Devotion
How the mighty have fallen … and sinned
David Jacobs
All living things must deal with death. Is killing another human ever justified? There are currently wars ongoing in several countries, many of them fight under the guise of religion. As violence and death spread, the grief of those that have survived leads to more violence and death. The vicious cycle is difficult to break and has been viewed countless times in history.
In these verses, we have two examples of a human killing another human. The first is from the messenger, who claims that he happened upon Saul who was about to die. He asks Saul what he should do, and Saul begs that he kill him to put him out of his misery. He does this, and when he relays this message to David and the Israelites, they are stricken with grief. The Amalekite did as Saul requested and ended Saul's pain. His action is with good intentions, but costs him his life.
David, filling with grief and emotion, asks the Amalekite why he would dare to kill the Lord's anointed, although Saul has disobeyed God and lost God's blessing (1 Samuel 15). Although David is one of the most beloved characters in the Bible, it is his emotional and human nature that makes him easy to empathize with. In his emotional state, David orders the Amalekite to be executed for killing Saul.
Although these verses are not of much significant later, they struck a nerve with me. The Amalekite did what the Lord's anointed, Saul, commanded of him by killing him. In my opinion, David sins, certainly not the first or last time that he will do so, murdering the Amalekite. His actions, which are certainly deplorable, are justified by his grief. His emotional state leads him to sin, forgetting the faithful service that has led him to the throne.
Prayer
Do you think either of these killings is justified? Which one do you think is more justified than the other? If you were the Amalekite, what would you have done? If you were David, how would you have acted?
Devotion
The Transfiguration
Frances Taylor
The feast of the Transfiguration is considered important enough to celebrate it twice a year, once on the second Sunday of Lent and today. In March, I concentrated on how Jesus reveals himself to us; today I would like to think about the apostles and their reaction and to what ours might have been. Peter tells Jesus that it was good for them to be there. The week before, Peter had declared that Jesus was the Christ, but had rejected the idea that he would suffer and die. When they come down from the mountain, Jesus will be approached to heal a boy whom the other disciples had failed to heal. Jesus was giving them a foretaste of the resurrection. They must have been amazed at Jesus as well as the appearance of Moses and Elijah. They wanted to stay there at the top of the mountain. They were enclosed in a cloud and heard the voice of God; of course they wanted to stay there! We can't stay at the top of the mountain any more than the apostles ...
Morning Prayer
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Inspiration
Without fear of Jehovah-God, there is not true wisdom. For when you see "LORD" in all capitals in the KJV, that is the translation of the Hebrew word for Jehovah. And there is not true understanding without a true knowledge of the Holy One undergirding it. If we are wrong about God, we are in all important respects, "wrong about everything. "
Prayer
You, O Great Jehovah, are the only true God, and without fearing and knowing about you, all other knowledge is made faulty. And without knowing you personally, pursuit of knowledge is futile and unable to help us. Let us not be like those who are "ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, " but let us delve ever deeper into your truths. Amen.
Night Prayer
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Inspiration
God planned our redemption from the very beginning. He explains that He is the only God and salvation is the only way to receive eternal life. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. We depend on His love and strength to overcome our sinful nature. He is our shelter, refuge, and perfect dwelling place. We accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and continue to grow closer to God each day.
Prayer
Dear Father, We are humbled in Your glory. Please forgive our sin, and guide us closer to You daily. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
