Author: ianfrancoisdt

“Be still and know – that I am God – be still and consider My creation – consider the lilies of the Field they don’t labour or spin yet are clothed in more beauty than a king. Consider the sparrows – they don’t sow all plant – but I provide for them all they need. I am the One who hangs out the stars at night and tells the Sun went to shine – I kiss the flowers every morning with dew, yet I am never too busy to care about you – yes I never slumber nor sleep. I am there all the time caring for you that you will not stumble or fall. Consider all these things and many more which speak of Me and know I am not only your Creator but I am also your Father and your Lover and Friend – and yes, I really care about you and everyone else who reads this blog.“

On now to 1 Samuel chapter 5. Looking back over God’s story so far in His bible we have seen various ways that God represented Himself. Each one had a significance. Think of the burning bush and Moses. Then some time later the picture in Exodus 19 where God was going to speak to His people from a mountain. Thunder and lightning, plus a warning that no-one should come near as He demonstrated His holiness and power. Then later, hiding Moses in a cleft in a rock so that he would not die as God passed by.

The end of Exodus shows God’s careful preparation of the “Tabernacle”, every part of which was significant in representing God and how He should be approached and worshipped by His people. The most significant part of the tabernacle was the “Holy Of Holies” where the golden box, containing the testimony was placed. The high priest could only go in there once a year, it was so holy and then they tied a rope around his leg so that if he should die because of God’s presence they could drag him out without going in there themselves.

Of course this was really symbolic to teach the people to be in awe of Yahweh, because God could never be contained in a box.

In Chapter 5 of 1 Samuel we see the Philistines delighted that they had captured Israel’s God. Little did they know or understand. What starts as delight soon turns to horror as their favourite deity Dagon falls on his face the first night they are together. Even worse the next day he is found broken. Interestingly He has lost his head. Dagon was then one of three major figures in 1 Samuel to be destroyed. The other two were Goliath and Saul.

Even worse the people of the area are affected by an outbreak of a disease which featured tumours (probably Bubonic plague). This supposed huge magic asset had now become a major liability and the Philistines did not know what to do with it. The writer repeats, “God’s hand was heavy on them“. Next time we will see how the Philistines desperatelytried to get rid of the Ark.

So what lessons have you picked up from this most insightful passage?

Here are some I felt Jesus was saying to me: 1.Our God can appear in any form or shape He wants and at any time. From a still small voice to mighty thunder and lightning.

2. He cannot be packaged or manipulated in a sort of magic way, like a rabbit’s foot. He meets with us (through Jesus and His Spirit) on His terms, but at the same time He is ever so close and responds to our seeking Him, since He wants a relationship with us.

3. The pagan people often believed that their God’s were high up in the mountains or on the clouds. Hence Psalm 121; “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? (no, no not from there) My help comes from the Lord the Maker of Heaven and earth“. A God who is not restricted to time and place.

4. As much as God was angry with His people because of their neglect and symbolically left them. He was not going to allow the Phlistines to mock Him or use Him. his judgement was heavy on them. We can never play the fool with God. He might be testing others but soon may test us as well.

I am so glad I worship a God who cannot be manipulated or used. Share any other words you may have picked up from this passage with us. Bless you all this coming week.

I am conscious of God’s presence here in the room with me. His love and His Spirit fill the room around me. “I love you Jesus!”. But do I really love Him?

“You ask what is real love? How do you know whether you love Me fully? To start with love is not an emotion. It contains a huge emotional element but it is far more than that. It is a whole attitude of one towards another and that reflects in a number of ways. You cannot fake the real thing – you can pretend, but it quickly becomes apparent when you do that. Ultimately the attitude of one who loves is demonstrated by actions. That is why the sacrifice of my Son on the cross is such a clear and definite picture of the attitude I have towards you and My whole creation. Just because you are not filled with loving thoughts towards Me all the time it does not mean your love is deficient. your love for Me is reflected by your whole life and all your actions.”

Returning now to Samuel we reach ch 4 today. Last time we saw how Gods word had become rare in Israel because of her turning her back on Him and living their lives as they pleased without reference to Yahweh.. It represented a form of judgement by God towards His people, withdrawing His communication with them and effectively His presence. As the story here unfolds we see how God has raised up a new prophet, Samuel who would bring His word again as He prepared His people for a new phase when He would introduce His rule through His chosen kings.

Today we see another way God demonstrated that He had withdrawn His glory from His people, which runs parallel to His withdrawing His word. Can you remember how the Tabernacle was constructed. In the well-protected Holy of Holies was the golden Ark of the Covenant, with it’s Cherubim on top. The Ark contained the “Testimony” or the 10 words or commands God had given Moses on Mt Sinai. It represented the presence of God with His people and there were many instructions that reminded them of that.

Of course we recognize that it was only symbolic of His presence as was the cloud and the fire. God cannot be contained in a building never mind a box, but He wanted the people to have a continual visual reminder of His presence. At this time it was clear by the attitude of the people towards the Ark they had lost all respect and interest in God who had rescued their forefathers from Israel.

Now when faced with the setback in their ongoing war with the Philistines they conveniently remember that they needed God to fight on their side. The two evil sons of Eli are involved as they bring the physical ark to the Hebrew camp. There is a loud shout as the ark arrives. Are the Israelites glad that the presence of God is with them again? As the story unfolds it is clear that their joy is merely a selfish expression of the feeling that they would soon be on the side of victory. It had nothing to do with the reality of God’s presence and their recognition of how they had fallen away from Him.

God has a strong and unpleasant message for them. His ark is not a magic token which would give them victory. They were still under His judgement and the subsequent defeat in battle including the effect on Eli and His family demonstrates this. Not only are they heavily defeated but the ark itself is captured and now in Philistine hands. Could God not have protected Himself and His ark? We will see in the next section what the answer is to that question. The lesson here is clear. God cannot be manipulated or used. He desires an ongoing relationship with His people. In the OT this was represented by their keeping the Sabbath as a reminder of their covenant relationship with Him.

What is the message for us here today? It seems that it is exactly the same as to those people. God desires to have an ongoing relationship and fellowship with us. While He uses means to remind us of that eg taking communion, He will not be manipulated by our keeping memorabilia of Him as a means to obtain His blessing.

When I first met Sylvia, she was clinging to a tenuous connection she felt she had with God through a special bible her mother had given her many years before. A bible, no matter how precious it may be, carries God’s word to us. But it does not in itself represent God’s presence with us. There is no superstitious magic with God. Our interaction with Him is through Jesus and His Spirit and represents an ongoing relationship.

The other thing that we are reminded of through this passage is that God may carry out His judgement on His people or a person by withdrawing His presence and His fellowship so that they may experience the vicissitudes of life without Him.

More on the Ark next week. God bless you all.

Singing through many of the names of Jesus, His Majesty, His kingship, His beauty. Names like Bright morning star, blessed Redeemer, most Holy one – I feel frustrated at the inadequacy of words to truly express how my God looks, how he is. Then it strikes me maybe one of the important words is “my” – he is my Jesus, he is my Redeemer – what a wonder that I can use that intimate word – a relationship word of true intimacy.

“ Yes Ian I am indeed yours and you are mine. That is what I created you for – remember in Acts – created that you may seek me and in finding me I will know you and you will know me. This is indeed the intimacy of the closest of relationships – yes words may not adequately describe this – but as you let your heart go you know, you experience My presence with you. That is what I desire for you, to enjoy and appreciate Me and that is what I desire for everyone who turns to Me and asks, seeks and knocks. Enjoy it today, enjoy Me today and enjoy Me every day.

Back now to 1 Samuel chapter 3. We have arrived at a picture of Israel, God’s chosen people, redeemed from slavery in Egypt, now in the promised land, but having drifted away from God completely, highlighted here by the evil sons of Eli. Into this scene God introduces a bright light. His name is Samuel. God is going to use this lad in His plan of the redemption of His people.

Chapter 3 reveals a vital aspect of the means that God is going to use in this process of redemption. You should see what this is as you read through this chapter. More than 6 times we read of God’s word or that God speaks. The means to redemption hinges on the fact that we worship a God who speaks and has spoken. His communication over time carries immense power because it is the very connection with our Creator Himself.

See if you can pick up the thread of what I have been saying.

Firstly in vs 1 we have a description of the situation in Israel at that time. It is featured by the fact that “the word of the Lord was rare in those days”. If we follow the biblical story we will come across other times when God’s word was rare. We read of it in Psalm 74:9.Lamentations 2:9 and Ezekiel 7:26 for example. These occasions were all a feature of God’s judgement upon Israel. He was withdrawing His presence and His communication with His people because of their sin and neglect of obedience to His law and guidance.

Perhaps the most difficult time was the few hundred years before the incarnation of Jesus, when God was silent. So this small picture is looking forward to the coming of another prophet” one day, who would also be known by the title “John the Baptist”, who would be the forerunner of the true King of Israel also called, “The Word of God”.(John 1:1).

So God takes the initiative to reestablish His relationship with His people. He has raised up a prophet and is going to give Israel a king. So He speaks to the boy. There is the interesting vs 7 where the writer remarks that: “Samuel did not yet know the Lord: the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him”. Was this the moment then that Samuel met the Lord and came to know Him? It seems likely since how else was the boy going to meet Him.

Interestingly the word that Samuel receives from God is a word of judgement. Judgement against Eli and his sons, and I take it by inference, judgement against the whole of apostate Israel, although it does not specifically stipulate that. Looking way down into the future we see another prophet we came preparing the way for a king. Tis time for the real king of Israel. Remember him? The word of John the Baptist was also a word of judgement and warning eg “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” Matt 3:8

Israel is ready then to start a new chapter and Samuel will be the one who will be the fore-runner hence the description in v 19 where Samuel proves His prophetship is authentic in that none of his words fell to the ground. In other words all his prophecies came about. His position is finally stated in 4:1 which showed that Samuel’s word was received by the whole nation.

Let us reflect a bit on this. God’s word has no magic power of its own. The power of God’s word lies in the fact that it reflects what God is saying to us. It is what He desires for us and instructs us to do. If we understand and follow His word we have His full power behind it. Jesus was in fact the living word and His whole life demonstrated God’s will and power in a dynamic way. It is our privilege as Christians to be able to receive and follow God’s word and through that to develop and grow a dynamic relationship with Him. Equally when God’s word is twisted and read out of context it is an insult to Him and carries no power.

This passage revealed to me again the importance and value of God’s word and His communication with us as well as giving us an insight to the greater plan of God for the whole world. May He bless you all richly this coming week.

“You have been singing about my goodness. Do you really understand goodness as it refers to Me? Every part of the motivation for Me to act is driven by My goodness – it is impossible for Me to do evil. It is impossible for Me even to think evil thoughts. Every thought and every act that flows from that is focused on good. How does that affect you? It means you can have every sense of security in My love, in My relationship with you. The difficulties and the evil that may impinge on you do not arise out of My goodness – though I may and do allow some of that it is so that it will highlight my goodness in contrast. So today appreciate My goodness, enjoy it and know that in everything I am for you and if I am for you who can be against you?”

The second part of 1 Samuel ch 2, comes at a great shock. In ch 1 and the first part of ch 2 we are introduced to this lovely, sweet devout woman, begging and believing God for an offspring. She follows the answer to her prayer with a beautiful psalm. and then we we follow her as she fulfils her vow to place Samuel in God’s service.

Then we are confronted by the two evil sons of Eli. It seems that this story serves two purposes. Firstly it links us with and reminds us of what the state that Israel was in at that time Cf Judges 21:25: “In those days Israel had no king, everyone did as he saw fit”. Secondly by using a huge contrast the writer brings the devotion of Hannah and Samuel to the fore.

Look at what is said about the two, Hophni and Phinehas. 2:12 “Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord”. 2:17, “They were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt”. (and of course they were thereby treating the Lord with contempt.) 2:25 “His sons , however, did not listen to their fathers rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death”.

Notice in the next paragraph that Eli is complicit in his son’s evil ways: “Why do you honour your sons more than me?” The Lord reveals His anger and sadness at how the priesthood had sank since it was instituted and He pronounces a curse of lives cut short on the priestly house.

So here at the beginning of this book we see that God plans a new beginning against the background of this wickedness. 2:35 “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do what is in My mind……He will minister before my anointed one always”. At first thought one thinks He is speaking of Samuel. And so He probably is. However the faint picture looms on the horizon of a priest who also would be a king. As I read this I was taken back to 2:25 b “If a man sins against the Lord who will intercede for him?”

So here in this book we see how God is steering history onto His path again. The evil is going to be dealt with. However there is still a lot of water that must flow into the sea,

I was struck in this piece again at the major influence parents have on their children. On the one hand we have Hannah who through her devoting was able to guide Samuel in the direction God wanted him to go. One is reminded of Paul’s words to Timothy: “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded now lives in you also” 2 Tim 1:5.

On the other hand we have Eli who clearly was not able to influence and discipline his two sons. In the process they were taking him down as well.

This passage reminded me again of how important it is to remain faithful to God’s calling. The difference between Hannah and Eli clearly seems to have been their own personal devotion to our Lord. We cannot be reminded of this too often. God bless for the next week.

“Being known and loved by Him.”

“The deepest form of intimacy is to be known and loved by somebody. That is what I am doing with you – it is not about knowing about Me it is getting to know Me personally on a daily basis. Equally I know everything about you because I created you to be like you are – but I created you with a purpose – That you should seek Me and in that moment I will be found of you. I will open up to you in a way you could never have experienced if I did not invite you into my daily presence. So Ian, let us continue to build this intimacy as I make myself known to you and you have the opportunity to respond by faith. Believing trusting and loving Me. It goes against your nature so you need daily to use the bridge Jesus built on the cross. So come, let us walk together into the day to face whatever meets us.

We come now to Hannah’s song in ch 2 of 1 Samuel. As we read it we can see echoes of Mary’s song in Luke 1. Both act as a sort of prologue to what God is going to be doing in the future. Both authors are barren when they were touched by God. Their offspring were therefore a supernatural product who would be important as history unfolded.

Hannah reminds us that this part of history which is going to be unfolding is all about God. It is His story even though we said last time that there are three main figures which appear in this book. Can you remember who they are? There is Samuel the last judge, but also a prophet of the Lord Almighty. Then there is Saul the people’s choice of a king which would the Israelites believed made them to be like the people around them, with an imposing king to rule them. Then there is God’s choice of a king. David who would be the youngest, not imposing in stature, someone whom God could use to demonstrate that it was still He that was ruling.

So Hannah starts by praising God, by mentioning His power and His victory and deliverance over her enemies. I take it her enemies were the enemies of the people as well, although there is the other wife who was mistreating her. She places God on a rock pedistal, to remind of His steadfastness and remembers His Holiness. His complete otherness.

Even as she speaks she is reminded of her finiteness and filled with care that her words should be few and there be no arrogance. She understands that God knows everything about us intimately and weighs all actions. This is a true picture of humility and we are reminded of the importance of this trait. Remember 1 Peter 5:6; “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

The next vv stand as a prediction of one of the main themes of this book. God is interested in those who recognize their need. Those who feel they have everything and don’t perceive any need actually continue to seek more. They never have enough. This is a hugely important fact in our interaction with the Lord. So much of our growth as Christians is aimed at us realizing our need. Remember Paul in 2 Corinthians: When I am weak then I am strong”. So we hear Hannah “It is not by strength that one prevails”. The whole focus is on God and His omnipotence and control of the destiny of the world.

Finally there is a surprising turn. When we read it we don’t see the the massive implications which arise from the statement in the last vs., because we are not in the context of that period. Remember up to that time there had been no King, because God was Israel’s king. Now Hannah sees a king in the future and even further down the line the king is not just a king but the anointed king. Remember that the word Christ means “Anointed one”. Yes all the kings of Israel were “anointed” when they were formally appointed. But the very fact that she mentions the anointing shows a far deeper prediction.

There is more in this song so why don’t you go through it prayerfully, asking the Lord to apply it to your heart.

This then acts as a sort of prologue for the book, as I have said and we will now proceed to unravel the actual happenings of that important transitional period.

There was much food for thought for me as I went through this passage. Important was a reminder again of how God seeks to keep us weak and dependent on Him. Of course there is also a vivid reminder of the attributes of God, His omnipotence, holiness, victory over His enemies, His provision etc. In the background one can’t help mentioning the repeated reference to enemies. This life is an acute reminder that we are part of a cosmic battle. Thank the Lord Jesus won the victory on the cross. However we are still part of what remains.

May the Lord bless you this coming week.