The Champions Spirit
Volume 69, Issue 12
March 28, 2010
In This Issue
...Pants on Fire!
Perhaps you have heard the first part of the saying which is completed with the words above. You’ve heard it...perhaps your said it (when you were a child)... “Liar, Liar, pants on fire!”
Could this have been said of David? Perhaps you remember his words in 2 Samuel 1. Maybe you were as shocked by them as I was. Let’s examine the evidence...
Saul, king of Israel, did not consider himself as a friend of David. Just the opposite, in fact. Twice, David narrowly escaped being “pinned to the wall” with a spear thrown from the hand of the king himself. A number of times, David had to flee for his life from the king and his soldiers. If caught, his life would have been quickly ended.
But now, at the time of our reading, the situation has changed. A young man has told David what he assumed would be wonderful news to the fugitive—Saul was dead! It wasn’t a rumor, it was the truth. In fact, the young man claimed to have ended the life of the king himself!
What was David’s reaction? What would have been yours? Jump up and down with joy? Give “high fives” all around?
Just the opposite! David tore his clothes in mourning. He wept and fasted. He composed a lament, “The Song of the Bow” to be taught to the sons of Judah. Of Saul, he wrote: “Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! ... Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life ... O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.” (2 Sam. 1:19, 23-24)
Was he talking about the same Saul we’ve been discussing? In speaking of Saul as “beloved and pleasant” was David the proverbial “liar, liar?”
I believe that David chose the words he used and that he chose them on purpose. For whatever he was, Saul, as David pointed out on several occasions, was “the Lord’s anointed.” In his early days, Saul did have some admirable qualities and characteristics. It was those—and to that earlier time—it seems to me, of which David will include in his lament. Rather than being the “liar, liar, pants on fire!” writer, David made the conscious choice of whatsay about the first king of Israel. He chose to give honor and to speak highly, even of this one who had sought his life. He took the high road. David chose well.
—Larry Keele
FAMILY MATTERS...
Welcome to Champions! We are thankful for your presence today. May our worship together be pleasing to our God!
Sunday Josh Freeman and Emmett Gaines asked for prayers in their behalf. Continue to remember them in your petitions to the Lord!
We appreciate the Flennikens for hosting the Men’s Day program. We were blessed with opportunities to learn from God’s Word and to share time together. Thanks to John Nance for his work in getting this program together.
Coming up! Friend Day (and Day at the Park) is right around the corner, April 18th! Our goals for the day include reaching 330 in Bible class and 440 in worship! Following services we will adjourn to Spring Creek Park for dinner, our final devotional of the day, and time for fun! Plan for it!
Look at the Book: Psalms—the ancient song book!
Parting Thought: There’s no use putting your best foot forward if you drag the other one!
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
Jeremy's Junction
A few days ago, I took a short trip to San Antonio with Aubri and my parents. This was the first time I had been there, and I had a blast. One of my favorite parts was going to the Natural Bridge Animal Safari, where we had quite the adventure. There were moments when ostriches were sticking their heads in the windows trying to take our food (or maybe mistaking my small wife for food!) and other times when we were able to feed zebras from our hands. We had a great time.
One of the first things that we did when we arrived in San Antonio was visit the Alamo. I had always wanted to see this famous battlefield but had not had the opportunity. It really was an amazing experience to be able to walk through the place where those brave soldiers made their last stand.I enjoyed seeing the various souvenirs and monuments on display showing the names of those that were known to have fallen in this place.
History is filled with moving and inspirational stories such as the tale of the Alamo – times where regular people fought with conviction for what they believed in, despite the personal consequences. Certain death would not deter these men and women from fighting for their beliefs.
Historically, the ultimate example of this is Jesus, who despite facing certain painful death and separation from God, never quit fighting for that which He believed. They mocked Him, scourged Him, stripped His clothes, and crucified Him. He took on the sins of the world and still, He never quit. He never used His authority to call on an army of angels to wipe humanity out. He held the course. He did it for you and me. He did it so that we could be free. Not just free from tyranny, politics, or pain, but free from sin. Heaven is waiting for the faithful who take up their cross and follow Him because He never gave up.
Never give up. Despite how dark it may become or how appeasing to the eye worldly living may seem, even if Satan's attacks makes it seem as if you are facing impending doom, God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. Christ held the course as a clear and present example. He held the course, so that you too can stand firm.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong (I Corinthians 16:14).
—Jeremy Geurin
John’s Jogs
BIBLE BASICS #8
As there were 5 books of law there are 12 books of history, Joshua through Esther (reference Bible Basics 1). Remember we left Moses dead on Mount Nebo after 40 years of wandering until all men of fighting age had died. We now have a new population of Israelites. After Moses died the Lord said to JOSHUA son of Nun:
“Moses my servant is dead. You and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them – the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river – Euphrates – all the Hittite country – to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave nor forsake you.”
To be successful God expected of Joshua and the Israelites to keep the “Law of Moses.” Don’t depart right or left. Meditate on it day and night. Don’t be discouraged or terrified for God will be with you wherever you go. Be strong and courageous.
The BOOK OF JOSHUA is a history of the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua crossing the Jordan and conquering and dividing (among nine tribes of Israelites – Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh had received theirs east of the Jordan) the “promised land.” When they obeyed God they succeeded and were defeated when disobedience occurred.
The BOOK OF JUDGES is a history of God’s people as they formed their new nation under a loose knit confederation of the 12 tribes under God as their king. It receives its name from the 12 heroes of Israel whose deeds it records. They were not magistrates but military leaders sent by God to aid and relieve His people in time of external danger. Six of them – Othniel, Ehud, Barak, Gideon, Jephthan and Samson – are treated in some detail – the other six only has a summary preservation of their activities. Two other Judges are described in I Samuel – Eli and Samuel – who seem to have ruled the entire nation of Israel whereas the 12 mentioned in this book probably exercised their authority, sometimes simultaneously, over one or another tribe of Israel, never over the entire nation.
The purpose of the book is to show that the fortunes of Israel depended upon the obedience or disobedience of the people to God’s law. Whenever they rebelled against Him, they were oppressed by pagan nations; when they repented, He raised up judges to deliver them. The cycle of events: 1) The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 2) The Lord handed Israel over to enemies who oppressed them. 3) In her distress, Israel looked to God. 4) God in His compassion, raised up judges to save them. 5) Israel would again forsake the Lord, and the cycle repeated. God showed Himself as the ultimate leader of Israel!
Next: Israel Rejects God as King.
—John Qualls