1 Samuel 14:15, “And there was a panic in the camp, in the fields, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earthquaked, and it became a very great panic.”

1 Samuel 14:20, “…And behold, every Philistine sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion.”

1 Samuel 14:23, “So the Lord saved Israel that day…”

God won the battle for Israel through the enemy’s panic, confusion, and earthquakes.

• When there is panic…look to God
• When there is confusion…look to God.
• When your world is quaking…look to God.

These are the things God can use to win a battle for you.

1 Samuel 11:7, “…Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.”

People did not follow Saul because he was king. It was not the power of his position that caused them to move. It was the dread of the Lord.

They weren’t even afraid of Saul.

1 Samuel 12:18, “…and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.”

The only one we are to fear is the Lord. He deserves our highest respect.

1 Samuel 10:23, “…And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.”

“From a human perspective, Saul fully satisfied the desires of the people. He was a man of great stature from the most military-minded tribe in all Israel and was considered capable of leading the people in battle against their enemies. Saul was also a man whose own spiritual life mirrored that of the majority of the Israelites, it was not long until he disobeyed the Lord (1 Sam. 13:8-14).

Nevertheless, the purposes of God are never circumvented by the wickedness of men, and David was chosen soon after Saul’s failure. Even if Saul had been obedient, his reign was destined to be temporary. The tribe of Judah, to which David belonged, was the one from which the King of Glory would come (Gen. 49:10).” ESV Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible

I love the line…“the purposes of God are never circumvented by the wickedness of men.”

1 Samuel 6:5, “…Give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land.”

There are thousands of gods that are worshipped all around the world, but the God of Israel is more powerful than all of them. Not only does he have control over all gods, he has control over all lands.

1 Samuel 1:20, “And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the Lord.'”

When we read this story, it is possible to think Hannah became pregnant when she went home. That is not accurate. “In due time” she conceived.

How long is “in due time?” No one knows. Verse 21 does not say, “The next year.” A year, or more, could have passed before Samuel was born and it was several years before her second child was born.

According to “Critical and Explanatory Commentary, Vol. I” a child was nursed until they were three years old. He was three when he was taken to the temple.

1 Sam. 1:19 tells of his mother making a robe and taking it to him each year. It does not say how many years she took a robe to him before she conceived again.

What we do know is that “in due time” she had three sons and two daughters. She was not ignored. 1 Sam. 1:19 says the Lord remembered her and 1 Sam. 2:21 says the Lord visited her.

You are not forgotten, “in due time” your answer will come.

John 17:12, “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

Many refuse to go to church because of the hypocrites who attend. Yet, one of the disciples was a hypocrite.

John 12:6 says Judas Iscariot pilfered money from the funds donated to Jesus’ ministry. The other disciples were aware of his dishonesty.

But they kept following Jesus…right next to a hypocrite the – one who sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver!

We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. If we look to others in the church, we will be disappointed.

John 15:4, “Abide in me…”

“The Phrase “abide in me” is clarified by the added statement “and my words abide in you” (v.7). Christ desired that his disciples continue to obey the words that he had spoken to them so that their lives would be full of joy. Dependence on Christ, communion with him, and obedience to him will result in a fruitful life for the Lord.” ESV Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible

I played for a funeral this week and received an unexpected gift from the family. My first thought was to bury it in savings because we don’t know how long David will be unemployed.

After reading today, I am praying that God will show me how to invest it to multiply it.

Matthew 25:16, “He who had received the five talents went at once and traded them, and he made five talents more.”

I have been gone every day this week with funerals, visitations, and appointments. I’ve been writing early in the morning and late at night.

We slept in today and weren’t in a hurry to get dressed.

Then Mom called. She was on her way to town and was going to stop by. That motivated us!

I was amazed we were able to get dressed and get the house picked up so quickly. David even had time to run the vacuum.

I guess it is better to go to bed early than to plan on sleeping in!

Mark 13:33, “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.”

Matthew 23:1-3, “The Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.'”

Pastors are human. They may do things that hurts one of their congregation. But God holds them to a higher standard. When they hurt one, it betrays the trust of all. They will answer to God and we should pity them.

Luke 17:1, 2, “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through who they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.'”

Remember to pray for your Pastors. Some verses to pray over them are: Psalms 91, 112; Isaiah 54:17; Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 1:16-19, 3:14-19, 6:19; Colossians 1:9-11, 4:3.