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.
 
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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.
 
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Have a "strengthened" day. Love you.