Promises Week 12:
Joshua - I Samuel 13
…delighting in Him and His Word…Psalm 37:4
Provision…we began our study considering the Lord’s provision in our lives. We agreed that that Lord knows best on what we need – even when we are not aware there is a deficit. For example, I didn’t realize how this Bible Study would meet my desire to have this level of Christian fellowship. Our Heavenly Father knew – and I am most grateful… The following is our group’s recap: Heavenly satisfaction=Alice, Set Free=Gail, Grow Where You Are Planted=Laura, One Step At A Time= Angela, Self-Acceptance=Julie, God Knows What I Need=Sharon.
Judges 17:5 and 21:25 …everyone did as they saw fit... and ominous ending to a time ruled by judges who led the Israelites from their oppressors. God we pray that we will always seek Your ways and Your will instead of doing what is right in our own eyes.
Ruth. God keeps His PROMISES. The beginning of the story is tragic. In a time of trial Elimelek (“God is my king”) leaves the Promise Land and goes to a foreign land. His sons marry foreign wives, Elimelek dies, and his sons both die without children…pretty tragic. God kept His promise – disobedience = disaster. In contrast, Boaz (“strength is within him”) trusted God to provide through the famine and stayed in his home and is blessed and a blessing. Throughout the story of Ruth she honors Naomi and faithfully follows her direction. Verse 16 – Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people – your God will be my God.
Being good to someone else helps us to endure and to overcome the pain, loss and disappointments we face and releases joy into our bloodstream and into the very heart of God. Oftentimes when we experience hurt or loss we can easily slip into depression because our attention is on our pain rather than what we can do to relieve someone else’s pain. God has not called us to “in-reach” but to “out-reach.” When we reach out to help others God reaches into our souls and heals us. Give and it will be given back to you.
Provider – Protector - Redeemer
Ruth meets Boaz and is part of God’s plan of redemption through Christ.
I Samuel 1:20 – 21 – Hannah’s vow. Hannah asked the Lord for a son and fulfilled her promise dedicating Samuel (“asked of God”) to the Lord. When we study the book of First Samuel we enter into a study of the heart. Out of a pure heart Hannah cried out to God and her plea was answered. God looks onto and into the heart of each of us.
1 Samuel 3:4-6- Hearing God’s voice. When God started calling to Samuel, Samuel thought it was his master, Eli, speaking to him. Each time he ran to his master only to learn it wasn’t Eli who called him. We can take away from this scripture that God speaks to us in a voice or manner that won’t frighten us. God speaks to us through His word, through our inner witness (that still, small voice), through common sense, through wisdom and most often through peace. God speaks to our hearts through peace or lack of it. If we have peace, we may proceed with our intended action, but if we do not have peace, that is a word from God to stop.
I Samuel 8:18 - Asking for a King. The Israelites take matters in their own hands and request a king. In verse 18 the Lord promises the Israelites will regret their request – and he will not help them. Over time God will expose the evil and rebellion in Saul’s heart.
! Samuel 10:6 –Changed by the Holy Spirit. Saul would be “turned into another man” meaning he would be so completely changed that people would think he was someone else. The most important aspects of the Spirit filled life are 1. change of character 2. development of the fruit of the Holy Spirit 3. speaking in tongues (and/or under divine inspiration) 4. fearless and brave, fear is transformed into boldness.
1 Samuel 13:1-14: Saul was a people pleaser. Saul was so addicted to approval that he lost his kingdom because of it. We need to be obedient to God and learn to resist the urge to please people when they lead us contrary to God’s ways.
Recap. Trusting the Lord vs Our Own Strength. Our reading ends where it begins with examples of Elimelek depending on his own strength to care for his family and the Israelites wish for a king – rather than trusting God…
Week Thirteen: I Samuel 14 to II Samuel 2