Just as a musician can find it difficult to play when they feel the bandis not in sync, it can be painfully confusing when the actions andwords of God‘s people are out of sync with God. - P67
I remember timeswhen the un-Christlike
behavior of fellow believers nearly wreckedmy faith. - P67
I can only imagine what young King Saul felt when someof the people of Israel publicly derided him. But he wisely held hispeace, and God later worked a great victory through him against Is-rael‘s enemies. - P67
Are you weary and perplexed by the discord that sadlyexists in many Christian communities? Fill your ears and your heartwith God‘s Word. - P67
Focus on His voice above all the noise and you willcontinue to live in sync with Him. - P67
Jesus, You have clothed me in Your righteousness and given me YourSprit,who dwells in me. - P67
Help me to represent the greatness of Your name to thosearound me so that they will stand in awe of You. In Your name, amen. - P67
Dagon was in the in the form of a fish from the waist down, hence the name,
and in the form of a man from the waist up. One must note that the LXX [theGreek Old Testament] mentions both hand and feet. - P17
Some scholars still insist that this merman image, half-man and half-fish, is asecondary aspect to this god of the Philistines. The Philistines were a powerfulpart of the invasion of the "Sea Peoples" who swept through the Eastern endof the Mediterranean basin ca. 1200 BC. Therefore, a god with aquatic aspectscould prove to be an important part of their pantheon. - P17
Overall, Dagon is represented somewhat differently than other gods in thebook of Judges. This is because he is linked to the Philistines-who seemed tohave adopted Dagon very early one of the most hated enemies of YHWHand Israel. The Philistines represented a more menacing type of threat thanthe local Canaanites who had inhabited the Promised Land. - P17
With their political and military
organization, the Philistines were a viable threat to wipe outIsrael and thwart complete possession of the land. Their importance is fullyseen in that, according to 2 Samuel 5, their defeat was a key to the establish-ment of Davidic power. - P17
The tensions between Israel and Philistia began withSamson, encompassed the careers of Samuel and Saul, and ended with David.
- P17
Therefore, based on Dagon‘s long Semitic history and his connection with thePhilistines, it is quite understandable that Dagon should be remembered insuch detail by the biblical authors. - P17
2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I will make atreaty with you only on the condition that I gouge outthe right eye of every one of you and so bring disgraceon all Israel." - P68
6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God camepowerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. - P69
11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;
during the last watch of the night they broke intothe camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them untilthe heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered,
so that no two of them were left together. - P70
15 So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul kingin the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed fel-lowship offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all theIsraelites held a great celebration. - P71
Nahash the Ammonite besieges Jabesh Gilead, and the elders of Jabesh sendmessengers throughout Israel asking for salvation. - P69
Moved by the Spirit of God,
Saul slaughters two oxen and sends the pieces throughout Israel, declaringthat this will be done to the oxen of those who do not follow Saul and Samuel.
- P69
Saul and his men defeat the Ammonites, and Saul is made king at Gilgal. - P69
Saul faces his first major challenge after being proclaimed king. - P72
But it isworth remembering that not everyone is on board with Saul‘s appoint-ment, there are some who doubt him. - P72
At this pivotal moment, Nahashthe Ammonite enters the scene and is looking to make trouble for Israelas he gives the men of Jabesh an outrageous ultimatum. - P72
How will thenewly appointed king respond? Saul burns with righteous anger againstthis enemy of God‘s people, and he gathers an army of over three hundred thousand. - P72
This is a very different Saul from the man who hid fromSamuel. When the Lord calls His servants to a task, He will equip themboth spiritually and physically to carry out that calling. - P72
Having proven his ability to conduct a successful militarycampaign against the nation‘s enemy, Saul gains the support of all thepeople. - P72
He acknowledges that it is the Lord who rescued Israel on thisday, and to celebrate this occasion, Samuel invites all the people torenew Saul‘s kingship and to worship the Lord at Gilgal. - P72
When God‘sservants focus on God‘s kingdom and His righteousness, blessings over-flow into other areas of life. - P72
Following the will of God will always leadto our gain and the joy of others. - P72
Father, You have never left me alone but have given me Your very Spirit to helpand to guide me. - P72
I give You praise for You are good! Now, use my life as a meansfor others to taste and see Your goodness. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P72
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