Main Verse: 1 Samuel 12

Good morning!

            After the massacre of the Ammonites, Samuel called the people to go to Gilgal to anoint the 1^st King of Israel. Gilgal was where Joshua and the Israelites first camped after crossing the river (Joshua 4:19-20); it was here where the first Passover was held in Canaan, renewed the right of circumcision, and the reading of the Law; so, it was the place of “New Beginnings” or a fresh start. Samuel asked the people if he had done anything wrong consciously or unconsciously that compelled the people to ask for a King and the answer was, “No, you have done nothing wrong”. The Lord had been the nation’s King from the day they left Egypt to the day they asked for an earthly king; looking back on the victories the country experienced, the fear and anxiety the people dreaded was unmerited. This was the nation’s last chance to change their minds before the King was anointed. That day, the entire country was present and had the opportunity to voice their vote, but their silence voiced consent so, the decision was final and could not be revoked (Numbers 30:3-15).

            In his poem “The Walrus and the Carpenter”, the writer presents two main characters, the heartless soulless Walrus and the Naïve Carpenter; the goal was to talk the oysters into joining them on their journey. The Carpenter was under the delusion that he was in charge not realizing that he was the Walrus’ stooge. The eldest oyster warned the young not to follow the ill-fated voyage, but they got caught up in the fanfare to their demise. Walruses eat oysters and that was the reason for inviting the oysters (Lewis Carol). In the same way, the enemy of our soul presents a fantastic voyage mixed with logic and scripture to get us to follow him despite what the Eldest Oyster the “Lord Jesus” has to say about it (Matthew 7:15-20, John 10:10, and Proverbs 7:6-23 “Case of the Young man and the Prostitute). The one question the oysters did not ask, and we usually fail to ask, is, “Why are you doing this, and who is your boss?”. My encouragement for you today is that you will carefully consider what you are about to do (Acts 5:37-40). Second, ask “Why” when you are faced with difficult decisions and review the Lord’s precepts and laws direct you. The enemy of our soul will get us to focus on the unimportant and nonsensical things like, “my feelings, hurts, and/or needs” and stays away from the important things like, “The family’s welfare, the needs of the family, and the end objective”.

Remember this, the enemy is a master when it comes to scripture and can twist it to fit his objective(s). Always keep scripture in context and, at all costs, ask the Holy Spirit for direction.

I.H.S. MK

Father,

Thank you for Your Word and warnings. Please help me today to always heed what You and Your Word say is right and just. Please help me today to listen for that still small voice of the Lord in every situation that confronts me. You have great desires for the life of mankind but will we listen or ignore it? My choice is to listen to you and never give up even in dire situations.

In Jesus’ Name