The day David was keeping the sheep, out in his father, Jesse's, pasture, he had no idea Samuel would show up to anoint him as the apple of God's eye.
Jesse didn't call David and was putting forth his most handsome and prosperity appealing sons for Samuel's gaze. Samuel was having an internal dialog with our Father, The Almighty. God was speaking into Samuel's heart, saying, Our Father sees the heart. And to sternly tell Jesse, these were not all of Jesse's sons, to retrieve the one left behind. And Samuel had them stand and wait for David.
1 Samuel 16:1-14 is a very real and jam packed doozy.
Not only do we meet King David as a boy. We hear the internal prayers of the High Priest and Prophet Samuel. And Samuel is truly speaking with the Lord. Samuel is both whining and whinging. Samuel is rebuked, rebellious, reasoning and regal. While invoking the Lord to listen to all of Samuel's personal wisdom. And Samuel shares a trait of Samuel's, as he gives David The Lord's Personal Blessing - David and Samuel might fight with the Lord, but the Love is very personal, the obedience is very real. 1 Samuel 16 A Chapter to REMEMBER.
1 Samuel 16 is a window into the soul of prayer, the heart revealed between God and men, facing the world in all the glory God gives and all the trouble Jesus said we would face.
And in 1 Samuel 16, we truly see Prayer is a come as you are. In the world, we put our best foot forward and our best foot forward, but Prayer is as our heart dwells. Prayer is not only an ongoing telephone call, Prayer is an Ambulance. Prayer is where we are, exactly, who we are.
No one could possibly watch but about 10 of these Psalms at a time, but in their appeal we really see what David has faced to be called a Saint of God. The Dead Sea Scrolls presume more of the Psalms are of David. And, in fact, The Dead Sea Scrolls have 152 Psalms. Not included because we are well and truly past The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
Prayer is demonstrated positively and exactly like this, memorably connecting Psalm 39 and Psalm 139.
Prayer is very come as you are.
Psalm 39
I said, “I will guard my ways,
that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
My heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “O Lord, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold,
You have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before You.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
Selah
6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in You
The Glory of God
willing to go
in all aspects of life
Psalm 139
139 O Lord, You have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay Your Hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from Your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there Your Hand shall lead me,
and Your Right Hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to You;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
For You formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance
In Your Book were written,
every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Our God is working. His Son,
Jesus is working.
Amen.
Today!
Today, I read two life events today about prayer and heartfelt words and felt stirred up to tears. God is still listening and people are doing their best. The Lord Bless us!
In this tumultuous time with all types of turmoil, we err not to think people are doing their best. It is easy to hear words and have our hearts have another bout of anger. And my oldest son told me, we are doing our best. And did Jesus Christ believe this? Yes, the exact nature of God cried for His people, like sheep, needing their Shepherd. His Love. His Mercy. When we give people the benefit of the doubt, mostly we are exactly correct.
My family lived this two weeks ago. Let's look at another account of Life and Blood.
Credit: Dawson Willford
On July 7, 2016, at 12:13 AM
My wife was dying.
She just had an emergency C-section and went into shock.
I stood by her head while she was bleeding out and remembered every fight we ever had and the things I never did for her. I couldn’t let her know how scared I was.
I stood in front of my wife saying my final goodbye!
What do you say to someone knowing it’s going to be the last time you talk to them. I tried so hard to comfort her and tell her everything is okay. I tried to smile and pretend that it’s all part of the operation.
They called a code blue and people started rushing into the room. She was shaking so much!!! I kissed her and asked God, “please don’t take her home.” I thought about all the times I missed church. I thought about how to tell my new family the bad news. So much was going through my mind that I had no time to enjoy my son.
I had to be strong for my family.
I had to bear the burden on my shoulders and carry the weight of my wife's passing in the operating room.
I was at a loss for words.
Reluctant to pray, fearing God's disapproval for not being a devout Christian, I expressed deep remorse and pleaded with God to somehow hear this final request.
I was rushed to a different room and waited for about 10 mins.
Jackie, my wife, finally showed up and my heart was so so so so heavy with grief. I wanted to pick her up and carry her out of the hospital as if everything would be fine. I wanted to leave and have this nightmare be over! I stood with Jackie for about 3 minutes and the worst happened. She lost about 1 litter of blood in a couple seconds.
I didn’t say anything, I was so scared. I just looked at my wife and couldn’t utter a word.
I wanted to say I love you and tell her it’s okay. I wanted to help her as much as I could. I wanted to stop everything and start all over again. I knew she was dying in front of me.
They called another code blue! This time my heart stopped.
I thought why didn’t I pray every night!
Why didn’t I love her like God has loved me! I died in that room! I truly died! I didn’t know what to do again. I watched helplessly as they tried to save my wife. People were running and pushing me farther away from her.
She finally uttered a word and it was like the room went silent. She asked for some water and I knew she was leaving earth.
They took me and my newborn son to another room. As we were walking I saw my mom and family.
I wanted so hard for someone to hold me.
I wanted someone to carry me like a kid and tell me it’s gonna be okay.
I didn’t want to be a man anymore. I wanted to cry! I wanted to cry out to God and ask Him why!
I stood by my family for about 2 minutes looking at everyone and holding back all of my emotions. My mother asked me, “How is Jackie?” I almost lost it and cried like a baby. I just shrugged my shoulders and said, I don’t know yet. I was lying, I knew she was in really bad shape.
I wanted to run back in the room and hold her, but I had to take care of my son now.
He had to be given antibiotics to prevent an infection from starting. After about 5 minutes, I asked the nurses if I can go see my wife, and they reluctantly said yes.
The hallway to where my wife was is about 40 yards. I walked about 5 yards and started crying alone. I couldn’t keep up this persona for much longer. I was scared to walk back and hear the news.
I wanted my dad to comfort me! I’m still his little boy!
I had around 30 something yards to walk and God spoke to me,
"Gabriel my son,
I love you more than you can imagine.
I heard you and I was there!
I saw the c section.
I helped the doctors find the problem.
I saw when she hemorrhaged and made sure they caught it really quick.
I was waiting for you, in this hallway,
when you wanted your father."
"It’s okay to call on me.
I will always love you.
Just as you asked to save your wife.
I’ve been asking My Father to save yours.
I walked with more love in my heart for everything, in that moment. My wife and son are doing great and will be discharged on Sunday. If you see me at church, don’t ask me where I have been. Just say I’m glad to see you’re Home!
Psalm 39
I said, “I will guard my ways,
that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
My heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “O Lord, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold,
You have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before You.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
Selah
6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in You
1 John 4:19
We love because God first loved us!
Abba, Father,
For no one can lay a foundation
other than that which is laid,
which is
Jesus Christ
Thank you Father God
for Your Son,
Jesus.
May the God of hope fill us all, everyone,
with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
we may abound in hope.
Dwell in me,
Dwell in us,
Dwell in those we Love,
Help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well, in Jesus Christ.
Our God is working. His Son,
Jesus is working.
Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
YES Bless the Lord Jesus
Thank You Jesus
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