April 8, 2023

Saturday morning we begin in the book of 1 Samuel. Change is in the wind in Israel and to Samuel – the elderly prophet and leader of the nation the winds were bitter cold. His own sons had shown themselves unworthy to lead the nation as judges.

Chapter 1 –

1 Samuel begins when judges ruled in Israel and ends with the coronation of David as king. Samuel was the last judge and good judge who governed according to God’s will. Shiloh was the location of the tabernacle and that made it the religious center of Israel at that time.

Personal tragedy so colored Hannah’s perspective that she would lose sight of the beauty and grace already present in her life. The best place for a person to go when they feel hopeless is before God. She became humble, submissive, and referred to herself as Your maidservant. She conceives and has a son whom she names Samuel which means “Name of God.” Elkanah may have been his biological father but she understood that the Lord provided her son.

Chapter 2 –

The first verses of chapter two are Hannah’s song and prayer. We see here the first mention in scripture of the anointed king or Messiah and is the first time the Promised One is described in royal terms.

Eli was a priest and restrainer of Israel but he failed in his own home. His sons were taking parts of the offering that were offered rather than waiting until the sacrifice had been made as God had instructed. Conversely, Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child and grew in favor with both the Lord and men. Eli and his house would be excluded from serving as priests.

Chapter 3 –

Samuel lived at a time when prophets rarely spoke to Israel because their hearts were hard, they would not listen. Samuel did not yet know the Lord even though he had heard about Him, hearing about Him is not he same as knowing Him. God’s call to Samuel came with greater intensity each time. The Lord’s message to Samuel is the same one Eli received from the man of God. This confirms the authenticity of the message. God let none of his words fall to the ground means that Samuel’s prophecies, delivered to him by God, came true – further confirmation of his prophetic office.

Chapter 5

Today is our fifth installment from Thom Rainer’s Autopsy of a Deceased Church – 12 ways to Keep Yours Alive. I will share his thoughts as presented in his book for our consideration.

The title of chapter five is The Budget Moved Inwardly. Rainer says when you autopsy a church you follow the money. He says, “I never met a member of a dying church who thought his or her church was greedy.” Perhaps it is better to say the funds were inwardly focused.

“Because the church members viewed the staff as their caretakers. The paid staff were to spend the most of their time meeting the needs of the church. Visiting, attending functions, counseling, and so on that’s where the money went. He further says, “Don’t get me wrong, in vibrant churches the staff often meets the needs of the members.”

Then he talks about budgets. It is fascinating to look at twenty annual consecutive annual budgets of churches that closed. Look at the line items and see what was cut. Most cuts were made to programs with an outward focus.

He then discusses the parable of the rich young ruler. The money though was symptomatic of a heart problem. The church cared more for its own needs that those of the community, if that occurs the church will die from heart failure.

Prayer

Lord, help me grasp that all the money I think I have is really yours. Help me to grasp all the money our church has is not ours but is Yours. Give us healthy giving hearts to use these funds according to Your purpose.

Questions:

1. How would the budget and use of funds of a healthy church differ from that of a dying church?
2. How does the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10 inform us about how the church might view the money it has?
3. What are some ways churches can move their use of funds form predominantly an inward focus to an outward focus?

April 7, 2023

Today we begin and end in the book of Ruth.

Chapter 1 –

While living in Moab, Elimelech dies leaving Naomi as a widow along with the deaths of her two sons leave her daughters-in-law both a widows. She hears of a famine back in her native land has ended and she is determined to return home. The famine was a result of God judging Israel.

She desires her daughters-in-law return to their homes but Ruth refuses to leave. Because Ruth was determined to remain with Naomi, she stops trying to dissuade her. Naomi returns to Israel a broken and bitter woman. She blames God for has happened to her. However she realizes both good and bad pass through the fingers of God. In His sovereignty He permits events to happen. She could see that God had ended the famine as it was time for the barley harvest.

Chapter 2 –

Boaz was a wealthy relative of Elimelech, the son of the prostitute Rahab. Ruth wanted to serve and take care of Naomi, so she asked to go into the field and gather fallen grain. When Boaz saw her, he had compassion on her but she had found favor with him. Boaz pronounces a blessing on Ruth asking that the Lord – under whose wings she had come for protection.

As the ‘family redeemer” Boaz could fulfill the law of levirate marriage. This was an ancient provision that meant that if an Israelite man were to die without a son the man’s brother could provide for the deceased by marrying his widow. Then “the first son she bore would carry the name of the dead brother, so his name would not be blotted out from Israel.”

Chapter 3 –

Knowing the hazards faced by being a widow Naomi decides to become a matchmaker for Ruth. Naomi provided instructions for Ruth to follow which she accepts.

Boaz had been impressed with Ruth initially but he was even more impressed with her that night. Boaz was older than Ruth but understood she had not pursued younger men. As she leaves in the morning Boaz gives her a generous provision of barley.

Chapter 4 –

There were no binding legally written contracts in the day – you could not sign one so the ratifying of a contract was done by giving a man your sandal. This is how Boaz agreed to redeem land for Ruth and also take Ruth as his wife. The first man who was offered the land wanted the land but not Ruth since the firstborn son would jeopardize his own inheritance.

Whereas the man was concerned about his own inheritance Boaz acquired both the property and Ruth out of concern for others.  The elders served as witnesses of the proceedings and blessed the upcoming wedding. Boaz’s name would become famous see Matthew 1:5-17.

Boaz marries Ruth and God gave them a son who they named Obed. The women of the town rejoiced and said the Ruth had taken better care of Naomi than seven sons, seven being the perfect biblical number of perfection.

The final verse of the book reveals the genealogy beginning with Judah’s son Perez and ending with David.

By submitting ourselves to God we open up ourselves to His agenda for His sovereign purposes in our lives.

April 6, 2023

Today we conclude another book this time – Judges. We see today the first mutilation in Israel as they punish the tribe of Benjamin.

Chapter 19 –

This is a sad chapter in the book of Judges. A Levite priest takes a concubine as his mistress. Over time she becomes unfaithful to him and left for her father’s house. He goes searching for her after several months and upon finding her makes several attempts to leave her father’s house. After several attempts he finally leaves and goes toward the city of Jebus (which one day would be called Jerusalem).

He could find no one that would allow them to stay overnight until an old man sees them sitting in the town square and invites them to his home. As they were having dinner in the house it is surrounded by wicked men of the city. They demanded the old man provide them with the Levite so they could have sex with him. This is similar to the story of Abraham and Lot we read in Genesis nineteen. He refused but offered his virgin daughter and the concubine to them instead. How horrific is this? He may have had the best in this city but one thing he lacked was conscience.

In the morning while he slept all night, the Levite finds her motionless at the door. He tells her to Get up…Let’s go to the deceased body. He finds her dead, places her on his donkey, and departs the city to his house where he cuts her into twelve pieces. Can you get anymore depraved than this?

Nothing like this had ever happened since the Israelites came out of Egypt. No God, no authority, no respect, idol worship. Until the spiritual aspect of is rectified nothing will change.

Chapter 20 –

The soldiers of the tribes of Israel assembled as one body before the Lord at Mizpah. The Levite told them what happened however leaving out one detail that he had allowed the men of the city to have sex with his concubine. They were going to the tribe of Benjamin to eradicate evil among the people. The result would be civil war. The Benjaminites would not listen to their fellow countrymen.

Battle ensued and many men were killed, the battle was not going well at all for Israel. They finally decided to get serious about making repentance before the Lord. This time the whole Israelite army went to Bethel where they wept and sat before God. They offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. This time the Lord defeated Benjamin.

Chapter 21 –

Disgusted with their brother’s behavior they swore not to give their daughters to any Benjamite in marriage. Something they quickly decided to change since they were concerned there would be no propagation of the tribe they had compassion of their brothers. Instead the took the virgins from the city of Jabesh-Gilead who had not come out to fight with them.

Still many Benjaminite men who had no wives so they devise a plan to catch a wife by watching them dance as the men were hiding in the vineyards. Apparently, they reasoned this way the curse said no one could give them a wife but said nothing about catching a wife.

In those days there was no king in Israel and they did as it pleaded them in their own eyes.

April 5, 2023

More idols but this time they belonged to one man Micah and in these two chapters seventeen and eighteen we also read about the Danites.

Chapter 17 –

For us to fully appreciate the level of depravity we see in these final chapters we must remember the priests came from the tribe of Levi. They were supposed to lead the people away from idolatry. However, everyone simply ignored the rules and did “whatever seemed right to Him.”

The first thing we learn about Micah is that he stole 1,100 pieces of silver from his mother who placed a curse on the one who took it, in fact it was within his ear. See a problem here she dedicates the silver to the Lord to make an idol. Something else of importance here she dedicates all of the silver to the Lord but then gives the silversmith only five pounds to make the idol.

Once the idol was in the house, Micah used the ephod to determine God’s will. Along comes a young Levite from Bethlehem. Micah is convinced that having a Levite in his house would bring God’s blessings to him. However, God clearly commands us to have no other gods. God will not accept partial allegiance.

Chapter 18 –

In those days there was no king in Israel. No governing authority to bring God’s rule on the nation. The Danites scouts found Micah’s house and they asked the young Levite about his circumstances. He has hired me, and I became his priest. They were seeking guidance for their trip and were assured of safe passage.

They found a place called Laish where the people were unsuspecting. They had no alliance with anyone who would come to their aid. Six hundred Danites set out for Laish to attack them. The Danites took the carved images, the ephod, and the household idols of Micah and he came after them.

The Danites appealed to the young man and took him into their care. Micah pursues them to get his goods back but is threatened and returns. The Danites then destroy the city, rename it Dan and in essence turn their back on a fellow Israelite – Micah.

Idolatry is a devastating sin that robs the true God of glory and cuts off His people from Him. We must remember God is our source.

April 4, 2023

We continue reading in chapter twelve about Jephthah and the tenth through the fifteenth judge of Israel, Samson,

Chapter 12 –

As we read before the men of Ephraim were upset, they had not been notified of a battle right away. This time the conflict resulted in Israel’s fighting each other where ultimately forty-two thousand were killed because of wounded pride. Jephthah ruled Israel for six years then he dies.

Verses eight through fifteen we see a list of additional judges but we come to sobering reality unless Christ comes first we’re all going to die.

Chapter 13 –

The Israelites again did evil in the sight of God and they are delivered over to the Philistines for forty years. An angel of the Lord appears to the wife of Manoah, the father of Samson telling her she would conceive a son but she was not to drink wine or eat anything unclean.

The promised boy was to save Israel once again. Other requirements were placed on this child that had not been done before. He was to be a Nazirite. This indicates that his vow was consecrated in her womb.

He would grow to save Israel. Manoah had been told by his wife of the visitation of an angel from the Lord but in fact the visitor was the Lord Himself that they did not realize until they sacrificed and was told the angel would not eat. In fact when the offering was made and fire consumed the offering the Lord also ascended into heaven. Manoah’s wife named her son Samson, God blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him.

Chapter 14 –

For a man set apart for God’s service since birth, Samson made some questionable life decisions. Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine there. He told his parents to arrange a wedding but they told him he should not marry who was not part of God’s people , they did not know this was God’s will for Samson. The Lord wanted the Philistines to provide an opportunity for confrontation.

On his way to Timnah he is confronted by a lion that he kills with his bare hands. A clear sign he was empowered by God. Later he took honey from the carcass, eating it and ignoring the law of Moses about eating unclean food.

He then poses a riddle at his engagement party but when they could not figure out the riddle they propose to kill his bride unless she can get him to give her the answer.

Chapter 15 –

Some time later Samson brought destruction on the Philistines. He wanted to visit his wife but her father would not let him enter her room. He had given his daughter to another man because he assumed Samson did not love her. Samson was furious over this and catches three-hundred foxes, lights their tails on fire and destroys their crops. In response the Philistines kill both the woman and her father.

While Samson hid in a cave the Philistines attacked Judah to pay Samson back. Three thousand men of Judah attempted to arrest him but he broke ropes, found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and killed one thousand men with it. This happened because the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on Samson. There can be no victory when battling against the Spirit of the Lord.

Chapter 16 –

Many of us are aware of the circumstances in this chapter. Samson made some poor choices going in with a prostitute compromising his life as the Israelites had done so many times in the past. He pulls the doors down of the town’s exit gate and proceeded to carry it to the top of the mountain overlooking Hebron. The scene serves as proof that though Samson was outside the will of God – God had not left him.

Delilah kept Samson on his downward spiral by trying to find the secret of his strength. Each time she asked him he gave her a false story of where his strength came from. Finally when she found the truth, she wasted no time having his head shaved and she like Judas was paid for her deceit. When he awoke from his sleep, he said, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Delilah came before God.

He wasn’t done yet as his hair began to grow back his strength returned. God was in total control. The Philistines were in a good mood partying and they called Samson to amuse them and they had him stand between the pillars of the temple.

The temple was full of men and women about three thousand (people0 were on the roof. Samson, although failing in some of life’s issues is listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews eleven. He was not perfect but he believed God could use him.