Thursday, May 9, 2019

Thursday, May 9

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines." 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel's behalf, and the Lord answered him.

10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."

13 So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel's territory. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

(1 Samuel 7:7-14)


Today, we encounter God's miraculous intervention on behalf of humble people whose needs only He can fulfill.  From these accounts, we understand how deeply God cares for His people and our submittedness to Him unlocks His power.

In the case of the Israelites and the Philistines, the Philistines captured the ark of the Lord, only to realize that God's wrathful power stood in opposition to their plans.  First, their god Dagon faced this power encounter; later, several towns discover their vulnerability before the only righteous God.  The Philistines wisely send the ark back to Israel, recognizing that they do not stand to benefit from keeping it.

With the return of the ark, Samuel takes the mantle of leadership and calls the people back to the Lord.  Israel faced a severe military threat from the Philistines, but God intervened through powerful miracles to preserve His people.  This intervention came as a result, it appears, of (1) God's care, (2) the people's need, and (3) their humility, expressed through prayer.  John 15:7,8; James 4:2,3; and 1 John 5:14,15 point out that God desires to answer prayer—that we will not have if we do not ask.  Yet, we can expect to receive if we ask for God's help in accordance with God's will.

Crucially, Samuel then remembers God's intervention with the stone named Ebenezer:  "Thus far has the Lord helped us."  This physical reminder encourages an upward-focused mindset and reinforces God's goodness among the people.

In the John 6 passage, we follow Jesus's feeding of the Five Thousand:  His multiplication of limited resources.  Crucially, the disciples participate in the distribution and end up collecting 12 basketfuls of leftover bread; from this, we gather that God desires to provide for those who minister before Him.

I would like to underscore that Jesus often speaks in terms of multiplication, not addition.  He indicates that those who are submitted to Him will multiply 30, 60, or 100 times.  Clearly, the feeding of the Five Thousand included such a multiplication.  Yet, many times, we sell short on God's multiplicative power.  In reflecting on this shortcoming for myself, I must admit that I fail to ask and to believe God for great things.  This faulty attitude contradicts the testimony of both Scripture and my own life.  Would you join me in praying for God's multiplicative power in our walks and for Grace Church today?


Lord God, thank You that Your power multiplies what little we have or supplies fresh power from Your heavenly storehouses.  We need this power poured out today.  There are many who are struggling without hope because they don't know You.  Even those who know You may be missing out on the fullness and abundance of the life You desire to live out through us.  Humble us before You and sharpen our desires to seek after what You would have for us.  Give us a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit so that we may glorify You today.  In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.

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