1 Samuel 16:1 (KJV) Mourn for a Season, Not for a Lifetime

1 Samuel 16:1 (KJV) 

And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

All of us go through seasons of mourning.

• A loss in the family.
• An unexpected hardship.
• A rift in a relationship.

In this case, Samuel was mourning over the spiritual decline of King Saul. Even though Saul was never the man God had intended to lead Israel—and Samuel knew it—Samuel had grown to love him and hoped for his good on behalf of the nation. Those hopes were dashed.

Right from the start, Saul showed himself to be spiritually fickle. One moment he would seem on fire for the Lord, and the next he would give in to the impulses of his flesh. As time went on, those impulses drove Saul far more than the things of the Lord.

It was Samuel’s duty both to pronounce the judgment of God upon Saul and to anoint the man who would replace him. But this was not a responsibility Samuel relished.

All of this left him in a state of mourning—a state I believe the Lord allowed for a season. But there came a point when God told him it was time to get over it.

Some people never do.

Here I see a biblical plan for moving out of a season of mourning.

First, we must come to the place where we recognize it is time to move on. Mourning for a season is normal. Living in a season of mourning is not only abnormal—it is unhealthy. We must acknowledge when it is time to move forward.

Second, move on.
There was a new king to anoint. There were challenges ahead, but it was time to go forward. Challenges, obstacles, and hurdles are no excuse to dwell in a state of depression. In fact, those very challenges can help us move on. They engage the mind and redirect our focus. Life brings a new day—fresh with new opportunities and new obstacles. Embrace both.

Finally, obey the Lord.
“And Samuel did that which the LORD spake….”

It may be the last thing a person thinks he or she wants to do. It may even seem that obeying the Lord is the last thing that would help. But God’s ways are higher than our ways. Trust Him. Obey Him. Do that which the LORD speaks.

“How long wilt thou mourn…?”

There is a way out. And once you are out, you will be glad you are.

#HowLongWiltThouMourn #TimeToMoveOn #ObeyTheLord #GodProvidesAKing #HopeAfterLoss

Mourn for a Season, Not for a Lifetime: 3 Biblical Steps to Move Out of Grief

Searching for Bible answers about grief, loss, and moving forward?
God’s Word speaks clearly—even when the heart is heavy. 📖✨

If you’re in a season of mourning, don’t ignore what the Lord asked Samuel:
“How long wilt thou mourn?” There is a way forward, and Scripture shows it.

👉 Read, reflect, and let God’s Word guide your next step.
💬 Question for you: What has God been nudging you to move forward from—but you’ve been holding onto?

Drop a comment below 👇 — your answer may help someone else who’s searching.

For more clear, biblical teaching and trusted Scripture-based answers, visit
🔗 marvinmckenzie.org

📖❤️ Truth from God’s Word still brings light, direction, and hope.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Samuel 16:1 (KJV) Mourn for a Season, Not for a Lifetime

 

Acts 18:28 (KJV) By the Scriptures

Acts 18:28 (KJV) 

For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

By the Scriptures…

Apollos was an obviously gifted man—an eloquent speaker who was both humble enough to be corrected and intelligent enough to grasp “the way of God more perfectly” quickly.

I see the means of ministry expansion so clearly in this chapter. Paul joined himself to a couple of Jews to ply their craft together. As they worked, Paul spoke to them of the things of Christ. They came to faith and came to understand sound doctrine. In time, Paul went on to other ministries, but Aquila and Priscilla never quit on what Paul taught them.

Having met Apollos, they took him aside. They did not confront him publicly or cause problems for him; they instructed him privately in what Paul had instructed them. From there, Apollos took this instruction elsewhere and preached it. Thus, the Word of God multiplied.

The Bible says Apollos was a great help. He was a gifted speaker and a brilliant thinker, able to put what he had learned of Christ into proper context with the Scriptures. But his true power lay in this one thing: he shewed them “by the scriptures” that Jesus was Christ.

No other tool of teaching will make a difference like teaching the Scriptures. Some are able to do that eloquently. Some are more plain. Some speak to large crowds publicly. Some to just one or two privately. None of that ultimately matters. What truly matters is that what we teach, we teach by the Scriptures.

#ByTheScriptures #PreachChrist #BibleCentered #SoundDoctrine #WordMultiplied

By the Scriptures: How Sound Doctrine Quietly Multiplies

Looking for clear Bible answers in a noisy religious world? 📖
God has never promised power through personality—but He has promised power through His Word. When truth is taught by the Scriptures, hearts are still convinced and lives are still changed.

Are you building your faith on opinions, or on what the Bible actually says? 🤔
What passage of Scripture has most strengthened your walk with Christ lately? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to see it. 💬

If you’re searching for biblical clarity, sound doctrine, and Scripture-centered teaching, visit 👉 marvinmckenzie.org 🌐
You’ll find Bible studies, teaching resources, and encouragement rooted firmly in the Word of God. ✝️

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Acts 18:28 (KJV) By the Scriptures

Acts 17:30 (KJV) Truth Heard, Decision Required

Acts 17:30 (KJV) 

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Why now?

“The times of this ignorance God winked at…” Why, at this time, would He command all men everywhere to repent?

This group of Athenians and strangers had gathered to hear this new thing Paul preached. They were curious people, intelligent people, and even religious people. But they were ignorant of the true and living God. They were idolators, worshiping shapes made of gold, or silver, or stone—made by man and of man’s device.

But on this day, before them now, stood a man of God. Paul preached what they could never have conceived, yet what was entirely true—that God is a living being, and we are made in His likeness. He made us; we did not make Him.

• Having now heard this truth,
• being no longer ignorant of it, and 
• coming face to face with the living God through preaching,

now was their accepted time.

That day was the day of their salvation—should they receive it.

At that moment, through the preaching of the Word of God and the convicting power of the Holy Ghost that attends faithful preaching, God—now, not later, not tomorrow, not after more time to think—commanded all men everywhere to repent.

This was Paul’s altar call. It was the invitation to his message. They had heard the Word. Paul was confident that the Holy Ghost was at work in their souls. Right then was the moment of decision. Right then was their offer of salvation.

All that was required—and he plainly told them it was required—was repentance: a turning from idols to the living God.

Every preacher, every sermon, is afforded this very moment—to call all men everywhere, no matter what they are facing and no matter what they have previously believed, to repent—right now.

#Acts1730 #NowIsTheTime #RepentAndBelieve #LivingGod #BiblicalPreaching

Truth Heard, Decision Required: The Moment God Commands Repentance

Have you ever wondered why the Bible says repentance can’t wait?
Acts 17:30 reminds us that when truth is heard, God calls for a response—now, not later.

If you’re searching for real Bible answers about repentance, salvation, and God’s will for your life, this message is for you. The Word of God doesn’t just inform us—it calls us to decision.

❓ What do you believe God is calling you to respond to right now?
Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear from you.

📖 For more clear, biblical teaching and trusted Scripture-based resources, visit 👉 marvinmckenzie.org

⏰ Truth has been heard. The invitation is open.
🙏 Today is the day to respond.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Acts 17:30 (KJV) Truth Heard, Decision Required

1Samuel 13:19-21 (KJV) Sharpened by Permission

1Samuel 13:19-21 (KJV)

Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.

I am struck by the fact that, in the several millennia since this event took place, nothing has really changed. The oppressor in that day, just as today, seeks to control their subjects through weapon control. The Philistines knew that if Israel gained weapons equal to their own, they could not control them.

They also understood that the people of Israel needed tools for their trade. So they did not forbid the Israelites from possessing items that could become weapons. Instead, they imposed laws, regulations, and government-appointed oversight to control who had them, how many they had, and what could be done with them. The Israelites were allowed files to keep their tools usable, but if they wanted them truly sharp, they had to go to the Philistines.

That sounds very similar to modern laws in our own state that allow gun ownership under certain conditions—but require registration and limit magazine capacity.

The philosophy behind weapon control is spiritual in nature. Those who oppress the people of God worship the wrong gods, and because of that, they misunderstand the nature of man. They believe weapon control laws will work because they fail to understand the corruption of the human heart.

Recently, a tragedy occurred in Australia—a country with some of the strictest gun laws in the world. Two men used weapons they were legally permitted to own to attack a group of Jews celebrating Hanukkah. Immediately, there were calls for more gun laws. Here’s the reality: you cannot remove enough objects from society to prevent people with corrupt hearts from finding ways to harm those they hate. This is not a weapons problem. It is a spiritual problem

That attack was ultimately stopped by another individual with a gun, who used it to defend others and end the threat.You do not restrain evil by removing the means of defense. You restrain evil by allowing people the ability to defend themselves.

Only oppressors take away that ability.

Those calling for stricter gun laws are not friends of the people—they are their oppressors.

#BiblicalPerspective #SpiritualBattle #OppressionExposed #HumanNature #DefendingTheInnocent

Sharpened by Permission: The Ancient, Evil, Roots of Weapon Control

📖 Looking for real Bible answers to modern problems?
The Word of God doesn’t avoid hard issues—and neither should we. 1 Samuel 13:19–21 shows how oppression works, how evil thinks, and why control never produces righteousness.

👉 If you want biblical truth, not talking points…
👉 If you believe the Bible still speaks clearly to today’s world…
👉 If you’re searching for Scripture-based answers to cultural confusion…

📌 Stay here. Read the Word. Think biblically.

💬 Question for you:
Do you believe evil is restrained more by restriction—or by righteous resistance?
Share your thoughts in the comments 👇

🌐 For more clear, Bible-centered teaching, visit marvinmckenzie.org
📖 Conservative. Biblical. Unapologetic.

🔔 Follow, share, and join the conversation as we seek God’s truth for today ✝️

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1Samuel 13:19-21 (KJV) Sharpened by Permission