1 Samuel 15:24-35
In this story, Saul had received instructions from the Lord through Samuel to wait 7 days for God's next commandment in his battle against the Amalekites. As 7 days come and go, he has become impatient waiting on God, and fearing he'd look foolish and weak to the people, he took matters into his own hands. He moves against them, messing with the Lord's instructions to completely destroy them and all their possessions, saving some for himself. He gets busted by Samuel, who tells him "to obey is better than sacrifice, to heed is better than the fat of the rams, for rebellion is sin... and arrogance, like idolatry." Saul confesses he has sinned and asks Samuel to stick with him, and restore him to the people so he can worship the Lord. But there is a self-serving motive for his "confession." He's about to lose his crown, and he needs Samuel to keep a good word for him with the Lord and the people. Samuel eventually leads Saul back to worship the Lord, but leaves him there, never to see him again. Saul is rejected by God as King, and Samuel as his friend.
Consequences to disobedience are grave, maybe not experienced in the moment but eventually levied. Though grace a bounds for us in Christ when we confess our waywardness, all of us are accountable to the Lord for how we keep faith with God's commandments. The ones that don't make sense, and seem irrelevant for our times. The commandments that are politically incorrect, or appear hard-nosed. The commandments that call for discipline and confrontation of wrongdoing that would render us unpopular. Commandments not to accept false teaching in the church, or mingle with other gods of our age. Commandments to be just and kind and fair to the weaker among us. Whenever our own motives are given higher standing than God's, God will hold us accountable.
One interesting thing I noted however in this reading, was about God's desire for our worship, no matter what. I think the author of Samuel was trying to say even as Samuel was banished from being King, that as we remember God's covenant, and the miracles of dead people coming to life and the terminally ill made well, and devils exorcised by Jesus and his followers, Saul was still allowed to return to worship the Lord. Warts and all, scarred and shamed, powerless, paranoid and pitiful before the people. But God is faithful and promised he would never break covenant with us weak in faith and slow to come to our senses. God always seeks our confession and our praise.
Carrying the consequences of my life, I enter in to worship the One who has forgiven everything I ever did. Praise to you, O Lord, for knowing the real me and loving me anyway. For redeeming me to live with you forever.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Monday, July 9, 2007
daily scriptures first thoughts july 9 2007
Morning: Psalm 62:1-12
1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-23
Acts 9:19b-31
Luke 23:44-56a
Evening: Psalm 73:1-28
As I read today's texts, my prayers go out to the persecuted church, where "the wicked have no pain" (Ps. 73), when in pride and arrogance, they inflict violence and oppression on those who hold steadfastly to Jesus as Lord. The church has always been fraught with oppression. We read today in Acts about Paul's narrow escapes at the hand of just a few and constant danger from the many powerful Jews and Greeks who opposed the gospel for disrupting the religious order and control.
Jesus is not spared death, as the remaining disciples' courage and power wane against the zealous crowds, and Jesus is laid to rest, dead and buried on the Jewish Sabbath.
And we watch and we wait and we pray from a safe distance, where it's easy to shake our heads and pray, or rant and rave in disgust, and it is quite another to take on the bullies ourselves. For that would cost us something, like fellowship with our neighbors who have joined the enemy, or reputation for being trouble-makers ourselves, or worse. How easy we are to be manipulated, when we too can turn on the weak with our apathy, so as to protect our fragile selves and own interests. Soon, like the crowds in the psalm, we can begin praising the oppressors, finding no fault in them, as long as they leave us alone. That's what bullies can do to good people.
It happens with our children who are too afraid to defend their little buddies on the playground. It happens when a whistle blower in the marketplace is threatened with losing their job. It happens when the media silences conservative Christians, portraying them as ignorant and judgmental. It's happening in the church to evangelicals and conservatives who proclaim Jesus as the only way to salvation in a pluralist world, who preach sexual purity, and uphold biblical standards for life and faith, who try to speak out only to be labeled rebellious schismatics. Sadly, many of them back down, or remain silent as they watch from the bleachers the few sisters and brothers battle falsehoods, over property rights and standing in their particular corner of the playground.
And then I read Luke's encouragement to the church in Acts, after Paul's harrowing oppression: 31Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
And for the disciples who in grief, had laid Jesus to rest, amidst their pain before the resurrection, received the gift of the Sabbath with God. Even as Jesus himself, commended his broken body and tormented spirit into the hands of the Father (Luke). And the psalmist's cry becomes ours when he says, Whom have I in heaven but You, God; nothing on earth I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is my heart and my portion forever. For me it is good to be near God - I have made the Lord my refuge." (Ps.73). For God alone my soul waits in silence. From him comes my salvation.(Ps 63).
May the comfort of the Holy Spirit be with you all this day.
1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-23
Acts 9:19b-31
Luke 23:44-56a
Evening: Psalm 73:1-28
As I read today's texts, my prayers go out to the persecuted church, where "the wicked have no pain" (Ps. 73), when in pride and arrogance, they inflict violence and oppression on those who hold steadfastly to Jesus as Lord. The church has always been fraught with oppression. We read today in Acts about Paul's narrow escapes at the hand of just a few and constant danger from the many powerful Jews and Greeks who opposed the gospel for disrupting the religious order and control.
Jesus is not spared death, as the remaining disciples' courage and power wane against the zealous crowds, and Jesus is laid to rest, dead and buried on the Jewish Sabbath.
And we watch and we wait and we pray from a safe distance, where it's easy to shake our heads and pray, or rant and rave in disgust, and it is quite another to take on the bullies ourselves. For that would cost us something, like fellowship with our neighbors who have joined the enemy, or reputation for being trouble-makers ourselves, or worse. How easy we are to be manipulated, when we too can turn on the weak with our apathy, so as to protect our fragile selves and own interests. Soon, like the crowds in the psalm, we can begin praising the oppressors, finding no fault in them, as long as they leave us alone. That's what bullies can do to good people.
It happens with our children who are too afraid to defend their little buddies on the playground. It happens when a whistle blower in the marketplace is threatened with losing their job. It happens when the media silences conservative Christians, portraying them as ignorant and judgmental. It's happening in the church to evangelicals and conservatives who proclaim Jesus as the only way to salvation in a pluralist world, who preach sexual purity, and uphold biblical standards for life and faith, who try to speak out only to be labeled rebellious schismatics. Sadly, many of them back down, or remain silent as they watch from the bleachers the few sisters and brothers battle falsehoods, over property rights and standing in their particular corner of the playground.
And then I read Luke's encouragement to the church in Acts, after Paul's harrowing oppression: 31Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
And for the disciples who in grief, had laid Jesus to rest, amidst their pain before the resurrection, received the gift of the Sabbath with God. Even as Jesus himself, commended his broken body and tormented spirit into the hands of the Father (Luke). And the psalmist's cry becomes ours when he says, Whom have I in heaven but You, God; nothing on earth I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is my heart and my portion forever. For me it is good to be near God - I have made the Lord my refuge." (Ps.73). For God alone my soul waits in silence. From him comes my salvation.(Ps 63).
May the comfort of the Holy Spirit be with you all this day.
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