Today's Treasure:
"Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling"
1 Samuel 25:29
I owe you all an apology...I am just now typing Friday's lesson because it has been a long weekend for us. Of all weeks for my child to get sick...it happened this weekend when I couldn't cuddle with him or anything. He came down with strep throat, and we have been trying to stay on top of cleaning everything so that I don't get sick. Then, yesterday I went and had all of my hair cut off because it was falling out a good bit. Rather than trying to prolong the inevitable, I decided to face it head on. I have to tell you that it was much more emotional than I ever dreamed it would be. Right now, it is very difficult for me to look at myself, but I will get used to it. It's all part of the process. I just thank God that cutting my hair is my biggest obstacle right now. It seems too wonderful to imagine that my cancer is responding to the chemo as well as it is. Please continue to pray that my white blood cells climb so I can "kick some cancer booty" on Wednesday!!! I tested my body's pH yesterday, and I am remaining in a very alkaline state. I have read a good bit of research that shows what a difficult time cancer has growing in an alkaline environment. Fresh fruits and veggies keep your body out of the acidic state. So, the key is to keep your body balanced (but on the alkaline end of the spectrum).
I also wanted to let all of you know that they are having a prayer vigil for Scott Jones at Forest Pointe Church on Wednesday the 14th. I will let you know the details as the day gets closer. We are just praying that a kidney is found for him soon. We will be at Duke on Wednesday, but our love and prayers will be with Scott. Also, Edith visited Duke on Monday, and they have two trial treatments that they may be able to offer her. Both have had great results. So, let's continue to pray that the doors will be opened for her to participate.
Now...let's get to the study. I have to tell you that this study confused me somewhat, and I was kind of left wondering what was going on. So, I don't feel real confident sharing all of my answers. So, please take time to consider how you would answer the questions. This was one day that things just didn't jump out at me.
Read 1 Samuel 25: 1 - 22
The first verse records the death of Samuel. Based on our study of this fascinating man, offer several reasons why you believe his death was a tremendous loss to Israel...
I know that Samuel loved the Lord with all of his heart. He devoted his life to doing the work of the Lord and longed to please the Lord. God chose him to anoint two king of Israel that we have studied, Saul and David. To me, Samuel was a physical reminder of the strength and power of the Lord.
Contrast Nabal and Abigail according to verse 2 and 3
Abigail was intelligent and beautiful. Nabal was surly and mean
Which one of the following paraphrases best describes Nabal's response to David's request?
Why should I?
David obviously did not have the same patience with Nabal that he had with "the Lord's anointed". How did he plan to respond to Nabal's rudeness?
Slay every male in Nabal's family
Read 1 Samuel 25: 23 - 44
Which of the following statements describe her successful approach?
She asked that Nabal's blame be on her
She offered supplies to David as a gift.
She encouraged David to keep a clean conscience
She reminded David that God would avenge his enemies
Thinking back on David's first claim to fame in the nation of Israel, what do you think Abigail might have been trying to accomplish when she used the terminology, "But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling"?
She is reminding David that the Lord helped him slay Goliath (his enemy). The Lord avenged his enemy by allowing David to slay him with a simple stone cast from his sling. This could not have been done without the power of the Lord.
Try to put yourself in Abigail's position. How do you think Abigail might have felt when she returned home to a party and a drunken husband?
I am sure she felt unappreciated because she has just saved her husband's life and he is at home having a party
In the space below write a brief obituary for Nabal that might have appeared in the Moan Morning Herald.
I will let you have fun with this one!!!
In verse 39, David records a wonderful lesson for any of us dealing with wicked, dreadful people, whether in business or in personal relationships. Have you ever dealt with anyone who was "surly and mean"?
Yes, yes, yes
Do you see any principles in 1 Samuel 25: 39 that could be applied in future dealings with difficult people?
The Lord will handle the wrongdoings of wicked people in His own time. If we are patient, He will reveal the evils of others without us having to carry the burden of knowing we have sinned out of a need for revenge.
Not all stories have happy endings, but this one certainly does! Describe what happens to Abigail
Nabal dies, and David sends word to her that he wants her to become his wife...even though he already has another wife.
So, Beth now takes a few moments to deal with the fact that this is not a good idea (to have more than one wife)
Read Deuteronomy 17: 14 - 20
Why were kings told not to multiply wives?
Because the kings heart will be led astray from what he is to truly focus on. His focus should always be on the word of the Lord and keeping his commandments so he can reign many years as king.
According to verses 18 and 19, now did God insure that each king would consider his specific commands?
The king is to write (himself) a copy of the law outlined in the scripture taken from the Levites. He is to read it every day of his life so that he will keep the Lords commandments and learn to honor the Lord. He is to follow all the words of the law.
Unfortunately, we can now see that trouble is on its way. By the scripture above, we know that David's heart will be led astray because he has broken the command to only have one wife.
Let's look forward to beginning week 4 together. My how time flies!!!
I hope you are all having as much fun with this as I am...
love you all!
Tiffany
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