Psalm 3

LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.
Psalm 3

I love how David describes God.

But you, LORD, are a shield around me

A shield doesn't just protect a warrior, it defines him.

In the middle of a battle, everyone is wearing similar armor; they look the same...so how would someone know if their friend was approaching them or an enemy? By their shield. The shield bears the warrior's family crest it protects them against attackers, but it also protects a warrior from his own friends.

When people look at us, they should see faithful bearers of God's mark. That's people identify us.

I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

How often do you wake up and praise God because he gave you another day to live, another day to bear his crest? Life is a beautiful gift. Don't live fearful of the day your life ends, but don't forget to praise God for the life he's given you. 

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.
2 Samuel 22:2

Photo Credit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Carpenter,_3rd_Earl_of_Tyrconnell

What's with Regret?

Regret is one of the biggest weapons Satan has against a Christian, but at the same time it's something we choose to do. There is a time for everything, including regret, but after you have been forgiven regret is doubting God really did forgive you. I think it's safe to say most of the times you have felt regret, it was is was in a sinful manner

God feels regret (Genesis 6:7; 1 Samuel 15:11), which means that there must be times when it's okay to feel regret, but these are in very emotional times such as before the great flood.

I'm not God and so I can't give a list of all the times its okay to feel regret, but through what the bible does say, we can understand why regret is such an issue and why we shouldn't do it. First of all, I guess would be examples of people who have felt regret in the bible

1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)
2. David (1 Chronicles 21:8)
3. Ahab (1 Kings 21:27)
4. Peter (Mathew 26:75)
5. Judas (Mathew 27:3-4)

Whenever any character in the bible is described as feeling regret, they have done something terrible. These are good times to regret, but lingering on regret is when it becomes a sin.

There is the initial regret, shame, guilt, whatever you want to call it after you sin, but asking for forgiveness should follow. There can be a state mourning, but it can't last forever. Just look at this verse from 2 Corinthians:

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
2 Corinthians 7:10

There is a time of sorrow, but after the mourning is up, regret needs to be gone.

I don't know how many times I've laid in bed thinking of things done and just thinking about how stupid that was. That's a sin. It's not godly.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
Philippians 3:13-15

I have used this Philippians passage in many posts, but in the light of regret, it takes a whole new meaning.

Forgetting what is behind

Regret hinders us in our walk with God! In order to get to the goal, to get the prize we must forget what is behind us! Just like we ought to forgive and forget, we must also be forgiven and forget.

If you can forget the past, you'll miss out on a lot of life. God has wonderful things in store for you, but you have to look for them or you'll miss out.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 42:18-19

Sources:
http://www.openbible.info/topics/regret
http://www.gotquestions.org/shame-regret.html
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Regret

Photo Credit:
http://alexrister1.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/

David Chose Five Stones

"Is that why David took five stones from the brook? One was enough for Goliath."

-David C. Brown (Commenting to Goliath had a Brother?)

This is one things that the bible doesn't give any answer to, but by looking at a few verses, I can make a few guesses as to why he might have chosen to collect five stones instead of one using the info that I have been given.

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:40

While it is a popular belief that the remaining four stones were used for Goliath's brothers, there are a few problems with this idea.

1. Goliaths brother were killed  later on in David's lifetime, and it makes no since to keep those stones, waiting for killing the older brothers.
2. There are a total of 6 brothers mentioned in the two passages. (Ishbibenob, Sippai, Lahmi, Saph, the 12 fingered man, and Goliath) That would be a total of 6 stones if they were to represent Goliaths brothers.
3. David didn't kill ANY of Goliath's brothers. (David was only battle  were Ishbibenob died (2 Samuel 21:15-17). That means he didn't even see four of the giants die.)

Here are a few reasons that are more likely.

• Just in case...

I am sure David was scared before be killed Goliath. Yes, he was full of faith, but he could have a few extra rocks with him in case he missed. Even if he didn't have any doubt, he would still know that sometimes you have to hard fight to win. David might have been anticipating a miss or two. Or he might have several in case the first rock hit Goliath, but didn't take him down.

• Afterwards
  

Even if David knew he would kill Goliath on the first strike, there's still what happens after. He didn't know how the Philistines would respond to the death of their hero, and he might have had a few rocks on him just in case they tried to attack him.

• Five different stones types

Another thing I've heard before is that David selected five different types of rocks (Hard ones, softer ones, shinier ones, ones made of different substances etc.) and then trusted God to have him grab the type of rock God wanted into his sling.

I can't answer your question with a simple yes or no because the scripture doesn't say. As long as you idea is within what the bible tells us, anything goes for this particular instance. 

Photo Credit:
http://baptistsermon.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/11/

Goliath had a brother?

I normally use the NIV translation of the bible on my blog, but in this post, I am using the KJV because it is the first translation into English and these passages are easiest in the KJV. 

• Giant #1: Ishbibenob

Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

2 Samuel 21:15-17

• Giant #2: Sippai

And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, [that was] of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.

1 Chronicles 20:4

• Giant #3: Lahmi

And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff [was] like a weaver's beam.

1 Chronicles 20:5

And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew [the brother of] Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear [was] like a weaver's beam.

2 Samuel 21:19

• Giant #4: Saph

And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which [was] of the sons of the giant.

2 Samuel 21:18

• Giant #5: The 12 Finger Man

And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of [great] stature, whose fingers and toes [were] four and twenty, six [on each hand], and six [on each foot]: and he also was the son of the giant. But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.
1 Chronicles 20:6-7

And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of [great] stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.
2 Samuel 21:20-21

• Conclusion

These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

2 Samuel 21:22

These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

2 Samuel 21:22 NIV

These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

1 Chronicles 20:8

These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

1 Chronicles 20:8 NIV

Here are a few things I got from these verses:

1. These 5 are brothers 
2. Lahmi (Giant #3) is the brother of Goliath the Gittite (a Gittite was one from Gath)
3. Goliath from 1 Samuel 17:4 (The "David and Goliath" giant) is from Gath

Therefore, these five giants are brothers of Goliath.

Have you ever wondered why David chose five stones?
Check out this post!

Photo Credit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goliath

Are Children Born with Sin?

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Psalm 51:1-6

If sin is passed down from mother to child (I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me), then how could Jesus be sinless if his mother Mary was not sinless? Well, Jesus is not just human. The bible teaches that he is 100% human and 100% God. (Hebrew 2:14, Mathew 4:7, 1 Timothy 2:5)
I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me

Sinful- Adjective characterized by, guilty of, or full of sin; wicked:

Sin-  transgression of God's known will or any principle or law regarded as embodying this

Adjective- any member of a class of words that modify nouns and pronouns, primarily by describing a particular quality of the word they are modifying

David is describing a quality, sin, not that he committed sin even before he was born, but that he was able to sin. That he was NOT innocent (free from moral wrong; without sin; pure) and pure (free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind)

Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun.
Psalm 58:3-8

This one is saying that there are bad people and even from birth, they are bad.

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:12-21

Death and sin came as a result of one man. This Romans passage is is one of my favorite proofs that children are born with sin.

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
Genesis 8:21

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Roman 3:22-24

When they sin against you--for there is no one who does not sin--and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near;
1 Kings 8:46

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
Proverbs 22:15

Sources
Dictionary.com
http://www.openbible.info/topics/being_born_in_sin

Photo Credit:
http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/baby-growth-and-behavior.aspx

Keeping yourself Interested

When I read the bible, I don't always feel like it. Satan doesn't want Christians to read the bible, he wants us all to fail miserably in every way, and Satan is great at fooling us. I can easily think of things I could be doing or "need" to do when I sit down and read God's word. I'm always glad I afterwards when I read my bible, but there's an internal conflict when I try to read my bible. I think it's best to find I way to keep myself interested while I read my bible so that I can feel the benefits afterwards. For a while I would always find one verse that stuck out to me while I was reading the bible, but that's hard to do when your reading 1st and 2nd Samuel (which I recently finished) and 1st Kings (which I just started). Yesterday, I had the wonderful idea of making a modern bible, where I take I read and write down as if it where being said in modern times. It's really fun!
Here's the first 4 verses of 1 kings 2 (my version). What you are about to read is NOT God-breathed scripture.

1. David’s death was coming around, so he gave his position to Solomon
2. "I am going to follow through with the ways of the world," he said. "Make sure you are strong and show everyone that you're a man.
3. Look at what God tell us to do: follow his ways, and listen to his laws and guideline, his  rules and requirements, like it’s been written in Moses' decrees, so y'all will be prosperous in every way possible.
4. So that God will carry out what he said he'd do a bit back: 'If your kids are careful about how they act, and they’re faithful with everything they've got in them, you’ll always have a dude on the throne.'

And the same verse in the NIV bible

1. When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
2. "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man,
3. and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go,
4. and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'

There's this one little kids songs that describes life. "read your bible and pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow...don't read your bible, forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink..."
You know yourself...maybe you find it easy to read your bible, or maybe your need a little thing that will help you read your bible. Whatever you do, make sure your reading your bible, so you can grow...and take a stand for Jesus.

David and Absalom: God and Us

I've been reading though 1st and 2nd Samuel and I noticed some things in those passages that I'd like to point out to you.

In 2 Samuel 14 and 15:1-12, we see that Absalom, David’s son, rebels against his father. This is us. We as princes and princesses of the king, but we want more. We want to be ruler. Like Absalom, we people to follow us instead of God. We lead a rebellion against God every time we sin. And we plan things out. We have our followers and our warriors. Sin is saying that your God. The rest of chapter 15 of 2 Samuel 15 is about David running away from Absalom. God doesn’t run away from us, but when we have as big a rebellion as Absalom did, we ignore God and so, God doesn’t flee, it’s more like we flee. We get out of God’s holy presence and grab out warriors. Then we fight. In 2 Samuel 18, Absalom fights.

How much of a fight do we put up? That’s our choice. David wanted his son to come back and return home, but Absalom didn’t. He was so determined to take his father’s place that he died. David mourned his son’s death, even though he died rebellious.

If only I had died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son!”

2 Samuel 18:33b

I picture God mourning over the loss of all his children, and then Jesus sees his broken hearted father and say “I will.” I see Jesus saying “I will die instead of you…” Then you fill in the blanks “O _____, my sister/brother my sister/brother!” I’m kind of iffy on if it would be “sister/brother” or “son/daughter” speaking in earthly terms, it would be sister/brother because Jesus is God’s son and we are God’s adopted children.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Romans 8:26

But the groaning language system might work a bit differently. I’m getting a bit off track, though.

So back to the original topic, I thought that David must really love his son after Absalom tried to kill him and all. Then, David was very distressed that Absalom was dead and he mourned a lot.

Just like God mourns a lot when one person rejects him and burns up in hell. We all are Absalom at one point, but as Christian we at least say we’re sorry for attempted murder. That makes us all good, right? (I’ll come back to that question in a bit). So God mourns for every soul maybe a wishes he could burn up for them. God even postpones Jesus’ second coming until everyone has had a chance to become a Christian.

We all are Absalom at one point, but as Christian we at least say we’re sorry for attempted murder. That makes us all good, right? In a way, yes…but Absalom shows through every day. And we need to be forgiven daily of our sins.

Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

Luke 12:23-24;27-29

But God cares for us by giving us what we need and we all need forgiveness. We all need to forgive too (that’s something I’m still working on). God will give us what we need, but forgiveness comes when we ask for it, so make sure you ask God for forgiveness, and don’t expect it to come whenever you want it to.

David and his Lament

David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, and ordered that the men of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar): "Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! Saul and Jonathan--in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
2 Samuel 1:17-19; 22-23

I know I said last post I'd be doing a blog post on Kindness and Goodness, but I really don't care. I read 1 Samuel 1 yesterday in my quiet time, devotional, or what you want to call it. Verse 23 really stood out to me. I encourage you to read through all of 2 Samuel 1, but I you need to look at the beginning of the 23rd verse one  more time. Saul and Jonathan--in life they were loved and gracious. Perhaps your not so familair with you bible. If so, then that fine...but if you read through 1 Samuel, you'll see that Saul tries to kill David, and he's very blunt about it...He doesn't go into stealth mode, but simply attempts to kill him several times and is quite clear about it. His son Jonathan was kind to David til the end and deserved a lament, but I'll be honest...if someone tries to kill me, they aren't going to be called gracious in my little song about them. That's just me being honest.
David refused to kill Saul twice when he could have (he cut off a portion of Saul's clothing), but David refused to kill God's anointed.
I just am amazed that David had so much strength and courage. If I was David, the Saul would have been murdered in his sleep. But anyway, Saul was anything but gracious. He refused to give up search for the anointed king of Israel. And in his hatred for David, he went to a witch and told her to bring up the spirit of Samuel (who was dead at this point).
David sure has a good heart (even though his actions were sometimes less than good).
-Ruth