“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (I Peter 2:9). God’s people have always been special to Him. Exodus 19:5 speaks of them as a “peculiar treasure,” chosen and set apart by God. The word peculiar has several meanings. As a teenager I never took time to check a dictionary. In my mind peculiar meant being strange, weird, or odd. I wondered why I had to be strange to be a Christian. Had I done a little research, I would have discovered that peculiar also means “to have a character exclusively its own; select or special; separate; belonging particularly or exclusively to one.” Peculiar denotes ownership. GOD’S PROTECTION When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He gave numerous laws to guide their conduct and worship. The restrictions He placed on them were not designed to make their lives miserable. Instead, they were to keep His people from adopting the sinful practices of surrounding nations. God’s laws were given for protection, not punishment. They were to preserve Israel’s distinctness, to keep them from blending in with the heathen society of their neighbors. “For you are a people holy to the…

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14, ESV) Today is Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to love in many countries around the world. In many places, it is celebrated with gifts, greeting cards decorated with hearts, red roses, heart-shaped boxes of candy, and romantic dinners. The customs vary from country to country. While for many it’s a celebration of romantic love, others use it a time to show appreciation for friends and family. The Love Message Love! Just the word may give us goosebumps. Some keep cherished love letters and cards from many years ago, reading them over and over until the pages become fragile. Yet, the greatest love letter ever sent was not a lace-and-flower-trimmed Valentine. The greatest message of all is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (ESV) God’s love far surpasses ours. It is pure, sacrificial, and given without reservation. This is a love we do not earn it; it is given freely, bountifully. Romans 5:8 says that “God demonstrates His own love…

“How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” (Psalm 78:40-41, NKJV) Psalm 78 records the faithfulness of God to His people. But this same psalm also records the actions of a nation that continually rebelled against that same loving God. Although He performed daily miracles on their behalf, they forgot His goodness. ISRAEL’S UNBELIEF After the Israelites departed Egypt, they witnessed God doing so many amazing things. Miracles surrounded them throughout their journey. God parted the sea for them to walk across. He destroyed their enemies. He provided food in the wilderness. He made rivers in a desert. Their clothes and shoes never wore out. Despite everything they experienced, the Israelites still questioned God’s ability to provide for them. “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?” (Verse 19) “Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?” (Verse 20) “Because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation.” (Verse 22) “Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue” (Verse 36) The children of Israel would…

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (I Samuel 15:22, NLT) Saul, the first king of Israel, began well. His ending, however, was sad. But let’s look at some background to better understand what happened to a promising life. It was never God’s plan for Israel to be ruled by a king, but the people insisted. They wanted — or perhaps demanded is a better word — a ruler like the surrounding nations. Samuel, the priest/prophet/judge who currently led Israel, was old and his sons were corrupt. Although it felt like rejection, God said the people were really rejecting Him, not Samuel (I Samuel 8:7). GOD’S CHOICE The man God chose to anoint as king was Saul, a tall, handsome young man from the tribe of Benjamin (I Samuel 9:2). However, when the time came for him to be anointed before the people, Saul could not be found. He was hiding among all the baggage. Gradually, we see changes in Saul’s life. Pride crept in. He showed impatience and then…