Bible study Daily, explanation and encouragement - 1 Samuel
Mastering the language means knowing what things you should not be saying to others may often be said to God.
TELL your likely complaints to God ONLY. REMEMBER that revenge must come only from the hands of the Lord.
Ana faced an emotional struggle with her competitor called Penina, and also the misinterpretation of priest Eli in a time of anguish in prayer.
Believe in prayer!
Open your mouth and talk to God!
He will do the miracle!
HEARING GOD'S CALL.
the main truths are:
- God is silent when His word is not known.
- God's call can be confused.
- God's call is insistent.
- The word of God is transmitted when His servants hear.
The creation of a man of God is summarized in verses 19 to 21.
- A life of growth
- The presence of God
- An anointed word
- A good reputation
- The word of the Lord, or as it should be for us, an open Bible.
The phrase: And the word of Samuel came to all Israel, it means that the word of the Lord had become the word of Samuel, and that the young man's reputation as a prophet spread throughout the land. Samuel's message, like the words of any preacher or teacher, was powerful enough to reflect and personify the Lord's message.
- Believe in the results of obedience; what we practice offers evidence of our faith. Faith is not a dogmatic statement. GENERATES ACTION, produces obedience, and through victory it becomes fruitful!
- Incomplete obedience is the same as disobedience.
- Be sure that God can use even your few resources, when accompanied by great faith, to overcome any obstacle you face.
In the continuation of this story, back in verse 11, it says that Israel lost this battle and the ark was taken by the Philistines, also the two sons of Eli died.
We observed that the physical presence of the ark had no power when the God of the ark was ignored, and the Israelites were defeated with great damage.
In this fiasco we have another demonstration of the fact that God is more concerned with intimate loyalty than with symbols; whether they are, as at that time, the Tabernacle and the ark or, in our day, things like church affiliation, baptism, confirmation or doctrinal orthodoxy. "Porque el hombre ve lo que está delante de sus ojos, mas el SEÑOR ve el corazón" (1 Samuel 16:7).
God is our help
In this story we can find:
- Conditions for receiving God's help.
- Confession of the need for God's help.
- The crisis as an occasion for God's help.
- Call to prayer for God's help
- Victory through God's help.
- Be careful you may be praying in an unwise and ruthless way. God can give you what you are asking for as a form of discipline, which could be unnecessary if your attitude was different.
- Do not value the size of resources too much. REMEMBER: THE LORD DOES GREAT THINGS THROUGH INSIGNIFICANT NUMBERS (1 Sam 14:6)
- Know that God sees the heart and not the outward appearance (1 Sam 16:7)
- DO NOT JUDGE BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE. Do not overlook small opportunities. Understand that they prepare us for bigger battles! (1 Sam 17:34-37)
- Said David: The Lord saved me from the hand of the lion and the bear; he will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine ... (1 Sam 17:37)
CREATING A NEW MAN
One of the most important evidences of a life filled with the Holy Spirit is the change of character and the development of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that enable us to live for Jesus Christ.
In verses 6-11 we have:
- Salvation- God changed his heart in another heart
- Renewal- The Spirit of God took over him
- Recognition - all those who knew before saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets. Then the people said, each to his companion: What happened to the son of Kish?
So, let us be prudent with spiritual manifestations, so as not to be deceived by what we see there, speaking in strange languages and prophecy that do not fulfill. But daily life, business, family, honesty, etc. will really tell you if that person is really filled with the Holy Spirit.
FAILING IN THE TEST OF FAITH
At the prophet's delay, Saul himself offered a burnt offering. He sought to justify this error before Samuel based on the fact that the people were spreading out. This was the first of the several steps that the king took, when turning away from God, each explained in the same way: “the people”! Forced by circumstances - that is, I did it reluctantly; therefore I am not guilty.
In his first test, and under direct order - and no matter the urgency of the strenuous circumstances - Saul had failed. Direct disobedience can never be justified on the basis of "need".
- The test of faith comes when:
- The danger increases.
- Fear sets in.
- Human support fails.
Failing the test of faith results in:
- Disobedience
- Excuses.
- Loss of God's blessings.
The Lord is very clear about disobedience. We may think our ideas are better than God's ideas, but He calls this stubbornness and says it amounts to idolatry. Why idolatry? Because we are idolizing our own ideas, exalting them above the orders of God.
Rebellion is the unwillingness to obey a higher power. That could be to obey the commandments of God as given in the Old and New Testaments. The reluctance to obey traffic rules, such as driving with too much alcohol and driving through red light with the death of others. Theft, murder, adultery. A child's disobedience to parents. God sees this as a sin of divination and idolatry. It is giving in to sin and obeying satan (idolatry, serving your old master satan).
In the case of King Saul, because he did not listen to the orders of God, God rejected him and took the kingdom away from him. The lesson for the Christian is, if the Christian does not wish to live a spiritual life and go his or her own way and will, then he or she will not be taken at the Rapture of the Church but will be left (Matthew 24:40-42) nor be a king in the 1,000-year Kingdom of Jesus after the Great Tribulation.
Samuel's sadness over Saul's rejection was interrupted by a new mission. Saul's dynasty could not continue. The prophet needed to move away from the past and its situations, and look to the future, when God's next goals were fulfilled.
In our life it is also like this, we stand in sadness for an end of relationship, for the loss of a job, or for any other loss and we stop looking up, as it says in the psalm, I RAISE MY EYES TO THE HILLS FROM WHERE MY HELP WILL COME. Forget what happened and seek God's guidance, the one who makes all things new!
WHAT GOD WATCHED
This phrase can be seen both negatively and positively in verse 6:13.
- The Lord does not seek beautiful faces.
- Physical stature.
- Age or maturity.
- Standing or position.
The Lord looks at the heart, and pours his spirit on those He accepts.
WINNING THE WAR WITH WORDS
Never run towards your giant with your mouth shut!
We all face giants, satan and demons in life.
SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD RELEASES THE POWER OF GOD TO WIN IN EVERY CONFLICT!
To win the battle of faith, it is necessary to WIN the war of words. In 1 Samuel 17 he gives us a picture of the faithful words that were spoken and determined the outcome of a war.
NEVER LEAVE THE DEVIL WITH THE LAST WORD!
Before David ran to Goliath, he fought a war of words.
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mat. 4.4)
Faith is released when we speak.
If you are silent you have lost by default.
Complicated situation for David. Someone's life and future depend perfectly on a decision made in just one moment. As Saul's men guarded the door, Michal helped David escape through a window (similar escapes in Josh 2:15; Acts 9:25; 2 Cor. 11:23). There are situations where an ejaculatory prayer is necessary, the person needs to decide or to flee or to die. A woman who is constantly beaten by her husband likely to be killed, parents who see their son being driven into addictions by his circle of friends, etc.
The need for a decision is evidenced in verses 8-18. It is expressed in Michal's words to David: If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow they will kill you. Here we have
- Danger
- Decision
- Liberation.
He escaped through the window, sometimes that's all you have, a window. After observation, do not stay in a corner crying and regretting the situation, make the decision today! Grab the opportunity before you and be free, in the name of Jesus! Admit you are a sinner and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord!
Throughout chapter 25 tells the story between Nabal, David and Abigail. Nabal was a wealthy man and was shearing his sheep when David, who was at a time nearby with his group, sent 10 men asking for help in order to supply their food needs. David's request was politely made and there was also an established custom of sharing the "good hour".
Nabal's response was insolent, he spoke of David as a runaway servant and refused the request. When the men returned and reported the deception, David summoned them to take up arms against Nabal. One of Nabal's own men, meanwhile, told his wife Abigail what had happened.
Abigail quickly gathered supplies and, without telling her husband, ordered her own household servants to bring them to David, while she followed close behind.
By prostrating herself, Abigail sought to appease David's anger. Her speech is a masterpiece of wisdom. She got peace.
How many women live like this having to put out the fires promoted by their husbands. Men like Nabal (his name means "fool"), who sometimes have a good financial situation, but do not have the wisdom to deal with the family. They only think about themselves and their work, they never have time for their family. They say: ah! If my son wants to talk, he comes here, he looks for me. But forget to build that relationship of trust. How will your children look for you as a father if they do not even have a friendship relationship. And how many women, even without being Christians but who have character, live with this type of husband, who kills the love and admiration she feels, leaving only dismay and sadness. Where the children prefer a divorce, or being children of a single mother because everything they have to solve they always look for the mother, because the father never understands them. It is sad. But she endured to the end. One day God Himself hurts Nabal and he died leaving Abigail free. Be careful if you are a man and it is like this with your family, change it quickly.
These verses 1-10 give us valuable suggestions on how to deal with discouragement, the causes of discouragement are:
- Grief and loss.
- Pain and sadness that come from the unexpected blows of life.
- The incomprehension of intimate companions when they do their best.
The cure for discouragement is found at:
- Seek God in prayer.
- Resolute action.
- Above all, expect strong support from the Lord God.
Divide and divide equally is the subject of the text. Principles can be listed here:
- Not everyone can be on the front line.
- Maintaining the base camp is important, despite the reactions this arouses.
- God's generosity and kindness order a fair treatment for all.
- The prayer and financial home front is important to evangelists, pastors and missionaries.
To vary the number, we can conclude that not only Paul "who sows" and Apollo "who waters", but those who prepare the land and provide the seed, also rejoice in the harvest that God gives (1 Cor. 3: 6-9).