For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9
Summer 2001 Volume 2, Issue 3 |
Things That Were Written Aforetime... |
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Lessons in Old Testament Scripture...Romans 15:4
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By Ted Parks
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In Judges chapter 9, we are introduced to Abimelech, a son of Gideon. Being ambitious for power, and lacking the virtues of his father, Abimelech conspired with the men of Shechem to remove his seventy half-brothers from ruling them that he may become king. He was given 70 pieces of silver out of the house of a false god with which he hired evil men to murder his brethren. Only one of his brothers escaped and Abimelech was made king. Three years later, the men of Shechem turned against Abimelech. While besieging the city of Thebez, he chased the inhabitants into a tower in the center of the city. As Abimelech and his army tried to break down the door to the tower, a woman from inside cast down a piece of mill stone on his head, breaking his skull. Finally we read in verse 54, “Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.” Here, we find an account of a man deeply concerned about his reputation. He did not want to be known as a man who died at the hand of a woman; because it was beneath his dignity. Yet, Abimelech had lost any integrity he may have had years earlier, when he murdered his brothers. Regardless of how men may have regarded him, Abimelech lost integrity with God. Man has often been concerned with how he will be remembered. He builds monuments, writes books, and wages war in hopes of leaving behind a legacy of his life. The Bibles tells us in 2 Peter 3:10 that such things, “...shall melt with fervent heat,” and “shall be burned up.” The wise man, Solomon, declared in Ecc 1:14, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” The apostle John declared, “but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). Indeed, it is important for Christians to live in this world as an influence to ungodly men (Gal 4:5-6). However, if we compromise the faith in order to please men, we lose our influence on them and our integrity with God. In 1Samuel 15, king Saul was sent by God to destroy the Amalekites. His instructions were to kill every man, woman, child, and animal (v.3). However, Saul brought Agag, the Amalekite king, and the best of their flocks back alive. He had disobeyed God. When Samuel confronted Saul with his sin, Saul refused to repent or take responsibility. |
As a result Samuel told him, “The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day”(v.28). Saul then pleaded with Samuel in verse 30, “...yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel,” Saul’s actions proved that he desired the honor of men more than the honor of God, and he died without dignity by his own hand on the battle-field of Gilboa (1 Sam 31:4). Now consider a man of great esteem with God. King David is called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), yet he was not without sin. In 2 Samuel chapter
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