Daily Dose of Hope

August 12, 2024

Day 2 of Week 20

Scripture:  1 Chronicles 14-16; Acts 24

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  Happy Monday!  Today is also the first day of school for Hillsborough County so please keep the students, parents, teachers, school bus drivers, and all school personnel in your prayers today. 

Our Old Testament reading today is from I Chronicles.  In chapter 14, we read about David and his army thoroughly defeating the Philistines.  But notice that before David even attempts to go to war, he inquires of the Lord.  David may be king of Israel but God is still God.  Israel is living in covenant with God.  If they follow the law and obey the Lord, then they will be blessed.  If they don’t follow the law and disobey, then things will go south very quickly.  We saw that with Saul.  David is trying to do it right.

Today’s important question:  When you have a big decision, do you inquire of the Lord?  I think this is such a valuable model. 

In chapters 15-16, David creates a tent to house the ark of the covenant and this time he is going to do this right as well.  No sketchy ox carts.  He is going to have the Levites carry the ark on their shoulders as God requires.  There are many preparations among the Levites to ensure this is done well.  The musicians play, there is joy and dancing.  And at the end of chapter 15, we get one line about Michal watching the celebrations from the palace window, enraged at her husband.

You can definitely see the difference here between I Chronicles and 2 Kings.  I Chronicles, because it was written from more of a priestly perspective, spends a lot of time on the logistics of the ark transport.  We have a list of Levites who were part of it and how they were chosen.  We have a description of who participated among the priests.  We have a long song of praise in chapter 16.  2 Kings, on the other hand, was more about the relationship dynamics.  We had a whole chapter about Michal’s disgust at David when he sang and danced in his linen undergarment.  These books cover the same story but from vastly different perspectives.  For us, I think it adds validity – there is actually very little variance from one book to the next. 

Our New Testament passage today is Acts 24.  The case against Paul was presented by an attorney named Tertullus before the governor Felix.  When he finished accusing Paul of stirring up trouble and desecrating the temple, Paul boldly defends himself.  Up until this point, Paul has been found guilty of nothing.  It’s seems obvious that Felix can find no fault as well, but he is hesitant to release Paul.  He goes and visits him with his wife to learn more.  When Paul begins to speak of righteousness (some translations say justice), self-control, and the judgement to come, Felix becomes afraid and stops the conversation.  That’s because these were things with which Felix struggled.  He was known for his human rights abuses and injustices, he was known for his lust and lack of self-control, and he had every right to be afraid of the judgment to come. 

Sometimes, people are curious about the Gospel and may even feel convicted, but when it comes down to it, they aren’t willing to turn to Jesus.  We have no evidence that Felix ever became a believer in Jesus but I like to think that his meetings with Paul were acts of prevenient grace, God at work in the life of Felix before he ever knew it.  I try to remind myself of that when I speak to people about faith.  They may not make a commitment to Christ right now, but seeds have been planted.  God will keep seeking them, wooing them toward him.  God’s not done with anyone yet.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 11, 2024

Day 1 of Week 20

Scripture:  2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; Psalm 60; Acts 23

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope.  We are starting on week 20 today!  Let’s get right into our Scripture.

Our Old Testament reading starts with 2 Samuel 6.  As the ark made its way into Jerusalem at last, there was much celebration among all the people.  David danced and sang.  The people rejoiced.  All except Michal, daughter of Saul and David’s first wife.  We don’t know why she wasn’t present at the celebration (other women were there) but she chose to watch from a palace window.  She sees her husband, the king, joyfully celebrating and dancing, in his linen undergarment. You can kind of picture her in the window, seething with anger.  Michal confronts David when he arrives home, angry with him and suggesting his leaping and dancing in a half-dressed state had more to do with sexually impressing the slave girls.  David replies that his dancing was not for anyone but God.  He simply could not contain his joy before the Lord and he would do even more undignified things if needed to praise God.

A couple of thoughts here. First, David was certainly covered enough to be in compliance with Torah.  He was wearing a linen undergarment so he wasn’t provocative or suggestive.  Just wanted to clear that up.  Second, Michal’s disapproval had more to do with her own feelings toward God than David’s behavior.  Something had obviously happened in the time she was separated from David; a wedge had developed in her relationship with God.  There were many pagan influences all around her in Saul’s household.  Now, we see underlying bitterness and danger.  She described herself as a “daughter of Saul” rather than a “wife of David.”

Sometimes, without us really even being aware of it, we can find ourselves drifting from God.  Maybe we are angry with God over life circumstances.  Maybe we struggle with doubt. Maybe we are wrestling with our own disobedience.  Whatever it is, we all have been Michal.  Evaluate your own heart right now.  How is your soul?  Where are you with God?  What kinds of business do you need to take care of with God today to ensure you walk closer to God rather than farther away.

Let’s remember that the ark of the covenant was gravely neglected during the time of King Saul.  In 1 Chronicles 13, David is determined to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem.  The Ark was transported on an ox cart driven by two men, Uzzah and Ahio.  As the cart went down the road, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark.  God struck Uzzah dead, because no one was allowed to touch the Ark of the Covenant.  This definitely kills the mood and instills fear in everyone, including King David.  They decide not to bring the ark all the way to Jerusalem and it stayed in the home of a man named Obed-edom for three months.  During those three months, Obed and his family were greatly blessed.

Okay, you guys, this is one of those Scriptures that is a struggle for me.  Poor Uzzah didn’t want the ark to hit the ground and it was probably just a reflex to reach out and catch the ark.  But God had given very specific instructions to Moses and Aaron for transporting the ark.  David never should have brought his men with him to transport it, nor should it have been put on an ox cart.  It was supposed to be carried by the Levites only on their shoulders.  When we think about it, David was clearly in the wrong here too. 

I know we don’t think about it much, but the ark of the covenant was holy because it housed the presence of a holy God.  There should be both reverence and obedience when dealing with the ark.  Any kind of short-cuts or flippancy would not be tolerated, as we saw in today’s Scripture.

Let’s move on to the New Testament reading, Acts 23.  Early on in this chapter, we find Paul speaking before the high council and things aren't going well.  He gets slapped by the high priest and there is violent disagreement on the council how to deal with him.  The discord is so bad that Paul actually has to leave the location.  Paul's fate seems uncertain at best.  And then, when all seems lost, God speaks clearly to Paul, telling him to be encouraged, for this would not be the end; he would carry the message of the Gospel all the way to Rome!

I read this chapter and it immediately brought to mind what Paul himself writes in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."  Paul has been through so much at this point, including fear, extreme discomfort, and physical pain.  He probably thought Jerusalem was going to be the end for him and he was at peace with that.  But God had something else in mind.  God wanted to use Paul's bold witness to bring the Gospel further, to higher levels of government, so that more could believe.  What seems like desperate times to humans, God can redeem for his own purposes.

What has God redeemed in your life?  I know that in the midst of dire circumstances, it is often difficult to see God at work.  But later, when we have perspective, we can see how God took what was dark and ugly and brought something good from it.  I should say that bringing something good out of a painful situation doesn't mean fixing it for us but rather demonstrating his glory. This is sometimes hard for us to wrap our human brains around. I think it takes lots of prayer and lots of trust.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 8, 2024

Day 5 of Week 19

Scripture:  2 Sam 3-5; 1 Chronicles 12; Psalm 122; Acts 22

Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements our Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  I do hope today’s devotional finds you doing well.  Keep me posted on your learnings and how God is speaking to you through the text. 

Let’s get started with 2 Samuel.  The warring between the house of Saul and house of David is continuing.  While David is attempting a peace with Abner, those around him are spending a lot of time trying to avenge various individuals’ deaths.  It feels like mayhem as we read chapters 3 and 4.  So and so wants to kill so and so.  This person feels like they should kill this guy to avenge a brother or friend or just to prove themselves.  It’s ugly.  They need strong leadership.  They need David as king over Israel.

With the last sons of Saul slain in chapter 4, there is no longer any plausible opposition to David as king.  David certainly had all the credentials: he was a military leader and victor, he had the respect of the people, and the prophecy pointed to him.  The elders would have known all these things so it was time to make it official.  This had been a long time coming!

Think of the years in which David was on the run, living in foreign lands, unsure of how and when God would allow him to be king.  But David trusted God and the time is now.  One other important point here is that David, as ruler, would shepherd the people.  He didn’t own the people.  He didn’t lord over the people. He was God’s chosen human being to rule God’s people. The nation of Israel still belonged to God and David understood this. As such, David made a covenant with the elders before the Lord and he was anointed king.  This would have been a religious ceremony as much as a political one.  We know that as long as God is with David, he will be blessed and in turn, the people will be blessed.

As I reflect on David’s experience, I wonder how many of us have had similar experiences.  I’m guessing none of us have been on the run from people who sought to kill us.  But we have walked through dark seasons of life, knowing that God is with us but unsure of how or when our situation is going to get better.  In those seasons, we simply have to make the decision to trust, as David did.  Like so may things in life, trusting God is certainly a decision, not a feeling. 

I Chronicles 12 tells us about the men who joined David’s army at Hebron.  From every tribe, men came to declare their allegiance to David.  And since it’s Chronicles, and we know the author of Chronicles loves lists, we have a list of all the men who joined David, wanting to ensure he was king over all of Israel.

Our New Testament passage for today is Acts 22.  The scholars have mixed opinions on how being a Roman citizen in that day and time determined one's treatment by governing authorities.  Certainly, in Paul's case, it kept him from being lynched and then flogged.  In fact, the commander seems frightened when he finds out that the man he is about to whip is a Roman citizen by birth.  (I would have hated to see what they did to the non-citizens. It was a brutal world.). But one thing Paul could not get out of was being sent before the Jewish high council.  

I'm sure the Roman commander would be relieved to send Paul to the Jewish leaders.  Let them be the ones faced with the repercussions of dealing with such a controversial figure.  What will it mean for Paul to go before the high council?  The council, also referred to as the Sanhedrin, was led by the high priest and consisted of Pharisees and Sadducees. This group had broad authority, overseeing criminal, civil, and religious cases.  This was a group that would not be sympathetic to Paul.  Part of their role was to discern when the Messiah returned and they clearly did not think Jesus was it.  Hearing Paul preaching Jesus as Lord would be deemed blasphemous.

Will their distain keep Paul silent or make him soften his message?  I think we can all guess that the answer is no!  Paul is resolute in what God has called him to do.  No amount of persecution, oppression, or intimidation will keep him from teaching about Jesus.  So our question for the day-what keeps us from speaking boldly about Jesus? 

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 7, 2024

Day 4 of Week 19

Scripture:  2 Sam 1-2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 96, 106; Acts 21

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan.

Let’s switch things up a bit and start with our New Testament passage, Acts 21.  I have to admit, I struggle with this chapter.  Paul is being warned repeatedly by believers, those who have the gift of prophecy, that he should not go on to Jerusalem because it is dangerous for him.  Paul has experienced persecution and danger, but what is waiting for him in Jerusalem could certainly be the worst yet. And yet, he insists upon going.  Was he ignoring warnings from the Holy Spirit or simply determined to courageously carry out what God called him to do? 

Now, most of us will never, ever encounter the kind of resistance and persecution that Paul is experiencing.  But how often have we felt the strong call of God in a particular area and then felt dissuaded by our Christians brothers and sisters to carry it out?  So often, I think people react to our plans more out of fear for us and/or how our lives might be disrupted than from clear guidance from God.  (There are certainly exceptions but I wonder how people's reactions might be different if we asked them to go home and pray about it specifically and diligently for a week.)  Paul clearly felt God had called him to return to Jerusalem, minister to the Jews and Gentiles there, and face the authorities, so that God's Word could be preached to the powers that be no matter the consequences.  Wow, just wow.

Now, we start 2 Samuel.  Certainly, the relationship between Saul and David was complex.  Rather than rejoice in Saul’s death, David mourns.  He seems angry at the young Amalekite who kills Saul, putting him out of his misery.  David actually seems to lash out in grief and anger as he orders the young man’s death.  Then, the first chapter ends with a lament.   Rather than a royal coronation with lots of fanfare, David grieves. 

After Saul’s death, David does not rush back to Israel to claim the throne.  Rather, he inquires of God what his next move should be, a great model for all of us.  God tells him to head to Hebron in Judah.  It’s there that David is crowned king by the elders of Judah.  But I hope you noted that David was not king over all of Israel.  Rather, Saul’s commander and cousin, Abner, appointed one of Saul’s sons, Ishbosheth, to be king.  We have no other mention of Ishbosheth as one of Saul’s sons.  Most likely, he was born out of wedlock and not considered legitimate.  Regardless, this was a calculated choice for Abner, who could allow Ishbosheth to sit on the throne while he was actually the real power behind a very weak king.

But Ishbosheth was not God’s anointed.  That would have been David.  Thus, David allows him to sit on Israel’s throne for two years while David stayed in Judah.  That doesn’t mean there weren’t skirmishes though.  We see that in the last half of the chapter.  Thus begins the on-going war between the house of Saul and the house of David.  More on this tomorrow.

In 1 Chronicles 11, we are fast-forwarding a bit.  The author here doesn’t provide a lot of the warring details between the house of Saul and the house of David.  Rather, he jumps right to when David becomes king over all of Israel.  This is what God had said would happen.  It took some time, there was a lot of warfare and heartache, but it came to pass in God’s timing.

How many of us really struggle with God’s timing?  I know I have at times.  We pray, pray, and pray some more; sometimes we even beg God to intervene in certain circumstances.  Sometimes, God answers immediately.  Other times, it’s a waiting game.  Think of everything that David went through before he became king of Israel.  Some of his experiences were horrific!  And yet, God brought him through it.  But God did something powerful in him during those dark times.  How many of us could say the same thing?  God always answers prayers, just not always in the way we want or in the timing we want. 

I’m not going to talk about the psalms but do read through them.  They speak of God’s glory and God’s goodness.  You may recognize some of the lines as being part of hymns and praise songs that we still sing today.  If you are feeling adventurous, try singing one of these psalms, remembering that your voice is a beautiful sound to the Lord.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 6, 2024

Day 3 of Week 19

Scripture:  I Samuel 30-31; I Chronicles 10; Acts 20

Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, on this very wet day.  If anyone in the Brandon area is in need of storm assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any New Hope staff person.  Let’s get into our Scripture for today.

We begin, once again, with I Samuel.  In chapter 30, we read about how when David and his men were away with the armies of the Philistines, the Amalekites took advantage of their absence.  They plundered the town of Ziklag, stealing all the livestock and kidnapping the women and children.  Understandably, the men were beyond despair and some blamed David and even spoke about possibly stoning him.  It was really, really bad.  David inquired of the Lord who told him he would be victorious if he were to pursue the Amalekites and the women and children they kidnapped.  So they did just that.

They were successful.  They recovered everything.  Every single Hebrew woman, boy, and girl was recovered and returned to their family.  David and his men also took all the livestock, the flocks and herds, and divided it among all his men and the elders.  The Lord was with David and his men. The ending could have been much different.  Not only did God guide David every step of the way but he protected the women and children who were kidnapped.  I love how the Scripture very specifically states, “Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else taken...”  Every life was valuable and every life was recovered.

I just want to stop here and say that God values human life.  Sometimes, we struggle with some of the Old Testament violence and death.  But overall, throughout the whole Biblical narrative, we see how God values his creation.  He cares about his people but he also cares about all people.  Jesus demonstrated this with the way he dined with the outcast, touched the leper, and loved everyone.  And because God loves every single person, so should we. 

Chapter 31 details the Philistine conquest of the army of Israel.  The Philistines didn’t simply want to defeat Saul’s forces, they wanted to do lasting damage.  Saul ends up critically injured, his sons are killed, and the Hebrew army is largely annihilated.  In the ancient Near East, wounded soldiers were often mutilated and tortured on the battlefield by the enemy army.  Saul knew this and wanted to avoid allowing the uncircumcised pagans from humiliating and torturing him. After his armor-bearer refused to kill him, Saul falls on his own sword.  The armor-bearer then follows suit.

Less than twenty-four hours after Saul’s meeting with the medium, the prophet Samuel’s words in chapter 28 have come to pass, “The LORD will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.  The LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”  What God had said would happen has happened.  The dynasty of Saul has finally ended.  More on this when we get to II Samuel!

Now, let’s take some time to talk about I Chronicles 10.  It tells the same story as I Samuel 31 about Saul’s army being defeated, his sons being killed, and Saul taking his own life by falling on his sword.  Both chapters even go into how the Philistines took Saul’s head and his armor to put on display at the temple of their gods.  But what I Chronicles 10 includes that isn’t mentioned in I Samuel is why Saul died.  The author makes it clear – Saul died because he was disobedient to the Lord.  Over and over again, Saul blatantly disobeyed God’s law, from chasing after David to killing all the priests.  Sin always has consequences.

Our New Testament reading is Acts 20.  There is a lot in this chapter that is worthy to be highlighted but I'm choosing these last several verses.  Paul is leaving the elders at the church of Ephesus, people he has worked and preached alongside for quite some time.  These are people he has grown to love and who love him dearly.  They are brothers and sisters in Christ.  They are family.  And they know they will never see one another again in this earthly life.

When I was traveling in Germany with my Doctorate cohort in 2018, I met a pretty  extraordinary South African couple who dedicated their lives to witnessing to Syrian refugees in some of the most dangerous places on earth.  Our little group shared, prayed, laughed, and cried with them.  My own life journey is forever changed because of the one day I spent with them.  I say all of this to make this point.  As we left each other's company that day, we were sad because we knew that chances were we would never see each other again this side of heaven.  But, we also rejoiced because we knew that we knew that we would spend eternity together.

I think about this as I read about Paul leaving his dear friends.  They know that life circumstances will never allow them to be together again in this world.  But friends, we aren't simply citizens of earth, we are citizens of heaven!  Our time apart is short compared to the eternity we will spend together in heaven.  I try to remember this when I officiate a funeral of a loved brother or sister in Christ.  Yes, it is very painful to say good-bye.  We miss them.  But if we know Jesus, then it isn't really good-bye.  It's simply "See ya later! Hasta la vista! Till we meet again!"  The pain and sadness are real.  We must acknowledge that.  But we can trust that God will turn our mourning into dancing.  Thank you, Jesus!

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 5, 2024

Day 2 of Week 19

Scripture:  I Samuel 28-29; I Chronicles 9; Acts 19

Happy Monday, everyone, and welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  My prayer this morning is that you have stayed safe in the storm.  If anyone needs help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any of the New Hope staff.

Let’s start with I Samuel 28.  Saul has truly spiraled. In this chapter, we find him seeking out a medium for guidance, something that is totally forbidden in the Torah.  Then, less than twenty-four hours after he does so, he is dead.  So what happened?  Saul, expecting an attack by the Philistines, sought out a medium to contact Samuel from the dead.  He had previously sought out help from the Lord but didn’t get any response because of his disobedience (not to mention he killed off the priests who might be his spiritual advisors).  

The medium, upon Saul’s request, brings up the spirit of Samuel, who has very harsh words for Saul.  Samuel reiterates the prophecy that the kingdom would be given to David. At this point, Saul knows this, he has heard it many times and in many ways, but he has refused to believe it.  But now, he seems to get it. He falls to the ground and is inconsolable. 

Throughout the Bible, we read about God’s prohibition of anything related to the occult–mediums, fortune-tellers, clairvoyants, etc.  While some people may dispute they have any power at all (and some are clearly frauds), God has definitely forbidden his people’s interaction with them for a reason.  My impression is that some of these individuals definitely have power but it is NOT from God.  Saul should have stayed away and we need to stay away as well.  It’s nothing to mess with.  Our direction and guidance should only come from Jesus Christ.

Let’s move on to chapter 29.  David and his men had been living in Philistine territory for quite awhile and David had earned the trust of Achish, king of Gath.  Achish had asked David to go to battle with him to fight against Israel.  David agreed but we certainly didn’t know what he had up his sleeve.  We know that David’s ultimate authority was God and God alone.  While Achish trusted David, the other Philistine commanders did not.  In fact, they didn’t want David on the battlefield with them, as they were worried that he would turn on them.  Probably fairly insightful on their part.  Thus, David and his men are sent back to the town of Ziglag, where they’ve been residing with the blessing of the Gath king. But the story continues tomorrow...

In I Chronicles chapter 9, we find a slightly different kind of list.  These were the people of Judah who came back to resettle Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.  It seems the author is jumping ahead here but he has a reason to do so.  All these genealogies seem to offer us a big overview of what is to happen next.  These are the names of those who are involved.  These are God’s people, those before and now after the exile.  But just like in I Samuel, things are going to get more interesting tomorrow.

Acts 19 is a fascinating chapter.  Paul's extended time in Ephesus has obviously made a huge impact on the region.  Many people are coming to know Jesus, miracles are happening, and people are no longer participating in the local idol worship.  They aren't buying the trinkets!  

Interestingly, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was considered, in its final form, to be one of the seven wonders of the world.  It was extraordinary feat of how human beings can create beautiful idols to try to replace the one true God.  If the worship of Artemis had been fulfilling and life-giving, then the Ephesian businessmen would have had nothing to worry about.  But the worship of idols, two thousand years ago and today, always leaves one feeling empty and wanting.

Paul preached the Word of God, taught about the salvation and abundant life that comes from walking with Jesus, and created a community of people who loved God and each other.  That was attractive to people who were desperate for something more.  I can't help but relate this same scenario to our society today.  What/Who are our modern Temples of Artemis?  Which idols have we sought after, leaving us feeling empty and wanting more from life?  Just a reminder: Jesus is still in the business of transforming hearts and lives!  Who in your life needs to know the abundant life that only comes from a living relationship with Jesus?  Who needs to experience a community of Christians who will love and accept them as they are?

Stay safe!

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 4, 2024

Day 1 of Week 19

Scripture:  I Samuel 26-27; I Chronicles 8; Acts 18

Welcome back, everyone.  We are now on Week 19 of our daily Bible reading plan.  We have come a long way!  Good job to all of you.   

Today, we start with I Samuel 26.  Once again, we see David spare the life of Saul.  Saul has reneged on his previous peace with David (not surprising) and has taken 3,000 troops to pursue David in the wilderness of Ziph.  David hears about this plan and tracks Saul.  When Saul and his troops are asleep, he sneaks down to the camp and takes Saul’s water jug and spear, which were right next to his head.  David could have easily killed Saul with his own spear but he doesn’t.  Why?  Because David is obedient.  As much pain and heartache as Saul has caused David, he refuses to lower himself to Saul’s level.  He refuses to take revenge.  God told David not to kill Saul so he won’t kill Saul.

I’m sure it took a huge amount of restraint for David to allow God to take care of things in his timing.  What is it about us as human beings that we feel the need to take revenge?  When someone has hurt us, when a wrong has been done, we want to hurt or get back at the person who did it.  We want to make them hurt as much as we do.  David must have had that temptation with Saul but he didn’t give in to it.  I’ve known people who held on to anger and the desire for revenge for years and years.  It ended up becoming like a poison in their system, slowing killing their spirit and any joy in their lives.

Examine your own life. Do you have intense anger toward another person?  Do you have the desire for revenge or maybe simply the desire for someone else “to get what they deserve”?  What would it be like for you to give that to God today, to totally release it and allow God to take care of the situation in his own way and timing?  I can’t help but wonder how your life might change.  I keep thinking about Paul’s words in Romans 12:17-21, Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.

David has gotten tired of this cat and mouse game with Saul.  Thus, David takes his family and his large army to live in the land of the Philistines.  By this point, David has made a name for himself; he is essentially a famous outlaw and Achish, the king of Gath, allows him to stay there (remember that my enemy’s enemy is my friend so Achish saw David as an ally).  That being said, this was no small thing for the king to do.  David and his 600-man army, many with families, would have taken over a small Philistine town.  You can imagine the townspeople might not have been too happy.  Knowing this, David asks Achish to give them a town, a space of their own, to live in and not be too disruptive in the Philistine territory.  David pretends his request is an act of humility (“Why should I live in the royal city with you?”) but David clearly knew what he was doing.

Interestingly, the king gives David the town of Ziklag.  This was an area that was part of Judah, part of the territory that God had given the Israelites, but they had never gotten around to conquering it.  David and his men promptly conquered it and made a home there.  David’s time in exile was certainly not a waste, as he actually used it to continue Israel’s conquest of Canaan.  From that point on, the land belonged to Judah.

After reflecting on David’s time in Philistine territory, I began to think about times in my own life that felt a bit like an exile.  I’m sure you have those seasons of life as well.  Maybe it’s a health issue, a stagnant job, caregiving responsibilities, or something else that keeps you from doing what you really want to do, that keeps you from feel like you are moving forward in your life.  But those times in exile are not wasted.  In fact, God doesn’t waste anything! These are times that God can use to teach us and help prepare us for what’s to come.  If you are like me, you may get a bit impatient during these times.  Instead, think of them as seasons of healing, growth, and preparation.

Okay, we are going to kind of breeze through I Chronicles 8.  It is the genealogy of Saul the Benjaminite.  I think we have done a pretty good job covering the importance of these genealogies.  No need to belabor it.  Read through the names and simply reflect on how these were men who really lived, had families, jobs, and lives.  And this chapter documents that.

Our New Testament passage is Acts 18.  Here, we read more about Paul’s missionary journey.  He heads to Corinth, where he almost throws in the towel when it came to preaching to the Jews.  But God encourages him and we continue to see his pattern of heading to the synagogue first, debating with the Jews, and then bringing the message to the Gentiles.  While I’m sure it was frustrating for Paul, he did see a lot of fruit.  Jews and Gentiles alike from all walks of life are beginning to believe the Good News. 

Priscilla and Aquilla appear on the scene and they are a huge support to Paul, as Apollos will be as well.  What I admire so much about Paul is how he traveled around frequently, built networks of believers (which become churches), and he seems almost fearless.  He doesn’t get too attached to any place, although he stays some places longer than others. 

And yet, he builds deep relationships.  There had to be a lot of hard good-byes.  He was totally and completely sold out for Jesus and he was willing to make any sacrifice to advance God’s Kingdom.  How many of us can say that?  Wow.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

August 1, 2024

Day 5 of Week 18

Scripture:  I Samuel 25; I Chronicles 7; Acts 17

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope.  Today, we start a new month and end our 18th week reading Scripture consistently.  Friday and Saturday, you will have two days off to catch up and get ahead and then we start week 19 on Sunday.  Remember, I love to hear feedback about how you are learning and what God is revealing to you through his Word.

With that, let’s get started with today’s Scripture.

Our first reading is I Samuel 25.  It was sheep-shearing time, a time for festivities and rejoicing because of the profits that are generated by the wool.  David and his men, over the course of their battles with the Philistines, had ensured the safety of many shepherds and their flocks, including that of a man named Nabal.  Nabal was very wealthy and must have owned many sheep.  At the time of the shearing, David sent some men to Nabal, asking for some kind of gift in exchange for keeping his flocks safe.  

Nabal responded in a very ugly and aggressive manner.  Scripture clearly calls him an evil man.  But Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was much smarter and kinder than he.  One of Nabal’s hired men informed Abigail of the situation and she promptly took matters into her own hands.  She knew that her husband’s selfish actions would bring harm on the entire household.  At that very moment, David had gathered his men and was planning an attack on Nabal and all he owned.  In verses 21-22, we see David speak some incredibly bitter and vengeful words; it truly seems out of character for him.  Maybe the overwhelming stress and injustice of the circumstances with Saul had built up within him; this may have simply been the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

But God intervened.  While on his angry trek to Nabal’s house, he comes across Abigail. She had brought huge quantities of food and wine as a gift for David and his men.  She gets off her donkey and lowers herself to the ground in front of David.  Then, she begins the longest speech of any woman in the entire Old Testament.  In her speech, she does three things: she intercedes on behalf of her husband, she prophesies that David will overtake his enemies and create a dynasty for the House of David, and she prevents David from breaking Torah and bringing any kind of judgment on himself (David should not be the one to take revenge on Nabal but God). 

Abigail’s actions certainly saved many lives and much heartache for David.  Of course, what she did was highly unusual and went against her culture’s social expectations for women.  But over and over again in Scripture, we see God use unexpected people to achieve his purposes. God doesn’t call the equipped, but instead equips the called.  How has God called you and have you responded?

In I Chronicles 7, we find more lists – the sons of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher.  You guys are probably getting tired of hearing me talk about this genealogy.  I promise, we have only two more chapters of lists before we get to what we might think is more exciting.  And yet, these names are important – thy are real people with real lives who served a real, living God.  They may be a bit boring to get through, but there is purpose in having them in God’s Word.

Our New Testament passage is Acts 17.   In this chapter, Paul preaches in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens.  At each place, he tailors his message to his audience but it’s still clearly the Gospel.  The reception he receives at each location is different too.  But in each city, as different as they are, some people believe or want to know more.  I think this is such a great model for us.  We share as God leads us and we tailor the message to those who are listening.  If we are telling the Jesus story to Jews, then we will focus on the Old Testament and the various prophecies about Jesus.  If we are telling the Jesus story to Gentiles, then the story will be spoken in a way that makes sense to them.  Paul appealed to what they knew – think about his use of the altar to an unknown God. 

In our world, I present the Gospel to someone who grew up in the church differently than I do to someone who has never heard of Jesus.  I guess the theme here is know your audience and listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

July 31, 2024

Day 4 of Week 18

Scripture: I Samuel 23-24; I Chronicles 6; Psalm 54; Acts 16

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, everyone.  This is the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  It’s Wednesday and if you live in the community, we would love to have you attend our Recharge service tonight at 6:30pm in the Garage on the Moon Ave. side of our campus.  There is a time of worship and then we break into small groups.  There is a young adult small group, a group for middle and high school youth, an adult all-ages Bible study, and my prayer group.  I would encourage you to try us out if you have never come.  I promise that you will be blessed!

Okay.  Let’s get into our Scripture for today, starting with I Samuel 23.  David is clearly afraid.  He is being hunted and he knows it.  But his faith is also strong.  He is relying on God’s protection, trusting in God to provide for him and literally direct his steps.  Yet, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t feeling fearful.  He was human.  At just the right time, God sent Jonathan to visit with David and reassure him.  Yes, God has a purpose for David.  No, Saul would not be successful.

Jonathan, now fully aware of the evil possessing his father, is confident that God will bring about a new thing through David. Be sure to read the whole chapter. After David’s visit with Jonathan, the Ziphites (from Ziph, a town in Judah), went to Saul to report that David was hiding in their territory.  They were being cunning and probably thought they would be rewarded in some way by the king for their betrayal of David.

In chapter 24, David had the opportunity to take Saul’s life but he doesn’t do it.  He simply cuts off a corner of his robe when Saul is distracted.  He confronts Saul, making it clear that he has done nothing to deserve Saul’s hatred and attempts on his life.  David shows him the corner of his robe, demonstrating that he had (and still has) the power to kill Saul.  Why?  Because God is on David’s side.  David repeatedly says “May the Lord be our judge and decide between us.”  And David makes it clear, he chose to repay Saul’s evil with mercy.  Saul is moved. He admits that he knows that God will put David on the throne and asks David to not kill off his descendants. There is some kind of reconciliation but at this point, we have no idea if Saul is sincere and if he will continue to pursue David.  But if only for just a moment, there is peace.

I Chronicles 6 lists the sons of Levi and the temple musicians.  I love that even the temple musicians are listed!  Their gifts and contributions are incredibly important to God’s work and they need to be recognized and remembered.  Keep in mind, these chapters are providing a monument to the men who served Israel before the exile.  Each name is important.  Each name matters.

Our psalm for today is Psalm 54, which David wrote when he found out about the situation with the Ziphites (that we read about in I Samuel 23).  We get a picture of David’s desperation and dependence on God.  It’s also amazing to me that he is still praising God.  He is being hunted like an animal, he is scared to death, and he is praising God.  Wow.  Do we praise God in the darkest moments of our lives? 

Our New Testament passage is Acts 16.  There are two parts of this passage I want us to discuss.  The first is when Paul meets Timothy and decides to bring him on his missionary journey, he circumcises him.  Wait?  Didn’t Paul just argue at the Council of Jerusalem that circumcision and the law were an unnecessary burden for Gentiles?  Yes, he did.  Now he circumcises Timothy.  Is he contradicting himself?  I don’t believe so but there are some layers to unpack. 

Timothy’s mother was Jewish and his father was Greek so he was not circumcised.  Now, he and Paul were going to be visiting many young churches, some filled with Jewish believers.  While circumcision wouldn’t be required, it probably gave Timothy a bit more authority in the eyes of those new Jewish converts.  It was probably also a debate they just didn’t want to have.  They wanted the focus to be on Jesus and they were avoiding anything that would be a distraction.  Of course, I’m thinking – was there a circumcision check at the door?  How would they even know?  But I digress.

The other part of the passage that is fascinating to me is how the Spirit of God discourages them from going one way so that they would end up in Macedonia.  And by going into Macedonia, it opens up a whole new area to the Gospel.  They head to Philippi, where they meet a woman named Lydia and she accepts Jesus.  This is only the beginning!  By listening to the Spirit and not insisting on their own way, the Gospel was advanced. 

How often do we want to force our own way with God?  Yet, the Spirit is always trying to guide us, if we let him.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

July 30, 2024

Day 3 of Week 18

Scripture:  I Samuel 21-22; I Chronicles 5; Psalm 52; Acts 15

Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Let’s get right into our text for today.

Our first Old Testament reading is from I Samuel, starting with chapter 21.  David is on the run.  He knows that Saul is after his life and has a lot of resources with which to pursue him.  David makes a quick stop to see Ahimelech the priest to gather some provisions but then heads into Philistine territory.  It was certainly a risk to head into enemy territory but he wasn’t safe at home either.  Desperate circumstances call for desperate measures.  He is hoping to go unnoticed in the foreign land but no such luck; David’s reputation precedes him.  Afterall, he is the one who killed Goliath!  

In order to protect himself from Achish, the Philistine ruler of that area, he pretends to be insane.  The king may have felt threatened by David as brave warrior but he didn’t worry too much about David as the insane guy.  This was clearly a low point for David.  Wherever he goes, he is a fugitive.  He doesn’t know who he can trust.  He’s left the people who love him and he must be incredibly scared and lonely.  We get a picture of David’s intense emotions by reading some of the Psalms (we read some of these yesterday).  Scholars suggest that Psalm 34 particularly depicts this time in David’s life.  It starts by stating, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”  It speaks of God saving him from his troubles and encamping around those who fear him.  We see themes of protection, deliverance, and trust through out the Psalm.  Even in this time of fear and insecurity, David is praising the name of God. People are actively hunting him down but he’s never lost trust or faith.  He knows that right will prevail.

How many of you needed to hear that today?  Even in our deepest struggles, we can praise the name of Jesus and trust him with our lives.  Things may not turn out the way we want them to but we can be certain that Jesus is still on the throne and right will prevail.

Moving on to chapter 22.  David heads to the places where he feels comfortable and knows there will be some safety.  Adullam, which means refuge, is in Judah and close by was a hill that had fortifications and caves for hiding.  David couldn’t have been too clandestine, however, because his family sought him out there, as did a few hundred Israelite men who were unhappy with the current regime and wanted David to be their commander.  David takes his family to a place of safety in Moab, for he knows they are at risk simply by being related to him. 

In fact, anyone who helped David was at serious risk. When Saul discovered that Ahimelek the priest gave David bread and a sword, basic provisions for his journey, King Saul was irate.  His reaction was over the top evil.  He decides to kill all the priests and their families. But the king’s men refuse to touch the priests.  These men were the anointed of the Lord; no Israelite would touch them.  But Doeg the Edomite was there, a pagan, and he was fine with killing them.  So Doeg strikes down the priests, eighty-five of them, and then killed all the men, women, children, and livestock in the town of Nob, which was the town of the priests.

The priestly line was almost wiped out but not quite. One of Ahimelek’s sons, Abiathar, managed to escape and find his way to David.  Now, the only remaining priest has found his way to the king-to-be and they can support one another.  In this time of crisis, two men of God can lean on one another, guide each other, and protect the future of the priesthood. 

Think about the events of your life.  I hope they haven’t been quite as dramatic as David’s, but think specifically about some of the most difficult and desperate moments.  So often, I do believe that God sends just the right person into our lives at just the right time–someone to support us, guide us, and even protect us when we need it most.  Who has that person been for you? 

Our I Chronicles chapter has more lists of people who matter.  These were sons of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.  While the names themselves don’t mean a lot to us, we trust that each person played an important role in some way to advance the Kingdom of Israel. 

Psalm 52 is a psalm of David, written after David hears the tragic news of Doeg the Edomite killing the priests and their families.  This had to be totally devastating for David.  He writes of Saul’s deceit and sin, emphasizing how eventually Saul will meet his doom.  God will only allow so much.  But I love how the psalm ends in verses 8-9, But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.  For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.  And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.  Despite the devastation, David praises God and rests in his hope. 

Our final chapter is in the New Testament, Acts 15. This is a pretty crucial moment for the young church.  Some people from Judea have gone to the churches and said that to follow Jesus, you must first be a Jew first and follow the law of Moses.  Well, Paul and Barnabas are appalled and they debate fiercely with these men.  Thus, they are invited to go to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders to discuss the matter.  This is a pivotal moment.  Will the council in Jerusalem put the burden of the Law on these new Gentile believers?  Because the Law is a heavy burden. 

Amazingly, it seems that the discussion at the council meeting is both civil and Spirit-filled.  Don’t we wish all church meetings could be this way?  Paul and Barnabas give testimony to what they have witnessed with Gentile believers receiving the Holy Spirit.  James stands up and quotes Scripture from the prophets which points to Gentiles accepting the Lord.  Thus, they come up with a compromise to not make the burden too heavy for the new believers.  They are to avoid sexual immorality, not eat meat dedicated to idols or meat from strangled animals or blood.  All three of these were very pagan behaviors associated with idol worship.  This is where they decide to draw the line and it makes sense. 

While this seems to bring resolution, we know that these issues will continue to come up.  Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki