1 Samuel 3 "Samuel Speaks Truth"

“Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him.” (v.18a)

(From the archives)

In our reading today we see how Samuel, was obedient and responsive to God’s call. The cultural context here was the time of the judges, when the people did evil and sinned against the Lord (Judges 21:25). In fact, our reading today says, “In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions” (v.1).

Therefore, when Samuel first heard God calling him, he thought it was the priest Eli, so he went to him. Eli eventually realized (after this happened three times) that the Lord was calling Samuel and instructed him how to respond. Therefore, when the Lord called him again, he responded, “Speak, for Your servant hears” (vv. 9-10).

The word that Samuel received from God wasn't cheery. Understandably, Samuel was reluctant to repeat the message to Eli, but, he honestly recounted the word of the Lord even though it contained the prophecy of the destruction of Eli's family, as judgment for their sin.

We too must be willing to obey and respond to whatever God calls us to say. Even if the truth the LORD gives us, is painful to proclaim. Therefore, speak the truth in love but do not hold back truth.

The Truth: “He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.” (Proverbs 12:17) 

Deuteronomy 29 “The Future Belongs To God”

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” (v.29)

The Book of Deuteronomy is a covenant-treaty with stipulations, blessings and curses for the Israelites as they stood on the brink of entering the Promised Land. It describes the way God's people were to live in their new land. They had the promises of God's help, but the future still was unknown to them.

We are so much like Israel. The future is as unknown to us as it was to them. We however have God's Word and it tells us how we are to live. Our responsibility then, is to follow His instructions. This requires us to trust and obey. Demanding to know is not an option because "the secret things belong to the LORD our God."

Life is always lived on the brink of the future and our knowledge is severely limited, but we do have the revelation of God in His Word. So give obedient attention to it as we, like Israel, live on the brink.

When the future is dark and we can't see what's next,


Of the Lord we make childish demands;


We cannot know all, our minds are too small,


We must leave all our "whys" in His hands. —Carbaugh

As the saying goes, we may not know what the future holds but we know who holds the future.

The Truth: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Deuteronomy 28 "If You Diligently Obey, Then..."

"Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.  And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God." (vv.1-2)

This was the purpose of God for His people but, the fulfillment was conditional upon their obedience. They were to act above all the nations of the earth; "If thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all His commandments." Having made this general declaration, Moses proceeded to describe the blessings that would follow obedience (v.3-14) and then the evils that would overtake them, if the law of God should be disregarded. (v.15-66) 

The word “if” looms large. In this chapter, Moses exhorted the nation with choice. The covenant God made with Israel contained three major features: The law, the sacrifice, and the choice. The idea behind the choice is that God was determined to reveal Himself to the world through Israel. He would do this either by making them so blessed that the world would know only God could have blessed them so; or by making them so cursed that only God could have cursed them and cause them to still survive. The choice was up to Israel. 

Therefore, if Israel would obey the LORD, He would set them high above all nations of the earth, and the blessings would be so powerful that they would come upon you and overtake you. They wouldn’t be able to escape the blessings.

Interestingly enough our nation was established by God-fearing people who sought freedom from religious persecution, who's forefathers sought divine guidance in writing the constitution and had as its moral compass the Bible. However it has now become overrun with corruption on every level. Today God’s Word is so far from our guiding light as a nation, that I fear the US is headed for an eventual national fall, the likes of the Amalekites.

We too were once a blessed nation above all nations, but now we are spiraling downward on so many levels; political, economic, social and even compromising within the church. How do we stop it? The answer lies in todays’ scripture, “If you fully obey the Lord your God . . . He will set you high above all the nations on earth.” If not, we are headed for destruction.

The Truth: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..” (Psalm 33:12)

Deuteronomy 27 "Be Silent And Listen"

"Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the Lord your God. ‘You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.”’ (v.9-10)

Hearing God’s Law was important for Israel but it wasn’t all that was needed--obedience had to follow. Here in chapter 27 Moses delivers his third sermon. In this new sermon he wanted to impress upon the Israelites the seriousness of their commitment--the benefits, responsibilities, and consequences of their covenant relationship with God. This was to be reinforced with memorial stones inscribed with the Law and a special altar on Mt. Ebal. There, the people would make fellowship offerings, and hold worship feasts to rejoice in their special relationship with God (vv.1-8).

Much of the book of Deuteronomy is written after the same pattern as ancient agreements between kings and their subjects. Here, the idea is clear: God is the king, and the people of Israel are His subjects. He has told them what He expects of them, and what they may expect from Him. Now that the agreement was settled, and it could be said to Israel, “you have become the people of the LORD your God.” The contract was signed, and Israel willingly submitted itself to the Lord God, recognizing Him as their king. Then Moses, and all the leadership of Israel simply declared a fact that was obvious to everyone saying, "And if the LORD is our king, then it is fitting that we obey the voice of the LORD our God, and observe His commandments and His statutes" (v.10). 

We, like the children of Israel, need to “be silent and listen” too. We need to spend time in God’s Word and allow Him to write His laws on our hearts and minds. And by so doing, we reinforce our walk and our relationship with Him in which obedience will then become a natural byproduct.

The Truth: “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’” (Jeremiah 7:23) 

Deuteronomy 26 "Rejoice In Giving Back To God"

"So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you.' (v.11)

This chapter is about worshiping the Lord through giving back to Him. In it, we see the children of Israel rejoicing in what God had given them by bringing the first fruits of their increase to the chief priest. (v.1-2) After God’s people brought their firstfruit offerings to the chief priest, they were to make public declarations of God’s faithfulness. First they would say to the priest, "I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us" (v.3). Here they were recognizing God's fulfillment of His promise. The Promised Land lay just across the Jordan River, and though there were formidable obstacles (such as a Jordan River swollen by Spring floods and the mighty armies of Canaanites), God still assured them that they will come into the land. And so they did.

Then after the priest had received the offering and placed it before the altar, God's people would then reply, “My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. But the Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us. Then we cried out to the LORD God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression. So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’; and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O LORD, have given me” (vv.5-10). 

This wonderful confession of thanks remembered the history of Israel from the time of Jacob and his family in the land of Canaan, to the family’s going down into Egypt, and to the eventual deliverance and Exodus into the Promised Land. Israel spent some 400 years in Egypt. Yet in the course of God’s eternal plan, it was nothing more than a sojourn. We can often focus so much on our own time of trial or misery that we think that it defines our whole life; God saw Israel’s experience in Egypt as a sojourn, where they grew in number and became a great and mighty nation. 

Now the initial giving of firstfruits when Israel came into the Promised Land was an appropriate way to say “thank you” to the LORD. This giving, and all giving done with the right heart, is a proper way to worship before the LORD your God.

Just like the Israelites, very Christian has been brought out of there own Egypt and set free from the slavery of sin. Similarly, we need to show our gratitude in both word and deed – testifying of His deliverance and provision in our lives. When we receive from the LORD, and give back to Him, it makes us rejoice. It is the proper response of a creature to his Creator, who has supplied him with all good things. Having been so blessed, should we not return the blessing through giving back and joyfully declaring what God has done for us? Absolutely!

The Truth: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

Deuteronomy 25 "Remember"

"Remember what Amalek did to you by the way, when you were come forth out of Egypt; How he met you by the way, and smote the hindmost of you, even all that were feeble behind you, when you were faint and weary; and he feared not God. Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about, in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget it.” (v.17-19)

The entire Book of Deuteronomy is a reminder to the children of Israel of what God had; done for them, taught them, and what He expected of them. This passage is no exception as it begins with the word “Remember” and ends with the words “You shall not forget.”

The Israelites were to remember how the Amalekites attacked them from behind, killing those who were weak, weary and feeble. They were also instructed to; “Blot out the remembrance of Amalek” meaning, to utterly destroy him and his people. Finally, they were to “Never forget;” neither the cold-blooded and dastardly attack by Amalek, nor the order to destroy him.

Furthermore, Israel was instructed to make this war against the Amalekites, when they were at rest in the land. Some 400 years later God directed Saul to make war against the Amalekites, yet his failure to completely destroy them was the primary act of disobedience which cost Saul the throne (1 Samuel 15:2-9; 28:18).

Because of God’s strong command to battle against Amalek until they were completely conquered, many see the Amalekites as a picture of our flesh – which constantly battles against the spirit and must be struggled against until completely conquered (Galatians 5:17). This should remind us that we too have an enemy who attacks us constantly. Who waits patiently until we are worn down, weak, weary of fighting the good fight, to attack our soul. The Apostle Peter reminds us to “Be Sober” (on guard), because “our adversary goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  

Therefore, in order to be prepared, we must put on the whole armor of God every day to strengthen us for the fight and....... Never forget we are constantly at war!

The Truth: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Deuteronomy 24 "Respect The Poor"

"When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you. And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight. You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the LORD your God." (vv.10-13)

Once again here in chapter 24 we find various laws dealing with the everyday life of an Israelite. In the case of our text we see a common practice used to secure a loan during this time period. The lender would secure a pledge (something of value) from the borrower as collateral. However, to spare a poor man’s shame, to guard against something he could not spare, and protect against the creditor’s greed, the borrower chose the object to be pledged.

Furthermore, in the case of a poor man who had pledged his cloak, it was to be restored to him before nightfall (v.12-13) – as the poor in Eastern countries have commonly no other covering for wrapping themselves in when they would go to sleep. This teaches us to consult the comfort and subsistence of others above our own advantage. By letting the poor debtor sleep in his own raiment, and praise God for the kindness shown to him, is accounted unto righteousness to the creditor before the LORD. (v.13)

A pledge also had to be received in a way that kept the poor man’s dignity. We notice here that God does not condemn the principle of taking a pledge, only commanding that it be received humanely. The idea of receiving collateral for a loan is valid because it encourages personal responsibility in the one receiving the loan. Therefore, the borrower chose the object to be pledged.

When Israel kept remembering how much God had done for them, it would make them more compassionate and fair in dealing with others. We also must always deal with others remembering how much God has blessed and forgiven us.

The Truth: “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed.” (Psalm 19:7)

Deuteronomy 23 “The Charging of Interest”

“Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest. You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a fellow Israelite, so that the Lord your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess.” (v.19-20)

There are many miscellaneous laws mentioned here in chapter 23. This law, concerning loans made to a fellow Israelite, I find very practical and sound for us today.

The Bible teaches us that, “The love of money is the root of evil.” Exacting usury from a brother who is in need, is adding insult to injury. Profiting from a loan to a family member or a brother/sister in Christ can bring problems home to roost. But if love and concern for someone in need is our reason for lending anything, then there is no need to profit from it, nor even to expect compensation for it when given in love.   

However, we are told here that charging interest to a foreigner (someone outside of the family so to speak) was allowed. God simply did not want His people collecting usury from each other, for it was not just or right. (Ezekiel 18:5-8)

The Truth: "If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.” (Exodus 22:25)