Day 99-11

VII The Reign of Saul - 1065-1025 B.C. ~ cont.

A. Events in Saul's reign prior to David's acceptance as king (35 years) ~ cont.

2. Confirmed as king

a. Victory over Ammonites at Jabesh-Gilead - 1 Samuel 11:1-14
b. Public acceptance at Gilgal - 1 Samuel 11:15
c. Defeats Hagarites - 1 Chronicles 5:10, 18-22
3. Samuel's instruction at Gilgal - 1 Samuel 12:1-25
4. First war with Philistines - 1 Samuel 13:1-7, 19-23
5. Saul's first rejection as king - 1 Samuel 13:8-18

{pages 435 - 439}

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.  (1 Samuel 11:6)

That phrase 'Spirit of God came upon' is only used 5 times.  Worth sharing:

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.  (Numbers 24:2)

I was pondering upon that...Balaam spoke the Word truthfully as it concerned Israel, but then turned around and tried to ensnare them with the Moabite women.  He eventually was slain by the sword...as was Saul.  If the Spirit of God came upon them, it would *appear* that they were chosen.  But were they?  Did they have eternal life?  Or where they just used of God for a season to bring about His desired plan?

And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.  (1 Samuel 10:10)

Again, prophetic utterances, but from a truly born again chosen vessel?

And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:   (2 Chronicles 15:1)

 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.  (2 Chronicles 24:20)

came - H1961 - A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary).  (Num 24:2, 2 Chron 15:1)

came - H6743 - A primitive root; to push forward, in various senses (literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively). (1 Sam 10:10, 11:6)

came - H3847 - A primitive root; properly wrap around, that is, (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively.  (2 Chron 24:20)

What is the difference between came upon versus filled with?

There are 9 verses which have the words filled and Holy Ghost:  John the Baptist ~ Elisabeth ~ Zacharias ~ those gathered together at Pentecost ~ Peter ~  Peter, John and their own company ~ Saul/Paul ~ disciples.

filled - G4130 - A prolonged form of a primary word πλέω pleō (which appears only as an alternate in certain tenses and in the reduplicated form of πίμπλημι pimplēmi to “fill” (literally or figuratively [imbue, influence, supply]); specifically to fulfil (time).

filled - G4137 - From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.

• G4134 - From G4130; replete, or covered over; by analogy complete.

With King Saul, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon him, but God also withdrew it...so not an eternal infilling/calling?  A temporary manifestation to work out Father's plan?  Was Saul 'chosen' of God for eternal life?  Or, like Balaam, given an outward ability to fulfill a temporary calling?

Perplexing...Lord, I do not grasp all of what I have pondered upon this day, nor completely comprehend the difference between 'the Spirit of God coming upon' someone versus the 'infilling of the Holy Ghost' beyond what I have postured thus far.  I know that You have an answer and will give me an understanding about it, in Your timing.

Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.  (1 Samuel 12:17)

Not being a farmer, I wondered about this passage.  It would seem that dry would be the preferred climate when harvesting wheat (or other grains) to keep them from mildew or mold.  Gill's commentary:

Is it not wheat harvest today?.... Of the time of wheat harvest; see Gill on 1Sa_6:13. Rain usually fell in Judea only twice a year, called the former and the latter rain; and from the seventeenth of Nisan or March, to the sixteenth of Marchesvan or October, it was not usual for rain to fall, and so not in harvest, at that time especially, see Pro_26:1. R. Joseph Kimchi says, in the land of Israel rain never fell all the days of harvest; and this is confirmed by Jerom, who lived long in those parts; who says (o), at the end of the month of June, and in the month of July, we never saw rain in those provinces, especially in Judea. And Samuel not only by putting this question would have them observe that it was the time of wheat harvest in general, but on that day in particular the men, were at work in the fields reaping the wheat, &c. and so was not cloudy, and inclining to rain, but all serene and clear, or otherwise they would not have been employed in cutting down the corn; all which made the following case the more remarkable: 


I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; in a miraculous and preternatural way, there being nothing in nature preparatory thereunto, and this purely at the prayer of Samuel: 


that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king; was attended with aggravated circumstances, and highly offensive to God, though he had gratified them in it, of which this violent storm would be an indication, and might serve to convince them of their folly, as well as of their wickedness, and that they had no need of a king, since Samuel their judge could do as much or more by his prayers than a king could do by his sword; and of which they had had sufficient proof before this, and that in the same way, 1Sa_7:10. 

I googled all the different ways to ask, but did not find a conclusive answer to my question.  I still wonder if it ravished the harvest?

Day 98-11

VI From the crossing into Canaan to the reign of Saul - 1422-1065 B.C. ~ cont.

C. Establishment of Judges ~ cont.

14. 14th Judge - Abdon (served 8 years) - Judges 12:13-15

a. Birth of Barzillai (2 Samuel 19:32)

b. Israel demands a king, ignores Samuel's counsel - 1 Samuel 8:1-22
c. Birth of Ish-Bosheth (2 Samuel 2:10)
VII The Reign of Saul - 1065-1025 B.C.
A. Events in Saul's reign prior to David's acceptance as king (35 years)
1. Saul becomes king
a. Chosen - 1 Samuel 9:2-27
b. Anointed and installed - 1 Samuel 10:1-27

{pages 431 - 435}

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.  (1 Samuel 8:1)

Samuel made...not God.  I thought that interesting.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.  (1 Samuel 8:3)

Even in very godly households children can and do show signs of apostasy.  It is hard when you have a child that does not desire to know and walk after the Lord, nor seek HIS ways.  The ultimate comfort comes from knowing that those whom God chooses will follow Him.  That our physical family does not always mean our spiritual family.  I am extremely thankful and humbled that HE gave me entrance into His family and continually draws me closer and gives me a desire to know Him more intimately and my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

For encouragement on the doctrine of election, a word search of choose, chose, chosen, elect, foreknowledge, foreordained, predestined, etc. would be extremely helpful.  Praying that those that Father has quickened with life will be encouraged to do a study on the same.

Back to Samuel and him choosing his sons, even though they were not quality individuals.

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.  (1 Samuel 8:5)

Which is an interesting verse, actually a fulfillment of a prophetic utterance by Moses:

When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.  (Deuteronomy 17:14-15)

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. (1Samuel 8:6-7)

Some of the requirements that a king would make upon the nation (from the passage in 1 Samuel):

Sons - he will appoint them for himself, his chariots, horsemen, runners.  Will make some of them captains, tillers of the ground, reapers of the harvest, war tool makers.

Daughters - confectionaries, cooks, bakers.

People - take fields, vineyards, oliveyards and give them to his servants.  Take the 10th of your seed, vineyards and give them to his officers and servants.  Take menservants, maidservants, livestock, and you (the people) will be his servants.

I wondered what the difference was between confectionaries, cooks and bakers:

confectionaries - H7548 - Feminine of H7547; a female perfumer.

• From H7543; a scented substance.
• H7543 - A primitive root; to perfume.

cooks - H2879 - Feminine of H2876; a female cook.

• H2876 - From H2873; properly a butcher; hence a lifeguardsman (because acting as executioner); also a cook (as usually slaughtering the animal for food).
• H2873 - A primitive root; to slaughter (animals or men).

bakers - H644 - A primitive root; to cook, especially to bake.

Father's conclusion which Samuel spoke?

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.  (1 Samuel 8:18)

Saul coming on the scene...searching for lost livestock, servant suggests seeking Samuel for assistance.

And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.  (1 Samuel 9:6)

My notes on the passage - a man with a reputation of honor.  I recently heard this exhortation:  Reputation is what people think about you, character is who you are when no one is looking.

Day 97-11

VI From the crossing into Canaan to the reign of Saul - 1422-1065 B.C. ~ cont.

C. Establishment of Judges ~ cont.

12. 12th Judge-Ibzan (served 7 years) - Judges 12:8-10

a. Samson and the Philistines - Judges 15:3-19; Judges 16:1-3
b. Saul's marriage and family - 1 Samuel 14:50, 49
c. Birth of Jonathan
13. 13th Judge - Elon (served 10 years) - Judges 12:11
a. Samson and Delilah - Judges 16:4-22
b. Death of Samson (52 years) - Judges 16:23-31
c. Revival at Mizpeh - 1 Samuel 7:3-8
d. Philistines defeated - 1 Samuel 7:9-14
e. Samuel's leadership - 1 Samuel 7:15-17

{pages 427- 431}

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.  (Judges 15:14)

I know I already camped on the phrase 'Spirit of the Lord' in another post...but it touches my heart and mind so greatly, and I take such comfort from rereading all those verses.  How God's wonderful Spirit moves upon someone and gives them the ability to do what they, in and of themselves, can or would not do.

So too with us, as we are filled with HIS Spirit upon our new birth...given a new heart, a passion and desire for knowing HIM and walking in the fullness of all that HE has ordained for us.  Being changed daily (hopefully) more and more into HIS image.  What a delight as He prepares us for our heavenly home.

*****deep sigh of anticipation*****

And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.  (1 Samuel 14:50)

Kissing cousins...okay, maybe not kissing cousins...Fighting Family?  I had forgotten that Abner was Saul's cousin.

Samson and Samuel seem to have overlapped with some other judges - that will make for an interesting study, later.

I liked Samuel's admonishment to Israel to put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth.  (1 Samuel 7:3)  Hmmm, where and how else is that phrase used, strange gods?

Jacob said it to his household (Genesis 35:2); Israel provoked God to jealousy (Deuteronomy 32:16); Joshua admonishes the people to not worship strange gods (Joshua 24:20); Israel put away strange gods (Judges 10:16); Samuel tells Israel to put away strange gods (1 Samuel 7:3); Asa took away the altars of the strange gods (2 Chronicles 14:3) as did Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:15); Jeremiah reminds the people that they served strange gods (Jeremiah 5:19); Paul was thought to be putting forth a strange god (Acts 17:18).

Ashtaroth?

H6252 - Plural of H6251; Ashtaroth, the name of a Sidonian deity, and of a place East of the Jordan.

• H6251 - Probably from H6238; increase.
• H6238 - A primitive root; properly to accumulate; chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively make) rich.

I found this article, Assyrian Mythology had some interesting tidbits to offer.  I particularly liked the information about the writer and who was a major influence in her life.

Ashtaroth was a pagan goddess, but also a place.

Ashtaroth is also Ishtar (Easter)...I am including some links (not previewed) for those who may want some additional information:

The True Origin of Easter ~ Did You Know? - Origins of Easter Found in the Bible ~ Easter

Do you believe/practice something because you know, have verified it from Scripture, or because of a denominational/family teaching?

Lord, help us, Your people to worship You in spirit and in truth.  Help us to dig into Your Word, desiring to know you more intimately.  Lord, help us when we are challenged with a tradition or a long held belief, to lay it alongside Your Word and be conformed to IT, rather than our own thoughts/ways.