The Simple Life

“But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, 'Set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands." 1 Samuel 10:19 (ESV)   There are many creative ways we can reject God. We can do so by placing our trust and hope in humans for any reason. We can reject God by placing our trust in systems, money, and health, and seeking comfort and fame. That which controls us is our "god," and the giving of our lives to things God created will yield disappointment, sorrow, and hopelessness.   We can tell whether or not we believe the truth by the fruit in our lives. Those who the Spirit of God controls live lives of quiet resolve. They cannot be shaken. They cannot be destroyed. Their joy comes from their obedience, not their comfort.   We were made to be dependent upon God, yet we so often fight for independence and think that the lack of contro

But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city." 1 Samuel  8:19-22  (ESV)   God's will is not always accomplished, even though his purposes will always be fulfilled. Those who live outside the plan will live scattered, confusing lives. During specific periods in our brief history, we have the freedom to listen to or reject God. There is much that rides on that decision. To reject the obvious counsel of God is to reject the very purpose for which we were created, and those who do so must expect a tragic ending.   The blind leading the blind has never

And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them." 1 Samuel 8:7-9 (ESV)   Sometimes, God gives us what we whine for, which is not good for us. When we reject God, we reject God's people. When we reject God, we reject common sense, dignity, and purpose. When we reject God, we choose to live in hopelessness.   We are deceived whenever we choose to know/follow God through a person rather than through His Word. The Scriptures give us a clear understanding of what now happens to this nation as they put their hope in a king, like the other nations, rather than i

When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. 1 Samuel 8:1-3 (ESV) How hard is it to get the next generation to follow in the footsteps of Godly parents? Having parents who love God and walk with God does not seem to ensure that their children will love God and walk with God. Many children grow up in abusive, Godless homes and walk with God as adults, and many who grew up in God-fearing homes stray.   Parents are responsible for living in a way that can be emulated but cannot make the final decisions for their children. Parents must concentrate on loving God and people, living the proper example in all things and doing it in public, and then praying, educating, and cheering on the next generation.   We need to concentrate on laying down the example, not the law

When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. 1 Samuel 5:1-3 (ESV)   Replacing God with anything is not a good idea. All people and creation will pay homage to the one true living God. Sometimes, I wonder if God and the angelic host have a little "fun" at the expense of the ignorant. They placed the ark in the temple of their gods only to find out that the other gods were not God. I wonder if God told the angels to get ready for some "entertainment" before He messed with that worthless idol. I wonder how many angels shook their heads at the obvious ignorance of man.   It seems as if man is often the subject of some celestial lesson. I wonder how often they shake their heads at me. https

“Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight." So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. 1 Samuel 4:8-11   Hophni and Phinehas were manipulators, not leaders. They attempted to use God and the position God gave them to satisfy their fleshly desires. They manipulated the people to be their Suppliers, and fed off the power their position garnered them. They seemed instrumental in grabbing the ark and trying to force God to win this battle for them.   Instead, God seemed to draw his final line in the sand, and when they crossed it, they