Month: August 2018

August 1, Reading 1 – 1 Samuel 4, 5

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The glory departs from Israel! Phineas and Hophni did not realise this, Phineas’ wife did. Would you realise when the Glory has departed from our church or people? The Gospel is preached to the Philistines – they see that the Lord is God. He throws down their idol Dagon. Philistia has a different spirit to the city of Gibeon, who heard and believed and therefore did everything to join Israel.

SJA Notes

* God of Light, please listen to our prayers O God, do not ignore our pleas. We call upon You, and trust in Your salvation.

“The glory has departed from Israel!”

The ark is captured, the glory of the Lord departs Israel.

A very low point, similar to that in Ezekiel as we see the glory of the Lord departing the temple, as the exiles were taken and living in Babylon (Ezekiel 10).

Israel at this time seemed to want to use the ark like a magic spell, a genie in a bottle – For the Lord to appear, or His power to be at work and conquer their enemies.

God doesn’t work this way.

Both Philistia and Israel see the truth of this clearly in the passage today.

Eli dies. One of the very last judges of Israel.

When the Philistines capture the ark, while Israel was soundly defeated, this has no bearing on the Lord’s sovereignty and power!

“The hand of God was very heavy there.”

God afflicted the Philistines, so much that their cry went up to heaven.

It is good for us to be reminded that our Lord God is the LORD – There is no other!

His ways are beyond our comprehension, we cannot plumb the depths of His mind – And yet He gives us His word, He reveals Himself to us.

We read in Isaiah 46,

“… For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, …”

This is our God!

* God Above,

You are God, there is none like You.

Please help us understand You better today.

Please help us figure out a little more of how to take the growing understanding and work it into our lives – Please teach us Lord God!

You are sovereign, we are not.

Your plans cannot fail, Your will is absolute, there is none that can overpower You.

Amen, and Hallelujah!

August 1, Reading 2 – Isaiah 47

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Nations that turn to materialism, pride and selfishness cannot expect to enjoy God’s blessings. Such behaviour brings its own judgments. New Age practices and beliefs are empty wells!

SJA Notes

* Loving God, please write Your word on our hearts today.

“You felt secure in your wickedness; you say, ‘No one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.'”

We don’t have to look very far at all around us to see the truth of this.

Individuals, groups, companies, families, nations and more – Foolishly claiming to be “I AM”.

And if we are honest, we can find ourselves at times doing the same.

God’s word is clear.

“But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.”

There is no future in thinking that we are the I AM in our lives. In thinking that there is none besides ourselves.

This is a dim future, one that lives a life apart from the salvation Jesus offers, and this type of life cannot and will not find atonement before the living God.

This is a good exhortation for us.

Our God is the I AM. He is our shield against evil, our atoning sacrifice, the one who rescues and redeems us.

* God Almighty,

Please may we hear Your word to us today.

And please may Your word be heard by those around us.

Mark us as a people who promote You and Your Name, bearing it well whether at home or out and about.

Mark us as fearless Jesus-speakers.

Amen.

August 1, Reading 3 – 2 Corinthians 8

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Generosity is an attribute that we gradually lose, as we possess more of this world’s goods. The Macedonian churches will always be a challenge to us of rich generosity in a time of most severe trial, extreme poverty, but overflowing joy. Joy is the key to generosity!

SJA Notes

* Dear God Above, thank You for this day, and for Your word to us today – Please teach us, open our hearts, that we might listen and obey.

“… But they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”

There is good order here, and a good encouragement and exhortation to us.

We need to get the order right!

First to the Lord. Then to good works.

Our works do not (and should not) define us.

It is the Lord that matters, as Paul has pointed to again and again these two letters to the Corinthian church (and to us) – He is the center, the foundation, the pivot and crux.

When we give ourselves to the Lord, He will direct our hearts toward the good works that He has prepared for us beforehand.

This is a good and wonderful thing!

* Dear Lord God,

Please help us to remember the order – That You are first.

Please help us to put You first in our lives; in how we think, speak and act.

Please make us more like Jesus today and each day.

Amen.