Reading: 1 Samuel 8:1-11:15

Focus: 1 Samuel 8:6-9

As people, as physical beings, we desire tangible objects to associate and interpret our world. The basis of science is the observable world, not the invisible and intangible—that which is intangible remains under the category of “theory”. Even in the search to understand the invisible and intangible, it is through the tangible which it is interpreted…which can cause a few problems because they are often nothing alike. The invisible and intangible is a state that can’t be paralleled with the tangible. Yet, we will try, try as we might, to parallel the known with the unknown.

The history of Israel is not lacking of stories of the people seeking to reconcile that which they knew with what they did not know. There is a vast history of idolatry and rebellion against God; against His messengers, the prophets. Here, in Samuel’s lifetime it is no different, the people simply could not tolerate being set apart, different, from the nations around them. They wanted a king! It wasn’t good enough that God was their king…they couldn’t see Him, they couldn’t bow before Him, they couldn’t speak to Him face to face. They rejected this invisible, God King in place of a visible, human king.

Today, as Christians, we may not outrightly reject God’s reign in life, but we still continue to seek the tangible. We pray prayers like “God, give me a sign that this is from you…” or “God, confirm this through a message from someone…” It is not to say that we are not discerning as we seek God’s wisdom and guidance, but where is the trust that God will speak to a person without need of a sign, without need of confirming messages from others. Where is the confidence and faith that God whispers His wisdom in the midst of life’s busy schedule?

I do not say this to discredit the voices of those who speak for God (whatever your view on prophetic words and visions may be), but each person in a relationship with God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, does not need to rely on anything or anyone but trust in the work of the Holy Spirit as they seek to hear God’s voice. Even during the time of Israel, it was not as though the prophets were the final word from God, rather they merely spoke during a critical season where the people of Israel distanced themselves from God, rather than when they were pursuing Him. Even in their foreknowledge, their message was focused upon a return and restoration of God’s people rather than simply divulging information of their future.

Where do you turn in your hour of need? Who is it that you turn to for guidance and wisdom? Is it the pastor who speaks each Sunday? Is it the writer with the title, “Follow these 5 steps to hear God’s voice!”? Is it the podcast who replaces the reading of God’s Scripture? Is it the friend who is “spiritually in-tune with God”? Or do you come on bended knee before the King of Heaven and Earth, silencing everything around you, so that you might hear the gentle heavenly whispers of love, grace, mercy and wisdom which are constantly surrounding you, trying get you to understand that there is nothing more important than sitting at His feet…

Next Reading: 1 Samuel 12:1-14:52

Reading: 1 Samuel 3:19-7:17

Focus: 1 Samuel 5:1-5

It is somewhat difficult to apprehend how people see the truth before their very eyes and still refuse to accept the truth before them. We live in a world that is slowly decaying and being destroyed by our way of life, yet there are still people who refuse to believe that we are doing any serious damage. We live in a world where in some countries, the stories of genocide, war, conquest are suppressed from being revealed. We live in a world where slave labour, child prostitution and pornography, desperate poverty are all before us, yet still people think that these things don’t happen anymore. For some, the reality of God stands before them, yet their hearts are hard and refuse to accept the truth.

Flashback a couple of thousand years to the time of Samuel, the Israelites have been defeated and had the Ark of God captured by the Philistines. The Philistines place the Ark in their temple beside the idol of their god, most likely as a symbol that the god of the Philistines had defeated the God of the Israel. However, the next morning as they entered into the temple of their god, they found the idol prostituted facedown before the Ark. They restored the idol to its place, only for it happen against the next day, but this time with its head and hands broken off.

What gets me though is that these people didn’t think to recognise the God of Israel as greater than their god. Instead, they send the Ark through various cities in their land, only to have their leaders and people affected by a plague of tumours. In the end, they resort to return the Ark to the people of Israel. Right before them was a testimony that their god was weak and powerless before the God of Israel, rather than rejecting their own god, they simply took the God of Israel out of the picture.

Let me fast forward a few generations to the time of Jonah. Here, Jonah, an Israelite received the call from God to go and prophesy against the nation of Nineveh. However, in his hatred for the people, heads the opposite direction finding himself on a ship going as far away as possible. Upon the journey, a storm arose that threatened to destroy the ship. The sailors all called out to their own gods while Jonah slept below. One of the men woke him up and pleaded with him to call upon his God—which so happens to be the God of Israel. They cast lots to find the one at fault for the storm and it lands upon Jonah. Lost for how to rectify their situation, Jonah told them to throw him over the boat and the moment they had done so, the storm grew calm. As a result, we are told that “the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.” (Read Jonah 1 for the full story.)

When it comes to things regarding God there is a need for the Spirit’s work and faith, I don’t deny that. However, on the same note, we have been created with eyes to see, minds to perceive and hearts to feel. Surely, if one would only stop to see and perceive what is before them, hearts would be stirred to realise that there is something more in this world that simply what is. Even more so for Christians, quit avoiding the facts before you and do something about it.

Next Reading: 1 Samuel 8:1-11:15

Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-3:18

Focus: 1 Samuel 1:9-11, 21-28

The name Samuel means “heard of God” and it is apt given that the birth of Samuel was an answer to his mother’s prayer. His mother, Hannah, was barren but continued to pray that God would bless her with a son, a son which she would then offer back to the Lord to serve before Him all the days of her son’s life. Such a prayer seems contradictory, to ask God for something, only to offer it back to Him. However, that is exactly what happened, Hannah was blessed with the birth of Samuel and he was offered back to God for service in the Temple all the days of his life before God.

We rarely find a like-minded situation in today’s society. It simply doesn’t make much sense, why would we ask something of God, only to give it back? Or does it…? Let’s just paint a few scenarios:

1. God, please provide me with a new job, so that I might be able to finance your kingdom’s work.
2. God, please provide me with a car, so that I can help those without transportation.
3. God, please help me find the right house, so that it can be a place of hospitality, love and refuge.

Three quick examples of how one may take a different perspective on how God’s blessings and provisions can be dedicated in His service. Likewise, these three examples can be turned for personal gain and satisfaction with total disregard for God’s purposes and glory.

Everything that God gives us, ultimately, still belongs to Him. Our bank accounts, our cars, our homes, our personal possessions, even our very bodies…they belong to Him. The choice is ours, however, as to how we utilise them. Will we take hold of what has been given to us and give them back to God for His service and glory. Will our finances be used for the benefit of God’s kingdom, will our possessions be used to bless others, will our homes be a place where God is upheld and honoured, will we dedicate ourselves for His service in return for the blessing of life that He has given us?

Next Reading: 1 Samuel 3:19-7:17

Reading: 1 Chronicles 6:48-8:40

Focus: 1 Chronicles 8:6, 1-40

Continuing the series of genealogies of Chronicles, we come to the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin. If you’ve noticed, most of the tribes only get a summary of their genealogy, where there is special mention given to the line of David in relation to the kings of Judah, the line of Aaron in relation to the priesthood, and now, the line of Saul in relation into his role as the first king of Israel.

One particular name that stands out in this genealogy is the Ehud. In the history of Israel, Ehud was one of the judges (Judges 3:12-30) which delivered the Israelites from oppression and led the people during his lifetime. Such a name within the ancestry of Saul must give the coming king added credibility. What greater credibility can one have than a renown hero of Israel’s history.

So, what’s the point of highlighting Ehud in Saul’s ancestry. Well, simply that one’s ancestry has little consequence on the character of a person. Just because you have a hero in the family does not mean that one becomes a hero in themselves. Saul was far from the hero that Ehud was known as (but we’ll see more of this later). However, the point still stands…one’s past family history may influence one’s future, but does not characterise how that future is fulfilled.

It is easy as Christians to take the easy way out and say that we are children of God redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, but that in itself only ensures our future destination in the Kingdom of God. It does not, in itself, ensure that we grow and mature in our faith and character as Christians. These aspects are known as “justification” and “sanctification”.
We are justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, that is, by His death and resurrection we are acquitted of our sins. However, we are not sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ, in and of itself—that is, our spiritual growth and maturity. We are sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit within our lives. Sure, you might say that you believe in Jesus, but that doesn’t make you any better a person than the person next to you. It is only by an intentional decision to allow the work of the Spirit in one’s life that one grows and matures as a Christian.

Next Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-3:18

Reading: 1 Chronicles 4:1-6:47

Focus: 1 Chronicles 6:1-30

In the beginning of Chronicles there is a genealogy which sets the historical basis of the kings. Interestingly, there is also another genealogy, but this time tracing the historical basis of the priesthood and those that serve in God’s temple. The genealogy traces all the way from Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob (or Israel), through their various descendants. A quick read over the genealogy may miss some key elements, particularly, given the purpose of Chronicles of recording the national history of Israel.

Each name tells a story, but particular names should jump out, such as: Aaron, Moses, Miriam, Eleazar, Elkanah and Samuel…just to name a few. These genealogies validate not only the present context of Chronicles but also the past history and events. The choosing of the tribe of Levi to serve as priests and temple workers, the election of Aaron and Moses to lead the people in the period of the Exodus, the mention of an unknown, Elkanah, who was the father of Samuel, THE Samuel.

In the midst of unknown, somewhat insignificant names, the story that is untold is the passing on of tradition, history and principles by each person onto the next generation. As you read Samuel’s story, you realise that it started with the faithfulness of his mother which led to his life service to God. Without a family dedicated to God, it was not likely that Hannah would have been willing to release her son, Samuel, into His service.

It highlights the importance for us to pass on our faith, our foundations and our heritage to the generations that proceed us. We may not know what will happen in the generations to come, but it way well be that through our faithfulness that a generation will be a powerful force used for the purpose of God’s kingdom.

Next Reading: 1 Chronicles 6:48-8:40

Reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1-3:24

Focus: 1 Chronicles 3:1-3:24

Disclaimer: this article is merely a reflection within the contexts of the Biblical world. It does not take into account the modern day arguments for and against the claims of modern day Israel and its associated land. The author makes no statement about the current modern day situation and has no intention to define or comment upon current events.

Throughout the world, nations have their founding story. Australia, as it is known today, was founded in 1788 with the landing at Botany Bay. The United States of America, was declared independent from the British Empire on July 4, 1776. On the other hand, you have the ancestral founding stories of the ancient kingdoms, the Aborigines of Australia have their founding story—the Dreaming. The Ancient Roman Empire had the founding story of Romulus and Remus. Each has their story of their origins, which they lay claim as their rights to the land they come from.

The story of Israel is no different. The book of Chronicles begins with an extensive genealogy of its people. Starting with Adam, it traces the Israelite ancestry all the way down to the royal line in the Exile. The lineage of David is given particular attention with a whole chapter dedicated to his ancestry. Anyone with even a basic understanding of Jewish history will realise the significance of David and his ancestry and appreciate the space that is dedicated here to him.

While one may not appreciate each person at the beginning of Chronicles, as one progresses through Chronicles and parallels found in the books of Samuel and Kings, one begins to see how the pieces fit in the greater history of Israel. The record of the kings gives the basis for which the people of Israel lay claim to their land even though, most would agree, this was compiled during the period of the Exile. Nonetheless, here we have a compiled record drawing the kings of Judah all the way back to Adam, the first man, the one created by God.

What we will come to appreciate is that from the Israelite point-of-view, this is God’s grand design. A fulfilment of His promises to His people. Yes, within the period of the Exile, they may have been dislodged from their land but they still had a claim to the land because of God’s promises fulfilled, in this case, the establishment of the Davidic line. What the Israelite misses out on though is where this is all heading. It doesn’t point towards the establishment of another physical kingship in Israel, rather it is heading towards the day where the crown will come to rest upon the head of One and no one will succeed Him for He reigns supreme and forever more. The One is no other than the King Jesus, born of the line of David to which all Israel awaits…

Where Israel’s founding story implies God as its beginning in creation of Adam, it also ends with God in the person and work of Jesus, the Messiah, the fulfilment of the Davidic promise that for all time, one born of David would sit upon the throne. That, my friend, is simply amazing and breath-taking to comprehend.

Next Reading: 1 Chronicles 4:1-6:47

Reading: Ruth 1:1-4:22

Focus: Ruth 1:20-21; 4:13-17

The story of Ruth is a beautiful story of commitment and love. The story of Ruth follows the life of two women, Naomi and Ruth. Naomi, an Israelite, leaves her home during a period of famine. In her time away, her two sons marry the native women, one of whom is Ruth. In a sad series of events, Naomi’s husband and her sons pass away, leaving Naomi with her two daughter-in-laws. In her sorrow, Naomi decides to return home to Bethlehem and urges her daughter-in-laws to return to their paternal homes so that they might be adequately cared for. Orpah, one daughter-in-law, reluctantly sees her reasoning and departs home; whereas Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law and commits herself to her and her future.

Upon returning to her hometown of Bethlehem, Naomi was greeted by her old friends, but in her distress “changed” her name to Mara (names derived from this name: Mary, Marie, Maria, etc.) for her life was bitter. As the story progresses, one can imagine that life for Naomi was difficult, especially as Ruth was gleaning the fields for unharvested grain to feed Naomi and herself. Regardless of the situation, Ruth was determined to stay true to her commitment to Naomi. In the sequence of events, Naomi and Ruth found themselves blessed by a relative, Boaz. In due course, Boaz would take Ruth as his wife and, without realising, play significant course in Israel’s history (but that’s for another time).

From their union, Ruth gave birth to a son, a son that became a sweet taste in Naomi’s mouth. From her bitter past, through the love and commitment of Ruth, she was given a new lease in life. There are numerous stories where the dedication, commitment and love of one person changed the fortunes of another. It was no amazing miracle, it was no wondrous provision of wealth, rather it was a life that is given to another that made all the difference. Before we take this too far, we cannot forget the sovereignty of God in this entire situation, for it He ultimately who blessed Ruth’s commitment and love in the resulting outcome.

The greatest blessings in life are often not the material possessions, the success… rather, it is the relationships which make the most significant different in our lives. One of God’s greatest designs was our capacity for relationship, for love of those around us. It is the investment of time and energy into these relationships which we treasure, outside our primary relationship with the God Almighty, our love, commitment and dedication to others plays a critical role in life.

Next Reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1-3:24

Reading: Judges 20:1-21:25

Focus: Judges 21:25

These days, you tell people what to do and you’ll probably get the response, “Don’t tell me what to do, I’ll do whatever I like, thank you!” Nobody likes being told what to do, but a society without boundaries, structure, governance—essentially, without the laws of the land—leave you with anarchy. Each person does as they so desire and, in the end, nobody benefits…nobody.

The book of Judges has one line which it repeats throughout its pages, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” This is repeated over and over again, which begs an answer to the question, “Wasn’t God meant to be their king?” The build up from the Exodus to Joshua illustrated life directed and guided by God, yet here in Judges we find the lack of a leader causing anarchy rather than continued trust in God’s direction and guidance.

Second to that, the book of Judges also sets up the story of what follows in Israel’s history: the coming of Samuel and his later instalment of a king in Israel. It is only with the arrival of Samuel that there seems to be some restoration in the people’s faith in God. Yet, even then, it is not so much the people who seek God but the leaders who they follow. So, in the end, it’s still just as disconcerting that people follow what they see before them, rather than trusting in that which upholds them and gave them life.

What is it about us people that simply wants to break free? To rule in our own domain? To control the world that we live in? Well, personally, I don’t there’s anything wrong with any of those, it’s how we’ve been designed…however, that being said, what we lack is the responsibility, accountability, and integrity to do all those things with propriety. It is in our design to be rulers, but it was also in our design to do so within the proper constraints of sustainability and care for our world.

The book of Judges certainly highlights this nature within us, further still, it highlights what happens when it is allowed to run rampantly unchecked. Human nature has destroyed life, nature and itself in its pursuit of unwarranted pursuit of power. We see it today, not only in the war-torn countries of the world, but in our corporations, our media, even our own homes… Jesus came to bring in the age of the Kingdom of God, an age where God would reign sovereign once again. Only when our lives are submit to the rule of God, only then will our task to rule be fulfilled as it was intended…

Next Reading: Ruth 1:1-4:22

Reading: Judges 18:1-19:30

Focus: Judges 19:20-30

I’m speechless. To read about the depths humanity falls to truly renders me speechless. This past Tuesday night, a wheelchair bound man was beaten up by two teenagers at a Sydney railway station, robbed and left for dead. (Link) What thoughts would run through the head of two teenagers to even seriously consider destroying the life of a disabled person? Yet, it happened. Not in a game, not in a movie, but in real life… in our world… in our day…

My response is equally frightening when I look through the book of Judges. Israel has gone off the edge of the cliff, it is absolute anarchy. No longer do they have the figures of Moses or Joshua, their judges seem come and go…there is no leadership in the land and the people do as they so desire. Carved idols are installed within their own homes (cf. Judges 17), installing their own priests and idolatry runs rampant.

It is scary how quickly society degrades itself…the event recorded here hark back to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah (see Genesis 18-19). The hard reality hits when we realise that the world we live, though not a blatantly messed up as what we find in Scripture, is going down the same road. How much longer before the stories of events hidden in the alleys of rape, abuse, theft, crime start spilling out onto the streets? This might be an extreme pessimist view, but the reality is that these things are only getting worse and more daring as the days go by.

When I think about what is to come, I get worried. Worse, I get worried about the generation that grows up in this ever degrading world. I can only pray that we would continue to remain steadfast and firm, building ramparts, walls and towers that will stand against the perils of this world; not that we seek to shelter, but we seek to protect the future of our children and children’s children.

Next Reading: Judges 20:1-21:25

Reading: Judges 15:1-17:13

Focus: Judges 16:1-20

Let’s face it, men have a common weakness…women. For all we guys may try and ignore the issue, whether it be our mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, or just female friends…they have a “special” part in our lives. It is the greatest of all love-hate relationships, that is, between man and woman. As the cliché goes, “You can’t live with ‘em, you can’t live without ‘em.” Yet, there are times when particular women become the bain of our existence and all hell breaks loose…in those times, you wonder why God made them in the first place (and women constantly wonder why God made men at all! hehe…)

One of the most well-known characters of Judges is Samson. He is known for his great strength and, known just as much, for his relationship with Delilah. The life of Samson is told in relation to the women of his life. First, his mother and his birth. Second, his wife and the subsequent massacre of 1000 Philistines, a prostitute and an anticipated ambush; and finally, Delilah and his subsequent fall and capture by the Philistines. Talk about bad luck with women… (that is, besides his mother.)

In the end, Samson’s weakness, his Achilles heel, cost him his eyes, his pride and his life. Sure, Samson destroyed the Philistines in the process, but at what cost… surely all of this could have been avoided and he could have been a great leader/judge among the people of Israel. Yet, such is the reality of temptation (particularly, adultery) and its consequences. God may have used Samson for His purposes, but it sets up a grim circumstance of the consequences of when we allow ourselves to fall into temptation and sin.

Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that temptation is not something you can avoid, however, what you can do is to choose how you will respond. Further, he made it clear that you would not face temptations that you could not deal with…it may stretch us, challenge us, belittle us, tear at our being, but God will not allow us to enter tempting circumstances that we are not be able to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13):

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Next Reading: Judges 18:1-19:30