Who is in the Boat With You?
Psalm 116:15-19
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord—
in your midst, Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord.
Reflections: The reality in life is that someday we will all die. But our prayer is that we would die being faithful in the sight of the Lord. This is a thanksgiving psalm of David, where he gives thanks for what God had done for him, and also for his mother who showed him what a life of service looked like. He reflects that he had been faithful to the vows he had made to the Lord, because of God’s faithfulness to him all the days of his life, in good times and in bad. The result of God’s deliverance caused him to praise God and in the courts of the people give Him thanks. David is a great model of a servant who served God until the end, and one day we will meet him if we follow his example of dependence on God and humility until the end.
1 Samuel 28, 29
Saul and the Medium at Endor
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said. 8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.” 9 But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.” 11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said. 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.” 14 “What does he look like?” he asked. “An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” 16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.” 20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night. 21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.24 The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.
Reflections: Here we see the crazy story of King Saul, who had initially driven out all the spiritists and mediums, which was proper according to the Law. But in a pinch he reverted back to using them and even went as far as to dress up in disguise, so no one would see his hypocrisy. But God saw it and as he consulted the medium of Endor, Samuel the prophet came from the dead to rebuke him. Samuel prophesied that he and his sons would be with him soon. Immediately Saul realized his sin and fell to the floor in grief. What a sad sight, the once king of Israel reduced to this behavior. Saul will forever be an example to us of a gifted leader, who went from trusting in the Lord to trusting in himself. Rather than having an “audience of One”, his pride caused him to be humbled greatly to a point which he surrendered all of his leadership to David who was a man after God’s own heart.
This story reminds us that none of us are immune to falling to the temptation of pride. It was one of the temptations the devil tried to get Jesus to bite on in the Wilderness. Where does the enemy tempt you with pride? How can you be more like David than Saul in whatever God has called you to lead?
John 6:16-24
Jesus Walks on the Water
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[a] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. 22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Reflection: We see everybody is looking for Jesus. His disciples, the crowds, and then he appears to the disciples on the lake. Initially they don’t see it is him. They are so concerned about their circumstances, they don’t even recognize Jesus. Once they were willing to take him into the boat, immediately the boat reached the other side.
You can see the disciples straining on their own power with the strong winds and rough waters. They were frightened, frustrated and out of gas. But when they are willing to take Jesus into the boat everything changes. It is no accident that John says they got to where they wanted to go “immediately”. We often go on in our lives frustrated, flailing away, only using our resources until that still, small voice says, “Why don’t you look for Jesus in your situation.” And when we do we are given an inner calm to deal with life’s circumstances.
As you start your day, remember to invite Jesus into the boat with you. There is a good chance you get to where you want to go a lot faster and a lot easier than in your own strength alone.
If you will only obey the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. Deuteronomy 28:1,6
Let anyone with ears to hear listen! Mark 4:9
Obedience, trust, following your lead: all these are based on studying your Word and listening for your voice. Ever-present God, still our busy minds that we may hear your voice today. Amen.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord—
in your midst, Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord.
Reflections: The reality in life is that someday we will all die. But our prayer is that we would die being faithful in the sight of the Lord. This is a thanksgiving psalm of David, where he gives thanks for what God had done for him, and also for his mother who showed him what a life of service looked like. He reflects that he had been faithful to the vows he had made to the Lord, because of God’s faithfulness to him all the days of his life, in good times and in bad. The result of God’s deliverance caused him to praise God and in the courts of the people give Him thanks. David is a great model of a servant who served God until the end, and one day we will meet him if we follow his example of dependence on God and humility until the end.
1 Samuel 28, 29
Saul and the Medium at Endor
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said. 8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.” 9 But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.” 11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said. 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.” 14 “What does he look like?” he asked. “An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” 16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.” 20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night. 21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.24 The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.
Reflections: Here we see the crazy story of King Saul, who had initially driven out all the spiritists and mediums, which was proper according to the Law. But in a pinch he reverted back to using them and even went as far as to dress up in disguise, so no one would see his hypocrisy. But God saw it and as he consulted the medium of Endor, Samuel the prophet came from the dead to rebuke him. Samuel prophesied that he and his sons would be with him soon. Immediately Saul realized his sin and fell to the floor in grief. What a sad sight, the once king of Israel reduced to this behavior. Saul will forever be an example to us of a gifted leader, who went from trusting in the Lord to trusting in himself. Rather than having an “audience of One”, his pride caused him to be humbled greatly to a point which he surrendered all of his leadership to David who was a man after God’s own heart.
This story reminds us that none of us are immune to falling to the temptation of pride. It was one of the temptations the devil tried to get Jesus to bite on in the Wilderness. Where does the enemy tempt you with pride? How can you be more like David than Saul in whatever God has called you to lead?
John 6:16-24
Jesus Walks on the Water
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[a] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. 22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Reflection: We see everybody is looking for Jesus. His disciples, the crowds, and then he appears to the disciples on the lake. Initially they don’t see it is him. They are so concerned about their circumstances, they don’t even recognize Jesus. Once they were willing to take him into the boat, immediately the boat reached the other side.
You can see the disciples straining on their own power with the strong winds and rough waters. They were frightened, frustrated and out of gas. But when they are willing to take Jesus into the boat everything changes. It is no accident that John says they got to where they wanted to go “immediately”. We often go on in our lives frustrated, flailing away, only using our resources until that still, small voice says, “Why don’t you look for Jesus in your situation.” And when we do we are given an inner calm to deal with life’s circumstances.
As you start your day, remember to invite Jesus into the boat with you. There is a good chance you get to where you want to go a lot faster and a lot easier than in your own strength alone.
If you will only obey the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. Deuteronomy 28:1,6
Let anyone with ears to hear listen! Mark 4:9
Obedience, trust, following your lead: all these are based on studying your Word and listening for your voice. Ever-present God, still our busy minds that we may hear your voice today. Amen.
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