Appearances

 1 Samuel 16:5-13

In verse four the elders of Bethlehem are in fear of Samuel’s visit, but he instructs them to consecrate themselves, what does that mean?  They were to set themselves apart for God, it is ritual cleanness and that may have involved bathing, clean garments, avoiding contact with a dead body, and not having sex.  Now when it came to Jesse and his sons Samuel may have overseen their consecration at their home. 

How often appearances deceive us, have you been disappointed after ordering a dessert that looked amazing, your taste buds were in great anticipation, only to be totally let down.  Jesse’s son Eliab looked like king material to Samuel, but this is what the LORD said to Samuel.  “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”  How often I’ve been guilty of doing that, we put on appearances, and often we judge others with no understanding of their heart.  So Jesse calls Abinadad and Samuel is paying more attention to God than the appearance of the man, a great place to find oneself.  The third son Shammah is called and once more Samuel states that the LORD has not chosen him.  And after seven sons have been paraded by, Samuel is wondering what is going on, has he misunderstood what God has said?

From frustration to excitement, that is where Samuel finds himself as he asks Jesse, is this all of your sons?  And this is both Jesse’s reply and Samuel’s taken from verses 11-13, “Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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Do you want to live in victory?

 1 Samuel 16: 4

A game changer is found in the first six words in 1 Samuel 16:4, and if anyone would apply these to their daily life, they would experience a fuller and more fruitful life.  That is enormous and I wonder if you are in search of your Bible, do you want to live in victory, are you searching for something that will be a guarantee over a life of being under the control of this present darkness of a fallen world?  If so Samuel knew the secret, and he shares it in just six words: “Samuel did what the Lord commanded.”  You may be the genuine “Big Christian” and have set your heart on being an ambassador for Christ, and following all that 

God has commanded in the Scripture, if so this is not addressed to you.  No, its target is people like me, whose hearts desire is to please the Father, and our hope is not to bring shame to the name of Jesus.  But we grasp that we have fallen short and if not for the mercy and grace of our Father, we would be up a creek without a paddle. 

Have we not been commanded never to be harsh with our wife, ladies have you not been commanded to honor and respect your husband?  What about young people, have you not been commanded to honor and obey your parents?  What about loving your neighbor as yourself, and coming to the understanding that God is not calling just the folks on your street your neighbors? 

It is going to get more difficult, has He not commanded every one of us to love our enemies?  I will let you and God sort out that truth.  But it is going to get harder, for God has commanded us to love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and soul.  If you're one of the super Christians, you do not need to read the “Back Porch” it will not be of much value to you.  Will you please pray for all like me; people who have searched and know that we have a long way to go and are greatly loved by the Father who knows our heart and understands our desire to obey, and how easy we're deceived by the flesh.

Now let’s finish verse four; “and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?”   It is not clear why the elders of the city were fearful of Samuel; it may be that he no longer had anything to do with King Saul.  If so, the elders may have a fear of Saul’s reprisal, or it could be a fear of God’s message or judgment.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Lacking integrity both before God and man

 1 Samuel 16:1-5

“The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

Sin should bring about grieving and often that's magnified when a leader such as a pastor has brought shame on the name of Christ.  The first King of Israel had all the physical requirements of a warrior, a leader of men, but was lacking integrity both before God and man.  He began well, but the pride of life and power and wealth were change agents when this donkey hunter was more fearful of a man than of the LORD.  Often we do not get the picture, Saul’s lack of obedience was not a surprise to God, but it was His plan to allow Israel to have what looks good to man, only to find out much later that God was looking for obedience.  Saul is not doing great things for God, but waiting for the LORD to do mighty acts through Saul.  The Church needs to grasp the fullness of why God has rejected Saul and is looking for a man after His own heart.

So when Samuel is told to “fill your horn with oil,” it means God has someone in mind for Samuel to anoint as the new King of Israel.  But often we miss the next part, “Go,” yes stop wasting time grieving over your Saul, he is history, go and do what God has prepared for you to do.

We find in verses 2-5, God’s plan about how to accomplish the act Samuel is instructed to do.  “And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.”

Often we do not see how that is going to work; our Saul may be in a position to bring hurt or harm to us, as was Saul to Samuel.  So we need to stop and ask God to show us how to do what He has asked of us, and then go and do it!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Is you Epitaph Written?

 1 Samuel 15:24-35

Have you heard the saying, “The old is forever new” or as my dad often said, we learn nothing from history in that we keep repeating it?  It is part of our DNA to want the approval of men and to perform in a manner to earn their endorsement.  As we begin to examine our hearts before allowing our minds to think King Saul is a wimp, he was, but often so am I; how about you?

Verse 24, “Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words because I feared the people and listened to their voice.”  How much I wish my DNA was not like Saul’s, but for years I wanted to be accepted by others, and still know that “It is only the Fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man.”  I read this quote from Oswald Chambers; “The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” So the message to King Saul should have been, fear God, and that is the same message to you and me.

Saul’s repentance seems like a person who has gotten caught in sin, and when it comes to light, they ask for forgiveness.  But Saul is a little late God has already brought judgment on his action, and in verse 25 it is a misplaced forgiveness in that he is asking for Samuel’s forgiveness and not God’s.  We find this spelled out in verses 25-28, “Now, therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.”

It is amazing what power and riches can do to a man, Saul the young guy obeying his dad in the hunt for lost donkeys, is now King Saul over Israel and has no understanding of fearing God.  So as Samuel turns to leave this King show, he fears Samuel and because he tore the skirt of his robe making one wonder, was he bowing before Samuel?  It matters not for it was part of God’s plan to make clear that God had withdrawn His hand from Saul.  Saul is a “Lame-Duck” leader from this day forward, and God allows the evil spirits to mess with Saul, and that is not a place where one wants to be found.

In verses 29-31 we see Samuel agreeing to return with Saul after he has once more acknowledged his sin.  But we cannot overlook verses 30-31, “Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord.”

Now it is sad when a leader does not know the jig is up, and it is clear that King Agag had no clue.  “Then Samuel said, “Bring here to me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” And Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

Saul had no understanding of what his disobedience would bring about, but his epitaph was already written in stone.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Easiest Person to Con is?

 1 Samuel 15:10-23

When a mentor has poured his life into a person whom they believe is a 2 Timothy 2:2 person, a faithful follower of Christ, and it comes with a large disappointment to the mentor when it is evident they are not.  That is where Samuel finds himself with this new king, Saul.  Verse 10-11, states; “The word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning.”

Now before judging Saul, it might help to reflect on some of your spiritual victories or battles.  How did you handle the spiritual triumph, I hope you were not a Saul, but often I have been in my little private world, not giving God the total glory. 

Samuel goes early to confront Saul only to be told he came to Carmel, and behold, “he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on an went down to Gilgal.”  He did what?  You and I would never be that brash or would we?  The flesh likes to be seen as the big stuff. 

Now listen to King Saul’s greeting to Samuel and Samuel’s response; “And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”

You were thinking this might not be going where Saul wants it to go, if so you would be on the spot.  Picking up the account in verses 17-19, “And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?”

A smarter man than Saul might have known you cannot con God, or His spokesman, but King Saul is going to make an effort at doing so.  Verses 20-21, “And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep, and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”  Have you discovered the easiest person to con is yourself, that pride and greed will blind you to the truth of what God has said?

King Saul is going to have an awaking to how God looks at obedience, and it is “doing what you're told at the moment you are told,” that is not what Saul has done.  “And Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”

Tomorrow we will pick up the story of Saul’s confession, and the cost of his sin.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

What are you masquerading as?

 1 Samuel 15:1-11

As a workplace follower of Jesus Christ, what has the Lord called you to do, to advance His kingdom?  Did Jesus not say these words; “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16)   God has allowed each of us to masquerade in some role, it may be homemaker, doctor, lawyer, builder, teacher, food service, and the list is endless, but your calling is to proclaim the name of Jesus, and what He has done for you.

It seems Saul who his dad sent out to find some donkeys is to be called by God to masquerade as king of Israel.  And all God asks of Saul is to remember who is in charge, and to obey God’s instruction.  Is that not what God has required of you and me?  Maybe you and I are more like king Saul than we would like to admit, the above statement from 

 Jesus is not given to preachers only, in fact, the eleven were men from the workplace, followers of Christ, not priest, nor preacher.

Do you have a Samuel in your life, if not ask the Lord to send such a person to open your eyes to God’s word?  Now as I asked the question these thoughts filled my mind, we all have someone greater living in us, Jesus refers to Him as the Comforter or the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth.  But be on guard, the old thief masquerades as an angel of light, and he has deceived many into believing he is the Spirit of Christ.

So Samuel comes to Saul and reminds him that it was the Lord who sent him to anoint Saul as king.  And now God has sent Samuel with these words; “This is what the Lord of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt. Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

And aren’t you proud of King Saul, he’s obedient and calls up the army to go and attack the Amalekites up to the point of completely destroying what Saul called good.  Now before you judge his unfaithfulness, what actions are you calling good where are you placing value, and has God spoken to you to remove those things from your life, your home, and your mind?

As one who is in the winter season of life, my heart's desire is to finish strong, to have my Father say, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”  Not to have what is recorded in 1 Samuel 15:10-11, “The word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Israel Now and Then

1 Samuel 14:47-52

Israel of 2017 has these neighbors; it borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan on the east, the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the east and west, respectively, and Egypt to the southwest.

 Most or maybe All of Israel’s neighbors hate them, but they also respect that Israel will fight to the last person to keep and protect what God has given them.  Israel has the 34^th-largest economy in the world by nominal gross domestic products as of 2016, this information taken from Wikipedia.  The country benefits from a highly skilled workforce and is among the most educated countries in the world with one of the highest percentages of its citizens holding a tertiary education degree.  Israel has the highest standard of living in the Middle East and has one of the highest life expectancy in the world.  And yet the whole nation could fit into the state of Maine with lots of room left.  Israel is (22,072 km² and Maine is 91,646 km².

So not much has changed, Saul is King in this timeline 1080 – 1010 B.C. and they have enemies on every side.  Moab lays to Israel’s southeast, east of the Dead Sea.  The Ammonites were east of the Jordan River to Israel’s east and northeast.  Edom is located south of the Dead Sea.  Zobah was an Aramean city-state in Syria.  These verses give the impression that Saul and his army secured all of Israel borders at this time.

It is evident in the time of Saul and in 2017 that God has blessed Israel and the nations of the world do not like people who have been chosen by God.  So Israel today has a great military, and King Saul has the power to enlist the best and the finest of men into his army, just as Samuel warned a king would do in chapter 8:11.

But Israel has a mighty weapon, and it is held in reserve, it is not the arsenal of Nuclear weapons but Michael Archangel, Israel’s prince and protector.  If only they understood God’s plan for His people would happen according to His will.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Question-Will anyone come?

Samuel 11:1-3 

What an interesting proposition, the men of Jabesh-gilead were offered by Nahash the Ammonite.  Now a little geography to put these people in the proper place, Jabesh-gilead is about 20 miles south of the Sea of Galilee an east of the Jordan River.  Most of us at some time find ourselves in a mess, and it became clear the best way out was to pay tribute, it may be a compliment or honor of some sort, but it was not from the heart.  It may have been compensation so you could move on with your trip.  I have heard of people who knew the ticket they received was not warranted but to fight it would cost more, or disturb a journey, so they paid a fine they knew was not correct.

Well, Nahash the Ammonite had come to a reasonable distance into Israel and had laid siege to the area, and the people of Jabesh-gilead found themselves in a mess. This Ammonite was going to be a bother, and so they made a deal, we will be willing to pay tribute if you leave us alone.  I’m not sure they understood that’s like throwing gasoline on a fire, he knows you are not willing to fight.  That’s what Neville Chamberlain the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom did with Hitler.  Or moving up to 2012, and Obama's 'red line' failure assured a crisis in Syria and cost 14,000 lives.  Weakness always allows the bullies to have no fear of the outcome and in all three cases stated we had very weak men bringing others into peril.

Now I’m not sure they understood that Nahash, was one mean-spirited person, and I would put him in the same camp as Kim Jong Un of North Korea and the Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-Khamenei of Iran.  Evil has been with us since Cain killed Abel, that is not correct it began in heaven long before that when Lucifer set his heart on being like God.  And now we do not refer to him as Lucifer, but Satan and the devil, and Jesus tells us his goal is to kill, steal, and destroy, and he has entered into the men listed above to carry out his plan.

This was the offer Nahash made, maybe we need to begin in verse 1 and 2, “Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition, I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.”

Now I’m not sure about you, but this question entered my mind, were these men, if no one came to help, willing to give their sight?  Did I miss something?  Are the Ammonite’s more interested in bringing shame than on compensation and if no one comes to save them, will the people of Jabesh-gilead submit to having their eyes put out?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Passing the Buck

1 Samuel 14: 24-46

Signs of weakness in a leader are making vows, oaths or commands without weighing the full ramification of your actions.  We find Saul’s foolishness in verse 24, “And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food.”   

I hope you recall my disclaimer that I was a member of Uncle Sam’s Army, but I never saw myself as a soldier, much less a warrior.  When one engages in a battle, you are expending a lot of energy, and yet Saul gives the order not to take a break.  Do not stop for a quick spam break, they are referred to as MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat) a long way from home cooked meals, but it will keep a soldier going.

One can only wonder what was going on in the mind of Saul, but you are going to see it backfire on him.  First, as a leader it was not all about him, it was about Israel and the people, but it reminds me of a President that took credit for what some brave Navy Seals accomplished.  It was Jonathan who followed the direction of the Lord; it was Jonathan that God honored and yet Saul wanted all the glory that was deserved by another.

It seems clear that Jonathan was Saul’s second choice in leadership, yet Saul did not include him in the giving of such a foolish order.  In fact, Jonathan did not know anything about an order until it was too late to address it with his dad.  So when he entered the forest, and the honey was dripping from the trees, and he ate the honey and had renewed energy.

One must assume that at some point Jonathan was informed of what his dad, the king had done and believed it to be a wrong decision, but he did not know how dangerous the command had been, till it was too late.

Now at the end of the day the people are rounding up the sheep and cattle, and because they are hungry they are going to kill and eat, but that is not in keeping with God’s command.  We find King Saul doing the right thing in building an altar, and the people bought and butchered their meat.

Now a wise leader does not take a vote to see what is popular with the people before moving on, but that is what Saul did.  But the priest said, let’s hear from God.  I’m sure you may have experienced what Saul is experiencing, God is quiet, and once more Saul is looking for someone other than self to blame.  And the lots were cast and the blame was between him and his son.  Jonathan is picked and tells his dad about the honey.  Saul is going to have him killed, but the people would not hear of it.  It is evident in Scripture that Jonathan never knew his dad had given such an order, and so in the eyes of God and man, he was not guilty.  When the people said, you are not going to kill Jonathan; I’m sure Saul was a happy man.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Are you willing to be the Spark?

1 Samuel 14:1-22

Reading the first 22 verses brought to mind a little song we sang in Lay Witness Mission; “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.”  

“It only takes a spark

To get a fire going

And soon all those around

Can warm up in its glowing

That’s how it is with God’s love

Once you’ve experienced it

You spread His love to everyone

You want to pass it on.“

Often God calls a person to be that spark, He may be calling you, and it seems the impossible mission but as Jonathan told his attendant, the one given the duty of carrying his armor; “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised.  It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.”  That is what I would refer to as a spark of faith, not in man, but in a big God.  Now when you have that kind of faith in God others will be watching, and they will go with you, as did his armor carrier.  Verse seven, “And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart.  Do as you wish.  Behold, I am with you heart and soul.”

Now this is the part that many in the modern Church miss, Jonathan was getting his direction from the LORD, as revealed in verses 8-10, “Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.”  How we need God to send us Jonathans today, maybe you are one, if so pray for your armor-bearer.

This part of the story is acts of trust and faith, but not in self, but in the LORD.  Picking up the story in verses 11-15, “So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land. And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.”

The Lord has called the Church to come out of its hiding place and show the world the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!  Jesus has prayed for you in John 17:20-21, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Now prepared for Battle

 1 Samuel 13:16-23

I was a member of the United States Army, I went through Basic Training and spent six long years playing soldier in the National Guard, but I would not have considered myself a soldier, much less a warrior.  But I enjoy reading about soldiers, and I’ve been blessed to know a few, one is my friend Buddy Neubauer.  And I am sure that he and others would tell you that the element of surprise and having the high ground is essential, also knowing the location of your enemy.

We are told in verse 16 that Saul and about 600 men went to Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines camped in Michmash.  Now Geba of Benjamin is only about two miles from Michmash where the Philistines encamped.  The Philistines had a large number of soldiers, and they were seasoned warriors, so they sent out raiding parties in three directions.  A good plan for the Philistines, but with so few men it became a big problem for Saul and his son Jonathan.

Now when you are engaging in battle, it is essential to have both men and weapons, and Israel was a little weak in both areas.  The Philistines knew what the progressive of our day understands, and it’s also whatever evil leader has done to control the people, take away the weapons and you can control the nation.  So what did the Philistines do, they removed the blacksmith from Israel and by doing so controlled who had weapons?  Much like what George Soros did trying to buy the makers of ammunition to control who got bullets?

So it is the day of the battle, and only Saul and Jonathan have a weapon, and His ragtag army is going to go into action with I’m assuming hoes and pitchforks.  This reminds me of my National Guard days where I had the pleasure of carrying a BAR, M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle.  Without ammunition its weight was over 16 lbs.  I never had any bullets nor did I ever fire an M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, I just got to carry it for miles over the hills and over dale, whatever that is. 

One day I made a big mistake, I ask Captain Melton, my close neighbor, and friend, when not playing soldier, if I could carry a stick and go up and down those hills at Fort Hood, and I learned that the Captain did not have an understanding of humor.  Anyway, I sure felt as if my training needed something, I’m sure it would have been of help to have fired the weapon that was assigned to me and learn how to assemble it and break it down in times of battle.

I can only imagine the thoughts going through the minds of Saul’s army, and you know the guys that are going against swords and spears with a hoe.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Disobedience/Consequence - Obedience/Blessings

1 Samuel 13:1-15

Have you given any thought to the task God has assigned to Saul, where does a nation that has never had a king send the new king, the very first king-to-king school?  That is thought provoking, did God set Saul up to fail, and was his model the nations that were trying to destroy Israel?

Do you recall God’s promise to the exiles in Jeremiah 29:10, that when the seventy years in Babylon are complete, God is going to restore them, and verse eleven is compelling.  “For I know the plans I have for you –this is the LORD’S declaration – plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  God never calls us to an empty life, He had a plan for Saul, and He has a plan for you.

In answer to the question above, God gave Samuel the duty of making sure the new King understood it was God who was running the show, but He would use Saul in the role of King as long as he honored God and kept the Commandments of God.  And he began right, but we never know what one will do when the battle lines form, and your people are hiding in caves and leaving the country not to be part of the fight.

Now you do understand King Saul is new to this king and battle stuff and the Philistines are good at it?  Saul retreats, giving the Philistines the high ground and almost cutting the country in half.  Even old Sergeant Rice knows you do not want to give away the high ground and Saul has been instructed to wait on Samuel, and when Samuel does not come in the seven days allowed, Saul takes the matter into his own hands.  In fear, King Saul crosses a line that God had set and does the role only Samuel was called to do, and it brought God’s anger upon him.

We find Samuel asking this question in verse 10-15, “Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him, and Samuel asked, “What have you done?”

Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days, and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”

Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command which the Lord your God gave you. It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel, but now your reign will not endure. The Lord has found a man loyal to Him, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people because you have not done what the Lord commanded.”

Disobedience comes as a consequence, and yet it seems that the Church has left that out of its doctrine.  But what is accurate with Saul is still true, rebellion brings curses, and obedience brings blessing.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Samuel recall of God's faithfulness

 1 Samuel 12:6-25

Samuel begins to recall the blessing of God and the sins of the people and how God always sent a person to rescue them.  He begins with Moses and Aaron and how after 400 years of slavery in Egypt God saved them.  Samuel is reminding them of all of God’s righteous deeds that He has performed for them and how they returned to little gods and how we keep doing so even now.

In that they traded the blessing of God for the idols of the nations around them, God would allow them to be placed into slavery.  In fact, it’s stronger than that  look at verses 9-10.  “But they forgot the Lord their God, so He handed them over to Sisera commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. These enemies fought against them. Then they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned the Lord and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve You.”  Have you noticed God is merciful and over and over He shows mercy to people who abandoned Him? 

Do you recall the judges God appointed to rescue His people, people like Jerubbaal and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel; they delivered them out of the hands of their enemies?  But one would be foolish to believe they did it in their ability, it was God using their willingness and obedient heart.  God fought the battles!

Do you recall the cry of the people when they heard that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against them and they asked Samuel for a king?  Here is Samuel’s response; “Now here is the king you’ve chosen, the one you requested. Look, this is the king the Lord has placed over you. If you fear the Lord, worship and obey Him, and if you don’t rebel against the Lord’s command, then both you and the king who rules over you will follow the Lord your God. However, if you disobey the Lord and rebel against His command, the Lord’s hand will be against you and against your ancestors.”  That all sounds great, surely they will meet and exceed​ this requirement.

The more I read Samuel I am convinced the USA needs a Samuel, listen to what he tells his people.  “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you committed in the Lord’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.” Samuel called on the Lord, and on that day the Lord sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”

Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the Lord. Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart. Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or deliver you; they are worthless. The Lord will not abandon His people, because of His great name and because He has determined to make you His own people.

“As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way. Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things He has done for you. However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”  That is the message that must be preached in the USA, in that we as a people do not fear the Lord.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Reflecting

 1 Samuel 12:6-25

I find myself reflecting on many things, and often it seems to bring up the many-bought lessons in my life.  A time where I was foolish, self-centered, a poor dad and husband, and even not a good friend, and I often reflect on the wasted time of my youth.  But that is not what Samuel is calling the assembly of the tribes of Israel together for; it is to reveal all the righteous acts God had performed, in their lives and the lives of their ancestors.

So shall we do just that, it is early in the morning and how I feel the need for sleep, for tomorrow is the third day of VBS, and it has been a challenging first two days?  But I’m excited for I also am being reminded of the righteous acts God has performed in my life and my ancestors. 

On my dad’s side of the family, what a heritage to give praise for his cousin John R. Rice and Bill Rice, both men used by God in our recent history.  And I can only assume that our history has many who went before and have come after who God has used as world changers.  On the Rice’s and the Golden’s side we have men who were pastors and teachers.  And that brings me to how grateful I am for my mother and dad, who had little of this world’s stuff but were rich in reading the Scriptures and telling us about Jesus and His love.

I, like the chosen people of Israel, can praise God as the Psalmist has done in Psalm 139:16,17, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!”  What a blessing to have been born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and raised with the knowledge that my choices had consequences, both good and bad.  What a blessing to be taught as a child that work was a good thing and that God honored and placed us on earth to work.  And I, like the people of Israel, became a slave, not to Egypt a physical place but to my Egypt that is a spiritual place.  That my independence of God and His authority lead me into spiritual slavery and I like the children of Egypt stayed there for many years.

But God who saw my unformed body and numbered my days sent preachers and teachers and then businessmen who led me out of my spiritual slavery and I met Jesus, and He came into me and I into Him.  That is some of the righteous acts God has performed in my life.  Tomorrow we will look at what God did for his people in 1 Samuel 12:6-25.  

Do you reflect on what God has done in your past, and what He is up to in the now, if not begin to day, and give thanks.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice