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Other than Jesus, David was most likely the greatest king in the Bible... or at least many people would think so. Yet David wasn't perfect. He turned from God's direction and joined with the Philistines. He had many wives when God had clearly told His people NOT to marry more than one person. And we'll see more of his choices to sin in our future lessons. When we look at David's life before he became king, however, it's very obvious he had a really rough life. He was always in battle and he spent most of his time running from Saul and Saul's armies. God may have protected him through it all but God didn't take it all away.

David was a good man. Bad things happen to good people. Bad things happen to bad people. There were times when David made some bad choices. But all in all, David was a good man. What were some of the things David chose to do even though bad things happened to him?

He willingly served others (1 Samuel 17:15... David went back & forth between playing harp for Saul and tending his father's sheep.)

He humbled himself (1 Samuel 18:18... David said "who am I" when Saul, the king, suggested that David marry one of the king's daughters... which would make David part of the royal family.)

He made covenants with the LORD (1 Samuel 20:16-17... Jonathon asked to have favor with David, even when the LORD had destroyed all of David's enemies.)

He honored God when it seemed strange to do so (1 Samuel 24:4... when David's men thought surely Saul came into the cave because God said He would deliver David's enemies to him.)

He prayed (1 Samuel 30:6 and again in 30:8... His own people wanted to stone him because they were so sad about their loved ones being carried off by the Amalekites. David prayed.)

In times of trouble... when bad things came David's way, he prayed. He prayed for the LORD's comfort and he prayed for the LORD's direction. What I love most about David's example of prayer is that he followed his prayer... with action. In times of trouble, David prayed and then he waited for the LORD to respond. Sometimes waiting can seem like doing nothing. But David waited with expectation and a readiness to do the LORD's will. 2 Samuel 2:1 "David inquired of the LORD, 'Shall I go to the lands of Judah?' and the LORD said, 'Go.' David asked, 'Where do you want me to go?' And the LORD responded, 'He Hebron.'"

How will you respond when you experience times of trouble? What will you do when the storms of life comes your way? You might experience storms like the ones we recently experienced in our very own community or you may experience storms of a different kind like (loosing a baby sister) or (your mom being so sick she almost died) or (your dad actually drowning just to come back to life.) How will you respond when bad things happen to you or to people in your community? Will you pray like David did? Then... will you listen to how the LORD directs you and then take action on your prayers?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Lesson 22, Servants of God

1 Samuel 19-21

What does it take to be a friend?

What makes a friend is the connections we make, the events and experiences we share, the discussions we share. Eventually, if we fail to share with each other or if we do things that “break” the relationship and the friendship begins to fall apart.

Most people will agree… we have “friends” and we have “great friends.”

What does it take to be a “friend” to someone?

What does it take to be a “great friend” to someone?

David and Jonathon had a “great friendship.” They weren’t “just friends.” In 1 Samuel 19:2, Jonathon WARNS David of King Saul’s plans to have David killed. This means Jonathon actually went against his father’s wishes in order to warn or protect David. Also in chapter 19, Jonathon speaks to his father on David’s behalf… in David’s defense. So Jonathon “stood up for David” against the king –his father, when no one else would.

Chapter 20 of 1 Samuel begins with David seeking safety in Jonathon’s presence. Jonathon is so grieved to know that his father, King Saul, has decided once again to have David killed. Jonathon tells David in verse 4, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it for you.” Only a great friend could say that to another great friend. People who are “just friends” would usually not have the ability to trust or the trustworthiness to give the other person. Let’s face it, David could have followed Jonathon’s vow to do “whatever” with, “Kill your father for me.” Great friendship trusts because great friendship is trustworthy. Jonathon knew David was trustworthy and therefore would never ask him to do the wrong thing.

We go on to read in verse 8 of chapter 20 how David considers himself to be Jonathon’s “servant.” David doesn’t call himself Jonathon’s “friend.” He says, “As for you, show kindness to your servant…” At this point in their relationship, it’s very clear they are both aware of their “great friendship.” They both know they have been blessed with something extremely rare. Yet David refers to himself as Jonathon’s “servant.” The dictionary defines servant as “someone who performs work or tasks for another person.” Great friendship SERVES others. It does things for the other person that most people would refuse to do. David served Jonathon in their friendship because Jonathon had already proven his willingness to serve David with his protection from the king.

There are many other instances within our lesson where David and Jonathon give us perfect examples of great friendship. But none speak more clearly of the LOVE required by great friendship than verses 41b-42 when David and Jonathon know they will no longer see one another in a safe and “friendly” environment. Both shed tears for one another because of the great jeopardy their great friendship puts them in. They cry because they know David must leave. Great friendship LOVES so deeply that it can be brought to tears.

Jesus is a great Friend. In Matthew 26:38 Jesus says, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, even to the point of death.” And we know in John 15:13 “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” At the time when Jesus DID lay down his life, Luke tells us that Jesus was “so anguished” about leaving us that He “prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44.)” Jesus is a great Friend

But does Jesus know great friendship? Are you a great friend to Jesus? For Jesus? Because of Jesus? Will you look at your friends a bit differently now that you have seen David and Jonathon’s example of great friendship? More importantly, will you look differently at your friendship with Jesus because you know how very rare and unique His friendship is for you?

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Lesson 19, Servants of God

1 Samuel 12-14

Our Wrap Up from Mrs. Gettelfinger...

Before our Wrap Up today, everyone received a Scripture verse about one of God's commands for us. The students were asked to read their particular Scripture verse and then try to summarize the verse with one (or as few words as possible.) Then we built a Jenga tower. Each student had a block for the tower. As they placed their block onto the tower, they gave the summary of their Scripture verse which gave God's instructions for our righteous living. After the tower was built, the students gave Mrs. Gettelfinger examples of things we all do IN PLACE OF God's commands. With each example, a Jenga block was removed from the tower. As you can imagine, we had plenty of examples of how we remove God's commands from our lives and thus our tower (lives) tumble.

This week’s lesson begins with Samuel not only reaffirming his incredibly godly leadership but also testifying to the LORD’s consistent provision and protection. It seems to me, Samuel’s feeling are hurt and he shares his broken heart with the people of Israel in the first few verses of chapter 12. In verse 3, he basically says, “Have I done anything so terrible that you would think God is not my LORD?” He goes on in verse 5 to say, “God knows how much I love Him AND how much I’ve loved you.” In that same verse, the people even agree that Samuel is right. They know God knows and they admit Samuel has been a great leader. Then Samuel reminds them of all the good God has done for them. He also reminds them in verse 11 of how even when the people turned away from God, “He delivered you from the hands of your enemy all around you, and you lived in safety.” This wasn’t good enough for the people. GOD wasn’t good enough for the people of Israel. Samuel states in verses 12 and 13 “Even though the LORD was your King, because you have asked, the LORD has set a king over you.”

Sometimes God doesn’t give us what we pray for. Perhaps it’s not the best thing for us. Maybe it’s a good thing for us but not in His perfect timing. And then sometimes He gives us exactly what we asked for –KNOWING it will harm us. Why would God do such a thing? Isaiah 48:17 “This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.’” The best part about this verse is “Redeemer” and the second best part about this verse is “who TEACHES us.” Even when we pray for something that isn’t best for us, God TEACHES us.

The elders of Israel asked for a king back in chapter 8 when Samuel’s sons were appointed leaders over Israel. That’s when God took the time to TEACH the people. He said to Samuel in verse 9 “Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” God teaches us through examples of others and warnings of what’s to come. Exodus 19:21 “and the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish.’” 2 Chronicles 19:10 “In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the LORD; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.’” And Psalm 81:8 “Hear me, my people, and I will warn you— if you would only listen to me, Israel!” God TEACHES us through His warnings.

Asking for a king was the wrong thing for the people of Israel to do. God, being the All Knowing and Sovereign LORD that He is, knew the people would ask for a king without recognizing His very Kingship. God told His people in Genesis 49:10 of a king to come. The timing and the WAY they asked for a king was also where the people failed God. The timing was not God’s perfect timing. And they really didn’t ask for a king… they demanded one. We can not tell God what to do. Hosea 14:9 “Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” The Message Bible states this verse like this, “If you want to live well, make sure you understand all of this. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll learn this inside and out! God’s ways get you where you want to go. People who make good choices, walk easily. People who make bad choices, always trip and stumble.”

We chose to build our Jenga tower with a foundation of God’s directions for our lives. We demolished our tower by making choices many people make in life that are not good for us. Bad choices remove God’s blessings from our lives just like we removed the scripture pieces from our Jenga tower. Life is full of choices. Sometimes right choices mean waiting (just as Saul should have waited on Samuel to make the burnt offering before going into battle) on God’s perfect timing. Sometimes wrong choices come with God’s warnings (just like God clearly warned the people of Israel how having an earthly king would impact their lives in a negative way.) Here is what I’m going to ask you to do, will you… pray… then wait… watch for God’s warnings… and then follow His direction? Even if that direction is just “BE STILL...” and wait.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Lesson 15, Servants of God

1 Samuel 1-2

Our Wrap Up from Mrs. Gettelfinger...

Each student was randomly "labeled" with a sign on their backs by the teachers before our Wrap Up began. Some of the labels were such things as... "Loser," "Dork," "Snotty Girl," "Nerd," "Geek," "Weird-O," "Freak," "Goof-ball..." You get the idea. The students were next instructed to walk around and look at each others' "labels" and then try to guess what their own label said. They could only ask someone else three questions and those questions could only be "yes or no" answer type of questions.  If, at anytime, the students asked "Am I a..." and they were wrong with their guess, the student had to sit down and wait until the activity was over.

As you can imagine, most of the signs brought about quite a few giggles and even some big belly laughs. And although it was made VERY CLEAR that these "labels" were NOT ACCURATE of each of the students' characters, the labels were used to prove a very strong point; being laughed at NEVER feels good. Regardless of how strong or confident we are, being made fun of hurts. Even if we are strong and confident in our faith... in our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself... hurtful words from others can bring us down.

Hannah knew all about hurtful words.  Penninah pretty much "had it all."  She had the love and care of her husband.  She had many sons and daughters (1 Samuel 1:4b.)  She had plenty of offering to give to the Lord in times of worship.  She even had a sister-wife she could look to for support and sisterhood yet she certainly didn't take advantage of such friendship.   Although she lacked in nothing, Penninah was obviously jealous of Hannah. Was it their husband, Elkanah's love of Hannah which made Penninah jealous? Or was it Hannah's seemingly unblemished character that caused Penninah to experience jealousy to the point of being such a nasty person toward Hannah?

The Scriptures we studied for this Servants of God lesson do not tell us WHY Penninah is so cruel to Hannah. Instead, what the Scriptures tell us is HOW Hannah was effected by Penninah's cruelty.   In 1 Samuel 1:6 we see that Hannah is made to feel "miserable" because of Penninah's nasty behavior. And we know from verse 7 that all Hannah did was "wept and could not eat."

With grace of self-control, Hannah not once tried to shoot back hateful, hurtful words at Penninah. Many of us today might even think Penninah certainly would have deserved it if Hannah had shot back. But the beauty of Hannah's reaction to Penninah's cruelty was that there was really no reaction at all. Hannah didn't even pray about the cruelty she was experiencing. She didn't ask God to make Penninah stop. She didn't ask for wise words to throw back at Penninah. She didn't ask for Penninah to just go away. Instead, she stayed focused on two things... her true desire which was to have a son... and God's sovereignty as her LORD (1 Samuel 1:9-10.)

Hannah's tears went beyond Penninah's cruel mistreatment of her. She was brokenhearted because she had no child to mother. Every Jewess woman had hopes and dreams of being "head of the home" while her husband was "head of the family." And even though Hannah had a house... with no "family," there was no "home." Alhough Elkanah deeply loved Hannah and showed her as much, she wanted so badly to have had a child to love and raise in honor of her husband... and more importantly, in honor of her God.

In many ways, Hannah was a beautiful foreshadowing of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Although Mary was not mistreated by a family member such as Hannah was by Penninah, can you just imagine how people must have talked behind Mary's back about her pregnancy while she was still yet to be married to Joseph. I am sure if felt very much like the "labels" on the students' backs. They had no idea what people were saying "behind their backs," but they could certainly see the reactions of others. Instead of letting the words and mistreatment of others bring them down, Hannah and Mary "lifted up" our LORD. (Compare Hannah's song -1 Samuel 1-10 to that of Mary's -Luke 1:46-55.)

We have two lessons to learn from our study this week. The first lesson is that of Hannah's humility and how she remained focused on the LORD even though her heart was lonely for a child and her spirit was constantly being attacked by her enemy. She didn't strike back or hold God accountable for her longsuffering. She depended on God's faithfulness "No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days" Exodus 23:26. Indeed, God kept His promise to Hannah. Not only did He give her a son, He also gave Israel a judge and prophet in Samuel. This was something the people had lacked for quite a long time at this point in our study.

The second lesson we learn is that of Penninah's behavior toward Hannah. We can see through Hannah's pain how very hurtful our thoughtless and unloving words can be upon someone else's heart. Is it any wonder God guides us to guard our tongues... "With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be so" James 3:9-10.

Will you choose to follow the example of Hannah's heart-prayer and ask God "let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight?" (Psalm 19:14) Will you be kind to EVERYONE you meet and remember Hannah when others have not been so kind to you?