Ask For Great Things!

2 Kings 13:18–19 (HCSB)

Then Elisha said, "Take the arrows!" So he took them, and he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground!" So he struck the ground three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to them, but now you will only strike down Aram three times."

Elisha the prophet was on his deathbed. Jehoash was king of Israel. Like most of the kings before him he was not a good man. The nation had been in deterioration for years. They were down to 50 horsemen and 10 chariots. A strong defense was a sign of a strong nation. Israel could no longer defend itself against it’s enemies—and this was not a good thing.

I don’t care what anyone says; the nature of mankind has not changed. It will always be the craving of governments and leaders for more. There will always be aggressors in the world who do not understand this concept of peace. The only peace they understand is the peace of domination—and they will not stop until they have it. Without a strong defense Israel was helpless against their neighbors—and their enemies took advantage.

Jehoash came to Elisha and said, “My father, my father, the chariots and horseman of Israel!” He was lamenting the fact they were so few. In response the prophet told him to take arrows from his quiver and strike them on the ground. He did so three times. He was timid and afraid. “He did not know what he was asking for.” He knew the prophet and he knew how prophets spoke—in such riddles. He should have worn the floor out!

Are we guilty of the same timidity when we pray? Are we afraid to ask God for big things? Do we think we are humble when we ask for a little? Are we not aware that God is great and it honors Him when we ask for big thing? Wear the floor out with your asking!

Prep for Death

2 Kings 8:10 (HCSB)

Elisha told him, "Go say to him, ‘You are sure to recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that he is sure to die."

Do not be so shortsighted when you are sick. Yes, you may recover from your sickness, but with certainty you are still going to die. Sooner or later, be it by sickness, accident, foul play, or natural causes, you are going to die.

What then? Have you made preparation for death? Not in terms of the funeral, but in terms of eternity?

Most everyone who reads this blog I’m sure has made that decision to trust Christ as their Savior from sin and eternal separation from God. But what if you haven’t? Then hear these words: “You are sure to die.” You have time to make preparation. That time is now. Make that decision while there is time.

I tell people “there are two things you must know and one thing you must do.” The first thing you must know is that you are a sinner and your sin separates you from God. You know the Scripture: the Bible says “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

The second thing you must know is that God did something for you that you could never do for yourself: He gave His Son to pay the price for your sins. The Bible says, “but God demonstrated His own love for us in this, that even though we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The Bible says “He was delivered over for our sins and raised for our justification” (Romans 4: 25).

But there is one thing we just do: we must turn from our sin and place our trust in Christ to save us. The Bible says, “repent of your sins and turn to God that your sins might be wiped away” (Acts 3:19) and “Call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

You are going to die. You don’t know when. The only way to be ready then is to get ready now!

2 Kings 3:14–15 (HCSB)

Elisha responded, "As the LORD of Hosts lives, I stand before Him. If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I would not look at you; I wouldn’t take notice of you.

Elisha said this to King Joram of Israel. Joram was a wicked man. He said these words about King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat was a good man and a good king. The word “respect” here is actually a phrase in Hebrew. It could mean a couple of things. It could mean, “I hold in high esteem” (or “high regard”); or it could mean, “I stand up when I see his face.” Both would mean the same thing: “I honor this man.”

When I read this I thought of some people I respect—I would stand up if they entered the room—because I regard them highly. They have set the pattern in my estimation. I would like to be like them. They have lived a godly, pure, holy life.

Then I thought, “Why don’t I tell them how I feel?” After all, they probably could use the encouragement. So I wrote down some names and I intend to make some phone calls and send some emails today.

If I don’t get around to you today, don’t get offended. I’m going to have a long list!

Who do you respect? Why not tell them—soon.

The Power of A Wife

1 Kings 11:1–3 (HCSB)

King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh’s daughter: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women from the nations that the LORD had told the Israelites about, "Do not intermarry with them, and they must not intermarry with you, because they will turn you away ‹from Me› to their gods." Solomon was deeply attached to these women and loved ‹them›. He had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 concubines, and they turned his heart away ‹from the LORD›.

A lot of good men, strong and capable men, have become useless because they had a weakness for the opposite sex. Many a man, even a strong man, has had his heart turned away from God because of a woman. I don’t mean this to be a slam on women… and I hope my lady readers won’t take it that way. Women have great power over men. A woman can use this power to get what she wants. This is no secret. I’m not saying anything that every woman does not already know. Blessed is that man who has a woman who encourages him in his walk with God. She will be a blessing to him all the days of his life. She will make him stronger and better.

I just returned from a mission trip to Peru. While I was there my wife wrote a card for me every day. I carried those cards with me each day. Each card was a gem of wisdom for me. She gave me Scripture and she gave me encouragement. She made me a better leader. I do not know how much of a man of God I am, but what I am I owe in large degree to the support, encouragement, and admonishment of my wife. She uses her power to help me, and I recognize that I am a blessed man.

Ladies, I guess what I want to say is, use your power to build up your man and make him a man after God’s own heart. Men, if you are single, search for such a woman. Married men, bless your wife if she is such a woman. If she is not, have a talk with her. She will respond to your words if they are presented lovingly. You cannot succeed as a godly man without the support and encouragement of a godly wife.

The LORD Is Our Lamp!

LORD, You are my lamp; the LORD illuminates my darkness.

2 Samuel 22:29 (HCSB)

2 Samuel is one of those great chapters. If you cannot find something here to bless you and help you then something is wrong!

A lot in this chapter speaks to me personally, but this verse is the one I want to share. So often in my life I’m looking for direction. It seems a lot of my prayer time is spent asking God to “show me the way” He wants me to go. I feel I’m not alone in this. Our lives are filled with decisions we have to make. Some of these decisions are thrust upon us suddenly. Some are decisions we have postponed because we either don’t know what to do or we don’t like doing it. Choices! Sometimes they come at us like waves at the ocean, engulfing us without mercy. We barely pull ourselves to our feet before another slams into us. Making decisions sometimes can be exhausting!

But we are not without guidance. The LORD is our lamp: lighting the way at our feet and dispelling the darkness. Lean on Him. Trust in Him. Wait on Him. Listen to Him. He will show you the way.

Ending Courageously for God

The Philistines again waged war against Israel. David went down with his soldiers, and they fought the Philistines, but David became exhausted.

Then Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giant, whose bronze spear weighed about eight pounds and who wore new armor, intended to kill David.

But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him: "You must never again go out with us to battle. You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel."

After this, there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giant.

Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.

At Gath there was still another battle. A huge man was there with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—24 in all. He, too, was descended from the giant.

When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimei, killed him.

These four were descended from the giant in Gath and were killed by David and his soldiers.

2 Samuel 21:15–22 (HCSB)

David had learned his lesson. This time he did not send his troops into battle. This time he led his troops into battle.

David had become old. Happens to all of us. His men loved him. They referred to him as “the lamp of Israel.” What a tribute to a man! They recognized that David had been a guiding light to his people. Would to God this could be said of all of us!—and it could be, if we lived our lives for God.

Isn’t it interesting that David’s career ended like it began, killing giants? He burst on the scene killing one giant; he departed killing four. Now it was not David personally who killed these four giants. He had become old. His followers and family killed them. But in a sense David did kill them… by his reputation.

They had heard the stories of David’s courage. Those stories inspired them. They admired David greatly and wanted to be just like him.

Isn’t this how all our lives should end, slaying giants—and slaying more giants—than we did at the beginning?

Should we not leave behind us in this world a reputation of courage for God? May the inheritance we leave to those who follow us be an example that inspires them to live boldly for God and do exploits for His name!

The Burning Barley Field

The woman asked, "Why have you devised something similar against the people of God? When the king spoke as he did about this matter, he has pronounced his own guilt. The king has not brought back his own banished one. For we will certainly die and be like water poured out on the ground, which can’t be recovered. But God would not take away a life; He would devise plans so that the one banished from Him does not remain banished.

2 Samuel 14:13–14 (HCSB)

There is an example of this very thing in this same chapter. Amnon, one of David’s sons, raped Tamar, one of David’s daughters. Absalom, David’s son, took revenge and killed Amnon. Absalom fled and remained in one of the cities of refuge for three years. He was allowed to return to Jerusalem, but not allowed into David’s presence. After two years of this “house arrest” Absalom wanted to see his father. He sent for Joab, David’s friend, in order to send him as an emissary to plead Absalom’s case before the king—but Joab wouldn’t come to him. Absalom sent for Joab a second time, but still he would not come. Then he resorted to a desperate act, he set Joab’s barley field on fire. Joab came now, but furious: “Why have you done this?”

Absalom explained his actions: “I called for you once, and you wouldn’t respond. I sent for you a second time, but still you ignored me. I had to do something to get your attention. That is why I did this thing.”

What Absalom did was wrong. He was a wicked, conniving, self-centered young man. But what Absalom did is an example of the way God sometimes deals with us, but with a gracious intent. We wander from God. He calls to us, but we ignore His overtures. He patiently calls to us again, but once more we turn a deaf ear to His wooing. So God says, “I love you to much to let you continue ignoring Me,” and He does something to get our attention—He sets our barely field on fire. This He does, not to take away our lives, but order to get our attention and restore our lives to Him. He devises plans so that the one banished from Him does not remain banished. This thing He does may hurt us, but it does not destroy us. In fact, it actually blesses us because it returns us to fellowship with Him.

Has God set your barley field on fire? If so, may you say: “I’ve wandered far away from God, but now I’m coming home.”

David's Repentance

Nathan replied to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword. Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.’

2 Samuel 12:7–10 (HCSB)

We can be so blinded by our selfishness and self-importance. David had been headed down this road for a long time. He had disobeyed God’s specific instructions that kings not accumulate a number of wives. He was feeding his lust, and his ego. He thought that because he was the king he deserved special treatment. He was above the rules. No one is above God’s rules—especially leaders! People follow the example of their leaders. They do what their leaders do. Therefore leaders should strive to live more pure, more holy, more godly.

David was not only an adulterer and a murderer. He was also a thief! He had stolen something from Uriah other than his life. He had stolen his wife.

Wasn’t Bathsheba somehow culpable? Yes. I think we all are. But remember, before she was a wife to her husband she was a subject to the king. This is always the way it is with monarchies. Watch out America!

There are a lot of things about this story we don’t know. God does give us all the details because they’re not important. This story is not about Bathsheba’s sin. It is about David’s. It takes two to tango, but David shouldn’t have been looking for a partner to dance.

David learned a hard lesson—and we should learn from his example: there are consequences for our sin—even kings. Sin will always take you further than you ever wanted to go, keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay, and make you pay a price higher than you ever wanted to pay. Sin always leads to a lifetime of regret. Don’t go down this road.

“It’s too late! I’ve already messed up.”

God’s good news is that there is forgiveness. God forgives and cleanses. Confess your sin to God and receive His cleansing. Turn from your sin now! But remember, there are still consequences even for forgiven sin. The baby died and hell came to David’s house.

If you are headed in that direction, stop now!

David's Fatal Flaw

In the spring when kings march out ‹to war›, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.

So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he reported, "This is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite."

David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Afterwards, she returned home.

The woman conceived and sent word to inform David: "I am pregnant."

2 Samuel 11:1–5 (HCSB)

David had been setting himself up for this for a long time. He had been accumulating wives for himself, something God had forbidden kings to do. He had gotten too big for his britches. Like many men at the top of the ladder, he thought he was above the rules. After all, he was king—he made the rules! He could do whatever his little heart desired. David’s arrogance and selfishness got him into the worst trouble of this life. He just thought having Saul chasing him was bad. Having an earthly king on your heels may have been tough at times, but having God on your heels is the unbearable—He is relentless! Who is going to protect you from God?

If David had been where he was supposed to be, leading his army, this would not have happened. This is usually what happens to us before a fall, we’re out of position. Idleness is the devil’s workshop. We do not necessarily have to keep ourselves busy all the time, but we do need to keep ourselves in the position of responsibility assigned to us. Keeping our hands and hearts occupied is the best strategy against temptation. A good offense is the best defense. Keep your heart in pursuit of God.

One of My Favorite Stories!

So the king asked, "Is there anyone left of Saul’s family I can show the kindness of God to?"

Ziba said to the king, "There is still Jonathan’s son who is lame in both feet."

Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. He was lame in both feet.

2 Samuel 9:3, 13 (HCSB)

The word “kindness” translates the Hebrew chesed, which, to me, is the equivalent of the Greek word charis, translated in New Testament as “grace.” David wanted to show God’s grace to someone of Saul’s household.

Typically one of the first orders of business for a new monarch was to “clean up loose ends.” This meant eliminating all contestants to his power… killing off any challengers to his throne. This, I’m sure, is what Mephibosheth expected. He was hiding out in a place called “Lo-debar,” which meant “without pasture.” It was a distant, deserted, dismal place. No one would choose to live there—unless they were hiding from something. That is exactly what Mephibosheth was doing when soldiers came knocking on his door. The day he dreaded had now arrived.

But instead of finding his head on a chopping block he found himself eating at the king’s table like one of this own sons!

Oh yes, and I have not mentioned he was handicapped. In a hasty get-away his nurse dropped him. Both his feet were broken and not properly set. The bones had healed, but not cleanly. Hence he was crippled in both his feet.

This is a picture of the Christian. We are Mephbosheth in this story. We are the ones crippled by our parent’s hasty attempt to run away from God. We are the ones living in Lo-debar, a deserted place, hiding from God. We will not come to God on our own. We expect the worst from Him—Divine judgment. Faithful servants must come looking for us with tidings of good news! They must carry us by prayer and faith into the King’s presence, the only place where we can experience God’s favor. We are afraid, but how quickly does perfect love cast away all fear! We bow—poor, undeserving sinners, spiritual cripples incapable of doing anything for God at all—but we rise as sons of the King! We experience the amazing grace of God! From that day forward we sit at the King’s table like the King’s own Son, enjoying the bounty of His glory.

I am Mephibosheth—and happy to be him! Are you?

One Way To Do God's Work

When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen had stumbled. Then the LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God. David was angry because of the LORD’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place an Outburst Against Uzzah, as it is today. David feared the LORD that day and said, "How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?" So he was not willing to move the ark of the LORD to the city of David; instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

2 Samuel 6:6–10 (HCSB)

The ark represented the presence of God. David wanted to the ark in Jerusalem, near him and in the midst of his people.

David made a big show of moving the ark. He obviously thought that if you move God it should be done with great fanfare and much hoopla.

I imagine the road they used had deep ruts. When the cartwheels dropped into one of these ruts it jolted the cart. Uzzah instinctively reached to steady the ark. Instantly God struck him dead.

The ark itself was not to be touched by human hands. There were two poles in the feet of the ark to carry it. Because the ark symbolized God’s presence it also represented God’s extreme holiness. God’s holiness cannot be defiled by human hands.

This tragedy was completely avoidable. Had David read the Scripture and followed God’s instructions this would not have happened. The ark was to be carried only one way—on the shoulders of the priests.

Here is the lesson for us: when we try to do God’s work the way we think is best we make a mess; but when we do God’s work His way there is blessing.

There is only one way to do God's work that succeeds: His way.

Our Help In A Tight Spot

David was in a difficult position because the troops talked about stoning him, for they were all very bitter over ‹the loss of› their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

1 Samuel 30:6 (HCSB)

Ever found yourself in a difficult situation? Sure you have! We all have. What do you do? Run in circles, scream and shout? Suck you thumb? Go into depression? Withdraw? Come out fighting? Blame someone else? Make excuses?

What do you do? David found himself in a tight spot. He had led these men in many battles, to many victories, but now they were turning against him. They were sick because of their loss. David had lost too! But David turned to the Lord for help, and the Lord strengthened him.

He sought the Lord’s guidance, and the Lord told him what to do. David and his men pursued the Amalekites, caught them, destroyed them, and got their families and herds back. David was very grateful, as indeed he should have been.

We all find ourselves between a rock and a hard place occasionally. If we will look to the Lord for help He will strengthen us and guide us. we will find, like David, that our God is more than sufficient.

Our Lives Tucked Away

“When someone pursues you and attempts to take your life, my lord’s life will be tucked safely in the place where the LORD your God protects the living. However, He will fling away your enemies’ lives like ‹stones› from a sling.”

1 Samuel 25:29 (HCSB)

These are the words of Abigail to David. I think we can also take them as the word of God to us. The Bible says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected” (Proverbs 18:10). In our daily activities we are not defenseless. The Lord is a shield. He protects us from things we don’t even know about. Maybe one day, after we have been in heaven for a long time, God will show us all the times He protected us from harm. Jesus said to Peter:

“Simon, Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).

Maybe one day the Lord will show us all the times Satan came to Him asking to sift us like wheat, but God forbade him—or He strengthened us.

It is enough to know that our lives are in His hand everyday. He protects us. nothing can come against us without His approval—and that which receives His approval is for our good.

Jesus said, “And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He is with you and protects you today.

David's Sword and Saul's Robe

When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were staying in the back of the cave, so they said to him, "Look, this is the day the LORD told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’" Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. Afterwards, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

He said to his men, "I swear before the LORD: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed. ‹I will never› lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed."

With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.

Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

1 Samuel 24:3–7 (HCSB)

On this day David showed his integrity. He revealed the fact that there was something different about him. He was cut from different cloth than Saul.

He could have put an end to Saul, but it would not have been an end to his troubles. David waited on the Lord to exact vengeance on his enemies, and eventually the Lord did.

We probably all have enemies. Remember this: if you live by the sword you will die by the sword. If you shed man’s blood then by man your blood will be shed. Keep your cool and keep your integrity. Be patient and wait on the Lord to handle your enemies. In His time He will. In the mean time, you pursue God’s kingdom.

A Mountain Between

Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. Then a messenger came to Saul saying, "Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!" So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation. From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.

1 Samuel 23:26–29 (HCSB)

There was more than a mountain of rock that separated Saul and David. There was a mountain of jealousy, suspicion, resentment and ill will.

Sin separates man from God. Sin is not only a mountain between man and God, it is a mountain between man and his fellow man and between man and himself. Sin separates man God, man from his fellow man, and man from himself.

Sin always brings disintegration. If not for sin man would be a fully integrated personality. He would be synchronized with God, himself and his fellow man. But sin is a monkey wrench in the plan.

David was only delivered from Saul by a divine miracle. Had those Philistines not shown up David and his men would have been destroyed. Saul was gaining on David. He had David out-manned and out-gunned. Then God showed up. He sent those Philistines to distract Saul.

Like David, the only thing that can deliver us from being overtaken and destroyed by our sin is a miracle. That miracle was the cross. The cross of Jesus separates us from judgment.

Men and Friendship

Jonathan once again swore to David in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

1 Samuel 20:17 (HCSB)

When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone Ezel, fell with his face to the ground, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept with each other, though David wept more.

1 Samuel 20:41 (HCSB)

Is this wrong? Is there something wrong with a man loving another man?

The answer is “No!” But we need to qualify that answer. This was not homosexual love. This was not something perverted. These were two men who were manly in every way. They were warriors. They were champions. They were godly. They were fully heterosexual.

These two men were friends. The King James says that the “soul” of Jonathan was “knit” to the soul of David. Their souls were literally “tied” together. This is a close bond of friendship—nothing funny or perverted about it. It was holy and wholesome.

This is a kind of friendship that is missing from our culture today. Much of the friendship between men to day is shallow. We fail to experience this deeper kind of friendship because of ignorance and fear. We do not know that it can exist. We have been taught that for two men to love each other is wrong and twisted. We build walls up against it. The consequence is that most men do not experience this kind of friendship with another man, and we are the poorer for it!

I pray that God will give us men the wisdom to know that we need friends. We need real men friends. There is a bond of friendship that can exist between two men that will strengthen them and make them better men without harming their manhood. There is this holy friendship that is not perverted and sinful. The truth is that every man needs a true friend just as David needed Jonathan. I pray that God gives each of us men a friend just like this and that each of us will be a friend like this.

A note to guys: I'd like to hear from you on this one. What are your thoughts?

David Hated by Saul

Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on.

1 Samuel 18:28–29 (HCSB)

Where did I get the idea that if I lived for God I’d have no enemies? David’s enemy was the king of Israel!

Living for God is no guarantee that things are always going to go our way and everyone is going to love us and admire us. Jesus said, “You will be hated for My name’s sake.” There will be hated by some people for no other reason than the fact that people call us “Christians.”

The reality is that some people are going to hate you no matter what. In fact, it seems that people are more divided and vindictive today… or maybe I’m just imagining that. So, if people are going to despise you anyway, it seems best that they hate you for doing the right thing.

Don’t be a jerk. Saul hated David, but David did not return the sentiment. He simply went on about his business the best he could. Saul hated him because God blessed him. Let us live for God, do the best we can, and ask God to give us the fortitude not only to know and do the right, but to endure—and even love—those who despise us for doing it.

God Looks At the Heart

1 Samuel 16:7 (HCSB)

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart."

God had told Samuel that He had rejected Saul as king. Now He was going to select a new king. He sent Samuel the prophet to anoint this king.

Samuel went to the town of Bethlehem. There he met the family of Jesse. Jesse’s sons came before Samuel. The firstborn son was an impressive young man. Samuel thought in his heart: “This must be the one!”

The Lord’s response to Samuel was this verse. Man is impressed with appearances. We are impressed with credentials, achievements, beauty and success. But the Lord does not look at these things. He measures a man on the basis of what is the inside. David was young and inexperienced, but God knew what was in his heart. God knew what David was capable of achieving. Most importantly, God knew that David was a man after His own heart. Out there in the lonely fields guarding his father’s flock David spent his time seeking the Lord.

I think God looks in our hearts and sees the same thing. I think we are all capable of things beyond our wildest imagination, if we are obedient to the Lord. We could all “charge hell with a water pistol” if we allow the Lord to control our lives.

God looks at your heart. What does He see?

Partial Obedience Equals Complete Defiance

1 Samuel 15:19 –22 (HCSB)

So why didn’t you obey the LORD? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight?"

"But I did obey the LORD!" Saul answered. "I went on the mission the LORD gave me: I brought back Agag, king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites.

The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder—the best of what was set apart for destruction—to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal."

Then Samuel said:

Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the LORD?

Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,

to pay attention ‹is better› than the fat of rams.

Many years ago I heard a sermon on this passage. I have never forgotten the title or the theme of that message. The title was: “The Peril of Partial Obedience.” The title itself was enough to convict me! The theme was: “Partial obedience is complete disobedience.”

You may have qualms that God commanded Israel to attack the Amalekites and completely wipe them out. I confess it bothers me—until I remember that this was part of God’s original order. Before entering Canaan He had commanded the Israelites to destroy all the people in the land. You remember they failed to complete the assignment. The Amalekites were some of those who should have been destroyed but still remained. They were a reprobate people, even sacrificing their children to their pagan gods. They were a cancer in the land that, if allowed to remain, would infect the whole nation of Israel. They needed to be thoroughly expunged.

Many of us are infected with Saul’s plague. We think that if we do most of what God says that sufficient. But partial obedience indicates a deeper and more dangerous problem. God sees it for what it really is and calls it by its true names: rebellion and defiance (vs. 23). We obey the part that is convenient, or the part that we can manage on our own. We leave off the part that requires faith and submission. But that little leaven will spread to the whole lump of dough. Disobedience always grows when left unchecked. The only safeguard against rebellion spreading is to obey all of God’s command.

Eli's Blunder

1 Samuel 3:18 (HCSB)

So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, "He is the LORD. He will do what He thinks is good."

Eli’s two sons Hophni and Phinehas were evil men. They defiled God’s sanctuary. They exploited their office. They took advantage of the people they were called to serve. Eli knew about these things but did not stop them. Apparently he was one of those passive dads who do not like confrontation. He gave his sons a little lecture, but it was too little too late. By this time they were out way of control.

God held Eli accountable for his lack of action. Judgment was pronounced on his entire family. God revealed to the boy Samuel what He was going to do. Eli made Samuel tell him everything. His response to this catastrophic news was: “He is the LORD. He will do what He thinks best.”

Raising boys is a little different than raising girls. Both need lots of love and affirmation. But boys will push the limits. Boys will take risks. It’s one thing to take a risk with your own life and limb, but it’s another thing altogether when we take risks with our purity, our integrity, our reputation, and with other people. Eli should have confronted those boys. If the stories he heard were confirmed he should have disciplined them severely. Problem is that he had already taught them through his actions that they could get away with anything. The punishment should fit the crime. But children must be taught that there are consequences for their actions.

Better to whip them with a belt now than bail them out of jail later. You can’t bail them out of hell!

The Requirement for Usefulness

1 Samuel 2:26 (HCSB)

By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.

This is a great way to pray for our children. Pray that they will grow in favor with both God and man. Pray they will have integrity before God and man.

1 Samuel 2:30 (HCSB)

"Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, says:

‘Although I said

your family and your ancestral house

would walk before Me forever,

the LORD now says, "No longer!"

I will honor those who honor Me,

but those who despise Me will be disgraced.

Eli was the priest in Shiloh. His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were wicked men. Eli failed to discipline them. God took the priesthood away from Eli and his family and gave the job to Samuel.

This is a warning to any of us who serve the Lord. Our calling is not a guarantee that God will “use us no matter what.” No, He will not. He will remove us from our place of service and replace us with someone who will honor Him.

The requirement of continued usefulness is that we remain obedient to the One who called us.

Hair and the Holy Spirit

Judges 16:20 (HCSB)

Then she cried, "Samson, the Philistines are here!" When he awoke from his sleep, he said, "I will escape as I did before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

Samson’s strength was related to his hair. When his hair was cut he was helpless.

Our strength is related, not to hair, but to the Holy Spirit. He indwells every born-again Believer. But sin grieves Him. Our disobedience stifles Him. Our rebellion dethrones Him. We live in sin and think there is no consequence. “My sins are under the blood!” Indeed they are, and they will not be held against us on the Day of Judgment. But our sin grieves the Holy Spirit and pushes Him to the margin of our lives. We sashay forth, thinking we can live as before—teach with power, witness with power, preach with power, pray with power, live with power—but the anointing is gone until the sin is confessed and forsaken.

You cannot make up with human strength what you lack in divine power. Human charisma can only take you so far. Human charm can only take you so far. Human ingenuity can only take you so far. Human intelligence can only take you so far. Human training can only take you so far. Human experience can only take you so far. Human persuasiveness can only take you so far. Human organization can only take you so far.

What we lack in Holy Spirit power we can never make up for in human strength. We are like Samson straining at the grinding wheel, pushing with all our might, and maybe moving things a bit, but going in circles!

We need the power that comes from the Holy Spirit! We must have His anointing at all costs! Sometimes we need to shut down the business until we retrieve the power that makes the business run. We need to open our lives to the examination of the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to search us and expose every sin. We must do a thorough job of confessing and repenting—and making right where necessary. We must accept by faith the cleansing of Christ’s blood (1 John 1:9) and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us again. Then we go out by faith to operate in His power.