Dearest e-votees-
Day twenty of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible.
If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:
Peace,
Karl
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Day 20 Readings: 1 Samuel 2:30-15:35
Trivia bit: In 1 Samuel 3:20 is the formulation “from Dan to Beersheba”. (see www.biblicalzionist.com/DanBeersheba.htm) This is one of those phrase like “from A to Z” or “from Alpha to Omega” or “from stem to stern” or “from soup to nuts” or “from soda to hock”. It refers to an entire expanse of something. All of Israel (from Dan to Beersheba) realized the hand of the Lord on Samuel as prophet.
What we have in today’s reading is the rise and the beginning of the fall of Saul the first king of Israel. God wanted to be as king to the people but they insisted on having a king just like the countries around them. Shunning God’s counsel and going their own way pierced them with many wounds. Beyond the initial rejection of God’s counsel the Israelites had several notable moments of not following the entire expanse of God’s instructions. Rather than be wholly obedient to God they chose to go from Dan to Jerusalem. How like the Israelites are we? We want to follow to a point. We will abide God’s counsel until we won’t. We would rather look a little more like the world and little less like God’s holy and chosen people.
Sometimes it is not so clear what God might have us do and perhaps that is why we drag our feet and misstep. Other times, however, we know fully well what God is calling us to do but our stubborn and rebellious hearts choose differently. As the great preacher Peter Marshall once said “Most of us know perfectly well what we ought to do; our trouble is that we do not want to do it.”
God, continue to show us your will. Give us ears to listen to, hearts to abide in and spines to take a stand for your callings. Help us allow you to have the entire expanse of our lives. Amen.
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