1 Samuel 14:8

1 Samuel 14:8 says, And said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.  Jonathan decided they would make themselves known to the men.  They would not continue hiding.  As followers of Christ, must make ourselves known to men and cannot continue in hiding because we fear what might happen if we reveal our faith.  Verse nine adds, If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.  Jonathan said if they told them to stand still until they came to them, that was what they would do.  He was not making rash decisions, but as we will see, was using how the Philistines responded to their presence to determine how they would react.  Going rashly into any dangerous situation is not the best way for us to react to it.  Verse ten continues, But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.  Jonathan then said if the Philistines invited them to come up to them, that they would go, because it would be a sign that the LORD had delivered them into their hands.  There was still only two people, Jonathan and his armor bearer, but Jonathan put his faith in God being able to deliver the Philistines into their hands.  As Christians, if we feel overpowered by the world today, we need to remember Who our God is.  Verse eleven states, And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.  Jonathan and his armor bearer showed themselves to the Philistines, who said mockingly I believe, look, some Hebrews have come out of the holes where they have been hiding.  They had very little concern about the Hebrews, God's chosen people, and evidently had little concern about nor respect for their God.  When we as Christians make ourselves known to the people of the world today, they may mock us and thereby mock God, but as long as we are faithful to Him, He will do great things though us.  Verse twelve adds, And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.  The Philistines told Jonathan and his armor bearer to come up and they would show them a thing, and Jonathan told his armor bearer that they would go up because God had delivered the Philistines into the hand of Israel.   He didn't just see them as being there for their own glory, but for the glory of Israel because of the work of God.  As Christians, we should never see our actions as something to bring honor to us, but as bringing honor to God and all Christians.  The Philistines may have thought they were going to show them a thing, but Jonathan and his armor bearer through the power of God were about to show them a thing.  Verse thirteen continues, And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.  Though Jonathan had to basically crawl up the rocks to get to the Philistines, they still began to fall before Jonathan and his armor bearer after him.  They were so confident that they had basically ignored Jonathan and his armor bearer, just two Hebrews that they believed they had already beaten, and they found out how wrong they were to do so.  The world may look around at Christians today and think that we are so few in numbers and that God is so powerless that they either look down on us or ignore us, but as long as we remain faithful to God, the victory will always be ours.  Jonathan acted out of faith in God and not his own fighting skills, and so must we today.  Verse fourteen declares, And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.  The first group of men that Jonathan and his armor bearer killed was about twenty men in about a half acre of land.  That would have meant they were outnumbered about ten to one by a force that was superiorly armed, but God was with them.  We may be facing a superior force today as followers of Christ, but God is with us as long as we are acting under His leadership and authority.   Verse fifteen adds, And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.  Though there were still only two men fighting against them, the whole army of the Philistines trembled so badly that they shook the ground.  We should never underestimate to power of God to cause His enemies to shake in fear when just a few of His people stand up to them.

1 Samuel 14:1

1 Samuel 14:1 says, Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. Without telling Saul, his father, Jonathan told the young man who was his armor bearer that they would go over to the Philistines.  He wasn't content to just hide, and probably figured Saul would stop him if he told him he was doing this.  As Christians, even if we have to act alone, we must face the enemy today and not look for some place of safety to hide away in.  Of course, it is better if we let others know what we are doing and see if they want to join us.  Verse two adds, And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;  Saul, who now only had six hundred men with him, and not the three thousand that he had chosen, seemed to be at a loss as to what to do.  He was basically hiding outside Gibeah, though he was the king that the people had demanded.  We may have plenty of people around us to help us as followers of Christ, but if real trouble comes, we may find the number greatly diminished.  Also, we don't find Saul seeking God's guidance in the situation.  When we as Christians are surrounded by trouble, the first thing we should do is to pray and ask God's guidance about what we should do.  Verse three adds, And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.  We are told that Ahiah, Eli's grandson, was the priest at Shiloh.  Samuel had abandoned Saul because of his sinful action in offering a sacrifice to God as though he were the priest, so he hoped that Ahiah would be able to tell him what to do.  Of course, the priesthood had been removed from Eli's sons and family because they had perverted it.  We today may look for preachers who will tell us what we want to hear and not what God has to say to us.  None of them knew what Johnathan was doing, and a true priest should have, I would think.  Verse four states, And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.  Verse five adds, The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.   Jonathan, in the meantime, was making his way to a camp the Philistines, going by a very rough passage.   He did not just march up to their camp, but went in a way they they might not have expected.  Sometimes, meeting our enemies head on may not be the best thing to do.  I believe that Jonathan was relying on God's leadership, as seems to be shown in the next few verses.  Whatever we do as Christians today we need to do so under the leadership of God.  Verse six declares, And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.  Jonathan then professed his faith in God to bring them victory, no matter how outnumbered they might be.  He said that they would go into the camp of the uncircumcised Philistines and that it might be that God would work for them.  He had no guarantee that he this would be true, but simply had to go by faith.  We have no guarantee that we will always be successful in our fight against the forces of evil in the world today in this lifetime, but we do have God's assurance of the everlasting victory, so we should never allow fear to stop us from doing what we know He calls us to do.  Verse seven adds, And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.  Jonathan's armor bearer told him to do what was in his heart, and he would be there with him.  We need this type of Christian friends today, and we need to be this type friend to our fellow Christians.  If  they or we are doing something that God has called them or us to do, we need to be there to support each other, even if it puts us in a dangerous situation.  We must do this with unwavering faith in God. 

1 Samuel 13:11

1 Samuel 13:11 says, And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;   Samuel asked Saul what had he done by offering the sacrifices himself.  Saul tried to justify his actions, partially by blaming Samuel for not being there earlier and partially by saying the people of Israel were still scattered and the Philistines were already amassed.  When we are waiting on the Lord as Saul was waiting on Samuel, God's representative to the people of Israel, we cannot afford to become impatient and take matters into our own hands, no matter how dire the situation may seem.  Veres twelve continues, Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.  Saul said that since he feared that the Philistines would come down on him before he made supplication to the LORD that he forced himself to offer a burnt offering.  Saul was basically saying that his convictions told him this was wrong, but he was proud he was able to overcome them.  When we know that something is wrong, we should never be proud that we were able to overcome that knowledge and do it anyway, especially if we are claiming to have done it to secure God's blessing of what we are doing.  Verse thirteen continues, And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.  Saul may have been king, but Samuel was still God's priest, and he told Saul that he had done foolishly by violating God's commandments.  No matter how powerful a person may be in the world today, if they are violating God's commandments they are acting foolishly.  Samuel then told Saul if he had kept God's commandments that God would have established Saul’s kingdom over Israel forever.  Of course, we forever become a part of God's kingdom by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, but when we do, we are still expected to keep His commandments.  Verse fourteen concludes, But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.  Saul had barely begun his reign as the first king of Israel, but Samuel told him because of his sinful actions that the kingdom was going to pass from him.  God was going to seek a man after His own heart to reign over Israel.   Of course, we know this man was David, but the ultimate Man after God's own heart to rule forever over God's people is Jesus Christ.  All others, even David himself, came up short.  Verse fifteen states, And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.  Samuel left, going from Gilgal to Gibeah, Saul’s city, without praying for Saul, and Saul numbered those present with him at about six hundred.  Matthew Henry says the Samuel went to Gibeah possibly to show Saul that though he was displeased with him, he hadn't totally abandoned him.  When God is displeased with us as Christians today, He may remove His protective hand from us, but He will never abandon us completely.  Saul had very few troops to stand against the Philistines with.  Verse sixteen adds, And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.  While the troops, Jonathan and Saul himself remained at Gibeah, the Philistines and their far superior force encamped at Michmash.  This was a main pass from which they could control much of the area. We need to acknowledge that the forces of evil in the world are going to do everything possible to gain an advantage over Christians today.  Verse seventeen says, And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:  Verse eighteen adds, And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.  From Miczhmash, the Philistines sent out three parties of troops to defeat the Israelites.  They had the far superior force in numbers and armament, so they could afford to divide into three troops and still have the advantage.  Sometimes, it may seem that the forces of evil outnumber us as followers of Christ significantly, but as long as we remain faithful to Jesus Christ, the victory is ours, no matter what happens in this world.  Verse nineteen states, Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:  The Philistines removed all the smiths from Israel to keep them from making swords.  Matthew Henry says that only Jonathan and Saul had swords, and the rest were armed with farm tools, slings and rocks.  Verse twenty adds, But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.  Still, though they had no ability to make swords, they did the best that they could to arm themselves.   We as Christians today need to make the best of what we have under the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our battle against evil in the world today.  Verse twenty-one continues, Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.  Still, they did have a file to sharpen these tools and make them more lethal.  Matthew Henry points out that Saul should have used his first couple of years as king to address this problem, but he didn't.  We need to be prepared at all times to be ready to battle against the world today, and not just sit idly by until the battle comes to us.  Verse twenty-two states, So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.  As stated earlier,  when the battle came, only Jonathan and Saul had swords.  Verse twenty-three adds, And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.  The Philistines then went out from Michmash to battle the Israelites.  We can be certain that the world today stands ready to engage Christians in war, and we need to be spiritually armed when they do.

1 Samuel 13:1

1 Samuel 13:1 says, Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,  Verse two adds, Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.  After Saul had reigned over Israel for two years, he chose three thousand men from Israel to be his army.  Two thousand who were with him at Michmash and a thousand were with Jonathan, his son, at Gibeah.  The rest he sent home.  Matthew Henry says the reference to the one year might have referred to Saul’s maturity level, though this isn't specified, and if these forces were simply to serve him, there were too many, and if for an army there were too few.  Verse three continues, And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.  Jonathan and his forces, under Saul's direction, killed a garrison of Philistines at Geba, for no apparent reason. and the Philistines heard about it.  This brought dishonor to the Israelites.  Then, Saul sounded the trumpet and called on all the people of Israel to hear it.  We cannot just destroy the people of the world today because we don't like them and they don't follow God's laws.  To even act out of hatred towards them brings dishonor to Christ, Who died for their sins as well as ours.  Verse four concludes, And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.  The people of Israel heard that Saul had killed the garrison of Philistines, and that the Philistines then considered the word of the people of Israel to be worthless, though we aren't told if there was a particular treaty that Jonathan acting under Saul's direction had broken.  All the people of Israel rallied to. Saul's call and gathered with him at Gilgal.  When we see fellow Christians in need today, for whatever reason, we needed to rally to the call if they call out for help.  Verse five states, And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.  The Philistines also rallied to fight against Israel, with much greater and very well equipped army.  We as Christians are still up against a formidable army who are fighting against us today.  Verse six adds, When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.  When the people of Israel saw this great force that was ready to go to war with them, they went and hid.  They did not pray and ask God's guidance, but they had sort of given up that right when they demanded a king.  Verse seven continues, And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.  Some of the people went back across the Jordan to Gad and Gilead, but Saul remained in Gilgal, and the people followed him with trembling.   He was the king that they demanded, but they didn't seem to have great faith in him.  When danger comes today, will we as followers of Christ remain faithful to Him, or will we scatter looking for our own safety?  We are to be a beacon on the hill, and not a candle hidden under a bushel basket.  Verse eight continues, And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. Saul remained at Gilgal for seven days, and even though some of the people of Israel were with him, Samuel was not.  Samuel had told Saul at one point to wait seven days and he would come to him.  Matthew Henry points out that Saul did not send anyone to inquire of Samuel, but that before the end of the seventh day, he took matters into his own hands.  We cannot allow our impatience to cause us to run ahead of God.  Verse nine declares, And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.  Though Saul was not a priest, who were the ones who could offer burnt and peace offerings to God, Saul by his own authorization offered these offerings.  We can never just authorize ourselves to do specific things in the name of God, but must do them in accordance with His word and calling.   Verse ten adds, And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.  As soon as Saul offered up these offerings, Samuel came as he had said he would.  We today have an even greater One than a priest or prophet, and that is the Holy Spirit that indwells us, but we still sometimes act out of our own atrengh and knowledge instead of relying on Him for guidance in all that we do.

1 Samuel 12:13

I Samuel 12:13 says, Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.  Samuel then told the people to behold their king, whom God had set over them.  Of course, we need to remember that this was the desire of the people, which God granted, but this had not been His plan.  God, leading through priests, prophets, and judges that He appointed when they needed them had been His way to lead the people.  As I stated before, God may grant us what we want today, but if He does, we may miss what we need.  Verse fourteen adds, If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:  Samuel then hit them with one of the ifs that we find throughout the Bible.  If the people and the king feared the LORD, obeyed His Voice and didn't rebel against Him, they would continue following God and be led by Him.  This still applies to us today as Christians.  Of course, as I have said many times, I don't believe fearing God means being afraid of God, but means showing Him the great respect that He deserves.  Verse fifteen continues, But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.  Then, Samuel gave them the but that comes with the if.  But if they did not obey God, keep His commandments, and rebelled against Him, His hand would be against them as it had been at times against their fathers.  We cannot rebel against God's will as Christians and still expect Him to bless us in this life here on earth, though if we have truly accepted Him as our personal Savior and Lord, we have the everlasting blessing of life with Him forever.  Verse sixteen declares, Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.  Just as Samuel called on the people of Israel then to stand and see this great thing that God was going to do before them, we need to stand today as Christians expecting to see God do great things in our life.  Verse seventeen adds, Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.  Though God had given them a king, Samuel asked if the wheat harvest was not today, and said that he would call on God to send thunder and rain on the wheat to show them the great wickedness that they had done in asking for a king.  It may be that if we are simply asking God to endorse our plans that He is sending thunder and rain on our wheat harvest.  Verse eighteen continues, So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.  This was not a common occurrence at this time of the year, and it also happened just as Samuel had said God would cause it to happen.  We may at times want to write off God's warnings of His displeasure with us as just natural events, but I believe if we are attuned to His will at all we will know the difference.  Verse nineteen states, And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.  The people asked Samuel to pray for them, because they feared they would die for the great evil of asking for a king.  Fortunately, if we as Christians today realize that we have fallen away from the will of God, we can go directly to Him and ask for His forgiveness.  Verse twenty adds, And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;  Samuel told them not to fear, that even though they had done this great wickedness, all they neeed to do was not turn aside from following the LORD.  We cannot change any sin that we commit as Christians, so all we can do is confess our sin,  as the people of Israel did, ask for forgiveness, and then not turn aside from following God.  Verse twenty-one continues, And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.  As Samuel told the people then, if we turn aside from following God, we are chasing vain things, or things that are worth nothing.   Verse twenty-two declares, For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.  Samuel said that God would not forsake His people for His name's sake, because He had chosen them, and it pleased Him to do so.  As Christians today, we are God's people, because He has called us to be so, and it pleased Him to do so, and we will always be His people.  Verse twenty-three adds, Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:  Samuel said that as for himself, God forbid that he ever stopped praying for the people of Israel.  This should still be our attitude towards others today, both our fellow Christians and especially the lost people of the world.  Verse twenty-four continues, Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.  This should be our calling today as well.  Verse twenty-five concludes, But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.  Samuel then gave them a warning.  If they refused to obey God and keep His commandments, then their king and they would be consumed.  I believe this applies to those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord today, but can also apply to our works as Christians.  Those things that we do out of the will of God will be consumed one day.

1 Samuel 12:1

1 Samuel 12:1 says, And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.  Samuel told the people of Israel that he had listened to them and made a king over them, but it was really God Who had done so.  Of course, Samuel did represent God before the people, but even if we are representing God today, we need to make sure that it is His word that we are presenting when we make statements about what we would have them do and never claim credit ourself for what He has done.  Verse two adds, And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.  Samuel said he was old and now the king was walking before them.  He also said he had walked before the people of Israel as God's representative since he was a child.  We could only hope to be able to say that as we get old.  He also said his sons were with them and could be held accountable for any wrong they had done.  We cannot justify the bad actions of our children just because they are the children of a Christian or even a leader in the church.  Verse three continues, Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.  Samuel then asked several questions concerning his integrity before the LORD, and said if he was guilty of cheating anyone that he would restore what he had taken from them dishonestly.  We as followers of Christ should never cheat others, but if we do, we should be ready to restore whatever we have taken from them to them.  Verse four states, And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.  To Samuel's credit they said he had never done any of these things.  It is one thing for us to say we have done nothing to harm others, but it is so much better if they say the same thing.  Verse five adds, And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.  Samuel asked that God be a witness that he had done none of these things, and the people said that God was a witness.  It is good for us the believe that we have done nothing wrong to others, better if they acknowledge it, but best if God Himself is a witness to the fact.  Verse six continues, And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.  Samuel reminded the people that it was God Who had placed Moses and Aaron over them as He had brought them out of Israel.  As Christians, we should never forget that it should be God Who places people in positions of power over us today in the church.  Verse seven declares, Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.  Samuel told the people to stand still while he reasoned with them, reminding them of all that God had done for them.  Sometimes, we just need to stand still and remember all that God has done for us.  Verse eight adds, When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.  Samuel began with Jacob, who had gone to Egypt during a severe drught, which had led to the people of Israel being enslaved there, until they cried out to God, Who raised up Moses and Aaron to deliver out of Egypt and bring them to the Promised Land.  We as followers of Christ have already been delivered from the enslaving power of sin by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and we need to always remember that.  Verse nine continues, And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.  Moses then reminded them that they had forgotten God, and He allowed them to be defeated by the Philistines and Moabites.   If we forget about God in our everyday walk of faith, we may find ourselves under the power of sin once more.  Verse ten says, And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.  Samuel reminded them that when this happened that they had confessed their sins and asked God to help them, saying they would then serve Him once more.  We cannot just turn to God when we find ourselves in trouble, but should instead follow His guidance daily so we don't get in trouble to begin with.  Verse eleven adds, And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.  Samuel then reminded them of the men God had sent through the years to deliver them from the power of other nations.  We today need to remember only one Deliverer, and that is Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve continues, And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.  Samuel then reminded them that when Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against them that they had demanded an earthly king, where God had always been their King before.  We do not need anyone to come between God and us, but we need to follow Him by having a personal relationship with Him through our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord and by the leadership of the Holy Spirit Who indwells us.  Verse thirteen concludes, Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.  Samuel then told them to behold the king, Saul, whom God had set over them.  This still was not God's plan, but was His allowing the people of Israel to have what they thought they needed.  Today, we may ask for things that are outside the will of God, and He may allow us to have them, but they will eventually prove to have not been what was best for us.

1 Samuel 11:11

1 Samuel 11:11 says, And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.  Saul divided his men into three troops, and they came into the midst of the hosts of the Amorites at the morning watch.  The Amorites had been told they would have the answer from Israel this day, and they did.  It just wasn't what they expected, but if they chose to misinterpret what that meant, that was their problem.  They were defeated and scattered before they even got up.  If people are looking for answers from us today, especially if they are threatening us because of our Christian beliefs, there is no reason to delay answer them.  Of course, we should do so after first putting our faith in God to be with us no matter what happens.  As long as we put our life in God's hands, we can never lose, so we should never be afraid of the battle.  Verse twelve adds, And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.  The people of Israel responded to their great success under Saul's leadership by asking who had questioned Saul's being put in charge and asking that whoever did be brought forth so they could put them to death.  There was no room forc dissension amongst the people.  Saul was now their king by appointment and action.  If God has placed someone in a position of authority today, we should not question their authority, especially if they are being successful in doing what needs to be done.  Verse thirteen states, And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.  Saul said no one would be put to death that day, because God had delivered Israel.   Saul gave the credit and the glory to God, as we must when He leads us to victory over the forces of evil today.  Verse fourteen adds, Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.  Samuel called on the people to go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.  They were no longer being threatened by the Amorites, but had been restored to a position of power. Of course, had they remained faithful to God, they never would have lost their position of power.  If we have allowed sin back into our life as Christians, we have lost God's assurance of victory in the world, but if we repent and return to Him by faith, He will restore our position of power over sin.  Verse fifteen continues, And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.  They went to Gilgal and officially made Saul king before the LORD.   Of course, God had already made him their king, even if they just now acknowledged it.  Jesus Christ has already been made King, whether we acknowledge it or not.  They offered sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.  When God gives us success in the world today, we should rejoice greatly in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Samuel 11:1

1 Samuel 11:1 says,  Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.  Nahash, an Amorite, came up against the people of Jabeshgilead, and they sought to make a covenant with him by promising to serve him.  The Amorites were descendants of Lot and as such had been dealt with fairly by Israel when they were first occupying the Promised Land, but they turned out to not be good neighbors, and by this thime, the people of Jabeshgilead were not following God's leadership.  This is evident by the fact that they didn't first turn to God for help.  We may have been nice to the people of the world around us as followers of Christ, but that doesn't mean that they are always going to treat us fairly, or even with respect.  We can never subject ourselves to the authority of the lost people of the world just to maintain peace.  Verse two adds, And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.  Nahash agreed to make a covenant with them on one condition, and that was that he could put out their right eye as a sign of reproach on Israel, which would have also have been a reproach on God.  Even if we were tempted to do something that seems terrible to maintain peace with the world, as Christians we should never do anything that would be a reproach to God, and if we do, we must repent and ask His forgiveness.  Verse three continues, And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.  Again, without consulting God and putting their faith in Him, the elders of Jabesh told Nahash to give them a week to send word throughout Israel, and if they couldn't find someone to help them, they would agree to his terms.  They had forgotten the power of God and were looking to a man for redemption, and we can never afford to do that as Christians.  Verse four states, Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.  The word reached Saul, and all the people around him wept.  We should be saddened if we hear about God's people anywhere being abused or even threatened with abuse.  Verse five adds, And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.  Saul may have been anointed king, but at present he was still tending to a herd in the field.  Seeing the people weep, he asked them what was going on, and they told him.  If we see people sad and upset today, as Christians we should be concerned, and we should care enough to try and find out what is going on.  Verse six continues, And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.  The Spirit of God came on Saul at this time, and he was angered by what he heard.  We as followers of Christ are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and called to reach out to the world with God's love, but that does not mean that we cannot become angry at some of the things that go on in the world.  Verse seven declares, And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.  Saul took two oxen, chopped them into little pieces, and sent the pieces throughout Israel, telling them this was what was going to happen to their oxen if they didn't come forth to him and Samuel.  Still, it wasn't this, but the fear of God that caused them to come.  As Christians, whatever we do should be based on our relationship with God, and done for His honor and glory.  Verse eight adds, And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.  When Saul counted them, there were three hundred thousand men of Israel, and thirty thousand men were Judah.  We must rally as Christians when any of our fellow Christians are threatened.  Verse nine continues, And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.  Saul sent messengers to the men of Jabesh, that by the time the sun was hot tomorrow they would have help.  Verse ten concludes, Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.  The people of Jabesh then sent word to the Amorites that they would come to them tomorrow.   Of course, the Amorites probably misunderstood the message, as lost people of the world tend to misunderstand God's message today.

1 Samuel 10:17

1 Samuel 10:17 says, And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;  Samuel once again called the people of Israel together unto the LORD at Mizpeh.  If we have decisions to make in the world today, we need to gather together, at least spiritually if we cannot all gather physically, and seek God's guidance as followers of Christ.  Veres eighteen adds, And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:  Samuel told them that God He had brought them up out of Egypt.  They already knew this, but evidently had forgotten what that really meant about their dependence on God.  We as Christians should never forget that we owe everything to God, and He has already given us everlasting life with Him.  Verse nineteen continues, And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.  Samuel then said that they had rejected God and demanded a king, and they were to present themselves by tribes before the LORD.  Anytime we allow anything to become more important to us than God is, we are rejecting Him, and He will allow us to do so.  Still, one day we will stand before Him and have to answer as to why we did so.  Verse twenty states, And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.  Verse twenty-one adds, When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.  God singled out the tribe of Benjamin and then continued on down to Saul, but when they sought him, he could not be found.  When God seeks us for our particular calling as followers of Christ, will we be found?  Verse twenty-two continues, Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.  They asked God where Saul was, and He said that Saul had hidden among the stuff.  Samuel may have already ordained Saul to be king under God's direction, but evidently Saul wasn't ready to assume the position of king.  We can have a tendency as Christians to get hidden amongst our stuff, allowing the cares and concerns of this world to come between God and us, and keeping us from assuming the position in the church that God has appointed us to.  Verse twenty-three says, And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.  They ran and got Saul, and it points out once again that He was head and shoulders taller than any of the other people.  Physically, he was certainly what we would look fo in a leader, but we should never base who we choose as leaders in the church, or even the country, on physical appearances.  Verse twenty-four adds, And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.  Samuel pointed out that God had chosen Saul to be king, and that physically there was none like him.  Of course, God had chosen Saul to be king because of their demands for a king in the first place, and not because He had said they needed one.  God may allow us to have what we want today, but that does not mean that it is always what is best for us.  I believe this also may be the first use of the phrase, God save the king, that we know of.  Verse twenty-five continues, Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.  Samuel then told all the people of Israel what the kingdom would look like, wrote it in a book, and sent them home to their own house.  We already know what the kingdom of God should look like, because it is written in the Book.  As we go to our own home everyday, we need to remember this.  Verse twenty-six states, And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.  Saul returned home to Gibeah, accompanied by a band of men whose hearts God had touched.  As we go about everyday life, we need to be accompanied, at least spiritually, by a group of people whose hearts God has touched.  Verse twenty-seven adds, But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.  Not everyone was pleased with God's choice for a king.  The people of Belial asked how Saul could save them and resented him.  Some people are never going to be satisfied with those that God chooses as leaders in the church today, and will be resentful toward them.  We are told that Saul held his peace.  He could have exerted his authority as king and punished them, but he didn't.  God could also exert His authority as the owner of the universe when we gripe about how He is running things or those that He places in positions of authority in the church, but He chooses to hold His peace.

1 Samuel 10:9

1 Samuel 10:9 says, And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.  When Saul turned away from Samuel, God gave him a new heart.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are given a new heart, one that is devoted to God and should seek to do God's will in all that we do.  Samuel saw all the signs that Samuel had shown Him come to pass that day.  We may not see signs specific to us being fulfilled in our life after we accept Jesus Christ, but I believe God will always give us a sense of spiritual peace and security when we put our faith in Him, and we will see signs of His working in our life.  Verse ten adds, And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.  When Saul came to a certain hill, which Matthew Henry says was Gibeah, he met a company of prophets, so we can assume that Samuel was not the only prophet in Israel, though he was the only judge.  Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul suddenly, and Matthew Henry says not to stay long, but oi inspire him briefly at that time.  When this happened, Saul prophesied with the other prophets.  We today should know that we are not alone as Christians, and also that the Holy Spirit indwells each of us continually from the time we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  It is then up to us if we follow His leadership or not.  Verse eleven continues, And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?  The people around him who knew Saul asked what had come over Saul.  They said wasn't he the son of Kish, and asked if he were now a prophet.  Sometimes the people who know us best may be amazed at the change that comes over us when we accept Jesus Christ, and they may really question it if we are called into the ministry, but if God calls us, all we can do is answer, no matter what people may think.  Verse twelve states, And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?  One of those there asked who the Father of the other prophets were,and the answer was God, at least spiritually.  It doesn't really matter from a spiritual perspective who our earthly parents are, because we all have the same Heavenly Father as Christians.  He then calls us to a particular place of service in His kingdom.  It became a proverb with them about Saul being among the prophets, since he had never been before.  Verse thirteen adds, And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.  After Saul was finished prophesying, and we are not told what he prophesied, he came to the high place.  Saul went there to give thanks to God for all that He had done for him.  We should always stand ready to give God the praise for all that He does for us today daily, even if we don't immediately recognize everything that He is doing.  Verse fourteen continues, And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.  When Saul’s uncle saw him, he asked him where he had been.  He had been away several days, so his uncle may have been curious as to why he was away so long.  Saul said they, his servant and he, had left looking for the missing asses, but they then also went to see Samuel about them.  Hunting for the missing asses had been what Saul had been sent to do, and he had been responsibly doing so.  As we go about our everyday life, we may experience God's call to do something else, and if so, we need to be obedient to His call.  Verse fifteen says, And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.  His uncle asked Saul to tell him everything Samuel had told him. If Saul had been to see the judge of Israel, his uncle wanted to know what Samuel may have told him.  We need to be ready to tell people about our meeting Jesus Christ and accepting Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse sixteen adds, And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.  Saul only told his uncle about what Samuel said about the asses being found, and not about him being anointed as the king of Israel.   Matthew Henry says Saul was still humble at this point, but for whatever reason, he said nothing about his soon to be position as the king of Israel, which would be a first for them.  We should always be humble as Christians, but never to the point that it keeps us from sharing with others what God is doing in our life. 

1 Samuel 10:1

1 Samuel 10:1 says, Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?  After talking with Saul privately, Samuel anointed him with oil and kissed him, which was much like our handshake in America today, though the kiss on the cheek is still a way of greeting people in many cultures even today.  Samuel asked Saul if it wasn't because God had appointed Saul captain of Isreal that he did this.  Anointing was also something done with priests and signified the transfer of the role of the leadership of Israel from the priests to the king.  I believe he was asking if Saul understood why Samuel did it.  It doesn't do much good to be appointed to a position and not know it.  Verse two adds, When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?  Samuel then gave Saul further instructions concerning the asses he was looking for.  Samuel gave Saul specific details about what he would encounter, which when they occurred would confirm Samuel's position as a prophet.  We can be certain that if people tell us that they have had a vision from God today that if they have, it will happen just as they said it would.  Of course, not everything that people claim to be a vision from God that then happens is necessarily a vision from God.  The great deceiver, Satan, can sometimes cause things to happen so that they appear to be miracles from God.  Samuel also told Saul that he would be told that his father was sorrowful for him, and was asking what he could do for Saul.  Verse three continues, Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:  Samuel then told Saul that after he met the two men at Rachel's tomb who would tell him about the asses, he was to continue on to the plain of Tabor, where he would meet three men going to Bethel, and he was specific about what each of them would have with them.  Of course, in order to know if this was true, Saul had to do what Samuel told him to do.  Saul could have decided that since his mission from his father was accomplished, even if it did seem miraculous that Samuel told him so many details about it, that he would just return home.  As followers of Christ, we may at times miss out on greater blessings because we meet our original goal, and then just return home instead of pressing on ahead.  Verse four states, And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.  Samuel said these three men would greet Saul, and give him two of the three loaves of bread that they had, and Saul was to receive it from  them.  In order to receive a blessing from God, we must be willing to receive it.  Verse five adds, After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:  Samuel told Saul after this he was to come to the hill of God, where a garrison of Philistines were stationed.  Samuel said that there Saul would encounter a company of prophets, and told him all the musical instuments they would have with them.  Of course, this still required that Saul continue on by faith in what Samuel had told him.  If we are going to be successful in our Christian walk today, we must always continue on by faith in God.  Verse six continues, And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.  Samuel then told Saul that the Spirit of the LORD would come on him then, he would prophesy with these prophets, and he would be changed into a different man.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to indwelll us, and we are changed into a different person. Verse seven declares, And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.  Samuel told Saul because, not if, when these signs occurred, to do as the occasion called for, by God's guidance, because God was with him.  Of course, we should do what God calls us to do today because He is with us.  Verse eight adds, And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.  Samuel then told Saul that after this, he was to go to Gilgal and wait for Samuel to come and offer sacrifices to God for Saul.  He said that Saul was to wait there seven days before he came and told Saul what he was to do.  Sometimes, we may have to wait to see what God wants us to do next, and that may be difficult to do.  Saul had been wanting to return home, and now if he were to follow Samuel's instructions, he would be further delayed in doing so and have a totally different mission in life.  We cannot afford to let our plans come between us and God's calling for us.

1 Samuel 9:22

1 Samuel 19:22 says, And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour at the publicfeast,, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.  After Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the parlor, he had them sit in the best seats.  We need to remember that his servant and Saul had only gone looking for Samuel because they thought he might help themm in their quest for some lost asses, and now they were honored as the most important guests.  Saul had certainly never gone out looking to be king of Israel.  We may find that as we are going about the routine, or even mundane, things of life, that God will have other plans for us.  Verse twenty-three adds, And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.  Samuel then told the cook to bring the portion that he had told him, or maybe, her, to set aside.  Samuel had done this because of a divine revelation the day before of Saul's coming.  If God is leading us to do something today, He will help us to be prepared to do it, whatever it might be.  Saul had said that they were out of money and meat before they went to Samuel, and now they were being served the best of the food.  Verse twenty-four continues, And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people.  So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.  Samuel told Saul to eat the meat, which was a shoulder of mutton.  Matthew Henry said the right shoulder was reserved for the the priest, and the left shoulder for the person of honor, that this signified Samuel passing his place as ruler of Isreal to Saul. This was all because God had told Samuel that Saul was to be king.  If we are in a position of leadership in the church today, we should always be ready to pass that position on if God directs us to do so.  Verse twenty-five states, And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.  After coming down from the feast, Samuel communed with Saul on the rooftop of his house.  Matthew Henry says we can suppose that Samuel told Saul all about the people's desire for a king at this time, but we really aren't told what they discussed.  Verse twenty-six adds, And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.  Early the next morning, Samuel told Saul to get up, that it was time for him to return home.  Verse twenty-seven continues, And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.  When they got to the end of the city, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead so he could show Saul the word if God.  This was not Samuel's plan, but God's plan to satisfy the grumbling of the people of Israel about not having a king.  God may at times grant our desire, even if He knows it isn't what is best for us.  

1 Samuel 9:11

1 Samuel 9:11 says, And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?  Saul and his servant went looking for the man of God, Samuel.  Though we as followers of Christ should be reaching out to the lost, it is even better when they come seeking us, and if you are struggling in life today and do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, if you have questions about how to do so, seek out a Christian to help you understand how.  Verse twelve adds, And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:  The young maidens told Saul and his servant that the man of God was there, and to hurry because he had come early to make a sacrifice for the people.  Though he was getting older,Samuel was still performing his duties as a priest.  Since as Christians we are all a part of the priesthood of believers, we should start early every day doing what God has called us to do.  Verse thirteen continues, As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.  The maidens emphasized the need for them to hurry, to catch Samuel before he went up to the high place offer his sacrifice for the people.  The rest of the people would not eat of the feast from the sacrifice until Samuel did, which would be another reason for them to hurry.  We should respect God's ministers today, though we should also never put them on a pedestal.  Verse fourteen states, And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.  When they got to the city, they caught Samuel as he was about to go to the high place.  Samuel was going about his routine day, but Saul was about to interrupt him.  We may at times be interrupted on our way to worship God, but we should always have time to answer the questions of lost people.  Verse fifteen adds, Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, Verse sixteen continues, Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.  God had spoken to Samuel the day before, telling him that today he would meet a man from the tribe of Benjamin, and that Samuel was to appoint him as the captain of His people.  I don't know that God has ever spoken into my ear, but He does speak in a still, quiet Voice to my soul, if I am listening.  Samuel was still the man in charge in Israel, but that was about to change.  God said He had heard the people of Israel wanted a king, and that He heard them crying out for deliverance, and that the man that Samuel appointed as captain, or king, would deliver them from the Philistines.  God may have been displeased with their desire for a king, but He still called them His people and sent the man to fulfill their request.  If we ask amiss for something today, something that is less than what God may have been ready to bless us with, He may grant our wish, and we as Christians will never stop being His children.  Verse seventeen states, And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.  When Samuel saw Saul, which should have been easy enough to do since he stood a head taller than the other Israelites, God told him that Saul was the man that He had chosen to lead His people.  Matthew Henry points out that Saul would have been a likely choice of the people because of his stature.  Of course, we cannot pick leaders of the church, or even the nation, based on the way they look.  Verse eighteen adds, Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.  Saul did not recognize Samuel, but instead asked him where he could find the seer`s house.  Saul didn't know Samuel, and God had not pointed Samuel out to him.  We may not recognize God's preachers today just based on physical appearance, but if we have a concern about some issue in life, hopefully we will seek one out.  God may have already prepared them to meet us and answer our questions.  Verse nineteen continues, And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me today, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.  Samuel told Saul that he was the seer that he sought, and then invited him to go with him to the high place, where Saul would eat with him, and Samuel would tell him all that was in his heart the next day.  This was not why Saul was seeking Samuel, but Samuel promised him even more than what he was looking for.  God still does the same with us today as followers of Christ at times.  Verse twenty says, And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?  Samuel then answered the question that Saul had yet to ask and was the reason Saul had sought him out.  Samuel told him not to worry about the asses that he was hunting, because they were safely at home.  This should have been proof to Saul that Samuel was indeed a seer, or prophet.  Samuel then told Saul that since the people wanted a king that they would find no better man than him.  We today may find that sometimes God answers our prayers even before we ask them and gives us an even greater blessing than we are looking for.  Also, if God is calling us to a particular position, there is no better person to fulfill that position.  Verse twenty-one adds, And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?  Saul was modest in his answer.  He said that he was from the smallest tribe of Israel and that his family was the least of the families of that tribe, and then asked Samuel why he would say these things.  Though by answering Saul's unanswered question about the asses Samuel had proven himself to be a seer, Saul still questioned His ability.  We should be modest in our view of ourselves, but never to the point of questioning what God has called us to do.

1 Sam 9:1

1 Samuel 9:1 says, Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.  We are told a lot about a man named Kish, who was a man of Benjamin.  The Benjamites were the tribe that was nearly destroyed while defending the city of Gibeah after their great sin.  Of course, they had been known as men of valor and had been good at fighting wars, but they had also been willing to destroy the rest of Israel.  Now, as we will learn, it was from this tribe that Israel would choose their first king, or more accurately that God would choose him for them.  Verse two adds, And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.  Kish had a son named Saul, and he was noted for being very good man, and he was at least a head taller than the other Israelites.  He would seem to be an ideal candidate for a king.  We could all benefit from having a leader who is physically fit and above and above all else is a good man.  Verse three continues, And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.  Kish's asses were lost,  and he told Saul to take one of the servants and go find them.  Saul may have been the one day king, but at the moment, he was a son who was subjected to and obedient to his father.  No matter what we may be in this world, as followers of Christ we are just His children and subject to His leadership and we should be obedient to that leadership.  Verse four states, And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.  Saul traveled to many places looking for the missing asses, but he didn't find them.  Even if we put forth our best efforts in what we are doing, we are not guaranteed success, so then we have can either choose to continue working or give up and quit.  If it is something that the Heavenly Father has told us to do, hopefully we will not quit if we don't meet with immediate success.  Verse five adds, And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.  Saul decided after they got to the land of Zuph and didn't find them, that it was time to return home, since his father would be worried that something had happened to him, and he told his servant this.  We as Christians should never spend too much time away from our Heavenly Father, because He is always concerned about us.  Verse six continues, And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.  Saul’s servant said there was a man of God, in the city and they should consult him about what to do.  This man of God was Samuel. If people are having trouble today, would they say of us that we are a man or woman of God and that they should come to us for advice?  Verse seven says, Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?  Saul was concerned about what reward they could offer the man of God for helping them.  Of course, a true man of God would not expect payment for his advice.  Verse eight adds, And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.  Though he may have been a future king, Saul had to rely on his servant to provide the money to pay the man of God.  Even rulers should be willing to accept help from others when it is needed, and we should be willing to help them under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and for God's glory and not our own.  Veres nine states, (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)  At one time, prophets were evidently called seers, due to their ability to see into the future.  Of course, this wasn't because of any psychic ability or their own power, but by the power and revelation of God.  Verse ten adds, Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.  Saul said that the servant had a good idea, and they went up to the city where Samuel the man of God was.  If we have problems, we would be well advised to find a man of God and ask for his advice.  Of course, we can go directly to God, but He has also placed people in positions of leadership in the church today who are there to help us.

1 Samuel 8:11

1 Samuel 8:11 says,  And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.  Samuel told the people what was going to happen when they had a king.  Some of their sons would have to be servants of the king, in particular in relationship to his chariots.  This was in accordance with the way kings of other nations were treated, and Israel wanted a king so they could be like other nations.  If we choose to follow after the ways of the world as followers of Christ, we can expect it to cost us.  Verse twelve adds, And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.  Samuel added some other demands that would be made on the people of Israel.  Children who had served their parents would now serve the king to meet his needs. Some would serve in his army and some would reap his crops, and if he were to be like other kings, then all crops would basically belong to him.  In some respects, he would be replacing God, Who had provided for both the needs and defense of Israel and everything ultimately belonged to Him.  The one big difference, the king would demand these things, but God Who really did supply everything for them only asked for their obedience.  We need to be careful that we don't desire to be like the world more than we want to be dependent on God.  Verse thirteen continues, And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.  The sons weren't the only ones who would be affected, because their daughters would be expected to be cooks and bakers for the king.  Everyone would be subjected to the king.  Verse fourteen states, And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.  The king would have total control over the people, taking their fields and giving them to his servants.  They would be surrendering individual rights to the authoritarian rule of the king.  We as Christians have been set free to enjoy God's blessings without anyone being able to take them away from us, yet we sometimes surrender that freedom willingly in order to be like the rest of the world.  Verse fifteen continues, And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.  They were told that the king would take a tithe from them.  The people were already expected to pay their tithe to God, and this would not replace that, but would be an additional tithe they would pay.  We today likewise cannot count taxes as a substitute for the tithe.  Verse sixteen continues, And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.  Verse seventeen concludes, He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.  These verses are a continuation of the warning Samuel was giving the people about what a king would cost them. We as followers of Christ should already know that if we put someone else in charge of life instead if allowing God to be, it is going to cost us.  Verse eighteen declares, And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.  Samuel warned them that if they appointed a king, when all that he demanded became too much, that they would call out to God, but He wouldn't hear them. We cannot go against God's law and direction in our life and complain to Him when things go wrong.  Verse nineteen adds, Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;  In spite of all Samuel's warnings, the people of Israel would not listen to him and said that they would have a iing.  Sometimes, no matter how much Christians are warned about the danger of attempting to be like the rest of the world,  they will not heed the warning.  Verse twenty continues, That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.  Instead of relying on God to appoint them judges and to fight their battles for them, they demanded a king to do so.  Evidently, they had forgotten how many kings they had defeated by the power and leadership of God.  We should never look to anyone or anything in this world to give us victory over the forces of evil but God Himself.  Verse twenty-one states, And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.  Samuel heard what the people said, and repeated it to God,  He did not just make the decision himself, and neither should we as Christians when it comes to anything in life.  Verse twenty-two continues, And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.  God told Samuel to listen to them and to make them a king, and Samuel told them for everyone to return to their own city.  God gave them up to the lusts of their hearts, and we better hope we never find ourselves in the same position today. 

1 Samuel 8:1

1 Samuel 8:1 says, And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.  After Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.  We are not told that God directed him to do this.  Of course, there was more of an ascendancy to the priesthood by family in those days, but Samuel had not become a prophet and judge that way, but really by quite the opposite.  We cannot assume that just because a person is a preacher today that their children are going to be, although sometimes they are called by God.  Verse two adds, Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.  Verse three continues, And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.  His sons, Joel and Abiah, did not walk following the LORD, but turned aside from His ways for money and perverted justice.  I know many people believe that justice can be bought today, but it should never be for sale by those who are followers of Christ.  Verse four states, Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,  Verse five adds, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.  The elders of Israel came to Samuel and told him what he already knew.  He was old, and his sons did not walk in the ways of the LORD.  They then demanded that he make them a king to judge them, like other nations had.  We are always going to fall into trouble if we as followers of Christ want to be like the people of the world.  Once again, we are not told that they consulted God about this decision, nor had they asked Samuel to do so.  We need to always ask God first before we implement any plan.  Verse six declares, But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.  Samuel was displeased by their demand or request, and at least he  recognized the fact that God should be consulted about this decision.  I believe Christians should always seek God's guidance in any matter, especially those related to the church or the nation.  Verse seven adds, And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.  God told Samuel to grant what they were asking, and that by what they were asking, thay weren't rejecting Samuel, but they were rejecting God.  God had been their ruler since they left Egypt, and as long as they were obedient to Him, they had always been triumphant, defeating nation after nation that had a king.  Now, they wanted an earthly king, instead of being obedient to the Heavenly King. Verse eight continues, According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.  God pointed out that since leaving Egypt the people of Israel had been rebelling against Him time after time,and now they were doing the same thing to Samuel.  We need to do our best to avoid these cycles of faith in our Christian walk today. Verse nine says, Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.  Verse ten adds, And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.  God again told Samuel that it wasn't Samuel's rule that they were rejecting, but the rule of God Himself.  God told Samuel to protest solemnly to them, but then see what manner of king they would choose, and Samuel told the people what God had said.  Ultimately, all we can do today is tell people what God's word says, and then it is up to them how they respond. 

1 Samuel 7:10

1 Samuel 7:10 says, And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.  While Samuel was offering a burnt offering to God, the Philistines were drawing near to battle the Israelites.  We are told God thundered a great thunder, and the Philistines were discomfited, or made to feel uneasy by the thunder, and they were defeated by the Israelites.  There is nothing about the Israelites being made superior physically or becoming better armed, but God used the thunder to lead to Israel's victory.   We need to learn to put our faith in God above all else.  Verse eleven adds, And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.  The men of Israel pursued the Philistines all the way to Bethcar.  God gave the people of Israel the victory once they repented and returned to Him.  We cannot expect to be victorious over the world today if we are being disobedient to God, but if we feel that we are being defeated, we need to simply look to Him in obedience.  Verse twelve states, Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.  Samuel made a memorial to God between Mizpeh and Shen, to commeriate God's giving the people of Israel the victory over the Philistines.  This was where the Israelites had been defeated by the Philistines twenty years earlier.  The longer it takes us to repent and ask God's forgiveness if we as followers of Christ have gone astray, the longer it will be before God restores us to a place of victory in the world today.  Of course, we will always have the everlasting victory, but that does not mean that if we fail to put our faith in God in all situations that we cannot be temporarily defeated.  Verse thirteen adds, So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.  As long as Samuel lived, the Philistines never came to battle the people of Israel again, because the hand of God was against them.  We need to be like Samuel today, standing with God and calling on others to do so as well.  Verse fourteen continues, And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.  All the land that the Philistines had taken from Israel was returned, and Israel was at peace with the Amorites, or those people who remained in the Promised Land.  We live with people of all beliefs and backgrounds today, but we should do our best to live at peace with them, without compromising our faith.  We are to be a light of the gospel to them, and this is easier to do if we are not looking to be at war with them.  Verse fifteen declares, And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.  Verse sixteen adds, And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.  Samuel was a Judge of Israel for the rest of His life, and he was actively involved in doing so. He did not just sit and wait for the people to come to him, but He traveled throughout Israel.  I believe that we today cannot just wait for people to come to us to hear the Gospel, but we must take it to them by any means possible. Verse seventeen continues, And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.  Samuel's residence was in Ramah, so he would return there after traveling the circuit.  He also built an altar to God there.  We need a place to call home that we can return to after we have been out in the world sharing the Gospel, and there should be an altar to God there, spiritually if not physically. 

1 Samuel 7:1

1 Samuel 7:1 says, And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.  The men of Kirjathjearim got the Ark, brought it to the house of house of Abinadab, and sanctified Eleazar Abinadab's son to keep it.  Matthew Henry said the Ark remained there for many years, never to have any more heard about it until David retrieved it, except for once in 1 Samuel 14:18.  He said the men there allowed what should have been a blessing to become a curse.  There definitely was no mention of them consulting God about anything that they did.  Still, God allowed the Ark to remain there, and they had made the effort to attend to it properly.  We likewise cannot just keep the Gospel to ourselves today, even if we attempt to keep its truth for ourselves.  Verse two adds, And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.  As stated, the Ark remained there for twenty years while the people lamented to the LORD, not really very concerned about where the Ark was, even though it was back in Israel. We don't need to sit around lamenting God's seeming lack of action in the world today, because He is here if we will only obey Him.  Verse three states, And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.  During this time, Samuel called on the people of Israel to repent, return to God, and put away their false gods.  Then, if they did, God would free them from the hand of the Philistines.  If we want God to bless us as individuals or as a nation, we must do the same thing.  Verse four adds, Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.  The people responded to Samuel's call, and put away their idols to Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.  If we have allowed idols, which is anything that comes between God and us, into our life, we need to put whatever it is away, and serve God only.  Verse five continues, And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.  Samuel called on the people of Israel to gather at Mizpeh, and he would pray for them.  We need to be willing to gather together as the church today, spiritually and physically, and all be in prayer for God's will to be done in the world.  Verse six says, And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.  The people took action to show that they had repented.  Matthew Henry says the pouring of the water on the ground was symbolic of their humiliation and contrition, since the water once poured out could not be gathered again.  We cannot undo our sins by our own power, but must allow God to forgive us by putting our faith Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seven adds, And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.  When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel were gathered at Mizpeh they went up against them, and the people of Israel were afraid.  They still were not totally trusting in the LORD.  We today as followers of Christ should never live in fear of the world, because we have already won no matter what happens in this life.  Verse eight continues, And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.  The people of Israel asked Samuel to pray that God would not forget them, and that He would deliver them out of the hands of the Philistines.  We as Christians today know that God will never forget us,and that He has already delivered us out of the hands of all our enemies. Verse nine concludes,  And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.  Samuel offered a sacrifice of a young lamb to God as a burnt sacrifice, cried out to God, and God heard Him.  The only acceptable sacrifice for sin has already been made for us, and that is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and all we need to do is cry out to Him by faith, and He will hear us.

1 Samuel 6:12

1 Samuel 6:12 says, And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.  The two cows pulling the Ark of the Covenant took a straight path to Bethshemesh.  This was the next city in the land of Israel, and a priests city.  They did not turn aside on their way there.  The Philistines had taken the Ark as a trophy, and had possibly thought to ransom it, but they were as glad to get rid of it as they had been to take it.  We should never attempt to profit from things that belong to God.  Verse thirteen adds, And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.  The people of Bethshemesh were at work, reaping their wheat.  They were not expecting this blessing from the lord, and it was a blessing.  We never know as we go about our everyday life as followers of Christ when we will receive an unexpected blessing, but then again shouldn't all blessings be unexpected?  We should not live sitting around waiting for God to bless us, but should be at work for Him every day.  Verse fourteen continues, Like the people of Israel then, we should rejoice in the lord when these unexpected blessings come out way.  Verse fourteen continues, And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.  The cows came to a halt in the field of Joshua, a resident of Bethshemesh, and the placed the Ark on a great stone and used the wood of the cart to make a burnt offering of the cows to God.  Matthew Henry points out that after bearing the Ark of the Covenant, the cart could have never been used for anything else, and the two cows, once they were used to pull the cart had already been given to God.  We should never attempt to profit materially from the things already given to God.  Verse fifteen states, And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.  The Levites had already taken possession of the Ark and the coffer containing the jewels and gold and had placed the Ark on the great stone, as the people offered burnt offerings and sacrifices the same day.  We should never put off rejoicing at that blessings that God bestows on us.  Verse sixteen adds, And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.  When the five lords of the Philistines saw what had happened, they returned to Ekron.  They had received no ransom for the Ark, but had actually paid to get rid of it.  We cannot ransom God's word today, and if we attempt to, we will pay the price for doing so.  The lords of the Philistines had seen evidence of the reality and power of God by the cows returning straight to God's people with the Ark, but they simply returned home.  Not everyone who sees evidence of the reality and power of God put their faith in Him.  Verse seventeen continues, And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;  The lords of the Philistines had offered golden statues for each of their five cities.  Verse eighteen says, And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.  They had also included five golden mice in the offering, and the stone the Ark sat on was there for a memorial to God thereafter.  We need to teach our children about the blessings that God has given us, so that they might know of His power and hopefully come to put their faith in Him.  Verse nineteen adds, And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.  Instead of being able to continue worshipping God, He struck down over fifty thousand of the people of Bethshemesh because they had shown disrespect for the sanctity if the Ark of the Covenant by looking inside it.  We should never disrespect the things set aside for God.  Verse twenty continues, And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?  The remaining people of Bethshemesh asked who could stand before the Holy Gad and who could go up to God for them.  The answer to their questions is that no one of their own merit can stand before God, but He graciously sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to go up before Him for us, if we will put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-one continues, And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.  The people of Bethshemesh then sent messengers to Kirjathjearim, asking them to come take the Ark.  They now would not even touch the Ark of the Covenant themselves, though they had rejoiced at its return earlier, and had then become guilty of profaning it.  If God blesses us today, we should be careful that we do not begin to profane Him by misusing the things He blesses us with.