1 Samuel 4-7

We must not confuse the Ark of the Covenant with a talisman, which is an object that possesses magic powers with the assumption being that those powers are conveyed to whomever possesses the object.

The Ark of the Covenant conveys no power to a person or a nation but rather the covenant in ones heart with God, of which the Ark was a symbol is where the power presides. The Israelites found courage in facing insurmountable odds when the Ark was in the camp, not because of magical powers but because they were reminded of the covenant they had made with God and that covenantal relationship was the motivation behind God interceding supernaturally on their behalf.

In this portion of the text, we see they lost the battle in spite of the presence of the Ark. Why? Because they had broken covenant with God. No covenant, no favor, no power.

Nor was Samuel's prophetic abilities hindered by the Ark's absence during all its years at Abinadab's house. Why, because it was Samuel's covenant with God that mattered. Did David want the Ark back from Abinadab's house when he became king? Absolutely. Did it matter? Absolutely. Why? Not because it was a talisman but because it was a reminder to the people that they were in a covenantal relationship with God. It was their wedding ring. My ring has no power a part from my promise but my ring reminds me of my promise and it is in our promises that we are well postured for the favor of those with whom we covenant.

Are you keeping your promises? To your wife, your children, your calling, your God?

Pastor Fred

1 Samuel 3

Are you telling your children that of all the things they have to wait for in life, privileges that only age brings, knowing the voice of God is NOT one of them?

Pastor Fred

1 Samuel 1-2

This is a striking contrast between Hannah and Eli's sons. It is better to suffer with less and remain righteous than to satisfy our appetites at the expense of God's ways and our right standing with Him. Hannah kept her promise, gave up Samuel, with no guarantee that should would ever have another child, but ended up with 5 children ultimately! While Eli's sons lacked for nothing but ultimately perished and even more, forfeited their family's cherished priestly privileges.

If ever violating what we know to be right seems expedient, do not be fooled, never reach for immediate gain, righteousness always pays a higher dividend, even unto eternity.

Pastor Fred

Judges 20-21

The thread in this story that speaks to me is the sacredness of vows. I fear that we use God's grace permissively, against the Apostle Paul's stringent warning (Romans 6:15). Marriage, taxes, business contracts, financial commitments, even our promises of devotion to Jesus are all vows that should not be so easily forsaken. May we as a society recover a collective consciousness that cherishes the sacredness of vows, the blessing of a vow kept and the cursing of one broken.

Pastor Fred

Judges 19

In Judges 17:6, we read that everyone did what seemed right in their own eyes, or as another translations renders, whatever he wanted. This chapter, 19, reveals to us the nauseating vulgarity of a life with no regard for God and His ways. We might say, I would never do anything so repulsive. But what we forget, is that the most humanly palatable moment of disobedience is to God as repulsive as Judges 19. Of that which we are dismissive, still condemned Jesus to the cross.

Pastor Fred

Judges 17-18

In chapter 17, we see God giving ministers a direct warning to never let their need for support to compromise their calling to speak to people about sin. We also see a warning to the church to not just employee a minister who will accommodate their sin.

Chapter 18 continues with warnings to both the minister and the church. To clergy, to be wary of the temptation to improve their vocational position and forsake their calling to certain a church in a certain city. Meaning, clergy should not move from church to church, from town to town as if the ministry is a career for the purpose of advancement. Clergy is a calling, not a career. By the same token, a church should not be so quick to rob a sister church their leadership simply to benefit their own house, insensitive to the leadership void left behind. When either disregard calling for selfish motivation, they should not be surprised that suffering soon follows...we cannot out run reciprocity!

I also want to point out a connection with these texts with Revelation 7:4-8. Here in Revelation, we see a listing of tribes represented in heaven, but both Dan and Ephraim are missing. We find why in regards to Dan here, they abandoned God's ways, embracing idolatry, forsaking Him. Is this a reference to Dan's sin causing them to loose their salvation or the loss of their place of honor within heaven? I will leave that to wiser theologians, but for me, I do not want to risk either!

Pastor Fred

Judges 16

Why would he tell her? Doesn't his willingness to reveal his secret to her, after she has clearly demonstrated that she is going to betray him, look like complete insanity? Yes, until we see Samson's true sin. I believe Samson revealed his secret because he did not believe his secret held the power of his strength any longer. I believe he told her because he did not believe he was taking any risk at all. I believe Samson was guilty of an egregious sin, the sin of self-reliance. Samson had come to believe that he was his own source of strength, the very sin that cast Lucifer out of the heavens. Samson was not surprised that Delilah had schemed to have him captured; he was surprised that he had actually lost his strength.

We all live a life between the pillars ultimately, it is just a matter of which pillars they will be. In the end, we see Samson between two pillars (Judges 16:29). I believe this is a prophetic reference to the two pillars between which he was supposed to be living, the two he had forsaken. I say prophetic because the two pillars of which I speak had not yet been built. In 1 Kings 7:21 we read that God instructed Solomon to place two massive pillars at the top of the temple steps, named Jachin and Boaz. "He will establish" and "In Him is strength" respectively. Interesting parallel isn't it given Samson's anointing, as a judge, to establish Israel with strength. Samson forgot the "He" and "Him" of his calling, an utter dependence upon God.

Which pillars are you between? Just as we read in Joshua 8:34 and Joshua 24:14-15, so too we must choose. Life or death, blessing or cursing, which pillars, which path, which life?

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, Jachin and Boaz, He will establish, In Him is strength. We will wait upon the Lord!

Pastor Fred