1 Samuel 20:12 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
It’s another day Friends, and the Lord’s mercies have been generously renewed! Let’s give Him the thanks and praise to which He is due, for once again we have not read our names in today’s obits. (smile) And all God’s people sang, ‘Thank you Lord!’ Yes my people, it is right and our bounden duty to praise the Most High God Jehovah, for it’s through His LOVE and boundless generosity that we prosper, as Samuel pointed out to the Israelites in the Bit yesterday. But prosperity is linked to obedience, and as we concluded, if the Israelites and their king did not obey the Lord’s will, ‘then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was with your fathers. Now therefore stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes…I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.’ (1 Sam.12:15-18) What else is new eh Friends? We’re never satisfied with what the Lord gives us or where He directs us. We either want more, or something entirely different and insist on doing it our way; like the Israelites, not being happy with judges presiding over them, and instead desiring a king. But ‘ownwayness’ bears a hefty price tag, especially if it invokes disobedience to God. The Israelites didn’t understand that they were a unique, totally different people because they were God’s chosen. They already had the greatest King, but no, they wanted to be like everybody else. That’s one of the problems with our society today, it seeks to have everyone looking, thinking and behaving the same. What the ole people use to call it again? Follow fashion monkey! Wherever you go in the western world, all the cars, houses, clothing, and to a great extent, the food’s the same. We’ve lost our individuality, our uniqueness. And if you dare to step out of the bland, faceless norm, you’re considered strange, eccentric, a pariah, which can sometimes lead to disastrous consequences. But that follow fashion attitude just keeps us looking at what others have and wanting to acquire the same, though we can’t afford it. And if we don’t get it, then we’re envious and resentful, even bad mouthing those people, without even knowing their circumstances; the common grass is greener mindset. This drives the economy though, and that’s all the rulers and business people care about. But when we’re unable to pay the piper, we get scared and worried and run to the Lord, or ask others to pray for us. ‘And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.’ (1 Sam.12:19-20) Oh my people, the same thing applies to us today. We’ve been wicked and sinful, in cohorts with the enemy, that’s why all of our current troubles have befallen us. However, if we don’t turn from the Lord, but serve Him faithfully, He will forgive us. ‘For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake; because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.’ (1 Sam. 12:22) Yes Friends, that’s us! We’re the Lord’s people; unique and different, and if we remain steadfast in His will, He will not forsake us. Samuel also promised to continue praying for them since he was still a priest. ‘I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he has done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.’ (1 Sam.12:23-25) Oh my brethren those last verses speak for themselves. We need to pray for and help each other follow the right path, serving the Lord faithfully, else we’ll all be destroyed, along with our leaders. And we know that our God doesn’t make empty promises. The devastation He’s wrought over the last few years, first through natural disasters, and now, using our own greed and stupidity, is just a taste of His retribution, a preview of what can happen if we continue our wicked disobedience. And believe me, I doubt we want to feel His full wrath. So I implore us, let’s encourage ourselves and those around us to cling tightly and faithfully to the Lord. It’s the only path of true wisdom and common sense. Much LOVE!…remember…to obey is better than sacrifice…and to hearken than the fat of rams… P.S. Yesterday, instead of saying Jacob escaping the famine, I typed Joseph. The draft said Jacob, but somehow I typed Joseph. Please excuse the ole fella’s typo. He’s getting old and eccentric, but still has Mucho, Mucho LOVE! (smile)
It’s another day Friends, and the Lord’s mercies have been generously renewed! Let’s give Him the thanks and praise to which He is due, for once again we have not read our names in today’s obits. (smile) And all God’s people sang, ‘Thank you Lord!’ Yes my people, it is right and our bounden duty to praise the Most High God Jehovah, for it’s through His LOVE and boundless generosity that we prosper, as Samuel pointed out to the Israelites in the Bit yesterday. But prosperity is linked to obedience, and as we concluded, if the Israelites and their king did not obey the Lord’s will, ‘then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was with your fathers. Now therefore stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes…I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.’ (1 Sam.12:15-18) What else is new eh Friends? We’re never satisfied with what the Lord gives us or where He directs us. We either want more, or something entirely different and insist on doing it our way; like the Israelites, not being happy with judges presiding over them, and instead desiring a king. But ‘ownwayness’ bears a hefty price tag, especially if it invokes disobedience to God. The Israelites didn’t understand that they were a unique, totally different people because they were God’s chosen. They already had the greatest King, but no, they wanted to be like everybody else. That’s one of the problems with our society today, it seeks to have everyone looking, thinking and behaving the same. What the ole people use to call it again? Follow fashion monkey! Wherever you go in the western world, all the cars, houses, clothing, and to a great extent, the food’s the same. We’ve lost our individuality, our uniqueness. And if you dare to step out of the bland, faceless norm, you’re considered strange, eccentric, a pariah, which can sometimes lead to disastrous consequences. But that follow fashion attitude just keeps us looking at what others have and wanting to acquire the same, though we can’t afford it. And if we don’t get it, then we’re envious and resentful, even bad mouthing those people, without even knowing their circumstances; the common grass is greener mindset. This drives the economy though, and that’s all the rulers and business people care about. But when we’re unable to pay the piper, we get scared and worried and run to the Lord, or ask others to pray for us. ‘And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.’ (1 Sam.12:19-20) Oh my people, the same thing applies to us today. We’ve been wicked and sinful, in cohorts with the enemy, that’s why all of our current troubles have befallen us. However, if we don’t turn from the Lord, but serve Him faithfully, He will forgive us. ‘For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake; because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.’ (1 Sam. 12:22) Yes Friends, that’s us! We’re the Lord’s people; unique and different, and if we remain steadfast in His will, He will not forsake us. Samuel also promised to continue praying for them since he was still a priest. ‘I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he has done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.’ (1 Sam.12:23-25) Oh my brethren those last verses speak for themselves. We need to pray for and help each other follow the right path, serving the Lord faithfully, else we’ll all be destroyed, along with our leaders. And we know that our God doesn’t make empty promises. The devastation He’s wrought over the last few years, first through natural disasters, and now, using our own greed and stupidity, is just a taste of His retribution, a preview of what can happen if we continue our wicked disobedience. And believe me, I doubt we want to feel His full wrath. So I implore us, let’s encourage ourselves and those around us to cling tightly and faithfully to the Lord. It’s the only path of true wisdom and common sense. Much LOVE!…remember…to obey is better than sacrifice…and to hearken than the fat of rams… P.S. Yesterday, instead of saying Jacob escaping the famine, I typed Joseph. The draft said Jacob, but somehow I typed Joseph. Please excuse the ole fella’s typo. He’s getting old and eccentric, but still has Mucho, Mucho LOVE! (smile)
SCRIP-BITS 