1 Samuel 22:16-18 (KJV) Careful What You Ask

1 Samuel 22:16-18 (KJV)
And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

Saul is a graphic illustration of the old adage, “Be careful what you ask for because you might just get it.”

Israel had asked for, no, demanded, a king. Samuel warned them what having a king would be like. Now they have him in all his authority and his interest is far from that for which he was originally crowned. Saul did rally and fight the Philistines when necessary but his focus, and the main use of his resources, was spent on ridding himself of his God ordained replacement.

Saul here annihilates and entire family of priests. These were innocent men women and children who had done no wrong but were given no opportunity to prove it. They weren’t slain for wrong they had done; they were slain merely to pacify the king’s vengeance.  Saul’s own footmen, young Israelite men who had been pressed into this service, refused to kill them. It was a stranger, and Edomite, who did the dirty deed for Saul.

What horrific consequences might happen whenever we demand to have it our way rather than God’s.

1 Samuel 22:16-18 (KJV) Careful What You Ask

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1 Samuel 20:3 (KJV) As Sure As You’re There

1 Samuel 20:3 (KJV)
And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

The passage is of the most serious nature. David is certain that it is Saul’s intention to kill him. Jonathan, though deeply a friend to David, was not so convinced. He would, of course, love his father. He would, though the signs seem to point otherwise, have hoped the best of his father. David uses in this very serious and emotionally charged conversation a phrase that we might put this way, “as sure as you’re standing here, Saul plans to kill me.” But that is not where David ends his analogy. He says, “as truly as the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth…” He equates the reality of God with the reality of Jonathan.

In truth the reality of God is greater than that reality of

• Jonathan or 
• David or 
• you or 
• me 

God is the source of our life. We prove our life by the life of God and not the other way around. God is. And it is because God is that we are.

As sure as I am that you are, God is.

1 Samuel 20:3 (KJV) As Sure As You’re There

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Matthew 4:14-16 (KJV) Don’t Stay in the Dark

Matthew 4:14-16 (KJV)
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Darkness is such an oppressive and depressing thing.

• There is so little that can be done in the darkness
• Evil and wicked people lurk in the darkness

Thus the people just sat in the darkness.

Our text restates itself and labels it, “the region and shadow of death“. The darkness to which it refers is, of course, spiritual.

This darkness, with the gloomy prospect of death is expelled by great light. The light is more than a flicker of promise; this is the fulfillment of every promise of the Old Testament. The light is something other than the natural light they were used to. This was supernatural, spiritual light. This was light greater than to light Zabulon alone; this was the light of the world.

What a privilege to know and walk in great light.

To my reader:
I wonder, have you met the Light that is Jesus Christ? Click here to send me an e-mail asking for details on how to be saved and be sure of it.

Matthew 4:14-16 (KJV) Don’t Stay in the Dark

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1 Samuel 17:28-30 (KJV) How To Handle Discouraging Words

1 Samuel 17:28-30 (KJV)
And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

Any Christian who has stepped out of our comfort area to attempt some work for God have felt two things:

• Little, like we are not equipped for the task
• Humiliated, attacked and put down by someone else, very often a brother or sister in Christ

When my wife and I were very new in the faith we had some Christians friends my wife had met through her work as a public school teacher. As we grew in our excitement for Christ we were led of the Lord that Anita should resign her job and volunteer to teach at the Christian school our pastor wanted to start. Anita’s Christian friend, whom we expected to be supportive, was the opposite. It was disheartening but we persisted.

David demonstrates to us here how to deal with those sorts of attacks:

He said he was blameless

He may have evaluated his motives a moment to be sure, but he declared he was without blame.

He focused on his purpose

Which was just and right. Attacks are often intended to pull us away from God’s purpose for our life.

He went about his business

There were others to talk to. He did not let those who spoke badly of him prevent him from speaking highly of the cause.

When attacked in the work of God:

• Evaluate and learn
• Fix your mind on God’s will and
• Keep moving forward

1 Samuel 17:28-30 (KJV) How To Handle Discouraging Words

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1 Samuel 15:2 (KJV) Remember God Remembers

1 Samuel 15:2 (KJV)
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

God remembered what the Amalekites said to Israel four hurdle years previous. Sometimes we forget that God doesn’t forget. We are aware of the Word of God and what it teaches but we think, since so many people have disobeyed the Bible for so long and have never suffered a consequence then maybe the teachings of the Bible are flawed.

I just want to remind you that four hundred years is nearly twice as long as our nation’s existence. If we were to pay the consequences of Bible disobedience today, we would be paying for the sins of the first Pilgrims and settlers on this continent! Perhaps we are!

The fact that people seem to get away with sin does not mean they have gotten Away with sin.

There is another bunch in this chapter whom God remembers. At nearly the same period in history the amenities had showed kindness to Israel and they are offered and escape from judgment.  Even so we, sinful as we are, are offered a way of escape through Jesus Christ.

God remembers our sin; unless He chooses (because of Christ) to forget our sin.

1 Samuel 15:2 (KJV) Remember God Remembers

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1 Samuel 13:3-4 (KJV) Thank a Soldier

1 Samuel 13:3-4 (KJV)
And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

We in the United States live under such blessing! In Ancient Greek society every man was a soldier. It was how you protected your land. It was how you advanced your community. It wasn’t optional. It wasn’t a draft or lottery; if you were healthy and male you were expected to be a soldier and you expected there would be battles.

Ancient Israel, though not technically a warlike culture like Greece, was still very similar. There were enemies and there was no choice but to fight them. Jonathan had smitten some Philistines and Saul spread the word. They could expect reprisals.

• Wives and girlfriends might weep but no one begged any man to stay home. 
• Mothers would fret for their sons but would never have, could never have asked them to stay away from the battlefield. 
• A dad might have feared for his life and wondered who would care for his family if he died. 
• A young man may have wondered what might have been if he were not about to be slain in the field of blood but none of them sought amnesty in another country

there was no safe place to flee. Age was no excuse. Position wealth and influence would no remove the obligation. It was die, or die fighting.

In our current situation with a military made up of volunteers who fight and sacrifice and often die in our place, may we be thankful.

1 Samuel 13:3-4 (KJV) Thank a Soldier

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Revelation 22:6 (KJV) Faithful and True

Revelation 22:6 (KJV)
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

The angel, having no greater authority than any man would have (he is not the authority but only the messenger) expresses what all messengers must; an assurance that the message he brings comes from an authoritative source.

His message is faithful

• It is faithful to the One who sent him to give it
• It is faithful to the purpose for which it was sent
• It is faithful to the character of the Author

When I read my Bible (King James Version) I have a faithful message from Almighty God. I am in a position to repeat that message and insist to my audience that this message is faithful.

His message is true

• It is true because it comes from God, the source of all truth
• It is true because it contains no error
• It is true because it is the standard upon which all other words must be measured

If the Bible is only partially true then it is not true at all. If the Bible contains any errors, fallibilities or mistakes, then it is false.

Some have supposed to find errors in the Bible. I am convinced that the errors reside in them and that the Bible, every word of it (as it is preserved in the King James Version), is “faithful and true.”

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2007.

Revelation 22:6 (KJV) Faithful and True

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Revelation 21:25 (KJV) Open Gates, No Night There

Revelation 21:25 (KJV)
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

A few days ago I found myself in a position where I needed to get up early. I was a bit on edge when I went to bed because I wanted to make sure I really would wake up. About 2:00 in the morning I awoke with a start. I thought someone had opened our bedroom door. No one was there and I was a bit perturbed because I only had a little bit left until the alarm rang. I had almost gotten back to sleep when I thought I heard it again.

As I lay there, now nearly wide awake, the thought occurred to me that perhaps God had awakened me early to get to work. I got up and went happily to work.

The reason cities closed their gates at night was to protect the citizens from danger. Dangers come very often at night, in the darkness and while we are sleeping. The gates of the heavenly city need never close because there is no night and no danger. According to the book of Hebrews there is rest in heaven, but there is no need of fear in heaven.

What promises await us when we finally reach that heavenly time when all that God has planned is done.

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2007.

Revelation 21:25 (KJV) Open Gates, No Night There

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Revelation 20:7 (KJV) Time Was Immaterial

Revelation 20:7 (KJV)
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

I am reminded that one day Is with the Lord as a thousand years. Days are literal in the Bible but time is immaterial to God. It appears to me that all of human history will take place in something that looks to God like seven days.

Revelation 20 has both the binding of Satan and his release for a little season and the two events are a thousand years apart.

Further, the apostle John witnessed in the spirit all one thousand years. Time was immaterial to him too.

Time matters to us. We only have so much time so we must not waste it. But in a sense time is immaterial to in that, the time we have one earth passes so quickly and then eternity is upon us. Time is of such little consequence for our eternal souls that it makes no sense to occupy ourselves with it. We ought to live in light of eternity instead of temporality.

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2007.

Revelation 20:7 (KJV) Time Was Immaterial

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1 Samuel 9:9 (KJV) The Use of Antiquated Words

1 Samuel 9:9 (KJV)
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

God’s word seems to give us an interesting insight into the use of antiquated words and phrases here. The Bible said they sought a seer and then explains that at one time in Israel what is now called a prophet was called a seer. Interestingly, after giving us the updated word, the Bible then returns to using the older word.

Our King James Bible is filled with older words not commonly used today. Does this mean we should change bibles to one that uses updated words? Not at all! By explaining and then using those older words we develop our vocabulary and increase our ability to express ourselves.

By the way, very shortly after this chapter even First Samuel will use regularly the modern word prophet. That tells me that I don’t need to revert my habits of speech to an older style. I may and should speak in the common vernacular. But it sure doesn’t hurt, when it comes to the things of God, to be conversant with an older form of speech.

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2007.

1 Samuel 9:9 (KJV) The Use of Antiquated Words

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Revelation 18:17-19 (KJV) Just One Hour

Revelation 18:17-19 (KJV)
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

It is generally understood, in what is called the law of double mention, that when the Bible repeats a thing it is for emphasis and should be given our attention. Here the Bible repeats that the destruction of Babylon only takes one hour. In the first mention it specially says the great riches of the city is come to naught in that one hour.

How great is our attraction to the riches of this world!

• Some will sacrifice love for riches
• Some will steal and cheat others for riches
• Some will gamble away what they have for riches
• Some will kill and be killed for riches

But in just one hour they come to naught. Riches have no lasting value. They serve no meaningful purpose. They give no permanent solutions. Riches are an allusion. The rich never are satisfied with what they have, always seeking just a little more. The pot of gold called riches is just out of reach. In the end, the riches men have attained comes to naught. It can’t make them happy. It can’t make them healthy. It can’t give them peace with God.

Jesus said, Matthew 6:19-20
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Sound advice.

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2007.

Revelation 18:17-19 (KJV) Just One Hour

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1 Samuel 6:20 (KJV) What a Question

1 Samuel 6:20 (KJV)
And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

What a question!

• On the one hand they had discovered the holiness of God and their frailty before Him
• On the other, they had chosen to pass off the duties of spiritual growth to others who would want the risks and responsibilities. 

A relationship with the Lord involves:

• a sense of His holiness, 
• an awareness of our brokenness but also 
• a commitment to genuine faithfulness

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2007.

1 Samuel 6:20 (KJV) What a Question

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1 Samuel 3:17-18 (KJV) Compartmentalization

1 Samuel 3:17-18 (KJV)
And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

Years ago I heard the testimony of a man who had, at one time, been a pastor of a large church but who had gotten involved in some illegal activity and had lost his ministry. After doing his jail time he began receiving court ordered counseling. It was during that counseling that he said he came to understand what had been going on in his head. He said that people he had pastored would ask him how he could stand in the pulpit and preach the messages he did, all the while being involved in the sort of illegal activities he was. Through counseling he came to call it “compartmentalization”.

• There was the one compartment that desired to do the right thing, to honor God and to serve God’s people.
• There was the other compartment that desired the things of this world; wealth, riches and luxury.

He was able to perform in both spheres because they were two separate compartments of the same man. The Bible would call them the old and new natures.

Eli wrestled with his own two compartments.

• On the one hand, his flesh had driven him to complacency with his sons. They did not know the Lord and they had no discipline from their father. It was this fleshly compartment that led to the eventual downfall of the family as the line of High Priests.
• On the other hand, his spirit was submissive to the Lord. It was this spiritual side of him that, though not quickly, recognized that God was speaking to the child Samuel and that, when once hearing from God, willing accepted the will of the Lord.

Eli served the Lord and eventually surrendered to His judgment. But it was too late to save his sons or the destiny of his family.

There is in each saved person these same two compartments. A sinful fleshly compartment and a spiritual, Christ seeking compartment. These two compartments are at war with one another. Good wisdom says to aide the spiritual.

1 Samuel 3:17-18 (KJV) Compartmentalization

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1 Samuel 2:34-36 (KJV) Failing God’s Perfect Will

1 Samuel 2:34-36 (KJV)
And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

The primary interpretation of this passage is toward the family of Eli. He, not being man enough to discipline his sons and they, not being moral enough to do the right thing in the tabernacle, were to be judged by death and their families to suffer with no purpose in life.

• To fail from the will of God may well leave a person empty, never feeling like they fulfill any place again. 
• To treat God’s place lightly, and to lose the right to that place could leave a person broken and hungry for the rest of their lives. 

We may rejoice that there is, when we fail from the perfect will of God, a good and an acceptable will of God. I have witnessed countless numbers of Christians who enjoy great happiness and fulfillment in them.

But I have also known them well enough to know that they grieve that they failed in God’s perfect will.

1 Samuel 2:34-36 (KJV) Failing God’s Perfect Will

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Ruth 3:1 (KJV) Concerned for Souls

Ruth 3:1 (KJV)
Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

I see in Naomi a type of the Christian who is concerned about souls. Having gone out and, at no small cost to herself, brought Ruth into the Promised Land, she refuses to leave Ruth alone to muddle her own way through. Naomi seeks rest for Ruth. She is capable of doing so because:

• She has a personal relationship to Boaz
• She has an understanding of the plan of God
• She has a regular contact with Ruth
• She had a willing disciple in Ruth

Naomi’s guidance transformed Ruth from a stranger (albeit a virtuous one) to a part of the family of God.

Naomi was by no means a perfect person. But she was used of God in an impossible situation. The same may be said about any Christian with concern enough to reach out to win and disciple others.

Ruth 3:1 (KJV) Concerned for Souls

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Revelation 12:1-3 (KJV) Two Wonders in Heaven

Revelation 12:1-3 (KJV)
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

There are two wonders depicted in Revelation 12. The first I believe to be Israel. The second is declared to be the devil.

• Both of the were observed by John
• Both of them appeared in heaven
• Both of them were said to be wonders

They appear as wonders because they are beyond human wisdom.That God would call out one nation, no better than any other, to be the source from which the Saviour would come is wonderful. That an angel the magnitude of Lucifer would rebel against God, that he would lead a third of the angels to join in his rebellion, that he would effectively destroy the spirit of man through his temptation of Eve, that he would be brash enough to attack the very Son of God and that God would use it all for his good purpose is beyond human wisdom.

They appeared in heaven because both are of GodThough I would not say God created Lucifer to become Satan, God certainly allowed for Lucifer’s fall. God could have but did not prevent Eve’s temptation. God chained some dark angels to the pit but did not do that to the devil. God did not approve of Israel’s rejection of Christ but He did allow for it.

These and many other things are beyond our comprehension but nevertheless of God

They are both observed by John as the representative of the ChristianNew Testament believers, because of our finished Word of God, are equipped to see the plan of God in its perfection:

• The Christ as both Lamb and Lion
• The devil as fulfilling the sovereign plan of God
• The Tribulation as purifying Israel while judging Antichrist
• The 1000 year reign as answering God’s promises to Israel and
• Eternity as the ultimate fulfillment of the plan of God.

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2007.

Revelation 12:1-3 (KJV) Two Wonders in Heaven

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