Saul, the first king of Israel, looked good on the outside. He was a tall, handsome young man. But although he looked the part, his character flaws surfaced as he lived for the approval of others rather than the Lord. As Saul’s fame spread, he lost sight of who God had called him to be. In order to stay balanced, king Saul should have learned what we all need to learn: that our value, our worth, our true purpose is from God. Putting confidence in the flesh, our appearance, titles, positions or past victories – anything other than God – we too run the risk of spiraling down.
Balance
May 14, 2017
May 14, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
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What Men What More of and Their Struggles
June 18, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
Solomon started out well when he first became king of Israel. Solomon honestly acknowledged his inexperience in leading God’s chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they could not be counted. So when God appeared to him at Gibeon in a dream and asked the young ruler: “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you” (1 Kings 3:5), Solomon asked for wisdom. The Lord was pleased to answer his request. Not only did God give Solomon wisdom to lead, He gave him much more. In fact, no king in all the world could be compared to him.
Respect
June 11, 2017 • Trent Jones
Toward the end of David’s reign, David commanded a census be taken of God’s people. It took his commander, Joab, nine months and twenty days to complete the pain-staking task of counting the number of capable warriors ‘from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south’. David wanted to know how many were in Israel and he found out that he had over a million capable men ready for war. “But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him” (2 Samuel 24:10a). Why was David convicted? At one point, David himself penned these words: “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). Why was David now seeking numerical figures when the Lord alone deserved his focus? David didn’t need to count on a mighty army to defeat the Lord’s battles. He knew that God had given him the victory in the fiercest of times. Like David, in our quest for more, we sometimes forget that everything we have achieved, accomplished, and yes, avoided is because of God’s mercy and power.
Fulfillment
June 4, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
David was a warrior with a shepherd’s heart. Because he was a strong leader, he attracted valiant men to fight the Lord’s battles. Second Samuel 23:8-39 names the “Three” and the “Thirty” –mighty men who specifically fought alongside king David in fiercest times. These verses give a few examples of their heroic feats and exploits. We must remember that although the Lord had given Israel this land, they were surrounded by enemy nations, and the threat of occupation was nearly constant.