Ordinary

When the Ark returned to Israel (1 Samuel 6:13-18), ordinary people
stopped what they were doing and worshipped!

When was the last time we stopped what we were doing to worship God when we felt His presence?

Or is it something we schedule into our lives?

Interesting thing, they carried out the celebration instead of waiting for the official leaders of Israel.

What they didn't wait on the leaders, can you do that?

Of course, this is how things should have been from the beginning, with everyone a worshipper, every head of every family a spiritual leader (Ex 12:3, 13:8) and every first born dedicated to serving God. But here is the issue again; disobedience resulted in the Lord's service becoming the exclusive duty of the Levites (Ex 32:26, 29).

Serving God is not about position, title, education, skills, or status; it's simply about whether or not you are willing to answer the call to obey.

Any idea what the Levites had to do become responsible for the religious ceremonies?

Read Exodus 35:25-29.

Wow, is that a class in seminary or a workshop at a church planter's boot camp?

Leadership is about making decisions other people choose not to make. Leadership in the Kingdom is choosing to follow God even when it doesn't make sense.

Here's the cool thing, since it was the ordinary people worshipping, the Philistines rulers stayed and watched. Can you imagine the impact in had on them to see the how ordinary people stopped what they were doing in their day to day life and worshipped, cherished and honoured God?

When was the last time an unbelieving world saw us do that?

I believe that God is going to do something amazing in the next generation, and he is going to do it through the ordinary. That is why I am a part of a movement to join God as He empowers ordinary people to make a difference together wherever they are.

It starts with loving God enough to answer His call to obey,
will you?

How come…

How come… if you are a parent of multiple children you've heard this until you probably want to throw up, right? How come he gets to do that? How come he doesn't get punished like this?

Well, that's my question.

As I was reading in the 6^th chapter of 1 Samuel and I wondered why didn't the Philisitines die while moving the Ark? Uzzah died when he touched the Ark while it was being carried on a cart (2 Sam 6:6). How come they didn't?

I think it because of the pattern I am seeing in Scripture – you are responsible for what you know. I think God may permit ignorant unbelievers to get away with things that he will not excuse in a believer who has been taught in His ways.

As a parent my 17 yr old will be disciplined different than my 10 yr old, because he knows better.

Remember 1^st Samuel is about teaching a new generation about obedience.

We are a generation of learners and not doers. How many times do you hear the words "I just want to go deeper"? Would we say that if we were held to account for the things we already know but are not doing?

It's my opinion, based on what I read in His word, that we will be!

How come? Because we know better!

But, if I don’t do it…

About 9 years ago I had another pastor in town come to see me about particpating in a city wide prayer vigil. Sounded like a good idea, then He said "God needs our help in defeating Satan." Really, God needs our help?

Let's see, Jesus said if we won't worship him, even the stones would (Luke 19:40), if we won't speak for God, even a donkey will (Numbers 22:28), and if we don't obey, a fish is ready to do the Lord's work (Jonah 1:17).

That's what we find in Chapter 5, God fought His own battle against the Philistine people and their god Dagon without help from the Israelite army. Because of their disobedience, God's people missed out on the help they could have had.

God will do it with or without you, no one is indispensable.

God is not privileged when we serve Him.

It is our privilege to get to serve Him!

Where’d He go?

Okay, I have to tell you, I'm digging 1 Samuel. There is so much good stuff in here. Yeah, I know it's God's Word, of course it's good, but for me and where I am at right now, it's really hitting home.

Take sometime and slowly read Chapter 4, you probably should get out a commentary or a study Bible, just so you don't miss anything.

Here's what struck me:

• Joshua was supposed to take out the Philistines, but he left a few and they became a thorn in the side of Israel for the entire 40 years Eli judged.
  Ever left a few that still haunt you?
  
• 40 years is a long time for someone to rule and judge! Especially without God's hand on you.
  
• There is no indication that the Israelites sought the face of God before battle, result; tragic! Always seek the face of God before going into battle, always! Reminder: we are in a battle everyday!
  
• They just assumed He would be there. Need I say more?
  
• They believed God should fight for them no matter how they lived; they didn't humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways nor pray for mercy. Wake up call!
  
• 4,000 killed
  
• Okay, so now they go back and take a symbol of God's presence into battle, and who's carrying it? Eli's sons who had abused their duty as priest. We put our confidence in a form of religion while denying the God behind the form.
  
• Isn't that like us, we want a visible god to assure us of our safety.
  
• To the Philistines, the impression was that the the God of Israel was no better than there own God, who could only move when carried – he must not be that powerful! Do the people around you know how BIG your God is by the way you act?
  
• So the Philistines rally and kill 30,000 Israelites!
  

 

Any thoughts?

 

Routine?

Wow,
this verse has popped up in front me 3 times in the last three days…maybe God's trying to tell me something! Ever had that happen? Some obscure verse you haven't thought of in awhile or never, and then BAM, there it is everywhere you turn!

'These people honor me with their lips,
      but their hearts are far from me.
 They worship me in vain;
      their teachings are but rules taught by men. (Isa 29:13, Matt 15:8-9, Mark 7:7)

In each case the people were just going through the motions, religion had become routine instead of real and they neglected to give God their love and devotion.

Sound familiar?

Are we just going through the motions and "doing church?"

The call

In third chapter of 1^st Samuel we find God's call to Samuel.

God called to him. He heard God's voice, but did not understand. Most people say "he was just a boy and had not yet learned to distinguish the voice of God", but isn't that true even for us who are older. One of the questions I get asked most often is "how do I know its God?", "how do you hear God?"

He went and asked Eli if he had called. Eli told him to go back to bed. Twice more this happened. Finally, the third time Eli began to understand what was happening. He explained what Samuel should do and how he should respond.

How many times has God called me and I didn't respond?

The fourth time Samuel responded to God's call, and was given a message from God. It was a message about change, about the ending of the old ways of doing things in Israel. God did not tell Samuel at this point what newness would come, only about the changes that would sweep away the old ways.

I think change is coming, can you feel it?

Even though "the word of the Lord was rare in those days," God spoke to a boy named Samuel.

I think He is already speaking to the next generation about the change He wants in His church.

My prayer, God make me Eli to the next generation, that I might understand and explain to them how they should respond to you!

 

A couple of bad apples

1^st Samuel 2

Eli's sons were priest and they were to be taken care of by the people's tithes (Numbers 18:20-24, Joshua 13:14, 33). Slight problem though, they were corrupt and didn't know the Lord.

They took advantage of their postion to satisfy their craving for power, possessions and control. Their contempt and arrogance threatened the integrity of the whole priesthood.

Sound familiar? Priest tied to sex and money scandal, details at 11:00 (10 for those of you in the CST).

One bad apple, in this case two, can ruin a whole bunch! What about all the priest who took their calling seriously and served in obscurity, except of course before the Lord, did it change the way people viewed them?

When you hear of a scandal, does it change the way you think of your pastor, priest, or shepherd?

Here are a couple of things I thought of as I read this passage;

First, my personal holiness. I must be a man who knows God intimately, learning to love Him more daily, digesting His word and doing what it says. I must love people and use things, not love things, because I will begin to use people. I must take my calling seriously and not view what I do as a vocation. I must not look down on God's people or treat their offerings casually or with contempt, if I do I will be judged harshly by God himself.

Second, there are times when serious problems need to be confronted, even if the process and consequences could be painful. Eli knew about his son's corruption, but he also knew the consequence for their actions was death. Tough call, huh? But, by ignoring their selfish actions he allowed them to ruin their lives and the lives of many. God will not be mocked, you reap what you sow.

Remember this book (1^st Samuel) was written to teach a new generation about obedience, how will you live out what you've read today?