1 Samuel 31:1-13
The Death of Saul and His Sons and King Saul’s Burial

(Because of the great seriousness of this subject and a desire to treat it as such without error, I have used some notes from a prior study I did.)
In his dying moments on Mount Gilboa, Saul continued to assert his pride by stealing for himself a role reserved for our life-giving God.  Saul murdered himself.  Suffering and fear are real, but so is the power of God in repentance, prayer and His presence.  In Saul’s most desperate moment, he called out to his armor-bearer and asked him to commit a crime against God.  Instead of calling out to his Maker and facing death with praises to God on his lips, Saul insisted on ending his life and ordained kingship on his terms.  How might even his final moments have been different if he had called out in humble repentance and dependence for help in the name of the Lord?  Saul’s sin to commit suicide set into motion a series of devastating consequences for those he left behind.  His armor-bearer immediately killed himself, as well.

Suicide is one of the most tragic choices that exists in our fallen world.  We must stand with David who confesses to God, “My times are in your hands.” Psalm 31:15.  Yet, all who trust the Lord as Savior are free from condemnation, no matter how they die.  Suicide is sin.  But not the “greatest sin” nor does it determine our eternal destiny.  Suicide in our families, churches, school and communities is a call for believers to love all people well.  We are to act in compassion and grieve with those who grieve.  Believers should be known as people who will listen, help, speak truth in love, pray, cherish all life and practice humility and gentleness toward those surviving the consequences of another person’s suicide.

Then, the Philistines’ despicable treatment of the bodies of Saul and his sons shows the nature of those with whom David associated for a time.  We marvel at God’s grace that David was not involved and not there.  Instead, valiant warriors from Jabesh Gilead marched through the night to recover the bodies.  Saul had begun his reign rescuing the people of that very city from the Ammonites.  The people of Jabesh Gilead honored the dead king and his sons with burial at the site of his victory on their behalf, under a tamarisk tree.

Saul and David both missed many opportunities given by God to recognize his sin and repent.  Repeated rejection of God creates a hardened mind and heart. The danger is that God will often let us be stubborn.  But by His grace, the Holy Spirit shows us our sin so we can repent, confess our sin and stop saying “no” to God.  Saul and David differed at this very point.  David willingly turned to God to ask what he should do next.  We must do the same  Through faith in Jesus, who died to take the punishment for our sin, God hears and forgives!
—- Mary Mauderer

1 Samuel 29:1-11;   30:1-31

But David found strength in the Lord his God

David and his army are now following close behind the large Philistine army.  Is David thinking to join their army to fight Saul?  I’m not sure, but we see in the early verses of chapter 29 that the commander of the Philistine army has told David to leave, they fear he will turn on them in battle.
David and his army departed from the Philistines the next morning.
It took David and his men three days to reach Ziklag (southern Judah) only to find it destroyed by the armies of the Amalekites.  Everything was destroyed, burned to the ground and families taken captive.   The men in David’s were sadden to the point of angry, some wanted to stone David.
Verse 6 says “David found strength in the LORD his GOD.”
and in verse 8 we see that he “inquires of the LORD”

Today, I spoke with a long time friend that is the owner of 3 restaurants (not chains).  He has spent the past 10 to 15 years building these to very successful and popular in the community.  Tomorrow he is meeting with his partners and key staff to make the decision for their future operation.  Think of this, closing a restaurant for a few weeks is not like closing the gas station of barber shop.  Think of all the fresh food they have?
His decision tomorrow will effect 100 employees and if extended for weeks, possibly the future of his business.
All of us have a story, a situation.  We are all in some way effected by this epidemic and our lives are altered and our faith is shaken.

Let’s all learn from David . . . inquire of the LORD !
Let’s find strength in our LORD GOD !

PRAY, be OBEDIENT and PRAISE !

Trust in HIM
BILL B

撒母耳記上28:1-25；詩篇68:1-35

在撒母耳記上28章裡，掃羅王遠離耶和華神越來越遠，陷在罪的網羅裡越陷越深。他回想與神的關係，曾經常常有神藉著先知或大祭司給予指示，或回答他的問題，但現在斷了，什麼都沒有了，這讓他十分憂慮。於是，再興妄想，找交鬼的婦人招先知撒母耳的靈魂從陰間（見註）上來，以求問神的指示。
尤有甚者，掃羅竟然向婦人指著耶和華起誓說：「我指著永生的耶和華起誓，你必不因這事受刑。」（28:10）實在荒唐，其實有許多「基督徒」對神的真理不甚了解，常常是憑著自己的「信仰觀」來信主耶穌基督，看似虔誠，卻表顯不合聖經真理的言行。

這是一個曾經信靠神，尊崇神，蒙神保守賜福的人，後來心高氣傲，憑仗勢力才能，偏行己路，遠離神的下場。
神是滿有慈愛憐憫，願意赦免人的罪。如果在失敗之後，謙卑的悔改歸向神，還能德蒙神的拯救。罪大惡極的瑪拿西在悔改時的禱告，尚且得蒙神的垂聽與允准（代下33:13）。但如果硬著頸項，越陷越深、越走越遠，至終必定滅亡。

反觀【詩篇68篇】中的大衛，是全然相對的見證。

大衛敬畏神，凡事尋求、遵行神的旨意，他對於神的敬畏，也表顯在對神的受膏者的尊崇，不敢傷害掃羅。

此時的大衛已經作王了，他在戰場上的勝利，他在對敵爭戰的功勞，全然歸于神，他敬拜神、頌讚神；他毫不居功的紀念所有軍民百姓，甚至也記念婦女的戰功。

大衛在耶路撒冷建都，他要迎耶和華神的約櫃進入耶路撒冷。
那令人興奮的場景，寫在撒母耳記下六章。
大衛歌頌讚美神說：（68:32-35）
世上的列國啊，你們要向神歌唱；願你們歌頌主！
歌頌那自古駕行在諸天以上的主！他發出聲音，是極大的聲音。
你們要將能力歸給神。他的威榮在以色列之上；他的能力是在穹蒼。
神啊，你從聖所顯為可畏；以色列的神是那將力量權能賜給他百姓的。神是應當稱頌的！

大衛經歷神的保守，他見證神的恩典，說：（68:19, 20）
天天背負我們重擔的主，就是拯救我們的神，是應當稱頌的！
神是為我們施行諸般救恩的神；人能脫離死亡是在乎主耶和華。

求主保守我們，正當疫情擴散，人心驚惶的時候，不被死亡的陰影所驚恐，
信靠主，禱告主，交託主，親近主，使我們能在基督裡得平安！          —- Solomon Liu

 

註：陰間在聖經是指看不見的世界，為死人靈魂離體後的居所。在陰間的靈魂，還是活著而有知覺，知道快樂與痛苦。新約聖經中耶穌指出了樂園與陰間，乃是已得救的人和未得救的人死後靈魂的去處。當基督再臨的時候，歷代所有已死之人的靈魂都要復活在末後的大審判中受審，或永活，或永死。

Covid-19肺炎蔓延美國，美國已進入一個非常的時刻，川普總统宣告3/15/2020的主日爲
【全國禱告日】並呼召屬 神的儿女起来一起禱告，同心合意在這個日子爲美國認罪，求 神的赦免，回歸真神，並求 神賜下施恩懇求的靈，使美國在 神的面前蒙醫治得潔浄。在此關鍵時刻，我們眾教會也當一同響應，為此疫情迫切禱告（以下禱告文供參考），或許美國能再次經歴屬靈的復興。若有人站在破口防堵，若有人在兩造中代求……讓我們從3/15【全國禱告日】到5/31【全美禱告日】都充滿呼求的禱告，直到祂復興我們。

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1. 天父，目前新冠病毒在全球擴散，我們深知你是掌管宇宙萬物的真神，也是我們每一個人的天父。我們得罪了祢，為我們諸多罪孽向祢悔改，我們轉離我們的惡行，求祢以憐憫為念。
2. 願人都尊祢的名為聖。主啊，求你大能的手來施行拯救，斬斷一切病毒的來源，潔淨所有的污穢，醫治那些正被感染的人，止息疫情。求祢指引坐在死蔭幽谷的人，呼求祢得救援。
3. 願祢的國降臨，願祢的教會愛心見證，守望幫助，病得醫治，福音大能拯救。不能聚會時更寶貴聖徒相通，不能傳福音得救人更多。基督徒愛神愛人，在此彎曲黑暗世界，發光照耀。
4. 願祢的旨意通行，無論是潔淨教會，讓聖徒警醒禱告，教導我們把握時機傳福音見證基督。 無論是警醒世人，讓人可以回轉呼求，重視永生，重視家庭勝於筵樂，重視喜樂勝於娛樂。
5. 為今日所賜的糧食我們感謝讚美你！為各國有充足的物資代求，不讓饑餓和貧困乘著疫情侵襲全球。我們也為疫苗、測試劑與藥物之研發禱告，能迅速研發、供應。
6. 求主赦免我們的罪，因為它比病毒傳染性更強，一經沾染，除非寶血不能遏止。危害性更猛，會殺身體又殺靈魂。更求主讓我們也饒恕得罪我們的人，使我們心靈得自由。
7. 不叫我們遇見幸災樂禍的試探，囤積物資的試探，自私遺害四鄰的試探，貪生怕死的試探。也為醫務人員禱告，求你賜他們平安！求能分辨媒體網路的真實性，免除懼怕恐慌擔憂。
8. 救我們脫離失業的兇惡，患病的凶惡，驚惶失措的兇惡，茫然無所從的凶惡。當我們聚會敬拜主，或必須搭乘飛機，巴士時，或已經染病時，都求祢救我們脫離諸般的凶惡。
9. 國度永遠是祢的。新冠肺炎疫情蔓延全球，特別在美、中、韓、義、伊朗等國家，求祢在各國首領、官員心中動工，他們能做祢所喜悅的事，悔改呼求祢。
10. 權柄永遠是祢的。感謝耶穌勝過疾病死亡罪惡權勢，是復活之主！為華人悔改轉向基督晝夜代求，轉危為安，興起宣教中華！美國再次復興。洪水泛溢時，耶穌基督坐著為王！
11. 榮耀永遠是祢的。在此災難的盡頭，我們看見祢的榮耀，祢的美意，叫仇敵受羞辱，叫愛神的人得益處，叫教會被鍊淨，叫教會興起發光。祢得著最高的榮耀。
12. 阿們。我們向祢永遠說『是的，祢的美意本是如此』，沒有懷疑，沒有埋怨，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐，是的，是的，永遠向祢敬拜，誠心所願，祢是配得。

前美國華福總幹事
華人策略聯盟總幹事
主僕  李燕光牧師  敬上 2020/3/14   pastorlambertlee@gmail.com

US National Prayer Day

President Trump Declared 3/15/2020 as National Day of Prayer, Calling Americans to Pray
March 14, 2020

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ！

Recently, a U.S. Messianic rabbi (pastor) received a special charge from God, directing him to write a letter to President Trump, asking the President to call the nation to a day of repentance and prayer, to beseech the LORD to intervene in our national distress, from the rapid spread of COVID-19 virus epidemic to the economic crisis, and to heal our land, send revival to the churches and awakening to the communities. …… This servant of God obeyed the LORD and sent the letter containing what He revealed to the President. It is possible others may have encouraged the president as well.

On March 13th via Twitter, President Trump said,
“It is my great honor to declare Sunday, March 15th as a National Day of Prayer. We are a country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these. No matter where you may be, I encourage you to turn towards prayer in an act of faith. Together, we will easily PREVAIL!”

As a member of America’s National Prayer Committee since 1998, I implore all who read these words to set aside time on Sunday, March 15, 2020 and pray by yourself, or with family and like-minded prayer partners in a concert of prayer, repentance and intercession. Just as the people of Nineveh repented in response to the message of the Hebrew prophet, Jonah, about 2750 years ago, likewise, the LORD God is able to hear our prayers, forgive our sins, heal this land (2 Chron. 7:14), and send a mighty revival to the churches and a spiritual awakening to the 330 million+ souls who call the USA home!

May He grant us a spirit of grace and supplication (Zech. 12:10) in this hour of unprecedented need. Let us join hands and pray that all the people in this land will hear the gospel proclaimed, just as in the Early Church, with signs, wonders and miracles following, and that multitudes in the valley of decision (Joel 3:4) will place their faith and destiny in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for taking the time to pray. The future of our nation depends on our faith-filled obedience and actions “for such a time as this (Esther 4:14)!” And that time is NOW!

Standing in the gap (Ezek. 22:30) with you,
Rev. Martin Mei-ta Chow, member of America’s National Prayer Committee
President, Metawake Revival & Evangelism ©2020
PO Box 3371 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729-3371
(909)452-8484, metawake@outlook.com

 

 

撒母耳记上27:1-12

        在撒母耳记上27章里，从第一节经文中，神便向我们揭露了大卫内心的软弱：“必有一日我死在扫罗手里……”。大卫又一次的软弱，心中疑惑，没有相信仰赖神曾经对他的应许或是神借先知给他的指示，并且没有进一步寻求神的帮助和指引。虽然大卫好似忘记了神，但神依旧看顾大卫，神掌管迦特王亚吉的心，看顾保守着大卫。

        这里是大卫为了躲避扫罗王的追击，第二次逃往了非利士人的境地。
上一次在21章，大卫逃到那里时被迦特王亚吉认出并且被怀疑，不得不装疯卖傻，最后还是被驱逐逃往别处。
而这一次，神使亚吉王相信了大卫和扫罗敌对的处境，认为他已经叛出以色列，可以作为军事力量为自己所用，所以亚吉从扫罗手中庇护了大卫以及大卫随行的人，甚至赐予了他洗革拉为暂居的城邑。
如此，大卫获得了到扫罗驾崩为止的安居之地，而且得以远离非利士人独居一处，避开敌人对他们的监视以及异族风俗对他们的影响。

        第八节到第十二节，在这样投靠敌人的危难时刻，大卫还被亚吉王试探着他的“忠诚”。
大卫击杀以色列的敌人们，却含糊其辞地欺瞒亚吉王说他侵夺了自己的本族以色列，这实在是一件极其危险的举动。但神看顾保守大卫的心，使他在这种情况下也没有对同胞动刀枪，赐大卫以灭尽所有敌人的能力和胜利，并使亚吉相信他，使大卫的境遇稳固。

        “我的恩典够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。”（哥林多后书12:9）
在这样危难的情况，在大卫的软弱所带来的一系列后果中，唯有神的恩典和大能是恒久不变的，他看顾他所看顾的，怜悯他所拣选的。
我们和大卫一样都是时常软弱、时常忘记神的人。我们每日所成就的事情都不是因为我们自己的能力或小聪明，完全是神的恩典。在困境时，我们也时常忘记要相信等候神的作为。但就像大卫即将登上神为他预备的王位一样，神掌管我们的明天，我们所要做的只是相信、警醒、祷告并等候神。          —- Lucia Wang

撒母耳记上 26:1-25   灵修笔记

这时的扫罗王已经不再信靠神，他心里充满焦虑和猜忌，他时时担心大卫会夺取他的王位，所以对大卫穷追不舍。
相比之下，大卫却是敬畏信靠神的，就算神已经给了他报仇雪恨的机会，他却因相信扫罗王是耶和华所膏立的王而不肯下手害扫罗的性命。大卫对神的敬畏之心是值得我们学习的。

大卫信靠神，神也帮助大卫，神使扫罗和他的手下在征讨路上的夜间沉沉睡去，大卫和他的手下竟然能进入兵营如入无人之境，轻易拿走了扫罗的枪和水瓶。后来大卫又把枪和水瓶还给扫罗，并借机表明心迹，陈述他的冤情，此举感动了掃罗，扫罗不仅放弃了追杀大卫，而且为大卫祝福。

由此可见，我们敬畏神的人虽然也会遭遇逼迫和各种困境，但神绝不会撇弃我们，必然会给我们开一条道路。     —- Jinhua Yang

撒母耳是民族的属灵领袖。他一生都常常留心聆听，顺服耶和华。他离世以后，以色列人就失去了属灵的领神，直到大卫兴起作王之后。

撒母耳記上25:1-44

读完此章，我们看到三个很不同的人物

一是吝啬、势利、愚顽的拿八

拿八只看见自己今世的财富。因此，他自恃财物多，而刚愎凶恶，以至性情凶暴，无人敢与他说话。他连保护他，使他免受侵害的人都不知道，更不感恩。他自私，只顾眼前肉体的享乐。他粗暴地拒绝大卫的要求，不肯供给他那六百人的饮食。他也不认识神所膏立的王。他回答大卫的仆人说：“大卫是谁？耶西的儿子是谁？近来悖逆主人奔逃的仆人甚多，我岂可将饮食和为我剪羊毛之人所宰的肉，给我不知道从哪里来的人呢？”也许他认识大卫，却没有从灵里真认识大卫是神膏的以色列王，所以说这样轻视侮蔑的话。

二是贤淑、智慧，美丽的亚比该

亚比该从灵里认识大卫，撒母耳记上 25:30 “我主现在若不亲手报仇流无辜人的血，到了耶和华照所应许你的话赐福与你，立你作以色列的王，那时我主必不至心里不安，觉得良心有亏。耶和华赐福与我主的时候，求你记念婢女。” 亚比该看到大卫必作王，她的话既救了家人，又帮了大卫，也救了自己，何等看见，何等智慧。撒母耳记上 25:37 “到了早晨，拿八醒了酒，他的妻将这些事都告诉他，他就魂不附体，身僵如石头一般。” 在此节更看到亚比该的智慧和细腻，掌握好说话的时机。因为拿八醉了，所以亚比该一直等到天亮才把自己所做的事告诉他。她知道在他醉的时候向他陈说，他不可能明白，或者会作出粗暴的反应，或许她自己及家人都遭殃。 亚比该的顺服，当大卫派人来告知要娶亚比该为妻时，撒母耳记上 25:41 “亚比该就起来，俯伏在地，说，我情愿作婢女，洗我主仆人的脚。”

三是聆听妇人声音的大卫

当大卫听到忘恩负义的拿八讲的话时，就带上四百人带上刀准备杀了拿八家的所有男丁。可当他见到亚比该时并没有任意妄行而是静静聆听亚比该的陈情，从此息了杀气，既留下了拿八家其他男丁的性命也救了自己不在流血。撒母耳记上 25:34 “我指着阻止我加害于你的耶和华以色列永生的神起誓，你若不速速地来迎接我，到明日早晨，凡属拿八的男丁必定不留一个。”

从以上三个人物中我们学到在世该如何行事为人，学习亚比该的智慧，与别人，尤其是与自己家里的人讨论困难的问题时，找好适当时机。 求神赐智慧，好知道何时最宜于讨论具争议性的问题。也学习大卫聆听别人的心声，不管我们觉得自己怎样有理，总应当留心听别人解释，多花的时间与努力最后总不会徒然。在灵里要认识耶稣， 大卫预表受苦的主耶稣。愚昧人与智慧人的差别，在于其是否认识耶稣，并和主的关系如何。愿主一生带领我们紧紧跟随他。     —- Haiyue Nie

1 Samuel 24:1-22
Restraint toward Saul

Saul’s men returned from fighting the Philistines and pursued David once again.  Saul took 3,000 men with him to where David was staying in En Gedi.  When Saul unknowingly entered a cave where David was hiding with his men, David’s men saw this as an opportunity from God to deal with the enemy.   The men urged David to move up behind Saul and cut off a corner of his robe.

This may seem innocent to us today but to cut a king’s robe could be seen as open rebellion in David’s time.  David was troubled with guilt.  God guided David and he was conscience-stricken of the dishonor he had shown God and Saul.  He rebuked his men and would not allow them to attack Saul.

Saul’s men and David’s men had advised each one to kill the other.  Both groups felt they were right.  Both sought revenge.  Both were guilty of trying to make God’s Word fit with what they wanted.  God guided David to repent and do the next right thing.  David depended on God instead of taking matters into his own hands.  God guided David to be humble before Saul.  He used the piece of robe to show his loyalty.  All this convicted Saul.  Saul wept and confessed that David was more righteous than he and then returned to his home.

Like David, God is guiding us to full dependence on Him.  God’s guidance often begins with conviction of sin.  Will we humble our self  before God, turn from sin and ask for  His help to do the next right thing?  We can depend on God for the strength this will require.
Saul chose pride over peace with God.  But David learned to depend on God.  God was faithful to David.  He gave David strength and guidance in every situation.. We too must ask God to help us depend on Him.  Then we watch for His faithful provision of strength and guidance to show us the way through.

“Surely God is my help: the LORD is the one who sustains me”  Psalm 54:4
—- Mary Mauderer

1 Samuel 22:1-23;  23:1-29

David had gone through much turmoil in his life to the point he is now hiding in a cave   Many of his friends and family had found him and eventually there were 400 or so under his command
Later David was told by the prophet to return to Judah.  Davis most likely knew Saul was waiting and feared the outcome of his return but obeyed anyway
As we read through chapter 23, we see Saul searching for David and coming close but never did encounter his army.  Once just being separated by a mountain !   Then as Saul is about to bear down on David, he receives word that the Philistine army is attacking and he departs and ends his pursuit of David to defend against the Philistines

I have read some of the cross references to the Psalms that David wrote during this time.  Psalm 57 was written while he was hiding from Saul in the cave
“Have mercy on me, my God,  have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge”
Every time we see David in trouble, we see him cry out for God’s grace, for His mercy , for His protection, for his peace !  And we God has delivered him, David sings out his praises
” Be exalted, O God, above the heavens: let you glory be over the earth”
Can we be like David and learn to cry out for God’s mercy and grace.  Can we learn to trust him regardless of what is going on around us or who is in chase ?
As each of you read through these two chapters I encourage you to read Psalm 57 along with David
If you too find yourself hiding in a cave, cry out to Him for mercy and be obedient to his calling.

“I will praise you among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples”
—- Bill Burgan