Psalm 119:50

“My comfort in my suffering is this:

Your promise, [Oh Lord],

preserves my life.”

~Psalm 119:50 NIV, emphasis mine~

  

It’s amazing that in spite of the failures and frustrations we have in our daily lives, we are able to survive by God’s promises… His unfailing love and grace through His Son Jesus Christ, revealed in His Word, and by the Comfort of the Holy Spirit…Shalom!

Testify to Love (Avalon)

My Savior, My God (Aaron Shust)

I Can Only Imagine (Mercy Me)

Who Am I? (Casting Crowns)

Reminiscense

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The Passion of the Christ… (In Christ Alone – Brian Littrel)

Memories…

My weekly devotion 5

“  But the Lord looks at the inner beauty…”

Courtesy:1blessedmom,http://flickr.com/photos/debbiehostetler/ 

“…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

(I Samuel 17:7b, NIV)

          This passage is all about the selection of the right King like David where the Lord urged Judge Samuel not to consider the outward appearance of persons but the heart because God’s plans and thoughts are different from us and He sees the inner conviction and beauty to be His chosen king of Israel. This choosing process was followed by the fall of King Saul and his rejection to be king over Israel by God. Where are the God’s appointed leaders? Who are they? Why they need to be special and anointed one?         

          Yes this is a good reflection upon our lives and the world around us today. We are living with complicated world where there are less respect and honor for the leaders and authority; where people are very individualistic and free; where people are after the richness and wealth; where people are after the leaders who have background of good reputations, well to do family, highly educated, good looking and healthy. Are these things prevailing in our church setting today?  Of course yes, these are some of the criterias, which need to be changed for good leadership to a certain extent. However, what else more does God looks for his people to be a leader for his sheep?

          God hates sin but loves sinners. When sin fills the heart of God’s anointed leaders there is always forgiveness but the ultimate outcome is the consequences and the new one replaces it.  The ways of pride, arrogant, self-seeking, money lover, no self-control in speech, conduct, actions, and immorality, etc are not in the realm of God’s leadership criteria/prerequisite. Our God is a loving and forgiving God, who searches the heart of a man/woman that has a deep calling and conviction for the cause and love for His people, a person who has compassion, faithfulness, integrity, accountability, good stewardship, and a heart that is burning for the mission. Why did God choose those good things, which is difficult and hard to find in our lives? Because God demands the best things from us so also in leading His people…

          There are times as imperfect human being when time comes for appointment or selection or election of a leader either in the church administrative service or social matters. We have high tendency of looking at the outward expression or ability or family background admitting that they are better or higher class than us. In this way we do not appoint the right leaders (in most cases). That is where the root of corruption, injustice, domination, discrimination and separation/division comes from. However, God sees the inner beauty …a heart that has an upright, holy, justice, loving, caring, and fear of God that reflects the outward lifestyle, behavior, and character. He/she is the leader after God’s own heart to lead His people and God anoint them and use them powerfully and mightily for the expansion of His Kingdom.

Ditty Q 5

Is David the first King of Israel? Why/ why not?

No. He was the great king of Israel who consolidates the Monarchy and founded the first Hebrew state (Wikipedia, free encyclopedia) but King Saul was the first named king in the history of Israel’s kingship. Indeed, David responded to his wife Michal, the daughter of king Saul, “it was the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his household when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel…” (II Sam. 6: 20). Could it be possible to say that David is the first king of Israel base on this source…? If not, is it the author’s favor and more emphasized on David’s kingship?

The birth of Samuel is divine intervention “because I asked the Lord for him” (1 Sam. 1). He was called by God (1 Sam.3: 1ff) and he was recognized as prophets (1 Sam.3: 20), and judges during which people of God demanded a mortal king in the ever history (1 Sam. 8). By the power of God (1 Sam. 9), Samuel consecrated and anointed Saul, the first king over Israel in answer to their demand and request. He was made first King with affirm and reaffirmation by signs and wonders from God (1Sam. 10: 9-27; 11: 12-15). David was anointed by Samuel only after the king Saul committed sin of disobedience before Samuel and God (1 Sam.15: 24-25; 16: 1). In a brief, Saul falls in power and the spirit of the Lord departed from him to David and the rise of David began there on.

David was obedient king before God and he patiently wait for the Lord’s time for him to be enthroning in the kingship even though he knew he was the anointed king for Israel. He enquires the lord’s will and direction to rule and attack his enemies in many occasions. He humble himself before God and listen to what the Lord says for him to do, he was loyal to Saul’s leadership and authority and respect him for he was the first God’s anointed king of Israel. King Saul pursued David and plotted his life for four times but David humble before God for his time and he spared Saul’s life twice instead (1 Sam.18; 19; 23: 7-29; 24; 26). Why???

…Because King David himself knew that there was another God’s anointed king over Israel before him and he did honor it. However, he was another God’s anointed King over greater Israel, which is to unite both Kingdom of Israel and Judah. He became Godly king in which the prosperity and superiority of the Near East was achieved. King David was the king who ruled the truly unified kingdoms of both North and South but he was not the first king of Israel. Though King Saul did not successfully ruled out the united kingdoms into better organized and stronger administration/governing system and yet he was the first God’s anointed and appointed King of Israel.

References:

Kaiser, Walter C. A History of Israel: From the Bronze Age Through the Jewish Wars. Nashville, Tennessee: Brodman & Holman Publishers,1998.

United Monarchy. available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Monarchy\

Sienna, Baruch. Our answer to God’s call should be: ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’Available at http://www.kolel.org/pages/5766/korach.html

An Anthropologist Looks at the Judeo-Christian Scripture. Available at http://cc.usu.edu/~fath6/monarchy.htm