Wednesday, April 13, 2011
GOD COMMANDS
Good Morning!
From my journal written yesterday, I dare use for myself a comparison with Saul. King just before King David, and David's father-in-law, Saul was not quite the king that God wanted for his people. Saul had a propensity of taking things into his own hands. He wasn't stubborn, exactly, he just moved too quickly without too much thinking. Many times over he made foolish, costly mistakes.
Samuel, prophet plus at the time, told Saul, "That was a fool thing to do," when Saul sacrificed the burnt offering to God before the priest was there in order to war against the Philistines right then! The war would not wait, nor would Saul, so he did the sacrifice himself. With this act, Saul destroyed the foundation between himself and God.
In many other instances, Saul hemmed and hawed concerning God's way or his own way. The throwing of the Urim and the Thummim by a priest was the way the Israelites determined God's will. According to the throw, if it came up the Urim, they were to go east and if it was the Thummim, west, for example.
Today, we don't use a Urim or a Thummim. I wish we did as it would be so much easier to determine what it is that God wants of us. We pray for God's leading and watch for God's approval--or disapproval--having faith that God wll show us. Sometimes he pops a door open, for our assurance. Sometimes He slams a door shut. Some folks have more certainty about God's will than others do. Most of us move by faith that God will intercede if our decision is going against Him, unless (and this is a big unless)God's motive is to teach us to wait longer.
God is very big on waiting, and God is very big on commands. When God tells us to "wait," it is a one word command. It is not just an idea. It is a sentence all by itself and the subject of that sentence is the noun YOU! The you, of course, is silent, but always in a command the subject is the word "you," silent or not. And I know that God means me! God's talking to me! And I'm to wait!
So, besides the grammar lesson (sorry to rant, I'm an English major) we need to remember that in many instances when we do not hear or understand what God commands, God may be commanding, "Wait!" Also something to remember-----a command is usually given with force, determination, and power. Our God is powerful and means business.
Waiting has not been near big enough in my history, although God seems to be working on waiting with me these days. Yes, He does like us to wait for He tells us that even Saul knew, the hard way, that it would have been better for him to wait.
Waiting is very hard. When I was a kid, I waited for summer, for Christmas, for my birthday, and for the next time I could buy some penny candy. Today, I wait for the results of some maddening test taken to determine what is going on with my---whatever. There always seems to be something.
Finally, one day, I'll wait for God to take me home to be with Him. In the meantime, how can I make you smile, God?
I thank and praise you, Lord, for this reader right now reading this.
Until later, Jo
From my journal written yesterday, I dare use for myself a comparison with Saul. King just before King David, and David's father-in-law, Saul was not quite the king that God wanted for his people. Saul had a propensity of taking things into his own hands. He wasn't stubborn, exactly, he just moved too quickly without too much thinking. Many times over he made foolish, costly mistakes.
Samuel, prophet plus at the time, told Saul, "That was a fool thing to do," when Saul sacrificed the burnt offering to God before the priest was there in order to war against the Philistines right then! The war would not wait, nor would Saul, so he did the sacrifice himself. With this act, Saul destroyed the foundation between himself and God.
In many other instances, Saul hemmed and hawed concerning God's way or his own way. The throwing of the Urim and the Thummim by a priest was the way the Israelites determined God's will. According to the throw, if it came up the Urim, they were to go east and if it was the Thummim, west, for example.
Today, we don't use a Urim or a Thummim. I wish we did as it would be so much easier to determine what it is that God wants of us. We pray for God's leading and watch for God's approval--or disapproval--having faith that God wll show us. Sometimes he pops a door open, for our assurance. Sometimes He slams a door shut. Some folks have more certainty about God's will than others do. Most of us move by faith that God will intercede if our decision is going against Him, unless (and this is a big unless)God's motive is to teach us to wait longer.
God is very big on waiting, and God is very big on commands. When God tells us to "wait," it is a one word command. It is not just an idea. It is a sentence all by itself and the subject of that sentence is the noun YOU! The you, of course, is silent, but always in a command the subject is the word "you," silent or not. And I know that God means me! God's talking to me! And I'm to wait!
So, besides the grammar lesson (sorry to rant, I'm an English major) we need to remember that in many instances when we do not hear or understand what God commands, God may be commanding, "Wait!" Also something to remember-----a command is usually given with force, determination, and power. Our God is powerful and means business.
Waiting has not been near big enough in my history, although God seems to be working on waiting with me these days. Yes, He does like us to wait for He tells us that even Saul knew, the hard way, that it would have been better for him to wait.
Waiting is very hard. When I was a kid, I waited for summer, for Christmas, for my birthday, and for the next time I could buy some penny candy. Today, I wait for the results of some maddening test taken to determine what is going on with my---whatever. There always seems to be something.
Finally, one day, I'll wait for God to take me home to be with Him. In the meantime, how can I make you smile, God?
I thank and praise you, Lord, for this reader right now reading this.
Until later, Jo
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