DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PEOPLE OF CHARACTER

 MEN OF CHARACTER
II Samue 3:20-21
 
"So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. Then Abner said to David, 'I will arise and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.' So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.' "
 
Making peace and reconciliation with an enemy is not an easy thing to do. But here were two men of great character. The one, Abner, recognized that the LORD's hand was upon David to rule over the entire nation. And David received Abner with respect, without demanding retribution in his surrender. It reminds me of Lee and Grant at the surrender at Appomattox. Grant treated the surrendering Lee and the Confederate army with grace and respect, and required no reparations. After Lee's soldiers surrendered their weapons – about 28,000 troops, they were sent home in peace. Lord, help me to have the character of Abner and David, seeking forgiveness when I am wrong, and extending forgiveness to my enemies without retaliation.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: People of character seek forgiveness and extend forgiveness with grace and charity.
 
[end]
 
Have a forgiveness day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 
The proverb says:
     "In the house of the righteous there is much
                  treasure." (Proverbs 15:6)
 

I am thankful that my house is filled with treasure.

I am rich.

But it is not with material wealth –

gold,

silver,

diamonds,

or dollars.

 

I am rich because of things of true value –

family and friends,

good health,

a sane mind,

purpose for living,

hope for the future,

and peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am truly blessed and thankful.

 
                                          Love, Dad
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE

LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE
II Samuel 3:12-15
 
"Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying ... 'Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you.' And David said, 'Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.' So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, 'Give me my wife Michal ... And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel, the son of Laish. Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, weeping behind her....."
 
Michal had been a pawn throughout her life. The story goes back to I Samuel, when David was promised one of Saul's daughters after he killed Goliath (I Samuel 17:25). When it came time to fulfill that promise, David was offered Saul's daughter Merab. But then Saul gave Merab to Adriel as a wife. Now Michal loved David, so Saul gave her to David for the price of 100 Philistines (I Samuel 18:17-27). Michal proved to be a loyal wife and helped David escape when Saul wanted to kill him (I Samuel 19:12-17). After David fled into exile, Saul gave Michal to Palti as wife (I Samuel 25:44). To cloud the picture even further, Michal apparently had children by Merab's husband, Adriel (II Samuel 21:8). What a mess!!!  But I think there is a moral to this story: "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie." Sometimes we look with nostalgia at times gone by and fantasize how wonderful they were, and we want to recreate them.  David was trying to relive the past.  But a lot of water had gone under the bridge, and to try to relive the past only brought pain and regret, not only for David but for others as well. Palti was a loving husband, but David wrenches that family apart. I think David probably rued the day he did that, because Michal no longer loved David. In fact she despised him and mocked him, and she bore him no children (I Samuel 6:16-23). I need to let the past be the past.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Trying to relive the past is never as good as it was.
 
[end]
 
Have a "today" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LOYALTY

 LOYALTY
II Samuel 3:8-11
 
"Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, 'Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the LORD has sworn to him – to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.' And he could not answer Abner another word because he feared him."
 
Loyalty -- to a spouse, to a boss, or to a nation -- is a rare commodity, and is a thing to be treasured. But Abner's loyalty meant nothing to Ishbosheth. For whatever reason, perhaps jealousy, Ishbosheth wanted to destroy Abner's influence – to take him down a notch. So Abner transferred his loyalty to another king. A loyal person will be loyal, even if it is to someone else. I shouldn't be surprised when others do not appreciate my loyalty to them, and they diss me. It comes from their own insecurities that they are trying to cover.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Loyalty is not always appreciated or praised, but that does not diminish its value.
 
[end]
 
Have a loyal day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ACCUSATIONS

 ACCUSATIONS
II Samuel 3:7-8a
 
"Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizphah, the daughter of Aial. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, 'Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?' The Abner became angry at the words of Ishbosheth."
 
People in leadership are especially vulnerable to all kinds of accusations of misconduct. The Scripture does not say whether or not the accusation against Abner was true. Abner did not deny it; he just became angry (perhaps because his misconduct was discovered). And we don't know Ishbosheth's motivation (perhaps jealousy because Abner was becoming so strong). So maybe the accusation was true and maybe not. This I do know: It is difficult to defend oneself from accusations. Bill Cosby is in the news again, being accused of sexual indiscretion from 30 years ago. I don't know if the alleged improprieties are true or not. And I don't know the motivation of the women who are accusing him (perhaps for money?). (And denial means nothing; Remember Bill Clinton's famous statement, "I did not have sex with that woman"?) So how does a person defend himself? After I left the pastorate in a certain town, I heard that there were rumors in the community that I had an affair with a woman in the church. It was not true, but I had no way to rebut the rumor. And I ask myself, how could I respond if someone from 40 years ago accused me now of misconduct? Accusations are hard to answer, especially when there is no proof. One is presumed guilty until proven innocent. My only defense is where it really counts – between me and God who knows all things. Furthermore, it is wise to erect safeguards when dealing with the opposite sex to minimize the possibility of accusations.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Accusations are a horrible thing when there is no evidence to substantiate the charge, because there is no defense.
 
[end]
 
Have a careful day.   Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TALKING PEACE

TALKING PEACE
II Samuel 2:12-13
 
"Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool."
 
Here's the story: Abner, the general of the army of Israel, came to attack Judah, and he met with Joab, the general of the army of Judah. They met for a parlay at the pool of Gibeon, and Abner suggested that they let a select group of soldiers from each army have a contest to determine the winner, as was a custom of the day (re: David and Goliah). But neither side won because all of the soldiers in this contest killed each other. So the armies attacked each other and Judah prevailed. As Abner was retreating, Asahel, the brother of Joab, pursued Abner to kill him. Abner pleaded with Asahel to back off, but Asahel would not relent, so Abner killed him. This caused even more bad blood between Abner and Joab. Even though Joab was David's nephew (II Chronicles 2:16), it seems that Abner was more honorable than Joab (as is evident in the next chapter), and Joab was a thorn in David's side throughout his reign. Abner was more inclined to settle their differences by talking than by fighting. If there is a take-away from this story, I think the lesson is that it is better to talk than to make war. The Apostle Paul admonished us, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). It is not always possible because some people would rather fight. But I need to do all I can to live in peace, even if it means retreating from my own position. War, whether in the family, the church, or between nations, should be the last resort, and only when righteousness is at stake.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Talking is a better way to resolved differences than physical combat.
 
[end]
 
Have a peaceful day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TIMES OF DELAY

 TIMES OF DELAY
II Samuel 2:8-11
 
"But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim; and he made him king...over all Israel .... Only the house of Judah followed David. And the time David was king over the house of Judah was seven years and six months."
 
Seven and a half years can be a long time waiting for the fulfillment of what you believe is God's plan. David had been anointed by Samuel at a young age. After all the years of running from Saul, perhaps David thought that now he would be made king over Israel. Instead, Saul's son is made king, and there began a long war between Israel and Judah (3:1). Things don't often happen according to my timetable. Those times of delay can be filled with struggle, but they are times of testing to see if I really trust the Lord. God works things out in His time if I will be patient.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Delays can be a test of my commitment to God's timetable.
 
[end]
 
Have a patient day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

 RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
II Samuel 2:4-6
 
"Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, 'The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.' So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, 'You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, Saul, and have buried him. And now may the LORD show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing.' "
 
Jabesh Gilead was on the east side of the Jordan River, where the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had settled when Israel came to the Promised Land (see Numbers 32). Beth Shan was on the west side of the Jordan, but map-wise, it appears that Jabesh Gilead was the closest town. After Saul was nailed to the wall in Beth Shan by the Philistines (I Samuel 31:10), the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead retrieved his body and buried it. This meant going out of their way in the face of danger.  The motivation was not for reward, but because it was the right thing to do. Random acts of kindness are not done for praise or reward, but because they are the right thing to do. Reward may come later, because what goes around comes around, but that is not the reason to be kind.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Acts of kindness are not done for reward, but because they are the right thing to do.
 
[end]
 
Have a "kindness" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SEEKING GUIDANCE

 SEEKING GUIDANCE
II Samuel 2:1-3
 
"It happened after this that David inquired of the LORD, saying, 'Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?' And the LORD said to him, 'Go up.' David said, 'Where shall I go up?' And He said, 'To Hebron.' So David went up from there...And David brought up with him the men who were with him, every man to his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron."
 
David sought the LORD for guidance, and he was very specific in his inquiry, asking not just "shall I" but also "where." It is so easy to fall into the routine of life of doing my own thing, depending on my own reasoning without asking God for His guidance. Lord, I want and need your leading: not just "should I," but also "where" and "how."
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The prayer for guidance should be specific.
 
[end]
 
Have an inquiring day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SINGING

 SINGING
II Samuel 1:17-18
 
Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the children of Judah The Song Of The Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jashur."
 
David sang in good times and bad times.  I can't imagine what life would be like without singing. It is such a powerful way to express sorrow and joy, lament and praise, national pride, love and love denied, and especially praise and love for God. No wonder the Bible has so many exhortations to "sing unto the Lord" (I Chronicles 16:23; Psalms 9:11, 30:4; 95:1; 96:1-2; 98:1, 5; 147:7; 149:1; Isaiah 12:5; 42:10; Jeremiah 20:13), and no wonder that the Book of Psalms is the largest in the Scriptures. So, let your heart "sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19; 3:16).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Singing is a powerful way to express the deep emotions of the heart.
 
[end]
 
Have a singing day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RESPECT FOR GOD'S ANOINTED

 RESPECT FOR GOD'S ANOINTED
II Samuel 1:13-16
 
"Then David said to the young man who told him [that he had killed King Saul], 'Where are you from?' And he answered, 'I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.' So David said, 'How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?' Then David called one of the young men and said, 'Go near, and execute him!' And he struck him so that he died. So David said to him, 'Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, "I have killed the LORD's anointed." ' "
 
David had a huge respect for authority. He understood that it was God who had appointed and anointed Saul to be king. Perhaps his mind went back to the times when he himself had opportunity to kill King Saul, but he would not, saying, "I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed" (I Samuel 24:6; 26:23). It is a dangerous thing to attack those whom God has placed in positions of authority. I need to let God take care of them in His time.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: To attack a God-anointed leader is to bring judgment on my own head.
 
[end]

Have a respectful day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A TIME FOR SADNESS

 A TIME FOR SADNESS
II Samuel 1:11-12
 
"Therefore [when he learned of Saul's death] David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword."
 
David was a Ziklag when he received word that Saul was dead, along with Jonathan. No longer would David be pursued like a criminal and exiled from his country and people. The normal human response would be happiness. But David did not exult and rejoice at the news of Saul's death. Instead, he mourned and wept. Even though Saul had forsaken God, he was still God's anointed king. When God's anointed servants fall (like preachers sometimes do), it should be a time of sadness. When people receive the just reward for sin, it should not make me rejoice, but to mourn. Oh, to have a tender heart like David.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: When God's anointed fall, it should cause mourning and weeping, not rejoicing.
 
[end]
 
Have a tender-hearted day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- MEN OF VALOR

 MEN OF VALOR
II Samuel 31:11-12
 
"Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and buried them there."
 
What distinguishes a valiant man? Valor is defined as "strength of mind or spirit that enables a man to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery." A valiant person is willing to sacrifice his own comfort and safety in order to do what is right. Saul may have been a lousy king, but he did not deserve such ignominious treatment. These valiant men put their own selves at risk in order to give Saul and his sons a proper burial. It takes strength of character to be a valiant person. I want to be a valiant follower of the Lord Jesus and be willing to put my own comfort, my reputation, and my very life at risk to do what is right.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Valor calls for strength of mind and spirit to do what is right.
 
[end]
 
Have a valiant day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A TRAGIC ENDING

 A TRAGIC ENDING
I Samuel 31:5-6
 
"And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. So Saul, this three sons [Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua], and all his men died together that same day."
 
What a tragic ending to a story that had began so well. In the beginning, Saul had been a mighty man of power (I Samuel 9:1), yet humble (10:21-22), who had experienced the Spirit of God upon him (10:9-10), and had seen God's victory over his enemies. But along the way, he became proud, rebellious and stubborn, and because he rejected God, God rejected him (15:23). Now at the end of his life, he commits suicide, his enemies decapitate him, strip him of his armor and nail his headless body to a wall, and he is finally cremated (I Samuel 31:8-12). It's not how a person begins that counts, but how he finishes the race. He who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22). By God's grace, I want to end well.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: It is not how a person begins but how he ends that is important.
 
[end]
 
Have an "enduring" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- EUTHANASIA

 EUTHANASIA
I Samuel 31:1a, 3-4
 
"Now the Philistines fought against Israel ... The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armorbearer, 'Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.' But his armorbearer would not for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it."
 
Euthanasia (easy or good death) and suicide (self-killing) are becoming more and more acceptable by a culture that has no fear of God. Saul had left God behind years before, so he feared suffering at the hands of the Philistines more than he feared God. My Bible still says, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13) and forbids murder because we are all made in the image of God (Genesis 9:5-6). Only the government is given the authority to "bear the sword ... an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil" (Romans 13:1-4). Euthanasia and suicide are still wrong, regardless of societal acceptance. The desire to avoid pain and suffering is real, but it is better to leave death in God's hands than to play God by doing it myself.   "But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.'  My times are in Your hand"  (Psalm 31:15). 
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God gives life and only He has the right to take it.
 
[end]
 
Have a "life" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GENEROSITY

 GENEROSITY
I Samuel 30:26, 31
 
"Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, 'Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD – ' .... and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to rove."
 
In contrast to the selfishness of some of his army who did not want to share the plunder God had given even with their fellow-soldiers, David sent some of the spoil of battle to the elders of other cities where he had found refuge during his flight from King Saul. David demonstrated to his followers a spirit of unselfishness and generosity. God has demonstrated His spirit of generosity – "God so loved that He gave" (John 3:16). Nothing I have is my own; it is a gift from God, and He calls me to follow His example of generosity.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A generous and unselfish spirit demonstrates God's nature.
 
[end]
 
Have a generous day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SHARING THE VICTORY

 SHARING THE VICTORY
I Samuel 30:24b
 
" 'But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.' "
 
When David and his 600 soldiers when to pursue the Amalekites, 200 were so weary that they could not continue the attack, so they stayed behind at the Brook Besor (vs. 10). After God gave David's army a great victory, they returned to Brook Besor to the 200 who did not fight. Some of the "wicked and worthless men" said that because they were not involved in the battle, that they should not share in the plunder. But David decreed that they would all share the booty alike. Sometimes people become so weary of the battle that they need to drop out for some R and R. How do I treat them? Do I have compassion on them and encourage them? Or do I consider them as inferior and unworthy? Do I think badly about them in my heart because they have been resting while I was in the heat of the battle? God, help me to have a proper compassion for my fellow-soldiers who need to replenish their strength, and encourage them instead of criticizing them. After all, sometimes I need rest also.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: All the soldiers in God's army share alike in the victories, even those who were not in the battle.
 
[end]
 
Have a compassionate day.   Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- BE VIGILANT

 BE VIGILANT
I Samuel 30:9, 11, 13, 16-17
 
"So David went, he and the six hundred who were with him .... Then they found an Egyptian in the field ... And David said to him, 'Can you take me down to the troop?' ... And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating, and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day."
 
The Amalekites were having a great time celebrating their great victories, and they let their guard down, unaware that they were about to be attacked by David's army and defeated. The problem is not the celebrating, but the lack of vigilance. When a people – whether an army, a nation, or a church, or a person – is focused on living the good life, unaware of the dangers facing them, they are in grave danger. I fear that the citizens of America are "spread out over all the land, eating, and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil," oblivious to the great danger facing our nation. Jesus warned about the state of affairs before His coming: "But as in the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking ... until the day Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away" (Matthew 24:37-39). Jesus' admonition was to "watch" (25:13). That is, stay vigilant.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: There is grave danger waiting for those who are not vigilant.
 
[end]
 
Have a vigilant day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SEEKING GOD'S WILL

 SEEKING GOD'S WILL
I Samuel 30:7-8
 
"Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimielech's son, 'Please bring the ephod here to me.' ... So David inquired of the LORD, saying, 'Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?' And He answered, 'Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.' "
 
It would seem a natural and obvious response to go after those who had attacked Ziklag, and rescue the women and children who had been taken as prisoners. But David did not act on his own impulses. He wanted to be sure that he knew God's will. It is so easy to make rash decisions based on my own emotions and understanding without seeking God's mind in the matter. Even when the choice seems obvious, it is best to include God in the process.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Decisions need to be brought before the Lord even when they seem natural and obvious.
 
[end]
 
Have a "God's will" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE TRUE SOURCE OF STRENGH

 THE TRUE SOURCE OF STRENGTH
I Samuel 30:6
 
"Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD."
 
[NOTE: Previous devotionals from Samuel can be found in Dad's Ramblings from 2010. This series is starting with the last chapter of I Samuel. To view the other studies, go to thisdadsramblings.blogspot.com]
　
 
David and his army (along with their families) were still on the run from King Saul, and were quartered in Ziklag. While David and his men were away from Ziklag fighting a battle, the Amalakites attacked Ziklag and captured the women and children and then destroyed the city. When David returned to Ziklag and his army saw the devastation, they turned on David, their commander, and wanted to kill him. In his distress, the only place David could turn to was the LORD, his God. There is really only one place to go when my soul is distressed and everyone has turned against me, and that is to the Lord Jesus. He alone can strengthen my spirit.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: When the world around collapses, the only place to find strength for the troubled soul is in the Lord God.
 
[end]
 
Have a "strengthened" day. Love you.