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…
“For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” (Psalm 75:6-7, NKJV) Two men. Two very different motivations. They lived in the same city and crossed paths often. We find their stories in the Book of Esther. The time is around 480 BC, and the place is Shushan, a royal city in Persia. Haman’s Story Haman was an Agagite who held a position of prominence under King Ahasuerus, the Persian king. Haman had wealth, status, and power. People bowed as he walked by. But none of that was enough. One man, Mordecai the Jew, refused to bow to anyone other than Almighty God. This infuriated Haman. Haman devised an evil scheme that would destroy not just Mordecai but every Jew throughout the provinces. But power and influence are of little help if God is not on your side. Haman was defeated because of his pride, hatred, and bitterness. (Read I Samuel 15 for historical background on Haman’s possible ancestor, Agag, king of the Amalekites. Agag also held a bitter hatred toward the Jews.) Mordecai’s Story Mordecai was a devout Jew, observant of the Law. He was…
For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. (Psalm 18:39, ESV) What do we do when the enemy comes at us full force? What kind of battle plan do we make when things look bleak and we are outnumbered? In II Chronicles 20, the enemies of Judah aligned themselves against King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. The Israelites were greatly outnumbered, and the outlook was grim. What Jehoshaphat did next cannot be found in any military manual. What he did required bold faith. He did not call for the generals and top military strategists. Instead, he called a prayer meeting. That was the best way to resist the enemy. HOW TO RESPOND TO ADVERSITY Jehoshaphat chose to pray, not panic. Yes, there was momentary fear, but he replaced his fear with faith. Verse 3 tells us that he “set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” Jehoshaphat’s plan of action was to seek God and to call the nation to fasting and prayer. The people admitted that they did not have the answer to their problem. They needed direction from God. “’For…
“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” (Proverbs 14:30, ESV) Having a tranquil heart is a good way to live. It sounds peaceful, calm, serene. But often life is not as tranquil as we would like because other things creep in—things that tear down rather than build up. Throughout the Bible, along with many uplifting passages we find stories of conflict, dissatisfaction, resentment, envy, and jealousy. Cain killed Able because of jealousy and resentment that Able offered the better sacrifice. Joseph’s brothers grew jealous because their father favored him most. King Saul became…
“I am who I am.” There are no more important words than these spoken by God. All other words in the Bible are only important because these words are true. In Exodus 3, God manifested Himself to Moses in a burning bush, so He could manifest Himself through Moses as a deliverer for His people. Because Moses’ authority was wrapped up in the God who commissioned him, he asked for His name to capture the essence of God’s character and being. In reply, God said, “‘I am who I am.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I am has sent me to you.”’ God also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “The Lord, the God of your fathers … has sent me to you.”’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations” (Exodus 3:14-15, ESV). “I am” (Yahweh, Jehovah) is written in English translations as “Lord.” It is God’s personal, self-identifying name. It speaks of Him as self-existent, unlimited, unchanging, and ever-living. Note these distinguishing characteristics of God’s name: God is. The name “I am” makes the most important statement about God: He exists. It is a revelation of God’s complete…
Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible was an art exhibition that displayed 197 works from the Renaissance period to present day. The exhibit addressed the question of when a work of art is finished. On display were art pieces in various stages of completion leaving behind traces of the artistic process. The “artwork in progress” reminds us of these three attributes of a masterpiece: A masterpiece takes time. Alice Neel met James Hunter by chance and asked him to sit for a portrait. The young man had just been drafted for the Vietnam War and was scheduled to leave within a week. Following her usual practice, Neel started to outline the body directly on the canvas and then filled in parts of the head and hands. When Hunter did not return for their second sitting, Neel declared the work complete in its unfinished state by signing it on the back. The key to creating a masterpiece is to be committed to the process. Every day we return to sit in the presence of the Master allowing Him access to our imperfections and flaws. Some days are painted with strokes of genius. Others may seem random, insignificant, or terribly wrong. Rather than run…