THE DANCE

Posted on July 26, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Every time we embark on a drive, whether to gather supplies or to go on a trip across the countryside; we make judgements of all others who are also driving on the road with us.  We remark about the crazy traffic that stalls at times at busy intersections.  We wonder why seemingly confused people with little regard for those around them still haven’t learned “the dance” of driving.  The term “the dance” can be used metaphorically to describe the fluid, coordinated, and often almost subconscious interactions that occur on the road when driving, especially when it comes to navigating complex situations like merging into traffic or yielding at intersections. 

Driving “the dance” is not a matter of leading; it is submitting to the circumstances with full attention to what lies ahead while attentively watching everyone around you.  We call it the “dance” for good reason.  Experienced drivers who know the “dance” maneuver traffic patiently and skillfully.  Experience comes from knowing the road ahead, anticipating what others drivers might do, with the intelligence to take turns, allowing for the mistakes others might make while avoiding the foolishness of road rage that leads to accidents and possible injury.  Knowing “the dance” of driving in heavy traffic saves lives!

When all kinds of humans with varied abilities and selfish attitudes get behind the steering wheel of a large vehicle, many go on a “power trip,” losing sight of the “the dance.”  Those on power trips think they are in full control of not only their vehicle but of all those driving on the road with them.  Power trips distract from a peaceful, enjoyable journey to our planned destination.

As the newly anointed and crowned king; David performs a sacred dance of praise to God who chose him.  He designates two trusted men to “drive” the Ark of God by ox cart back to Jerusalem from a place where it had been held in “captivity” by Israel’s enemies.  Unfortunately, the drivers didn’t know or remember all the rules of the road in transporting the Ark of God. These instructions were given by God to Moses and detailed in the Books of Exodus and Numbers. 

But, Uzzah’s death that didn’t deter David’s heart for God!  Driven by his overwhelming love for God; David burst into glorious praise and thanksgiving for all that God had done in and through him.  David’s dance demonstrated the fullness of his gratitude as he danced before God with relentless, unashamed, joyful praise. “I praise you with all that is within me.” Psalm 103:1

2 Samuel 6

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

6 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

8 Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.

12 Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The phrase “I will praise you with all that is within me” signifies a complete and wholehearted expression of praise and adoration to God, encompassing all aspects of one’s being. We were created to praise God!  All living creatures were created to give God praise.  Praising God involves every part of your life, including thoughts, emotions, words, and physical actions, maybe even dancing. Yes, friends, praise might lead to dancing!  Dancing, in this context, is a physical expression of joy, thanksgiving, and surrender to God—not bringing others’ attention to us but merely as a response to God.

In the Bible, dancing is depicted as a joyful and unreserved way to express praise to God, as seen in the example of King David dancing before the Ark of the Lord. It’s a physical act of inner worship resulting in a powerful testimony to God as we express our faith in God.  

Pause, pray, and allow God’s Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us to all that is true.

  • Do we really know the dance of our Lord, our God? 
  • Do we know the “rules” that guide us to selfless, humbled praise found in God’s Word?
  • Does our response to God draw attention to God or us?
  • God’s knows our hearts, do we?  We must be completely honest with God. God is the One and Only to be praised and honored.  “He is the treasure that we seek.”  God is our all in all!

Research facts: 

  • When they used a new cart drawn by oxen, they were following the pattern of the pagan Philistines; not the pattern given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Numbers 4). The lesson here is obvious: God’s work must be done in God’s way if it is to have God’s blessing.
  • David danced enthusiastically in worship before the Lord and dressed for the occasion in a priestly linen ephod. His wife, Michal, possibly still grieving her father Saul’s death, accused him of shamelessly exposing himself; but 1 Chronicles 15:27 informs us that he was also wearing a royal robe under the ephod. Though not from the tribe of Levi, David was acting as both king and priest—a picture of Jesus, the Son of David, who holds both offices “in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:20—8:13; see also Psalm 110).
  • David’s dance was personal and sincere, and he did it before the Lord as he celebrated the coming of His presence into the capital city. 
  • When the ark was safely installed in the tent, David blessed the people (another priestly act) and gave each person some bread and flesh (or wine) and a cake of raisins.
  • Michal’s barrenness was a blessing from the Lord as this prevented Saul’s family line from continuing in Israel and therefore threatening the throne of David. God, in His Sovereignty, kept the lineage of David apart from any other dynasty because David’s line would culminate in the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ!

God knows what He’s doing—We must trust Him with all the details of our lives!

May we dance unashamed before our Lord, driven by His love for us and our love for Him, as we praise Him with all that is within us!

Lord,

Thank you for the demonstration of a holy dance by David, your chosen and anointed king. Thank you for Your Plan to save us. Thank you, Jesus, for willingly taking my place to pay by debt of sin. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for guiding us to truth in this passage.  May your power within us help us to live for you in all they ways that please you and give you praise! I love you with all that is within me!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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NEW KING—WHO DOES WHAT GOD SAYS!

Posted on July 25, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

We love to recite this holy passage when we are in the throughs of trying to attain personal goals given by God but are stymied by setbacks along the journey.  Most of us who grew up memorizing this verse fall back on these words as encouragement when our walk with God gets rocky.  We are guilty, however, of taking this verse out of context at times and using it as a “lucky charm or chant” to feel better about our current circumstances. 

We need to read the whole story!  God’s prophet at that time, Jeremiah, wrote these words to a troubled, downtrodden people who had been taken from their homeland and forced to live in Babylon—a culture ungodly evil. This captivity happened because of their disobedience to God, shoving God out of their daily lives, neglecting a relationship with Him, so He allowed the exile to occur.  Now, they are living with the consequences of their disobedience. 

But God intervenes because “His compassions they fail not.” God commanded His prophet, Jeremiah, to write these words of encouragement to His beloved depressed and oppressed people. Jeremiah reminded them of who they are in God with a plea for them to return to God.  Yes, they have sinned but God is not finished with them yet and there is still time to repent and turn back to God.  The enslaved, surviving exiles needed to hear exactly what God had to say to them.  God wanted them to know HE has a greater purpose for their lives even in their current circumstances.  “I KNOW the plans I have for you.”  Where God is; there will always be Hope.  As soon as we commit to God, Hope arrives!  Jeremiah’s words of hope reminded them that God was designing a good plan with a hopeful future.

Do human struggles precede God’s intervention to His glorious hope?

Meanwhile, centuries earlier than Jeremiah’s days, God reveals his plan and purpose in David after years of struggling as one considered to be the “least and not worthy” in his own family or in his community. Yes, he was gifted at composing songs and playing his lyre which soothed King Saul’s insanity—but a warrior and then king?  

Why did God choose David?  Why did God take time to mold and shape David first as a good shepherd and then a giant slayer? Why did God allow David to spend years as a fugitive on the run from Saul who was jealous of him?  God is this part of the plan—struggle before victory? The answer lies with our heart condition.  “God looks at the heart”, Samuel is told when choosing David.  God knew David’s heart was fully committed to him which meant David was teachable.  God equipped this young shepherd boy to mature as a warrior and King because of his willing, obedient, teachable spirit.  This is what God looks for in the lives of His created.

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

God knows exactly what we need when we need it most.  God’s plan is not to destroy us but to bring us to full, undivided attention, a trusting commitment, with a desire to obey Him.  When God has our undivided attention with a heart fully committed to Him, his glory explodes with HIS purpose with a plan for us that give us hope and reveals our future!

Saul just didn’t “get it” (relationship with God) nor did he get the memo (God’s plan).  Therefore, Saul had been “the people’s king” but he wasn’t the Lord’s first choice, for God had given him as a judgment against Israel because they wanted to be like the other nations (1 Samuel 8) who had kings. The Lord loved His people and knew they needed a shepherd, so he equipped David to be their king. Unlike Saul, a Benjaminite, David was from the royal tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and was born and raised in Bethlehem. Because of this, God was able to establish the dynasty that brought the Messiah Jesus Christ into the world, who also was born in Bethlehem.

Never forget:  In the midst of trouble and chaos, God is working to design a future for us that is full of hope, peace, and success.

Here are some of the answers to why David is chosen: 

David is a man after the heart of God. He inquires of God asking what He wants him to do. David listens and then “he did what God commanded him to do.” Is it any wonder why God provides all David needs to fulfill His plan for His people?  All the tribes of Israel now recognize David as their king.  David now fully realizes his position as King of Israel as another king honors his kingship with an act of generosity by building a new palace for him!

2 Samuel 5

David Becomes King Over Israel

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David Conquers Jerusalem

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

8 On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

To sum things up for today, read the words of Max Lucado as he teaches and reminds us of the full and complete plan and purpose of God revealed by God’s Word;

“God is doing in our generation what he did in ancient Egypt: redeeming a remnant of people. In his final book God reiterates his vision: “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’ ” (Revelation 7:9–10).

This dream drives the heart of God. His purpose from all eternity is to prepare a family to indwell the kingdom of God. “ ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11, emphasis added). Oh, the beauty of the thrice-repeated word plans. God is plotting for our good. In all the setbacks and slipups, he is ordaining the best for our future. Every event of our days is designed to draw us toward our God and our destiny.

To the degree that we believe and accept his vision for our lives, we will get through life. When people junk us into the pit, we will stand up. God can use this for good. When family members sell us out, we will climb to our feet. God will recycle this pain. Falsely accused? Wrongly imprisoned? Utterly abandoned? We may stumble, but we do not fall. Why? God “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). Everything means everything. No exceptions. Everything in your life is leading to a climactic moment in which Jesus will “reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:20).—Max Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible

Our Response?  It’s personal.

Pause to communicate with God.  Ask God what He wants. Then surrender to His agenda as we walk humbly with God all day long.  With expectant hope, watch as His glory unfolds as He reveals his purpose and plan—His work in us. Praises will automatically follow by those who hearts are fully committed to God.

Lord,

Thank you for your Word that give us Hope and a Future with you—all because of Jesus’ willing but struggling sacrifice so that our debt of sin was paid in full.  Without sacrifice and resurrection from death, there is no hope.  Jesus, you are our Hope! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HONOR

Posted on July 24, 2025 by randscallawayffm

What is honor?  Honor comes with actions of integrity.  Webster defines honor as having good reputation of being fair and trustworthy in relationships with others.  One who consistently treats others fairly with their best builds trust with all who know them.  A good reputation builds the high esteem, respect, and recognition from the public. Most truly honorable people are surprised when given honor and recognition for their service.

Example in our world:  A person who becomes an appointed judge has been recognized first as a servant of integrity of the law. This person is respected as being a person of fairness with knowledge and obedience to the law.  Therefore, this person is placed in a position to judge offenders of the law and are called “Your Honor.” 

Honorable people of integrity do honorable tasks that serve others without the thought of getting what they want in return.  Honor is not a form of manipulation. Honor is earned by consistent behavior—the behavior described by Micah, God’s Prophet.  Micah 6:8 is a well-known verse that summarizes what God requires of humans: “to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.” Micah emphasizes that God desires actions that reflect righteousness and compassion, not just religious rituals, or sacrifices. It is not an act of manipulation that results in greed for a higher position in life.  Walking humbly with God means that we surrender to His will and do what He says. Surrender is giving God all glory, honor, and praise!

The manipulation of humans who perform tasks and deeds in serving those in high positions for the sole purpose of gaining power, position, or payback for themselves is not honorable at all.  David, “a man after the heart of God,” honorably judges the acts of men who want it all and will do anything to get it. David sees through their manipulation of “look what I did for you” for the purpose to find favor with the new king.

2 Samuel 4

Ish-Bosheth Murdered

When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2 Now Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Rekab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, 3 because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have resided there as foreigners to this day.

4 (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.)

5 Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. 6 They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

7 They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah. 8 They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

9 David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 10 when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! 11 How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!”

12 So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Going deeper, pausing the realize truly who God is, we must wonder who we are kidding?  God knows every heart—yours and mine.  There is nothing we can possibly hide from God—no feeling, thought, pretense, emotion, or act resulting from all the “feels”!  We must realize the depth of God’s knowing and run to Him for the help, wisdom and guidance He is so generous to give us. 

Stop, think, then ask God before doing anything for God or for others so that what we do is what God wants us to be and do. When we do, we are on the path of “walking humbly” with God!

David pursued God at this time; seeking to walk humbly with God. Because of David’s pursuit, God gave him wisdom, insight and understanding as the new king.  The account of Baanah and Rechab reminds us of the Amalekite (2 Samuel 1) who claimed to have killed Saul. These two men were minor officers in Abner’s army who thought they could earn rewards and promotion from David if they killed Ishbosheth. As with the Amalekite, they were wrong. David was not going to take the throne by strategic manipulations. He was waited for God’s timing.  That’s what one who walks humbly with God does!

Walking with God doesn’t mean we will never stumble on the path. This happens when our focus on God turns to gaze at the world around us. 

When our kids were younger we would takes them on hikes of discovery while vacationing in new places.  As parents, we would walk ahead of them, pointing out all the jagged rocks that could trip up young feet.  We loved them and wanted them to enjoy the journey. We also warned them to avoid pain from falling.

Despite all our warnings, as they naturally and eagerly looked at all that caught their eyes around them, things they had never seen before, they would trip. I always had Band-Aids! Sometimes, they were distracted, pausing long enough to lose step with us. We were never far away and allowed them to pause to study what caught their eyes for a little bit as we waited.  But sometimes they would panic if and when they lost sight of us and call out.  We were always close enough to hear them and lead them back on the path. 

God does that for all of us! God’s is forever compassionate. His relentless love never fails and always comes after us. God is with us always to guide us back on our walk with Him.

David’s response to these dishonorable men of manipulation made it clear that at no time in his career had he ever broken God’s commandment by murdering somebody to accomplish his purposes. God had watched over David and protected him during ten years of exile and now more than seven years as king in Hebron.

“How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!”—David’s words to the manipulators.  Unfortunately, as we will read later, David failed to maintain his integrity, lost his focus on God; so, this very statement came back to haunt him. David’s life is another example for us of the biblical warning, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 1 Corinthians 10:12

What is our response to God today?

Lord,

We can become dishonorable when we think we have all our “ducks in a row” and begin to rely on our own past accomplishments and deeds of goodness. Only you are good!  We need you and ask for your wisdom and help as we daily surrender to you, your will and purposes, for our good and your glory!  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the joy of your salvation consistently at work within us as we strive to walk humbly with you! Thank you for the peace you generously give us in surrender to your will.  You are Giver of Life so we trust our lives to you! To you be all glory, honor, and praise!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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AS ONE FALLS ANOTHER RISES

Posted on July 23, 2025 by randscallawayffm

There seems to be “born-leaders” who rise up in any group of people gathers to work, play, or just be in conversation.  If you observe people long enough, like I enjoy doing, we see from young to old a leader will always come forward to guide the group.  In fact, where two or three are gathered, a leader is among them and will begin to lead and influence the group within minutes.  Who we follow makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of those we live and work alongside.  Who we lead also is detrimental to the quality of lives of those led.  The greater question to consider is:  Who leads the leader?

Who is the real leader of the house of Saul?

Who is the real leader of the house of David? 

Our passage today helps us to see the greater purpose and plan of God who is the One and Only Sovereign Leader of all His People. What HE says happens.  David seeks the heart of God, inquires of God and listens to his direction, and then trusts and obeys what God says.  David will rise as Abner gives in to David as the anointed King of Israel. 

Watch closely, as Abner, once the devoted and loyal commander of the house of Saul, who took it upon himself to anoint the least son of Saul to be king, but later realizes that David is indeed the anointed one of God to be the next King of Israel. Abner’s inner integrity takes over his being. God has a way of changing hearts.

Abner comes to David to make peace with a bonus. Abner, a man of influence, promises to command all who followed him and the house of Saul to now follow and be loyal to the house of David! We admire Abner for this act of noble character. However, read what happens next!    

2 Samuel 3

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Sons were born to David in Hebron:

His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel;

the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;

the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah.

These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Goes Over to David

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”

13 “Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22 Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.

24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.

28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

33 The king sang this lament for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
34     Your hands were not bound,
    your feet were not fettered.
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”

And all the people wept over him again.

35 Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We must recall for understanding that David used to live in fortress of King Saul. As a young man David played his lyre and sang his songs to soothe Saul when he was depressed and moody.  David and Saul’s son Jonathan became best friends for life.    David saw most who came and went from the house of Saul and was very observant of who they were inside and out.  So, David knew Abner as Saul’s trusted and noble commander of Saul’s army.  He knew how powerful he was and how gifted he was as a commander of the forces.  David also met and fell in love with Saul’s daughter Michal who he later married and adored but was no longer able to be with because of Saul’s hunt to kill him.

War and Peace. Full circle.  Abner gives in to David’s leadership because he realizes that David is led by God. Michal is reunited with David.  All is well until one of David’s men, Joab, is out to seek revenge for the death of his brother, a victim of war and of Abner.

Who led Abner to make peace?  Who led David to forgive and agree to peace?

Who led Joab to destroy the peace to seek revenge?

Real change is an inside job. We might alter things a day or two with money and systems, but the heart of the matter is and always will be the matter of the heart.

Max Lucado writes;

“Our problem is sin. Not finances. Not budgets. Not overcrowded prisons or drug dealers. Our problem is sin. We are in rebellion against our Creator. We are separated from our Father. We are cut off from the source of life. A new president or policy won’t fix that. It can only be solved by God.

That’s why the Bible uses drastic terms like conversion, repentance, with lost and found.  Society may renovate, but only God recreates.”

Abner sought to be led by “the man after God’s own heart”—David.  When what or who you once believed proves to be false; God intervenes to guide us back to Him. God knows our hearts.  Have you noticed that in your life?  I certainly have in my life.

At this point of the story of God; we’d like to think that Abner once knew God and began to question Saul’s rejection of God. But he remained loyal Saul who trusted Abner with his life. Abner tried to hang on, even appointing Saul’s son as king; but it became increasingly evident that David was anointed by God to be King of Israel. 

Only God know the hearts of men and women.  Jesus makes all things new with redemption for our hearts.

Our response? Consider carefully and prayerfully who is leading our life right now?  God or the Prince of Darkness?  Whether we are currently leaders or followers (and we do both at certain times, according to certain situations); who is our greatest influencer of Truth? 

May God’s Holy Spirit convict us of the course corrections in our thinking, saying, and doing that need to be made. When asked, God will give us the power of His Spirit to overcome evil and make those changes much needed in our lives. To God be the glory!

Lord,

Thank you for alerting us to our own weaknesses of the heart while filling us with your Truth.  Cleanse our hearts of all that does not belong.  Renew our minds to more closely match your what you think is best for us.  Refresh our souls with your new, tender mercies. Restore the joy of your salvation that is consistently at work within us.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TWO MEN—TWO AGENDAS

Posted on July 22, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“In his accession to the throne of Israel, David illustrates the career of Jesus Christ, the Son of David. Like David the shepherd, Jesus came first as a humble servant and was anointed king privately. Like David the exile, Jesus is King today but doesn’t yet reign on the throne of David. Like Saul in David’s day, Satan is still free to obstruct God’s work and oppose God’s people. One day, Jesus will return in glory, Satan will be imprisoned, and Jesus will reign in His glorious kingdom (Revelation 19:11—20:6). God’s people today faithfully pray, “Your Kingdom come soon” (Matthew 6:10) and eagerly await the return of their King.” Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible Commentary

Every time there is a changing of the guard in leadership; we humans are challenged to adjust to “new rules and standards.” A former pastor leaves and a new pastor comes to our church.  What do we do?  We welcome with him/her with a delicious potluck but we also stand in judgement until the new pastor proves worthy of our attention and loyalty.  As a former teacher, I observed all the staff watching every move made and word said from a new principal. Becoming a new member of a church staff a few years ago, I felt all eyes on me—judging me to see if I was up to the task of their expectations.

Some of us live for change. Most of us do not like change, especially if comfort is our goal and our current position is one we prefer to keep.

Abner, best friend and “right-hand man of King Saul, grieves for him.  As former second in command, he precedes as Saul would—on his own, without inquiring of God. Abner decides who the next king will be!  Let’s see how this works out for him. 

David, on the other hand, after mourning Saul and Jonathan, inquired of the Lord of his next steps to take.

Two men with two separate agendas.

2 Samuel 2

David Anointed King Over Judah

2 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.

The Lord said, “Go up.”

David asked, “Where shall I go?”

“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

War Between the Houses of David and Saul

8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. 11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.

12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”

“All right, let them do it,” Joab said.

15 So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.

17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. 19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. 20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“It is,” he answered.

21 Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”

23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. 25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”

27 Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”

28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.

29 All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours and came to Mahanaim.

30 Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. 31 But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. 32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The people of Jabesh Gilead didn’t choose to submit to David but instead followed Abner and Saul’s weak son Ishbosheth. They allowed their affection for Saul to blind them to God’s plan for the nation. They had a good motive, but they made a bad choice.

How often in the history of the church have God’s people allowed human affection and appreciation to overrule the will of God! Jesus Christ is King, and He deserves our submission, loyalty, and obedience. To put human leaders ahead of God’s anointed King is to create division and weakness in the ranks of the Lord’s followers and invite multiplied problems for the Lord’s people.

Remember when God commanded Samuel all those years ago to go to Jesse’s house for the king to follow Saul resided there? God led him there to anoint a new king for Israel.  After passing over all the other older sons of Jesse, God’s Spirit fell upon Samuel with these words from God: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16) Samuel, faithful servant, priest, and prophet of God was told to anoint the youngest of Jesse’s sons—David, a shepherd boy, who sought the heart of God daily.

Two men.  Two separate agendas.  Who would you follow? Saul’s Abner or God’s David?  I have seen so many choose an Abner by popular opinion so that the comfort of “this is the way we’ve always done it” would not be changed as opposed to someone God has chosen to stir our hearts to transform to His will.  Choosing an Abner never goes as well when it is not God’s will.   

However, choosing a David whose heart seeks the heart of God and His direction fills other hearts for God with joyful expectations for what God will do in our midst!  I’m currently attending and serving in a church led by godly men and women seeking the heart of God. God is responding to their faith with great power, not normally seen or heard of in the church community! God is moving in mighty ways that is not common but miraculous! Hundreds are coming to Jesus, repenting of their sins, seeking His will, and being baptized—and we are allowed to see God’s glory at work!  To God be the glory!

But some attenders are complaining of a crowded parking lot or waiting in line to check in their kids to a ministry that reaches over 400 kids weekly while souls who walked in darkness are now walking in the Light of God’s love. It’s all about perspective and reveling in growing pains to be solved!

Two agendas are presented to us daily, my dear friends.  Which agenda will we choose? 

Will we choose the comfort of sameness, self-acquired power, and current position, demanding that our self-perceived needs are met as we hold what we have tightly with both fists?

OR do we completely surrender to God’s will be done in His time, in His way, for His glory, so others will know and follow Jesus, His Son, who died for all, once and for all, so no one perishes in the darkness?  Is God’s will and desire the NO ONE perish but have eternal life!  (2 Peter 3:9)

Choose this day whom you will serve.  It’s a matter of life or death. Choose wisely.  Read Romans 12 for specific ways to be and do the will of God. God’s Holy Spirit lives in us to help us be all that God created us to be with His love in our hearts.

Lord,

Thank you for this lesson that stirs our hearts to repentance of self.  I choose You. I love you because you first loved me and died and rose again to give me redemption with hope of eternal life with you! There is no one like you—why choose anything or anyone else but you?  I do not know.  I’m yours. I’m listening for your answer as I inquire of your agenda for me today.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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MOURNING THE MIGHTY WHO HAVE FALLEN

Posted on July 21, 2025 by randscallawayffm

When we hear of the death of a loved one; we immediately begin to mourn their passing.  Jesus taught those who congregated on the mountain that day that we are “blessed when we mourn.”  When death comes; we realize our immortality as humans.  It is a time when believers, saved by the grace, draw near to God who is the Creator of Life, the One who decides the perfect time of passing for each one of us.  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” Jesus teaches on the mountain, Matthew 5:8. 

I once read of a legend of a certain culture group who believed that those who are in mourning are considered closest to God at that time of weeping over their loved one.  The people line up to give their prayer requests to those who mourn because they feel God is very close to them because in their mourning.  Individuals in the community feel the mourners are very near the heart of God and are being specifically heard. 

The Good News:  God hears every prayer we pray. He answers with His best for us.

“Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!
Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me.
    I saw only trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘Please, Lord, save me!’ How kind the Lord is! How good he is!  So merciful, this God of ours!” Psalm 116:1-5

Our prayers are not forgotten.

“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” Revelation 5:8

The concept of stored prayers assures believers that their prayers are not in vain, even if they don’t see immediate results. God treasures and remembers every prayer. 

The lament of Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

David’s first response to hearing of the death of King Saul and his beloved friend, Jonathan is to mourn.  David, the Singer, sings a lament for the fallen as his instinctive response and commands others to sing it with him.

2 Samuel 1

David Hears of Saul’s Death

After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.

3 “Where have you come from?” David asked him.

He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”

4 “What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”

“The men fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

5 Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6 “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” the young man said, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. 7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, ‘What can I do?’

8 “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’

“‘An Amalekite,’ I answered.

9 “Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me! I’m in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’

10 “So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. 12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 David said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?”

“I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite,” he answered.

14 David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

15 Then David called one of his men and said, “Go, strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. 16 For David had said to him, “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’”

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

17 David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):

19 “A gazelle lies slain on your heights, Israel.
    How the mighty have fallen!

20 “Tell it not in Gath,
    proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad,
    lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.

21 “Mountains of Gilboa,
    may you have neither dew nor rain,
    may no showers fall on your terraced fields.
For there the shield of the mighty was despised,
    the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.

22 “From the blood of the slain,
    from the flesh of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
    the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.
23 Saul and Jonathan—
    in life they were loved and admired,
    and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles,
    they were stronger than lions.

24 “Daughters of Israel,
    weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and finery,
    who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.

25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle!
    Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
    you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
    more wonderful than that of women.

27 “How the mighty have fallen!
    The weapons of war have perished!”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

What “song” do we sing in our mourning of a loved one who has passed?  It depends on who we trust with all your heart, mind, and soul and from whom we seek comfort and peace. 

“In God’s plan every life is long enough, and every death is timely. And though you and I might wish for a longer life, God knows better.

And—this is important—though you and I may wish a longer life for our loved ones, they don’t. Ironically, the first to accept God’s decision of death is the one who dies.

While we are shaking heads in disbelief, they are lifting hands in worship. While we are mourning at a grave, they are marveling at heaven. While we are questioning God, they are praising God.

“But, Max, what of those who die with no faith? My husband never prayed. My grandpa never worshiped. My mother never opened a Bible, much less her heart. What about the ones who never believed?”

How do we know they didn’t?

Who among us is privy to a person’s final thoughts? Who among us knows what transpires in those final moments? Are you sure no prayer was offered? Eternity can bend the proudest knees. Could a person stare into the yawning canyon of death without whispering a plea for mercy? And could our God, who is partial to the humble, resist it?

He couldn’t on Calvary. The confession of the thief on the cross was both a first and final one. But Christ heard it. Christ received it. Maybe you never heard your loved one confess Christ, but who’s to say Christ didn’t?

We don’t know the final thoughts of a dying soul, but we know this. We know our God is a good God. “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” (2 Peter 3:9). He wants your loved one in heaven more than you do. And he usually gets what he wants.

You know what else God wants? He wants you to face your sorrow. Denial and dismissal are not a part of God’s grief therapy.

David faced his. When he learned of the death of Saul and Jonathan, David and the entire army tore their clothing, wept aloud, and fasted until sunset. His lament was intense and public. David not only sang this dirge, he “ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament…” –Max Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible Commentary

From the words of David—

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23

“Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.”—Jesus, Matthew 5:8

Lord,

Just to know how much you love and care for us when we mourn the passing of loved ones from this life to your arms brings peace to our souls. Your love and compassion pour over us as a true blessing of your intimacy with us. Thank you for your love, mercy, and grace when we mourn. May our mourning turn to joy as we remember and praise you for the lives of those we enjoyed for a while here will also be seen in heaven someday soon.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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“I DID IT MY WAY”—SO, HOW’S THAT WORKING OUT FOR YOU?

Posted on July 20, 2025 by randscallawayffm

And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case of which I’m certain

I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Yes there were times I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all
And I stood tall and did it my way…

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows
I took the blows
And did it my way…Yes, it was my way

“I did it my way” is a famous line from the song “My Way,” popularized by Frank Sinatra. It expresses a sentiment of self-reliance and living life on one’s own terms, facing challenges and making choices without compromise and kneels to no one.  Our world still today sings this song as if it is the song of a hero.  Mm.

This song could be the anthem of King Saul’s life.  He not only was disobedient to God who made him king; Saul assumed himself to be God!  Saul was rebellious; rejecting the God of his youth and Lord of his life. His heart was far from God as he reigned as King of Israel.  His arrogance and obnoxious behavior toward God and His People caused extreme despair and eventual death for his family.  King Saul was proud, so proud that he fell on his own sword—committing suicide before the enemy could murder him.  He did it his way, for sure! 

1 Samuel 31

Saul Takes His Life

31 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.

4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.

7 When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.

11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Saul’s soldiers were no match for the Philistine army with its large divisions and its many chariots. The Philistines preferred to fight on level ground because they depended on their chariots, while Israel tried to lure them into the hill country around Mount Gilboa. Without Samuel’s prayers and David’s anointed leadership, the army of Israel was destined for defeat because King Saul was still operating with only his own strength and small mind.  Even if Samuel was still alive to rely God’s direction to Saul; Saul no longer listened to God.

One of the first rules of ancient warfare was, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king” (see 1 Kings 22:31). The Philistines were notorious for abusing and humiliating victims, especially officers and kings. Fear is the reason Saul fell on his own sword—to avoid what he knew would happen to him in front of his men.

Cultures collide.  For an Israelite not to receive proper burial was both humiliating and sacrilegious, and for the body to be mutilated and then exposed was even more scandalous. The Philistines were letting their people and their idols know that they had won a great victory over their chief enemy, the people of Israel. They wrongly concluded that Dagon had triumphed over Jehovah!

Some of Israel’s courageous men gathered to cross the Jordan River and go through enemy territory to retrieve what was left of Saul and his closest officers who had been burned. Saul hadn’t been a spiritual leader, but he was a courageous leader and the first king of Israel. Even if they didn’t respect the man, they were compelled to show respect for the office, just as David had done for God’s first chosen and anointed, Saul. Saul and his men’s bones were given an honorable burial.

What is our response to those we do not agree with culturally, politically, or spiritually? Who we believe, love, trust, and obey as truth and righteousness will certainly be reflected in our response.

In times of trouble, David turned to God for wisdom and help, while Saul consistently turned away from God, even at his death.  David was given more than one opportunity to slay King Saul but he did not.  He waited for God’s direction then trusted and obeyed.  David, no matter how many times Saul attacked him, was not going to disrespect the anointed one of God.

Be a David, known for being one after the heart of God.  David even wrote songs about this intimate relationship with God that fills the middle section of our Bibles!  David was no perfect; but he knew God would remove his repented sins “as far as the east is from the west”. 

In the coming days we will walk with David through 2 Samuel to learn even more as God’s Holy Spirit teaches us a few principles of godly leadership but also the sin of being distracted from God’s will and plan with accompanying consequences.  Yes, we will see ourselves in the story of God through David. How will we respond?

Lord,

Thank you for the writings of 1 Samuel that took us through crucial, sometimes cruel human responses in a hostile land.  A shepherd boy had an intimate, growing relationship with you, leaned on you and asked in faith your help, wisdom, insight and understanding.  King Saul knew of you but didn’t know you.  Indeed, doing life our way, full of pride does lead to a tremendous fall. I cannot and will not do life without you. You are everything to me!  Forgive my own pride and DYI attitude at times and fill me with your wisdom. Thank you for love, mercy, and grace.  You are one I trust with my life for you are Life!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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IN THE VALLEY OF BITTERNESS—GET A GRIP!

Posted on July 19, 2025 by randscallawayffm

When the enemy deals a blow so hard that it affects us and all we love around us; what is our first response?  Is our first thought to fight back, seek revenge, take back what was taken from us?  Some of that will happen in David’s time when dealing with evil culture groups who are vicious and unrelenting; but not without asking God first for His take on the situation with what to do next. What we learn today is one very important life principle of discipline that David practiced often.  We see it clearly as we follow the adventures of David.  The principle is a two-part disciplined response by God’s leader to devasting circumstances.  First, David stopped to access the damage done, wept over the lives of those he loved, but in his distress— “David found strength in the Lord his God.”  Secondly, while his soldiers mourned in the valley of bitterness, “David inquired of the Lord

This same two-part disciplined principle is demonstrated perfectly by Jesus, Son of God, who came down from heaven to walk and talk with humanity.  This principle was most evident as Jesus preached and taught all who would listen.  This principle came loaded with power from on high as He provided help and healing for those without hope. John and the other gospels as well wrote what Jesus said about this important principle of life that we all must pursue!

The statement “I do nothing except what the Father tells me” is just one of the many similar quotes of Jesus as recorded throughout the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Specifically, you will find this principle clearly stated in John 5:19. It signifies Jesus’s complete dependence on and obedience to God the Father, emphasizing that Jesus responds to God first and acts only in accordance with God’s will and direction. This life principle highlights Jesus’s role as the Son of God, who operates in perfect unity with the Father, God—not independently. 

Perhaps now David’s well read, quoted often, and lovingly sung will have greater meaning for us now;

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23

1 Samuel 30

David Destroys the Amalekites

David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

3 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”

“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. 10 Two hundred of them were too exhausted to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.

11 They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat— 12 part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.

13 David asked him, “Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?”

He said, “I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. 14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites, some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag.”

15 David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?”

He answered, “Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.”

16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. 17 David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”

21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. 22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.”

23 David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. 24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.

26 When David reached Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.”

27 David sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; 28 to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa 29 and Rakal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; 30 to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athak 31 and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where he and his men had roamed.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Without consulting God first; we assume the position of a fool. Consumed with bitterness we respond to our “feelings” in foolhardy ways. 

So, prayerfully consider the examples of David and later Jesus!  Who are we to think we are better than Jesus, Son of God, perfect and without sin, who asked the Father before doing anything of significance as one who does not need to consult God? This is GOD, our all-knowing, all powerful, and forever faithful God, who works diligently on the behalf of those who love Him and whose hearts are committed to Him.  Seriously.  We need to get a grip!

“So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.

So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be! If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit? This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: ‘Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing’ and ‘God will judge his people.’ Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me.”—Hebrews 10:19-31, MSG

God’s Word. Truth.

Lord,

Thank you for the life principle to always see you first, inquire from you our next steps of life. Then fill us with your power and strength do what you tell us to do!  I know you will.  May our thoughts and feelings be replaced by your wisdom and knowledge.  May we all seek you first in every detail of life for you are Life!  YOU are God. We are not.  Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul, and restore the joy of your salvation working from the inside out of me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GOD’S INTERVENTION

Posted on July 18, 2025 by randscallawayffm

As believers of Jesus who reconciled us back to God in relationship with God; our senses are heightened with awareness of God’s interventions in our lives.  We think we are going one way but then something or someone happens; and we are sent a completely different way.  We think we have all the pieces in place to purchase a new home, then a roadblock in the process changes the plan.  We plan to start a family but we are delayed for some reason.  We have a career in mind that we prepared for in college; but a new calling sends us into a work that fulfills our greatest desires of serving. When we give all our hearts, minds, and souls to the One who created us in His own image, be prepared and willing to live a flexible life of bending to the will of our Father God.  He always knows what is best and will intervene when we are headed in the wrong direction to obtain it. This way of living requires complete surrender to God.

Living on God’s terms is a matter of life or death.  Do we live a dead life chained to self-will?  Or do we choose to live life to the full with God’s guidance and expected intervention? The Apostle Paul explains this holy harmony with God—living on His terms;

“So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!” Romans 8:12-17, MSG

We love the phrase “What’s next, Papa?” as a confident, childlike expectation of God’s blessings and provision.  This reflects a relationship with God where we as believers, are filled with God’s Holy Spirit with anticipation of the good things of God while we embrace the future with Him with joyful trust.  We become flexible, teachable, moldable and more mobile by the will of God.  This is the person I want to be, don’t you?

We all know and experience times when we really don’t understand what is going on.  We ask why and wonder what we have done wrong that led to this current change of plans. I’m learning that it’s okay to ask why but we must continue to trust and obey God regardless of knowing the why.  In fact, we must lose the need to know why.  Our faith, knowing that God knows, is all the answer we need. 

David and his men were suddenly sent back “home” by the Philistine commanders as the battle with Israel led by King Saul was about to begin.  David asks why.  David had proved his loyalty to Achish, but not to the rest of the Philistines so David and his men are not to be a part of this next battle.  David obeys and it’s a good thing he did!  As we close out 1 Samuel in chapters 29-31; we will understand God’s intervention in David’s life.  God is preparing, protecting, and providing for the next King of Israel.

1 Samuel 29

Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. 3 The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?”

Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.”

4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? 5 Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances:

“‘Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens of thousands’?”

6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. 7 Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.”

8 “But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

9 Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10 Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.”

11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

WHAT DO LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

When God intervenes and curtails plans and strategies we have in place are suddenly changed or even eliminated—how do we respond?  Let us pause to remember, and prayerfully meditate on our past responses with repentance.  Then may we consider a “makeover” of our future responses that more reflects our intimate relationship with God.  I am doing that right now!

SPOILER ALERT:  The Philistines feared David would turn traitor against them, and they refused his assistance. God helps us avoid situations that would divide our loyalties and break our hearts. This is the battle in which Saul and his sons were killed (31:1–6), and it was the providential hand of the Lord that kept David and his men from having to participate.  The Lord was gracious to deliver David and his men from participating in this battle. 

Stay tuned, for God’s intervention led David to another battle at home in Ziklag where his hometown for more than a year was burned to the ground.  He and his men fought the enemy who captured their wives and children and brought them back home.  He divided the spoils fairly which was a demonstration of his integrity.

Yes, God is prepping and grooming a new King who’s “after the heart of God”.

Lord,

We question when our plans need a change or a rearrangement of purpose and you intervene with a better plan.  We know you know what is best.  Forgive us when “why” first comes across our lips in desperation. Help us to live freely, as redeemed people who fully trust you with anticipation for what you know lies ahead.  Good or bad, yet will I trust you.  You are Life!  Help me to live in harmony of your Good Will.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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DO I KNOW YOU?

Posted on July 17, 2025 by randscallawayffm

I ran over to a person I thought I knew at first glance.  Her back was turned speaking to another attendee she knew in the crowded convention hall.  As soon as I got close to her; I spoke her name in greeting.  She turned around and responded, “Do I know you?”  When I looked fully into her face, I realized she wasn’t the person I thought I knew well!   Yes, those times are embarrassing.  I even blush and laugh at myself when I wildly wave at someone on the road in another vehicle who turns out to be a total stranger, too!  Sometimes, however, I make new friends by mistaking others for people I know!

“Do I know you? Depart from me, I never knew you.”  Can we imagine Jesus saying this to one of us?  Hard stuff.  Lets go deeper.  Jesus does know us.  The verse “Depart from me, for I never knew you” is found in Matthew 7:23. It is part of a larger passage (Matthew 7:21-23) where Jesus speaks about false prophets and those who call him “Lord, Lord” but do not do the will of his Father. In this context, the phrase signifies Jesus’s rejection of individuals who claim to be his followers but whose actions demonstrate a lack of genuine faith and relationship with him, according to most religious interpretations. 

I think of what Jesus said as we learn the predicament Saul is in.  God removed His Spirit from King Saul when Saul arrogantly refused to obey God.  The outcome of this broken relationship with God has resulted in leaving Saul with living with the consequences of his own rebellious actions. Saul is now left to his own devices in every part of his life.  Earlier, Saul thought he didn’t need God.  In fact, he declared himself a god!  So, is it any wonder Saul no longer hears from the God?

Without a relationship with our Holy, Almighty, All-Knowing God, evil rushes in to overwhelm our thoughts with extreme fear, sickening anxieties, with constant worry—paralyzing us from doing anything! Who we say we believe will always be found true or false in our responses and behaviors.  In fact, what we truly believe about God will be reflected in what we say and do when troubles come and overwhelm us.

Know this: God knows our hearts and will always respond to humble hearts fully committed to Him, ready to do His will, His Way.  King Saul’s heart is not committed to God—only to self and self-survival. Saul only looks to God to clean up the mess he has made and put him back on the throne of success.  The King is faced with the hard truth: God hears but is no longer listening to him because repentance is far from Saul’s mind.

1 Samuel 28

In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

2 David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Saul and the Medium at Endor

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said.

8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

9 But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”

14 “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.”

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

24 The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn from the life of King Saul and others who disobeyed God for self-pursuits to avoid hypocrisy at all costs!  Be with God before we do anything.  If we do not seek God first and get His direction; we will march to the beat of our drummer and fall to the religion of mere busyness!  The passage in Matthew 7:21-23 addresses the issue of false disciples and the importance of genuine faith, not just outward displays of religious activity. 

Let’s be clear; “I never knew you” doesn’t mean Jesus was unaware of our existence, but rather that He doesn’t recognize us as true followers or acknowledge us as his disciples, when we follow our own will. “Depart from me” is a declaration of separation, where Jesus rejects those who claim to know him but whose lives do not reflect his teachings. Yes, avoid hypocrisy, the sin of the religious leaders whom Jesus called out to repent first for they were confusing to His People.

No matter what means Saul tried, he received no answer from God. Not to hear from God is like death.  In fact, David wrote a song about it—

“To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.” Psalm 28:1-2

We can’t help but feel sorry for Saul; yet at the same time, we must admit that he brought his plight on himself. Despite all the blessings God gave to Saul and all the opportunities to grow spiritually, Saul refused.  So, Saul was unprepared to lead, unprepared to fight, and unprepared to die. 

But, then again, who are we to judge?  Are we ready?

Lord,

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptations of self that leads to overwhelming consequences but deliver us from evil.  Come, Holy Spirit, for you are welcome.  Remove all that is not holy and acceptable to You.  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the unspeakable joy of your salvation at work within us to mold and shape us to be all you created us to be—Yours in relationship that is full of love, mercy, and grace!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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