Bible Reading Reflection from 1 Samuel 8-15

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟠:𝟛

"His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice."

Never presume your children will grow up like you (especially your walk with God). Eli's sons weren't. Hezekiah's son, Manasseh wasn't. Samuel's sons weren't. John Piper's son wasn't. Francis Schaffer's son wasn't. Nietzsche and Darwin seemed to have a religious upbringing. I think even Miley Cyrus’ parents were church leaders!

Job prayed and made sacrifices for his children every early morning. But I am glad for the Gaithers' song: "Because He lives, this child can face tomorrow."

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟡:𝟚

"He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people."

His father was a mighty man of valor. He was tall and handsome. A perfect combination to be desired by all!

God gave them what they would want. BTW, let’s remember David accurately. He wasn't a weakling. He fought a lion and a bear. Would UFC fighter, or Modi or Kim Jong Un, or Vladimir Putin pick a fight with a bear or a lion? I don't think so!

God doesn't despise the rich, tall and handsome. He rejected Saul because of disobedience; God hates disobedient people! If you are poor, dwarfish, ugly, and also disobedient, how pathetic it is. Like Winston Churchill said of one woman, "Madam, I am drunk and will be sober by morning, but you will still be ugly in the morning!" Hahaha!

Saul was a son of a mighty man, and he himself tall and handsome!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟘:𝟚𝟟

"But certain worthless men said, "How can this one deliver us?" And they despised him and did not bring him any present. But he kept silent."

v6 says Saul was already a changed man. v9 repeats that Saul was really a changed man. v26 says God changed some people's hearts to stick with Saul.

Of course, who would want to stick with this coward? But God changed their hearts, and Saul has also become worthy of following. The amazing work of God. Whom God calls, God qualifies and equips for His work.

Well, there were some worthless men. Always! Where God works, Satan wants to stick in too. I am still young, but I have met some worthless men already!

Saul maintained his silence! Kudos to Saul, at least for this!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟙:𝟛

"The elders of Jabesh said to him, ‘Let us alone for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to deliver us, we will come out to you.’"

This story always fascinates me. Nahas sounds so gruesome yet he commands my respect. He allowed those inhabitants to ask help to kill him. He gave them chance, opportunity. A man of principle.

It is often said and seen in war history that in wartime there are no rules. They say, "All is fair in love and war." After all, only the winners live to tell that and write the history; they've got to justify their conduct.

Nahas dared to give them time to fight him! I wish the Taliban would do that! Or RSS would do that instead of lynching! I wish the underground of North East are man enough to do that instead of abducting and killing such and such!

All underground and terrorist leaders should salute Captain (King) Nahas! 😎

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟟-𝟙𝟠

"’Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD, that He may send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the LORD by asking for yourselves a king.’ So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel."

Samuel dared [proposed] to bring down rain in an unusual time of rain; he did! Are there Samuel-like people who are cut from the same cloth still in our times? Will God ever raise up such people like Samuel, Elijah, and Isaiah?

Or do we really need such people these days? I don't think so.

But are there people who are godly as them, who are as faithful as them, who are as prayerful as them? I would like to think so.

There are some godly men who have studied the sign of our times and warned what's about to unfold. And they are found to be right again and again!

Like the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, if we don't listen to them, nobody will listen even if Samuel shows up now. Actually, Saul didn't listen to Samuel when he was raised up by the Witch of Endor.

For example, Spurgeon has warned regarding the Downgrade Controversy. JC Ryle. Francis Schaffer etc...

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟙

"But Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ And Saul said, ‘Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash.’"

I am sure all of us can see Saul in ourselves. Saul was a son of Adam and Eve what to do! Playing the blame game. Or to be more fair: Saul made up 3 excuses that look really genuine to a natural man:

1. Saul blamed (made an excuse) the people that they were disloyal and deserted him.

2. Saul blamed (made an excuse) that Samuel didn't come a little earlier.

3. Saul blamed (made an excuse) that the enemies (problems) are challenging.

Indeed, an ignorant, arrogant fool was Saul! I-A-F – (not Indian-Air-Force) but Ignorant-Arrogant-Fool.

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟜:𝟚𝟡

"Then Jonathan said, ‘My father has troubled the land. See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.’"

Saul and Jonathan, father and son, what a set of characters! Totally different. Saul was a hypocrite. Saul was a coward. Saul's idea was dumb. He was willing even to kill Jonathan to save his face.

Everyone knew Jonathan was the hero. Even later on David will be the hero. Saul wanted to be a hero, but he never had the brain nor the guts of a hero. But he always wanted to remain in power!

There seems to be a lot of leaders like this, maybe even Biden! 🙂😂

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟝:𝟛𝟘

"Then he said, ‘I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.’"

Once a man has tasted power, glory, and honor, he doesn't want to let them go. Most people will do anything to retain them. Saul was such one! He knew God had rejected him and Samuel was very displeased with him. Yet he asked Samuel to treat him as if Samuel and God were okay with him in front of the people!

And Samuel caved in, to this request. Very interesting! Was Samuel weak as Saul? Saul caved in, to the voice of the people (v24-25). And now Samuel listened to Saul. Well, I see the compassion of Samuel for Saul and the political situation of the nation.

Maybe sometimes, our actions may look compromising to some people, but we must sacrifice even our reputation if necessary. In this, Samuel did not love honor, power, glory as Saul did!

Bible Reading Reflection from 1 Samuel 1-7

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙:𝟚𝟟-𝟚𝟠

"For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there."

We all know Hannah is a woman who poured out her heart before God like a drunk woman. Have we ever prayed like that? Hannah made a vow as well! Hmm! She asked for a son. And she gives back to God.

Abraham desired a son. And God desired Abraham to give back his son to God. Hannah outshone Abraham? 😉

Hannah is a grateful woman. She gives back everything willingly, gladly!

Jesus sought grateful people (remember the nine lepers?). God loves to answer the prayers of grateful people!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚:𝟙

"Then Hannah prayed and said, ‘My heart 𝕖𝕩𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕤 in the LORD; My horn is 𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕖𝕕 in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.’"

Notice the words "Exult" and "Exalted"

What's the difference between exultation and exaltation? Well, a dictionary exists to differentiate such words!

Interesting that these two words are found in this verse. Many people didn't know the difference, even the Americans and English! I myself was forced to look up in dictionary by none other than John Piper. He is good at English!

Before Piper was a student of Biblical Language, he was a student of English Literature. He was an English Honors student!

Steve Lawson said that every good preacher is good in Language/English (grammar). He himself mastered English Grammar after he became a Bible student.

Well, let's know the difference between exultation and exaltation and often include them in our Christian vocabulary, especially in prayer as Hannah did!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟛:𝟙𝟟-𝟙𝟠

"He said, ‘What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you.’ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, ‘It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.’"

Hmmm! A great episode! Three Remarks:

1. Though Eli was a weak leader, his devotion to God was splendid! May we learn to let God be God and let Him do what is pleasing to Him!

2. Though Samuel was young and looked up to Eli as his reverend mentor, he was brave to proclaim judgment upon him by the word of the LORD. May we be people of courage, declaring what God says, and not afraid of culture, consensus, or the spirit of the age!

3. Though Eli knew the judgment upon him, yet he still asked Samuel. He invoked God to judge young Samuel if he would not reveal all the truths! Eli was indeed a good mentor, a strong mentor, at last! He wasn't able to bring up his children, but here, he made Samuel accountable to him, and himself accountable to Samuel (God)! May we learn to face (admit, expose, accept) our mistakes, weakness, and sins!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟜:𝟚𝟙, 𝟙𝟠

v21. "And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, ‘The glory has departed from Israel," because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.’"

v18. "When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years."

I've a non-Christian banker friend who used to ask me to lend my Bible to keep near his pillow to avoid a nightmare (ghostly dreams).

Well, I also know a lot of professing Christians who used their Bible for good luck, charms, and whatever! It's not uncommon to see many people opening their Bible randomly, reading a verse or two, just before they pray as they set out for the examination hall! (Maybe I was guilty too).

Israelites were doing that. God had abandoned them. And still, they tried to manipulate God by bringing out the Ark of God. It's tantamount to idolatry. God not only killed them but allowed the Ark of God to be captured too. Our Bibles are just a collection of papers! It has no power to save. Maybe if you keep it in your chest pocket and if somebody shoots you there, it may serve as bulletproof, but not more than that. Or yes, it can be used to treat Ganglion Cyst as Doctors called it a Bible cyst. Or like the Nazis, you can use them as toilet papers.

Well, to Roger, Tyndale, and some Chinese persecuted Christians, Bible is precious just as the Ark of God was precious to Eli and his daughter-in-law, they dropped dead. What a way to die! With the thought of the Glory of God in their deaths!

Earlier, Eli was indicted by God for loving his sons more than his love for the honor of God's name. His manner of death seems to say that Eli died a changed man; he repented! In his last days, the glory of God was more important than the battle or the life of his children!

“Ichabod!” Bible is Ichabod without meditation. Christian Living is Ichabod without obedience. Prayer is Ichabod without submission to God's will.

BTW, it wasn't a complete Ichabod. God's presence was, is, and always be there even in His fiercest judgment!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟝:𝟙𝟙

"They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people." For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there."

God's glory departed from Israel and the battle was lost.

God's glory visited upon the Philistines and they were struck with tumors.

The people of God (Israelites) were ridiculous, but God is not to be mocked. The Philistines mocked Yahweh by treating Him as equal or inferior to Dagon. Yahweh is not one among the gods. He has no equal. He is the only Almighty Potentate.

Some people mocked Jesus because of some phony Christians. Some refused to become Christians because of the behavior of some Christians! Not a good reason. They may even attack them, but they better be careful not to dishonor God!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟞:𝟙𝟡-𝟚𝟘

"He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. The men of Beth-shemesh said, ‘Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?’"

Nowadays, 'God' is so cool that anyone can worship Him. You can sing whatever song you like. You can preach whatever you like. You can wear whatever you like. You can do whatever suits you best.

Have you ever heard anyone asking, "Who can serve God?" The Israelites realized that. God is not cool. He is holy. And we cannot serve Him. Joshua has warned them already that we cannot serve God in our ways.

I think it’s Steve Lawson who said that Preachers are trying to make the narrow gate wider. In doing so, they have made the herd of goats bigger.

God is a consuming fire! He kills and damns. The ark of God didn't kill the Philistines, it killed the Israelites, over 50,000 people.

Somebody said, "If you kill a man, you are a murderer. If you kill 1000 you are a conqueror. If you kill 10,000, you are a god." Indeed, Yahweh is God.

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟟:𝟙𝟘

"Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel."

God often used nature to accomplish great things. Indeed, nature is more obedient to God than man. And man loves to blow his trumpet even when it is not of his might! God would not share His glory with a man! And man loves to seek glory for himself!

Bible Reading Reflection from Ruth 1-4

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PTS), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

ℝ𝕌𝕋ℍ 𝟙:𝟚𝟘

"She said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.’"

How many of us have a good name with a good meaning? I guess, all of us, if our parents aren't that horrible, and our parents aren't horrible, of course!

Naomi had a good name, but she couldn't live up to her name. She didn't experience what her name said it to be. She couldn't fulfil her parents' dream. She preferred to change her name!

But she relied on God in her heydays and gloomy days. Indeed, she lost her husband and all her children. God looked too bitter to her. But she remained steadfast in her faith towards Yahweh that made Ruth abandon everything and follow Naomi to follow Yahweh.

A time of "Mara" was upon her, but God meant it "Naomi" for her. In a bizarre way but the providence of God, she got Boaz as her "son" who brought amazing happiness not only to her but to all. Above all, she became the great grandmother of Jesus Christ!

Naomi is indeed Naomi! There may not be a miracle to your name, but there's a miracle of God for those who keep clinging to God!

 

ℝ𝕌𝕋ℍ 𝟚:𝟙𝟚

"May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."

When I was in Shillong, I knew a man with an impeccable reputation. When he was cleaning his home, his neighbour, a young lady helped him. In gratitude, he was wishing prosperity, success, good life, etc. for her. Then two elderly women next door quipped, "Why don't you just marry her?"

Hmm! Boaz never knew that the blessing he was pronouncing upon Ruth was he himself. Ruth as well hadn't anticipated that possibility at this point of the story (v19-20).

Many times, we pray, we bless, we wish, but sometimes we could be the answer, the blessing, the hope, the comfort to some of those prayers, people, or places!

Remember Boaz's Blessing!

 

ℝ𝕌𝕋ℍ 𝟛:𝟝

"She said to her, ‘All that you say I will do.’"

Boaz was an old man. Perhaps he wasn't handsome either. Perhaps there were richer men, more handsome, and suitable grooms for this elegant lady Ruth (cf. v10)

Ruth wasn't a gold digger, (which BTW, all modern women are accused to be). She didn't look for 6-packs abs or anything of the sort.

What she did was in obedience to her mother-in-law's counsel, which is to fulfil Yahweh's commandment of Levirate marriage. A Moabite woman chose to follow the God of Israel even when it concerned her very life.

And she proposed Boaz marry her using the same language Boaz has blessed her before! A Smart Brave Chaste Religious Beautiful Lady!

What was the reaction of Boaz? He summarised her in one word "Excellent," a woman of excellence, v11. And it reminds us of the excellent woman of Proverbs 31.

This response of Ruth to Naomi also reminds us about another man who destroyed his career and his people because he didn't listen to the counsel of wise elders, king Rehoboam.

 

ℝ𝕌𝕋ℍ 𝟜:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a ℝ𝕖𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕣 today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you a ℝ𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕣 of life and a 𝕊𝕦𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕣 of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.’"

This is a fitting concluding remark in the book of Ruth. It summarizes the theme of Ruth— that God is a Redeemer, also a Restorer and a Sustainer!

Indeed, Yahweh, our God is!

Epilogue: Naomi reclaimed her name. And the women of Bethlehem (not only Naomi and Boaz) confirmed that Ruth was an excellent woman. In their words, "better than seven sons."

@___________if your baby is a girl, may she be better than seven sons. If a boy, like David of course! 👍

What an amazing cast of characters!

Bible Reading Reflection from Judges 15-21

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝕁𝕌𝔻𝔾𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟝:𝟙

"But after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a young goat, and said, "I will go in to my wife in her room." But her father did not let him enter."

Mark Driscoll had a reputation of preaching the Song of Songs in a very sexually graphic way, for which the words of commentator Tremper Longman "it reveals more about the interpreters than the text" is appropriate.

On the other end, we have people like JD Grear and Ed Litton who say the Bible whispers about sexual sin. The Bible shouted as loud as it can be against sexual sin. But actually, it seems to give a whispering description about sexual activity. May we never preach it, teach it, imagine it, or read it to sin. Recently Abraham Piper (a prodigal son of John Piper) in a TikTok video revealed that as a pastor’s kid, he would read Song of Songs with an illicit pleasure.

The Bible I will argue is R-rated when it comes to violence, like hacking Agag into pieces, or Phinehas spearing through Zimri and Cozbi. However, it will be PG or Family rating when it comes to nudity! And preachers often do otherwise because the former sounds bad the latter sells!

Even in this passage, the story is narrated carefully, with a common verb "go"

 

𝕁𝕌𝔻𝔾𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟞:𝟚𝟘

"She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him."

Playing with fire, Playing with the devil, and Playing with sin are Playing with Delilah. What sadness! "As at other times, but" Thieves must be thinking the same. At least almost all the heist movies I watched are like that. 😄 Saying "one more time, and this shall be the last" and they died!

When we play with things unplayable, we keep on saying one more time, and hardly it stops, it keeps saying one more time, or finally gets caught!

Don't play with Delilah! Better to dwell in the corner of the rooftop in solitude! 😬

 

𝕁𝕌𝔻𝔾𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟟:𝟞

"In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes."

Judges 17 records the bizarre story of Micah: Sin upon sin. Personal sin to family sin to community sin unfolds. Indeed, sin breeds, and is rightly compared to a contagious virus and cancer!

In our daily conversation, "he did his best" is often an expression of defeat to make it sound nicer than what actually is. Man doing, according to what he thinks is best and right is a pathetic condition expressed politely. Moses warned them not to live like this (Deut. 12:8)!

 

𝕁𝕌𝔻𝔾𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟠:𝟚𝟘

"The priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod and household idols and the graven image and went among the people."

A wise priest indeed! If you are willing [planning or scheming] to be wicked, at least be rich. It's better to be a rich wicked man than to be a poor wicked fool!

I heard a rumour that some Muslim groups promised to give a sum of 2 lakh rupees to some of our people in Tamenglong if they would become Muslims. Hmm! I don't know the rest of the deal, but I would not mind them becoming Muslims and getting 2 lakh rupees than to remain poor and still go to hell! 😬😎

Now, Micah’s idolatry has turned to family idolatry to Clan idolatry. Individual to Community. Sin spreads!

 

𝕁𝕌𝔻𝔾𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟡:𝟚𝟚

"While they were celebrating, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, ‘Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have relations with him.’"

Chapter 18 was Idolatry — Individual to Community.

Chapter 19 is Immortality — Individual to Community.

The pandemic of sin, corruption!

There are certain worthless fellows in every society at any time, I suppose.

The world at biblical times is not better than our world now. They were told to live differently, and we are still told to not live like the world.

Instead of being transformed by the word, people are conforming to the world. Let's live by the conviction from the exemplary saints gone before us, not by the culture of our time.

 

𝕁𝕌𝔻𝔾𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟘:𝟚𝟛

"The sons of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall we again draw near for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?" And the LORD said, "Go up against him.""

These guys didn't want to kill but were willing to slaughter if necessary. It was expressed genuinely through weeping till evening and then burnt up their cities.

Hmm! Before you burnt up somebody's home, weep before God from morning till evening! Before you confront others, weep over him before God. Before you criticize somebody, pray, pray, pray, yea, a long prayer!

Or shut off your mouth, huh! 😬😂

 

𝕁𝕌𝔻𝔾𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟙:𝟙𝟘

"And the congregation sent 12,000 of the valiant warriors there, and commanded them, saying, "Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones."

What insanity! They were weeping for Benjamites, yet set out to massacre the people of Jabesh-gilead. And they allowed their women to be kidnapped by the Benjamites.

Didn't the war start because of molesting a concubine by the Benjamites, and now allowing their women to be kidnapped? Mankind is not only depraved but stupid!  The same insanity, stupidity can be said of the covid pandemic of our time!