Daily Digest

24 Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food. 25 The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. 28 Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.” 29 Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?” 31 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. 32 They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood. 33 Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.” “You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” 34 Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.’” So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.

If there is one thing I can relate to in this passage it is Saul’s ‘foot in mouth’ approach. Too many times I have opened my mouth and said something without thinking, let alone thinking thru the consequences. What is worse is then not being able to back down due to my own pride. Saul made the men take a vow which no doubt seemed like a good idea at the time but turned out to make things difficult for his army.

The whole ‘swear an oath’ thing may not be so day to day commonplace for us but this is still a valuable warning regarding what we say. Jonathan was able to weigh the wisdom of the oath and see it for what it was. I hope that when I speak I engage my brain first. But if I don’t, I hope that I have the wisdom and grace to swallow my pride and make things right. 

Heavenly Father give me the strength to weigh my words today. I pray that what comes out of my mouth will bring honour to you. In Jesus name Amen.

Written by Christine Knight

13 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years. 2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Mikmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes. 3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4 So all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious to the Philistines.” And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal. 5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” 13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” 15 Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred. 16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. 17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, 18 another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness. 19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!” 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. 22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

When I was younger I used to get a bit confused by stories like this in the Old Testament. Wasn’t the bible supposed to be full of stories that show us how to live in God’s ways? And yet so many of these bible “heroes” seem to get it wrong time and again.

Later I came to realise that stories such as this one are not recorded as examples for us to follow, but rather as a warning of pitfalls for us to avoid.

So, what can we learn from King Saul’s actions in this story? Saul disobeyed what God had commanded to him to do as leader of the people. Pride and fear caused him to presume that he could improve on God’s plans by taking matters into his own hands. I can see many times in my own life when this too has been my response, which never ends well.

And then when the prophet Samuel confronts Saul over his blatant disobedience, Saul gives lots of excuses. But Samuel is not buying it, telling Saul he has “done foolishly” in not obeying the commandment of the Lord.

It’s so easy to excuse ourselves from poor choices and our disobedience to God’s ways when we are in a difficult situation like what Saul was in.  But tough situations are where God tests us to see how we will react.

Will I continue to trust in God’s ways when I can’t see a way out? And if I do mess up and try to go my own way, do I quickly own up to it and seek God’s forgiveness or do I try and cover it up with excuses?

I am grateful for the forgiveness and the grace of God as He has patiently guided me through many years. I have certainly not always got it right, but I am learning more and more to trust Him in the tight spots where it looks like there is no way out. His ways are always best, and when I own up to my faults and failings, He is always there to lift me up again.

Written by Shelley Witt

11 Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.” 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.” 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. 5 Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said. 6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one. 8 When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand. 9 They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.” 11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. 12 The people then said to Samuel, “Who was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today, for this day the Lord has rescued Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.

What a strange story, at least in our thinking – why would anyone allow someone you are about to attack the opportunity to get some allies!  But the Ammonites did.  Was it a sign of arrogance and pride – I do not know – but they allowed the people of Jabesh Gilead the opportunity and it came to Saul’s hearing.  When Saul heard it he was enraged.  There are times in every leader’s life when a holy rage wells up and in that holy rage you stand for justice.  You will defend and call others to defend the truth, or the righteous, or …

When is the last time you allowed a holy rage to rise within you in a situation of injustice?  Make sure you hear both sides of the story – remember the wisdom of Proverbs 18:17 “The person who tells one side of a story seems right, until someone else comes and asks questions.”, but if there is truly injustice let the rage raise to become a call to action to defend, or right a wrong.  Remember Jesus cleared the temple as it was meant to be a house of prayer not a market buying and selling good – and He did it with a whip He had woven (John 2:15)!

Father – help us to live in unity with You and if a situation occurs when we need to rise to defend Your Name, or a person who has been wronged or to right a wrong – give us the courage to do so with grace and strength – in Jesus’ Name.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. 11 When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place. 14 Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?” “Looking for the donkeys,” he said. “But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” 15 Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

What a strange incident.  Saul is anointed as the king and then he begins prophesying.  Why?  What is the point of Paul prophesying?

I think the point about the experience is to give Saul evidence that God is with him, and not simply so that he can be grateful for a nice experience.  It is because there are things he is going to find himself doing or challenged to do, and he could be tempted to think, “I couldn’t do that.”  Saul had said to Samuel, “I’m just a member of the smallest of the twelve clans”, and “I am a member of the smallest family in Benjamin”.  God’s granting him this experience is designed to stop this kind of talk. “God will be with you” or “God is with you” is a common used phrase in the Old Testament, especially when God places some impossible task in front of them.  In effect what the Lord is doing is saying ‘What you are is irrelevant’.  The fact that God is with you (of which this experience gives evidence) is what counts.

So when have you thought to yourself – ‘I cannot do that’, ‘that will never happen’ or similar thoughts.  I know those thoughts cross my mind all too often.

Yet, the Lord has anointed me, not as a king, but nonetheless he has anointed me.  And he has anointed you – to be you – but not the broken, rundown you, but the whole, healed and redeemed you, not with a marred self image, but made in the image of God to fulfil His plans and purposes in your life.

Are you operating in the affirmation of God? and when do you operate out of your brokenness?  God has anointed you to be all He calls!

Father, help me to remember and walk in the power of Your Spirit, not out of my brokenness but the wholeness You bring to me through the working of Your Word and Spirit in my life.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

11 As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?” 12 “He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.” 14 They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place. 15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.” 17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.” 18 Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” 19 “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?” 21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?” 22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.” 24 So the cook took up the thigh with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.’” And Saul dined with Samuel that day. 25 After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house. 26 They rose about daybreak, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way.” When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”—and the servant did so—“but you stay here for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.”

What a day for Saul.  He is a son from the smallest tribe of Israel.  He heads out with a servant to find donkeys owned by his father.  They walk possibly 15-20 miles in search of the donkeys and don’t find them.  However, they hear that the town nearby has a Prophet who lives there, so they seek him out in hope that he knows where the donkeys are.

The prophet Samuel is a man after God’s heart.  God has already spoken to him about Saul coming and that he is to anoint him as the next King of Israel.  I don’t think Saul had any idea that going looking for donkeys would find him returning home anointed as the first King of Israel.

It makes me think how God has such different plans from us.  Often in our simple and ordinary day to day lives, God is looking at our obedience and our heart.  Just doing faithfully what we are supposed to do, lays the opening to something we could never conceive of.   I love it that God works in ways that are “out of the box” and never through the eyes of man.

Thank you, Lord, that you look upon our hearts.  We thank you for your love and that you honour those who walk humbly with You.  Help us Lord to trust afresh our lives to you, knowing that you hold an amazing future for each one of us.  Amen.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.[a] 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. 4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead[b] us, such as all the other nations have.” 6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” 10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

This chapter captures a hugely significant moment in Israel’s history from God’s own perspective. Israel is choosing a human king instead of having their God as their king. From God’s perspective he is willing to let them have their way, but he sees it as a rejection of his own leadership and a road towards future trouble for his people.

I can see where the Israelites are coming from. Samuel has for the most part done a wonderful job leading Israel as a Priest. He has been full of the Spirit of God and been obedient to God. He is now old and the Israelites are wondering who will next take up this priestly position, Samuel’s sons certainly are not a promising bunch.

I can think of some specific moments in my life where I was not happy about the present circumstances that I or my work organisation found itself in, I can think of moments where I did not like the direction leadership in church or work were going, I can pinpoint moments where I thought I could see the future clearly and it wasn’t looking good.

And I can see that too many times I was just like the Israelites; I took matters into my own hands and did not wait upon the Lord. The lesson for me is clear: when things are not going well or the future looks gloomy, do not be hasty in acting according to worldly wisdom. Cry out to the Lord, seek him out as King, and let him “lead me, go out before me, and fight my battles”.

Written by Andrew Mellor

13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. 14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15 The Levites took down the ark of the Lord, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. 16 The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron. 17 These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the Lord—one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. 18 And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers—the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. 19 But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them. 20 And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?” 21 Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town.” 7 1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. 2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time—twenty years in all.

This passage is the end of a fascinating story. The Philistines had just learnt the hard way, that God is holy. To treat God as less than holy was to invite the terrible consequences they experienced. So, they returned the Ark of the Lord to Israel. Now the Israelites are also reminded that God is holy.

The Israelites see the Ark returning on a cart, no one leading it, but the cows pulling the cart directly to their village. Naturally, there was a celebration. The cows were sacrificed, burnt offerings made, some Levite men set the Ark on a rock, it’s all going well until seventy men decided to have a look inside the Ark and died. The Lord’s holiness killed them.

There are no excuses, the Levite men should have known the Law and God’s clear instructions regarding the Ark. God is a holy God. His Word must be obeyed always. No exceptions, sin can not live in the presence of a holy God. Both the Philistines and the Israelites found this out. The people of the village cried out, “who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?”

Ps 119 opens with this, “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord”. (NLT)

I am reminded that we don’t obey God’s law out of fear, but because of our relationship with him, his great love for us, we are now made holy though the sacrifice of Jesus, allowing us into His presence. Blessing, wisdom and joy follow.

Father, your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Written by Andrew Martin

5 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold. 6 The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. 7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?” They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel. 9 But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” 11 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. 12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

Is Jesus number one in my life? I might say he is and I may portray that on the outside, but is he really? What other idols have I set up in my heart that are sitting right next to Jesus? Family, money, control, worry. ‘Dagons’ come in many forms. 

Here’s the thing though, God’s presence, the Ark, should have bought blessing to the Philistines. That’s what happened years later when the Ark was moved to Obed-Edom’s house (see 2 Samuel 6:11). Instead the Ark bought tumours and death. Why? What was different?

God wasn’t first. 

And that happens in my life too. It’s Jesus, but also family. Jesus, but also money. Jesus, but also my sin of choice. I have invited Jesus into my heart where I expect him to co-exist with Dagon. And then I wonder why blessing and answers to prayer don’t come!

Lord help me remember that you told me to not have any other God but you. Help me do the hard heart work – to tear down and break up the idols in my life. To make you Jesus, first.  Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!” 10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

“Ouch” I said aloud as I hung up from the call.

I had just been told that I wasn’t successful in my application for the job that I had been interviewed for. It’s not the first time I’d missed out on a job, but in this instance, I was sure that this job was for me.

What really hurt though was that they said they had decided to advertise the position again… That meant that I wasn’t just beaten by someone with more experience, or better interview skills. It meant that they just thought that I wasn’t cut out for the job!!

“Why God, Why!?” I demanded staring in to space, bordering between anguish and rage.

I had done all the right things. I sought God on whether to apply, I confirmed that it lined up with the call that I believed He had on my life, I prayed before and after the interview. Yet, still I failed.

1 Samuel 4 has many layers. On the surface it is about the Israelites being defeated by the people who God had called them to drive out of the Promised land and the death of two evil influencers in Israel, Hophni and Phinehas. But deeper down, it is about the attempts of God’s people to do the right thing, but in a foolish way. It is about failing when they think they are doing the right thing.

As I reflect on this passage and on times of my life where I have failed at something, I realise that God reveals my pride in those moments. It’s at these times when I realise I am angry at God for opposing me, even though in my own eyes, at the time, I thought I was doing all the right things. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6) becomes real to me in these moments.

Why does God oppose me when I am proud? Because he wants grace to abound in my life! He doesn’t want to just pour grace on me, but he wants it to flow through me into the lives of all those around me.

Thank You God for your revelation this morning.

Written by Ps Justin Ware

27 Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites. 29 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’ 30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, 32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life. 34 “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”’”

Eli the priest and his sons had been taking more than their agreed portion of the sacrificial offerings given to the Lord by the Israelites.  In doing so they were dishonouring God and those who had given the sacrificial offerings in the first place.  The consequences of this grave sin was the wiping out of Eli’s family both now and in the future.

What a sobering passage of Scripture!  Essentially Eli and his sons were taking and enjoying something that did not belong to them. These offerings were given to God and this should have been respected and not treated so lightly. They abused their positions as priests and it couldn’t go unpunished. It is a healthy reminder to firstly honour God and secondly those we serve as we go about doing what God has called us to do. It is so important not to take advantage of a position God places us in for our own benefit. Sometimes it’s good to take stock and ask ourselves, “Is what I’m doing honouring God and others?”

Dear Lord, please help me to serve you in way that brings you honour and glory. Amen

Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods

18 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

This is a beautiful passage about Samuel set in stark relief against the sons of Eli. We see a precious glimpse of the care of his mother toward him as they make their yearly visit to offer sacrifice to the Lord.  I imagine the robes being sown and worn with much love, through the years.  But there is another beautiful narrative within this story, the blessing of Elkanah and Hannah, Eli’s prayer for God to bless them with more children and the graciousness of God toward them, with a further five children. 

I love the way that God weaves stories within stories, with most of the answers to our prayers coming in ways we would never expect. The story of a barren woman’s silent desperate prayer to God for a child, and in the chapters to come, the answered prayer, Samuel, who is growing up ministering in the presence of the Lord, and how he is then woven into the leadership of the nation and ultimately anointing a king who’s lineage will culminate in Jesus.  

I see this small paragraph as an encouragement to us to never think that God does not hear or answer our silent desperate prayers. He hears, and He weaves the answers together in ways that we could never imagine.  What an amazing God we serve.

Written by Suzie Hodgson

2 Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn[a] is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. 2 “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 3 “Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. 4 “The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. 5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. 6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. 7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world. 9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails; 10 those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” 11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.

This passage of Scripture is a prayer to God from Hannah at the time she presents Samuel to Eli the priest.  From this point onwards Samuel would be raised in God’s house and eventually become a priest.

Hannah’s prayer starts with how she is feeling; happy, strong, rescued and rejoicing are the words she uses. This is the woman who is giving up her only child and at this point she doesn’t know that she will go on to have other children.  Hannah will only see Samuel once a year when her family visits the tabernacle.  What an amazingly selfless and faithful response! 

From the rest of the prayer we can see that Hannah truly knows her God – his nature, his character, power and his sovereignty.  It’s all down to God not human endeavour.

It’s interesting to note that Hannah did not pray for another child.

As a mum I do wonder how Hannah could keep her promise to God and give Samuel up. How difficult it must have been, heart wrenching I reckon.  We know Hannah was a woman of prayer and in those times of prayer she came to know God intimately.  This knowing God helped her to give up her son and still genuinely rejoice in her heavenly Father.  They had a rich relationship. I am so challenged to know God better so that I am able to step out in faith like Hannah.    I wouldn’t mind her attitude either!

Dear Lord, thank you for the example of Hannah.  Please help me to know you in a similar way; to have that rich relationship that enables me to step out in faith for you, Amen.

Written by Ainslie Woods!

1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” 9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

What a classic case of being misunderstood or even mistreated by everyone. Hannah has a husband-sharing arrangement with Peninnah which was accepted cultural practice in her day, but just a headache of a practice. And open to getting a little warped – which in Hannah’s case meant a husband who favoured her and a fellow wife who mistreated her. 

Elkanah didn’t understand Hannah – how could a man with many children already understand the longings of a woman who’s probably dreamt of being a mother since childhood, but sees this dream wasting away before her. 

And then there’s the Priest, Eli, who calls Hannah out as a drunk! 

Reasons for giving up abound here. But I ask myself – who’s the hero in this narrative recount? Who comes in to save the day? You could say Hannah, but she comes to the temple weeping and unwilling to eat. 

No. Is it not the Lord, who neither misunderstands nor mistreats Hannah, but loves her, hears her prayer, and brings blessing to her and her family? 

For me, it’s clear – when everyone else doesn’t get me, there’s always one who never fails to. Even if I have to wait years for Him, He has seen me, heard me, and understood me the whole time. 

Lord, help me keep this awareness of you – especially when my world seems to misunderstand or mistreat me. You always hear me and help me.   AMEN. 

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Strong words from Apostle Paul – strong words we need to hear.  What are the influences on our lives and are they good and for God or are they designed to distract, divert and disrupt??

There are some who subscribe to the wisdom of man more than the wisdom of God.  I have always taken the view that I must read God’s Word, the Bible, at least as much as any other book, nowadays as much as I listen to podcasts etc. Why, because a knowledge of the Truth will guard me from imbibing false doctrine including the philosophies of man.  How dreadful to be under God’s curse that comes from leading people away from God and His truth – and there is this possibility – which of itself should shake us to our core.  We need to stay true to Christ in all we are and in all we do and believe.  Confusion about God, His plan of salvation, that Jesus is the one and only redeemer and that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory must not be the fruit of our ministry.  We should maintain our beliefs, while keeping an attitude of grace, of love, acceptance and forgiveness – there is no other Name under heaven by which we can be saved.

For the Galatians they had people telling them the grace and faith needed ‘added extras’ to truly save you.  Any ‘added extras’ represent false teaching – may we be careful we add nothing to God’s plan of salvation!

Father help me to stay true to Your Word in all I say, do and think.  May I lead people truly in Your kingdom.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta