June 6

I’m going to continue down the path we began yesterday in sharing some insights from “Kicking Over Sacred Cows” by Charles Capps.

Many of us are steeped into tradition for a couple of reasons. One. The church taught us I what I believe, second, a failure to read and grasp the true meaning of the Bible which is a result of what we were taught.

Let’s decide to put away old thinking and look at what the Word tells us.

Yesterday we alluded to the Israelites in the desert. God gave them the land of Canna but they did not have the faith to possess it they did not grasp the concept that god will reward those who seek Him. They waited, became disobedient, then suffered the consequences of their ack of faith.

Hebrews 12:1 2 tells us God is the author and finisher of our faith.  If he wrote the book on it (faith) then He knows how to finish our faith. He wrote the manual in what we know as the Bible.

When we read John, we see in the very early part of the Gospel John says, “In the beginning was the Word…” We know that Word to be Jesus. Concerning faith, Paul says in Romans 12:3 “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” That tells me He gives everyone the same measure of faith – what do we do with what He has given us?

If we live by what we were taught years ago rather than what we have learned by renewing our minds, being open to the Word through the Spirit we will not grow spiritually. It’s hard to unlearn things. I know I left a very legalistic church and I had to unlearn things and I am still unlearning what they taught me.

But we have to change our thinking. Bad things that happen in our lives are from Satan, God through His Word, our faith, and trust leaning on Him will make us an overcomer.

This may fall hard on some but trials are not blessings – trials are trials there is no blessing in losing a business, there is no blessing in bankruptcy, there is no blessing in sickness I do not care what we have been taught. God did not send a trial Satan sent the trial to get you out following the Word of God when that happens get His Word out and follow it.  

For the first five months of 2023 we have been doing a study from the Old Testament. I decided to do something different for a while. I ma going to share some thoughts from the reading I am doing along with some comments from the author.

I have been reading a book entitled “Kicking Over Sacred Cows” by Charles Capps. He was a farmer from England, Arkansas that became an internationally known Bible teacher, who had published twenty-four books prior to his death. I think you will enjoy and grow from what he has to say.

Chapter One – “The Chastening of the Lord”

Hosea said in 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, (NKJV).

Capps says God didn’t say people are destroyed by the devil but by a lack of knowledge.

John 8:31 – 32 tells us “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The truth is what sets us free from Satan. We all have the truth in our homes and many of us have it on our phones, the truth is the Bible. But to have it and to know it are two different things. Notice John says “And you shall know the truth…”

Capps says when we rightly divide the Word of God, we will kick over sacred cows.

Faith pleases God. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV). Every promise of God is given to us through faith. Think about that statement for moment. What have you ever received that was not received in faith?

Faith is a law of God. Under the old covenant (or the time before Jesus) people lived under the law in essence they found righteousness under the law but under the new covenant we find righteousness through faith in the new covenant.

Capps says this from Romans 3:31 “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” (NKJV). The law Paul is referring to is the law of faith. We know without faith it is impossible to please God and that He will reward all who seek Him. We must believe that God rewards those who seek Him. In order to be rewarded we must come to Him.

Many of us have heard that an undercurrent in religious circles is that God gives us trials, troubles, and times of testing to make us stronger. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Looking at the Israelites on their journey through the desert for some insight on that idea. It was not God’s desire for them to travel for forty years – it was because of their disobedience. If we think trials and tests make us stronger, we must ask ourselves – did it help the Israelites? In fact it killed them it did not make them stronger. I love what Capps says about this idea “It will kill you, if you stay there long enough.” God rewards those who seek Him with all they have.

May 29, 2013

Reading today from 1 Kings 1 and 2 along with Psalms 37, 71 and 94.

1 Kings 1 –

1 Kings opens with the search for a young woman whose body heat will warm the king. The servants political motivation is evident when Abishag is found from the village of Shunem – a nice union of north and south. Their plan is foiled when David is not intimate with her.

Adonijah is determined to get into the picture believing there is vacuum in leadership with David growing old. He Like Absolom before him he flaunts his royal desires to become king and gathers some followers to a feast. Nathan and Bathsheba conference and they agree for Bathsheba to go to the king and petition for Solomon to become king announcing that Adonijah has declared himself king, followed in agreement with Bathsheba Nathan enters and related the same story.

David give the order that Solomon is to become king with the anointing ceremony led by Nathan, Benaiah, and Zadok. Adonijah is tole of the news that Solomon is the king rather than him. Upon hearing this news he heads to that refuge in the horns of the altar that sets the stage for the confrontation between him and his brother Solomon.

During all this Solomon lifts not a finger nor has0 he spoken a word about this issue.

2 Kings –

David mentions Solomon’s wisdom during his speech to his heir to the throne. His speech has two parts:

• An injunction to walk in the ways of the law,
• On the other hand David could be offering some hard-earned advice since his life would have been easier if he had always walked in the way of the law.

David mentions Joab and he should be dealt with as with Barzillai, and Shimei. David breathes his last. Adonijah seems to harbor some additional desires for a wife and takes the risk of talking to Bathsheba. Solomon in meeting with Bathsheba takes the conversation to treasonous. Joab comes back into the picture by also grasping the horns of the altar for protection. It seems as though Joab is struck down near the altar and buried in the wilderness.

Thursday May 25, 2023

1 Chronicles 23 – 25 is our reading for Thursday.

Chapter 23 –

Chapters 23 – 27 are dominated by lists of personnel within the kingdom appointed by David for support of the temple and its services after his death. The list of names provide us with David’s preparation for the temple construction and worship by provision of personnel for both temple and state.

The writer depicts both David and Solomon as team for the temple project. These lists provide us with the genealogy of Levites as we proceed through the chapters. The initial list provides a basic orientation of the three clans of Levites: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

Chapter 24 –

The next list then focuses on the Aaronic priestly line in Israel. After referring in passing to the tragedy that came to Aaron’s sons the list focuses on the remaining clans of Aaron’s other two sons. Each clan is provided a role in the temple service. Each of the divisions established (19) emphasizes the need for priestly clans to follow the regulations established by the Lord through Aaron. Following this list is a list of those involved in non-priestly functions.

Chapter 25 –

This chapter recounts the commissioning of the Levitical musicians. Levitical music is identified as prophesying and in 25:2-5 the various clans are associated with prophetic activity. As with the priestly appointments earlier in chapter 24, so here the musicians are appointed by sacred lot and divided into twenty- four clans as a parallel to the Levitical ministry.

May 24, 2023

For today we look at the book of Psalms specifically chapters 108 – 110.

Psalm 108 –

The fact that David is committed to the Lord allows him to boldly trust God for deliverance, even though God has rejected His people. David has not yet been rescued so he pleads with God seeking human help would be futile.

Psalm 108 is compilation of Psalm 57:7-11 (1-5) and 60:5-12 (6-13).

Psalm 109 –

David still has been released from his attackers who abuse him verbally, accusing him deceptively in spite of his kindness. David begins his counterattack by enlisting God’s help. He seeks God’s wrath to crush his enemy. He wants his enemy to be pronounced guilty and to die. Being confident of the deliverance, David affirms that God gives victory to His people who are in need.

Psalm 110 –

The writer is in dire need of deliverance he calls out to God for help but at the end of the Psalm he still faces his adversaries. Psalm 110 relieves the tension as to whether God will respond favorably or whether He rejects His people. In this Psalm he conquers the nations of the world. The Lord is the eternal priest of the nations

May 23, 2023

For Tuesday reading we are looking at 2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21 – 22, Psalm 30.

2 Samuel 24 –

For the second time David has to face the wrath of God (21:1-14) but this time he has more of the blame. It’s a hard lesson for David and his people though the chapter ends up with a note of worship that paves the way for building the temple. Sometimes taking a census is all right but the motivation behind it must have been wrong. It could have been pride in the number of those in the army that provoked the census.

It took almost ten months to get the count. Once David heard the news of the count, admitted he was wrong and confesses his action. God gave him three choices for punishment he chose a plague killing 70,000 Israelites. The prophet Gad orders David to build an altar to the Lord and he goes to Araunah to buy a threshing floor to build the altar but Araunah offers to give it to David but he refuses to accept it for free indicating that he refused to sacrifice burnt offering that cost him nothing. The altar is built and David offers sacrifices and fellowship offerings as a renewed commitment to the Lord.

1 Chronicles 21 – 22 –

Chapter 21 opens with the enticement by satan for David to count his people 21:1) contrasting the assertion in 2 Sam. 24:1 that it was the Lord who enticed him to do so. The Hebrew term “satan, means ‘adversary.” David’s action creates significant action against his acts by God. The death angel is about to strike Jerusalem when David cries out admitting his sin and asking God to strike his family and not the Israelites. David then builds an altar.

With the site identified the final preparations are made for building the temple. Throughout the reading we see the grandeur of the project. The importance of Solomon’s role is made clear by David, he was a warrior his son is a man of rest. Solomon will have the support of the people to build the temple.

Psalm 30 –

God delivers David from anear death encounter with his enemies, as a result David praises God. God the establishes David making his life secure. God seemingly deserts David so David cries out for mercy and god turns his mourning into dancing.

May 17, 2023

Reading back in 2 Samuel 16 to 18 today.

Chapter 16 –

in this chapter is an account of Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, getting his inheritance by misrepresentation of him, and by presents to David, 2Sa 16:1-4; and of Shimei’s cursing David as he passed along, which David bore patiently, and would not suffer others to avenge it on him, 2Sa 16:5-14; and of Hushai’s offer of his service to Absalom, who admitted him to be of his privy council, 2Sa 16:15-19; and of the counsel which Ahithophel gave, 2Sa 15:20-23.

Chapter 17 –

I will arise and pursue David tonight: Ahithophel advised a quick, selective attack against David only (I will strike only the king). He advised urgency, doing it all while David was still west of the Jordan River. It is a remarkable evidence of the hand of God and answer to David’s prayer in 2 Samuel 15:31 that Absalom even asked for another opinion after such wise, well-received counsel. he advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel: This was the first time anyone said this – people always favored the advice of Ahithophel. One reason Absalom liked Hushai’s advice was because it appealed to his vanity. “Suicide is often the ultimate action of cowardice. In the case of Saul, and in many similar cases, it is perfectly natural; but let it never be glorified as heroic. It is the last resort of the man who dare not stand up to life.” Shobi…Machir…Barzillai: These otherwise obscure men are given special mention because they helped David in a time of great need. Friends in need are friends indeed.

Chapter 18 –

David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains: David knew just what to do in organizing his army. He set them into three divisions under the leadership of Joab, Abishai and Ittai the Gittite.

I also will surely go out with you: David knew that the commander belonged out in the battle. He didn’t want to repeat his previous mistake of not going to battle when he should have (2 Samuel 11:1).  You shall not go out: The people surrounding David would not allow him to go out to battle with the rest of his army. There were three reasons why they insisted on this:

· His life was more valuable (you are worth ten thousand of us).

· He could bring reserves if needed (you are now more help to us in the city).

· They understood that it would be hard for David to fight against his own son, Absalom.

Whatever seems best to you I will do: David was not stubborn. He knew how to submit to the good advice of others. He did not give up leadership; he practiced good leadership by listening to the wise advice of the people around him. So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel: Those loyal to David fought against Israel, because Israel was not loyal to David. Israel was seduced by Absalom’s charisma and power. The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David: The experienced leadership of David and his captains was probably the main reason for their overwhelming victory.

Absalom only received what he deserved. He was a murderer, a traitor, and a rapist. Joab knew that David was generally indulgent towards his children and would never punish Absalom. “He had seen David’s action toward his sons characterized by lack of discipline. In the highest interests of the kingdom his hand was raised to slay Absalom.”