Day 99 - 9 April 2021 reflections
Day 99, 9 Apr 2021
1 Samuel 5 - 8
1 SAMUEL 5
The Philistines and the Ark
1 (1Sa 4:1; 7:12) Now the Philistines took the ark of God,
and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2 (Jdg 16:23; 1Ch 10:10) When the Philistines took the ark of God,
they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
3 (Isa 19:1; 46:1-2; 46:7) When the Ashdodites arose early in the morning,
Dagon had fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord.
And they took Dagon and set him in his place again.
4 (Mic 1:7; Jer 50:2) When they arose early on the next morning, again
Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord,
and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off
upon the threshold. Only the torso of Dagon was left to him.
5 (Zep 1:9) Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any coming
into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6 (1Sa 5:11; Ex 9:3; Ps 32:4) But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon
the Ashdodites. He desolated them and struck them with tumors,
even Ashdod and its territories.
7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God
of Israel cannot remain with us. For His hand is heavy upon us and upon
Dagon our god."
8 So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them,
and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?"
And they answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried around
to Gath." And they carried the ark of the God of Israel there.
9 (1Sa 5:6; Dt 2:15; 1Sa 7:13) It happened that after they had carried it
about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great
destruction. And He struck the men of the city, both small and great.
And tumors broke out on them.
10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron.
And it came about that as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites
cried out, saying, "They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel
to slay us and our people."
11 (1Sa 5:6; 5:8-9) So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the
Philistines, and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go
again to His own place that He might not kill me and my people,"
for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city.
The hand of God was very heavy there.
12 (Ex 12:30) The men that did not die were plagued with the tumors.
And the cry of the city went up to heaven.
[Only Yahweh is the True God]
1 SAMUEL 6
The Ark Returned to Israel
1 Now the ark of the Lord had been in the country
of the Philistines seven months.
2 (Ge 41:8; Ex 7:11) The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners,
saying, "What shall we do with the ark of the Lord?
Tell us how we should send it to its place."
3 (Ex 23:15; Dt 16:16) They said, "If you send away the ark of the God
of Israel, do not send it empty. But return to Him a guilt offering.
Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand
is not removed from you."
4 (Jos 13:3; Jdg 3:3) Then said they, "What will be the guilt offering
which we will return to Him?"
They answered, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice according
to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For one plague was on
you all, and on your lords.
5 (Jos 7:19; 1Sa 5:6-7; 5:11) Therefore you will make images of your tumors
and images of your mice that ravage the land. And you will give glory
to the God of Israel. Perhaps He will lighten His hand from off you,
even from off your gods and from off your land.
6 (Ex 7:13; 8:15) Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians
and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He dealt severely with them,
did they not let the people go, and they departed?
7 (Nu 19:2; 2Sa 6:3) "Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milk
cows on which there has never been a yoke. Then tie the cows to the cart
and bring their calves home, away from them.
8 Then take the ark of the Lord and set it on the cart. And put the images
of gold, which you return to Him for a guilt offering, in a box by the side.
And send it away, that it may go.
9 (Jos 15:10; 21:16) See, if it goes up by the way of His own territory
to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then
we will know that it is not His hand that struck us; it was by chance
that it happened to us."
10 The men did so. And they took two milk cows, tied them to the cart,
and shut up their calves at home.
11 And they set the ark of the Lord on the cart, as well as the box
with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.
12 Then the cows took the straight way to the way of Beth Shemesh,
and went along the highway, lowing as they went. They did not turn aside
to the right hand or to the left with the lords of the Philistines walking
after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
13 Now Beth Shemesh was reaping their wheat harvest in the valley.
And they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, and they rejoiced to see it.
14 (2Sa 24:22) The cart came into the field of Joshua, the Beth Shemite,
and stood there where there was a great stone. And they split the wood
of the cart, and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.
15 The Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was with it,
where the articles of gold were, and put them on the great stone.
And the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices
the same day to the Lord.
16 (Jos 13:3; Jdg 3:3) When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it,
they returned to Ekron the same day.
17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for
a guilt offering to the Lord: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one,
for Gath one, for Ekron one.
18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities
of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities,
and of country villages. And the great stone, where they set the ark
of the Lord, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua,
the Beth Shemite.
19 (Ex 19:21; Nu 4:15) Then He struck the men of Beth ShemÂesh,
because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He struck 50070 men.
And the people lamented, because the Lord had struck the people
with a great slaughter.
20 (2Sa 6:9; Mal 3:2) The men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand
before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom will He go up from us?"
21 (1Ch 13:5-6; Jos 9:17) And they sent messengers to the inhabitants
of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark
of the Lord. Come down, and take it up to you."
1 SAMUEL 7
1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord.
And they brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill,
and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord.
2 And from the day the ark resided in Kiriath Jearim,
the days increased to twenty years.
Samuel Judges Israel
And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
3 (Jos 24:14; Ge 35:2; Dt 6:13) Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel,
saying, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart,
then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths from your midst.
And make firm your hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only.
Then He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
4 So the children of Israel put away the Baals and Ashtoreths
and served the Lord only.
5 (Jdg 20:1) Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah,
and I will pray to the Lord for you."
6 (Jdg 10:10; Ps 106:6) They gathered together to Mizpah.
And they drew water and poured it out before the Lord.
And they fasted on that day, and said there,
"We have sinned against the Lord."
So Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.
7 (1Sa 17:11; 13:6) When the Philistines heard that the children
of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines
went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it,
they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 (Isa 37:4; 1Sa 12:19-24) The children of Israel said to Samuel,
"Do not stop crying unto the Lord our God for us, that He might save us
out of the hand of the Philistines."
9 (Ps 99:6; Jer 15:1) Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a burnt
offering unto the Lord. And Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel and the Lord
heard him.
10 (1Sa 2:10; Jos 10:10) As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering,
the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel, but the Lord thundered
with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines, and confused them.
So they were beaten before Israel.
11 Israel's fighting men went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines,
and struck them, as far as below Beth Kar.
12 (Ge 35:14; Jos 4:9) Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah
and Shen. And he called its name EbenezerLit.
Stone of help. saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."
13 (Jdg 13:1) So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not again
come into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against
the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored
to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath. And Israel rescued their territory
out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel
and the Amorites.
15 (1Sa 7:6; Jdg 2:16) So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16 He went annually in a circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah.
And he judged Israel in all those places.
17 (1Sa 1:19; 1:1) But his return was to Ramah, for his house was there
and there he judged Israel. And there he built an altar to the Lord.
1 SAMUEL 8
Israel Demands a King
1 (Dt 16:18-19) And it came about when Samuel was old, that he installed
his sons as judges for Israel.
2 Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second
son was Abijah. They were judging in Beersheba.
3 (Dt 16:19; Ps 15:5) But his sons did not walk in his way, for they followed
after unlawful gain, and they took bribes, and they perverted justice.
4 (1Sa 7:17) And all the elders of Israel gathered together and they came
to Samuel at Ramah.
5 (Dt 17:14-15; 1Sa 8:19-20) They said to him, "You are old and your sons
do not walk in your ways. Now, install for us a king to govern us like
all the nations."
6 (1Sa 15:11; 12:17) But the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel,
because they said, "Give us a king to govern us."
And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7 (Ex 16:8; 1Sa 10:19) The Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people
in relation to all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected,
but Me they have rejected from reigning over them.
8 Just as all the deeds which they have done to Me, from the day I brought
them up from Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken Me
and have served other gods, so they are doing also to you now.
9 (1Sa 8:11-18; 10:25) Now then, obey their voice. Only you will testify
against them and proclaim to them the judgment concerning the king
who will reign over them."
10 So Samuel said all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking
from him a king.
11 (1Sa 10:25; 14:52) And he said, "This will be the judgment concerning
the king who will reign over you: Your sons he will take in order to place
them for himself in his chariots and as his horsemen, and they will run
before his chariot,
12 and in order to assign for himself captains of thousands and captains
of fifties, and to plow his ground, and to gather in his harvest,
and to make his weapons of war and the equipment of his chariots.
13 And your daughters he will take for perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
14 (1Ki 21:7; Eze 46:18) And your choicest fields, and vineyards,
and olive groves he will take and give them to his servants.
15 And of your seed fields and your vineyards he will take a tenth
of their harvest and will give it to his high officials and to his servants.
16 And your menservants and your maidservants, and the best of your
young men and asses he will take and make do his work.
17 Your flocks he will take a tenth of, but you will be his for slaves.
18 (Isa 1:15; Mic 3:4) And you will cry out in that day because of your king,
whom you have chosen for yourselves,
but the Lord will not answer you in that day."
19 (Jer 44:16_ But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel.
And they said, "No! But surely a king will be over us!
20 (1Sa 8:5) So that we also will be like all the nations!
And so that our king will govern us, and will go out before us,
and will fight our battles."
21 (Jdg 11:11) And after Samuel heard all the words of the people,
he spoke them in the hearing of the Lord.
22 (1Sa 8:7; Hos 13:11) And the Lord said to Samuel,
"Obey their voice, and make for them a king."
So Samuel said to Israel's fighting men,
"Go every man to his city."
2) Our Daily Bread for 9 Apr 2021
https://www.odb.org/CA/2021/04/09/a-refuge-for-the-rejected
entitled Refuge for the Rejected
Psalms 57
Ps 108:1-5
For the Music Director. To the melody of "Do Not Destroy."
A Miktam of David when he fled from Saul in the cave.
1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious tome!
For my soul seeks refuge in You;
in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
until the ruinous storm passes by.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) I will cry to God Most High,
to God who vindicates me.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He will send from heaven and save me
from the taunt of the one who crushes me. Selah
God will send forth His mercy and His truth.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) My soul is among lions,
and I lie among the sons of men who blaze like fire,
whose teeth are spears and arrows,
and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
may Your glory be above all the earth.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) They have prepared a net for my steps;
my soul is bowed down;
they have dug a pit before me,
but they have fallen into it. Selah
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) My heart is fixed, O God,
my heart is fixed;
I will sing and give praise.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) Awake, my glory!
Awake, psaltery and harp!
I will awake the dawn.
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I will thank You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) For Your mercy is great up to the heavens,
and Your truth extends to the clouds.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
may Your glory be above all the earth.
George Whitefield (1714-1770) was one of the most gifted
and effective preachers in history, leading thousands to faith in Jesus.
But his life wasn't without controversy. His practice of preaching outdoors
(to accommodate large crowds) was sometimes criticized by those
who questioned his motives and felt he should speak only within the four walls
of a church building. Whitefield's epitaph sheds light on his response to
others' harsh words: "I am content to wait till the Day of Judgment for
the clearing up of my character; and after I am dead,
I desire no other epitaph than this, 'Here lies George Whitefield-what sort
of a man he was, the great day will discover.
In the Old Testament, when David faced harsh criticism from others,
he too entrusted himself to God. When Saul falsely accused David of leading
a rebellion and he was forced to hide from Saul's approaching army in a cave,
David described being "in the midst of lions," among "men whose teeth are
spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords" (Psalm 57:4).
But even in that difficult place, he turned to God and found comfort in Him:
"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies" (v. 10).
When others misunderstand or reject us, God is our "refuge" (v. 1).
May He be forever praised for His unfailing and merciful love!
By: James Banks
Reflect & Pray
How does dwelling on God's mercy help you when you're discouraged?
How can you demonstrate His love to another?
Abba Father, I praise You that I can be accepted by You forever because
of Your Son. I take refuge in Your perfect love today.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 6 - Shielded by the Word
Proverbs 30:5
5 (Ps 12:6; 18:30) Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
A wife of ten years, betrayed by her husband's infidelity, declares that
she will never trust a man again. A teenage son says of his father, "I
can't depend on him anymore! Dad always talk big and makes promises,
but he never does what he says." A career woman, her reputation
undermined by gossip, leaves the church broken, and never returns.
Human beings are weak, volatile, unfaithful creatures; often we
break our word and hurt others in the process. But the Scripture
clearly assures us that God's Word is not like the word of man.
God always reamins faithful to his Word, always fulfills his promises,
always does what he says he will do.
God's word is pure (or flawless), Proverbs 30:5 says. His Word
is not distorted with mixed motives or flawed by untruth. God's Word
is dependable, able to support and lift us up, able to speak
encouragement to us. His Word is a "shield" a protection for us
against the onslaughts of the Enemy, a place of refuge from the struggle
and confusion of daily life.
We live in a world that recongnises no absolute truth. Morality,
values, relationships, ethics - every decision of life, it seems,
"depends on the situation." But in the midst of the confusion,
God interjects his Word - timeless, pure, trustworthy, reliable.
We can depend upon God's Word. We can turn to him to verify who we are
and the purposes for which we were created. We can find refuge in his truth,
and rest in the knowledge that whatever he says, he will do.
Application
a) In my own experience, how have I found God's Word
to be different from the word of men and women?
b) In what areas of my life do I need the assurance of the validity
and dependability of God's Word?
c) How can today's verse help ne trust more fully in God's Word?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Cor 8:9
9 (Mt 20:28; 2Co 6:10; 13:14) For you know the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though He was rich,
yet for your sakes He became poor,
that through His poverty you might be rich.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Freeing Forgiveness
Eph 1:3-8a
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 (2Co 1:3; Eph 6:12; 2:6) Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 (Eph 5:27; Col 1:22) just as He chose us in Him
before the foundation of the world, to be holy
and blameless before Him in love;
5 (Ro 8:29–30; Eph 1:11) He predestined us to adoption as sons
to Himself through Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure
of His will,
6 (Mt 3:17; Eph 1:12) to the praise of the glory of His grace
which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7 (Ro 3:24; Ac 2:38; 20:28) In Him we have redemption through His blood
and the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace,
8 which He lavished
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Manitoba
Quick facts on Muslims in Manitoba
Saskatchewan 2015 population 1 282 000
est Muslim Population 21 349
CNMM Networks: Winnipeg
The Muslim population of Manitoba, understandably centred in Winnipeg, is very
diverse and represents some 48 different cultural and ethinic backgrounds.
Conservative estimates put their number at 21000 , with some suggesting
it might be twice that size.
Some outreach among Muslims has started, yet in comparison to the size
of this community, there is the need and opportunity for far more engagement.
Continued influx of new immigrants and refugees continues to see the growth
of this Muslim centre in Manitoba.
We rejoice in the Arabic fellowship meeting there and the energetic workers
among Muslims in Winnipeg.
Let us intercede in unity for:
- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population
- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim
communities around them, as well as training new workers
- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipiling new Muslim
background believers and for effectiveness in outreach
- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground
in the face of opposition to her new faith.
- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged
with great support
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
From https://www.30daysprayer.com/
WHAT IS IT AND WHY?
The 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World, is an international movement
that began in 1993. It calls the church to make a deliberate but respectful
effort to learn about, pray for and reach out to our world's Muslim
neighbors. It coincides annually with the important Islamic month
of religious observation - Ramadan, a time of the year when Muslims
are much more deeply aware of spiritual matters.
While Media sound bites about Islamic extremism can too easily incite anger,
fear and even hatred towards Muslims, we seek to resist this temptation
to generalize, and instead, resolve to respond and pray with the mind
and heart of Christ.
Join the millions of Christians around the world, and churches
and ministries from many denominations, who regularly participate
in this largest ongoing prayer focus on the Muslim world.
A new full-color prayer guide booklet - available each year in both adult
and kids versions - is a proven tool to help Christians to understand and
to persistently pray for Muslim neighbors and nations.
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
9th Day of the Month
a) Pray a prayter of thanksgiving throughout the day for God's unfailing
love, Mercy, compassion, faithfulness and provision.
(
Ps 100
A Psalm of thanksgiving.
1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth!
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before His presence with singing.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Know that the Lord, He is God;
it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise;
be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For the Lord is good; His mercy endures forever,
and His faithfulness to all generations.
)
b) Pray that the Lord will lead the Church in finding ways to wiesly
and effectively respond to pressing social issues
(
1 Chr 12:32
32 (Est 1:13) From the sons of Issachar,
those having understanding of times
and what Israel should do: two hundred of their captains
with all their brothers at their command.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord to give you victory.
Pray ot the Lord to use the gifts He has given you correctly.
Pray to the Lord to know the Word as your Shield.
Pray to the Lord to His riches through poverty.
Pray to the Lord for forgiveness for Sins.
Pray for Muslims in Manitoba to receive Christ as Saviour .
Pray a prayter of thanksgiving throughout the day for God's unfailing
love, Mercy, compassion, faithfulness and provision.
Pray that the Lord will lead the Church in finding ways to wiesly
and effectively respond to pressing social issues
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1 Samuel 5 - 8
1 SAMUEL 5
The Philistines and the Ark
1 (1Sa 4:1; 7:12) Now the Philistines took the ark of God,
and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2 (Jdg 16:23; 1Ch 10:10) When the Philistines took the ark of God,
they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
3 (Isa 19:1; 46:1-2; 46:7) When the Ashdodites arose early in the morning,
Dagon had fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord.
And they took Dagon and set him in his place again.
4 (Mic 1:7; Jer 50:2) When they arose early on the next morning, again
Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord,
and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off
upon the threshold. Only the torso of Dagon was left to him.
5 (Zep 1:9) Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any coming
into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6 (1Sa 5:11; Ex 9:3; Ps 32:4) But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon
the Ashdodites. He desolated them and struck them with tumors,
even Ashdod and its territories.
7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God
of Israel cannot remain with us. For His hand is heavy upon us and upon
Dagon our god."
8 So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them,
and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?"
And they answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried around
to Gath." And they carried the ark of the God of Israel there.
9 (1Sa 5:6; Dt 2:15; 1Sa 7:13) It happened that after they had carried it
about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great
destruction. And He struck the men of the city, both small and great.
And tumors broke out on them.
10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron.
And it came about that as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites
cried out, saying, "They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel
to slay us and our people."
11 (1Sa 5:6; 5:8-9) So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the
Philistines, and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go
again to His own place that He might not kill me and my people,"
for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city.
The hand of God was very heavy there.
12 (Ex 12:30) The men that did not die were plagued with the tumors.
And the cry of the city went up to heaven.
[Only Yahweh is the True God]
1 SAMUEL 6
The Ark Returned to Israel
1 Now the ark of the Lord had been in the country
of the Philistines seven months.
2 (Ge 41:8; Ex 7:11) The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners,
saying, "What shall we do with the ark of the Lord?
Tell us how we should send it to its place."
3 (Ex 23:15; Dt 16:16) They said, "If you send away the ark of the God
of Israel, do not send it empty. But return to Him a guilt offering.
Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand
is not removed from you."
4 (Jos 13:3; Jdg 3:3) Then said they, "What will be the guilt offering
which we will return to Him?"
They answered, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice according
to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For one plague was on
you all, and on your lords.
5 (Jos 7:19; 1Sa 5:6-7; 5:11) Therefore you will make images of your tumors
and images of your mice that ravage the land. And you will give glory
to the God of Israel. Perhaps He will lighten His hand from off you,
even from off your gods and from off your land.
6 (Ex 7:13; 8:15) Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians
and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He dealt severely with them,
did they not let the people go, and they departed?
7 (Nu 19:2; 2Sa 6:3) "Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milk
cows on which there has never been a yoke. Then tie the cows to the cart
and bring their calves home, away from them.
8 Then take the ark of the Lord and set it on the cart. And put the images
of gold, which you return to Him for a guilt offering, in a box by the side.
And send it away, that it may go.
9 (Jos 15:10; 21:16) See, if it goes up by the way of His own territory
to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then
we will know that it is not His hand that struck us; it was by chance
that it happened to us."
10 The men did so. And they took two milk cows, tied them to the cart,
and shut up their calves at home.
11 And they set the ark of the Lord on the cart, as well as the box
with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.
12 Then the cows took the straight way to the way of Beth Shemesh,
and went along the highway, lowing as they went. They did not turn aside
to the right hand or to the left with the lords of the Philistines walking
after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
13 Now Beth Shemesh was reaping their wheat harvest in the valley.
And they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, and they rejoiced to see it.
14 (2Sa 24:22) The cart came into the field of Joshua, the Beth Shemite,
and stood there where there was a great stone. And they split the wood
of the cart, and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.
15 The Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was with it,
where the articles of gold were, and put them on the great stone.
And the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices
the same day to the Lord.
16 (Jos 13:3; Jdg 3:3) When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it,
they returned to Ekron the same day.
17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for
a guilt offering to the Lord: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one,
for Gath one, for Ekron one.
18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities
of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities,
and of country villages. And the great stone, where they set the ark
of the Lord, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua,
the Beth Shemite.
19 (Ex 19:21; Nu 4:15) Then He struck the men of Beth ShemÂesh,
because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He struck 50070 men.
And the people lamented, because the Lord had struck the people
with a great slaughter.
20 (2Sa 6:9; Mal 3:2) The men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand
before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom will He go up from us?"
21 (1Ch 13:5-6; Jos 9:17) And they sent messengers to the inhabitants
of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark
of the Lord. Come down, and take it up to you."
1 SAMUEL 7
1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord.
And they brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill,
and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord.
2 And from the day the ark resided in Kiriath Jearim,
the days increased to twenty years.
Samuel Judges Israel
And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
3 (Jos 24:14; Ge 35:2; Dt 6:13) Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel,
saying, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart,
then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths from your midst.
And make firm your hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only.
Then He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
4 So the children of Israel put away the Baals and Ashtoreths
and served the Lord only.
5 (Jdg 20:1) Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah,
and I will pray to the Lord for you."
6 (Jdg 10:10; Ps 106:6) They gathered together to Mizpah.
And they drew water and poured it out before the Lord.
And they fasted on that day, and said there,
"We have sinned against the Lord."
So Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.
7 (1Sa 17:11; 13:6) When the Philistines heard that the children
of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines
went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it,
they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 (Isa 37:4; 1Sa 12:19-24) The children of Israel said to Samuel,
"Do not stop crying unto the Lord our God for us, that He might save us
out of the hand of the Philistines."
9 (Ps 99:6; Jer 15:1) Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a burnt
offering unto the Lord. And Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel and the Lord
heard him.
10 (1Sa 2:10; Jos 10:10) As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering,
the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel, but the Lord thundered
with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines, and confused them.
So they were beaten before Israel.
11 Israel's fighting men went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines,
and struck them, as far as below Beth Kar.
12 (Ge 35:14; Jos 4:9) Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah
and Shen. And he called its name EbenezerLit.
Stone of help. saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."
13 (Jdg 13:1) So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not again
come into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against
the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored
to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath. And Israel rescued their territory
out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel
and the Amorites.
15 (1Sa 7:6; Jdg 2:16) So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16 He went annually in a circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah.
And he judged Israel in all those places.
17 (1Sa 1:19; 1:1) But his return was to Ramah, for his house was there
and there he judged Israel. And there he built an altar to the Lord.
1 SAMUEL 8
Israel Demands a King
1 (Dt 16:18-19) And it came about when Samuel was old, that he installed
his sons as judges for Israel.
2 Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second
son was Abijah. They were judging in Beersheba.
3 (Dt 16:19; Ps 15:5) But his sons did not walk in his way, for they followed
after unlawful gain, and they took bribes, and they perverted justice.
4 (1Sa 7:17) And all the elders of Israel gathered together and they came
to Samuel at Ramah.
5 (Dt 17:14-15; 1Sa 8:19-20) They said to him, "You are old and your sons
do not walk in your ways. Now, install for us a king to govern us like
all the nations."
6 (1Sa 15:11; 12:17) But the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel,
because they said, "Give us a king to govern us."
And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7 (Ex 16:8; 1Sa 10:19) The Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people
in relation to all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected,
but Me they have rejected from reigning over them.
8 Just as all the deeds which they have done to Me, from the day I brought
them up from Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken Me
and have served other gods, so they are doing also to you now.
9 (1Sa 8:11-18; 10:25) Now then, obey their voice. Only you will testify
against them and proclaim to them the judgment concerning the king
who will reign over them."
10 So Samuel said all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking
from him a king.
11 (1Sa 10:25; 14:52) And he said, "This will be the judgment concerning
the king who will reign over you: Your sons he will take in order to place
them for himself in his chariots and as his horsemen, and they will run
before his chariot,
12 and in order to assign for himself captains of thousands and captains
of fifties, and to plow his ground, and to gather in his harvest,
and to make his weapons of war and the equipment of his chariots.
13 And your daughters he will take for perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
14 (1Ki 21:7; Eze 46:18) And your choicest fields, and vineyards,
and olive groves he will take and give them to his servants.
15 And of your seed fields and your vineyards he will take a tenth
of their harvest and will give it to his high officials and to his servants.
16 And your menservants and your maidservants, and the best of your
young men and asses he will take and make do his work.
17 Your flocks he will take a tenth of, but you will be his for slaves.
18 (Isa 1:15; Mic 3:4) And you will cry out in that day because of your king,
whom you have chosen for yourselves,
but the Lord will not answer you in that day."
19 (Jer 44:16_ But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel.
And they said, "No! But surely a king will be over us!
20 (1Sa 8:5) So that we also will be like all the nations!
And so that our king will govern us, and will go out before us,
and will fight our battles."
21 (Jdg 11:11) And after Samuel heard all the words of the people,
he spoke them in the hearing of the Lord.
22 (1Sa 8:7; Hos 13:11) And the Lord said to Samuel,
"Obey their voice, and make for them a king."
So Samuel said to Israel's fighting men,
"Go every man to his city."
2) Our Daily Bread for 9 Apr 2021
https://www.odb.org/CA/2021/04/09/a-refuge-for-the-rejected
entitled Refuge for the Rejected
Psalms 57
Ps 108:1-5
For the Music Director. To the melody of "Do Not Destroy."
A Miktam of David when he fled from Saul in the cave.
1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious tome!
For my soul seeks refuge in You;
in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
until the ruinous storm passes by.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) I will cry to God Most High,
to God who vindicates me.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He will send from heaven and save me
from the taunt of the one who crushes me. Selah
God will send forth His mercy and His truth.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) My soul is among lions,
and I lie among the sons of men who blaze like fire,
whose teeth are spears and arrows,
and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
may Your glory be above all the earth.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) They have prepared a net for my steps;
my soul is bowed down;
they have dug a pit before me,
but they have fallen into it. Selah
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) My heart is fixed, O God,
my heart is fixed;
I will sing and give praise.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) Awake, my glory!
Awake, psaltery and harp!
I will awake the dawn.
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I will thank You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) For Your mercy is great up to the heavens,
and Your truth extends to the clouds.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
may Your glory be above all the earth.
George Whitefield (1714-1770) was one of the most gifted
and effective preachers in history, leading thousands to faith in Jesus.
But his life wasn't without controversy. His practice of preaching outdoors
(to accommodate large crowds) was sometimes criticized by those
who questioned his motives and felt he should speak only within the four walls
of a church building. Whitefield's epitaph sheds light on his response to
others' harsh words: "I am content to wait till the Day of Judgment for
the clearing up of my character; and after I am dead,
I desire no other epitaph than this, 'Here lies George Whitefield-what sort
of a man he was, the great day will discover.
In the Old Testament, when David faced harsh criticism from others,
he too entrusted himself to God. When Saul falsely accused David of leading
a rebellion and he was forced to hide from Saul's approaching army in a cave,
David described being "in the midst of lions," among "men whose teeth are
spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords" (Psalm 57:4).
But even in that difficult place, he turned to God and found comfort in Him:
"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies" (v. 10).
When others misunderstand or reject us, God is our "refuge" (v. 1).
May He be forever praised for His unfailing and merciful love!
By: James Banks
Reflect & Pray
How does dwelling on God's mercy help you when you're discouraged?
How can you demonstrate His love to another?
Abba Father, I praise You that I can be accepted by You forever because
of Your Son. I take refuge in Your perfect love today.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 6 - Shielded by the Word
Proverbs 30:5
5 (Ps 12:6; 18:30) Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
A wife of ten years, betrayed by her husband's infidelity, declares that
she will never trust a man again. A teenage son says of his father, "I
can't depend on him anymore! Dad always talk big and makes promises,
but he never does what he says." A career woman, her reputation
undermined by gossip, leaves the church broken, and never returns.
Human beings are weak, volatile, unfaithful creatures; often we
break our word and hurt others in the process. But the Scripture
clearly assures us that God's Word is not like the word of man.
God always reamins faithful to his Word, always fulfills his promises,
always does what he says he will do.
God's word is pure (or flawless), Proverbs 30:5 says. His Word
is not distorted with mixed motives or flawed by untruth. God's Word
is dependable, able to support and lift us up, able to speak
encouragement to us. His Word is a "shield" a protection for us
against the onslaughts of the Enemy, a place of refuge from the struggle
and confusion of daily life.
We live in a world that recongnises no absolute truth. Morality,
values, relationships, ethics - every decision of life, it seems,
"depends on the situation." But in the midst of the confusion,
God interjects his Word - timeless, pure, trustworthy, reliable.
We can depend upon God's Word. We can turn to him to verify who we are
and the purposes for which we were created. We can find refuge in his truth,
and rest in the knowledge that whatever he says, he will do.
Application
a) In my own experience, how have I found God's Word
to be different from the word of men and women?
b) In what areas of my life do I need the assurance of the validity
and dependability of God's Word?
c) How can today's verse help ne trust more fully in God's Word?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Cor 8:9
9 (Mt 20:28; 2Co 6:10; 13:14) For you know the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though He was rich,
yet for your sakes He became poor,
that through His poverty you might be rich.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Freeing Forgiveness
Eph 1:3-8a
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 (2Co 1:3; Eph 6:12; 2:6) Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 (Eph 5:27; Col 1:22) just as He chose us in Him
before the foundation of the world, to be holy
and blameless before Him in love;
5 (Ro 8:29–30; Eph 1:11) He predestined us to adoption as sons
to Himself through Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure
of His will,
6 (Mt 3:17; Eph 1:12) to the praise of the glory of His grace
which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7 (Ro 3:24; Ac 2:38; 20:28) In Him we have redemption through His blood
and the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace,
8 which He lavished
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Manitoba
Quick facts on Muslims in Manitoba
Saskatchewan 2015 population 1 282 000
est Muslim Population 21 349
CNMM Networks: Winnipeg
The Muslim population of Manitoba, understandably centred in Winnipeg, is very
diverse and represents some 48 different cultural and ethinic backgrounds.
Conservative estimates put their number at 21000 , with some suggesting
it might be twice that size.
Some outreach among Muslims has started, yet in comparison to the size
of this community, there is the need and opportunity for far more engagement.
Continued influx of new immigrants and refugees continues to see the growth
of this Muslim centre in Manitoba.
We rejoice in the Arabic fellowship meeting there and the energetic workers
among Muslims in Winnipeg.
Let us intercede in unity for:
- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population
- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim
communities around them, as well as training new workers
- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipiling new Muslim
background believers and for effectiveness in outreach
- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground
in the face of opposition to her new faith.
- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged
with great support
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
From https://www.30daysprayer.com/
WHAT IS IT AND WHY?
The 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World, is an international movement
that began in 1993. It calls the church to make a deliberate but respectful
effort to learn about, pray for and reach out to our world's Muslim
neighbors. It coincides annually with the important Islamic month
of religious observation - Ramadan, a time of the year when Muslims
are much more deeply aware of spiritual matters.
While Media sound bites about Islamic extremism can too easily incite anger,
fear and even hatred towards Muslims, we seek to resist this temptation
to generalize, and instead, resolve to respond and pray with the mind
and heart of Christ.
Join the millions of Christians around the world, and churches
and ministries from many denominations, who regularly participate
in this largest ongoing prayer focus on the Muslim world.
A new full-color prayer guide booklet - available each year in both adult
and kids versions - is a proven tool to help Christians to understand and
to persistently pray for Muslim neighbors and nations.
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
9th Day of the Month
a) Pray a prayter of thanksgiving throughout the day for God's unfailing
love, Mercy, compassion, faithfulness and provision.
(
Ps 100
A Psalm of thanksgiving.
1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth!
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before His presence with singing.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Know that the Lord, He is God;
it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise;
be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For the Lord is good; His mercy endures forever,
and His faithfulness to all generations.
)
b) Pray that the Lord will lead the Church in finding ways to wiesly
and effectively respond to pressing social issues
(
1 Chr 12:32
32 (Est 1:13) From the sons of Issachar,
those having understanding of times
and what Israel should do: two hundred of their captains
with all their brothers at their command.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord to give you victory.
Pray ot the Lord to use the gifts He has given you correctly.
Pray to the Lord to know the Word as your Shield.
Pray to the Lord to His riches through poverty.
Pray to the Lord for forgiveness for Sins.
Pray for Muslims in Manitoba to receive Christ as Saviour .
Pray a prayter of thanksgiving throughout the day for God's unfailing
love, Mercy, compassion, faithfulness and provision.
Pray that the Lord will lead the Church in finding ways to wiesly
and effectively respond to pressing social issues
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.