Posts that reference the book of 1 Samuel

1 Sam

4 Keys to Peace

We’ve been digging into the keys to some important aspects of our spiritual life. We started with prayer. Last week, we explored 4 Keys to faith. This week, let’s turn our attention to peace. Ah, peace … The dictionary might define it as a state of inner calm and tranquility, and we would probably agree that it often seems elusive in our hectic lives. Here are 4 keys to peace that can help make it our regular state.

Peace begins with trust in God’s sovereignty

Peace begins with trusting in God’s sovereignty—His supreme power and authority over everything. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Trusting in God’s sovereignty means believing that He is in control, even when our circumstances are chaotic. Joseph’s story in Genesis 37-50 is a powerful example. Despite being sold into slavery and wrongfully imprisoned, Joseph trusted in God’s plan. His peace came from knowing that God was sovereign over his life.

Really, I could write a whole other post on trusting God’s sovereignty. If we believe He’s good (and He is), that He loves us (and He does), He will work everything out. That’s the first of the keys to peace. Whenever you feel anxious, remind yourself of God’s sovereignty. Reflect on His control over every situation and surrender your worries to Him.

Embrace Prayer and Supplication

We hit on prayer in our first post in this series, so small wonder that a robust prayer life is one of our keys to peace. Prayer is a direct line to God, where we can cast all our anxieties and burdens. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When we bring our worries to God in prayer, we exchange our anxiety for His peace. Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1-2 shows us this beautifully. Her heartfelt prayers and trust in God’s timing brought her peace, even before her prayers were answered.

Make it a habit to pray daily, bringing your concerns to God. Use a prayer journal to track your prayers and His answers.

Meditate on God’s Word

We saw this last week as a key to faith and here it is again as a key to peace. God’s Word is a powerful source of peace. Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”

Meditating on Scripture renews our minds and aligns our thoughts with God’s truth. We shift our perspective and begin to gain the mind of Christ that the Apostle Paul talked about (1 Corinthians 2:16). Jesus used Scripture to combat temptation, showing us the importance of knowing and relying on God’s Word.

Set aside time each day to read and meditate on Scripture. Choose verses that speak to God’s peace and memorize them to recall in times of stress.

Gratitude Leads to Peace

Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, fostering peace in our hearts. Colossians 3:15 instructs us, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Paul’s letters often begin with expressions of gratitude, even when he was in prison. His grateful heart kept him anchored in peace despite his circumstances.

Start a gratitude journal or track this in your planner. Each day, write down three things you are thankful for. This practice helps to develop a mindset of thankfulness and peace.

Someone said peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God. Use these keys to peace — trusting in His sovereignty, embracing prayer, meditating on His Word, and cultivating gratitude — to experience His peace in every circumstance.

As For Me

By Paula

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. 1 Samuel 12:23

Samuel was called by God during a critical time in Israel’s history.
They had lived for years under judges descending further and further into apostasy.
In spite of recognizing Samuel as a true prophet, they rejected his leadership and God’s and asked for a king.

Samuel knew the request was rooted in rebellion in the hearts of the people.
He knew it would end in tragedy.
But he knew God’s sovereign plan was not in jeopardy.
He affirmed his commitment to pray and to uphold God’s principles.

As for me, he said, far be it from me that I should sin in ceasing to pray for you.

We have been called out by God during a critical time in history.
We have seen our culture, our world descending further and further into apostasy.
We have seen society reject God leadership and embrace a host of other philosophies.

We know the rejection is rooted in rebellion in the hearts of the people.
We also know that rebellion inevitably ends in tragedy.
In spite of it all, God’s sovereign plan is not in jeopardy.

Let us affirm our commitment to pray and to uphold God’s principles. As for me. As for you.

Listening

By Paula

Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 1 Samuel 3:1

The word of the Lord was rare.
It’s not because God was reluctant to speak.
Or because He had nothing to say.

It was rare because no one was listening.
They went through all the routines of worship.
But … there were other gods who needed attention, too.

How rare is the word of the Lord in these days?
Are we listening?
Or are we going through all the routines
While we divide our attention?

Is the word of the Lord rare in my own life?
Am I listening?
Or am I just following a routine,
While my mind, my attention, my heart is somewhere else?

Abigail

By Paula

The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. And he was of the house of Caleb. 1 Samuel 25:3

It’s worth reading the whole chapter. The short version is that after David and his men had protected Nabal’s shepherds, Nabal refused to pay them and insulted them instead. David intended to exact bloody revenge on the entire household of Nabal.

Until his wife, Abigail, intervened.

She was a woman of good understanding. Wise, sensible, discerning.
Then she was decisive. (v.18)

She was tactful and humble in dealing with a crisis she did not create.
Then she diffused a volatile situation. (v.24)

She was devout, pointing David to God’s promises to him.
Then she prompted a change in David’s course of action. (v.32)

Conflict is common, maybe not on the scale of David and Nabal, but it is all around us.
We can be a rare voice of calm.
We can be peacemakers.

We can be like Abigail.

The Armorbearer

By Paula

In 1 Samuel 14, there is a little-known story about a military victory by Saul’s son, Jonathan. However, there is another person in the account who plays an important role– Jonathan’s armorbearer. Although we’re not even given his name, we can learn a great lesson from him.

The Situation

Israel was at the mercy of Philistine raiders, and Saul’s inept and ineffective leadership caused a wholesale desertion from his army. He was left with only 600 men to face the thousands of hardened Philistine warriors, and in Saul’s entire force, only he and Jonathan had actual swords.

The Leader

For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few. 1 Samuel 14:6

Jonathan was everything Saul wasn’t. With the courage of a soldier and a deep abiding faith, he proposed to confront the closest contingent of Philistines. Jonathan had the vision and the boldness to undertake a mission that would have seemed foolhardy except for the hand of God. Jonathan knew there were no limitations on what God could do, and that He was more than capable of delivering Israel with just a few men as He was using a great army, because ultimately the victory was the Lord’s.

The Follower

The armorbearer’s reply? “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.” (1 Samuel 14:7) While we usually give Jonathan all the credit, verses 11-14 make it clear that both young men were equally involved in the victory. Reading the rest of the chapter, this act sparked a turnaround within the entire army of Israel resulting in a historic defeat of their Philistine enemies wrought by the hand of God.

So, what lessons can we learn from Jonathan’s armorbearer?

Leaders need followers.

I am with you, he said. As soon as he understood Jonathan was looking to God for the victory, the armorbearer was all in. He didn’t lay down conditions or argue with Jonathan about the details of the plan. If our leaders are committed to God and His kingdom work, we shouldn’t hesitate to follow.

Leaders need encouragement.

Go then, he said. The armorbearer didn’t second guess Jonathan. He didn’t point out the obvious fact that they were horribly outnumbered or that Israel’s army was utterly demoralized. His response was, “Let’s do it.”

Leaders need help.

In verses 13-14, the armorbearer was there with Jonathan, step for step, not standing back watching.
Following is not glamorous. It takes humility and sacrifice. But it means seeing the bigger picture and greater goal of God’s glory and the expansion of His kingdom.

What leaders do you follow? What help and encouragement can you offer them?

Revival: Throw Out Your Idols

By Paula Wiseman

A new year is a good time to take stock and evaluate where we are compared to where we need to be. Many people, unhappy with that evaluation will make resolutions, and it’s no secret most of those people will abandon those commitments within a few days. As believers, we may be less in need of a resolution and more in need of REVIVAL. We’re looking at some Biblical revivals to see what we may need in our lives. Last week we discussed the revival Israel experienced after their great sin in making the golden calf. This week, the prophet Samuel leads the nation to revival. His instructions begin with throw out your idols. Let’s set the scene.

Samuel was not just a prophet, but he was also the last judge over Israel. During the period of the judges, Israel fell into apostasy, then in judgment God allowed another nation to oppress Israel. The current oppressor was Philistia. They had a highly organized army and had iron implements of warfare, like shields and swords. This gave them a decided advantage.

In the opening chapters of 1 Samuel, the war with Philistia has heated up, with the loss of the Ark of the Covenant and the death of Eli, the priest. Because God is not like the pagan gods of the Philistines, He divinely protected His Ark and it wasn’t long before the Philistines returned it. When a group of men from Beth-Shemesh were killed for looking inside the Ark, the entire nation mourned that God had abandoned them.

That’s when the prophet speaks.

“If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 7:3)

He gave them four things to do. 1. Repent. 2. Throw out your idols, your foreign gods. 3. Direct your hearts to the LORD. 4. Serve Him alone.

This list still holds today. If we want revival, we must repent and get rid of our idols. While I doubt any of us have statues in our homes, it is easy to become idolaters. Think about what gives you peace, identity, comfort, purpose. If it is anything besides Christ, idolatry may be an issue.

Israel rejected their idols.

So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD only. (1 Samuel 7:4)

Repentance is more than simply identifying sin. It’s more than even asking for forgiveness and being sorry for our actions. Repentance requires action, a change of direction. Israel took the action Samuel recommended, by throwing out their idols. We may need to action, even drastic action, to cut the idols from our hearts. It will no doubt be hard, but totally worth it.

God defended Israel.

But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. (1 Samuel 7:10)

Samuel said the reason Israel’s enemies were victorious was Israel’s heart problem, specifically a worship disorder. Rather than indignation and dismissal of the prophet’s words, Israel threw out their idols, and God worked in their nation. If we see the enemy gaining ground, it could be an indication that we also have a worship disorder. Rather than dismiss the very idea, if we respond in humility and with action, God can work in us and through us.

Samuel set up a memorial.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12)

Samuel didn’t want Israel to forget their commitment to throw out the idols or God’s divine intervention. Likewise, we can memorialize milestones in our Christian life. They can encourage us to remain faithful. They can remind us that God does hear, He is with us, and He does act on our behalf. The name Ebenezer is probably best known from Dickens’s famous story, but it literally means “stone of the help.” The idea is that God had brought them that far, and would surely carry them forward. We have reminders, like our baptism, that confirm Christ has saved us and will bring us to eternity with Him.

Last week, Israel needed to recommit themselves to God’s Law. The first commandment in that Law is to have no other gods before the LORD. As we work toward our own revival, let’s make sure nothing has God’s spot in our hearts and lives. Next week we’ll see what David can teach us about revival.