“for the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.” 1 Samuel 12:22 Abandon – “Why did you leave me?” The piercing blade of those words wounded me, cutting through my rationalizations. I felt only shame. How often…
“Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies” 1 Samuel 4:3 Deliver – Yesterday we saw the reaction to Israel’s defeat. The elders recognized immediately that the issue was with God, not the…
“Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines?” 1 Samuel 4:3 Defeated – We are in dire need of a change of perspective. In fact, without a new worldview, we are undoubtedly headed for defeat and disaster. All history shows this to be true. God pronounces it to be true. But we are…
“Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;” Galatians 6:1 If – What’s the difference between these two uses of “if”? “If I had $10 million dollars, I would give more money to the church” and “If you apologize, you…
“The LORD visited Hannah” 1 Samuel 2:21 _________ – In Hebrew, two small letters are added to this verb. These letters are missing in English. But they are important. Let’s see why. Do you remember the great theme of Hannah’s prayer? It’s God’s sovereignty. Hannah knows that God is completely in charge of life, right…
“The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.” 1 Samuel 2:7 Makes poor – Three thousand years ago Hannah proclaimed thanksgiving to the Lord in a prayer of incredible power. A year earlier she was crushed with sorrow. She longed for a child of her own. God heard her lament and…
“In all wisdom and insight, He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention” Ephesians 1:8-9 Kind intention – I would have liked something a bit stronger here. Our culture doesn’t put much weight on “intention” these days. We commonly hear, “Well, at least he has the right…
“In all wisdom and insight, He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention” Ephesians 1:8-9 According – Sometimes the smallest words carry very big loads. In the New Testament, prepositions are tiny words with tremendous significance. This preposition, kata, is no exception. When you think about the…
“In all wisdom and insight, He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention” Ephesians 1:8-9 Has made known – How many times have you and I struggled with the clarity of God’s will for us? How often have you felt as though you just couldn’t understand what…
“In all wisdom and insight, He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention” Ephesians 1:8-9 Insight – My friend Terry and his family survived hurricane Ivan as it passed over Grand Cayman where they live. Their house was destroyed by 165 mile an hour winds and an…
