Devotion
To the victor shares the spoils
David Jacobs
I used to follow sports fairly closely and always wondered what it would be like to win a championship on the highest stage. It would be such an honor to have all of your hard work rewarded. Some people would say that not every athlete deserves to say that they are champions, even if they are on a championship team. For example: if a player is injured for the majority of the games and the team goes on to win the championship, is he or she a champion? That player certainly would have wanted to play, but was unable due to injury. Some would perhaps put an asterisk next to their name, claiming that they are not a "true" champion.
King David approaches the town of Ziklag and quickly realizes the bad news: the town has been destroyed, ransacked, and people have been taken prisoners, including two of his wives (1 Samuel 30:1-3). The men weep until they can weep no more, but David remains confident. Similar to the story of Goliath, David remains steadfastly faithful, trusting God even when things look so bleak. 200 of his 600 men are unable to search for the Amalekites due to exhaustion, but David ventures out to search for the Amalekites, as well as return their belongings and especially, his wives.
They find and defeat the Amalekites, are reunited with their people and take back their belongings. The 400 men with David do not want to share the spoils of war with the 200 that were too tired to continue, but David chooses to be generous, because he knows that it was not he or them that provided, it was God. It is a great attitude to have in life and makes being generous so much easier: do not think that things are yours to be shared. God shares it with you. Remember the statute that David creates after this situation and share your spoils with your fellow man.
Prayer
When was the last time you gave back to society? When was the last time you were truly generous? If you are unable to quickly think of a time, make an effort when you can. Your actions will be repaid.
Devotion
Misrepresenting God
Frances Taylor
This passage is one I try very hard to take to heart. For over forty years, I have worked to bring the gospel message to children and adults alike. That is what I'm doing as I write this. It is so important that we don't misrepresent God to others. When someone tells me they don't believe in God, I wonder whose image of God they have been taught. When I was a child, it was common to hear that God was some policeman in the sky that was going to punish me for everything I did wrong. The idea of a loving, forgiving God was not taught as the norm. Ministers and other teachers of religion often spoke more of hellfire and damnation. It's no wonder that there are those who claim that God doesn't exist. On the other hand, there are those who taught that God was like Santa Claus, keeping track of our good deeds and rewarding us accordingly, or tracking our misdeeds and punishing us accordingly. Neither of these images of God are accurate. God is loving ...
Morning Prayer
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
Inspiration
Those in ancient Israel, as today and in all lands, who prey upon the poor and vulnerable, who pervert justice against them and deny them their rights, sin against God. His eyes see, his eyelids try the children of men, and nothing is done in secret where he does not know.
Prayer
Give me a heart of compassion, O Lord, for the weak and helpless, for the poverty stricken, for widows and orphans. And give me a righteous indignation against those who oppress them, pervert their justice, or deny their rights. Amen.
