When Others Cared for You - I Thessalonians 2:17 - 3:13

I realize that there are dysfunctional families where unfortunate children find that there is actually no one that really cares for them. I believe that this proves to be one of the most unfortunate circumstances that exist in our world of moral decay. I hope that I am wrong, but it appears to me that this is a problem that is growing at a rapid pace. Hopefully, this conception is in error; and may be the problem only appears to be increasing because of the growth of our telecommunication system. We are able to view the news of children being abandoned by parents, neglected by society, kidnapped and murdered by perverts almost daily. One of my first and most precocious memories is that my parents cared for me.

Two other occasions come to my memory when others cared for me. When I returned home from over seas after WWII, I felt successful and was living my life as though I had no need to depend on others. My wife and her mother became concerned and went to our pastor and the church for help. Because of the intercessory prayers that went up in my behalf, I soon realized my need for Christ; who also cared for me, and I accepted Him as my Savior. Over sixty years have come and gone since my conversion and there have been literally thousands of reasons for me to be grateful for those who cared for me.

The other example that I will relate has to do with my success as a Superintendent of public Schools. When I entered the University of Arkansas to work on my doctor’s degree, I was fortunate to be assigned to the guidance and care of Dr. Roy B. Allen, Dean of the Department of Higher Education. It soon became obvious that he cared about his pupils and that he cared for me. He guided me successfully through the newly organized Doctoral Program that proved to be extensive and difficult. Then, because of his reputation in the state, he was able to help me secure my first superintendence in the Russellville Public School District. I felt very fortunate to obtain his position in one of the strongest school districts in the state. Four and a half years later I moved to the best Position I held as Superintendent of the Waynesville School District in Missouri. Again, this job would have never been offered to me had Dr. Allen not made the recommendation. Dr. Allen cared for me. Hopefully, those who cared and helped me in times of crises has made me a more sensitive, caring person.

Sadly, our churches today have many Christians who have become angry about circumstances surrounding them. They may feel that others have mistreated them; or maybe they just think of others as being hateful to them or difficult to like. It is not unlikely that they feel that their situation is so bad that they cannot be expected to demonstrate a caring concern for others. These Christians, as well as the people at whom they lash out, need someone to demonstrate concern for them. If we approach such people positively, we can discover their needs and the reasons they present such challenges. It is possible for us to become concerned and actually show that we also care about them.

The central theme in this lesson is to teach us how to select ways that we can demonstrate our concern for other Christians.

Paul is defending himself because he must have been accused of preaching for pay. He must have been accused of preaching for the people’s approval because he insisted that his motive was pure; he sought to please God, and not the people. He reminded these people that he had paid his own way and had not been a burden to them in any way. The Christians in Thessalonica did believe Paul and had received his message as God’s good news. Because of their belief, they were being persecuted by the general public. They became a part of a fellowship that was suffering for Christ’s cause [2:13-16].

I don’t believe that I am sponsoring a pity-party for me and other believers as I complete this lesson that closes our 2008 studies. Rather, I believe that you and I are in the same boat that the Thessalonica Christians were in as Paul wrote this letter. Because of my beliefs…and your beliefs…that our God and our Savior Jesus Christ are the only deity—we are being persecuted by the general public in America. We have become a part of a fellowship that is suffering for the cause of Christ. I truly believe that we were a larger majority in America until the Liberal Courts re-wrote our constitution. We may be loosing in numbers, but the minorities that have infiltrated America with the anti-God, anti-American and anti-Christian beliefs have managed to infiltrate our offices of power in America to the point that the liberals are allowing them to gain the power that makes it possible for them to destroy our rights and freedom to worship the one and only God. [See 2:13-16].
2: 17-20: Some wonder why so many were opposed to the growth of the early church and the rise of Christianity throughout the bible belt of that day, especially in Thessalonica. As best I can, in a broad general way, I will try to give you some of the answers—first you must realize there were many.

The Jewish religion had maintained relative freedom to exist unmolested by the Roman government which was in power; however they realized that the least disturbance could change that status at any time. They wanted to retain the status-quo.
Christianity was viewed as a sect of Judaism, and the Jewish leadership was afraid that the reprisals aimed against the church might be expanded to include them.
The Jewish leadership, [the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Sanhedrin Court], believed that Jesus was a false prophet and they did not want his teachings to spread. They killed him on the cross and wanted to make sure that his philosophy and teachings died with him.
Many of the common Jewish people were joining the church and the leadership was afraid that this would continue to weaken their strong position in the Roman world.
Jews were selfishly proud of their position as ‘chosen people’ and resented the fact that gentiles were accepted as equal peers in the Christian church.
They were adamant about being the Jewish I—Jewish ME—and the Jewish MINE. Gentiles were unacceptable to them.

Paul was an exceptional Jew. He is the one referred to in this lesson as one of ‘THE OTHERS THAT CARED FOR YOU’ because you are a gentile just as many in the new church were also gentiles. Remember that there may be many others out there that care for you, and would like to show it, but they are prevented by Satan, just as he was. They may not let you know for one reason or another. Paul let these people know that he was forced to leave them before he was ready to depart. He also let them know that he had tried to make arrangements to get back to visit with them but that Satan had prevented his return.

We must realize that Satan has influence and power over this earth—he did then and he does now. He is called [god of the age in 2 Cor. 4: 4] and [the ruler of the kingdom of the air] in Eph. 2:2. I believe ‘age’ means the time of man’s life on earth; and “kingdom of the air” means the world where people can live only as they are able to breathe life sustaining air.
We do not know, because the Book does not say specifically why Paul was prevented from visiting the Thessalonians. Some possibilities are:

There may have been local opposition by Jewish sympathizers.
It could have been an injury, or illness.
It could have been travel complications; after all he did not have a personal jet and a private pilot.
It may have been a direct personal attack by Satan.

We just know that Satan worked in some way to prevent him from serving as he wanted to at that time. I don’t think time has changed because many of the things that prevent us from serving obediently and accomplishing God’s work can be attributed to Satan: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” [Ephesians 6: 12]. In this passage, ‘the powers of the dark world’ and ‘spiritual forces of evil’ are both satanic forces.

The last verse in the chapter tells us that the ultimate reward for Paul’ ministry was not money, prestige or fame, but he only want more new believers whose lives had been changed by God through the preaching of the gospel. This is why he longed to visit them. Now I close by asking you what ministry has God given you? It doesn’t matter what it is, great or small, strong or weak, your highest award and greatest joy should be to see the lost saved and to be able to observe them as they grow in the knowledge and understanding of a true Christian.

Christmas 2008 - Luke 1

Luke may not have had a first row seat in the opening seen of the drama that brought Jesus Christ to our attention, but no other gospel character had as much exposure to the declaration of His coming, His life on earth, and His ascension into heaven. Paul was a learned man, physician by training, and close follower of Christ through personal dedication. Luke traveled extensively with Paul and watched first hand the church planting process as it progressed. He was able to discuss the events in the life of Christ with many different witnesses that had been with Him. Luke literally gave his life that you and I might know the ultimate truth about the Son of God; the Savior of the world, from His birth, all the way to eternity.

I do not know about the other members of our class, but one statement early in Luke intrigues me greatly. “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us—I too made up my mind to carry out a careful investigation of all things from the beginning and to write to you an orderly account of them, so that you might have a full and reliable account of the things in which you have been instructed.” He was telling his friend, Theophilus, and all of us who read his account that we can be sure that Christ Jesus is the Son of God, born of a Virgin girl that submitted her life to the will of the Holy Spirit.

Because Luke was a learned man, the biblical historians that have produced some of the best commentaries available agree that his writings are the best bit of Greek used by the writers of the New Testament. It seems significant to me that Luke was not satisfied with the other Gospels that had been written—and he had to write one of his own. Think about it; salvation is like that—it is a personal thing between you and Christ and no matter what anyone else has experienced—our own personal experience is the one that is important. Luke proclaims an inspired scripture. God’s inspiration comes when the seeking mind of man joins the revealing Spirit of God. His word is given freely—but only to those who seek for it. “Seek and you shall find Mat. 7:7—knock and the door will open.

Luke 1:5-25, a priest by the name of Zacharias is the central character in this scene. He was a descendant of Aaron and there by was automatically a priest. He was married to Elizabeth who was also a descendant of Aaron. They were old and had no children and that was a real problem in the Jewish culture. On the day when Zacharias was in charge of the Temple—he went in to the Holy of Holies and did not return as was the custom. His delay caused the people to believe that something special was happening—and then he returned with out the ability to speak. God had promised him a son and told him that he would remain speechless until the day he should declare the name of his son to be John. And so it was.

Chapter 1:26-38, when John the Baptist was six months old (still in the womb) the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to Mary [a maiden] who was betrothed to a man called Joseph. He explained how the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that she would bear a child that would be the Son of God. For some reason, I have always been able to accept the fact that Christ is the son of God, and that he was born to Mary, who had never been with a man. However, there are several passages of scripture that have made me wonder just how this all took place.

I wonder why the genealogies listed in Luke 3:23-38; and in Matthew 1:1-17 both trace the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph, which seems strange if Joseph was not the earthly father. In Luke 2:48, Jesus’ parents had lost him and returned to the temple to find him. Mary and Joseph are together and as they approached Jesus, his mother said “Your father and I have been looking for you.” It appears that she is saying that Joseph—your father—and I have been looking for you. In Matt. 13:55 and John 6:42, Jesus is referred to as Joseph’s son. And then I wonder why the rest of the New Testament does not mention the Virgin birth. In Galatians 4:4, Paul speaks about Jesus as one “born of a woman” but this would be a natural birth for any child.

It is necessary for us to know the meanings of the two words, betrothed and married which are similar but not the same. Jewish law required that a man and woman be betrothed for one year prior to marriage. It was a time for getting acquainted and was not consummated until after the marriage took place a year later. However, a betrothal could be dissolved only by the granting of a divorce which charged infidelity. If the man dies, according to Jewish law, he leaves “a virgin who is a widow.” So, we see that being betrothed to Joseph meant something more than just being engaged. Mary understood the law regarding abstinence during betrothal and was willing to face the consequences in order to do the will of God. We can understand the Godly nature of Joseph, who did not know the whole truth—but was willing to find a way to solve the problem without hurting Mary. Later God spoke to him—and he too believed.

Luke 1: 39-45, explains how a paradox can happen. A paradox is a statement that seems contrary to common sense but turns out to be true. There is no explanation as to why Mary went to Judah to visit Elisabeth and Zacharias. My guess is that she knew that if she stayed home, the gossip line would soon be open. She probably knew of the blessing that had come to Elizabeth in her old age and somewhat unbelievable to the normal mind. She felt that Elizabeth would understand and even believe her when she explained that she was with child but had never known a man. I can imagine how relieved they both were when Elizabeth recognized the presence of the Christ Child even as Mary spoke.

I had always thought that John The Baptist was the first man to recognize Christ as the Son of God that takes away the sin of the world at the time when Jesus approached him at the river for baptism. I see here in this passage that John was the first to recognize Him—but it was about thirty years before the Jordan River scene. John is a six-month old fetus, and has never heard Mary’s voice before—but as she greeted Elizabeth—John recognized Christ’s presence, and kicked his mother hard enough to get her attention and let her know that he was aware of the presence of Christ in the room.

Not only did John leap with joy in her womb, but Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit which caused her to pronounce a blessing on Mary among women and a blessing on the fruit of her womb—the embryonic Lord. This is perhaps the greatest example of the paradox of blessedness found anywhere in literature or life. Undoubtedly we will never know the joy and happiness of this woman when she learned from God that she was to be the mother of Christ. Maybe somewhat doubtful or just dumbfounded at first, but by this time she must fully realize that she is a virgin with child. What a great privilege it was for her to be chosen to be the mother of Christ. No greater blessing has ever been bestowed upon any person. And then from this greatest of all blessings—comes the arrow that pierced her heart! It meant that her life would never be normal again and that with in thirty-three years she would observe Him falsely accused, beaten and spit upon, and nailed to that old Rugged Cross.

Paul’s life was also a paradox. He was chosen by God, received crowns of joy and happiness in many ways but at the same time he had to continually bear his cross. The disciples where all chosen by Christ and from this call they felt happy and blessed but they were told that they would have to take up their cross in order to follow Him. Most of them were martyred. Do you know how they looked at the paradox? Paul answered this question when he said “to die for Christ is gain.”

God has no need for an unfruitful man—he may be saved but as by fire. The truth is that God has never called a man to him to wear a crown and rest and wait. He chooses a man in order to use him in his kingdom work. We must realize that when God chooses us it means at one and the same time that we will enjoy the crown of life but we may suffer our cross of sorrow, pain and rejection from our friends and the world.

Just for a change in the ending of this lesson I have read again the entire chapter and will try to summarize it in one paragraph.

Luke, a physician, and historian, not an apostle, but an avid follower of Christ tells us the story of how the angels announced the birth of both John The Baptist and Jesus Christ. He shows the hand of God at work in the temple and at the home of Zechariah. He enforces the truth of the virgin birth of Christ and leaves no doubt that it happened as told. He includes the prophecy of Zechariah regarding the work of his son John and of the Christ. And finally he emphasizes the blessedness placed on Mary as the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. I also see a great emphasis on the fact that God can use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary task—Elizabeth was too old and Mary was too young neither of the families appear to be the kind of people that would have been chosen for such an important job.

When Others Helped You - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

When we compare the early growth and learning patterns of all creation it is somewhat revealing to find that dumb animals learn faster at an earlier age than does the human being. In fact no other in the chain requires as long to learn to stand erect and walk without training and assistance. Animals of the forest and beast of the fields learn to obtain their food and become independent of the parent at an earlier age. However it is important that all living creatures be taught how to survive and this always requires a teaching process to take place in the life of the animal as well as for man who was created in the image of God.

I am excited about the theme of the lesson for this Sunday’s Bible Study. It deals with the importance of TEACHING in the life of a Christian. My prayer is that some of you who read and study with us will realize the importance of TEACHING God’s Word and will commit the rest of your lives to the task of spreading and explaining the Gospel of our Lord. The introductory paragraph was placed here to dispel the usual excuses for not teaching in our churches. The parents of all living creatures are blessed by God with the ability to teach their young. Just think about this for a moment! Wild animals of the forest are excellent teachers. Are you not superior to them? Are you willing to admit that domesticated animals such as cats, dogs, horses and hogs and animals of the wild such as turtles, rabbits, lions and elephants are more able to teach than you are? No. Please don’t take that attitude because we are all teachers.

It has been said that no one can teach that which he does not know—just as he can not return from a place where he has never been. We learn from our experiences and our teaching ability improves when we practice what we preach. The life we live speaks louder than the words we speak. This simply tells us that if we live, work and act like a Christian we will learn enough about Christ to be able to tell others. Others, especially the lost, will not only hear our voices as we teach—but they will also see our actions that will help convince them of their need of a Savior.

Look at the title of this lesson which is WHEN OTHERS HELPED YOU. If you have been saved, someone taught you that you were a sinner in need of a Savior. You did not reach your present standing with the Lord without the help of someone who cared enough to teach you about God’s plan and purpose for your life. The bible asked the question, “How can you learn without a preacher?” Then it states that the messenger [teacher] can not go unless he is sent. If you will go back and read about what happened in the upper room on the day of Pentecost you will find that all believers were sent by Christ; He told them to go into the entire world and preach, and teach others. That commission was given to believers. Are you a believer? Then you are a teacher. Others have helped you and you are your brother’s keeper, you are obligated to teach others when the privilege and opportunity occurs.

As Paul opened chapter two he told the Thessalonians that they already know that their three week visit to Thessalonica was successful. [Paul was referring to Paul, Silas and Timothy’s first visit as recorded in Acts 17:1-9.] Paul and his helpers had been imprisoned in Philippi, and had to be smuggled out of town to prevent serious harm—see Acts 16. The team went directly to Thessalonica and started a four week revival in the town, preaching in the Jewish Synagogue three Sabbaths in a row. A group of Jews had followed them from Philippi and led a mob that grew to be more dangerous during their stay there. Fear of imprisonment did not prevent Paul from preaching and teaching. If you and I submit to God’s will in our lives he will give us the strength and courage to do his will despite any obstacles that may come our way.

Verse 3 contains a pointed statement in response to his Jewish critics as given in Acts 17: 5. Paul did not seek money, praise or position, as he paid his own way as a ten-maker and always gave more than he expected to receive. My sideline thought is this. There are dozens of mega churches that advertise regularly on TV, begging for money, when their CEOs are drawing fat salaries, living high on the hog, and traveling in personal jets. They are surely not emulating the two greatest teachers of all times—Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. In my opinion, teaching and preaching only for personal financial gain is a grave sin against God’s church.

Read verses 4-11. It is possible; it may actually be human nature, for us to want to succeed so much that we may be tempted to alter our position just enough to make our message more palatable to liberal thinkers. We may even try using flattery and praise to gain strength in numbers. Paul never changed his messages even to his critics, when it may have made life more plesant for him. The truth of the gospel must never be compromised.
The members of the church that received this letter read it with great anticipation because they knew that was the word of God as it applied to them. They did not see it as a message from Paul and his men, but personally from God. Their faith had been generated not only through the message Paul brought but also through the lives that believers lived before them. Although Paul had the right to expect financial help from the Thessalonians during the time he was there, he did not seek help, but paid his own way see 18: 3. He did not expect pay. He did not even want to be thought of as a burden on the people during his stay in their country.

This was a free city, made up of many nationalities and therefore with many beliefs that required the worship of idols and false gods. In verse 11, we hear Paul referring to them as his children, and he thought of them all as if they were his children. By his word and example Paul encouraged them to live in such a way that they would be worthy of God. Would Jesus Christ be welcome in your home today for lunch? Would you prefer that he be in your living room waiting on you to arrive—or do you need to arrive first? Are there any books, magazines, or bottles out in the open that you would like to hide away before he arrives? If so, you are too late.

These people accepted the Word of God that Paul taught, and they did not think of it as being the teaching of Paul. They not only accepted it as the Word of God but they understood what that meant. I ask you—what is the Word of God? The bible? Yes. The law? Yes. The New Covenant? Yes. The personal teachings of Christ…red letters? Yes. Now read verse 13. Paul says they really understood what the Word of God was. Christ told you emphatically: “I am the Word.” Paul then clarifies it here by telling them that The Word of God is Christ working in them.

In 14 we find that these people are being persecuted by their own people just as the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were being persecuted by other non believing Jews. Persecution for being Christian has been practiced ever since Jesus was born and will continue as long s the earth remains. The feeling of hurt will never cease and will always smart more when it comes from those whom we love and from those who should love and appreciate us. The prime example of all rejection came the day Jesus arrived among his people the Jews and those in power rejected Him. It is important that you note that I said “those in power rejected Him.” Some did not and for these [including Paul] we owe a great debt of gratitude.

We will close this study today by looking closely at 2; 15-16, and trying to answer the question as to why so many Jews rejected Christ as their Messiah.
The Roman government had conquered the world and still allowed the Jews to practice their own religion without a great deal of interference. They feared loosing this privilege.
It appeared to everyone that Christianity was being brought in under the umbrella of the Jewish Church, and Jews were afraid that Rome would consider it a sect of Judaism. If at any time Rome felt threatened by Christianity, the Jews would be blamed for their plight.
Many Jews, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees thought that Jesus was a false prophet and they did not want his teachings to spread.
They were afraid that if many of their faith were drawn away into the Christian faith it would weaken their political position in the world.
The Jews had always considered themselves to be God’s chosen people, and they resented the fact that the Gentile could become a member of this chose group by accepting Christ as Savior. *

*On one or more occasions before, our class has discussed the fact that God does not show favoritism of people regardless of race, creed or color. The Jew was not said to be God’s chosen people because God loved them more than any other race. The Jewish race was chosen by God to father the coming Messiah and to be responsible to see that Christ was preached throughout all nations. They succeeded in bringing the Messiah into the world from Abraham on through the house of David as had been prophesied, but then the Jews rejected Him as their Messiah. It became necessary for Christ to select apostles that would be willing to include all people in His plan, and since the Jews had rejected Christ it became the responsibility of Gentiles to spread the gospel to all nations. Do you fit the mold? Are you a gentile believer? If so, then you are a teacher. Have you accepted this fact? Are you practicing your profession and are you continually trying to improve? God Bless All—and MERRY CHRISTMAS.

When You Started Out - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

It is a known fact that Paul established the church at Thessalonica during his second missionary journey that started in AD 50. Jewish history and the 17th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles both indicate that Paul and his helpers were only allowed about three weeks to preach, teach and establish the young church before they were forced to leave under pressure. [They preached three Sundays in a row in the Jewish Synagogue before the Jews became angry and organized a plot against them.] They left under pressure without time and opportunity to know how well the church was established. When Paul and Silas reached Corinth, Paul sent Silas back to check on the young church at Thessalonica; he wanted to know how successful they had been SINCE THEY STARTED OUT.

When Silas arrived he found the church growing. A few Jews had been converted to Christianity but there was a larger number of Greek, including women, who now belonged to the new church. They were doing great and growing, but had run into some problems regarding the question of death, and the return of the Lord. Silas rejoined Paul with the good news of growth and the need for instruction. So, about two to three years after the establishment of the church, Paul wrote this letter back to the church. His main intention was to encourage them and to help them know the truth about the return of Christ.

1:1 gives us the legal name of the church and the fact that it was originally established in the name of the Godhead, God, Father and Lord Jesus Christ. There were three men involved with the writing of this letter…on this missionary journey…they were Paul, Silas and Timothy.

The city of Thessalonica was the capital and largest city in the Roman Province of Macedonia. The population was about 200,000 at the time of this writing. Just as today, the life of any city depends upon its access to major transportation routes. Thessalonica was blessed with a thriving sea port and the most important Roman highway [The Egnatian Way] which extended all the way from Rome to the Orient in the East. The city was wealthy and kept their taxes paid to Rome and in turn they were left alone by the Roman Government. They were considered a free city with their own local government and were exempted from most of the restrictions that were place on other foreign cities under Roman rule. The people who lived there had come from many other countries and it had a foreign flavor, and that meant that there were many religions being practiced there that included many of the pagan gods. This foreign influence placed a major burden on the young church—and in the two years just passed they had already undergone dire persecution because of their stand for Christ. Silas reported this to Paul, and then Paul makes it one of his first priorities to encourage them and lift them up here in the first verses of his letter.

In v. 3, Paul commends these young Christians for their work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope. We should note that this is the same pattern for our productive service today.

Paul felt sure that these people had been chosen by God. Look closely at the thing that proved this to him. The gospel came with power because when they had heard, believed, and obeyed there was a change that took place in the new church. I sometimes wonder about the slow progress in our church and why we don’t see progress like this early church realized.

People [nearly 300 of us] are present on Sunday after Sunday, and we listen to our choir, hear or pastor preach, and we go home empty. The bible says that the Holy Spirit changes people when they believe the gospel. When we tell others abut Christ we must depend on the Holy Spirit to open their eyes and convince them that they need salvation. God’s power changes people—not our cleverness or persuasion. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, the messages in our songs and the pastor’s message are meaningless. The Holy Spirit not only convicts the lost of their sin but it also is the one that assures unbelievers of the truth of the gospel.

While the choir is singing and the pastor is preaching—WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Where is your mind and thoughts? I really wonder how few of us ever take time to become concerned with those present without Christ. How often do you ask the Holy Spirit to do his work in the hearts of lost people now as the pastor speaks the word of God to them? Fellow class members…let me ask you a question. Why is the Holy Spirit not working in our world today as He once did? What can you and I do about it? Then, may I also ask what we will do about it?

In the 5th verse Paul reminded the Thessalonians “You know how we have lived among you for your sake.” This is to remind us how important it is for us to set the example of a true Christian before our children, families, and especially around the saved and unsaved people in our church and community. There is no doubt that these people could tell a difference in the lives of Paul, Silas and Timothy while they were among them. Their life confirmed the truth of the message they were preaching. Does your life confirm or contradict what you say you believe?

This lesson surely brings us to a time of personal questioning about our Christian lives. Look at verse six. Paul says that the new members of the church at Thessalonica became imitators of us [Paul, Silas, and Timothy] AND OF THE LORD. What does he mean? Or, to what does he refer?

The message of salvation was welcomed by the new church with great joy and thanksgiving—but it brought the membership severe suffering because of misery and persecution even unto death for some perpetrated by both the Jews and Gentiles. The new church had somehow gotten the idea that they would not be put to death here for their belief—therefore when some actually began to die for their faith it caused others to start questioning their faith If you will study carefully the rest of this letter, you will find that Paul continues to address this misunderstanding as he explains what happens when believers die.

Read slowly and watch closely and you will find that much of gospel throughout this book has to do with the second coming of Jesus Christ simply because this early church was being persecuted. Paul emphasized the fact that they must look forward to the deliverance that Christ will bring at His second coming. We are believers and our only hope is in the return of Jesus Christ our Great God and Savior Titus 2: 13.

Our perspective on life remains incomplete without this great hope that we have…that we believe…through our faith. We know that if Christ died; if Christ was resurrected; if Christ ascended back into heaven; if he is in heaven at the right hand of the throne of God; then with all assurance we know that he will return to claim his own. See Acts 1: 11.

Considering Matters of Life and Death - II Samuel 21 - 24

Life is so fragile and death so permanent; one wonders why people live so haphazardly through the extremely few moments we have while here on earth. The few moments we have should be used to prepare for the eons of time we will have in life [somewhere] after death. Yes, there will be life after death for each and every person on earth. Today, fortunately we live in America, either by birth or some fortunate circumstance. Others live in other nations, even on other continents for the same reasons. After death there will only be two places, continents, or worlds. Those two places of life existence are Heaven and Hell. You and I will live in one or the other, and it will be by choice! I repeat. “Life is so fragile and death so permanent” and I am made to wonder why we waste the little time we have to choose our future home. David probably wasted less of his young life than any other man that has ever lived, Christ withstanding.

The Bible teaches us that life is as a vapor that appears for a moment and then evaporates away. Life is as a flower that blooms and is for a moment of time so beautiful to behold—and then it is cut down. I tell you that you are the flower mentioned here—and in the few moments of your life while here on earth, you will plant your roots in the moist fertile soil of heaven where you will enjoy eternity; or you will cast your roots out on the hot rocky soil of hell where they will wither and burn continually and forever. Just think about a world without a fuel shortage.

The lesson title today directs our consideration to the study of matters that deal with life and death. I want you to stop now and realize that these two conditions only exist in our time, in this present world. In our present state we will all live until we die, and there are no exceptions. After death, the resurrection and the judgment will come. Every soul that has ever lived will be resurrected and all…all…absolutely every one will be alive again. Each one will be judged by the God head and found either accepted or rejected and there will be no more death. All will remain alive forever more…SOME IN HEAVEN! SOME IN HELL! Where will you spend the last eons of your time? I have great difficulty thinking about $700,000.000.000. The amount of the bail out. Try this: an eon=999,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, and more years.


David is the greatest example we have in the Bible of any man that has ever lived a normal life that was challenged each day by the sins of the flesh who held on to the more important necessity of his constant dependence on his lord and savior. David got his first impressions of God being his foundation stone by using field stone for a pillow each night as he slept under the moon at night always available and ready to protect his herd of sheep. David spent untarnished days caring for and studying the life and needs of his animals; and by learning the lay of the land and how to use its food and water to best meet the needs of his herd. He spent as many nights in calm meditation studying the Milky Way and the arrangement and movement of the stars. Out of this dedicated life we have proof through the music he authored and played, and out of the Psalms he wrote that he believed in the one and only God without any reservation. From my study of his young life he may be one of the few; if not the only young man that lived to be sixteen years or older that had not committed a known sin.

There were two facets of David’s life that led God to proclaim that he was a “Man after God’s own heart.” First, he had a young life that was almost if not perfect. He performed God’s will each day. Secondly, from the day that he traded his shepherd’s staff for the warrior’s sling and rock and triumphed over the Philistines—he never committed on sin that he did not acknowledge that he was a sinner…and repent from the sin…and call on his heavenly father to forgive him. He truly and deeply wanted God’s will to be supreme.

His life had not been free of danger since he and his flock had been attacked by wild animals and he had been able to defeat a charging lion in a one on one fight. His success in protecting his flock as he lived through the frequent pearls led him to know without any doubt that God was on his side. It was this inward dependence on God that gave David courage and ability far beyond any other man of his time. Even at the early age of seventeen or eighteen years old, when he was called into his master’s service, he already was able to believe in and depend upon God more than any other man I can remember.

David knew how to live this life fully and completely without fault or defeat. Life to David had been positive in every way… it was definitely that period of his life that afforded him the necessary time to choose his destiny, plan and set his goals for this life that was to be used to prepare for death and eternity. David did not walk into the valley alone and face the giant Philistine, Goliath; he brought with him the same power that had overcome the lions that had threatened his flocks. More important, David did not let this success go to his teen-aged head, but he remained humble and knew in his heart that God was with him all the way. David’s respect for God’s sovereignty never diminished; in fact it grew even stronger during the perilous days of life under the reign of King Saul.

I will now summarize the portion of history that teaches us most about David’s dependence on Almighty God. While Saul was still the anointed king of Israel, David appeared and successfully defeated the philistines and won the heart of the people who began to sing songs about David’s success and insinuated that he had triumphed over King Saul. Saul became very jealous. His son, Jonathan and David became life long best friends. For a short time Saul made friends with David and called him into special personal service to sing and play the harp which seemed to sooth his broken and tormented nerves. Later David was given assignments against some of Israel’s many enemies. He was successful and always without exception gave credit to his superiors. This seemed to make no difference in Saul’s continued effort to do away with David.

There are numerous occasions where even though David was successfully defending his country, Saul seemed more interested in killing David than winning the war. His jealousy grew until it was destroying him. David and Jonathan loved and trusted each other as brothers, and Jonathan had tried in many ways to win his father over and have him trust David also…but to no avail.

We must go back to chapter 24 to find the scripture that truly proves that David had total belief in kingdom sovereignty. Saul returned from war and was told that David was in the area. Saul took three thousand men and set out to look for David in the Crags of the Wild Goats. A large cave was near and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were hidden deep in the same cave and the moment was right—and David’s men urged him to make his move on his sworn enemy, Saul. They insisted, telling him “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

“David was conscience-stricken for having cut the robe.” He said, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a ting to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is anointed of the Lord.” David rebuked his own men and allowed Saul to walk away. And now comes the moment of absolute proof that David was totally committed to sovereign authority.


As Saul walked away, David called out to him “My Lord the King!” Saul turned and saw David bowing down before him. David prostrated himself with his face in the dust and he asked Saul this question. “Why do you listen when men say, “David is bent on harming you”? This day you have seen with your own eyes that I could have killed you…and I did not. My people urged me to kill you but I spared your life. I said. “I will not lift my hand against my master because he is the Lord’s anointed.” David continued to explain that God would be the judge between the two and would be the one to make the final decision as to who should be the anointed king of Israel. There is no other place in the scripture that teaches us any more absolute the necessity of being submissive to the authority over us. Man’s rebellion against God‘s dominion over the earth and all that is within is one of our greatest problems on earth.

I believe the law of dominion authority applies to our lives as American citizens. God has given us the power of the ballot box and freedom to vote and when it is used fairly, the elected official has dominion authority and is worthy of his/her office. Laws based on Christ like principals, anointed by God are to be supported and obeyed even at times when they may seem to be against what we would prefer. David had the situation that makes it difficult. Saul did not deserve to be honored, but he was serving in a kingship that was a form of government accepted or allowed by God and had been anointed to serve therein. No man had the authority to personally kill Saul in order to gain better rule. Any change could be made only under and by the authority of God.

You may not be an elected official, but you are surely a chosen person. You have been chosen by God to perform a work, fill a space, be of service, even just to provide for your family. How effective are you in your chosen field? If you enjoy life here on earth, love your family and would like to spend the last eons of your time with conditions even better there are preparations that must be made. These are the matters of life that need your consideration and these are the very last chances you have to properly prepare for death that is sure to come—and very soon for many of us. HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2008.

When Family Bonds Shatter - II Samuel 13 - 21

A child without food is hungry and this is a terrible situation to exist especially in America, the land of plenty. A child without shoes or a winter coat will be miserable in cold weather especially in America where many have more than is needed. These problems will never be completely solved, but there are numerous programs world wide that are sending ships literally loaded with what would equal hundreds of box cars of not only necessities but also toys, dolls, and Christmas gifts. Caring people are making a dent in the realm of personal needs. However little is being done anywhere in the world to take care of an abandoned child without a family member who cares; and these children have a need that will never be fulfilled or replaced.

You can ask any minister, law enforcement officer, school administrator or teacher and they will tell you that the greatest problem facing the church, school, or even the governments today are the broken homes where family bonds are shattered. Caring Christians can replace worn shoes and tattered clothing and they can furnish meals on wheals to feed the hungry, but it impossible restore a broken family that has been devastated by the deviated minds of parents that will stoop to the depths of incest, and even murder.

The world has shrunk in regard to extended knowledge of news both good and bad—radio and TV breaks the stories in moments after incidents happen, and the press expands on the stories the next day. It sometimes appears that the world is gong to pot, and that practically nothing is uplifting any more. Some want to infer that things are worse than they have ever been. We need to consider the fact that we have only this one book…the bible…that reveals what God wants us to know about families in OT days, and it is loaded with examples of family problems like David had in his family and the warped minds of the twelve brothers in Joseph’s family.

I have heard bible students wondering out loud how David was able to live the sinful life as he did and seemingly come through it all on the good side of God’s heart. If you will study carefully the seven chapters in today’s lesson, you will find that he paid a terrible price for many of his most notable sins. The greatest price came as a result of his family, sons in particular, using their father as a model to live by. His life is a perfect example of one that led his whole family to commit sins just as Dad did because they accepted his life as a pattern for them to follow. I have never completely understood why God permitted good men to practice polygamy while under the old covenant. To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a mixed family where several wives and their children by the same man have lived happily together without conflict. Jealousy is the number one culprit, and it is easy to see why it would be.

David must have had an uncontrollable sex drive. He had several wives, many concubines, and still desired the wife of another man of God and a great soldier. This one mistake led to most of the severe problems that tormented David for the most of his life. Amon and Absalom were the sons of David by different wives. Tamar was the sister of Absalom and half sister of Amon and she was a beautiful young lady. The bible says that Amon fell in love with Tamar…I prefer to think that he simply lusted for her as his father had looked at Bathsheba and wanted her. [Read the early verses in chapter 13 for information regarding this tragedy] Why would he consider it the wrong thing to do, when it was just as his father had felt toward Bathsheba?

In v.3, it says that Amon had a friend named Jonadab…read carefully and see that he was his cousin, and a shrewd man. Amon was not ill and did not need help. He had an uncontrolled sex drive toward his half sister and Jonadab simply advised him to play sick, and ask David to send Tamar to love with him and care for him while he was ill. David sent Tamar to care for Amon and he violated her and then hated her so much that he sent her away to live in dishonor. She was devastated.

Her full brother, Absalom, soon learned about the rape of his sister, and vowed to kill his half brother. It is already clearly evident that the family bonds in David’s family are beginning to shatter. Tamar lived with her brother Absalom during the next two years, a secluded life, in shame for she was unclean and according to Jewish law actually deserved death because of what she had done… [Actually because of what Amon had done to her].

Two years passed during which time Absalom did not speak to Amon. The time arrived to shear the sheep. Evidently it was a custom to throw a big party while the sheepshearers were working, and so Absalom invited his father, David and his other brothers to join them for a family reunion. David declined, but allowed the other sons to attend the celebration. Absalom arranged to have Amon served much strong wine and while he was drunk he ordered his men to kill his brother. The rest of the brothers escaped on their mules and for a short time it was falsely reported that Absalom had killed all of them.

Absalom continued to grow in power until he felt like it was time to overthrow his own father and take over the king ship. Actually Absalom was the favorite of all of David’s sons and David’s heart was broken because of the betrayal of his favorite son. When Absalom was killed in battle, and word reached David, he was distraught. He became depressed, and was loosing the power to rule his men. No one had his favor and none were willing to follow him because of his depression and lack of leadership.

All through the ages the family ties have been the strongest bonds that hold men together. In numerous examples given for our direction and role model, there have been increased problems and broken hearts as a result of disobedient children and wayward and over powering parents. The signs of the time in which we live leads me to believe that we will soon face the repercussions that will surely come from the increase in broken homes, the abandonment of dependent children, and the destruction of Godly homes. As the homes go, so goes our nation.

The increase in free-thinking immorality, fired by the gay movement in America is the greatest threat that has ever come against the Christian Home. Parents, how much of your time is spent in Christian teaching and in presenting examples of Christian living that can and will guide your children as they grow up and assume the responsibility for their own families?

Parents, do you have a favorite son or daughter? Yes! Well, get ready because you are sure to have some family problems ahead.

When Tangled in Sin - II Samuel 9 - 12

I pondered a moment as the lesson title stood out before us today, just wondering why the author used the word “when” and not just “Tangled in Sin.” One answer seems clear and appropriate, we all will sin and there is no question about that. The only question about the matter of our sinning is when will it happen? It is not whether you will mess up or not. You will make mistakes. The course of your life after you sin depends entirely on your attitude toward your guilt and your willingness to repent.

The theme for the next three-month study is “Finding Stability in a Turbulent World.” It sounds as if we will be starting our study about the conditions of America on Election Day in November 2008. But for sure the date is slightly prior to that time—how about the days when King David reigned in Israel. During several hundred years of reign under the Judges and Kings it actually appears that each one that came to power tried to out do his predecessor in graft, greed, corruption, war, murder and immorality. Only three or four of these many leaders were considered to be Godly men. Even though David was deeply involved in many of the ungodly procedures, he was one of the few that were considered Godly—not because he was without sin…but because of his repentant spirit.

Our lesson this week is focused on the lowest period of David’s life. The first episode of this story occurred because David had an uncontrolled sexual drive that led him into an extramarital affair with Bathsheba. There is a legion of sad and destructive results of this immoral act that was culminated in the cover-up attempt that led to the murder of an innocent, honest, and dedicated soldier. I hope and pray that the wayward government servants in America today can and will discover from David’s experience that when God’s people confess their sins, God will respond by graciously forgiving their sins and giving them a new beginning.

For a period of about forty-years prior to November 2008, those of us who are older have stood by and watched America become publicly anti-Christ, socially immoral, and spiritually dead. This is not a problem of political parties…it is a personal people problem—Republicans and Democrats are both guilty. I wish my memory was better and I could name the long and much extended list of criminal and otherwise unacceptable public servants. There is a list floating around that I have recently seen, and it is unbelievable.

This notorious list includes people who were/are Representatives, Senators, Judges, Governors, CEO’s and Presidents of large banks and huge cooperation’s, as well as State Officials, County Officials, and at least two United States Presidents. You will remember enough about these scandals to know many of whom I speak. This notorious gang contains liars, thieves, adulterous, homosexuals, extortionist, most of them are actually capable of committing any crime that can be named—and they are unworthy of the office they hold while they render the office entrusted to them to be of absolutely no use to the people it was established to serve.

Each and every violation against their public trust is the result of a personal character defect that is immoral in nature and their uncontrolled love of money and power. The thing that stands out in my memory is that I do not remember a single one that has been arrested and charged that has admitted their guilt and ask for forgiveness.

The lesson today and the materials connected with the problems during the rule of the priest, judges and Kings illustrate how God blessed and rewarded obedience and faith, while judging the righteous and disciplining disobedient. At this time in history, David had successfully united all of the twelve divided tribes into one nation, Israel. The stronger leaders of what had been the Northern Kingdom were never satisfied and for the next seventy years there were numerous conflicts and wars frequently cropping up somewhere in the nation that caused David to need to be constantly aware and prepared.

Note: In my minds eye it is easy for me to compare this period in Israel’s history to the last seventy years of our U. S. History. There are many similarities to be found between the two nations. We have been frequently involved in an actual war, or the settling of some on-going conflict between other countries. As recorded above, many of our officials have failed in one way or another to do their best in pleasing God and man with their decisions, administrations and even their lifestyles. There is one major difference in the final results of major decisions that are made today. In bible days it was customary for the King to personally go to battle. Today, neither the President nor members of congress have to report for active duty in the service. If America had a policy that the President and all congressmen under the age of 62 would be the first ones called to active duty I doubt that we would have gone to war in Vietnam, Korea, Kuwait, Iraqi, and several of the more minor conflicts in which we have been involved.

The eleventh chapter warns us about the power of lust that can control the strongest of men. It was the time of year—and the custom of the day—for Kings to go into battle. Uriah and Bathsheba were King David’s close neighbors; and many times he had seen her less than fully dressed on the veranda, through the windows, and sun-bathing on their roof. David had developed a lustful urge to be with her. Since David longed for her in his heart, he made sure that Uriah was sent into battle, and he stayed in his castle. While Uriah was away serving his country, David used the opportunity to seduce Bathsheba and she was with his child. King David sent special orders to Joab, the commanding officer, directing him to assign Uriah in a harm’s way that would assure his death.

[David intentionally gave this order to kill an innocent man, which was equivalent to First Degree Murder. His intent was to cover all the other sins in which he had been involved which included at least, jealousy, coveting, lying, stealing, deceitfulness, lust, and adultery.]

When Uriah did not return home Bathsheba mourned for him according to Jewish custom. After the mourning was over, David took her into his house as his bride and she bore his son. God was displeased.

I have often wondered what was on David’s mind during this nine month period. We know that he was not unaware of his horrible mistakes and that he had already started his process of repenting, but he must have been very concerned about what the final consequence would be. God had not told him and did not tell him until he sent the prophet Nathan to him in 12: 01.

Can you imagine the difficulty that a Priest would have in confronting the King of his nation to charge him as being the rich man that had just taken advantage of a lonely soldier, robbing him of his wife and then ordering that the husband be killed? It was difficult enough for the Priest to preach God’s word to His people and face them with their daily sins and accusations that would make most men mad. But, just to walk up to the King and say; “Ha! David, I just dropped by to remind you that you are an adulterer, and a murderer.” That would have been bad news.

Now read and study the story of the two men that lived in the same town. One was rich and one poor. One had much wealth and many animals while the poor man had only one animal and it was a household pet. The Priest cleverly put a lot of hair on his story and made it sound so real that David’s wrath was stirred against anyone that would commit such an evil deed. It is obvious that David had not recognized that the story was all about him and his evil deed. In fact, David was angry and demanded that the traveler that did this cruel deed should be killed. David must have been shocked to the toe of his boots when Nathan said, “That man is you!” Or, “You are the man!” According to the title of the lesson, “David was Tangled in Sin.” “When?” Was it at the moment David looked at Bathsheba with lust in his heart? NO! It started there but entanglement occurred when David first failed to seek forgiveness.

“All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” We do not become entangled in sin when we sin—not at the very moment we commit the sin. No. However that is just the beginning of our entanglement. The very moment that a Christian realizes that he has sinned—he/she must repent and seek forgiveness in order to avoid a devastating entanglement in sin that will require that a penalty be paid.

Let us take this incident to establish God’s law regarding sin and forgiveness. David would have to go back to the very first time…the moment that he looked at Bathsheba with lust in his heart. He sinned. He was already a sinner. He could not help it, it just happened. He could not prevent it, it happened before he realized it was happening. However, he was not at this moment entangled in sin…for if he had realized what had just happened, and immediately repented to God, and ordered Satan out of his thoughts and life—God would have immediately forgiven him and there would have been no further payment for or punishment of sin.

David allowed a known sin to grow for at least nine months before he sincerely repented and ask God to forgive him. As a result of his entanglement, two people died, two families were broken, and many lost faith and confidence in David, and he kept paying for his sins for the rest of his life.

When Assessing One's Lifework - II Samuel 5 - 8

Time can be defined as the embryonic period of development that passes between inception and birth: or as the period of early childhood development from birth to kindergarten; then comes the age of the young and often foolish that definitely should end at age twenty-one when we are considered to have reached adulthood. Time is our most precocious possession. We should continually assess the method we are using to gain the greatest rewards available from time.

What does the word ‘assessing’ mean? Be careful and think. Do we assess our taxes each spring? We often say so, but we do not. We access our property for the purpose of taxation. To assess anything means that we are putting an acceptable and defendable value on it. Have you ever taken the time to evaluate your life and develop a written picture of its value? I think you will find your life evaluation both interesting and useful.

Use a note book or legal sized paper to jot down the various facets of your life including but not limited to finances, relationships, vocation, family, education, and Christian service to the Lord. Remain humble and prayerful and evaluate [assess] each facet by asking yourself the question; “Am I living and working in line with God’s purpose in this area of my life?” Only by living and working in line with God’s purposes for our lives can adults of all ages expect to experience the blessings of God.

Introduction:

David ruled over the southern part of the nation called Judah for over seven years before he finally became the one undisputed king over all of Israel—both the North and South Kingdoms. His capitol was in Hebron…in the far south…and he defeated the Jebusites and Jerusalem and moved the capitol to Jerusalem where it was more centralized. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and determined in his heart and mind to build a city and a temple in the city that would forever honor God. David did the planning, obtained materials, and raised much of the money necessary to build the new temple, but the actual building was reserved by God for his Son, King Solomon, to do.
In the first few verses of chapter five we find that David was anointed king three different times. The first time was back in 1 Samuel 16:13 in a private anointment by Samuel as directed by God. He spent his first years as king serving Saul the first anointed King of Israel. David was 30 years old when he was anointed as King of Judah where he served seven and one half years. The nation was divided as North and South. In today’s lesson he becomes king over all Israel. The North and South are united and he remains king for thirty-three years. During this time Jerusalem became the City of David, Zion. It became the city that would forever be referred to as the most important city in Biblical history.

Because of a constant barrage of wars against the Holy City and God’s people the union between the North and South only lasted 75 years, and then it became divided again. However, from that date forward for the next 400 years, David and his dynasty ruled over the Southern part of Israel. It was during this period of time that God was working out his plan for the coming of the Messiah to be born, live, preach, teach, die and be resurrected in David’s City.

David was called from the field to fight the giant when he was a young lad and became famous and was soon anointed but did not become King over Israel until he was 37 years old. Scholars believe that this period of elapsed time developed a man with long and solid patience; and that his bent for being patient made it possible for God to mold him into the man after his own heart.

Remember that Jerusalem was a part of the Northern Kingdom and it was the first stronghold that David determined to conquer. It was located on the land of the tribe of Benjamin and was occupied by the Jebusites, who were a tribe of Canaanites. They were Israel’s greatest enemies, and had never been captured in all of the wars that had been fought.

Jerusalem was the safest city ever built. The lay of the land and the walls that had been built were fortified to the point that the Jebusites did not have any fear of David. This story sets the stage for the truth regarding safety. The lay of the land…the position of the river and the mountain protection has nothing to do with the safety of people who were standing against God and his plan. This should remind us that our only safety from our enemies, or the enemies of God, lies in His hands and does not depend on our tanks and plains.
The Jebusites had a clear military advantage and were noted as boasters of their security behind the impregnable walls of Jerusalem. This city had one of the most elaborate water systems ever known in the entire world. It was constantly adequate and available from the mountain springs and streams that flowed into the underground tunnels into the man made system of distribution. David moved his armies into the city under cover and through these underground water systems and when they were adequate in number they simply stud up and claimed the city without fight.

David knew that he had been chosen by God. He knew that God had thrice anointed him to be King of Israel and he knew that his power came from God. He also realized that the power of the other kings and nations came from their wealth, power, armies and ability of men.

It must have been toward the end of theses days that David began to make the assessment of his life that helped him to determine that God was definitely on his side. It is not expected that many of us have as many explicit incidences in our lives as did David. We have few if any times when we were able to kill a giant that was standing in our way. However there are many times when we have had some annoying little midget that got in our way and we were able to triumph, with God’s help.

David succeeded by keeping his ambition under control. He realized that he was well liked, respected and had a strong leadership role, but he never lay claim to his success but always gave God the glory for all of his gains and glory. He had a strong human drive that kept him going forward but it was always for the benefit of others. Most of us have a strong human instinct to get ahead…but the question is…is ours a selfish reason or is it mainly so that we can be of service to others.

One is never too young to make an assessment of his life work. However it is very easy to grow older and neglect to make regular assessments of life’s work. You should never leave it to others to help you make your assessment. Our friends will decline to tell us the truth about our noticeable faults for fear of hurting our feelings. Our enemies are likely to stretch their stories of our constant failures and this can lead to doubts and misgivings. In fact, the bible says that we should not judge others—lest we be judged. This leaves it up to each individual to assess his own position before Christ.

Time can be defined as the embryonic period of development that passes between inception and birth: or as the period of early childhood development from birth to kindergarten; then comes the age of the young and often foolish that definitely should end at age twenty-one when we are considered to have reached adulthood. Time is our most precocious possession. We should continually assess the method we are using to gain the greatest rewards available from time.

What does the word ‘assessing’ mean? Be careful and think. Do we assess our taxes each spring? We often say so, but we do not. We access our property for the purpose of taxation. To assess anything means that we are putting an acceptable and defendable value on it. Have you ever taken the time to evaluate your life and develop a written picture of its value? I think you will find your life evaluation both interesting and useful.

Use a note book or legal sized paper to jot down the various facets of your life including but not limited to finances, relationships, vocation, family, education, and Christian service to the Lord. Remain humble and prayerful and evaluate [assess] each facet by asking yourself the question; “Am I living and working in line with God’s purpose in this area of my life?” Only by living and working in line with God’s purposes for our lives can adults of all ages expect to experience the blessings of God.

Introduction:

David ruled over the southern part of the nation called Judah for over seven years before he finally became the one undisputed king over all of Israel—both the North and South Kingdoms. His capitol was in Hebron…in the far south…and he defeated the Jebusites and Jerusalem and moved the capitol to Jerusalem where it was more centralized. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and determined in his heart and mind to build a city and a temple in the city that would forever honor God. David did the planning, obtained materials, and raised much of the money necessary to build the new temple, but the actual building was reserved by God for his Son, King Solomon, to do.
In the first few verses of chapter five we find that David was anointed king three different times. The first time was back in 1 Samuel 16:13 in a private anointment by Samuel as directed by God. He spent his first years as king serving Saul the first anointed King of Israel. David was 30 years old when he was anointed as King of Judah where he served seven and one half years. The nation was divided as North and South. In today’s lesson he becomes king over all Israel. The North and South are united and he remains king for thirty-three years. During this time Jerusalem became the City of David, Zion. It became the city that would forever be referred to as the most important city in Biblical history.

Because of a constant barrage of wars against the Holy City and God’s people the union between the North and South only lasted 75 years, and then it became divided again. However, from that date forward for the next 400 years, David and his dynasty ruled over the Southern part of Israel. It was during this period of time that God was working out his plan for the coming of the Messiah to be born, live, preach, teach, die and be resurrected in David’s City.

David was called from the field to fight the giant when he was a young lad and became famous and was soon anointed but did not become King over Israel until he was 37 years old. Scholars believe that this period of elapsed time developed a man with long and solid patience; and that his bent for being patient made it possible for God to mold him into the man after his own heart.

Remember that Jerusalem was a part of the Northern Kingdom and it was the first stronghold that David determined to conquer. It was located on the land of the tribe of Benjamin and was occupied by the Jebusites, who were a tribe of Canaanites. They were Israel’s greatest enemies, and had never been captured in all of the wars that had been fought.

Jerusalem was the safest city ever built. The lay of the land and the walls that had been built were fortified to the point that the Jebusites did not have any fear of David. This story sets the stage for the truth regarding safety. The lay of the land…the position of the river and the mountain protection has nothing to do with the safety of people who were standing against God and his plan. This should remind us that our only safety from our enemies, or the enemies of God, lies in His hands and does not depend on our tanks and plains.
The Jebusites had a clear military advantage and were noted as boasters of their security behind the impregnable walls of Jerusalem. This city had one of the most elaborate water systems ever known in the entire world. It was constantly adequate and available from the mountain springs and streams that flowed into the underground tunnels into the man made system of distribution. David moved his armies into the city under cover and through these underground water systems and when they were adequate in number they simply stud up and claimed the city without fight.

David knew that he had been chosen by God. He knew that God had thrice anointed him to be King of Israel and he knew that his power came from God. He also realized that the power of the other kings and nations came from their wealth, power, armies and ability of men.

It must have been toward the end of theses days that David began to make the assessment of his life that helped him to determine that God was definitely on his side. It is not expected that many of us have as many explicit incidences in our lives as did David. We have few if any times when we were able to kill a giant that was standing in our way. However there are many times when we have had some annoying little midget that got in our way and we were able to triumph, with God’s help.

David succeeded by keeping his ambition under control. He realized that he was well liked, respected and had a strong leadership role, but he never lay claim to his success but always gave God the glory for all of his gains and glory. He had a strong human drive that kept him going forward but it was always for the benefit of others. Most of us have a strong human instinct to get ahead…but the question is…is ours a selfish reason or is it mainly so that we can be of service to others.

One is never too young to make an assessment of his life work. However it is very easy to grow older and neglect to make regular assessments of life’s work. You should never leave it to others to help you make your assessment. Our friends will decline to tell us the truth about our noticeable faults for fear of hurting our feelings. Our enemies are likely to stretch their stories of our constant failures and this can lead to doubts and misgivings. In fact, the bible says that we should not judge others—lest we be judged. This leaves it up to each individual to assess his own position before Christ.

Where, When, How Should We Act When Responding to Loss - II Samuel 1 - 5

In every circumstance and under all conditions if there is a way to gain, then there is also a way to lose. All of us who gain in knowledge, wealth or fame will some-where, some-time and in some-way also suffer loss. God always expects the proper response from his people regardless of their condition. We do not always act responsibly and show care, kindness and appreciation for the good gains that come our way in life. However, we are much more apt to demonstrate our anger, discouragement and feelings of betrayal when we are forced to suffer loss regardless of who is at fault.

There are two major areas of family and personal gain and loss. God created the world and soon found that it would be a lonely place without family, friends and spiritual fellowship, and so he introduced the family plan to properly inhabit the earth. In order to keep the population under control he also introduced the plan allowing loss of loved ones by both natural and unnatural death. There are few things that affect us as dramatically as the death of a love-one regardless of cause.

Very close behind follows any kind of circumstance that threatens our life or livelihood. It seems very coincidental that America is [today as I write] facing troubling times in our financial condition and a general election that may be the most important in our history. The response to our recent losses and to the losses that may come in the next very few months will set the tone for life in America for years to come. We must pray for God to be in ultimate control and guide the hearts and minds of those who gain the power and position to lead our country.

When we suffer the great loss of family or friend, or the loss of security of family and home, other most urgent matters have to be suspended; I don’t know about you…but I just seem to grow numb—I feel lost, scared, anxious and uncertain. I tell myself that it is imperative for me to turn these uncontrollable circumstances over to God. I find this easy to say but hard to accomplish. We have no other choice but to trust and obey. King Saul may have had a trust in God that was as strong as did King David, but he definitely did not obey God as David did. His disobedience was his downfall.

This week’s lesson shows how David dealt with loss when he learned of the deaths of King Saul and his best friend, Jonathan. David demonstrated stability by responding to loss in God-honoring ways. As we examine responses to loss that honor God, we will learn to demonstrate stability in turbulent times by putting these responses into use in our own lives.

When David walked on the battlefield with the sling in his had and the Giant in his sight it was the beginning of a turbulent life of war-fare between the Philistines, Canaanites and the Amalekites and Israel. From that day forward Saul was at war…David was at war…and David was on the run to escape Saul who had vowed to kill David. All things must come to and end. Saul finally lost to the Philistines who killed him and his three sons—and decapitated Saul and hung his body on a wall and took his head home with them to Philistia [Chron: 10-9].

David was at war with the Amalekites when one of their soldiers brought him word of the death of Saul and his sons, especially Jonathan. This Amalekite soldier probably did not know that David was his recent adamant enemy or he would not have risk his neck to tell David of the recent death of Saul and his sons. According to Jewish custom David began to show honor and remorse immediately for his deserving dead by renting his clothes, reverent prayer and mourning. Secondly, they continued in prayer, and fasted. Thirdly, David had the Amalekite soldier that reported the deaths put to death because of his role in the matter.

There has been little said in Samuel about the musical talent of David but we know that his talent was great and that he has been given credit for the writing of much music and many Psalms. Because of his ability and the timing of Saul’s death David wrote the lament to honor the dead king and his sons. David’s musical talent and ability was one of the leaders that brought all kinds of music into the temple worship. As a result of this, much of the history of Israel is recorded through the use of music.

You will note through the early verses of this lament that Saul had caused David a lot of trouble for a long period of time but David did not hold a grudge against him for his hatred and mistreatment. You will find only the good side of Saul spoken of and it makes one wonder just what kind of forgiving heart that David must have had when he refused to comment on Saul’s wicked ways.

The 26th verse was worded in a way that it caught my eye—and because of my bent against any kind of acceptance of homosexual life, I had to look into this verse more closely. I do not believe that David was referring to any kind of sexual relations or implying that this was the case. I searched again and found that homosexual acts were absolutely forbidden in Israel. Leviticus 18 says that homosexual acts are detestable and chapter 20 calls for the death penalty for anyone that practices homosexual ways. God said personally that the practice was an abomination in his sight. David was probably thinking of the love of mothers for their children one of the strongest loves that ties people together. David was simply explaining the deep brotherly love that had built up from their long life of friendship.

David knew that Saul was dead and that he [David] was now the new king—but he did not assume any kind of personal control and in the first verse of chapter two, he asked God what he wanted him to do. God sent him and his two wives to Hebron where he was to be crowned king of Judah. Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, was crowned to follow his father as king of Israel and the war continued between the two factions.

I was a bit confused at first as the word says that both Saul and David were anointed kings in service at the same time. On must remember that this was during the time before the nation of Israel was divided and became known as the North and South, or Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom. Later on, when the division came, Judah including the land and cities around Jerusalem was called Judah, or the Southern Kingdom.

During the period covered by the lesson today, the division between the north and south is beginning to happen. David was sent to Judah which became the area with the good trade routes, big business and commerce later on; and Saul’s son was assigned to Israel, which was actually just the northern part of the entire country of Israel. Immediately these two kings were at war with each other, and it never stopped…even today the problems still rage in this area.

It is somewhat sad to read [2: 12-28] and find just how frivolous some of the [fighting] [wars] were. Go now to 2: 14-17 and read aloud. Think about it. This was one of the wars you read about in scripture. It reminds us of the war that was settled when David killed Goliath, the giant. However, in this man to man fight, all were killed, there was no winner and nothing was settled. This type of warfare was not totally without reason, for in some cases a decision was made without the death of thousands of soldiers in real battle.

Abner appeared in this conflict between David and Saul as Saul’s military leader. Some of his first assignments were given by Saul and they were to find and kill David. He was not successful and lived to see his king die on the battlefield. He then took over as the military leader for Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, who was now at war against David to see who would finally control all of Israel. The war that started with Saul against David lasted a long time but David continued to grow stronger while the house of Saul grew weaker.

While David was at Hebron, his six sons were born and grew to be a serious part of his life. King Ish-Bosheth accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s wives causing a split and Abner decided to change sides…so he promised to deliver the northern part of the kingdom to David which would make him King over all the land of Israel.

We have often studied the life of David and given him credit for his desire to obey God. Now we have looked at another trait that pleases God and that is that David did not hold a grudge against those that mistreated him. He showed respect for those in power, and responded to their loss with a proper attitude. Christ could have had him in mind when he told us that we should learn to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us; even to turn the other cheek.

Conforming to God's Image - I Samuel 24:1 - 31:13

I started teaching school in 1948 and through necessity I obtained a vital interest in the local school board race each year. I learned early that a vast majority of the candidates run for a position on the School Board simply because they have a personal agenda and for no other reason. When I say this is true a vast majority of the time, I really mean that it must be as high as ninety percent of the time.

Only honest, God fearing people that live by the golden rule should ever run for the board and surely they are the only ones that should ever win a seat on the board. There is only one acceptable agenda and it could be labeled God’s Agenda. A personal agenda is never acceptable. Here are just a few examples of personal agendas. 1. My taxes are too high and I will work hard to get them lowered; and guarantee there will be no new taxes. 2. I do not trust the Superintendent, the board had a much better applicant and they failed to hire the right man. [ There can be many reasons listed why they will see that the present man is fired. 3. The foot ball coach should be replaced and I will see that it happens—because: a. He has no game plan…passes when he has no competent receiver…runs the ball when the team is far behind and even when the best ball carrier is injured…b. he does not know a good player when he sees one, c. my son would be excellent at…d. and he has only played in three downs this whole season. In this list b, c, and d is the heart of the personal agenda. The number one agenda is: I will get rid of what or whom I don’t like.

There is only one acceptable agenda. You could word it better than I, but the meaning would be the same, and would look something like this. We have an excellent school system; I am truly proud of it and I willingly offer my abilities, knowledge and expertise to help it grow even stronger. Then list your knowledge and experience that would be helpful to a successful school operation. You must be able to truthfully say: “My only agenda is a growing desire to help provide an educational system that will be best suited for each and every student enrolled.” On behalf of the students attending your district I pray that you will not run for the board because of your personal agenda. But, please do run if you are willing and able to help make things better for students and teachers. I believe this same philosophy would apply at any level; from city council to Mayor, from state representative to Governor and on to President of the USA.

There are some life experiences that seem to make lasting impressions simply because many of these experiences cut across the grain. I was a free spirited teenager in December of 1942, facing a sure draft into the army after graduation from high school in May of 1943. I volunteered for the Air Corps and was turned down for medical reasons in January 1943. While I was in classification 4-F, Juanita and I got married, and just a four months later I passed the medical exam and was inducted into the Army as an Infantryman. I wanted the Air Corps and got the infantry instead and was never really a happy camper. This must have been God’s agenda, because it surely was not mine. This is only one of several incidents in my life where I truly believe that God has a plan for each one of us. Finding our purpose in life is probably the most important discovery we will ever make.

It is imperative that we not lose our train of thought, so I will pause here for a moment and let you know that this lesson today gives an excellent comparison to two men with different agendas. Saul represents the one with a personal agenda, while David was willing to be guided by God’s agenda and had refused to harm anyone else in order to promote his own agenda. David waited for God’s time and intent to be in force and in full charge.

There is a bit of a problem here that is hard for me to understand and it seems that it might be impossible for these two kings to understand. However it is easy to see which one was willing to allow God to have his will and way in making the change. First—Saul was a man sought out by Samuel and anointed king at God’s command. When Saul fell into disfavor because of his disobedience, God chose the same man, Samuel who found Saul, to seek, find and anoint a new king. Samuel chose David, through God’s guidance when he went to the house of Jessie and picked his last and youngest son who was out on the farm tending his sheep.

David was anointed, king and put into service soon as a member of the army that killed the Philistine giant and ended that war. Now we have two kings. Nothing has been said as to the exact time that Saul will step down and David will take over. David is willing to let God’s agenda guide this change of command. Saul became angry, vengeful, and even lost his mind thinking about this young, inexperienced sheep herder moving in over his head.

There are about twelve chapters beginning with chapter 20 and extending on to chapter thirty-two that covers a series of wars waged against the Israelites by several different countries. When David was first introduced to Saul, he was accepted and even became Saul’s private musician. Saul was known for his ability to protect his country but on several occasions when he got into trouble David and his army successfully defended against the enemy. One would think that David had proven himself as a patriot and even a supporter of Saul—but Saul never accepted him—and spent much of his time hunting for David with his explicit intention to kill him.

By having the friendship of his faithful buddy, Jonathan, David was always able to dodge the close encounters. On one occasion these two enemies were in a cave together and Saul did not know it. David was able to cut and keep a piece of Saul’s robe as proof that he was close enough to him to have killed him if he had desired. On another occasion David took Saul’s sword to taunt him and to prove again that he was not trying to kill Saul.

It seems that there was a lot of unnecessary feuding between these two kings. However God always has a reason…he had an agenda in this situation. Saul was being let out because of his repeated disobedience to the Lord. But David was young, and needed experience. He did not take over as king until he was thirty years old, so there were several years here where he had his own army and was getting experience in the offensive field, while at the same time he had to stay on the move to avoid being killed by his own king. David was being tried, and proven to be the man that God could depend upon when times were hard.

Cultivate Godly Friendships - I Samuel 18 - 24

One of the saddest charges against the American family today is that there are very few families that have developed and maintained a group of Godly friends. Many parents are working four regular jobs. Most of the time the man works his regular job or profession for eight hours and then goes to his second choice work place while his wife arises early and helps the family get off to work and school and then she goes to her Dolly Parton secular job from nine to five. She returns home and finishes her sixteen hour day keeping the home presentable, cleaning, and doing a hundred tasks over and over week after week. The family is lucky if there is three or four hours each week when they can be friends with each other.

There are very few parents that realize that children go through three or four specific periods of psychological change when they are in desperate need of parental friendship and adult guidance. Many parents do not feel that the problems that children encounter are of any significance and that they will just go away. The truth is that even though childish problems seem of little importance to the adult—they are sometimes a matter of life and death to the teenager. Mom, Dad…their problems are pretty serious to them and all they want is for you to act like you care and want the best for them. It is so very important for young people to choose Godly friendships that parents should feel proud when their children are willing to confide in them. Far too often they feel forced to seek friendships outside of the home. The most valuable quality of a friendship is personal loyalty and one can not always be sure that a new friend will continue being loyal through rough times.

To my knowledge there is no better example of two Godly friends that got together by chance than that of David and Jonathan. Jonathan was loyal to his father Saul, who was serving as king but had really not been the type of loving and caring father that always was there for his son. Jonathan had gone outside of this royal home and found David, son of Jessie whom he appreciated and befriended often. He found himself caught up in the conflict between his father and David and proved that by acting Godly he could be a friend to both.

The story of David is probably one of the best known that is written in the Bible. And the bond between these two young men forever set a pattern for all of us to live by if we propose to be a neighbor and friend to man kind.

Many have wondered why God chose to list David as a man after His own heart considering the fact that he had sinned often and that his sins include even murder and adultery. I have searched for an explicit answer and found none. The one thing that stands out is that David knew when he did wrong and he immediately repented and asked for forgiveness. He proved the immediate and constant necessity for a Christian to practice obedience, and confirmed the fact that God is always willing to forgive us when we seek forgiveness and remain loyal to Him.

The Old Testament is a book of conflicts that arose between Satan and God in the Garden of Eden and will finally close with the fighting of the battle of Armageddon. Saul became the first king and found that there were already two or three nations set and ready to attack him. One of these conflicts included the Giant of the Philistines who was taunted as a super-man. Well known is the fact that David had been chosen by God to be the next king, and that God used this incident to introduce the young man David, to the world of war and conflict.

Saul watched the fight when and where David slew the giant, and he inquired as to who he was. In the last verses of chapter 19, we read about their first meeting. Then the lesson for today begins in chapter 18 with the story of how Saul respected David and did not let him return to his father. There is no doubt that Jonathan saw something great in this man David, because they became very good friends. In fact there indication that Jonathan and David became more than just friends… there was a Christian love that blossomed that first day and neither man ever broke that brotherly bond.

The killing of the giant was the key to their bonding but it also was the inspiration for a song that was written that was the beginning of their problems that would grow worse very soon. The new song indicated that Saul was a great war hero who had killed thousands; but it also implied that David would be greater and would kill millions. Saul was adamant and outraged and because of his jealously he began to plot ways that he could get rid of David.

The lesson today has a total of five chapters included in it and deals with several years of struggles in battle after battle and many incidences that proved that David was superior to Saul. Saul had actually begun to lose his mind, and his hatred for David had obsessed him.

These chapters contain a running history of daily happenings. Saul was continually finding new reasons why David had to be dealt with. Saul ordered that David be killed, and he also attempted to do it himself. There are several occasions when Jonathan met with his dad and pleaded for him to allow David to exist since there was no reason for him to be killed. Then there were also several occasions when Jonathan met with David and cautioned him when his dad was about to be successful in destroying David.

There are very few of us who work together in the church where there is no danger to our livelihoods that will ever be able to develop a brotherly love for each other as did Jonathan for David and David for Jonathan. There is no doubt that God led Samuel to tell the story about these two young men to show the world how important friends can really be.

One of the greatest applications that can be made of this lesson that regards the importance of close friends is recommended to the young people that are making life changes. The change from elementary to junior high school or to high school, and finally those that are entering college will be meeting and making new friends. Would you like to be just like the one you have chosen? The closer one gets to another person, the more apt you are to immolate or adopt his/her way of doing things or living life. Take a good look first and ask yourself if you really want to look and act like your new friend.

There is a second side to this coin. As you start living your new life among new friends, are you carefully choosing and living your life in a way that it will set the right example for someone that may like you and pattern their ways after you. Do you want to be the bad example that leads some soul astray? Do you realize that there is a penalty for misleading people? The Bible says that it would be better for you to have a millstone tied about your neck and be cast into the sea than for you to intentionally lead some little one astray.

One more caution! It is also dangerous for you to allow someone else to choose you as their friend if they have ulterior motives in doing so. It is so easy for one to make this fatal mistake…evaluate them real good.

Embrace God's Perspective - 1 Samuel 16 - 18

“He that says that he has no sin is a liar and there is no truth in him.” “All have sinned and come short of what God expects of his people.” “There are none perfect, no not one.” These truths apply to the lady in the pew, the teacher in religious education, the deacon, the pastor, the king, queen, judge or prophet—even though they are all Baptist. Any of these, regardless of the station held, can become a disappointment to those who have placed their trust in them. I dare to say that there are very few who will read this lesson that have not been disappointed in the life of some person in whom you had placed your trust. Samuel became very disappointed with Saul.

Try to imagine the load that is placed on a trusted member of the church that is in her seventies when she is chosen to serve on a pastoral search committee. Assume that the committee is unanimous in their recommendation and the church calls the pastor with no opposing votes. They were all in agreement that the right choice had been made and the church prospers and grows. Then bad news comes that the pastor has a hidden flaw in his character—one that God and the church can not condone. Can you guess who will feel the greatest remorse? Yes, it will be the lady that anointed the new pastor with her first choice and trust.

As adults we all experience disappointment. Loved ones and trusted friends are too often the source of some of our greatest sorrows. Whether young or older Christians we must learn that we can not allow disappointment to write the script for the rest of our lives. There is always a better way and that is to embrace God’s perspective of the situation we are in. What do I mean to say? We can not let our disappointing experiences defeat us, but instead we must learn to profit and grow stronger because of them.

Though God has experienced incessant disappointment as a result of the failure of His people down through the centuries, He has been able to advance his purposes for them and through them. Saul is a good example of one who served a purpose even though he was a disappointment to God. Samuel represents that lady on the pulpit committee that searched and found Saul—he anointed Saul as the first King, and worked hard to help him be successful. When God finally rejected Saul, it was Samuel that was hurt the most. God approached Samuel and asked him how long he intended to morn the fact that Saul had been rejected. What God really meant was that Samuel should get over the loss and the bad feelings just because a friend had disappointed him. He was to fill his horn with oil and go find a new king, anoint him and let him get busy and lose no more time.

The indication here was that they would be looking for a new king that would have many of the outward characteristics which Saul had. However God warned Samuel that he was not concerned with the outward appearance of the new King. The value of a man can always be ascertained by finding what his heart is like.

Samuel was afraid of Saul. God protected him by sending him to search for the new king before Saul was told that this was taking place. God already knew who the new king would be…he told Samuel where to go…and to look up the house of Jessie who had eight sons. Jessie and his house were consecrated because they were being prepared to make a sacrifice—which was the gift of a son.

I can imagine that Jessie was becoming annoyed with Samuel by the time he had turned down all of his oldest seven sons. You could tell from the tone of voice and the way Jessie answered that he did not want to send for David who was too young and inexperienced. The choice was made and Samuel anointed David to be the one to take Saul’s place as king. Remember that at this time Saul is still king and David actually is placed in service secretly.

God always prepares for his people to move in and take over on his terms and not theirs. Saul needed a harp player to play for him when he was having one of his pity parties and was told about David who had recently come into service for the king. We need to remember that Saul did not know that David had already been anointed. And he became well pleased with David and his service to the king. This continued until he found that David had been chosen as his successor and then he changed to a man of hate with murder in his mind and heart.

Those who have studied history of the ancient world will tell you that there is a lot of similarity between Saul and Nero, the nutty Emperor of the Roman Empire. In verse 14 of the 16th chapter, you will find the hardest verse in this lesson to fully understand. It says, “Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.” This is another one of those verses that no one wants to tackle. I searched in five different commentaries plus the footnotes of four different study bibles and found that the authors completely ignored this fourteenth verse. Dr. B. H. Carroll thinks that Saul died an unsaved man. My question is: Was he saved at one time. He must have enjoyed having the Spirit of the Lord with him—because the bible says that the spirit left him. Does that mean that he was saved and then lost? No. I don’t think this is possible.

Does God intentionally torment people? I do not believe he does. But this verse says that “An evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.” So the Lord must have at least allowed the evil spirit to torment him. Here is a chance for you students to help ye-ole-teacher.

It appears very clear to me that Saul was a high strung, independent, self-centered man that found his life of importance slipping away from him. Because of his nervous background…always at war…always on the alert and feeling self-sufficient he now realizes that his power and prestige is slipping away and it is more than he can bear. To some degree, Saul began to lose his mind and do things that he should not do and he lost all faith in anyone, especially Samuel, and David. He saw David as a threat that would eventually destroy him. The truth was that David was a power-house with the backing of God Almighty that would have set Saul completely free and in good standing even though he had failed so many.

I can imagine that Saul was so weak of mind and losing all the power of reason he had ever had. He simply was going crazy. He believed that music was a soothing balm for his misery. David just happened to be a talented player of the harp, and was brought in to play for Saul. During these early days Saul grew to love David and was well pleased with his service. David treated him as his king and served him well. When Saul finally knew that David had been chosen by God to be his replacement he went mad. The spirit of the Lord left him, and I really believe that this simply means that he no longer had any guidance from God. God gave up on him. His spirit no longer strove with Saul.

God is all powerful and nothing is out of his reach when he needs help. He can minister to his children through his spirit in many different ways. He wanted to use David to minister to Saul but Saul would not accept him.