Can God overcome our rebellion? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 10:19,

"You have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities."

This is the indictment Samuel leveled against the Israelites as he was preparing to introduce to them their new king, Saul. The Lord was to be their king, but the nation rejected him.

Why did the Israelites reject God? As Samuel points out, it was God who saved the nation from all their "disasters and calamities." Why reject him? He was the One who rescued them from their bondage in Egypt. He was the One who brought them into the promised land. He was the One who provided them victory after victory over their enemies when they acknowledged God. Why reject him?

The very same can be asked today as the gospel goes out: Why reject the Lord? Jesus Christ died on that miserable cross to take our punishment for sins we have committed. Why reject him? Jesus Christ made a way for us into his family. Jesus Christ made it possible for us to enter into eternal life. Jesus Christ made it possible for us to experience the eternal pleasures we will have at God's right hand, Psalm 16:11. Jesus Christ intercedes for us with our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ loves each one of us and has opened his arms wide to welcome us! Why reject him?

Unfortunately many do and will find an eternal judgment awaiting them following this life. Why? The heart of man is corrupt. The heart of man is deceitful. The heart of man is prone to sin. The heart of man is predisposed to reject God and those things that are his. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9.

Yet, the gospel goes out. A powerful message that can pierce the heart of the most depraved among us, the most rebellious among us, the most deceitful among us. "It is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" Romans 1:16. The writer of Hebrews tells us why, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12. All anyone ever needs to do is to exercise the free will God has given each person to embrace Jesus Christ in faith as the gospel is offered!

How wonderful is that?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What might the Lord be doing? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 9:5-6,

"When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, 'Come, let's go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.' But the servant replied, 'Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let's go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.'"

Saul and one of his father's servants went to go locate some donkeys that had become lost. While they were looking for them they looked around the area of Shaalim and in the territory of Benjamin. Not finding the donkeys in the area of Zuph, Saul suggested they head back home as he was concerned the family would begin worrying about them. The servant had one more idea to pursue and the two decided to go to a town where they had heard a prophet of God was staying - maybe he could help them.

The prophet, the "man of God" was Samuel and the day before the Lord told Samuel "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines." Verse 16. This, of course, was Saul.

This is the set of circumstances surrounding the anointing of Saul as Israel's first king by Samuel. The Lord clearly was manipulating events through the loss of donkeys and the best thoughts of Saul and the servant to retrieve them. However, what was really happening is that the Lord was manipulating them to bring about the ascendancy of Saul to the throne. Saul and the servant thought they were busy doing one thing but the Lord was, as I say, manipulating things and people to accomplish his agenda.

So, does the Lord still do things like this today? Absolutely! We see it in marvelous display during the earthy ministry of Jesus, a millennium later, where he was manipulating things and people around him and I'm quite certain this happens today. In fact, we all may be quite surprised to see just how active God is behind the events in our lives as well as the events that take place on the world stage.

As far as the Lord doing things behind the scenes in our own lives, Here is a fascinating verse from Proverbs 20:24, "A person's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?" As we face various difficulties, various experiences, might the Lord actually be actively involved, bringing about something he desires in us, through us, to us? Something to think about...

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

On the honor of being tossed out with God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 8:7,

"Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king."

There are those who refuse the Lord, who disobey the Lord, who reject the things of the Lord. In Samuel's day, on this occasion, the folks wanted a human king, rejecting the Lord as their king. Samuel was Israel's last judge and its current leader, and he was very displeased with them for wanting a human king. As he took the issue to the Lord, the Lord pointed out that their rejection of Samuel was, in fact, their rejection of God. The point was made by the Lord to encourage Samuel to understand who exactly it was the people were rejecting.

People have always rejected God since the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden. Since that time, those who find themselves representing God (as did Adam and Eve's son, Abel) often feel the rejection of those who oppose God (as did Adam and Eve's other son, Cain). John tells us, "Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." 1 John 3:13. The world hates believers because they are God's people. The hatred of God finds its expression against the people of God.

Here is a fascinating observation Jesus made to his followers, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me... Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'" John 15:18-25.

When you find a rejection among family, friends or neighbors as you share the Lord with them, be mindful it is the Lord that is being rejected. And, if they reject you because of it, what a wonderful position to be in: rejected together with the Lord! It would be wonderful if they didn't reject the Lord, but if they do, it is the Lord that is being rejected. If you get tossed out because of the Lord, is there any other place you would rather be?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Owning a breastplate of righteousness - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 7:12,

"Thus far the Lord has helped us."

This is what Samuel said as he erected a stone monument to the Lord for the Israelite's victory over the Philistines.

We are told in verse two of this chapter that "all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord" and that they rid themselves of the "foreign gods and the Ashtoreths". We are told that at this point in Israel's history they "served the Lord only", confessing their sin against the Lord for having abandoned him as a nation, verses 4-5. Unfortunately for the Israelites, this would only be for a short time, but for now, in their devotion to the Lord they experienced his blessings.

It was during this time the Philistines gathered to attack Israel, however we read, "But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar." Verses 10-11.

Israel had turned to the Lord and the Lord gave them victory and relief in saving them from their enemies. The nation had in their possession, at this time, the Lord's blessing, the Lord's help, the Lord's salvation of the nation. It was theirs, given them from the Lord. They "owned" his help as his gift to the nation. It was theirs to celebrate and rejoice in.

This morning my mind is captured by the thought that we too, today, own God's blessing if we have embraced Jesus Christ as our Lord. When we place our faith and trust in him we own, as our very own possession given us, a "breastplate of righteousness", Ephesians 6:14. This breastplate of righteousness is given us when we respond to the gospel of God's grace. God gives us a standing of being right with him in his court. This is a wonderful gift not to be taken lightly. We are told in Psalm 49:7-9, "No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay." However, this is exactly what Jesus Christ has done. He provided redemption for all mankind and each of us can have that credited to our account with God if we place our faith and trust in him. He gives us a standing of righteousness, this "breastplate of righteousness" - our guarantee of eternal life.

Just as Israel "owned" God's blessing when they turned to him, so we "own" this breastplate of righteousness given us by God when we turn to him.

This breastplate of righteousness is something to value, something to consider with the greatest appreciation, the greatest gratitude. It is the greatest possession we can possibly own, given us freely by the One who suffered and died a miserable death on that cross to provide it for us!

We must never fail to celebrate this wonderful gift of God bestowed on us in his lavish expression of love toward us as we embrace him in faith.

"Thus far the Lord has helped us!"

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Others may worship the pope today, I am worshipping Jesus Christ - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 6:13,

"Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight."

When the ark was returned by the Philistines to Israel, the people of Beth Shemesh (the town it was returned to) "rejoiced at the sight." I suspect there must have been celebrating with shouts of joy, dancing, whatever it was that expressed the Israelite's joy. I also noticed that earlier, when the ark was brought from Shiloh to accompany the Israeli army into battle, as it arrived at the camp, there was likewise a rejoicing, "all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook." It was an uproar that even the Philistines heard!

Joy, rejoicing, celebration! And yet, the people had turned from God himself to worship with their "foreign gods and the Ashtoreths" as mentioned in the very next chapter! A celebration of the arrival of God's ark... but they had turned to other gods. Where was their celebration of the Lord himself? Seems to be missing altogether to me. The ark itself had become an idol.

While the pope of the Roman Catholic Church visits our nation today, I see much celebration, a "whole lotta hoopla!". Folks are all excited to see the leader of that church in our country today.

But, where is the hoopla, where is the excitement, where is the celebration over Jesus Christ? Where is the enthusiasm to read our Bibles to know him better? Where are the excited crowds earnestly rejoicing in Jesus Christ?

Some may attempt to persuade us that the excitement over the Pontiff's visit is really an excitement that accrues to the Lord. Sorry, I'm not buying that. No more than the idolatrous Jews who celebrated the ark.

Just sayin'.

How wonderful it would be if those who celebrate the pope's visit today, celebrated the Lord himself! Why reserve for some man what rightfully should be God's?

It was Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sins! It was Jesus Christ who came to make it possible for me to have eternal life! It was Jesus Christ who set in motion his gospel that would eventually make its way to me! It is him I love. It is him I worship and it is him who I will celebrate today as the pope makes his visit. I will leave the worship of the pope to others - I'm too focused on the Lord.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

In God's love he brings pain - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 5:6,

"The Lord's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors."

The Lord afflicted people with tumors? Yes. But... I thought God was a god of love! Yes, our God is a god of love. How can a god of love afflict people with tumors? Because he is both a god of love and a god of justice and righteousness. His love is expressed or couched within his justice.

Here is something not often mentioned in those booming sermons on the great wrath of our God of hell fire: his judgement of people in this life is often an act of love. Consider a fascinating comment in Psalms 78:34-35, "Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer." There is no better place to be in this life than fleeing to our God of refuge! Here is God's expression of his love, drawing people to himself that they experience his very best. If many may have to suffer to get there, apparently it does not slow his hand. Consider what Paul said, "...  the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." Romans 8:20-21.

Our great god of love does not express his love by indulging lost and fallen mankind - to continue wallowing around in their sins, being deceived and deceiving one another. His love does not countenance this world of spiritual darkness and its foolishness. He has something better for mankind: his eternal kingdom with life everlasting spent at the pleasures at his right hand, Psalm 16:11.

God's judgments of mankind, bringing death and destruction, has a way of drawing people to him. Now, the judgment that follows this life is another thing altogether. God is not going to permit sinful mankind to continue as a blemish in his cosmos. All who reject Jesus Christ in this life will be cast into a fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8, and that has nothing to do with love, but everything to do with his justice. However, I see it as something he will do with mixed emotions  - the same emotions he must have felt as he watched his Son die on that miserable cross (but that is another story...)..

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Losing the glory of God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 4:22,

"The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."

The nation of Israel had been blessed by God as his special chosen people. They were God's people that he intended to use to roll out his program of redemption to our lost and fallen world. The reason God chose Israel was because of their progenitor's faith, the faith of Abraham, Genesis 15:6.

God, in fact, did use his people to pursue his plan of redemption.  As Paul observes, "Theirs (the Israelites) is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!" Romans 9:4-5.

However, at this point in her history, the nation of Israel experienced the loss of the Lord's presence as the ark was captured. This was but just a physical indication of a spiritual reality: God's hand against Israel's enemies was removed as well as his blessing on the nation for a time.

Why did the Lord leave Israel to her fate with her enemies? As we read the history of this time we find Israel had abandoned her faith in God and began to look in other places to replace him in the life of the nation. Therefore God "gave them over" to their enemies to manipulate the events that would prepare Israel for his use of them to ultimately bring Jesus Christ into the world and have him give his life as a ransom for all mankind.

What might the Lord have to do in our lives today to prepare us for use by him? Something to consider...

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

God communicating - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 3:8,

"A third time the Lord called, 'Samuel!' And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.' Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!'"

When the Lord spoke to Samuel, it was audible to him. Samuel heard him just as if he might hear anyone else talking. Such was the case that when the Lord first spoke to him, he went to see what Eli wanted. He assumed it was Eli that was calling him.

This is what is meant when we are told that the Lord spoke to Samuel, "And the Lord said to Samuel..." Verse 11. We are told of a variety of ways the Lord has communicated to certain ones. He has used dreams, visions, even some form of a spiritual transporting, e.g. "And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell." 2 Corinthians 12:3-4. What is astonishing in these accounts is that of the verbal nature of the communication the Lord engaged his prophets with.

John tells us, "On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit,and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: 'Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.' I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me." Revelation 1:10-12. What John heard was so audible that he turned his head to see who was talking!

Such has happened with God's interaction with specific individuals he has chosen to speak to. Audible communication that is heard in the native tongue of the hearer.

I myself, have never audibly heard God speak. I listen to him quite regularly as I read the Scriptures. I also have had very strongly felt "nudges"? or whatever from the Lord as I was certain he was drawing my attention to one thing or another. However, I have never audibly heard the voice of the Lord. 

I have listened to many over the years make a comment along the lines of "The other night the Lord spoke to me and..." My first impulse is to ask them, "Did you hear him audibly? Did he speak to you and you heard him just as we are talking now?" My point in asking has never been to challenge them on the veracity of what follows, but to establish whether they heard the Lord as many have in the past. 

At times I have had the distinct impression that when people say the Lord spoke to them, they don't mean at all like what I read of in the Scriptures. Sometimes I even wonder whether they are aware that God can and has spoken verbally as anyone might. It often turns out that what they mean is that they experienced some form of a spiritual impulse. The problem with casting something like a spiritual impulse or some form of spiritual incitement or even provocation as "the Lord spoke to me" and it wasn't verbal, is that it can confuse those of us who read the Scriptures.

I have never had the Lord speak audibly to me. He certainly could but it has not happened (not yet anyway). But I certainly have had a number of occasions, as I am sure you have as well, when I experienced an impulse from the Lord, an incitement and even, I believe a provocation to act on something he wanted me to do, or whatever.

I guess I am something of a stickler for clarity and accuracy. As such, I often feel that we all, (including me), be a bit more accurate in our accounting of whatever interactions we may have experienced with the Lord.

The amazing thing, the exciting thing, the astonishing thing, is that the Lord has made it his practice of communicating with us, whether verbally, as in Samuel and John's case, or through spiritual "nudges", impulses, incitements and provocations. For me, it can be anytime, but most often as I have my nose in the Scriptures.

How about you?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

He who sees it all comes to judge - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 2:3,

"Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed."

These words spoken by Hannah, Samuel's mother, comes from her worship of the Lord following his answer to her prayers for a son. In her worship she acknowledges the rejoicing in her heart as she considers what the Lord had done for her. Possibly the strongest statement of her prayer of worship was her observation, "There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God." Verse 2.

There is no Mohammed, no Buddha, no Confucius, no pope, no Joseph Smith, no one holy like the Lord! The Lord is unique and in his tripartite personhood, he stands alone. "There is no Rock like our God." God is not what you and I make him out to be. There is no "God is whatever he is to you..." He is himself in spite what anyone thinks about him. He stands in his position as our Creator as objectively himself, with no one and nothing that he shares that position with.

As such, he has his own ways, his own personality, his own character and nature and his own agenda. He also does not check in with me first to determine the expression of himself and what I think about it. As he lets us know in his revelation of himself (which is what we have in our Bibles) he knows everything about every last one of us. There is nothing he does not know about each and every one of us. And, in a sobering note, "by him deeds are weighed."

God is not only our Creator, he is also our judge. He knows all we do and he judges everything we think, feel, do and say. That judgment comes not in this life, but in the resurrection when he raises all mankind from the grave and presents to himself each of us for judgement. For those who have sinned, they will, every one of them, be cast into a fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8.

That is, every one except for those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith. As Jesus himself said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man." John 5:24-27.

We read of this judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. Since I know I have sinned, how grateful I am for Jesus' payment for my sins upon that cross! How about you?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Bargaining with the Lord - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 1:11,

"Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."

Hannah bargained with the Lord. The burning desire of her heart was to have a son, and her great anguish was that she was barren. She brought the matter to the Lord and told him that if he would but bless her with a baby boy, she would commit him to full time service to the Lord and to stay in Shiloh at "the house of the Lord" with the priest Eli.

When she explained herself to Eli, he blessed her and the Lord answered her prayer. She had a baby boy and named him Samuel. Hannah made good on her word and brought the boy to serve the Lord in Shiloh.

Hannah bargained with the Lord. In her prayer, her request was couched in the familiar "if you will do this, I will do that." The blessing the Lord might give would be returned to him in Hannah devoting the answer to her prayer (a boy) in service to the Lord for his lifetime.

Would the Lord have us bargain with him? Should we approach the Lord as one does when engaging in commerce? One of the pitfalls in interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives is assuming whatever we read that happens in these narrative portions is what we are to do. However, there is nothing here in this chapter that tells us we are to go and do the same.

To highlight this, in the same chapter we read of Peninnah, Hannah's husband's other wife (in the days of patriarchal polygamy). Peninnah made a rival of herself against Hannah and was harsh with her. Are the Scriptures telling us to go do likewise? How about the polygamy? Since Elkanah (Hannah's husband) had two wives, are the Scriptures telling us to go do likewise? 

Here is what I think is going on in this narrative. The Lord wanted to raise up another judge in Israel (which would be Israel's last judge), a special judge, one that he would use to transition Israel from a theocracy to a monarchy. (Actually, Israel was already a monarchy - a theocratic monarchy???, but the Jews rejected God as their king and wanted a human king placed over them instead.)

This last judge would need to be cultivated in the things of the Lord and be placed in a strategic position within the nation. This the Lord did by creating a set of circumstances where a Jewish couple agreed to devote their son to life long service at the tabernacle in Shiloh.

Hannah's bargaining with the Lord to accomplish what the Lord desired in the first place illustrates just how good the Lord can manipulate what he wants to bring about. I believe the account gives no voice to the propriety of bargaining with the Lord (although I am not speaking against it here), but speaks loudly of how he brings things about in his own way. He closed Hannah's womb. I am certain he was also behind Peninnah's disgraceful treatment of her, motivating Hannah. I believe the Lord also engineered the event that brought Eli's blessing, and following Hannah's vow, the Lord enabled her to get pregnant through her husband.

What I am suggesting here is that what we have is not teaching on how to get the Lord to answer our prayers, but an opportunity to see just how the Lord, in a breath-taking way, can work in people's lives to accomplish the things he does. I believe his workings in this way are not just limited to things of grave national importance, but are also employed by him in the smaller things that might be important to him in each one of our individual lives. 

I think we might all be surprised at what, and how, the Lord may be doing in each one of our lives right now.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

What does God have to say? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 23:2,

"The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue."

Of the last words spoken by David, he claimed the Lord spoke through him. He said it was the Spirit of the Lord whose word was on his tongue. Much of the book of Psalms was authored by David, and so what David tells us is that what he had to say in the book of Psalms was either given him by God or that simply God spoke through him.

Peter makes a fascinating observation in regard to the production of the Scriptures, of which the book of Psalms is a part. He said, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21.

This makes the reading of not just Psalms, but of all the Scriptures, a fascinating thing to do. We can listen to the very words of our Creator himself as we read the Scriptures! We live in a time when people seem desperate to know that God exists, that heaven exists, that there is life after our physical deaths (a real resurrection!). Books have been written about short-term death experiences where the person is pictured as traveling toward bright lights, faces seen and voices heard of loved ones who have proceeded them in death, etc. All this points to the intense interest we have in wanting to know about these things.

(As an aside, I don't buy into any of the accounts where people claimed to have died and somehow came back to life to describe for us what they saw and heard. We are told in Hebrews 9:27, "people are destined to die once". Not just some people, and not just sometimes. We all go through death once, except for exceptional accounts given us in the Scriptures, such as the death and raising to life of Mary and Martha's brother, Lazarus. I've heard too many of these accounts over the years that always seem to fall apart later, for one reason or another.)

In any event, our felt need to know of the hereafter, to know of heaven, to have a word from our Creator - can be fully satisfied as we read what our Lord has to say in the Scriptures. The sixty-six books in our Bibles constitute the most unusual library of all of literature in that they were created through an inexplicable process that involved men and the Holy Spirit, producing not what the men had in mind, but what God himself had in his mind! 

Is that not fascinating, or what?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Justice, God's style - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 21:1,

"During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, 'It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.'"

The Lord brought a famine to the land of Israel that had lasted three years. In inquiring of the Lord about it, the Lord told David it was due to the injustice done to the Gibeonites by Saul (who was now dead) when he was king of Israel. It was time for reparations and the Lord's judgment of Israel would not end until justice was done for the Gibeonites for Saul's attempt to annihilate them.

David had to go to the Gibeonites to see what needed to be done to satisfy the injustice done them by Saul. The Gibeonites did not want a monetary payoff or to exact punishment of Jews indiscriminately, but they wanted seven descendants of Saul to be put to death and their bodies put on humiliating display.

When it was all said and done (following the descendants of Saul being put to death), we read, "After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land." 2 Samuel 21:14b. God required vengeance be carried out before he would remove his judgment of the famine! I don't know all the details, but it seems as though Saul's children and grandchildren had to pay a price for something Saul had done.

Was this fair, just, equitable of God? Some may not think it so. To these I say that God's own character and nature provides us the very definition of what is fair, just and equitable. I may not know every detail of any account that involves the application of justice, punishment and reparations. However, I do know God. I know that his sense of justice is the fountain from which springs mankind's sense of justice. God's definition of justice is our only source of the appropriate application of justice. I am reminded of Jeremiah 9:24, "I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,"

The political left's use of the term "justice" has nothing to do with real justice - justice defined as God defines it. It is simply the application of using a legitimate term to hide an agenda of pursuing socialist outcomes in an effort to dominate free people. It is to God we must go to find what is just, what is right and what is fair.

Far be it from me to ever question God's sense of justice. He is the personification of justice and fairness. And, at the end of this age, it will be God's justice exercised at the great white throne judgment when those who rejected God's invitation in the gospel are cast into that fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Why are God's people hated so by the rest of humankind (Team Cain)? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 20:1,

"Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, 'We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son! Every man to his tent, Israel!'"

There is always, and I mean always, those who will oppose God's people. Sheba was an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, and as Israel began to gather around David as he returned to Jerusalem (from being challenged on the throne by his son, Absalom), this worthless character, Sheba, starts up his rebellion against David.

Remember that David was anointed by the Lord, through Samuel, to be Israel's king when God rejected Saul on the throne. It seems as though David never failed to have someone, whether Saul, Absalom, Sheba, or whomever, rebel in opposition to him. This is not a surprise, as it was God that chose David and it was the Israelites themselves that rebelled against God in their demands to have a human king over them.

There is always that element of mankind in opposition to God. I call it "Team Cain", a name I use for it from the first murderer we find in the Scriptures. The first murder ever recorded in the Bible was committed by Cain, a man who would only accept God on his own terms - not God's. "Team Cain" is that group of humanity that, like Cain, is always in opposition to God.

David refers to this group I call Team Cain in Psalm 2:1-6, "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 'Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.' The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 'I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.'"

It helps those of us who are God's people to recognize the motivation that Team Cain is energized by as we acknowledge the spiritually dark forces that energize them. In Psalm 14:4-5 David says of them, "Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous."

Team Cain may not be consciously aware of their separation from God. However, in their estrangement from him, they feel a gut-level resentment at being on the outside of things. Outside of the kingdom of God, outside of any connection with their Creator, outside the purposes and fulfillment in life our Creator originally intended, outside of God's acceptance of them. They gather together, outside the tent of God, where his people dwell, and seek to do damage to those within. They are simply overwhelmed with dread as they look at those within God's tent... judgement day is coming for them, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not.

I am reminded of 1 John 3:12-15, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him."

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Caring about what God wants??? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 19:9-10,

"Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, 'The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom; and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?'"

A great question, yes? What sense did it make not to flee back to David once it was reported Absalom, David's son, who attempted to overthrow him, was now dead?

Look at the reasoning: David had won the victories over Israel's enemies, so that made David the attractive man to support as king. Particularly now that Absalom was dead, the man the people had abandoned David for!

Look at what is not considered: David was the Lord's anointed, to be king over Israel. Were the people asking themselves, what does the Lord want for us? What is it the Lord's desire? Who has the Lord chosen for us? No. We read nothing of the Israelites concern for God whatsoever. What I read is they considered who they anointed, not who God had anointed.

All they appeared to care about was for whoever seemed to be able to provide for them - provide for what they wanted. The Lord, in spite of all he had done for the nation, did not appear to hold any presence within their concerns. Just as Israel had rejected God as their king and demanded a human one, so they could be just like all the other peoples around them, they continued to show no concern for what it was God wanted for them.

There is lip service, to be sure. Just like in a lot of churches today. But, who today cares for what is in the Lord's heart? What is it the Lord thinks is best for me? For us?

Do I care? How does that manifest itself in my life? If others were to read my history, would there be enough there to convince them I care for the Lord, I want what the Lord desires, that I have a strong commitment to follow him?

Good questions for us all, including pastors, elders... all church leaders, as well as those who rely on their judgement.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

God's people cannot avoid suffering - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 18:33,

"The king [David] was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: 'O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!'"

This is the account of David's reaction upon hearing about the death of his son, Absalom. Absalom attempted to overthrow his father as king, and when David's men ended the threat by killing Absalom (against David's wishes), he was heartbroken.

The whole affair reminds me of the nature of this lost and fallen world we live in. Populated by people with sinful natures that live their lives in opposition to God, this world will not provide for the happiness, joy, purposefulness and fulfillment that God originally designed life in this world to be. Mankind changed that in the garden of Eden, when, as the race of mankind, we turned our backs on our Creator. David was a man after God's own heart, Acts 13:22, and here we see a broken man, a man of sorrow and a man whose experiences in this life brought him both shame and disgrace (Bathsheba and Uriah), as well as pain as in the loss of a son, as we see in this passage.

I am appalled at the churches today that promote the lie that we can have our earthly lives free from pain, from heartache, from sorrow, from disappointment. If we would but just join their "ministry" and contribute financially, we could have lives that are prosperous, without pain and sorrow in this world... in short, they peddle the notion that they can provide us in this life what will be ours only in the resurrection. It is all a lie.

The very best life we can have in this life is one with the Lord at our side. Having the Lord brings us the very best in this life and paradise in the next. But, to deceive people into thinking they can escape the disappointments and heartache a lost and fallen world provides for is not helpful whatsoever to the gospel message. We only set folks up for later disillusionment and disappointment when we promise false hopes.

David suffered in this life as a man after God's own heart. I will suffer in this life and you will too, no matter how devoted we are to God. He has promised us eternal life in his family, eternal pleasures at his right hand, Psalm 16:11, a share of the inheritance of his Son, Jesus Christ, Romans 8:17, but, with only a taste of it in this life, and not fully realized until the next. In Romans 8:17 we read that as those who will share in all Jesus Christ inherits from his Father, we won't receive it apart from suffering, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

Don't believe the lies of those who seek to build up their congregations by offering false hopes of the avoidance of suffering in this life. The avoidance of suffering eluded David and it eludes all of those who share in the hope God's kingdom offers us.

We need to strengthen our hearts and prepare ourselves for those times of suffering. God has promised that those who are his will suffer, but... just look at what will be ours for an eternity!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Who is that pulling the strings in the background? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 17:14,

"Absalom and all the men of Israel said, 'The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.' For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom."

Right in the midst of political upheaval we see the Lord behind the scenes, causing certain things to happen and using the key players of the day to bring those things about. David had to flee Jerusalem as his son, Absalom, attempted to overthrow him. In using his advisers and making his decisions, Absalom failed to recognize what the Lord was doing to protect David.

I strongly believe the Lord continues to do his work, to pursue his agenda, through the key players on the national, as well as the international stage today. I also believe that the Lord at times sways the outlook and opinions of the masses in his accomplishment of the things he has decided to do in the world, just as back in David's day. Could not the Lord have simply saved David in some supernatural act? Of course, but often the Lord has decided to utilize certain people to bring about whatever it is he has decided to accomplish. It all looks like only people are involved, however... there is the Lord, in the background, working the "circumstances" in a manner that achieves his purposes.

"...for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations." Psalm 22:28. "The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." Psalm 33:10-11. "For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet." Psalm 47:2-3. "For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne." Psalm 47:7-8. "He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations— let not the rebellious rise up against him." Psalm 66:7.

I think we all might be surprised at just how involved the Lord is in the affairs of our day.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Ziba and Mephibosheth: a study in wisdom versus folly - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 16:1-4,

"When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine. The king asked Ziba, 'Why have you brought these?' Ziba answered, 'The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.' The king then asked, 'Where is your master's grandson?' Ziba said to him, 'He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, "Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather's kingdom."' Then the king said to Ziba, 'All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.' 'I humbly bow,' Ziba said. 'May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.'"

This exchange took place when King David fled Jerusalem as his son Absalom attempted his overthrow. Mephibosheth was David's friend, Johnathan's still living son. Ziba was a servant in Mephibosheth's grandfather's (King Saul - now dead) household. David had expressed extraordinary kindness to Mephibosheth because of his father, Johnathan. At an earlier time, after locating Mephibosheth, David said to him, "I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table." 2 Samuel 9:7. He then told Ziba, "I have given your master's grandson [Mephibosheth] everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." 2 Samuel 9:9-10. Now, as David fled Jerusalem, in spite of his kindness, Mephibosheth abandoned David to seek the kingdom, as Saul's grandson, for himself.

David was God's chosen king for Israel and Ziba knew it. In wisdom, he aligned himself with David, for better or for worse. Mephibosheth abandoned God's choice to pursue something of a very temporal nature for himself - a very shortsighted pursuit. I recall Paul's caution of those who do such things, "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism." Romans 2:7-11.

I can't think of a greater example of this than in the lives of old King Saul's grandson and the servant who tended his household. "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception." Proverbs 14:8.

How important that we keep our eyes focused on the things of God and turn from those things that may distract us, that may turn us away from what the Lord desires.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Unadulterated loyalty in the face of disaster - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 15:21,

"As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be."

This statement of unadulterated loyalty expresses without reservation a commitment, a dedication, a devotedness, a steadfastness: an impenetrable allegiance.

The statement was made by Ittai, a very recent arrival to David's Jerusalem, (just the day before), a man from Gath, the town from where Goliath, the giant was from. He made this statement to King David as the king was fleeing Jerusalem, from his son, Absalom, who was attempting to overthrow him.

Later, in 2 Samuel 18:2, we read of Ittai given a prominent place in David's forces, "David sent out his troops, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite." Ittai's loyalty was not without its reward from the king.

This brings to mind my loyalty to my Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Can I make the statement that Ittai made to King David, without reservation? Is my commitment, my dedication, my devotedness, my steadfastness, my allegiance to Jesus Christ of the order of Ittai's to David? 

I would certainly hope so. The reality is that this kind of loyalty can only be evidenced by circumstances that provide an opportunity to express it. In Foxe's Book of Martyrs, many accounts of faithful believers, who shared a common loyalty to Jesus Christ of the order of Ittai's loyalty, is well documented.

Without question for me, based on my reading of the Scriptures, that opportunity will present itself somewhere in the future from here. Prior to the return of Jesus Christ, many believers will have that singularly wonderful opportunity to express their loyalty and devotion to him in what will be horrific and very painful circumstances. May all who profess their allegiance to Jesus Christ be strong on that day!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

The passionate desire of God's heart: reconciliation! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 14:14,

"Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him."

This very remarkable statement was made by a "wise woman" sent by Joab to King David as a part of a plan to resolve Absalom's estrangement from the king. David's son, Absalom, had killed another son of David, his half-brother Amnon, to avenge Amnon's rape of his sister, Tamar.

Where it was Joab's intent to bring a reconciliation between David and Absalom, because of David's longing for him, he had arranged for this wise woman from Tekoa to approach David and told her what to say.

This statement clearly portrays God's perspective on another, much larger estrangement, with a strong desire on the part of the one in the "authority role" to reconcile where sin had separated.  Where David's heart longed for Absalom, who had sinned against the family by killing a son, so God's heart longs for us, who have sinned against him in our rebellion against him, going all the way back to the garden of Eden.

God longs to reconcile with each and every one of us. Paul points to this in 1 Timothy 2:3-6a, "This [prayer] is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people." This is God's method for reconciling all people to himself.

I am reminded of 2 Peter 3:8-9, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Although we will all die a physical death due to sin, God desires a reconciliation with us that we not die a spiritual death for eternity.

He wants each and every one of us for himself! He has done the heavy lifting by having his Son, Jesus Christ, pay for all the sins of ever person for all time. All he asks is that we trust in him, place our faith in him.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Would you include an account of a worthless half-wit? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 13:14,

"But he [Amnon] refused to listen to her [Tamar], and since he was stronger than she, he raped her."

Following the account of David's sins of adultery and murder, we have the account of one of his worthless, despicable sons, Amnon.

Amnon was so worthless that he required any kind of idea as to what to do about his lust for his half-sister, Tamar. We are told she was a beautiful woman and that he was so enamored (he "fell in love with Tamar", verse 1), he became obsessed with her. He eventually got an idea from David's nephew, Jonadab, which brought Amnon the opportunity to be alone with her.

Once alone with Tamar, this worthless son of David raped her. She pleaded with him to ask David for her hand in marriage, but (did I mention how worthless Amnon was?) his anticipated gratification of lust for her was more important to him than Tamar's well-being and he raped her.

Being the worthless half-wit he was, he then hated Tamar and sent her out of the room in shame and disgrace. "Get up and get out!" Verse 15. The next thing we hear this worthless son of David say is, "Get this woman out of my sight and bolt the door after her." Verse 17. She left in her shame (at being raped) with ashes on her head, having torn her ornate robe in grief, "weeping aloud".

One wonders, with the juxtaposition of this account just following the account of David's adultery with Uriah's wife and his murdering of Uriah, if there is an intent to express that when sin enters the door, it spreads throughout the family. Just musing here...

At the end of the chapter we read that Tamar's full brother, Absalom, eventually avenges Tamar's rape. No sympathy from me for the worthless Amnon. Here is a man who "since he was stronger than she, he raped her."

I always laugh (and usually out loud) when I hear some fool claim the Bible was written by the religious elites back in the day to keep the masses under their control by feeding them phony stories... and this is where the Bible came from. Obviously, it is much easier to lay these claims when the material they are so confident about is so foreign to them. They really ought to actually read it some day.

If any of us were to engage in developing a literature to fool everyone with, why would we include the weaknesses, the failures, the shortcomings of its heroes and the families of those heroes? Why would we include an account of David's sinful folly? Why would we include an account of a worthless half-wit like Amnon? I wouldn't and you wouldn't either.

The simple truth is that this material is right in the middle of our Bibles because these are the things that actually took place in the accounting of God's dealing with mankind in general, Israel in specific, and the written revelation of his atonement and redemption of all mankind. 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com