Competing loyalties
by Faye Schmidt
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So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.’ And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself (1 Samuel 20:16,17).
Read 1 Samuel 20:1–23
The problem with loyalty is that everyone has their own definition of it. At some point, we will find ourselves in the painful position where being loyal to one person makes us feel like a betrayer to another.
Chapter 20 of 1 Samuel provides a guideline for when we must make a decision.
Simply put, to be loyal is to honour our commitment even if it is more beneficial for us to break it. An honourable person ‘keeps [their] oath even when it hurts’ (Psalm 15:4).
Unfortunately, many understand loyalty to be an unwavering commitment to someone’s personal agenda. When loyalty is defined in this way, the guidelines vary, and confusion and strife are sure to emerge.
King Saul’s misperception of loyalty created a horrible situation for his son Jonathan. Jonathan, the heir to Saul’s throne, swore an oath of protection to his friend David. Unfortunately, Saul felt threatened by David and was enraged that Jonathan would not help him find and kill David. Jonathan was faced with navigating the painful process of competing loyalties.
Jonathan deeply loved both his father and David, but he knew his primary loyalty was to God. He couldn’t assist his father in a personal vendetta motivated by insecurity and pride. David did nothing deserving of death. The choice was clear.
When we feel trapped by competing loyalties, the only way to make the right choice is to remember that our primary loyalty is to God, and that our hearts are to be ‘fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands’ (1 Kings 8:61).
And what is God’s command? ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another’ (John 13:34).
Heavenly Father, who has been the hope and joy of many generations, and who has given us the power to seek you throughout all ages, I pray that you grant me a clearer vision of your truth, a greater faith in your power and a more confident assurance of your love. Amen.
Faye Schmidt continues her diaconal calling through governance, having served on the Victoria–Tasmania District Church Board and the General Church Board, currently as chair of the Standing Committee on Constitutions and her congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Having lived and worked in many locations within Australia and overseas, Faye has a heart for the stranger and the newcomer. She is passionate about new ideas, learning from others and responding to needs.
How God comes to you through others.
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So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped (1 Samuel 19:12).
Read 1 Samuel 19:1–18
Our text tells the story of a man with a serious lifestyle problem. Saul was jealous and unable to control his emotions – to the point of intending to kill David … more than once. The more David served and brought benefit to the king, the more the king despised him. Sometimes, the consequences of our actions aren’t logical. We do what we think is right, only to suffer because of it. David needed help.
First, the king’s son, Jonathan, intervened with his father and tried to reason with the murderous king. For a moment, in 1 Samuel 19:6, Saul relented, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.’
Soon, another war called David to fight for his king. David performed so well in battle that Saul returned to his jealousy and tried to kill David (1 Samuel 19:10). So, David’s wife, Michal, intervened, and David escaped.
David was doing the right thing, but he was getting nowhere with the king. He needed help. God stepped in through Jonathan, then Michal and then through his own Spirit. Likewise, God steps in for us in the form of family, friends and others who care about us.
When you need help, who do you go to? Is there someone within your family like Michal, or do you have a friend like Jonathan?
One thing is certain – we all need help in times of need, and we should never forget that there is one who gave his life so that he would be our advocate before God.
Heavenly Father, I commend to your holy keeping: all who are far from home and family; all who are homeless and hungry; all who suffer pain; all
who are kept awake by anxiety or suspense. Give them all such a sense of your presence with them as may turn their loneliness into comfort
and their trouble into peace. Amen.
Faye Schmidt continues her diaconal calling through governance, having served on the Victoria–Tasmania District Church Board and the General Church Board, currently as chair of the Standing Committee on Constitutions and her congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Having lived and worked in many locations within Australia and overseas, Faye has a heart for the stranger and the newcomer. She is passionate about new ideas, learning from others and responding to needs.
Do you measure up?
by Faye Schmidt
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands (1 Samuel 18:7).
Read 1 Samuel 18:5–16
At first glance, jealousy may not seem like a major sin in our daily lives. We may get a little jealous of people from time to time, but that’s not dangerous, right?
In today’s text, Saul shows us that jealousy is actually one step short of murder.
Saul reacted in extreme jealousy against David. David was so successful in any mission Saul sent him on that the people started singing: ‘Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands’ (1 Samuel 18:7). That’s enough to make anyone angry and jealous. Saul was the king, yet his people were praising David instead of him.
Saul’s jealousy stemmed from fear and insecurity. Saul was afraid because David was closer to God than he was, and he was worried David would take over as king of the Israelites. Saul fed his own insecurities and let his jealousy grow, and in doing so, he gave Satan a foothold in his life. Saul’s jealousy grew so deep that he actually attempted to kill David on more than one occasion (1 Samuel 18:10,11).
We all experience jealousy. However, as we see with Saul, it is extremely dangerous to let jealousy fester and grow in our lives.
When we are confident in who God made us to be, we stop comparing ourselves with others and focus on what God is doing in our own lives. Instead of letting Satan use jealousy against us the way Saul did, let’s submit our anger and envy to the Lord and watch him take the burden from us.
You are special. You are unique. No-one else has your DNA. Through the saving grace of God in Jesus, who died to overcome the consequences of judgement for sins like jealousy, you can be confident that he loves and accepts you as you are.
O God, who in love created me and in love still preserves me, who loved me by sending your Son to suffer and die that I may live with you, give me patience in my hope, and make me more constant in my love for others. Amen.
Faye Schmidt continues her diaconal calling through governance, having served on the Victoria–Tasmania District Church Board and the General Church Board, currently as chair of the Standing Committee on Constitutions and her congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Having lived and worked in many locations within Australia and overseas, Faye has a heart for the stranger and the newcomer. She is passionate about new ideas, learning from others and responding to needs.
Persistence in prayer
by Faye Schmidt
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And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? (Luke 18:7a)
Read Luke 18:1–8
Luke 18:1–8 is a parable that the Lord uses to encourage his disciples to pray persistently. Prayer is a circular action – faith drives our prayer, and prayer gives steadfastness to our faith.
The parable tells of a judge who initially refuses the request of the poor widow; however, he eventually grants her justice only to stop her incessant demands.
If a corrupt, uncaring judge will grant justice out of weariness, a righteous and loving God in heaven will much more eagerly grant justice to his children who persistently ask him day and night.
Some aids can assist us in a persistent prayer life – a journal or prayer list can support consistency and focus. By keeping a record and praying until the Lord resolves the issue, one cannot help but notice God’s faithfulness in answering our prayers. Also, a record facilitates persistence. As we all understand, the Lord answers some petitions quickly. Others can take months or even years. Remember, we think of time from our own perspective. We pray to God not only with a petition but also with a timetable. God must answer my petition my way, according to my schedule.
The disciples pleaded with Jesus in Luke 11:1–4: ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’
What a comfort! Even the disciples needed help with prayer! Our Father in Heaven wants us to speak to him, and his Son pleads on our behalf so that, as his children, we may be in a relationship with him.
Give me grace, O God, to pray now with purity and sincerity for all around me. Let me remember now my friends with love and my enemies with forgiveness, entrusting them all to your protection, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Faye Schmidt continues her diaconal calling through governance, having served on the Victoria–Tasmania District Church Board and the General Church Board, currently as chair of the Standing Committee on Constitutions and her congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Having lived and worked in many locations within Australia and overseas, Faye has a heart for the stranger and the newcomer. She is passionate about new ideas, learning from others and responding to needs.
Completely under God’s care
by Charles Bertelsmeier
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The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:7,8).
Read Psalm 121
Over the past week, we have considered how God is actively involved in our daily lives, whether we are aware of it or not, and how various people responded to God’s involvement.
Firstly, we had 10 lepers healed, but only one wanted to accept the new opportunities the healing offered. Then we had King Saul, blessed with the Holy Spirit living in him to guide him; however, he gave in to peer pressure, ignoring the Spirit’s guidance.
After King Saul lost the guidance of the Holy Spirit due to his disobedience, his refusal to repent further damaged his relationship with God, causing him to drift even farther from the Lord, despite God’s continued efforts to lead him to repentance.
We saw how the jealousy of David’s eldest brother blinded him from seeing God working powerfully in David’s life. And yesterday, we saw how God’s powerful involvement in the life of David completely demoralised the Philistines and finally put some backbone into the fearful Israelites.
Today’s reading is about the confidence the psalmist has that he is entirely under God’s watchful care. The God he trusts in is not some vague spiritual force that inspires people to do great things if they have faith in him. Rather, he is a powerful God who can create a vast cosmos out of nothing (‘My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth’ – verse 2).
Our astrophysicist God created all this to provide a home for his very special creation – human beings – for them to live in a special relationship with him. God’s focus is his relationship with us, proven by his Son taking on our humanity to restore our broken relationship with him. So, our Heavenly family, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is involved in every minute of our lives, to help us see that we cannot live life fully under our own efforts, but in submission to God’s will and purpose for us.
Yes, life will have its challenges. But God has promised to be with us in those challenges. And his purpose in everything that happens to us, everything he is calling us to experience, is for our growth in our relationship with him and for our everlasting good with him in eternity.
He does want us to talk to him about what we are experiencing and struggling with. There are a whole 150 psalms in the Bible that record people struggling with understanding their relationship with God, and then giving praise and thanks when they see the light that God provides.
Heavenly Father, thank you, thank you, thank you for all the ways you care for us, drawing us closer every day into our intimate relationship with you. Thank you for being very close to us as you take us through difficult times. Please help us never stop trusting your love for us. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering in the community and at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
Inspiring others
by Charles Bertelsmeier
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When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:51b,52a).
Read 1 Samuel 17:50 – 18:4
So here is the situation: the Philistines are camped on a hill on one side of the valley. They vastly outnumber the Israelite army, and they have the monster, Goliath, on their side. On the other side of the valley are the Israelites, afraid and not knowing what to do. They are busy searching within their ranks for someone brave enough to take on Goliath.
Then God steps in, with the aid of this young lad, a shepherd boy, with no army experience. God guides the stone from the slingshot to land in the middle of Goliath’s skull. When David kills Goliath, both the Philistines and Israelites see this as a miracle from God. God proves to be more powerful than Goliath, and the Philistines, realising that they cannot fight this awesome God of the Israelites, try to get out of there as fast as they can.
On the other hand, the Israelites finally find some backbone and head after the fleeing Philistines with devastating effect.
Many of you reading this may be facing your own ‘Philistines’ at the moment. It might be related to health, finances or relationships. Talk to your Heavenly Father about your struggles. Seek his wisdom on whom the ‘shepherd boy kids’ will be in your life to encourage you and help you see the way forward. They may be medical professionals, counsellors or just friends who have been there before you. Grab your Bible and read some of the psalms and see how others have dealt with the pain they are feeling.
Heavenly Father, when we are in pain of whatever kind, it is hard not to be dominated by it. It saps our strength and the joy of anything in life. Thank you for understanding. We thank you that your Son went through the pain of rescuing us from our self‑centred lives so that we could be restored as your children. Thank you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for being with us in our pain and staying with us all the way through it. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering in the community and at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
Our capabilities to achieve God’s purpose
by Charles Bertelsmeier
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied’ (1 Samuel 17:45).
Read 1 Samuel 17:31–49
Most of us are familiar with the biblical story of David and Goliath. Goliath is a big guy, more than two metres tall and heavily armed – both for offence and defence. Goliath, as a representative of the Philistines, offers a challenge to the Israelites: instead of all the soldiers fighting in a big battle, let one representative from each side fight the other to determine the victor. It would have seemed very unfair, because there was no-one in the Israelite camp with the skills or strength to take on Goliath … until this kid turns up and offers to represent the Israelites.
David’s experience in battle is limited to caring for his flock of sheep. His enemies so far have been wild animals: lions and bears. But he has one more important weapon, and that is the God who is in charge of the whole universe and, at this moment, he is on David’s side.
Before we go on, I would like to spend a little time thinking about the boy David, looking after his flock of sheep out in the meadows by himself. Yes, he had to keep a good eye on the sheep, but he also had a lot of time on his hands. What better time to contemplate the meaning of life and get to know more intimately the God who looked after him?
It seems David was a bit of a poet and spent some of his time writing hymns about his relationship with his God. And then, of course, when he needed a bit of exercise, he could practise with his slingshot to perfect his aim. And, as we acknowledged earlier, he occasionally had to deal with wild animals threatening his flock.
So, when David headed off to confront Goliath, this wasn’t something new for David. He was doing what he always did, using the skills God had given him and trusting that God would guide his use of these skills to achieve God’s purpose.
A lesson we can take from today’s reading is that God is working through all our experiences in life to develop in us the skills he wants to use to achieve his purposes. We are not using these skills on our own, but as we live surrendered to God’s purposes, the way we let God guide us in using these skills results in him achieving what he wants to in our lives and the lives of others.
So, you may think that the job or situation you are currently in is uninteresting, and that you would like to do something more exciting. Have you considered that the skills and attitudes you are developing will be something that God can use to bless others?
Heavenly Father, we don’t always enjoy where you have called us to be or what you have called us to do. Please help us to grow in trusting your love for us so that we can be encouraged by your presence with us to honour you with our attitudes, words and actions. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering in the community and at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
Jealous of how God works in others
by Charles Bertelsmeier
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, ‘Why have you come down here?’ (1 Samuel 17:28a).
Read 1 Samuel 17:17–30
As I write this, our church is doing a series on the life of Joseph, the son of Jacob. It is interesting to note some of the parallels. Joseph, the youngest adult son, was anointed by his father with a special coat and by God with vivid predictive dreams. David, the youngest son of his father, was anointed by Samuel (and God) as the next king of Israel. In both cases, the brothers had strong negative feelings (including jealousy) against their younger brother.
The parallels continue. The older brothers are away from home working, with the youngest still safely at home. In the case of Joseph, the older brothers are tending the flock of sheep – searching for good pastures. For David, the older brothers are away fighting a war against the Philistines. In each case, their father sends the youngest brother to see how the older brothers are faring. In each case, we see the jealousy of the older brother(s) express itself.
Considering these parallels, I was reminded of times I have felt jealousy towards other Christians in whom God was working in powerful ways. Why was God not doing wonderful things through me?
One valid answer was that I was not really surrendering my life to God, giving him full freedom to call me to follow him, with the assurance I would follow (I had lots of excuses for why I couldn’t). However, I would like to pick up on another reason that relates back to St Paul’s description of each of us being a different part of the body of Christ. God really has a different plan and purpose for each one of us. When we surrender to God’s plan and purpose for us, it is to trust that he knows what he is doing and to faithfully follow his leading.
We may not get any glory, honour or even acknowledgement for our efforts, but that is the point. We don’t follow God’s calling for what we will get from it, but because of all that God has already blessed us with. The glory, honour or even acknowledgement all belong to God for what he is doing in and through us.
So, each time we feel the first pangs of jealousy about God working in others, an immediate antidote is to praise God for what he is doing in that person’s life and to thank God for all he is doing in our lives. And to pray to God that he would help you see more clearly how he is working in your life to bring his healing and good news to those in need. Maybe, even to re‑surrender your life to God’s will and purpose for you.
Heavenly Father, thank you for having a unique plan and purpose for my life. Please help me to concentrate on your call and not compare myself with others whom you have called for a different purpose. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering in the community and at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
The question of evil forces
by Charles Bertelsmeier
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him (1 Samuel 16:14).
Read 1 Samuel 16:14 – 17:11
You may struggle with reading this verse. I did and had to do quite a bit of research to better understand it. Does God really send evil spirits to torment people?
When we first meet Saul and he is anointed as king, the Bible says that ‘… the Spirit of God came powerfully upon [Saul] …’ (1 Samuel 10:10). But as we read yesterday, Saul was not prepared to follow God’s leading in fulfilling his role as king of Israel.
So, God selected a new king, David, and took his Spirit back from Saul. Although God rejected Saul as king, he didn’t reject Saul as a person and kept working in Saul’s life to draw him back to the relationship God wanted to have with Saul. Since God’s Spirit was no longer living in Saul, he was open to being ‘tormented’ by evil forces. It wasn’t that God was calling these evil forces to torment Saul; it was something these evil forces wanted to do anyway. It was that God temporarily removed some of his protection from Saul to help him understand that when we reject God’s purposes for us, the alternative is not a nice place to experience. As we surrender our lives to God, we live under his protection against the powers of evil.
When we go further in our passage for today, we read, ‘Whenever the [evil] spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him’ (1 Samuel 16:23). God had not rejected Saul as a person. God’s Spirit was in David, and when David came to Saul when he was being ‘tormented’, the Holy Spirit in David would drive the evil powers away and bring relief to Saul.
I personally take from this that we should see God working in all situations in our lives to draw us closer to him. When we observe evil in our lives and in the lives of those around us, we should not view this as punishment from God. Instead, we should open our hearts and lives to what God is doing and trust in his promise to be with us wherever he leads us.
I was struggling with a personal issue, something in my life that I knew God was not happy with, but which I seemed unable to deal with alone. Of course, I prayed about it and gave it over to God. Seemingly independently, my life was impacted by external issues that consumed much of my time, and I had to do things I knew I had to do but didn’t enjoy. Sometime later, I realised that the personal issue had lost its hold over me. God knows intimately how we tick and how best to bring about the changes he wants to happen. We just need to keep trusting in his promise that he will never stop loving us.
Awesome and loving Heavenly Father, thank you for the way you are working in my life to change me into the person you want me to be. Please help me to grow in trusting your love so that I can fearlessly follow where you are leading me. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering in the community and at LifeWay Lutheran Church.