Day 21 - The Minerals of the Bible

Good morning; it a great day for Bible minerals. Today we will begin reading in 1 Samuel chapter 16 as the Lord has prepared for the replacement of Saul by sending Samuel to anoint the next king over His people.

And I tell you, priest and prophets were not "soft men" in these days. Just as Samuel approach the city the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, are you coming peaceably? ⁵And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

They went to the house of Jesse to select the next king of Israel. Look at how the Lord looks at people; perhaps we should select our wives and friends as the Lord does by seeing what's in their mind and not their height or weight or looks.

⁷But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. Jesse presented all his sons he thought would be anointed but Samuel refused all of them. Finally they brought in David who was tending to the sheep. David is explained to be a ruddy, and beautiful to look upon and the Lord said to anoint him.

And when David was anointed, the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord gave Saul trouble all the days until he died. The Lord controls all spirits, evil and good. I noticed in verse 14 the Spirit of God is capitalized but the evil spirit is not.

¹⁴But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

Now Saul lost the Spirit of God and needed music to calm him down; and he recruited David to his administration and had Jesse send him up. Saul did not know David had been anointed; he was just recommended because of his good musical skills.

In 1 Samuel 17 a war between the Philistines and Israel and they were on one side of the mountain. And a 'champion' of the Philistines named Goliath who challenged the children of Israel army to do a one-on-one challenge to have someone fight against him. Goliath was a very big and tall and strong man; so Israel was scared.

Now David was sent to give his brothers who were in the war, to give them food so that they can sustain; and David was caught up in the war; wanting to kill Goliath. And Eliab his eldest brother heard David speak to the Philistines; and Eliab got very angry with David wondering why he came to this serious battle. I would be upset with my younger brother too.

Eliab thought David was trying to hang with the big bros and come view the battle. I'm sure a bit of jealousy took place between the brothers.

David request to fight in the war; but Saul wouldn't let him since he hadn't been trained.

David then tells that he is ready for war even though he looks short and ruddy; telling how he tore a bear to pieces. ³⁶Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

David depended on God for his strength and not himself. Saul allows him; but the Philistines didn't take David seriously because he didn't look like a gorrilla but was a pretty boy, light skinned, and cute. We know this story; David went up with a sling shot and 5 stones while the Philistines had swords and spears, and shields.

David let it be known that they will know the power of the God of Israel.

⁴⁹And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

After David killed Goliath and shook the heart of the army that Israel chased them, Saul did further investigation on who exactly David was. And it was told of him, David is the son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite.

In chapter 18 Jonathan and David became like brothers as David had practically taken Saul as his dad. David loved Saul; and he really loved Jonathan.

³Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

⁴And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

The children of Israel went to war again and defeated the Philistines and when they came back the women of Israel began singing, dancing but what they said started the biggest jealousy bout in Israel.

⁷And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

Saul was very angry and not pleased with them giving David credit for killing ten thousand and Saul killing one thousand. Saul's thinking is that the people might as well give David the kingdom too. From that day Saul kept a close eye on David.

Saul made attempts on David's life and because David got away; Saul knew the Lord was with David and it made him even more upset. This made David act very wise while before Saul. When someone hates you; and you can't respond with anger it is best to act very wise and tactful to stay alive.

¹⁴And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

¹⁵Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. People become even more afraid of you when you don't give evil for evil; when you behave wisely; they become more afraid of you.

Saul tried everything in order to kill David; even gave David his daughter who he knew would nag David to drive him crazy...haha.

²¹And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

Since Jonathan saw that his father hated David and wanted to kill him and was a secret leak to help David escape Saul's strong hold.

In Chapter 20

¹⁶So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

¹⁷And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

²³And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever. This really touches on the closeness of David and Jonathan.

Naturally Saul didn't like that his son loved David because he felt Jon was confused not knowing that David is going to steal the kingdom from Jon.

1 Samuel chapter 21

David came into the city of Nob and met Ahimelech the priest and Ahimelech helped him; but a servant of Saul saw this. David at this point was living his life on the run; sometimes when the Lord is getting ready to bless you, he takes you through the ringer so the blessing is that much more joyful.

1 Samuel 22

Saul was upset with his cabinet that no one let him know what's going on in his kingdom, how his son loved David. So in order to keep their jobs; the tattle tails started in; beginning with Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and he said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

¹⁸And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. Saul was really getting desperate as he had the non-Israelite Doeg kill the priest of the Lord.

When David was told this; he remembered that the Edomite was sitting there listening. And he felt bad that he was kind of the aid in their death. David had a good heart and let the priest son abide with him and his men for protection.
 

1 Samuel 23

^{This chapter is filled with David being chased by Saul and how Jonathan aided David in escaping. However, they had to depart each other; but they still kept the covenant they made.}

¹⁸And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

1 Samuel 24

David and his men would find Saul in different woods and wildernesses and sneak up on them; but David would never lay a hand on Saul; although he had many opportunities to do so. David would do things like cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

⁵And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

⁶And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

When Saul would find out that David spared his life he knew David was more righteous than he:rewarding him good, whereas he rewarded David evil. Because of this Saul was convinced the kingdom of Israel would be David's and made David swear that he would not cut off his seed; and David swore and they departed for the moment.

1 Samuel 25

¹And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

In the area near the wilderness where David was; there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and had many possessions of sheep and cattle. His name was Nabal and he had a wife named Abigail. She was a woman of good understanding and very beautiful; but Nabal was evil and foolish.

Nabal refused to help David and his men even though David helped keep his possessions and Nabal had no respect for David for he thought David was breaking away from Saul in rebellion.

¹⁰And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

David told his men to get their guns and get ready to fight about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

Abigail found out and made quick peace offerings and met David and interceded for her household because David was going to kill everyone in Nabal's house. So David withdrew his anger and left; blessing Abigail for stepping in.

³⁸And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

³⁹And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

When she died; David took her to be his wife.

⁴³David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

⁴⁴But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim. So at this point David had 3 wives total; although Saul gave Michal, David's wife, to another man.

Chapter 26

Again David's men find Saul unprotected and David's man Abishai wanted one shot to put Saul's lights out.

⁸Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

David would not let his men do that to the LORD's anointed, because they would not be guiltless. We see David had some pretty ruthless henchmen who were trained marksmen ready to kill for David.

Chapter 27

David went into Achish to hid with the people Gath and proved that he was loyal to them by going to war with them; even killing some Israelites; so they gave David a plot of land to have forever.

1 Samuel 28

Samuel had been dead a while and Saul was kind of trapped in a heated battle with the Philistines and was afraid. The Lord would not answer him so Saul did the horrible and sought out familiar spirits, witchcraft.

The woman was a witchcraft and she brought Samuel up, even to her amazement, and Samuel (through an evil spirit) and Samuel had a rough message for Saul.

¹³And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

¹⁵And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

¹⁶Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

¹⁷And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

¹⁸Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

¹⁹Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

²⁰Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. Saul was stoned; he got horrible news that God left him, gave his kingdom to David because he didn't obey in the mission in Amalek, and last of all he and his sons will die in the battle he was afraid of the next day. It took much begging to get him to answer or even to move and eat.

Big message here; is to NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH FAMILIAR SPIRITS OR WITCHCRAFT!!!

This is our reading today; have a great day with this mineral bible foods. Peace and grace.

DD

Thanks*Check out Instant Money Method for a step-by-step methods to begin earning money hourly online and off. This guy's program was on CNN and CNBC and has lots of credibility.  Get free DVD today!

Day 20 of Vitamin Filled Bible Food

Good morning and happy Sabbath Day to you.

Today we are in 1 Samuel chapter 3 and will read through chapter 15.  This chapter begins with the Lord calling Samuel to give a vision of prophecy against Eli the priest.  ¹¹And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
 ¹²In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 
This Lord makes His prophets known by putting fear in the people
²⁰And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
 ²¹And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

This is how the Lord establishes His leaders and the people fear who the Lord puts in charge.  This is the first time in a long while that the Lord God showed men visions or communicated with them.

In chapter 4 the children of Israel went to battle against the Philistines and the Philistines smote the children of Israel up to 30,000 men and the Philistines also took the Ark of the Covenant with their victory.  And the news came to Eli; and it was told what happen to the children of Israel in war; also that his two sons had died.  Eli then fell off his chair breaking his neck and died; fulfilling the prophecy God showed to Samuel.

Eli's son's wife summed it all when she heard the news...especially since the Ark of the Covenant represented God in their midst.

²⁰And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
 ²¹And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
 ²²And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

In chapter 5 the Philistines attempted to put the Ark of the Covenant into their temple but the Lord wouldn't allow it.  The Lord even smote them with boils in their privates, so the Philistines gathered together and decided to get rid of Ark (I guess they would); and the Lord still destroyed a lot of Philistines.

The reading in chapter 6, the Philistines consult on how to give the Ark back; and they were told to make a sacrifice.  Then Samuel spoke to the people in chapter 7:  ³And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
 ⁴Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

The Philistines came up to war against Israel and now since the people repented and were under the leadership of Samuel the Lord was with them; and the Lord discomfited the Philistines.  And Samuel judged Israel all his days.

In Chapter 8, Samuel has kids and they are like Eli's children, not serving God.  ³And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

This let's us know that kids do not necessarily do all that their parents do.  It is good to know today so when you see your kids rebel you can be comforted knowing that even Samuel's kids rebelled.

This caused the people to do what was in their mind already and get a king like the rest of the pagan nations around them.  They did not know they were asking the Lord to move over or step down, who brought them out of Egypt and has taken cared of them all throughout their generations.  Samuel didn't like the request; but God told him to listen to them.  However, the Lord told them to listen to what the king they appoint over them will demand of them.

¹¹And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
¹³And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.


Perhaps the roles women and men have today is what the other nations implemented and since Israel wanted to be like the other nations this is what we have today; since they did not want the Lord to be their King.  Maybe women could join the army and didn't have to be cooks and bakers while the man brings how the meat (bacon is unclean)!

1 Samuel chapter 9 is the appointing of the 1st king of Israel.  ¹⁶To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
 ¹⁷And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

A man named Saul was a Benjamite whom the Lord selected to rule His people; a guy who was chasing his daddy's donkeys a few days prior.
And Saul asked Samuel, ²¹And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?  You see, Saul was not thinking about doing this at all.  And you notice that the Lord picks leaders who are humble (if they remain humble, I don't know), and God picks them from the least likely family or part of the country.  It's like a skinny kid from the south side of Chicago (by way of Hawaii) with a funny name becoming president over the entire US.

In chapter 10 Samuel tells Saul a prophecy of what will happen to show him that the Lord indeed chose him to reign over His people.  ⁶And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
 ⁷And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
And it came to pass and Saul had a new mindset; that is what it meant to be another man.  

Then Samuel begins to make the announcement to the people:

¹⁷And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
 ¹⁸And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
 ¹⁹And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

The people rejected God as their King; and wanted a flesh and blood man.  Israel is continuing to make bad mistakes before the Lord.  And still with this, you will have some evil men always not believe.  ²⁷But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought no presents. But he held his peace.

In chapter 11 Saul shows his leadership in strength; he had a better first 100 days than President Obama:

 ¹¹And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
 ¹²And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
 ¹³And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

Those same men who didn't bring gifts were to be put to death; but Saul pardoned them

In 1 Samuel chapter 12 Samuel is getting old and ask a question; but I want to point out something...
³Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed:

Samuel told the people to witness against him before the LORD and before His anointed.  Anointed means the anointed one, and that translated is Messiah, in Greek, it's Christ.  We just learned that Samuel knew about the Godhead back here.  Amazing.  Samuel also let's the people know they did wickedly by asking for a physical king instead of trusting the Lord.

Chapter 13, Saul begins to make mistakes and make excuses for them.  Israel was fighting the Philistines and they were waiting for Samuel to come down because he was taking to long; and Saul went ahead and sacrificed a burnt offering; something only Levites were to do only.  And Samuel tells him bad news...

¹³And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
 ¹⁴But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

Whoever the Lord picks next, it is a man after His own heart to command His people since Saul had a tough time obeying commandments of the Lord.
Jonathan decides to go and fight the Philistines with his infantry and makes a powerful statement in chapter 14.  ⁶And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

It does not matter the number you have when you fight if you fight with the Lord; all that matters is if the Lord is with you.  And the Lord had the Philistines fighting against themselves.  ⁵²And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

1 Samuel 15

Samuel goes to Saul to destroy the Amalek people who troubled Israel in days past.  And Saul was given detailed instructions by Samuel from the Lord.
²Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
 ³Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

However Saul spared a few people: ⁹But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

He left the king alive and the best animals for sacrifice and other things he thought was good.  Did he listen to the Lord?  

NO!

Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel in what to tell Saul because he failed in obeying the commandments of God.  If you're going to be a king or a pastor for the Lord or any kind of official for God; you MUST follow instructions to a tee.  The reason is because you are a leader and if you can't follow God's instructions to the letter; how will the people follow you or God?


The Lord knew this that is why He was sorry for His decision to select Saul as king over His people; man's free will attempts to make God look bad as it did with Adam, and picking Israel as the leading nation, and selecting Saul.  We make God look bad because we are His children.  You know when your kids or close friends make crazy choices; it reflects on you.

 ¹¹It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
All this time Saul believed he did the right thing and obeyed the commandments of God saying, "Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD."

¹⁴And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
But he did not obey; in fact he did evil in the sight of the LORD?

 ²⁰And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  

This is where we get this famous quote from; it is better to listen to God than to offer sacrifices.  God needs absolutely nothing from us except we listen to Him clearly.  Nothing else.  I mean what can you really give a Being that lives forever and that created the world you live in?

 ²³For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.  Now Saul is being totally rejected from being the Lord's captain forever.  Saul could have been God's vice president forever, even in New Jerusalem; but he failed to listen well.

Saul finally confesses; and even tells why he sinned against the Lord; because he feared the people.  I wonder how many people fear man before they fear God?  It is because you don't believe in God if this ever happens to you.  Man can only torture and kill you; I'm sure God can do much more.  Fear Him!

 ²⁸And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
 ²⁹And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.  The Strength of Israel is God, God is not a man that He should lie or take back something He said.

Then Samuel brought Agag the king of the Amaelekites and he thought they would free him; but instead Samuel had the commandment of God in his mind.  Keep in mind; this is a priest and prophet of God.

 ³³And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.  He chopped this king into pieces!  Men of God were very tough back then.

³⁵And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Samuel knew that God was no longer with Saul; so he saw no point in coming around unless he become as Saul; but he felt very sorry for Saul as I'm sure they'd become good associates.  However, when you see your pal not able to listen to the Lord; you must keep a bit of distance so you don't find yourself following your pal instead of God.

That is our reading today.  Thank and we will commence again tomorrow.
DD


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