This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
1SAMUEL
1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
Are there those in the world who would afflict you just because they can? Yes. I'm afraid there are. The Ammonites, at this time, have become fairly strong and wanted to try and humble the nation of Israel. Remember, Saul has just been named king, and Israel has had no regular army.
5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
When Saul heard this news he became angry. Notice that Saul's anger was a result of the Holy Spirit of God coming upon him in a special way (verse 6). The Bible tells us that our Sviour, God is "angry with the wicked every day." (Psalm 7:11).
9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
Saul sent messengers to Jabesh assuring them that they would be delivered because they had asked help.
11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
Saul came as he promised. Of course, we know that he could not have done so without God's help. But Jesus IS God! And He will come just as He promised. He will come with help for TODAY, and He already has come with eternal deliverance.
12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
Some had mocked the anointing of Saul believing that this simple farmer couldn't possibly deliver them. Now, those who remembered that wanted to find the mockers and slay them.
14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Samuel was there at the celebration of victory over the Ammonites. And he suggested that they "RENEW" the kingdom in Gilgal (the holy place).
Please continue to follow along with us in Bible Study.
CHAPTER 11
The men of Jabesh realized they would be overrun, so they offer surrender. But the leader of the Ammonites didn't just want them to surrender, he wanted them incapable. So he set terms of surrender that would disable them permanently - to put out their "right eyes."
Satan would like to see Christians overrun, but in his greed, he also wants to render us incapable.
However, we, like the men of Jabesh, have a Saviour upon Whom we may call for help.
The men of Jabesh asked for seven days so they could send for help. And ambassadors were sent to Gibeah where Saul lived.
There is such a thing as righteous indignation. Such is what we Christians should feel at the very prospect of abortion or euthenasia or gambling, etc.
Saul committed himself to resign from farming and to be Israel's fighting king. He cut to pieces his oxen and sent them as messages to all the tribes of Israel. The message was that he would personally see to it that the same happened to those tribes who did not respond in offering warriors for help! This is a SINCERE COMMITMENT!
Jesus resigned His place in eternal splendor and glory to come upon this earth in the form of man. His purpose was to offer HIMSELF upon the cross of Calvary and suffer in His own body the punishment of death and hell for you and me. He was willing because He loved us. THAT also is SINCERE COMMITMENT!
Through His death on the cross, Jesus defeated death and hell, and now offers His eternal splendor FREE to all who will come to Him. But Jesus expects us to SERVE and fight against wickedness every day! And if a person will not, then that person deserves the punishment Jesus took.
"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."(Matthew 12:30)
One might also see Matthew 25:14-30 -- the parable of the talents.
We are not saved to SIT, we are saved to SERVE!
Notice that a LOT of people showed up for Saul! (Verse 8)
Some people might say, "Well, Bro. Bruce, you're a little too serious about this commitment thing." But, my friends, Jesus was VERY SERIOUS when He went to the cross. He died to SELF, in order to be what we NEEDED. And the only way we can join him in eternal glory is if we DIE TO SELF to be what He WANTS!
And I believe when salvation is explained in this way MANY PEOPLE will come to Christ WILLINGLY!
Jesus has sent messengers into the world assuring people that He will deliver them because they ASK!
"HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."(Isaiah 55:1)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."(John 3:16-17)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."(Romans 10:13)
The men of Jabesh TRUSTED Saul's answer and they sent word to the Ammonites that TOMORROW they would surrender.
We need to TRUST JESUS and tell Satan TOMORROW!! Because Jesus will deliver us TODAY!
Never surrender to Satan TODAY, because Jesus can deliver us out of all trouble in THIS day!
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."(Hebrews 4:16)
Notice how Saul displays the character of our Lord, Jesus. He said, in effect, "NO! Don't slay anyone. GOD is the eternal JUDGE! And GOD has brought salvation. Let HIM decide who lives and dies."
The Bible teaches us that Christians are not to return mocking when people mock us. Neither are we to judge harshly those who scorn our faith (Matthew 5:38-42).
GOD is the Author and Finisher of faith.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."(Hebrews 12:2)
Remember, God is "longsuffering" and desires ALL men to come to repentance (2Peter 3:9). He expects us to act in the same manner as He.
We must RENEW our inward man EACH day by acknowledging Christ as the MASTER of our lives.
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."(2Corinthians 4:16)
"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."(Ephesians 4:23-24)
Let us offer to God praises and the "..sacrifice of praise to God, continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." (Hebrews 13:15)