 23-24.
Most of these chapters involve David running from Saul. Saul is right on the heels of David but David gets away each time (undoubtedly due to the favor of God).
One neat part is that Saul's son (also David's good friend) Jonathan comes to David and encourages him. He reminds David that David WILL be the ruler one day. No bitterness. No envy. No sorrow. He just knows what God's plans are and supports them (and David) completely.
Now that is a friend to have.
Anyway, the running, the hide and seek games, all of it continues.
The story ends with an odd situation.
Saul has some private business to attend to in a cave.
Meaning he is in quite a vulnerable position.
In fact, David's men are celebrating.
They believe this is how God will deliver David from Saul.
But David doesn't take advantage of the situation.
Well, not much.
He sneaks over and cuts a corner off Saul's robe.
And then he feels guilty.
Yes, guilty.
Even though this is the man who is trying to kill him. The one who has completely disrupted his life by keeping him on the run. The one who resents him for no logical reason.
So he stops his men. No attack. He lets Saul leave.
Then he confronts Saul (from afar).
He shares how close they were in the cave. He reminds Saul that he has never done anything against him.
And Saul agrees.
He gets it.
And he promises to leave David alone.
Now the question is...will he stick with that?
I guess only time will tell...
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 25-26
Reba
Monday, June 17, 2013
Week 20 Day 6 On the Run
I Samuel 21-22
David is on the run.
Running from Saul.
Saul who has lost his mind.
Where should he go? What should he do? Where does one hide from the almighty king?
David runs to the safest place he can find... to a priest.
Good place to go.
After all, Saul has turned away from God.
Why would he need a priest?
The priest Ahimilech prays over David and feeds David.
Meanwhile, one of Saul's men comes to visit Ahimilech.
David is in trouble once again.
He asks for (and receives) a sword...the sword of Goliath.
And then he is on the run again.
The next thing you know he is standing before the king of Gath, Achish.
I can't imagine the panic he must have felt. He must have wondered who would defend him if needed. Who he could trust. Who was on his side.
So he stands in front of the king of Gath, hoping that this is right place to be.
Until he hears the servants of the king talking about who David is or who people think he is.
Then he gets those butterflies in his stomach. He gets nervous. He feels unsettled.
So he acts like a madman.
One of my favorite parts made me giggle.
The king looks at David who is acting like a madman and says, "I have enough madmen. I don’t need you to bring him here to act like this in front of me! Don’t let him in my house!”
Hmmm, I feel like that some days at my house. :)
Meanwhile, David is on the run again.
Elsewhere, Saul is just kind of hanging out. He starts to hear rumors that David is still alive and well.
And then his servant mentions, 'Oh, yeah, I saw him visiting Ahimilech." Well, he said it something like that.
And Saul is a little upset.
I personally think he would be upset with the servant who hadn't mentioned that earlier.
But, no. He is upset with Ahimilech.
He calls Ahimilech to him and questions him.
I love how Ahimilech answers.
He could lie. Feign ignorance. Throw God's big name around (not that it would matter with Saul).
But he is honest.
He tells Saul that David has been faithful to Saul, that he often prays for/over David, and reminds Saul that David is his own son-in-law.
Saul doesn't like any of these answers. He is angry. Red hot with anger.
And he decides that all priests should be killed.
Except his men won't do that...kill the priests? Um, no thank you.
Except for one.
The very one who had visited Ahimilech when David had.
He has no trouble killing the priests, killing families, killing animals.
Except for one who escaped.
One son of Ahimilech.
And where did he go?
To join David in hiding.
The plot thickens...
Reba
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 23-24
David is on the run.
Running from Saul.
Saul who has lost his mind.
Where should he go? What should he do? Where does one hide from the almighty king?
David runs to the safest place he can find... to a priest.
Good place to go.
After all, Saul has turned away from God.
Why would he need a priest?
The priest Ahimilech prays over David and feeds David.
Meanwhile, one of Saul's men comes to visit Ahimilech.
David is in trouble once again.
He asks for (and receives) a sword...the sword of Goliath.
And then he is on the run again.
The next thing you know he is standing before the king of Gath, Achish.
I can't imagine the panic he must have felt. He must have wondered who would defend him if needed. Who he could trust. Who was on his side.
So he stands in front of the king of Gath, hoping that this is right place to be.
Until he hears the servants of the king talking about who David is or who people think he is.
Then he gets those butterflies in his stomach. He gets nervous. He feels unsettled.
So he acts like a madman.
One of my favorite parts made me giggle.
The king looks at David who is acting like a madman and says, "I have enough madmen. I don’t need you to bring him here to act like this in front of me! Don’t let him in my house!”
Hmmm, I feel like that some days at my house. :)
Meanwhile, David is on the run again.
Elsewhere, Saul is just kind of hanging out. He starts to hear rumors that David is still alive and well.
And then his servant mentions, 'Oh, yeah, I saw him visiting Ahimilech." Well, he said it something like that.
And Saul is a little upset.
I personally think he would be upset with the servant who hadn't mentioned that earlier.
But, no. He is upset with Ahimilech.
He calls Ahimilech to him and questions him.
I love how Ahimilech answers.
He could lie. Feign ignorance. Throw God's big name around (not that it would matter with Saul).
But he is honest.
He tells Saul that David has been faithful to Saul, that he often prays for/over David, and reminds Saul that David is his own son-in-law.
Saul doesn't like any of these answers. He is angry. Red hot with anger.
And he decides that all priests should be killed.
Except his men won't do that...kill the priests? Um, no thank you.
Except for one.
The very one who had visited Ahimilech when David had.
He has no trouble killing the priests, killing families, killing animals.
Except for one who escaped.
One son of Ahimilech.
And where did he go?
To join David in hiding.
The plot thickens...
Reba
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 23-24
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Week 20 Day 5 Keep Your Friends Close...
And Your Enemies Closer...
I Samuel 18-20
This is a story of friends and enemies.
The story starts and ends with friendship.
The friendship between David and Jonathan.
Jonathan would have every right in the world to be leery of David, jealous of David, even hostile to David.
David is doing great things, all in the name of the LORD.
But Jonathan is heir to the throne.
And in many ways, David is a threat to that.
But guess what?
Jonathan doesn't care.
He truly loves David.
They are friends, BFF's, best buds, brothers of the soul.
I think female friendships are neat. I know some very tight "girl friends". And they would go to the end of the earth for each other. In fact, we read stories all of the time about those kinds of friendships.
But male friendships are special too.
They tend to not be as showy, as obvious, as "out there" in the public eye as female friendships. (If you don't believe me, just peruse Facebook for a while :)
But those true friendships are deep.
The kind that cut to the very core of who they are.
That was what Jonathan and David had.
Meanwhile, there is the enemy side.
Saul.
He starts keeping David very close to him just to keep tabs on him.
He is keeping his enemy closer.
So much so that he appoints him higher ranking in the army, gives his daughter in marriage to him, and continues to have David play music for him.
Even if he throws an occasional spear at him.
You see, David has done nothing to Saul.
In fact, he is a fairly humble guy.
But God is with David.
He is not with Saul.
And Saul knows it.
Jealousy starts small and festers and festers until it takes over Saul's every thought, every action, every word.
At one point, he can't even contain his envy.
He tells his own son that he plans to kill David, his son's very best friend.
And that is where today's story ends.
Jonathan is forced to say good-bye to the one true friend he has. All because of a jealous dad.
The good news with friendship though is that miles and years apart don't end a friendship.
True friendship withstands the test of time.
Again and again.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 21-22
I Samuel 18-20
This is a story of friends and enemies.
The story starts and ends with friendship.
The friendship between David and Jonathan.
Jonathan would have every right in the world to be leery of David, jealous of David, even hostile to David.
David is doing great things, all in the name of the LORD.
But Jonathan is heir to the throne.
And in many ways, David is a threat to that.
But guess what?
Jonathan doesn't care.
He truly loves David.
They are friends, BFF's, best buds, brothers of the soul.
I think female friendships are neat. I know some very tight "girl friends". And they would go to the end of the earth for each other. In fact, we read stories all of the time about those kinds of friendships.
But male friendships are special too.
They tend to not be as showy, as obvious, as "out there" in the public eye as female friendships. (If you don't believe me, just peruse Facebook for a while :)
But those true friendships are deep.
The kind that cut to the very core of who they are.
That was what Jonathan and David had.
Meanwhile, there is the enemy side.
Saul.
He starts keeping David very close to him just to keep tabs on him.
He is keeping his enemy closer.
So much so that he appoints him higher ranking in the army, gives his daughter in marriage to him, and continues to have David play music for him.
Even if he throws an occasional spear at him.
You see, David has done nothing to Saul.
In fact, he is a fairly humble guy.
But God is with David.
He is not with Saul.
And Saul knows it.
Jealousy starts small and festers and festers until it takes over Saul's every thought, every action, every word.
At one point, he can't even contain his envy.
He tells his own son that he plans to kill David, his son's very best friend.
And that is where today's story ends.
Jonathan is forced to say good-bye to the one true friend he has. All because of a jealous dad.
The good news with friendship though is that miles and years apart don't end a friendship.
True friendship withstands the test of time.
Again and again.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 21-22
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Week 20 Day 4 Facing the Giant
I Samuel 17
This is a time I wish I had a study Bible.
In the last chapter, David played music for Saul.
In this chapter, Saul doesn't know who he is. Or at least doesn't seem to know.
When did all of this happen?
Unfortunately, I don't know.
I did research a little and there are different theories. Were the verses actually in chronological order? Had Saul just not seen David in a while and didn't recognize him? Was he jealous?
I guess only God knows that.
Anyway, this is the famous David and Goliath story.
I alternate between singing the kid's song "Only a boy named David..." and hearing the Veggietale version in my head.
So... the Philistines and the Israelites are at battle.
The Philistines are on one hill, the Israelites are on another. There is a valley between them.
Each day this giant Philistine named Goliath comes out to taunt the Israelites.
And the Israelites answer by...doing nothing.
Not a thing.
David comes to the Israelite camp one day bringing food for his brothers.
He witnesses the taunting.
And he is appalled.
Why would the Israelites just stand there and let this man taunt not only them but their God?
One of David's big brothers gets annoyed. Really annoyed.
I can't help but laugh because I can SO see my own kids doing this.
"What are you doing here??? You are just being nosy. Go home. You are too little to be here."
Okay, his brother doesn't really say that but he says something kind of like that.
And David is the typical "little brother".
"What? I can't just talk to people? What is your problem?"
I can so hear these exchanges going on. Daily. In my house.
Finally David decides to quit talking.
He goes to Saul and offers to face the giant.
I wonder what Saul thought. Here is this young guy standing in front of him. He can't even wear the battle gear; it is too much for him. And he is the one offering to face the giant?
David takes off the battle gear. He gets back in his regular clothes, grabs a few stones, and confidently heads to the valley. Why confidently? Because he knows HIS God is with him.
Goliath makes his feelings about David completely known. He laughs. He scoffs. He taunts some more.
And then "bam".
David hits him in the head with a stone from a nearby stream.
And down Goliath goes. Dead as a doornail.
Once again, God triumphs.
He always does.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading: I Samuel 18-20
This is a time I wish I had a study Bible.
In the last chapter, David played music for Saul.
In this chapter, Saul doesn't know who he is. Or at least doesn't seem to know.
When did all of this happen?
Unfortunately, I don't know.
I did research a little and there are different theories. Were the verses actually in chronological order? Had Saul just not seen David in a while and didn't recognize him? Was he jealous?
I guess only God knows that.
Anyway, this is the famous David and Goliath story.
I alternate between singing the kid's song "Only a boy named David..." and hearing the Veggietale version in my head.
So... the Philistines and the Israelites are at battle.
The Philistines are on one hill, the Israelites are on another. There is a valley between them.
Each day this giant Philistine named Goliath comes out to taunt the Israelites.
And the Israelites answer by...doing nothing.
Not a thing.
David comes to the Israelite camp one day bringing food for his brothers.
He witnesses the taunting.
And he is appalled.
Why would the Israelites just stand there and let this man taunt not only them but their God?
One of David's big brothers gets annoyed. Really annoyed.
I can't help but laugh because I can SO see my own kids doing this.
"What are you doing here??? You are just being nosy. Go home. You are too little to be here."
Okay, his brother doesn't really say that but he says something kind of like that.
And David is the typical "little brother".
"What? I can't just talk to people? What is your problem?"
I can so hear these exchanges going on. Daily. In my house.
Finally David decides to quit talking.
He goes to Saul and offers to face the giant.
I wonder what Saul thought. Here is this young guy standing in front of him. He can't even wear the battle gear; it is too much for him. And he is the one offering to face the giant?
David takes off the battle gear. He gets back in his regular clothes, grabs a few stones, and confidently heads to the valley. Why confidently? Because he knows HIS God is with him.
Goliath makes his feelings about David completely known. He laughs. He scoffs. He taunts some more.
And then "bam".
David hits him in the head with a stone from a nearby stream.
And down Goliath goes. Dead as a doornail.
Once again, God triumphs.
He always does.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading: I Samuel 18-20
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Week 20 Day 3 Music to the Soul...
I Samuel 16
So Samuel is distressed.
He has helped choose the king Saul who God is increasingly unhappy with.
Finally, God says, "Enough is enough."
He tells Samuel it is time to look for a new king.
Obviously Samuel is a little nervous about that idea.
He knows that if Saul catches wind of this, his life could be in danger.
But God assures Samuel (as He often does) that He has his back.
So they head to Bethlehem.
Hmmm, Bethlehem.
Does that sound familiar?
When Samuel gets to Bethlehem, the elders are scared. I mean, they are shaking in their boots. Or sandals.
For some reason, that strikes me as a bit funny.
Samuel is not a huge warrior. He isn't this vicious king. He is a priest.
Anyway, God Leads Samuel to Jesse's family.
I love what happens next.
The first son of Jesse stands before Samuel.
And Samuel is SURE he is the one, the one to be anointed.
Except he isn't.
I love what God says.
"God does not see the same way people do. People look at the outside of a person, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Can I get an "Amen"?
Isn't that the truth?
We all tend to judge based on what we see on the outside.
But God doesn't care.
He doesn't care if my hair is perfectly combed. Or my toenails are beautifully painted. Or that I am wearing the latest in fashion.
He doesn't look at those things.
He looks at my heart.
Anyway, the sons of Jesse parade before Samuel.
And...
Nothing.
Say what?
God nudges Samuel. Samuel inquires, "Is this it? Is this all you have?" Okay, I paraphrased a bit...
And Jesse says, "Oh, yeah" (yes, more paraphrasing...), there is one more. He is in the fields working.
It makes me wonder.
Did Jesse think less of his youngest son?
Or did it just not occur to him that one of his children was missing???
I guess I will never know.
Jesse calls for his shepherd child David.
And God tells Samuel, "That is him."
Samuel anoints David with oil and leaves.
I have often wondered what David thought about all that.
Did he wonder why this guy was dumping oil on his head?
What did his brothers think? Were they jealous?
Did any of them really know what it all meant?
I don't know the answers.
Just thinking aloud.
What happens next is to me just one more example of how God works.
Saul is distressed.
God's spirit has left him.
And he feels it.
His servants offer to find someone to come play music for him to soothe his heart, his mind, his spirit.
And who do they select?
Yes.
David.
And the plot thickens...
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 17
Reba
So Samuel is distressed.
He has helped choose the king Saul who God is increasingly unhappy with.
Finally, God says, "Enough is enough."
He tells Samuel it is time to look for a new king.
Obviously Samuel is a little nervous about that idea.
He knows that if Saul catches wind of this, his life could be in danger.
But God assures Samuel (as He often does) that He has his back.
So they head to Bethlehem.
Hmmm, Bethlehem.
Does that sound familiar?
When Samuel gets to Bethlehem, the elders are scared. I mean, they are shaking in their boots. Or sandals.
For some reason, that strikes me as a bit funny.
Samuel is not a huge warrior. He isn't this vicious king. He is a priest.
Anyway, God Leads Samuel to Jesse's family.
I love what happens next.
The first son of Jesse stands before Samuel.
And Samuel is SURE he is the one, the one to be anointed.
Except he isn't.
I love what God says.
"God does not see the same way people do. People look at the outside of a person, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Can I get an "Amen"?
Isn't that the truth?
We all tend to judge based on what we see on the outside.
But God doesn't care.
He doesn't care if my hair is perfectly combed. Or my toenails are beautifully painted. Or that I am wearing the latest in fashion.
He doesn't look at those things.
He looks at my heart.
Anyway, the sons of Jesse parade before Samuel.
And...
Nothing.
Say what?
God nudges Samuel. Samuel inquires, "Is this it? Is this all you have?" Okay, I paraphrased a bit...
And Jesse says, "Oh, yeah" (yes, more paraphrasing...), there is one more. He is in the fields working.
It makes me wonder.
Did Jesse think less of his youngest son?
Or did it just not occur to him that one of his children was missing???
I guess I will never know.
Jesse calls for his shepherd child David.
And God tells Samuel, "That is him."
Samuel anoints David with oil and leaves.
I have often wondered what David thought about all that.
Did he wonder why this guy was dumping oil on his head?
What did his brothers think? Were they jealous?
Did any of them really know what it all meant?
I don't know the answers.
Just thinking aloud.
What happens next is to me just one more example of how God works.
Saul is distressed.
God's spirit has left him.
And he feels it.
His servants offer to find someone to come play music for him to soothe his heart, his mind, his spirit.
And who do they select?
Yes.
David.
And the plot thickens...
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 17
Reba
Monday, June 10, 2013
Week 20 Day 2 Trust and Obey...
Well, at this rate, I should be finished by the time my youngest child goes to college. :)
Today's reading: I Samuel 13-15
So Saul is the king.
By people's standards, he is a great king.
He is a warrior.
He takes charge.
He is a soldier, ready to fight.
However, by God's standards, not so much.
Saul is disobedient.
He is prideful.
He seems to only call upon the name of the Lord when in trouble.
And God knows.
In fact, today's reading ends with the phrase "And the LORD was very sorry He made Saul the King of Israel".
Ouch.
My hope, my prayer is that God doesn't say the same thing about me.
I don't want Him to be sorry He created me.
Or made me Mom to these kids.
Or wife to Mark.
Or teacher of many.
I want to listen.
To trust.
To obey.
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 16
Reba
Today's reading: I Samuel 13-15
So Saul is the king.
By people's standards, he is a great king.
He is a warrior.
He takes charge.
He is a soldier, ready to fight.
However, by God's standards, not so much.
Saul is disobedient.
He is prideful.
He seems to only call upon the name of the Lord when in trouble.
And God knows.
In fact, today's reading ends with the phrase "And the LORD was very sorry He made Saul the King of Israel".
Ouch.
My hope, my prayer is that God doesn't say the same thing about me.
I don't want Him to be sorry He created me.
Or made me Mom to these kids.
Or wife to Mark.
Or teacher of many.
I want to listen.
To trust.
To obey.
Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 16
Reba
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Week 20 Day 1 The Right Man for the Job
I Samuel 11-12
Sorry for the absence.
Parent/Teacher conference.
Getting ready for it and then having it. Both wipe me out. Big time.
Anyway, when this passage starts, an Ammonite man names Nahash has surrounded the city of Jabesh in Gilead.
The people of Jabesh were obviously a tad bit unnerved.
They begged for a treaty.
Nahash agreed to a treaty IF he would be allowed to poke out the right eye of each of the people.
Ow.
The leaders of Jabesh asked for a few days (7 to be exact) to seek help.
Messengers went out among the land.
So Saul comes home after a long day of plowing in the fields and encounters people crying.
When he hears what has been said, he is angry.
So angry that he took a pair of oxen and tore them to pieces.
Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am talking about the oxen here.
Saul then organizes the people.
And the next day, at dawn, the people entered the Ammonite camp and defeated them before the heat of day.
Suddenly, all of those people, even the skeptics, decided Saul was the right man for the job. The king job.
In chapter 12, Samuel gives a farewell speech to the people.
He asks the people if he has done anything wrong before them.
They agree he hasn't.
Then he goes on to remind the people of their heritage, starting back with Moses and Aaron.
Don't we all need that sometimes?
We need those reminders of where we came from. Those reminders help steer us where we are going.
Samuel then reminded the people of their sins, including the evil of asking for a king. (Which is ironic since the king just helped the people defeat the Ammonites)
He went on to remind them to serve the Lord with all of their hearts.
A good reminder for us all.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading: I Samuel 13-15
Sorry for the absence.
Parent/Teacher conference.
Getting ready for it and then having it. Both wipe me out. Big time.
Anyway, when this passage starts, an Ammonite man names Nahash has surrounded the city of Jabesh in Gilead.
The people of Jabesh were obviously a tad bit unnerved.
They begged for a treaty.
Nahash agreed to a treaty IF he would be allowed to poke out the right eye of each of the people.
Ow.
The leaders of Jabesh asked for a few days (7 to be exact) to seek help.
Messengers went out among the land.
So Saul comes home after a long day of plowing in the fields and encounters people crying.
When he hears what has been said, he is angry.
So angry that he took a pair of oxen and tore them to pieces.
Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am talking about the oxen here.
Saul then organizes the people.
And the next day, at dawn, the people entered the Ammonite camp and defeated them before the heat of day.
Suddenly, all of those people, even the skeptics, decided Saul was the right man for the job. The king job.
In chapter 12, Samuel gives a farewell speech to the people.
He asks the people if he has done anything wrong before them.
They agree he hasn't.
Then he goes on to remind the people of their heritage, starting back with Moses and Aaron.
Don't we all need that sometimes?
We need those reminders of where we came from. Those reminders help steer us where we are going.
Samuel then reminded the people of their sins, including the evil of asking for a king. (Which is ironic since the king just helped the people defeat the Ammonites)
He went on to remind them to serve the Lord with all of their hearts.
A good reminder for us all.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading: I Samuel 13-15
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Week 19 Day 7 Long Live the King
1 Samuel 9-10
In our last reading (well, my last reading), the people of Israel were demanding a king. Much to God's dismay. Well, I don't know if God is really dismayed. But it was NOT for God or His plan. However, the people were demanding, so God agreed.
In this passage, Saul is just a young man, the son of a "fine man" named Kish. Well, the donkeys of Kish come up missing. Do donkeys just wander off? Anyway, Kish sends Saul out in search of them.
So Saul searches. Everywhere. No donkeys.
But lo and behold, he runs into the "seer". The seer named Samuel.
Now Samuel is not surprised to see Saul at all. God has been chatting with Samuel. God told Samuel that this was him...the king of Israel.
So Samuel and Saul dine together then Samuel tells Saul what God has shared with him.
And then he sends Saul on his way.
I wonder what Saul was thinking at this point. Did he believe it? Was he scared? Did he want to go tell the world?
I am not really sure, but I do know that Saul played it cool.
In fact, later when Samuel stopped by to "select" the king, Saul actually hid!
When Samuel called him out and announced his new title, Saul stepped out. I love that the verses keep mentioning how tall Saul is...he is a head above the others.
And almost immediately, the people proclaimed, "Long live the king!"
Well, most.
Some were not happy with the choice.
And thus the dissension begins...
Not sure on tomorrow's reading because my Bible is out of reach (and I have a pup on my feet). I am going to guess I Samuel 11 and 12.
Happy reading!
Reba
In our last reading (well, my last reading), the people of Israel were demanding a king. Much to God's dismay. Well, I don't know if God is really dismayed. But it was NOT for God or His plan. However, the people were demanding, so God agreed.
In this passage, Saul is just a young man, the son of a "fine man" named Kish. Well, the donkeys of Kish come up missing. Do donkeys just wander off? Anyway, Kish sends Saul out in search of them.
So Saul searches. Everywhere. No donkeys.
But lo and behold, he runs into the "seer". The seer named Samuel.
Now Samuel is not surprised to see Saul at all. God has been chatting with Samuel. God told Samuel that this was him...the king of Israel.
So Samuel and Saul dine together then Samuel tells Saul what God has shared with him.
And then he sends Saul on his way.
I wonder what Saul was thinking at this point. Did he believe it? Was he scared? Did he want to go tell the world?
I am not really sure, but I do know that Saul played it cool.
In fact, later when Samuel stopped by to "select" the king, Saul actually hid!
When Samuel called him out and announced his new title, Saul stepped out. I love that the verses keep mentioning how tall Saul is...he is a head above the others.
And almost immediately, the people proclaimed, "Long live the king!"
Well, most.
Some were not happy with the choice.
And thus the dissension begins...
Not sure on tomorrow's reading because my Bible is out of reach (and I have a pup on my feet). I am going to guess I Samuel 11 and 12.
Happy reading!
Reba
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Week 19 Day 6 Fair Warning
I Samuel 8
No, I haven't fallen off the bandwagon.
We were out of town (a quick "long" trip) then we came back to a busy schedule.
But the important thing is I am here now. :)
So, I Samuel 8.
Samuel is now an old man.
I know, I know. It seems like just yesterday Samuel was a little guy being dropped off with Eli.
And now he is an old man.
I am not being ugly. The Bible actually uses those words.
Now, much like Eli, Samuel has two adult sons (well, they are now) and much like Eli's sons, these sons don't exactly follow God. In fact, they kind of do what they want.
And the people noticed.
They confronted Samuel.
Then they asked for a king.
Seems like an innocent request, right?
It wasn't.
Because apparently (according to God), asking for a king was just one more step away from trusting in God.
God wasn't happy.
HE is the King.
The King of Kings.
He was all the people truly needed.
But the people insisted.
Samuel asked God what to do, what to say.
And God basically told Samuel that if that is what the people want, that is what the people get. I love how God also added, "They haven't rejected you. They have rejected me."
I also love that God pointed out all of the bad things that will come from having a king.
And Samuel relayed that to the people.
And what did the people say?
"We want a king!"
Oh well...they have been warned!
Reba
Tomorrow's reading: I Samuel 9-10
No, I haven't fallen off the bandwagon.
We were out of town (a quick "long" trip) then we came back to a busy schedule.
But the important thing is I am here now. :)
So, I Samuel 8.
Samuel is now an old man.
I know, I know. It seems like just yesterday Samuel was a little guy being dropped off with Eli.
And now he is an old man.
I am not being ugly. The Bible actually uses those words.
Now, much like Eli, Samuel has two adult sons (well, they are now) and much like Eli's sons, these sons don't exactly follow God. In fact, they kind of do what they want.
And the people noticed.
They confronted Samuel.
Then they asked for a king.
Seems like an innocent request, right?
It wasn't.
Because apparently (according to God), asking for a king was just one more step away from trusting in God.
God wasn't happy.
HE is the King.
The King of Kings.
He was all the people truly needed.
But the people insisted.
Samuel asked God what to do, what to say.
And God basically told Samuel that if that is what the people want, that is what the people get. I love how God also added, "They haven't rejected you. They have rejected me."
I also love that God pointed out all of the bad things that will come from having a king.
And Samuel relayed that to the people.
And what did the people say?
"We want a king!"
Oh well...they have been warned!
Reba
Tomorrow's reading: I Samuel 9-10
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Week 19 Day 5 Growths and Rats
I Samuel 6-7
As you may remember, at the end of the last chapter, the Philistines were beginning to regret that they had "captured" the Ark of the Covenant. The people were dealing with growths and deaths and terror.
This went on for 7 months.
7 long months.
Finally, the Philistines had had enough.
They called for their priests and magicians and asked what on earth they could do.
The priests and magicians answered with a very long and complicated answer.
Basically, the Philistines needed to send the Ark back. But they couldn't send it back empty. They needed to add a penalty offering.
A penalty offering of five gold medals of the growths on their skin and five gold models of rats (to represent kings).
Um, yuck.
I am not sure why that was the suggested offering, but it was.
And even more, the Philistines did just that. Without question.
In fact, they put it all on a cart with some cows attached and just let them go.
The cows found their way back to the Israelites, and the Ark was safely home once again.
Growths and rats and all.
Yuck.
The other thing that stood out to me in this passage was that while Samuel was a judge, the Lord was against the Philistines.
That says something about Samuel's dedication and faithfulness to God.
And God's dedication and faithfulness to Samuel.
Tomorrow's reading: I Samuel 8
Reba
As you may remember, at the end of the last chapter, the Philistines were beginning to regret that they had "captured" the Ark of the Covenant. The people were dealing with growths and deaths and terror.
This went on for 7 months.
7 long months.
Finally, the Philistines had had enough.
They called for their priests and magicians and asked what on earth they could do.
The priests and magicians answered with a very long and complicated answer.
Basically, the Philistines needed to send the Ark back. But they couldn't send it back empty. They needed to add a penalty offering.
A penalty offering of five gold medals of the growths on their skin and five gold models of rats (to represent kings).
Um, yuck.
I am not sure why that was the suggested offering, but it was.
And even more, the Philistines did just that. Without question.
In fact, they put it all on a cart with some cows attached and just let them go.
The cows found their way back to the Israelites, and the Ark was safely home once again.
Growths and rats and all.
Yuck.
The other thing that stood out to me in this passage was that while Samuel was a judge, the Lord was against the Philistines.
That says something about Samuel's dedication and faithfulness to God.
And God's dedication and faithfulness to Samuel.
Tomorrow's reading: I Samuel 8
Reba
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Week 19 Day 4 Capture the Flag...or the Ark
1 Samuel 6 and 7
So once again a war is a-brewing.
The Philistines and the Israelites had a war.
In the first battle, the Israelites were defeated. They lost 4000 soldiers on the battlefield.
So the people (Israelites) decided to do something about it.
They went to Shiloh and took the Ark of the Agreement back to battle with them.
In fact, when the Ark reached the Israelite camp, the people went crazy, hooping and hollering.
So much so, the Philistines heard and asked, "What is going on over there?"
When they heard what the ruckus was about, they were a bit nervous. They knew about the Israelite God. They knew what that God had done to the Egyptians.
I have to give them credit though.
The Philistines could have tucked their tails and run.
But instead, they decided to fight like men.
So they did.
And they defeated the Israelites.
30,000 soldiers were killed.
Including Eli's two sons.
Even worse, the Philistines who were so nervous about that God captured the Ark of the Agreement.
Meanwhile, Eli is now 98 years old. And he is sitting in a chair by the side of the road, waiting to hear the outcome of the battle. Apparently he was rather large (in size) at this point. And perhaps a bit lazy. I am not judging. It basically says that in these verses.
So one of the men from the Benjamin tribe comes running into town, tearing his clothes and grieving.
Eli, who is blind at this point, asks the man what was wrong.
The man told him all about the men who died, Eli's sons, and the Ark.
And Eli, apparently distraught, fell out of the chair beside the gate, broke his neck, and died.
A sad ending for a man who had led the people for 40 years.
Even sadder, Eli's daughter-in-law was about to give birth. She heard the news of the Ark and Eli and her husband and went into labor. She had difficulties with the delivery and also died.
Only the baby was left.
Meanwhile, the Philistines were having a tough time of their own.
They carried the Ark of the Agreement back to their idol temple and put it with the idol.
Then strange things started happening.
Idols fell and broke.
The people got growths all over their skin.
People died.
In the end, after moving the Ark to different places (and having the same results everywhere it went, they decided it was too much trouble.
It was going back to the Israelites.
Tomorrow's reading:
1 Samuel 6-7
Happy reading!
Reba
So once again a war is a-brewing.
The Philistines and the Israelites had a war.
In the first battle, the Israelites were defeated. They lost 4000 soldiers on the battlefield.
So the people (Israelites) decided to do something about it.
They went to Shiloh and took the Ark of the Agreement back to battle with them.
In fact, when the Ark reached the Israelite camp, the people went crazy, hooping and hollering.
So much so, the Philistines heard and asked, "What is going on over there?"
When they heard what the ruckus was about, they were a bit nervous. They knew about the Israelite God. They knew what that God had done to the Egyptians.
I have to give them credit though.
The Philistines could have tucked their tails and run.
But instead, they decided to fight like men.
So they did.
And they defeated the Israelites.
30,000 soldiers were killed.
Including Eli's two sons.
Even worse, the Philistines who were so nervous about that God captured the Ark of the Agreement.
Meanwhile, Eli is now 98 years old. And he is sitting in a chair by the side of the road, waiting to hear the outcome of the battle. Apparently he was rather large (in size) at this point. And perhaps a bit lazy. I am not judging. It basically says that in these verses.
So one of the men from the Benjamin tribe comes running into town, tearing his clothes and grieving.
Eli, who is blind at this point, asks the man what was wrong.
The man told him all about the men who died, Eli's sons, and the Ark.
And Eli, apparently distraught, fell out of the chair beside the gate, broke his neck, and died.
A sad ending for a man who had led the people for 40 years.
Even sadder, Eli's daughter-in-law was about to give birth. She heard the news of the Ark and Eli and her husband and went into labor. She had difficulties with the delivery and also died.
Only the baby was left.
Meanwhile, the Philistines were having a tough time of their own.
They carried the Ark of the Agreement back to their idol temple and put it with the idol.
Then strange things started happening.
Idols fell and broke.
The people got growths all over their skin.
People died.
In the end, after moving the Ark to different places (and having the same results everywhere it went, they decided it was too much trouble.
It was going back to the Israelites.
Tomorrow's reading:
1 Samuel 6-7
Happy reading!
Reba
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Week 19 Day 3 A Call in the Night
1 Samuel 2:12-3:21
I could think of nothing clever for my title today. I know, that isn't even really what my focus should be on. But usually these things come to me. (At least they are clever to me :) Tonight, nothing.
But that is not to say I didn't learn something from today's reading.
I did.
Some things I knew.
Eli had some sons who worked with him in the priesthood. Well, they were in the priesthood by name. And name only. They just didn't care about the Lord. They preferred more earthly things. Things like food and women.
Obviously, God wasn't too pleased with this.
In fact, He was rather displeased.
He actually sent some unnamed man of God to tell Eli how very unhappy He was.
He wasn't just unhappy with Eli's sons. He was unhappy with Eli.
"You honor your sons more than me." (verse 29)
Ouch.
I would think that would be painful for a priest to hear.
I am also kind of thinking that as a priest and a father, I would be changing some things if I knew God was watching and not very happy about what He saw.
But then again, I am not Eli.
Then you have Samuel.
Samuel is growing up in the Lord's house with Eli.
(Sidenote: Samuel's mom and dad came to Shiloh each year for the sacrifice and got to visit with Samuel. They even brought a coat for Samuel. And God did bless Hannah and Elkinah with more kids. Five more followed...)
Okay, back to Samuel.
Samuel is growing and maturing.
And he is a big contrast to Eli's sons.
He obeyed the Lord.
He was pleasing to the Lord.
He was faithful to the Lord.
The heart of the story (to me) is the night God called to Samuel in bed.
Samuel is sleeping when the Lord called his name.
I can just imagine how dazed and confused he must have felt.
I mean, I am like that any time I am awakened.
Like the night this week I woke up to find a child staring at me. He just wanted to share with me that his knees hurt. In the middle of the night. Sigh.
So Samuel, in his dazed and confused state, ran to Eli.
And Eli, much like I would have, said, "Go back to bed."
So Samuel did.
Until he heard his name again.
He went running to Eli.
And again, Eli said, "Go back to bed."
I wonder if he said it with that exasperated tone I would have used.
Or maybe he was nicer than me.
The third time Samuel came running, Eli was more awake, more aware. He realized what was going on. And he told Samuel to go back and listen...God was calling.
So again, Samuel heard his name.
And this time, he replied, "Speak, LORD, I am your servant and I am listening."
I love that.
Isn't that how we should always respond if/when God calls?
Speak, Lord. I am your servant. I am listening.
Not "Are you sure that is what you want me to do?"
or "God, I need some kind of proof..."
or "Can't you see I am already busy doing your work?"
Nope, none of that
Speak, Lord, I am your servant. I am listening.
Tomorrow's reading: 1 Samuel 4-5
Reba
I could think of nothing clever for my title today. I know, that isn't even really what my focus should be on. But usually these things come to me. (At least they are clever to me :) Tonight, nothing.
But that is not to say I didn't learn something from today's reading.
I did.
Some things I knew.
Eli had some sons who worked with him in the priesthood. Well, they were in the priesthood by name. And name only. They just didn't care about the Lord. They preferred more earthly things. Things like food and women.
Obviously, God wasn't too pleased with this.
In fact, He was rather displeased.
He actually sent some unnamed man of God to tell Eli how very unhappy He was.
He wasn't just unhappy with Eli's sons. He was unhappy with Eli.
"You honor your sons more than me." (verse 29)
Ouch.
I would think that would be painful for a priest to hear.
I am also kind of thinking that as a priest and a father, I would be changing some things if I knew God was watching and not very happy about what He saw.
But then again, I am not Eli.
Then you have Samuel.
Samuel is growing up in the Lord's house with Eli.
(Sidenote: Samuel's mom and dad came to Shiloh each year for the sacrifice and got to visit with Samuel. They even brought a coat for Samuel. And God did bless Hannah and Elkinah with more kids. Five more followed...)
Okay, back to Samuel.
Samuel is growing and maturing.
And he is a big contrast to Eli's sons.
He obeyed the Lord.
He was pleasing to the Lord.
He was faithful to the Lord.
The heart of the story (to me) is the night God called to Samuel in bed.
Samuel is sleeping when the Lord called his name.
I can just imagine how dazed and confused he must have felt.
I mean, I am like that any time I am awakened.
Like the night this week I woke up to find a child staring at me. He just wanted to share with me that his knees hurt. In the middle of the night. Sigh.
So Samuel, in his dazed and confused state, ran to Eli.
And Eli, much like I would have, said, "Go back to bed."
So Samuel did.
Until he heard his name again.
He went running to Eli.
And again, Eli said, "Go back to bed."
I wonder if he said it with that exasperated tone I would have used.
Or maybe he was nicer than me.
The third time Samuel came running, Eli was more awake, more aware. He realized what was going on. And he told Samuel to go back and listen...God was calling.
So again, Samuel heard his name.
And this time, he replied, "Speak, LORD, I am your servant and I am listening."
I love that.
Isn't that how we should always respond if/when God calls?
Speak, Lord. I am your servant. I am listening.
Not "Are you sure that is what you want me to do?"
or "God, I need some kind of proof..."
or "Can't you see I am already busy doing your work?"
Nope, none of that
Speak, Lord, I am your servant. I am listening.
Tomorrow's reading: 1 Samuel 4-5
Reba
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Week 19 Days 1 and 2 God Heard
Introduction to 1 Samuel and Samuel 1:1-2:11
So here we are in 1 Samuel.
I really enjoyed the introduction. First of all, we aren't exactly sure who wrote the book. It could be Samuel. Or it could be someone else. The next thing the introduction pointed out was that the book of 1 Samuel is full of strong beginnings (Eli, Samuel, Saul) and really bad endings. It isn't how we start a race, life is about how we end the race. Good words to remember!
So, 1 Samuel 1 through 2:11.
There was a man. His name was Elkanah. And that ma had two wives.
I have to say I am impressed that any of those guys had more than one wife...who has time for that?
Anyway, Elkanah's wives were Peninnah and Hannah.
Peninnah had children.
Hannah didn't.
Every year Elkanah went to Shiloh to worship God and offer sacrifices. Then he would share the meat (of the sacrifice) with his wives.
Each year during this time, Peninnah would basically taunt Hannah about the fact that she (Peninnah) had children and Hannah didn't.
I don't know Peninnah, but just from what I read, it is hard not to question. Hard not to wonder why God would allow that to happen. Why would he bless her with these children and not his faithful servant Hannah?
I don't know.
I have never really struggled with infertility (that I know of :), but I know several people who have. And I know that it would have to be very painful to have someone repeatedly remind you that you don't have the one thing you are longing for.
And it was.
Painful that is.
Hannah was hurt.
Elkinah, bless his heart, would try to comfort her. He would ask her if he wasn't more to her than having ten sons.
I am sure he was trying to be sweet.
I am sure he was.
But I am thinking that wasn't comforting the ache in Hannah's heart.
Not to mention, wasn't Hannah enough for Elkinah? Why did he insist on having another wife? Especially one who doesn't seem particularly nice?
But that is beside the point.
Anyway, one time Hannah was really upset by these words.
So she went near the entrance of the Lord's house.
And she prayed.
One of those move the mouth prayers. No sounds but lips moving.
And knowing how hurt she was, I am guessing Hannah was rather animated in her prayer. I can just picture her eyes red from crying. Her lips moving but no sounds coming out. Her hands gesturing.
Eli, the priest, looked at her and thought she was drunk.
In fact, he told her to lay off the wine.
She quickly set him straight.
She wasn't drunk on wine. Just the spirit.
She was praying.
Not just praying.
She was vowing. She vowed to not cut the hair of her child (should she ever have one). She vowed to return him to God if He would provide.
Eli gave her a blessing and she left.
And lo and behold, shortly afterwards she became pregnant.
And little Samuel ("God Heard") was born.
And when Samuel was old enough, Hannah kept her vow.
She returned the child to the Lord (via Eli).
I wonder if she had any more children.
I would like to think she did.
But I really don't know.
All I do know is that I admire Hannah.
She made a vow and she kept it.
The others in 1 Samuel may not finish well.
But Hannah did.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading: 1 Samuel 2:12-3:21
So here we are in 1 Samuel.
I really enjoyed the introduction. First of all, we aren't exactly sure who wrote the book. It could be Samuel. Or it could be someone else. The next thing the introduction pointed out was that the book of 1 Samuel is full of strong beginnings (Eli, Samuel, Saul) and really bad endings. It isn't how we start a race, life is about how we end the race. Good words to remember!
So, 1 Samuel 1 through 2:11.
There was a man. His name was Elkanah. And that ma had two wives.
I have to say I am impressed that any of those guys had more than one wife...who has time for that?
Anyway, Elkanah's wives were Peninnah and Hannah.
Peninnah had children.
Hannah didn't.
Every year Elkanah went to Shiloh to worship God and offer sacrifices. Then he would share the meat (of the sacrifice) with his wives.
Each year during this time, Peninnah would basically taunt Hannah about the fact that she (Peninnah) had children and Hannah didn't.
I don't know Peninnah, but just from what I read, it is hard not to question. Hard not to wonder why God would allow that to happen. Why would he bless her with these children and not his faithful servant Hannah?
I don't know.
I have never really struggled with infertility (that I know of :), but I know several people who have. And I know that it would have to be very painful to have someone repeatedly remind you that you don't have the one thing you are longing for.
And it was.
Painful that is.
Hannah was hurt.
Elkinah, bless his heart, would try to comfort her. He would ask her if he wasn't more to her than having ten sons.
I am sure he was trying to be sweet.
I am sure he was.
But I am thinking that wasn't comforting the ache in Hannah's heart.
Not to mention, wasn't Hannah enough for Elkinah? Why did he insist on having another wife? Especially one who doesn't seem particularly nice?
But that is beside the point.
Anyway, one time Hannah was really upset by these words.
So she went near the entrance of the Lord's house.
And she prayed.
One of those move the mouth prayers. No sounds but lips moving.
And knowing how hurt she was, I am guessing Hannah was rather animated in her prayer. I can just picture her eyes red from crying. Her lips moving but no sounds coming out. Her hands gesturing.
Eli, the priest, looked at her and thought she was drunk.
In fact, he told her to lay off the wine.
She quickly set him straight.
She wasn't drunk on wine. Just the spirit.
She was praying.
Not just praying.
She was vowing. She vowed to not cut the hair of her child (should she ever have one). She vowed to return him to God if He would provide.
Eli gave her a blessing and she left.
And lo and behold, shortly afterwards she became pregnant.
And little Samuel ("God Heard") was born.
And when Samuel was old enough, Hannah kept her vow.
She returned the child to the Lord (via Eli).
I wonder if she had any more children.
I would like to think she did.
But I really don't know.
All I do know is that I admire Hannah.
She made a vow and she kept it.
The others in 1 Samuel may not finish well.
But Hannah did.
Reba
Tomorrow's reading: 1 Samuel 2:12-3:21
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Week 18 Day 7 A Marriage Made in Heaven
Ruth 4
So yesterday when I left off, Ruth was hanging out at home while Boaz went to talk to the relative who was a closer relative than he was.
I love how this chapter starts.
Boaz went to the city gate and sat there until the close relative passed by.
I mean, do you think this guy is at all interested?
He didn't go to the gate and glance around to see if he saw him.
He instead sat at the gate just waiting.
And finally the man (who is nameless in here) arrived.
Boaz invited him to come sit down.
He didn't invite just the guy to sit down.
He also asked 10 of the older city leaders to sit also.
I love what he does next.
Boaz asks Mr. Anonymous if he is interested in buying the land that Naomi has.
They guy quickly answers, "Sure, I will buy it."
Oh, but Boaz isn't finished.
He then goes on to tell Mr. Anon that when he buys the land from Naomi, he also must marry the widow Ruth who is left behind. That and the land will stay in the dead man's name (Ruth's deceased hubby).
Suddenly some back pedaling goes on.
Mr. Anon changes his mind.
I don't know that it was the idea of marrying Ruth that changed it.
I kind of think (in my very limited knowledge) it was the fact that he wouldn't be able to pass the land on to his own sons. Of course, that also tells me that if there were sons, there is a wife somewhere around there too.
Then he tells Boaz, "Buy it yourself."
Then they sealed the deal.
Israel style.
Mr. Anon took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz.
And Boaz restates his intentions to buy the land and to marry Ruth along with that so that all of the older leaders could hear.
The leaders affirm this transaction.
I love the prophecy as they say a blessing for Boaz.
"May the Lord make this woman, who is coming into your home, like Rachel and Leah, who had many children and built up the people of Israel. May you become powerful in the district of Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem."
You see, Boaz did marry Ruth.
And a little while later, she delivered a son.
The son's name was Obed.
Obed later had a son named Jesse who later had a son named David.
David, as in a man after God's own heart.
Know anyone else who came from this line of people?
Maybe a Savior...famous in Bethlehem?
Oh, and Naomi, who was once heartbroken and almost bitter?
She became a very blessed and joyful grandmother.
Tomorrow's reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11
Reba
So yesterday when I left off, Ruth was hanging out at home while Boaz went to talk to the relative who was a closer relative than he was.
I love how this chapter starts.
Boaz went to the city gate and sat there until the close relative passed by.
I mean, do you think this guy is at all interested?
He didn't go to the gate and glance around to see if he saw him.
He instead sat at the gate just waiting.
And finally the man (who is nameless in here) arrived.
Boaz invited him to come sit down.
He didn't invite just the guy to sit down.
He also asked 10 of the older city leaders to sit also.
I love what he does next.
Boaz asks Mr. Anonymous if he is interested in buying the land that Naomi has.
They guy quickly answers, "Sure, I will buy it."
Oh, but Boaz isn't finished.
He then goes on to tell Mr. Anon that when he buys the land from Naomi, he also must marry the widow Ruth who is left behind. That and the land will stay in the dead man's name (Ruth's deceased hubby).
Suddenly some back pedaling goes on.
Mr. Anon changes his mind.
I don't know that it was the idea of marrying Ruth that changed it.
I kind of think (in my very limited knowledge) it was the fact that he wouldn't be able to pass the land on to his own sons. Of course, that also tells me that if there were sons, there is a wife somewhere around there too.
Then he tells Boaz, "Buy it yourself."
Then they sealed the deal.
Israel style.
Mr. Anon took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz.
And Boaz restates his intentions to buy the land and to marry Ruth along with that so that all of the older leaders could hear.
The leaders affirm this transaction.
I love the prophecy as they say a blessing for Boaz.
"May the Lord make this woman, who is coming into your home, like Rachel and Leah, who had many children and built up the people of Israel. May you become powerful in the district of Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem."
You see, Boaz did marry Ruth.
And a little while later, she delivered a son.
The son's name was Obed.
Obed later had a son named Jesse who later had a son named David.
David, as in a man after God's own heart.
Know anyone else who came from this line of people?
Maybe a Savior...famous in Bethlehem?
Oh, and Naomi, who was once heartbroken and almost bitter?
She became a very blessed and joyful grandmother.
Tomorrow's reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11
Reba
Monday, January 7, 2013
Week 18 Day 6 Underfoot
Ruth 3
I seriously have considered just dropping this blog. I don't think anyone would notice. And I am obviously behind. Major behind. But the more I thought about it, I just couldn't. Even if not another soul ever reads this, going through the Bible chapter by chapter is really good for me. It gives me the opportunity to not just read the words but to really digest them, to chew on them, to hide them in my heart.
So I am back.
I want to promise it will be for every single day until I finish this never-ending project.
But I won't promise that.
I will promise to try though. To try to be more committed to reading God's word. To be more faithful in studying the God He is. To truly take time to listen to Him.
So, tonight my dear daughter and I are having our "quiet time" together though with a pre-teenager, I am not sure there is every truly a "quiet time". :)
I just hopped right back where I stopped.
Ruth.
The last time I shared, Ruth and Boaz were doing what I call "the dance". There was something a brewing between the two of them. Thankfully their relationship moved much quicker than I did on recording it. :)
So Naomi must have noticed that there is something going on with Ruth.
I can't help but wonder, was Ruth going around the house whistling? Was her face all aglow? Or did she even have those thoughts? Maybe her only thoughts were about taking care of her mother-in-law. I guess I will never know.
But for whatever reason, Naomi saw an opportunity.
She advised Ruth to clean herself up, put on perfume, put on different (clean) clothes, and go to where Boaz was. When Boaz laid down to sleep, she told Ruth to slip in under the cover by his feet.
I know, it made me giggle too.
His feet???
Ewww!
But even without my little Bible notes, I already knew. This was a sign of servanthood.
So, Ruth does everything to a T that Naomi advises.
And sure enough, Boaz laid down, and Ruth slipped in by his feet.
Imagine his surprise when around midnight, he rolled over and found a woman by his feet!
I am thinking he was a bit dazed and confused.
"Who are you?"
I think I would have wanted to sink into that ground. Or at least dive into the pile of grain nearby.
But not Ruth.
She was very honest and straight forward.
She just told him who she was and then asked him to cover her. I don't think she meant with a blanket but rather in life.
"You are a relative who is supposed to take care of me."
Wow.
To the point!
Now Boaz was a gentleman. He thanked her. He blessed her. He complimented her.
But then he told her the not so good news.
There was another relative closer than him. And that guy had first dibs.
He would have to pay him a visit.
So the next morning, in the wee hours, Ruth slipped home with more grain for her mother-in-law.
And then the waiting began.
I wonder how she felt during that time.
Was she holding her breath in anticipation? Did she pace the floor? Did she just pray? Or did she keep herself busy with household chores?
Tick tock, tick tock...
Tomorrow's reading: Ruth 4
Reba
I seriously have considered just dropping this blog. I don't think anyone would notice. And I am obviously behind. Major behind. But the more I thought about it, I just couldn't. Even if not another soul ever reads this, going through the Bible chapter by chapter is really good for me. It gives me the opportunity to not just read the words but to really digest them, to chew on them, to hide them in my heart.
So I am back.
I want to promise it will be for every single day until I finish this never-ending project.
But I won't promise that.
I will promise to try though. To try to be more committed to reading God's word. To be more faithful in studying the God He is. To truly take time to listen to Him.
So, tonight my dear daughter and I are having our "quiet time" together though with a pre-teenager, I am not sure there is every truly a "quiet time". :)
I just hopped right back where I stopped.
Ruth.
The last time I shared, Ruth and Boaz were doing what I call "the dance". There was something a brewing between the two of them. Thankfully their relationship moved much quicker than I did on recording it. :)
So Naomi must have noticed that there is something going on with Ruth.
I can't help but wonder, was Ruth going around the house whistling? Was her face all aglow? Or did she even have those thoughts? Maybe her only thoughts were about taking care of her mother-in-law. I guess I will never know.
But for whatever reason, Naomi saw an opportunity.
She advised Ruth to clean herself up, put on perfume, put on different (clean) clothes, and go to where Boaz was. When Boaz laid down to sleep, she told Ruth to slip in under the cover by his feet.
I know, it made me giggle too.
His feet???
Ewww!
But even without my little Bible notes, I already knew. This was a sign of servanthood.
So, Ruth does everything to a T that Naomi advises.
And sure enough, Boaz laid down, and Ruth slipped in by his feet.
Imagine his surprise when around midnight, he rolled over and found a woman by his feet!
I am thinking he was a bit dazed and confused.
"Who are you?"
I think I would have wanted to sink into that ground. Or at least dive into the pile of grain nearby.
But not Ruth.
She was very honest and straight forward.
She just told him who she was and then asked him to cover her. I don't think she meant with a blanket but rather in life.
"You are a relative who is supposed to take care of me."
Wow.
To the point!
Now Boaz was a gentleman. He thanked her. He blessed her. He complimented her.
But then he told her the not so good news.
There was another relative closer than him. And that guy had first dibs.
He would have to pay him a visit.
So the next morning, in the wee hours, Ruth slipped home with more grain for her mother-in-law.
And then the waiting began.
I wonder how she felt during that time.
Was she holding her breath in anticipation? Did she pace the floor? Did she just pray? Or did she keep herself busy with household chores?
Tick tock, tick tock...
Tomorrow's reading: Ruth 4
Reba
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