The fact that God had blessed David while he dwelt with the Philistines becomes apparent when he and his men follow Achish with the Philistine army. When the lords of the Philistines noticed David and his men traveling with Achish they instantly did not trust them. Did God soften Achish’s heart to give favor to David, his men, and their families allowing them to dwell in Ziklag for over a year? The lords of the Philistines gave orders to Achish to send David and his men back to their homes. The renown of David was known to the lords of the Philistines and they didn’t want such a skilled man with them who may turn against them to fight for Israel in the thick of battle. Continue Reading…
Tag Archive - Cling to God
In complete despair David finds strength in God: 1 Samuel 29 and 30
Weakened weakness made strong to glorify God: Judges 7 and 8
Gideon is leading the men of Israel to attack the of the Midianites and Amalekites. How many men would you want in your army as you go into battle? Doesn’t the whole battle become a game of numbers game where the army with the the greatest numerical advantage wins? In Judges chapter 7 we see that Gideon has approximately 32,000 men and the men of the Midianites and Amalekites numbered 120,000. There was a 4:1 ratio against the sons of Israel. The coming battle was going to rout the Israelites by all human standards and logic. How did Gideon feel about his odds of victory. He was still unsure if God was truly calling him to deliver Israel. This is a weak moment for Gideon and he needs to depend on God alone for the the deliverance of Israel. Continue Reading…
Falling away from God leads to your own demise: Joshua Summary
The book of Joshua is a stands in stark contrast to the books of Liviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The writing of the book is in a narrative form which lends for easier reading. I found that the narrative was a great switch from the books detailing the law but it became too easy to miss important truths. The story of Joshua is a time of promises being fulfilled to the Israelites. Under the leadership of Joshua the Israelites were able to conquer the promised land and enter into a time of peace but there is a great warning woven throughout the book that is of the utmost importance to the people of Israel and myself. Continue Reading…
Cling to the Lord your God, not to this world: Joshua 23 and 24
What do you cling to? In the midst of the joyful, abundant, and peaceful times of your life what do you cling to? When you are faced with tribulation, trials, and death what do you cling to? The end of Joshua’s life has come and he is imparting final words of encouragement to the people of Israel. These words are centered on the the simple question of what will you cling to in the years to come. What will they choose to cling to?
As I read Joshua 23 I am filled with amazement at the last words of this leader of Israel. At the age of one hundred and ten Joshua knows that it is time for him to impart his closing words exhorting the sons of Israel just as Moses did throughout Deuteronomy. What can you tell a nation so that they will not fall away from the God that has brought them peace and prosperity? Continue Reading…
