2 Samuel 13 Questions: Peace

Questions

      I.        Life

1.    What is something you noticed about God this week?

    II.        Text

Re-read 2 Samuel 13

Leader's note:

·         David was Amnon's, Absalom's (peace), and Tamar's Dad. Absolam and Tamar had the same mother. Amnon had a different mother.

1.    What happened in this story?

2.    Genesis 4:7b reads, "...sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Amnon knew that what he was doing was wrong; it seemed to powerfully desire him and it consumed him. Do we ever get tempted to do bad/wrong things and feel powerless to avoid that sin (addiction can be like this)? What can we do when we feel sin desiring to have us?

3.    Amnon immediately knew what he did was wrong and he hated his victim, his sister Tamar. He refused to try to make it right. Do we ever blame others instead of taking a look at ourselves and seeing how we can try to resolve the issue at hand? What can we do instead? Give an example of when you took responsibility for something you did (intentional or not) and God used that for good.

4.    Absalom hated Amnon. Absalom had a legitimate grievance against Amnon - Amnon raped his sister! He spent two years plotting his revenge against his brother. His actions against David, his dad (who it seems did nothing to right the wrongs done to his own daughter), led to Absalom's and others' death. I see lots of hate in the media today against a lot of different people. I even see people hating people for hating people. Are we ever tempted to 'hate' for a 'good cause'? How can hate be overcome?

5.    Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. N.T Wright writes, “Think of the best thing you can do for the worst person and then go ahead and do it.” Jesus tells us plainly, pointedly, repeatedly, lovingly, ‘love your enemies and do good to those who hate you.” Forgive as you want to be forgiven. Give, as you want it to be given to you. What are some practical ways you can show forgiveness?

6.    Unforgiveness is a self-inflicted wound. The person you hurt most by not forgiving someone is yourself; the other person may not even know that you have something against them or why you do. God wants to free you from the bondage of hate an unforgiveness; Is there someone in our lives who we have yet to forgive (don't tell us who they are!)? Ask God to help you forgive anyone you need to forgive.

Click here to read related sermon: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2007/11/2-samuel-13-18-taking-matters-in-his.html

Devotion 2.61/112: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Presented to River Street Cafe, 18 August 2017
    

In this letter, in our verse for today, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” “Therefore if anyone is in Christ…”: This phrase refers to anyone who is a Christian or as the New Testament more commonly refers to us, saints. We know what a saint is, right? The Greek word ‘saint’ in our Bibles is derived from the same word as ‘holiness’. In the New Testament ‘saint’, simply put, just means ‘Christian’. A Christian saint is contrasted with a ‘sinner’. So in the apostolic letters in the New Testament there really are just two choices in this regard. You can be either a Christian saint or you can be a sinner. As Paul’s letter reads ‘if anyone is in Christ’ it is saying that for all of us saints, for all of us Christians, we are a new creation – the old is gone, the new has come for all of us! This is exciting. When we hand our lives over to the Lord, it is like a changing of the guard; a new, fresh set of eyes now guards the prize. Paul is saying, like with the changing of the page on the calendar; so when we each turn the page on our life, giving it to Christ, we are holy (cf. Leviticus 19:2, 1 Peter 1:16).We are saints. We are renewed (cf. Isaiah 42:9, 43:19-20).The old has gone. The new has come.

Now does that mean that we never sin? We were reminded yesterday by Wendy that if we say we've never sinned we make God out to be a liar for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. This is important. We have all sinned. One key in John's writing, I think, is the identity statement. We have all sinned. We don't want to sin and God can keep us from sinning. A key is how we see ourselves: are we a sinner who sometimes does not sin or are we a saint (a Christian) who sometimes might sin and who can then turn to God ask for forgiveness, hopefully be delivered from sins and definitely continue on as a saint until the end. It is not a matter of how bad we sin or how much we sin (as Monica has reminded us, just because your sin is different from my sin, it doesn't mean that I -or you - have not sinned or that my sin is better or worse than yours). What matters, as far as sinners and Christian saints is concerned, is whether we identify ourselves as those who sin (and give ourselves licence to continue on sinning) or whether we identify ourselves as Christian saints who ask God to continue to free us from our sins and everything else that is plaguing us.

Devotion 2.60/111: James 1:2-3: Perseverance

Presented to River Street Cafe, 14 August 2017

Read James 1:2-3

Never Give up: Father Brebeuf, with Fathers Daniel and Davost, in 1634, "took up again the challenge of the Cross and re-established the Huron mission near the shores of the  Georgian Bay."* The salvation of Souls, and the Great commission*2 was the motivating factor for the noted perseverance of this Jesuit Priest: "Don't paddle unless you intend to always paddle"*3 was his motto. There were people out there who did not know Jesus and he would sacrifice everything to win the continent for Christ starting with Heronia! By 1648, eleven mission posts had been set up among the Heron AND their neighbours! No less than 18 priests and four lay ministers were involved in this  ministry.

Then the Iroquois attacked: "When the assault began, the two Jesuits raced among the men, shouting encouragement, urging them to pray, tending the wounded, baptizing the dying. The Iroquois prevailed. Brebeuf, Lalemant and sixty Huron warriors were captured, beaten and herded to St. Ignace. Brebeuf called on the Huron warriors to stay true to Christ to death. Stripped naked, the Jesuits were tied to stakes and tortured with fire. Brebeuf suffered from noon until four p.m. on this day, March 16, 1649. When he would not scream out, but continued to pray for the salvation of his tormentors, the Iroquois heated cauldrons of boiling water and poured it over him in mockery of baptism. They cut and hacked his body, and gouged out his eyes. Before he died, they scalped him and cut out his heart, which they ate. Lalemant died of similar tortures early the next morning."*

"Don't paddle unless you intend to always paddle." They would not scream out, but continued to pray for the salvation of their tormentors. Their faithfulness and perserverence led to the salvation of not only many in Heronia but also among the Iroquois, Algnquin, French, and English. May we be as faithful, even unto death.

1 Samuel 28: Which Way to Turn?

Presented to 614 Warehouse afternoon service, August 06, 2017 by Capt. M. Ramsay

Canada had its 150th celebration this year. Quiz for you: (answers at end)

1.         Who was Canada's first official PM? 

2.         Who was Canada's longest serving PM? 

3.         Who is Canada's Head of State?  Since when? 

  

Saul was Israel's first official king. He served as king for 42 years. That is twice as long as Canada's longest serving head of government; Just as Queen Elizabeth is the only monarch many of us remember, so Saul would be the only king that many of the Israelites remembered. Remember too that Saul wasn't just a figurehead. He was the head of government (such as it was then and there) and more importantly, he was not only in charge of the armed forces but he actually led them into battle. Our queen is 91 years old. Her husband, Prince Phillip, served in the armed forces from 1939 until she was about to inherit the throne, in 1952. Though he just retired from his royal duties this past Wednesday (he is in his 96), he hasn't served in the military in 60 years. King Saul, on the other hand, is 72 years old in our story today and he is actually fighting in the war and in the battle himself.  Anyone here in their 70s? Can you imagine strapping on 100+ lbs of armour, picking up a spear that weighs about as much and going off to fight in battle with 20 and 30 year olds? This is Saul.

            Just like one of the titles of our monarch is 'Defender of the Faith', one of Saul's most important duties was defender of the faith.  Israel was supposed to worship God alone - Saul for all his faults and struggles was faithful enough to hold to the state religion; his job was to represent God and He did in that regard (cf. Leviticus 19:31; 20:6-7; Deuteronomy 18:11).  This was actually better than many of the kings of Israel and Judah who would follow him; I think you will find as you read your OT that the Israelites worshiped Baal and/or Ashtoreth at least as much as they worshiped the Lord. Saul was defender of the faith. He was God's anointed.

            This brings us to our story today. Saul is getting ready for battle. Saul is afraid. God has done some great things through Saul. God has left him on the throne for decades and also in that time Saul has done some bad things and made some mistakes. Saul is still God's anointed but God's spirit has departed from him and his downfall is predicted.

            Saul is seventy-two or so. I don't know if you, in your life, have ever uttered the phrase, "I'm getting too old for this"? I imagine that he might being feeling that way he is feeling as he is with his sons and his men looking over the enemy or the reports of the enemy that is ready to attack him yet again. Saul has been at war with the Philistines for what must feel like his whole life and they are still there attacking him.[1] They just won't go away. I don't know if you've ever felt that about anyone? ...wishing they would just leave finally.

            Here he is, this 72 year-old, strapping on his amour, seeing the foe and receiving the reports. He is a little lost. He is overwhelmed. He is afraid. He doesn't know what to do. He tries to hear from God. Like many of us, I imagine, especially when life goes south, he is desperate to know what to do. Samuel, the leader of Israel before Saul, even though Saul and he had more than little disagreements, Samuel was one that Saul would approach for Godly advice; Samuel was a prophet but Samuel, our text today says, is dead. Saul, doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know where to turn to find out what God wants.

            Have you ever been there? Your life is in dire straits. You don't know where to turn. You cry out to the Lord and you just can't hear what he is saying. You wish he would just speak to you. You wish you knew what to do.

            Saul's enemies are ready to pounce on him. There is fear that the end near. He is trying everything he can think of to ascertain what God wants. He wants to know what to do. He can't ask Samuel because Samuel is dead. Saul maybe then has a fleeting thought that he can go to a witch, a medium, and consult the dead Samuel in a BCE séance of sorts but the text reminds us that Saul had cracked down on the media. To Saul's credit here, he is not trying to just do things on his own - maybe he learned his lessons from making that mistake previously. He is desperate to know what God wants him to do. (Actually this is neat: does anyone know what is the Hebrew word for 'to ask' , 'to inquire'? It is sa'al. So the text here says that Saul "sauled" the Lord.)[2]

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? Our text says He inquired of the Lord and looked for answers in a number of different ways. Samuel was dead so Saul sought out other prophets from whom he could hear God's word. Prophets before Saul were often political or military rulers themselves (Abraham, Moses, Samuel) and prophets after Saul were often expected to be able to bring a word from God into a situation. Nathan is a prophet who will be introduced in 2 Samuel. He brings the Word of the Lord to King David and even rebukes him, reminiscent of how the now deceased Samuel rebuked Saul (2 Samuel 12). Later, of course, there would be disputes if prophets had different messages (cf. 1 Kings 13; 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18).[3] Are some speaking for God? Are some not? How can you tell? Was Saul getting conflicting messages or could Saul not even find a prophet in this situation? For whatever reason here, Saul couldn't find out by prophets what God wanted him to do.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? He hoped for a response in a dream - this was a common way then and there to hear from God. We remember Joseph from the book of Genesis. God told Joseph in dreams or through interpreting others' dreams what He was going to do (Genesis 37,40,41): that Joseph's brothers would bow down to him, that one of Pharaoh's servants would live but another would die, and that there would be a terrible famine following years of plenty. Later God would speak to Daniel many times through dreams. Once God not only gave Daniel the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream but also knowledge of the dream itself (Daniel 2). God was known to speak in dreams but - try as he might, want as he might, worry as he might - Saul did not discern an answer in his predicament through dreams.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? There is the Urim. You know what is the Urim? The Urim and the Thummim were sacred lots that were cast to discern God's will. They were often kept in the High Priest's breast plate, over his heart ( Exodus 28:30). They were a way to figure out what God had ordained. One would ask God a question and the Lord would answer through the casting of these lots. Saul had used these before to inquire of God (1 Samuel 14:41). But the Lord did not answer him by Urim or prophets or dreams today. The Lord, it appeared, was silent.

            Do we ever find ourselves in this spot where it seems like life is crashing in around us and no matter where we turn we can't seem to see where God is leading? Do we ever get to the point where we don't think we can even hear God much less see to follow where He is leading? This is Saul's predicament.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? He has tried prophets, dreams, and the Urim. If only Samuel were here, Samuel would know what to do. Samuel and Saul didn't see eye to eye and in fact they didn't see each other at all in the years before Samuel passed away. Now Saul must think, 'if only Samuel were here'. And then he obviously thinks, 'I wonder if I can contact him even now that he's dead'? He may even think, 'if only I didn't expel all the witches, mediums, and spiritists then I could contact him and find out what to do'. He then asks his people if any of them know of any mediums who are still in the land. It is interesting that they do. It makes one wonder why they didn't turn in the Witch of Endor when Saul was on an earlier witch hunt but they didn't.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? His men, at his behest, bring Saul to the witch at Endor. She is afraid. She is suspicious of these people who have shown up in disguise at her door. She must suspect that this is entrapment of some sort but she goes ahead and calls up the ghost of Samuel as the incognito Saul has requested. She then becomes terrified and screams as she reveals that she knows for sure that he is Saul. There has been a media black-out of sorts. Saul has driven out the mediums but here is a woman who has been caught live-streaming the dead.[4] She is afraid but Saul convinces her this isn't a trap and he really wants to hear what Samuel has to say.

            So she tells him. The end is nigh. God through Samuel and the witch at Endor give King Saul one last rebuke.[5] 1 Samuel 28:15-18 again:

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

 “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 

            This is the final prediction of the impending tragic end of Saul and his reign.[6] The Lord left Saul in a position of great responsibility for many years. One assumes he had all that time to seek the Lord's leading and direction in his life. But here he is condemned: like a tragic soul on a Halloween night, standing before a witch and a ghost. Saul did not listen to the Lord (v.18). Saul did not follow (obey) the Lord. He turned away to consult someone other than our Lord.

            The question for us today is do we ever fall into the same trap as Saul? Do we ever find ourselves in this spot where it seems like life is crashing in around us and no matter where we turn we can't seem to see what to do? Do we ever get to the point where we don't think we can even hear God much less see to follow where He is leading? Have we ever been there? Do we turn to horoscopes, palm readings, personality tests, conventional wisdom, celebrities, or even 'experts' or anything or anyone in the place of God?[7] Our life is in dire straits, do we run off in strange chaotic directions or do we wait on the Lord? It is said that God answers prayers in one of three ways: 'yes', 'no', or 'wait'. If we don't discern a 'yes' or a 'no' from Him what should we do?

            Our lives can sometimes seem out of control. They can sometimes seem overwhelming. When they do, instead of running around here and there in a panic and turning to anyone and anything around us, we can trust and obey. God will never leave nor forsake us. Instead of rushing around, Psalm 46:10: [God says] “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Because of this, Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." And as Jesus reminds us in his famous Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." and  in one of my favourite verses in the Bible to which I often return when I am in my time of need, Matthew 6:33-34, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." If we seek and wait for God, He will take care of us. He will, God loves us. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Therefore, we can keep on keeping on as they say. He is faithful (Romans 3:3,4) and He will take care of us; so when life seems overwhelming we don't need to run around in a panic, we can instead read our scriptures, pray for one another and otherwise be still and know that He is God. For He is able, more than able to take care of what concerns us today.

Let us pray.

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ANSWERS TO QUIZ

1.Who was Canada's first official PM? (Sir John A MacDonald)

2. Who was Canada's longest serving PM? William Lyon Mackenzie King served 21 years over a period of 27 years. Sir John A. MacDonald served almost 19 yrs and Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Sir Wilfred Laurier served over 15 years each.

3.Who is Canada's Head of State?  Since when? HRH Queen Elizabeth II, since 1952.

  

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[1] cf. Ronald F. Youngblood, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:1 and 2 Samuel/Exposition of First Samuel/III. Establishment of Monarchy in Israel (16:1-31:13)/B. The End of the Reign of Saul (28:3-31:13)/1. Saul and the medium at Endor (28:3-25), Book Version: 4.0.2

[2]  Bruce C. Birch, 'The First and Second Books of Samuel' in New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 2, ed. Leander E. Keck, et el. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998), 1118

[3] cf. Captain Michael Ramsay 1 Kings 13: Lion for Prophet (Sheepspeak.com: Swift Current, SK: 25 Nov. 2012), on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2012/11/1-kings-13-lion-for-prophet.html

[4] cf. Samuel Waje Kunhiyop, 'Witchcraft', Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), 374 for a discussion of witchcraft even  in contemporary African societies and even churches

[5] Cf. for a discussion of whether or not the necromancer did actually contact Samuel:  Lewis, Cults of the Dead, p. 115 n. 39) and Hoffner, TDOT, 1:133-34; Haley, Alleged Discrepancies, pp. 194-95; Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 180-81; cited from The Expositor's Bible Commentary.

[6] This tragedy will see his death, the death of so many of his soldiers, the death of his sons, and the penultimate death of his kingdom's dynastic hopes (cf. 2 Samuel 4&9 for the ultimate death of dynastic hopes). Two chapters later Saul and his sons are dead. This is a tragic end to a tragic hero.

[7] Cf. Bruce C. Birch, 'The First and Second Books of Samuel' in New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 2, ed. Leander E. Keck, et el. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998), 1185.
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Further Questions

Psalm 46:10: “...Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

      I.        Life

1.   1. What is something you noticed about God this week?

    II.        Text

Re-read 1 Samuel 28

Leader's note:

·         Dreams were a common way to try to understand God will (ie. Joseph, Genesis 39ff, and Daniel).

·         Prophets were political, military and religious leaders prior to King Saul; after Saul they often represented God to the king and the people (cf. 2 Samuel 12, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles).

·         Urim was one of 2 sacred lots kept in the High Priest breast plate (by his heart) that were used to seek God's will.

1.    What happened in this story?

2.    Who was the prophet and previous leader of Israel that this passage mentions had recently been 'promoted to Glory'? Why might King Saul want to consult with him?

3.    Why did King Saul have to disguise himself to see the seer/witch (necromancer)? The Bible mentions that it was right to get rid of the witches/mediums; why do you think that is and why do you suppose he went to see one now?

4.    Saul was a senior (72) and in a difficult situation (still fighting in the army!) and he was afraid. He wanted to know what to do; what were some of the things he did to attempt to discern the correct course of action? [see leader's note]

5.    Saul gave up waiting for God and turned to a witch/medium/seer/necromancer; what are some of the people or things we can be tempted to turn to (instead of or as well as God) when we want to know what to do?

6.    Saul was in a difficult situation (still fighting in the army!) and he was afraid. Are there times when our life is overwhelming and we don't know what to do? what should we do then?

7.    It is said that God always gives one of three answers: 'yes', 'no', or 'wait'; if we don't have a 'yes' or a 'no' from God, what should we do? St. Monica prayed for years for salvation for her son, eventually the Lord saw that happen and  he became St. Augustine, one of the most important names in the early Church. Give an example of when has the Lord answered a prayer after you prayed that prayer many times over the years.

8.    Pray for each other and this week thank the Lord for specific ways that he has answered your prayers.

Devotion 2.57/109: John 1:3: Overcome

Presented to Riverside Cafe, 02 & 04 August 2017

Read John 1:3-5

Darkness is the work of the enemy. Light is the life of Christ. As we refuse to take part in bad behaviours the darkness and troubles around us will really turn into light and life. Leo Tolstoy, a couple of hundred years before 'pay it forward' wrote a book entitled 'The Forged Coupon'. This book starts with one person giving into a little temptation and then it spirals way out of control with lots of people down the road creating lots of serious problems -even death -for others. But then at a mid-way point of the book, the story reverses. One lady refuses to partake in selfishness and her act of goodness reverses the trend and is the first in a series of blessed events that sees all the characters, instead of spreading darkness, shining the light of Christ into the world.
 
It is the same with us. If the next time someone complains to you about someone, if you refuse to listen to it and counter by saying something good about that person and direct the complainant - with a smile - to speak to the person instead of about him/her; if you pray for him/her and refuse to gossip or even listen to her/him then you can be that turning point God uses to transform a whole community from darkness to light.
 
However, if we choose to complain ourselves or listen to others gossip. grumble and complain then we are feeding the darkness. Today the choice is ours, like those who live in darkness, we can grumble, complain, and gossip on a seemingly righteous campaign spreading that darkness and death or, like those who walk in the light, we can love and support our neighbours, refusing to repay evil with even a bad thought let alone a bad word or more. The choice is ours. We can choose the light of salvation or darkness and death. It is my hope that we will choose the light and love of God, for as we do we will see the whole world changed, our churches changed, and indeed we will see our very own souls transformed.

www.sheepspeak.com