1 Samuel 21-22 ~ gathered to him

Trees & Sunset" by QIQIGALLERY

1 Samuel 21-22


21 Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” 4 And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5 And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” 6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen.

8 Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.” 9 And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”
David Flees to Gath

10 And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,

‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”

12 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
 

1 Samuel 22

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay ^{[go out]} with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. 5 Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.
Saul Kills the Priests at Nob

6 Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. 7 And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, 8 that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.”

 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10 and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over^{[has turned aside to]} your bodyguard, and honored in your house? 15 Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.” 

16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house.” 17 And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord. 

18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.

20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. 23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.”

There is a swirl to the war here between David and Saul. We are looking at role reversal. David - the anointed of God - collects the malcontents. This is one of the Pharisee complaints about Jesus - the company He kept. David is doing his best to adapt to unusual circumstances. Kings who would favor David - just to use him and bring him down. 

You would think any power hungry man would leap at the offer of a King helping. David's role is more complex as he seeks not only safety, but to be right with God. 

This is not your typical good guy - bad guy children's book. Samuel, the prophet, has died, but Samuel mourned Israel not trusting GOD to be the King.  Samuel mourned Saul doing exactly what Judges did - trusting his own self-importance and feelings on righteousness. Saul has made his own feelings king. Saul has gone far past overboard. His self-interest has become sin pulling him down. As we age, our personalities can take over our judgment, making us ineffective. One more reason to stay off the path - me at all costs first - and stay on His path for us.


David has been told good is coming his way. He must believe it -a lot of people would have kept right on riding into the sunset - away from Saul and trouble. David is finding a lot more difficulties dwelling near God's promises.

Without faith, this looks a lot like - God has abandoned David! David is having to clean up after his own half-mistakes and safekeeping of those by-standers. David was in the field being a  - shepherd.

If you look at the line of Kings - you find the ones who have goodness and easy kingdom handed to them frequently begin to explore other options. I suppose in the effort to find themselves and adapt their own style. Solomon wanted to marry Pharaoh's daughter - the most important kingdom at the time. Rehoboam wanted to shuck Solomon's advisers. Josiah had to "rediscover" the forgotten Bible. Hezekiah had to overcome his own father's opinion to transfer God worship to the great outdoors and therefore dismantle the gold of the Temple to become a puppet state for the Assyrian Empire.

Hezekiah and Isaiah are never taught to be the closest to the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, but that unified belief in God, created some of the delights a trip to Jerusalem today can provide. Physical evidence that a belief in God united the People to do amazing things - we can see their works in faith in archaeology today.

David spoke the words God said to him -

With me you shall be in safekeeping.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For it is by faith that we walk and not by sight.

Romans 8:24
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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Micah 6:8 ~ What does the LORD require of you?

COMFORT

Zechariah 1:16-18

Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. ¹⁷ Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.'"

To be a willing comforter requires a grateful heart. When we've been blessed with God's mercy, we want to share that goodness. We willingly put down our own desires and want to help others.

Maybe you've read "Same Kind of Different as Me" by Denver Moore. Denver is a black man raised in a small town in virtual slavery. To Denver Moore being homeless was a step up. In the middle of having nothing, the soup kitchens were a way to survive. This is movie currently in production being produced by the actor Samuel Jackson.

There is a small detail in the book, but it tells us what kind of homeless man Denver was.

The Christian Soup Kitchen was the first time Denver Moore was provided for. He adopted an 82 year old man - so mean - that one day a car pulled up and out the 82 year old man was tossed to the Soup Kitchen. His wife and children just tossed him out - he'd been a successful business man, but his family had enough. Eventually the man couldn't walk to the kitchens and Denver began to bring him his meals. Denver heard a litany of curses about his color, his kindness, even his Christianity. Denver bathed the man, fed him and cleaned his bedding. The man continued to proclaim his own racist superiority. Denver just ignored him and spoke to him.

After more than 80 years of hate, an abandoned old man was led to Christ by another homeless man. Denver Moore, a man without education or property, allowed the abandoned old man to fully live and accept the unrelenting love of Jesus Christ. How was Denver able to care for him past the hate? Denver had been given the same relentless love at a Christian Homeless Shelter. One person worked to make the light of Christ shine for Denver.

Denver Moore had to be willing to put some things down to help the old man. Denver had to forgive the people who had treated him poorly. Denver had to hear the scoffing of the others - homelessness has an element of power in survival mode. Denver had to allow himself to be vulnerable.

Luke 12:48b-53

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

⁴⁹ "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! ⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵² For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

This Scripture is uncomfortable. But Biblical truths sometimes have irony - sometimes just to catch our attention.

Denver a homeless black man was powerless in all that we enjoy in the world. Yet he was able to bring Jesus to a man so hateful and racist - no one reached him for 80 years. Complete lack of comfort led to an eternity of blessings. The most important thing for all of eternity. Jesus. One day that bitter, horrible old man realized all he had in the world was a black man willing to be the steadfast and relentless love of Jesus - just for him. Just to be loving.

The Luke 12 words of Jesus are extremely uncomfortable for us today. No one would sign up for this type of unhappiness. But for us today, it is a blessing. We are the beneficiaries of the generations of those who stood in the gap. For us today - Luke 12 means not to stand before Caesar, not be be pulled from our homes. Freedom to get up Sunday and decide where we will worship. Many places to drive our cars if we want a new Bible.

The division we have today is to say - I see any type of situation and I decide - I will put myself out to make a difference. Why would I decide to have any discomfort? The gratitude of what Jesus has done for me. The gratitude to the many generations who have made our lives this comfortable. In our comfort, we also find the ability to stand up, speak up and make a difference.

Comfort and love for others requires a grateful heart.

Fortunately, God doesn't require us to be the Savior. We can Never save others anymore than we can save ourselves. But our decision is this - to hold the love God has for us so dearly these words become our own -

To give justice with mercy and walk humbly with the Lord.  

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Joshua 24:15 
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

With just faith, hope and love in these words of the Lord, we can comfort and love all the people God would have us to love.

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Psalm 18 ~ the word of the Lord proves true

Psalm 18

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

7 Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

20 The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his rules were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23 I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41 They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

43 You delivered me from strife with the people;
you made me the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45 Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their fortresses.

46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48 who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.

49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
50 Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.

George Carlin used to say, in the seventies, "God can throw a boat right over a hedge."

God would agree.

For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.


Excavations to Jericho ~ At the north end, a portion of the mud brick wall atop the stone retaining wall survived, demonstrating that the city wall did not fall in this area. Nothing remains of the mud brick city wall at other points investigated, showing that it had collapsed everywhere else. Remnants of the collapsed city wall were actually found still in place in three places at Jericho. According to the Bible, Rahab’s house was incorporated into the fortification system (Jos 2:15). If the walls fell, how was her house spared? As you recall, the spies had instructed Rahab to bring her family into her house and they would be rescued. When the Israelites stormed the city, Rahab and her family were saved as promised (Jos 6:17, 22–23). At the north end of the tell of Jericho, archaeologists made some astounding discoveries that seem to relate to Rahab. A portion of that mudbrick wall was still standing to a height of 8 ft. What is more, there were houses built against the wall! It is quite possible that this is where Rahab’s house was located.

We have learned of battles in the middle of the night where troops turned on themselves and went home. We know of Biblical prophecies fulfilled. Mostly this is people hearing in faith and walking in faith. Like Moses with his hands held up high for the battle. 2 Samuel 5 has David listening to the wind to hear when God is with him.

Eliat Miazar found David's Palace by looking for the Biblical directions. She found the clue, David built outside of the city walls - trusting God to protect him more than walls a troop can climb.


Amazing Miracles During Time of War -

by Perry Stone

As America continues its war against terrorism and begins to engage in the war with Iraq, it is fitting to relate several astonishing miracles that have occurred in previous wars that Israel has fought. Many of the incidents are equal to the miracles we read about in the Bible. These are stories that have been related to me while visiting Israel or speaking directly with individuals that had direct knowledge of the incidents.

Edmund “The Bull” Allenby
In 1917, the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces were moving across the Sinai Desert, headed toward Israel and Jerusalem. Edmund “The Bull” Allenby was the Christian General directing the army.

After arriving in Israel, Allenby was concerned about bloodshed in the Holy City of Jerusalem. After prayer, he read in his Bible the following passage:

“For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

“As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.”
- Isaiah 31:4-5

Allenby noticed the prophecy alluded to a lion. Being from England, the General knew the emblem of the British Empire was a lion. Isaiah predicted God would fight for Zion (Jerusalem) as a lion. He then observed how the battle would be won... by birds flying.
Allenby decided to fly small scout planes over Jerusalem and drop notes in the Turkish language instructing the Turks to surrender Jerusalem. Having never seen an airplane, many of the Turks became fearful. After reading the pieces of paper dropping from the planes, the demand was to surrender Jerusalem. It was signed Allenby. In Arabic, the phrase Allah Nebi (similar to Allenby) means God’s Prophet. Needless to say, the Turks gave up Jerusalem without firing a shot and the British took control of the Holy City in 1917, where they occupied it until 1948.

The Battle of Netanyahu in 1948
When Israel was restored as a nation on May 15th, 1948, they were virtually unarmed. As a nation they owned five machine guns with about fifteen rounds of ammunition. They owned one mortar shell, and one tank. The surrounding Arab nations gave Israel one week to exist.

Between Tel-Aviv and Haifa the battle of Netanyahu occurred. The attack was planned by the Arabs to begin eight days after Israel’s proclaimed independence. However the Israelis’ had an idea that would be a trick, but it might work. On May 23rd, 1948, at midnight, the men, women and children lined cars, trucks, taxis, and anything they could find with an engine, side by side along the beach. They removed the exhaust pipes from all the vehicles.

At the same time another group took a number of large oil drums, put rocks in them and placed them at the top of the hill. At a given signal the engines were started and the drums were rolled down the hills. Early in the morning, the Arabs were awakened in the distance by a loud blasting and rumbling sound that filled the entire area. They were unable to see where the noise was coming from. The Arabs thought America had brought in Sherman Tanks. The entire Arab army of men fled, leaving behind a large chase of artillery.

The Battle of Bethshean
The Arabs had taken the city of Bethshean and the Jews had no weapons to fight with. Then someone had an idea to trick the Arabs into giving up the city. A truck carrying metal pipes had wrecked. There were also a number of old wagons in the area. The Jewish men took the wagon wheels, and laid the metal pipes between them, forming what appeared to be cannons. In all, twenty fake cannons were created from the pipes and wheels.

That night they set the fake cannons around the city. In their possession they had two mortars. The next morning they called into the city demanding the Arabs to give up the city or suffer destruction. The Arab leader laughed and the Jews shot a mortar into the city. The Jewish leader then told the Arab leader that he was surrounded by new cannons. A second mortar was fired from the opposite side and the Arabs, fearing the consequences the Arabs surrendered the city.

The Ship with Paper Missiles
The year was 1956. Israel had been a modern nation for eight years, surrounded by hostile enemies who were planning wars to destroy the Jewish state. The navy of Israel was for all purposes, almost non existent. The main enemy of Israel was the Egyptians, under the leadership of President Nasser. The Egyptians had several battleships and Nasser gave orders to move one of the large ships toward Haifa, in Israel.

The Israelis had one beat-up hull of a ship. They immediately painted it and put huge paper Mache missiles on the deck. When the Egyptian ship arrived, the Israeli’s sent a smaller boat out to meet it and warned them they had a new ship with very large missiles pointed at the Egyptians. The orders were given for the Egyptians to surrender immediately, or be destroyed. Oddly enough, the Egyptians surrendered their battleship, to a hull with fake missiles!

The Miracle of the 67 War
Numerous miracles were reported during the famous 1967 war. One such story involved a Catholic journalist who was reporting on the front lines during the war. Ernie Miller had personally met this man in Baton Rouge, LA. The journalist was reporting from the Sinai Desert during the 1967 war. The battle had become very intense and there were numerous casualties. At one point an Israeli soldier was rushed into the medical tent, where the journalist was wiring front line information.

The journalist observed that the soldier was severely wounded. In fact he had been shot in the intestinal area, and his intestines were hanging from his body. He knew it was only a matter of time until the man would die. Yet, the man, who was fully conscience, began praying and saying the various names of God in the Hebrew language. As he prayed he began to talk about God’s ability to heal him and to defeat the enemy armies. To the journalist amazement, the man suddenly screamed, and jumped up from the cot. His intestines were back inside his body and the entire area was healed! The man was jumping and screaming, and ran out of the tent praising God.

The journalist told Ernie, “I am a Catholic and I am suppose to believe in miracles but had never seen one. That day, I saw one with my own eyes that was a true miracle!”
These amazing stories clearly demonstrate that the “Battle belongs to the Lord!”

As America fights a war on terrorism around the world, we should be in prayer that God will demonstrate his supernatural power to protect, and defend our young men and women who are risking their lives for the sake of our freedom.

The God of the Bible is a God of miracles and He still manifests His power today!
Remember, your greatest secret weapon is faith in God and prayer, and your greatest gift is the ability to use wisdom to your advantage. Many of the battles won by Israel have been a result of outwitting the enemy.

Note: One of the most important Psalms in the Bible is the 91st Psalm. It would be well to copy this Psalm and place it somewhere in a pocket or in an area where it would be on you at all times. Remember, hundreds of thousands of Americans and Jews and Christians from around the world are praying for your safety and your safe return! A thousand shall fall by your side and ten thousands at your right hand, but it will not come near to you (Psalms 91).

God bless us - having eyes of faith toward HIM.

Philippians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him

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Luke 15:11-24 ~ he came to himself

Chris Greenwood known by his stage name Manafest, is a Canadian Christian rapper and rock artist from Ontario.

Preacher, Preacher what you got for me save my soul
See beneath, and clip my wings I'm not an angel
I try and try to be good, I've lied with pride I'm a crook
Turn the lights down, burning up the night now

Sign my life out, I'm sick of living here yo
If you can help choir boy ring the church bells
I'd turn back if I could, erase the pain if I could
But I'm an animal and I don't know if I can

Hey
Cause I'm the prodigal man of this avalanche
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Hey
And if you turn me in
I'll confess my sins
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Before I'm six feet deep
I'm washing my hands clean
Just get me out of this avalanche

You scared the junk-crap out of me man
The Ghost Rider, hold my soul tighter
Jehovah take the ropes I'm a
Fly a plane out of the atmosphere
I've attacked this fear
This scar still here
I'm going on to the end

I'm holding out to a friend
I'm going I'm going
I don't care
I cursed a lot
The worse, the black sheep of the lot
Christopher Scott prepare to meet God

Hey
Cause I'm the prodigal man of this avalanche
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Hey
And if you turn me in
I'll confess my sins
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Before I'm six feet deep
I'm washing my hands clean
Just get me out of this Avalanche

Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this avalanche
Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this

You guided me when I was
Blind with pride a right off
Knocked me off my saddle
Sabotaged and overshadowed
Watched you chase a man down
Watched you raise a man out
Mercy on me, forever I'm free

Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this avalanche
Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this

The Word of God ranges from metal to rock.

Luke 15:11-24
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.



What draws us to Father God? God celebrates, pivots and awes.

Few of us reach the point where the still small voice can be heard before we have exhausted our own solutions.

We see the sixteenth chapter of I Kings has - dust, anger of sin, death, conspired murder, coupe, burned the king's house over him with fire and died, and Baal worship. Baal worship is complete with infant sacrifice. I'm not sure it gets much worse than this.

Enter Elijah ~  This is a FINE Time to Hope for a Man of God.

1 Kings 17
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him

What??? Things are supposed to get .... better.

Things are so bad in the promised land, Elijah will be called out to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. It's not going to rain again unti ,,,l the Eighteenth Chapter when Elijah will have a chance to make fun of Baal. And kill priests who advocate the killing of infants for Baal. Elijah is rock metal meets John the Baptist. Wearing hair wrapped by a belt. This man is far more rock metal than Southern Baptist Convention Meeting. And Elijah is going to have to run for his life. The Holy Spirit is portrayed in the New Testament as a burning fire.

God is not always a small, low, whisper voice.

Another time will call Elijah back. This time when the Roman Empire sweeps more money into Israel than any other time until the Renaissance Revival of the 14th Century. Anno Domini.

We always picture Elijah's Holy Spirit as the calm, low voice. Elijah's time was FAR from quiet or comforting.

Judges 13 (Sounds like a fairly good movie)
2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.

When Manoah hears of this his reaction is - saintly. No. Manoah has a pretty reasonable reaction to hearing his wife heard from an Angel of the LORD.

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?”

Okay. Now we get to the docile part.

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord, to the one who works wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 

20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.

21 The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”

23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.”


Now we move from metal to Rock. There is another Being with the Father, during creation, who was known to laugh with pleasure in the Book of Proverbs - also called Wonderful.

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 
This is the One who saves.


Luke 18:19
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good."

(Was Manoah more pleased than this man?)

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1 Chronicles 4:1-10 ~ Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me,

1 Chronicles 4:1-10 ~ English Standard Version

The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2 Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. 3 These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, 4 and Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. 5 Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah; 6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7 The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. 8 Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel, the son of Harum. 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 


The Word of God is living and active, I remembered the Prayer of Jabez as "so I might not have pain." Not that he would be kept from evil. I have heard JL Packard, one of the most influential evangelicals in North America, who studied under CS Lewis and helped bring us the English Standard Version of the Bible. Packer served as General Editor of the English Standard Version, an Evangelical revision of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, and Theological Editor of the Study Bible version. I tend to believe he had this correctly!

We recently looked at the Prophets of the Bible and what attribute of God drew them to HIM. And Prophets have stories. They have historical placement, hometowns, family troubles, marriage troubles, children troubles and safety issues.

Frankly, any time the LORD wants to bless me with Jabez's blessing - I'm here... hands out, hearts willing and gratitude at the ready. Me! Sent Me!

So we get to the sons of Judah we are reading a genealogy list. Immediately - we all think - Oh, thanks Lord. C'mon, we do. And suddenly interest peaks - boredom first - then AHA!

Now let's really dig deep into Jabez. He was honorable, didn't want to cause pain, and asked for blessings. And he didn't want to experience pain. And... well a thud.

Jabez doesn't really have a Biblical Story. We forgot that in the nineties when we all wanted Jabez's blessing applied to our lives. Now why doesn't he have that story - there is NO Angst to learn from. Nothing to discuss. This would bore a psychologist to death. Would it even fall into the realm of normal - if that exists?

I knew a lady, in Dallas, people spoke of, when we all asked if  knew anyone someone with almost no problems -  . A gracious lady from a very prosperous family, who married a prosperous man, had a son and a daughter and sent them happily to college. Graciously giving to life and being good to the people around her. A Christian lady. In her fifties, her son's wife wanted to leave him for another man and take the two granddaughters with her to a new marriage. She suggested her new husband adopt the daughters. The lady, who had never even experienced a parental death, had her father dying and her daughter-in-law taking the grandchildren. She really frankly was experiencing pain for the first time - in abundance. And a very large dose of anger to go with that. Lather she would say, I had to experience for the first time, death and grief, and how to forgive when the offender - frankly did not care. Facing the fear my granddaughters would never know us. This good lady managed to overcome these things, she is a person who loves the Lord. She told us she was grateful for the decades she experienced without these problems. She smiled as she said, she hoped this was the last of these difficulties.

Frankly, it's an interesting story. I'm not sure Jabez is interesting. But I'm willing to live the situation and let you know...

Proverbs 30
5 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Which always requires some of this -

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

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