Jesus Taught Us to Be

1. Grateful that we’re invited to the wedding banquet, Matthew 22:9.
2. Looking for His return, Mark 13:24-27.
3. Enduring, Matthew 24:13.
4. Peaceful, not alarmed, Matthew 24:6.
5. Faithfully working, Matthew 24:46.
6. Calm, not distressed, John 14:1.
7. Speaking plainly, John 16:29-30.

We finished reading the teachings of Jesus. We will return to the first four books of the New Testament on Palm Sunday.

We started reading about the first kings of Israel.

We Learn from Other’s Mistakes

Introduction

“…[1 Samuel covers] the selection, reign, and rejection of King Saul and the God-ordained rise of David under him as his replacement…1 Samuel calls us to slow down and focus on David as a common man with uncommon faith and integrity whom the Lord chose to replace a failed king.”

New English Translation
Introduction to 1 Samuel

***

Saul lived and died as King. But after he disobeyed God, his life was miserable.

God didn’t “strike him with lightning” but He let Saul know that Jonathan would not reign.

His regret turned to bitterness and jealousy consumed him. He spent the last fifteen years of his life hunting David and trying to kill him.

(I may be a common woman but I can live my life with uncommon faith and integrity.)

Eli

1 Samuel 2:25-26, “…But Eli’s sons would not listen to their father. Indeed, the Lord had decided to kill them. 26) However, the boy Samuel was growing up and finding favor both with the Lord and with people.” New English Translation

Even though Eli’s sons were doomed, God allowed them to live while Samuel was growing up. They may have thought they could do as they pleased without consequences. They were wrong.

The people told Eli of his son’s behavior, 2:22. A man of God came to Eli and warned him, 2:27-36. Then Samuel told him the future, 3:3-18.

1 Samuel 2:30, “…I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed.” NET

People of Beth Shemesh

1 Samuel 6:19, “But the Lord struck down some of the people of Beth Shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the Lord; he struck down 50,070 of the men. …” NET

In the first battle, 4000 men died, 4:2. In the second, 30,000 died, 4:10. But when the people of Beth Shemesh looked into the ark, 50,070 men died. Even the High Priest was not allowed to do that!

They fought in hills like these.

How are we to live? Grateful, expecting, enduring, peacefully, faithfully, calmly, speaking plainly, obediently, full of faith, with integrity, honoring God, and reverently.

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