"Decision Making" (1 Samuel 26:1-12)

1 Samuel 26:1-12

When we live our lives, we have to make hundreds of decisions every day. Many of the these decisions are not important but sometimes they might be very important.

In this passage we read how Saul makes another attempt to find and kill David. With 3,000 elite troops, Saul goes out to find and kill David. David has already shown Saul that he does not want to bring harm to Saul. In fact, David has spared Saul's life when he could have taken it. David continues to protect Saul as God's anointed. 

But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?”

1 Samuel 26:9 ESV

David puts God and His statutes as the most important goals in his life. David is not out for revenge and is not swayed by others but keeps to his promise to serve God.

The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”

1 Samuel 26:11 ESV

Because of this thinking, David can show mercy even with this perfect opportunity to kill Saul. There is a spear next to Saul's head and everyone was in a deep sleep. They had a weapon, and no one would know who had done the deed. David continues to listen to God and not to others. 

A man after God's own heart pursues what God wants. David could have removed his greatest threat but puts his faith in God. David made decisions to please God and not benefit himself. We need to put God first and make decisions to please God.

So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

1 Samuel 26:12 ESV

David does the impossible .  He enters the enemy camp of 3,000 well trained soldiers without detection and steals the king's spear and water jug and leaves the camp without detection. They were able to do this because God had put the army into a deep sleep.

God did not put Saul into a state of  evil. God wants everyone to come back to Him. David also wanted this for Saul. He wanted Saul to return to God.

We might fail, but God is always waiting for us to return. We just need to make the effort to return.

2023-03-26 Worship Songs

In Christ alone 예수안에 소망있네

A Thousand Hallelujahs

Lord Of Lords 주의 주 (주의 아름다움 나 바라보면서)

"Spiritual Life" (1 Samuel 20:24-34)

 

David was suspicious that King Saul wanted him dead, so he asked Johnathan to see his father's reaction when David does not show up.  

 

David hides in a field while King Saul was feasting in the palace. 

 

So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty. 

1 Samuel 20:24-25 ESV 

 

It might seem that David is not favored by God because he was hiding in a field whereas it would seem that Saul was favored because he was in his palace feasting. 

 

The one who lives a spiritual life can seem to the world that we are not loved by God when our situation in poor. Yet, God looks at our spiritual life only. God looks at our intention towards heaven or world goals. We can look at John the Baptist for an example of one who lived a successful spiritual life but was despised by worldly standards. 

    

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

Matthew 11:7-11 ESV 

 

What really matters is that we share the good news and joy if knowing Jesus as our savior. 

 

 

  

Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 

1 Samuel 20:30-31 ESV 

 

Saul thought of things in a worldly way. Normally the king's son takes the throne in the world, but the throne was God's. There is nothing we can inherit or leave for someone else. Everything belongs to God. We do not choose who will take or give, that is God to give or take. 

 

We have a responsibility to tell the next generation about Jesus. God will provide what the next generation it needs to know God. 

 

Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. 

1 Samuel 20:32-33 ESV 

  

When Saul first became king, he listened to his servant for advice. He listened to all people, but when he became more powerful and comfortable, he stopped listening even to the prophet Samuel and God. 

2023-03-12 Worship Songs

Who am I 온 땅의 주인

Your Grace Is Enough 주님의 은혜 넘치네

Shout To The Lord 내 구주 예수님

"Response"(1 Samuel 1:19-28)

 

1 Samuel 1:19-28

We are taught that when we have a need we go to God in prayer and pray earnestly.

 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 ESV

 

Hannah does a good job of praying. She prays earnestly to the point that that the priest Eli thought she was drunk.

 

And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my Lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:14-15 ESV

 

We need to pause and look at her response to God and why she was praying for a son. Hannah begs God for a son because her duty to God and her husband is to have children. God gives her a son so she can fulfil her duty and glorify God. What is her response? She gives back to God what he gave her and further glorifies God.

 

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

1 Samuel 1:27-28 ESV

 

Hannah prayed for a son, so that she could glorify God. She even names her son to glorify God and show God’s hand in his birth.

 

And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

1 Samuel 1:20 ESV

 

Hannah does not forget her promise, but does keep it at the appropriate time.

 

But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.”

1 Samuel 1:22 ESV

 

 

Hannah did not forget that her son was from God. It is easy to forget what God has done for us. God wants us to remember what He has done for us. Hannah knows that Samuel is a gift from God.

 

When we come to church and sing praise songs along with our rituals, they are all worthless if we forget the grace God has given us.

 

Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

1 Samuel 1:28 ESV

 

Hannah gave back to God her best. There was nothing better she could give. Although she will see Samuel, he is to spend the rest of his life away from her and his father. Samuel will be God’s for his lifetime.

 

Christians fast, pray, do good works not because they are trying to gain something, but because we have already received our grace and we are expressing our gratitude.

 

In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. We read about the wealthy man who gives bags of gold to his servants. His servants invest the money and make more for their master, but there is one who does not. He has no place in the master’s kingdom.

 

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:14-18, 29-30 ESV

Like Hannah, let us give our best to God in the understanding that this has come from God and the best way to glorify God is to share his blessings with others.

2023-01-29 Worship Songs

Hallelujah (Your love makes me sing)

Everlasting God

A Thousand Hallelujahs

Raising my Ebnezer (1Samuel 7:2-12)