Leadership, God's Cause, and Traditions

1 Kings 12-14

Rehoboam is now king. Jeroboam and the congregation of Israel request that he make the yoke lighter than what Solomon made it on the people.
Just thinking...I wonder what Solomon did to make things so grievous for them. Maybe it was the building of the temple that wearied them? Back to the story...
Rehoboam, wisely, first consults the old men, and they tell Rehoboam...

12:7 "If thou wilt be a servant unto this poeple this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they wil be thy servants for ever."

So true, in leadership...the way to be a great leader is to be a great servant. Obviously, Rehoboam didn't like that answer. He wanted to feel powerful and to be mighty king, not a lowly servant, so the counsel of his friends catered more along of what he was thinking...

12:10-11 "And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thous speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. And no whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

Whoa! That's pretty severe! That declaration is filled with so much hatred and oppression. Rehoboam forgot where he came from. He forgot that his job was to serve His people as king. Abba, help me to realize my greatest influence is gained as a leader when I love people and serve them---not oppress them.
Lord, though, this was prophesied. Oppression was sure to come to Israel because Solomon followed those strange women and their gods. His sin brought punishment onto more than just himself.

12:15 "Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord..."

The kingdoms now become divided. Only the tribe of Judah remains with Rehoboam. The rest follow Jereboam as a king. Rehoboam plots to fight against Jeroboam, but the man of God with counsel from God stops them.
The time of sacrifice is coming near when the Israelittes travel to Jerusalem, Jeroboam fears that his followers will go back to the house of David, Jerusalem, and not follow him any more, but go back to Rehoboam and kill Jeroboam. His fear makes him decide to make two golden calves for them to worship in Shechem instead of returning to worship God in Jerusalem. Another example of pride and desire for power of a king.
This also is a good example of the verse

Mark 7:13 "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered; and many such like things do ye."

The people were wrapped up in the tradition of sacrifice, but forgot the purpose, the meaning of the sacrifice-a picture of the Saviour to come.

So much good stuff just from Chapter 12. I think I will stop there for today.
1. Lead with an attitude of servitude.
2. You often ordain oppression from leaders because of the sins of the previous generation.
3. Know why I do what I do--to make the word of God effective. Don't fall into the trap of doing things just for the sake of tradition, otherwise, it will eventually lose it's purpose.

Permanent Decisions Effects

2 Sam 24, 1 Chron 21

24:1
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

21:1
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
21:2
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know [it].
21:3
And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they [be]: but, my lord the king, [are] they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

It seems these verses are contradicting themselves in a way. Did Satan provoke him or God...that "he" in 1 Samuel is a little confusing. Anyway, obviously God didn't want him to number Israel, Joab knew this and warned David, too. But whatever the case, David is reacting to his emotions, rather than what he knew was right. The people suffered because of it. The prophet Gad told him he would have to choose between three curses: 7 yrs of famine, 3 months fleeing from enemies, or 3 days of pestilence. David chooses the pestilence. I don't think he realized that 70,000 men would die as a result and more could have died if he had not cried to God and built an altar.
This is another wake up call reminding me that my sins hurt more than just me. When I act out of emotions and do wrong, it may seem good on the temporary but the long term effects hurt me and others badly. Help me, Lord, to stop and think when I am angry, grieved, upset, or whatever emotion is overwhelming me--to not react, but have a plan to do what I know is right.
I remember a quote, "Don't sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate." Good admonition.

1 Chron 22
Here David changes gears. He is now preparing for the permanent. Though he cannot build a temple for God, he makes preparations for his Solomon to do so. This is a mark of greatness...when you prepare for those who come behind you and not just looking out for yourself and what's happening in your lifetime.
So Lord after reading these passages, I realize that every decision should be made with the future in mind. The future of not only myself, but the future of those that follow behind me.

Am I a Witch?

1 Samuel 16

Another example of Saul doing right wrongly. This is the famous passage where he is told to kill all the Amalekites. Everthing, the king, men, women, children, sheep, every animal. Instead Saul choose to take Agag as a captive and save the best sheep, oxen, etc for a sacrifice. God is not impressed.

15:11
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul [to be] king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

Wow, those are some tough words. Here Saul is trying to do right, well just do it in his own way. Sure God told him to kill everything, but that didn't make sense. Surely, God wouldn't want the best to go to waste? So Saul felt he had obeyed...

15:13
And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

How prideful Saul was to think that half obedience was full obedience. But Saul felt the end justified the means. When he realized he had been found out, he even blames the people instead of taking responsibility. Samuel had some harsh words for Saul.

15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
15:23
For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.

Wait a minute, Saul wasn't summoning evil spirits, performing Satanic rituals, or doing anything we would feel is great disobedience. In fact, he did MOST of what God wanted. Witchcraft? The sin here....some obedience isn't obedience at all. Saul was guilty of "doing what was right in his own eyes." When I obey I don't completely understand, shows God that I trust Him. He loves trust, because that's what obedience is...saying "I trust you know what's right for me to do." instead of showing great sacrifice to God.

There was a consequence for Saul's disobedience. He could no longer be king. Sin always has consequences. Yes, sin can be forgiven, but the consequences still remain.

I think of how the sin of disobedience applies in my life today. I can be a great servant to others and help them out, but if I slack on my duties as a wife to do so or have an unsubmissive spirit to my husband...I'm am just as guilty as a witch. Half obedience? That's an oxymoron. Can't be. Lord, reveal to me today what I am "half obeying" You about.

There's so much good stuff in the three chapters from today's Bible reading that I must break it up into a few days.

Doing Right the Wrong Way

I Samuel 13-14

Saul, indeed an intriguing fellow. He decided that he was tired of waiting for Samuel, the priest, so he offered the burnt offering himself. His impatience assured him that he would not be king forever.
13:13
And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

I must admit, I am a little confused about the story with Jonathan. He initiates a great battle against the Philistines, and Israel has a great victory. Saul tells the people not to eat until the evening. Jonathan, not hearing his father's command, eats honey. The people tell him of his mistake and then he tells the Israelittes to enjoy in the spoil even meaning they eat the blood the of the animals they spoil---a known wrong for the Israellites. Saul tells Jonathan he must die for his disobedience, but the people saved Jonathan and his life is spared.
Jonathan didn't directly disobey, but he did later when he encouraged others to do wrong. I've never heard stories about Jonathan in a bad light, but I would think this is not a good example of Jonathan here. He may have had his life spared, but this may be the reason why he is not chosen to be king later. Usually the son takes the father's place, even when the father is wicked, but this one is completely taken from their family lineage.

Both of these accounts remind me that the end does not justify the means. I must not take God's commands lightly and do them in my own manner. What are my motives? Do I go about doing right in the wrong way? Do I speed to get to church on time? Am I dishonest in giving taxes, so I can give more to the church? Do I help others, but disregard to help my own family first? Help me Lord to do right, rightly.

The Binding Power of Sin

Judges 16-18

Continuing to read about the life of Sampson...

Sampson becomes so bound and boastful in his sin that he feels it no longer affects him. He meets a harlot in Gaza then he finds Delilah among the Philistines. Sampson is proof of a man controlled by lust. He knows she's the wrong woman for him, but his lust causes him to stay and be nagged by him until he reveals his secret. Just as he gave into the nagging of the Philistine woman before, he lingers around sin.

16:20
And she said, The Philistines [be] upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

When he finally reveals his secret, he is so calloused by sin and the fact that he "got away with it" for so long that he feels this won't be his demise either. He finally reached the last straw with God, and he is left useless. It's not until he is humiliated that I see Sampson finally humbled and depending on the Lord for strength, instead of himself.

16:28
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

I think that I am like Sampson sometimes...so used to my routine and trained character that I rely on that for strength instead of You, Abba. I neeed to have a fear for sin and its binding powers and not take Your mercy for granted.

I read this quote from a commentary, I thought it was very profound..."Samson was the great conqueror who never allowed God to properly conquer him."

The Progression of Sin

Judges 13-15

Sampson....a great fighter with a great temper. I reflect on so many faults in his life...

1. In finding a mate, he didn't respect his father and mother's wishes. He thought he knew what was right. He wanted to marry a Phillistine rather than an Israelitte.

2. When he killed the lion with his bare hands, he knew as a Nazarite he wasn't supposed to touch anything dead, but he was sneaky and didn't tell his parents.

3. Later he kills a lion and makes a joke of it by telling a riddle about it. He makes sin like it's fun and games.

4. He later loses his temper because they find out his riddle. He was so arrogant and prideful.

5. He tosses aside his wife because she told his riddle and later he comes back trying to have her back. Her father had let her marry another because he forsook her. Sampson becomes enraged and ties the foxes together, lights their tails and sends them into the camp of the Philistines. Their crops are destroyed. He wasn't willing to accept the consequences of his decisions.

6. Later the people of Judah find out what Sampson has done, and they bind him and deliver him to the Philistines. He didn't care that his decisions affected more people than just himself.

7. In the midst of the Philistines, Sampson breaks free of his ropes and takes the jawbone of an ass and kills a thousand of them. He still has no regard for his rules of separation, and he doesn't give credit to God but instead brags on himself and what he has done. He felt the end justified the means.

8. I need to post this verse, so I point out some things....
15:18
And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
I can almost detect an arrogant tone. "You did this God. Why can't you do this for me?" I am amazed, though, because God does listen to him and hallows a place out of the jaw of the ass. This reminds me again that God uses everyone. He knows their intentions, and He uses them to propetuate His will. Though Sampson went about it wrong, God used him to bring deliverance to the Israelittes from the Philistines.

Sampson pictures the progression of the power of sin in one's life...
Choosing just something I want instead of God's perfect will...."little sins" that are secretive...become boastful and find sin amusing...become angry with those who call out my sins...seek revenge on those who deliver consequences for my sins...absolutely no regard for how my sin affects others...completely numb to any more conviction of sin

Abba help me to have a strong distaste for sin. I don't want to see this progression in my life. Weed out the little stuff before I have a whole garden of weeds.