Be angry and sun not….

 Be angry and do not sin…

When I was reading 1 Samuel 25, I thought about entitlement…both on David’s side and Nabel’s…both felt they were entitled to something…but, another lesson is really about revenge and anger…

Years ago, my husband and I sought counseling for anger management for our younger son…one of the statements the counselor made was, when a person is angry, their brain chemistry changes and they think differently, not rationally…the chemistry takes over…(have since read about it…)…

Reading about David in this portion of scripture brought this to mind…David became mad, did not consult the Lord as he had previously…and began to seek revenge for what he thought he was entitled to…

 “David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. 

About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. 

David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. 

He has paid me back evil for good. May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!””

1Sam.25.13,1Sam.25.21-22

God sent a wise woman, Abigail to appease David as he set  out for battle…and David recognized God’s hand in this…

 “David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 

May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 

Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.” 

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.”1Sam.25.32,1Sam.25.33,1Sam.25.34,1Sam.25.39a…

We have choices to make about anger…we can let it change us…we can hold back and see how God works…anger can change into bitterness which eats the soul…

 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Eph.4.31-32

Thank YOU….

“Whether it's one of those minor daily annoyances or something much bigger, a lot is happening in your brain when you get angry. “When you are angry, your ‘fight-or-flight’ response is activated, and your heart starts to beat faster,” explains Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW. “Simultaneously, the part of your brain responsible for rational thinking—the prefrontal cortex—becomes less active.”verywellmind.com

 Tremble and do not sin;when you are on your beds,search your hearts and be silent.

Ps.4.4

 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. 

Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?

Eccl.5.6

 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Eph.4.26-27

 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Rom.12.19-21

If these walls could speak…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=CcQv2uwTFuE

Doing the right thing…

 Doing the right thing…

We are pressured so many times, in many ways to compromise…whether in personal life, public, hidden or in the open…

David had a choice to further his kingship along by killing Saul , but he chose to do the right thing…

 And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 

He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed.” 

So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. 

And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

1Sam.24.5-7

 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. 

For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? 

Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Matt.5.44-46

 But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].  

For if you love [only] those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? 

Matt.5.44-46 AMP

 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Matt.5.44-46KJV

 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. 

For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. 

Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? 

Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. 

But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. 

For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 

Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 

For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Rom.13.1-7

Thank YOU…

All you’ve ever wanted…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea-uQFPcvaM

Finding the “right” group…

 Finding the “right” group…

Our family moved when I was in the 4th and 6th grades…the second one was the most traumatic…junior high years, secrets, hormones, class cliques, etc…etc…

We moved to a small town where friendships had long been established and new students were an oddity …consequently making new friends was hard…(although I established lifelong friends at that school)..the beginning was rough…girls that age have cliques which are hard to “break into”, hard to be “accepted “…there was no bullying that I was aware of, just finding your way into the “right” group, fitting in…add to that, I was shy, quiet…it took time to adjust, find the friends who I trusted…and the by the middle of year, I was  ensconced into a group…which changed the following year…

But, God used those times, those experiences, those people in my life… for good…

Thank YOU…

David,in chapter 22 of 1 Samuel, is establishing his “group”…his family, “all those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader…400 men…”What a group…to form into an army…

David, who wanted to serve the king…who served the real King…became an “outlaw”…

He wrote his “outlaw” psalms during this time…

Written about Doeg going into the town  of the priests and killing them and the town of people…

 “Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?

Why do you boast all day long,you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? 

You who practice deceit,your tongue plots destruction;it is like a sharpened razor. 

You love evil rather than good,falsehood rather than speaking the truth. 

You love every harmful word,you deceitful tongue! 

Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent;he will uproot you from the land of the living. 

The righteous will see and fear;they will laugh at you, saying, “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” 

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. 

For what you have done I will always praise youin the presence of your faithful people.

And I will hope in your name,for your name is good.”

Ps.52.1-9

 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,for in you I take refuge.I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

Ps.57.1

“These psalms are classic illustrations of the adage that “poets learn in suffering what they teach in song”. Ironically, the sweetest songs are born out of the saddest moments. As we read these psalms in connection with their events in 1 Samuel, we observe how God uses the refining fires of persecution to forge and shape the character and faith of David.”

https://www.onethingministries.net/word-of-the-lord/articles/the-psalms-in-the-narrative-flow-of-davids-life/

Awake my soul….Psalm 57..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmfRRdSm2us

Desert valleys…

 Desert valleys….

Years ago, I had a friend who remembered coming into the Boise valley in a wagon as a child…she remembered the desert, the dryness, the arid land…they were on their way further west as the Boise valley held no dreams for that family…this was before the dams, the irrigation systems were dreamed of…

Then, just lately another friend posted a video of one of the  present town’s beginnings…starting from a few tents to a bustling farm town…

One of the “deserts” in the world…there are so many that are much more arid than this one…

There was I book I held dear when I moved to the “desert” of Nevada, 56 years ago, by LB Cowman, Streams in the Desert …I was leaving the lushness of Western Oregon and the California Redwoods…those first years and some later were desert/wilderness years…that I needed to see God’s perspective of the streams that he provided…growth years, hard and happy years, faith building years….

In 1 Samuel, David moves from his family’s herd, anointing as king,  fighting in Saul’s army to years in the desert…training years…

Adam and Eve moved from the lushness of the garden of Eden to the desert…

The Israelites went from the land of Egypt to the desert for 40 years…coming into the promised land..

David went to the desert for several years…coming into his kingship at the end…

Israel was exiled to Babylon for 70 years…coming back to the land…

Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days…came out Triumphant…

God promises he will never leave us or forsake us…even in the wilderness years…He walks with us…preparing the way…

Coming to the feast, the table prepared  for us…

 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.     

He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,     

he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right pathsfor his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow meall the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Ps.23.1-6

1 Samuel 21

1. David sought refuge in God by going to his house…

2. David sought provision from God…

3. David sought deliverance from the evil one…

4. David sought God’s protection from his enemies…

5. David sought God’s guidance…

6. David praised God…(1 Thess. 5:8)

Psalm 34…when David feigned madness 

 I will extol the Lord at all times;his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord;let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the Lord with me;let us exalt his name together. 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;he delivered me from all my fears. 

Those who look to him are radiant;their faces are never covered with shame. 

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;he saved him out of all his troubles. 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,and he delivers them. 

Taste and see that the Lord is good;blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 

Fear the Lord, you his holy people,for those who fear him lack nothing. 

The lions may grow weak and hungry,but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 

Come, my children, listen to me;I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 

Whoever of you loves lifeand desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from eviland your lips from telling lies. 

Turn from evil and do good;seek peace and pursue it. 

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,and his ears are attentive to their cry; 

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,to blot out their name from the earth. 

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;he delivers them from all their troubles. 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 

The righteous person may have many troubles,but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones,not one of them will be broken. 

Evil will slay the wicked;the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 

The Lord will rescue his servants;no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Ps.34.1-22

Thank YOU…

Give thanks to the Lord…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1m9I7vHYZ0

Great article…

https://inspiredscripture.com/bible-studies/1-samuel-21#gsc.tab=0

 

Pressed down..poured out

 Pressed down…poured out…

The other day, a neighbor/friend came over to ask a favor…her husband was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, given a few months to live…they needed a Walker, one which he could walk with and also sit in when needed..it just so happens I had an assortment of walkers from my adventures these last few years…and one fit their needs…she  hugged me again and again In tears, thanking me for being an answer to their prayers…..

You know, I didn’t wake up that day knowing I would be helpful to anyone or be an answer to someone’s prayers…God orchestrated it …I just happened to be blessed by it…as well as He….

Going back to God’s fingerprints in our lives that was alluded to the other day…those times when we see Him working , a glimpse of glory…His provision, His care…His rich love…His miracles-events that only He can do…I love watching for those…they me cry in wonder and praise of His great glory….

He has done something in our family this last week, that only he could do…upon receiving the news, I broke down, never expecting the gift he has given…along with so many more…

I thought of John who wrote, “ Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

John.21.25

Thank YOU….

 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke.6.38

 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. 

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. 

These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Titus.3.4-8

Our God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-6YdT1DEO8