Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Part 2 of this study: The Prophets~ great men of faith
Hebrews chapter eleven finishes the list by speaking of the prophets "who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, not accepting deliverance...had the trials of cruel mockings & sourgings, bonds, imprisonments, stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword..."(Heb. 11:32b-40). Why did thay do it? Faith, all because they had faith in a God that was more important than comforts and life itself.
These verses go on to say that they will receive a great reward for staying strong in their faith in God though they did not see the fulfillment of that which was promised (Heb. 11:39). This world truly was not worthy of these men. Yet, God choose to put them here to fulfill a mission. Each Prophet had his own personality, skills & calling, such like each of us. We could learn a lot from these prophets in how to lived by faith. It is with that in mind, that we look into the lives of each one to see what lessons they have on faith to teach us.
Jephthah` from outcast to a man of valour who kept his promises and was raised high by God
Here we see the picture of Jephthah. Let us take a closer look at him to see why he is in this great hall of faith.
Jephthah was the son of a man named Gilead and a harlot or prostitute. Because of this, he wasn't much liked by his half brothers who made him leave the family's home land when they all became adults. They did this, because they did not want to share their inheritance with him. Jephthah went to live in the land of Tob with some people who went with him.
No one thought again of Jephthah for many years. Then the children of Ammon made war with the Israelites. Because Jephthah was a great man of valour, the elders of Gilead came to ask him to be their Captain and lead the armies of Israel. At first he wasn't going to go, but they promised to let him go home and be part of the family. so he went.
Before they went out to war, Jephthah prayer to God asking God to give them victory, for he had faith that God would give them the victory. In the prayer, he made a deal with God that if God would give them victory over their enemy that he would give the first thing that came out of his door to God as an offering of thanksgiving. This showed that he truly believed that God would give him the victory. They won the war, of course. So Jephthah went home happy.
Jephthah went home rejoicing and made plans to give a gift to God when we got home. I believe that he thought that an animal would run out to meet him, when he made the promise to God. But this was not to be true, for his daughter was first to run out and meet him. She sang songs of celebration for his victory. But Jephthah's heart was no in the mood to celebrate, for he knew that he had to keep his promise to God and sacrifice his daughter who was his only child to the Lord. He was so unhappy about it he tore his clothes when he saw her. He told her of his promise to God.
Jephthah's daughter told him that it was alright, that she would allow him to do so, Then she asked if she could have time to grieve first. He gave her two months to do so. Upon her return, he kept his promise. This too took a lot of faith. God rewarded his faithfulness by making him a judge over Israel for 6 years before he died.
You can read all about Jephthah in Judges 11:1-12:7).
Jephthah was the son of a man named Gilead and a harlot or prostitute. Because of this, he wasn't much liked by his half brothers who made him leave the family's home land when they all became adults. They did this, because they did not want to share their inheritance with him. Jephthah went to live in the land of Tob with some people who went with him.
No one thought again of Jephthah for many years. Then the children of Ammon made war with the Israelites. Because Jephthah was a great man of valour, the elders of Gilead came to ask him to be their Captain and lead the armies of Israel. At first he wasn't going to go, but they promised to let him go home and be part of the family. so he went.
Before they went out to war, Jephthah prayer to God asking God to give them victory, for he had faith that God would give them the victory. In the prayer, he made a deal with God that if God would give them victory over their enemy that he would give the first thing that came out of his door to God as an offering of thanksgiving. This showed that he truly believed that God would give him the victory. They won the war, of course. So Jephthah went home happy.
Jephthah went home rejoicing and made plans to give a gift to God when we got home. I believe that he thought that an animal would run out to meet him, when he made the promise to God. But this was not to be true, for his daughter was first to run out and meet him. She sang songs of celebration for his victory. But Jephthah's heart was no in the mood to celebrate, for he knew that he had to keep his promise to God and sacrifice his daughter who was his only child to the Lord. He was so unhappy about it he tore his clothes when he saw her. He told her of his promise to God.
Jephthah's daughter told him that it was alright, that she would allow him to do so, Then she asked if she could have time to grieve first. He gave her two months to do so. Upon her return, he kept his promise. This too took a lot of faith. God rewarded his faithfulness by making him a judge over Israel for 6 years before he died.
You can read all about Jephthah in Judges 11:1-12:7).
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Samson- the judge who died saving his people
Samson was the son of Manoah who was from the tribe of Dan. Jacob had prophesied of Dan, "Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backwards" (Gen. 49:16-17). So it should be no surprise that God would choose to raise up a leader from this tribe to save the Israelites from the Philistines. God chose to do this at a time in Israel's history when they had been under the heavy hand of the Philistines' for 40 years. Let us look closer at this man.
As with Samuel, God choose a barren woman to give birth to Samson. You see, at times God choose to bring men or women into the world for special purposes. Jesus speaks of this in John, chapter fifteen, verse sixteen which says, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you." In the Old Testament times these men or women were called Nazarites. You can read the guidelines for a Nazarite in Numbers, chapter 6, verses 2 through 21. An angel went to Samson's Mother before she became pregnant with him to tell her that God had chosen to give her a son that would be a Nazarite. He then gave her instructions on her diet while she was pregnant and how to feed & care for him after he was born. Some of the instructions were to not eat anything that was made from grapes and not to ever cut his hair. These instructions were given for Samson was chosen to be a Nazarite from birth (Judges 13). Samson also judged Israel for 20 years during the times that the Philistines was over them (Jud. 15:20).
Samson's hair was the source of his strength. How strong was he? He was strong enough to kill a lion with his bear hands, carry the town's gates, posts, as well as killing many men with the jaw bone of a donkey (Jud. 14:1-16:3).
But Samson fell in love with a harlot named Deliah. After that he let his feelings override reason. This became his weakness for he didn't realize that a trap was being set for him to take away his strength. When the Philistines realized that Samson was in love with Deliah, they bribed her to find out what the secret to his strength was. At first, he didn't tell her, but she kept as him each time he was with her. In time, he weakened a little and he gave her false information to appease her. three different times. Deliah each time she tried to trap him by doing whatever he had said would take his strength away. But each time he got away when the Philistines came to get him. By this time, Samson was so emotionally involved with Deliah that he didn't think about the three times she had tricked him when she turned on the waterworks of tears telling him that he must not love her, because if he did he would tell her his secret. Because of this, Samson gave in and told Deliah the truth that his strength lied in his hair. This was his undoing. For when he fell asleep, Deliah cut his hair and called the Philistines to take Samson away (Jud. 16:16:1-20) .
When they took Samson away, they pocked out his eyes & made him grind in the prison house. He did this long enough until his hair grew out again. Though no one seemed to notice. One day, the Philistines came to celebrate the fact that they had Samson & thank their god Dagon, for helping them do so. They had Samson brought to the temple of Dagon for the celebration. While Samson was there, he asked the boy who was watching over him to take him to the pillars so that he may lean against them. The boy not being aware of the fact that Samson's strength had returned, did so. When Samson felt the pillars, he asked God to give him his strength one more time so he that he could kill the Philistines. God answered that prayer by giving his strength back. Samson took hold of the two load bearing pillars in the middle of the place and pulled them in, causing the building to collapse, killing everyone including himself that was in the temple. In doing so, he struck like a serpent and make them three thousand Philistines fall down dead that day. Just like Jacob had prophesied long ago (Jud. 16:21-31). Samson played judge & executor in his death and freed his people from the Philistines rule over Israel. In doing so, he fulfilled his calling on his life.
It is often hardest to be willing to die for what you believe. It takes great faith to do so. Samson had that kind of faith.
As with Samuel, God choose a barren woman to give birth to Samson. You see, at times God choose to bring men or women into the world for special purposes. Jesus speaks of this in John, chapter fifteen, verse sixteen which says, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you." In the Old Testament times these men or women were called Nazarites. You can read the guidelines for a Nazarite in Numbers, chapter 6, verses 2 through 21. An angel went to Samson's Mother before she became pregnant with him to tell her that God had chosen to give her a son that would be a Nazarite. He then gave her instructions on her diet while she was pregnant and how to feed & care for him after he was born. Some of the instructions were to not eat anything that was made from grapes and not to ever cut his hair. These instructions were given for Samson was chosen to be a Nazarite from birth (Judges 13). Samson also judged Israel for 20 years during the times that the Philistines was over them (Jud. 15:20).
Samson's hair was the source of his strength. How strong was he? He was strong enough to kill a lion with his bear hands, carry the town's gates, posts, as well as killing many men with the jaw bone of a donkey (Jud. 14:1-16:3).
But Samson fell in love with a harlot named Deliah. After that he let his feelings override reason. This became his weakness for he didn't realize that a trap was being set for him to take away his strength. When the Philistines realized that Samson was in love with Deliah, they bribed her to find out what the secret to his strength was. At first, he didn't tell her, but she kept as him each time he was with her. In time, he weakened a little and he gave her false information to appease her. three different times. Deliah each time she tried to trap him by doing whatever he had said would take his strength away. But each time he got away when the Philistines came to get him. By this time, Samson was so emotionally involved with Deliah that he didn't think about the three times she had tricked him when she turned on the waterworks of tears telling him that he must not love her, because if he did he would tell her his secret. Because of this, Samson gave in and told Deliah the truth that his strength lied in his hair. This was his undoing. For when he fell asleep, Deliah cut his hair and called the Philistines to take Samson away (Jud. 16:16:1-20) .
When they took Samson away, they pocked out his eyes & made him grind in the prison house. He did this long enough until his hair grew out again. Though no one seemed to notice. One day, the Philistines came to celebrate the fact that they had Samson & thank their god Dagon, for helping them do so. They had Samson brought to the temple of Dagon for the celebration. While Samson was there, he asked the boy who was watching over him to take him to the pillars so that he may lean against them. The boy not being aware of the fact that Samson's strength had returned, did so. When Samson felt the pillars, he asked God to give him his strength one more time so he that he could kill the Philistines. God answered that prayer by giving his strength back. Samson took hold of the two load bearing pillars in the middle of the place and pulled them in, causing the building to collapse, killing everyone including himself that was in the temple. In doing so, he struck like a serpent and make them three thousand Philistines fall down dead that day. Just like Jacob had prophesied long ago (Jud. 16:21-31). Samson played judge & executor in his death and freed his people from the Philistines rule over Israel. In doing so, he fulfilled his calling on his life.
It is often hardest to be willing to die for what you believe. It takes great faith to do so. Samson had that kind of faith.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Samuel- God's last priest and judge
Samuel was from the tribe of Ephraim who was one of the sons that Joseph had while he was ruling in Egypt. Samuel's Father was Elkanah. Now Elkanah had two wives whose names were Peninah and Hannah. Now Peninah had children, but Hannah did not. Peninah threw this into her face a lot. Hannah finally was so upset by this that the next time they went to worship God, she prayed and asked God to give her a son. But she didn't stop there. She went on and promised God that she would give her son back to God all the days of his life. God Answered her prayer and she gave birth to a boy in whom she called Samuel. She kept that promise and when he was weaned, she took him to the temple to serve God there. So Samuel was trained to serve God from a very young age by Eli the priest (I Sam. 1:1-11). He grew up faithfully serving God in the temple (I Sam. 2:18).
When Samuel was yet a boy, God came to him at night and called him, three different times. Each time, Samuel thought that it was Eli calling him. So Samuel would run to Eli and ask him what he wanted. After the third time, Eli realized that God was calling Samuel. So Eli told Samuel to go back to bed & when he heard the voice again, to tell God that he was listening. Samuel obeyed and that is when God started talking straight Samuel.
That night, God told Samuel of how Eli's sons were not serving in the temple as they should. They were disobeying God's rules on how to preform their duties & sinning in ways that was bringing dishonor to God's temple. This angered God. So he was going to take his family out of the priesthood. You see, starting with Aaron, Moses brother, every boy born into Arron's family had become a priest. But because of their sin against God & his temple, God killed Eli's sons. When Eli heard that his sons were dead , he died too (I Sam. 3:1-4:18). But Samuel had faithfully served God and found favor with God and man. So God made him priest and Judge over the land. Samuel faithfully served God obeying everything God told him to say and do all the days of his life, including anointing the first two kings of Israel (I Sam. 3:19-28:3).
When Samuel was yet a boy, God came to him at night and called him, three different times. Each time, Samuel thought that it was Eli calling him. So Samuel would run to Eli and ask him what he wanted. After the third time, Eli realized that God was calling Samuel. So Eli told Samuel to go back to bed & when he heard the voice again, to tell God that he was listening. Samuel obeyed and that is when God started talking straight Samuel.
That night, God told Samuel of how Eli's sons were not serving in the temple as they should. They were disobeying God's rules on how to preform their duties & sinning in ways that was bringing dishonor to God's temple. This angered God. So he was going to take his family out of the priesthood. You see, starting with Aaron, Moses brother, every boy born into Arron's family had become a priest. But because of their sin against God & his temple, God killed Eli's sons. When Eli heard that his sons were dead , he died too (I Sam. 3:1-4:18). But Samuel had faithfully served God and found favor with God and man. So God made him priest and Judge over the land. Samuel faithfully served God obeying everything God told him to say and do all the days of his life, including anointing the first two kings of Israel (I Sam. 3:19-28:3).
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
David~ from a small shepherd boy to a great man of Valor because of his faith
Here is a picture of David. Let us see why he was God's chosen king.
David was 14 generations from Abraham, through the tribe of Judas. He was the youngest of all the sons of Jesse who lived in Bethlehem(I Sam. 16:10-11). In the culture there at that time, the oldest son had the highest honor & all born afterward honor grew less.Because of this, David is the last one an man would have choicen to become king of Israel. But God looked onto the heart and saw a heart full of faith in him (I Sam. 16:12 &13). Let us look at that now.
As we said, David worked as a shepherd caring & protecting his Father's flock when he was a young man (I Sam. 17:34-36). Then the Prophet, Samuel came and anointed him to become king at a later date (I Sam. 16:12 & 13). Soon afterward, Saul was toremented often by a demon. It was discovered that music helped calm King Saul down, So Saul sought for someone to come to play & sing for him. Then he would go home to tend the flock (I Sam. 16:14-23).
One day, his Father, Jesse sent David to take food to his three oldest sons who were fighting with King Saul. While there, David heard the words that a Phillistine named Goliath as he spoke a challenge. Goliath said that if just one man would come and fight him & win, that they would let all the Israelites go their way unharmed. Sounds easy enough, huh? But there was one problem. That problem was that Goliath was a very big & tall man. Just looking at him made all the men in the Israelite army ran & hid from him for fear of being killed by him.
Well, David was there to hear & see all of this. He asked the men of Israel's army why no man would go and fight Goliah. When the army gave excuses. This upset David for he had faith that God would make sure that victory would be won here. In his anger, he told them, "Well, if you will not fight him, I will!" When word of this got to King Saul, he sent for David. King Saul questioned him to see if what the others said was true. Hearing & seeing David's faith, he tried to put his own armor on David. But it was much too big for young David. So he took it off, and took up the weapon that he was use to, his sling When King Saul spoke of his doubt that David could win. David spoke of all the times that God had helped him kill the many dangerous animals in the past while protecting his sheep. Hearing and seeing David's faith, King Saul tried to put his own armor on David. But it was much too big for young David. So David took it off had took up the weapons he knew how to use, his staff, a sling and five smooth stones. He approached Goliath and spoke again of his great faith in the God of Israel, then he shot a single stone into the forehead of Goliath. With the help of God, that stone killed Goliath(I Sam. 17). After that, David became a man of war who fought and won many battles for the God of Israel. Why? Because of his faith in God.
When the time was right, God made David King over Judah for 7 1/2 years(II Sam. 2:11) and King over Israel 40 years & he reined over both for 33 years(II Sam. 5:1-50. As king he did a lot of good things for the kingdom. To this day, he is seen as one of Israel's greatest kings.
David's love of God made him to want to build a house for God. But God would not let him do so, because he was a man of war. But God did allow David to get things together & prepared for his son, Solomon to build when he became king.
But let us not turn a blind eye away from the fact that he did not always act as God would have had him act. As great as he was in building the city of Jerusalem & protecting Israel he had his faults. He loved the ladies and had very many wives. His love for a certain lady named Bath-sheba burned inside of him to the point that he thought that he just had to have her. So he sent for her and committed adultery with her. When she was found to be expecting his child, David tried to cover the sin up by having her husband, Joab brought home from off of the battlefield. When Joab refused to lie with his wife, David set up a plot & had Joab killed in the line of duty. So you see, he had his faults.
But when God sent a prophet to reveal his sin to him. David repented & God forgave him. We know this because God allows a son that David had with Bath-sheba after they are married to become King of Israel & God allowed that son, named Solomon to built the temple of God. Another way we know that God forgave him is that God choose to have him be in Jesus' linage & listed in the great hall of faith (Heb. 11:32).
David was 14 generations from Abraham, through the tribe of Judas. He was the youngest of all the sons of Jesse who lived in Bethlehem(I Sam. 16:10-11). In the culture there at that time, the oldest son had the highest honor & all born afterward honor grew less.Because of this, David is the last one an man would have choicen to become king of Israel. But God looked onto the heart and saw a heart full of faith in him (I Sam. 16:12 &13). Let us look at that now.
As we said, David worked as a shepherd caring & protecting his Father's flock when he was a young man (I Sam. 17:34-36). Then the Prophet, Samuel came and anointed him to become king at a later date (I Sam. 16:12 & 13). Soon afterward, Saul was toremented often by a demon. It was discovered that music helped calm King Saul down, So Saul sought for someone to come to play & sing for him. Then he would go home to tend the flock (I Sam. 16:14-23).
One day, his Father, Jesse sent David to take food to his three oldest sons who were fighting with King Saul. While there, David heard the words that a Phillistine named Goliath as he spoke a challenge. Goliath said that if just one man would come and fight him & win, that they would let all the Israelites go their way unharmed. Sounds easy enough, huh? But there was one problem. That problem was that Goliath was a very big & tall man. Just looking at him made all the men in the Israelite army ran & hid from him for fear of being killed by him.
Well, David was there to hear & see all of this. He asked the men of Israel's army why no man would go and fight Goliah. When the army gave excuses. This upset David for he had faith that God would make sure that victory would be won here. In his anger, he told them, "Well, if you will not fight him, I will!" When word of this got to King Saul, he sent for David. King Saul questioned him to see if what the others said was true. Hearing & seeing David's faith, he tried to put his own armor on David. But it was much too big for young David. So he took it off, and took up the weapon that he was use to, his sling When King Saul spoke of his doubt that David could win. David spoke of all the times that God had helped him kill the many dangerous animals in the past while protecting his sheep. Hearing and seeing David's faith, King Saul tried to put his own armor on David. But it was much too big for young David. So David took it off had took up the weapons he knew how to use, his staff, a sling and five smooth stones. He approached Goliath and spoke again of his great faith in the God of Israel, then he shot a single stone into the forehead of Goliath. With the help of God, that stone killed Goliath(I Sam. 17). After that, David became a man of war who fought and won many battles for the God of Israel. Why? Because of his faith in God.
When the time was right, God made David King over Judah for 7 1/2 years(II Sam. 2:11) and King over Israel 40 years & he reined over both for 33 years(II Sam. 5:1-50. As king he did a lot of good things for the kingdom. To this day, he is seen as one of Israel's greatest kings.
David's love of God made him to want to build a house for God. But God would not let him do so, because he was a man of war. But God did allow David to get things together & prepared for his son, Solomon to build when he became king.
But let us not turn a blind eye away from the fact that he did not always act as God would have had him act. As great as he was in building the city of Jerusalem & protecting Israel he had his faults. He loved the ladies and had very many wives. His love for a certain lady named Bath-sheba burned inside of him to the point that he thought that he just had to have her. So he sent for her and committed adultery with her. When she was found to be expecting his child, David tried to cover the sin up by having her husband, Joab brought home from off of the battlefield. When Joab refused to lie with his wife, David set up a plot & had Joab killed in the line of duty. So you see, he had his faults.
But when God sent a prophet to reveal his sin to him. David repented & God forgave him. We know this because God allows a son that David had with Bath-sheba after they are married to become King of Israel & God allowed that son, named Solomon to built the temple of God. Another way we know that God forgave him is that God choose to have him be in Jesus' linage & listed in the great hall of faith (Heb. 11:32).
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