May - Reading 5

Good evening -

Our readings for today are:

Mark 11:1-11

2 Corinthians 4

Psalm 99

1 Samuel 11-13

May God bless you as you read from His Word.

 

Good morning -

In yesterday's readings we saw Saul' s first great mistake. In verse 13:9, he offers a burnt offering to the Lord when he had specifically been told by Samuel to wait for his arrival (v. 10:8). By taking matters into his own hands, Samuel disregards the instructions of the Prophet of the Lord and demonstrates why Samuel was hesitant in appointing a king. It was critical that Israel always recognize God as the true King.

We aslo read Mark's account of the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. I asked a senior pastor at my church why this was called the "Triumphal Entry" back around Easter and his explanation was that in the time of Christ, when a warrior leader returned from a victorious battle, he would ride into town, usually on a large steed and the people would offer their praises in celebration. Christ rode into Jerusalem a victor but he did so on a humble animal, a donkey. This was a deliberate Messianiac message to the people as it fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. Christ's ministry from this point forward will be confined within the Holy City.

The passage of 2Corinthians 4 shows us that God will support us in our ministries and give us heart and strength to accomplish His goals. We remain renewed through the strength that we are afforded through Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

May God bless you

- Clint

 

Good morning -

The question has been posed at various times, "was Saul saved?" As I read throught the account of his life this year, I am looking for clues that point to his salvation or damnation. While I believe the Scriptures remain ambiguous on the matter, Saul is a fascinating study of an overly human man thrust into a unique situation. Handsome, tall, courageous: he had all the makings of a great king and indeed Samuel confirms such in verse 13:13 of today's reading that he came within a hair's breadth of filling David's position. Arrogant, single-minded, and in later life, insane: he was a carichature of the morally decayed Israelites, perhaps even, the modern man.

It is odd that the debate goes on over Saul's salvation. He was a man who made a myriad of mistakes, but even David was unworthy to build the Temple, and Solomon, who did build the Temple, later fell into an obsession over foreign women and was lured away by their false gods, yet their salvation is rarely called into question. Saul alone is considered the fulfillment of Samuel's prophecy of 1Samuel 8:10-18.

May God bless you

- Clint

 

Our Scriptures for tomorrow, 5/5, will be:

Mark 11:1-11

2 Corinthians 4

Psalm 99

1 Samuel 11-13

 

Our Scriptures for tomorrow, 5/5, will be:

Mark 11:1-11

2 Corinthians 4

Psalm 99

1 Samuel 11-13

 

Our Scriptures for tomorrow, 5/5, will be:

Mark 11:1-11

2 Corinthians 4

Psalm 99

1 Samuel 11-13

 

Our Scriptures for tomorrow, 5/5, will be:

Mark 11:1-11

2 Corinthians 4

Psalm 99

1 Samuel 11-13

 

Our Scriptures for tomorrow, 5/6, will be:

Mark 11:1-11

2 Corinthians 4

Psalm 99

1 Samuel 11-13