Forge Church

Paul and his team in Rome write the Brothers and Sisters in Colossae, laying out the necessity of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment. These elements of believing in and following Christ result in constant fruit bearing.

Paul is writing from Rome to the Colossian church that began under Epaphras and Philemon. He commends the believers in Colossae for their faith, their love, and their hope in Christ Jesus.

The epistle to the Colossian church is one of the prison letters sent by Paul the Apostle when he was under house arrest in Rome, waiting for Nero to rule on his appeal. The Colossian church was planted by Epaphras during the two years that Paul had been teaching out of the School of Tyrrannus in Ephesus, 100 miles away. Now there comes news of significant pressure on the Church in Colossae to modify, if not depart from their faith in Christ Jesus.

Samuel is sent to anoint one of Jesse's sons in Bethlehem. Only when the youngest, David, is sent for and presented does the Lord say "this one!" Later, David has to flee Saul, and comes to Samuel in Ramah. Samuel dies and is honored by all the nation. Finally, Saul is desperate for some word about the impending and dreaded battle with the Phlistines...but chooses to go to a medium that channels a demon to call up the dead to speak to Saul.

Samuel delivers the word of the Lord to Saul....today, you will wipe Amalek's memory from the earth. Amalek had attacked israel at Rephidim as they struggled in the Sinai desert. Saul does not keep the commandment of the Lord, but instead, selects the best of the booty. The Lord God has had it with him as king over Israel, and announces that his tearing away the kingdom from Saul and giving it to another. Samuel has to finish the job of killing Agag in Gilgal.

King Saul starts a war of liberation, and gets a maximal response out of the Philistines....30,000 chariots, 6,000 cavalry, and a multitude of foot solders coming at him. In fear and frustration, seeing his army melt away , knowing that the chariot corps is 1 hour away, and Samuel is late for their appointment, Saul steps up and offers the burnt offering, then tries to talk his way out of his failure to fear the Lord, first of all. Samuel informs him that his kingdom is done, and God has chosen a man after His own heart.

The coronation of King Saul has been completed. Samuel calls all Israel to judge him and his character. They bear witness that he has lived a flawless life as a Judge of Israel. The Samuel jerks them all to their feet and challenges them to listen to the Lord and obey him....the people and the King. If they will not, they will be judged just like their fathers. What started as a retirement address ends with Samuel agreeing to pray for the people and to teach them the good and right ways.

These 4 chapters of narrative show what God was doing behind the scenes as Samuel was tasked to appoint a king that Israel had demanded. Saul is chosen at Mizpah, and then has to lead the armies to rescue a besieged Jabesh-Gilead. Samuel, for being an old man, keeps up and leads the nation to Gilgal for a coronation.

Samuel has grown old, and appointed his two sons to judge Israel, nut they become corrupt. The elders of Israel come to Samuel to demand that a king be appointed over them. Samuel discerns that it is an evil request, but prays to the Lord. The Lord assures Samuel that the elders are rejecting Him, not Samuel. He instructs Samuel to listen to the elders, and warn them about the ways of Kings. Even warned, the people won't consider anything but a King.

Israel goes off on its own hook, not consulting God or Samuel, and fights the Philistines. They lose 34,000 men, then flee, and the Ark of God is taken as a battle trophy. The Ark is passed from city to city, as plagues break out, until the Philistines warlocks and priests decide to send it back...but it is received wrongly, resulting in more death. Finally it is stored,, and 20 years pass. Israel is in the pits. All Israel cries out for God, and Samuel is there to lead Israel back to Him, and lead the nation to defeat the Philistines.