Philistines

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1 Chronicles 14:12 Destroy Their gods

The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire. 1 Chronicles 14:12

People will often decide that they do not want some things and choose to abandon those things. This occurs often when a person moves to a new home. Odds and end things are left behind in the house or on the property that are no longer desired. The new people moving into the place will sometimes pick up those items and use them for their own personal use whether they really need it or not.

David had defeated the Philistines in a battle at Baal Perazim. David had all the false gods that the Philistines had abandoned there destroyed in a fire.

In every society around the world there are many different types of false gods that the world worships as great and almighty. Some will directly believe that these things are gods, while the majority just place them in a position of God. Priority will be placed on those things over anything of God.

Occasionally the world will choose to get abandon those false gods for a different false god. This will occur with being physically left behind or by selling them.

Many believers will pick up these false gods and make them their own. Two common false gods that the world worships are movies and books. These things do not honor or serve God and will usually promote sinful activities. On the surface those false gods look and appear good, but underneath bring about death.

Instead of picking these things up and bringing them into their homes, believers should destroy them by fire. Believers are to flee all sin and all appearances of sin, rather than taking on those sins for their own. Destruction of the false gods prevents any worship of them.

Take time to take a look through your home and see if there are any things of the world that are false gods in it. These are things that take your time and focus away from God. Or anything that you will give all of your strength to do or keep.

Instead of keeping those things, burn them. Get rid of the false gods and turn to the one true God of heaven and earth. The false things of this world will only bring about death in the end. God will give you an abundant and true life that will last for eternity.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will open your eyes to the false gods in your life; that God will give you the strength to destroy the false gods in your life; and that you will serve and worship God alone.

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1 Samuel 13:12 Feeling Compelled

“I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” 1 Samuel 13:12

In difficult situations people will often feel compelled to do something that is normally not to be done. There is a pressure to break the rules to make something happen. People will quickly justify their reasons for breaking the rules to get something done. Often these rules have small affects, while other times they have a major effect causing very negative repercussions in many ways.

Saul had been waiting on Samuel to come to offer a sacrifice. Since Samuel had not come yet and the Philistines were against him, he made the sacrifice himself, something only the prophet or priest was to do.

It is very common for people to want to cut corners to make something happen a certain way. People look at it as not being wrong since it is still getting the job done, even though often it is breaking the rules.

This is done due to the high pressure to be successful no matter what it takes.

Believers can sometimes fall into this same trap. They will choose to take a situation into their own hands, compelled to do something rather than waiting upon God’s timing and obeying what He said to do or not do.

The only time a believer should act upon something he is feeling compelled to do is when it is from the Holy Spirit.
Everything else may be sin.

Obedience to God takes precedence over anything else that a believer may feel compelled or pressured by the world to do. The moment one disobeys God, he has sinned against God and begins to lose God’s favor in his life.

There may be times when you may be compelled to take things into your own hands and go against God’s commands to you. Keep your heart and ears open to hearing what God wants you to do and do that.

Do not allow yourself to be deceived into being compelled to break God’s commands. Know and trust that God is in control and knows the best time and way for everything to occur in your life. God is faithful and will never break His word or His commands to you.

In the end God will work all things out for your good and His kingdom.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what God is commanding you to do; that you will be led by the Holy Spirit in all that you do; and that God will give you strength to obey His every command to you.

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1 Samuel 5:11 Recognizing God’s Judgement

So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. 1 Samuel 5:11

When disasters or hard times comes upon most people, they feel it is bad luck or bad choices that has brought those times upon them. Very seldom do people search for a deeper meaning or reason to the problems that they are facing. Everything is taken at face value.

The Philistines had captured the ark of the covenant from the Israelites. Everywhere the ark was kept, there was disaster and death. The people wanted ark sent back, knowing God’s hand was against them.

God is always at work striving to get people to turn to Him and recognize their need for Jesus. His love for people is so great that He will use whatever means necessary to accomplish that goal.

There are times when a believer begins to step into sin and turning away from God, that God brings on some struggles to get his attention and draw him back. In the same way as the world sees a bad situation, many believers see the negative situation as bad luck. Many will even get angry with God for being harsh on them and allowing bad times to occur.

Rather than getting angry with God, one should see if there is sin in his life and turn back to God. He may also seek if it is just God allowing him to be tested to see where his heart is. Believers need to recognize the hand of God in every situation. Then seek to do God’s will.

God uses every situation for your benefit. It is either to get your attention or to reward you. Allow God to open your eyes to what He is doing in your life and how to react to it. Judgment may occur in this life to turn your heart back towards Him and get rid of some sin in your life.

There may be a need for you to repent and change some ways. Or there may be a need to hold on tighter to God to pass the test.

Do you recognize God’s hand in your situation?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will see God working in your life; that God will strengthen you to turn from all sin; that you will live for God in every area of your life; and that you will give your whole life to God’s use.

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1 Samuel 29:6 A Good Report

So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, bu the rulers don’t approve of you.” 1 Samuel 29:6

In the process of fleeing King Saul, David had went to King Achish, a Philistine king, to seek refuge. While living there, he served Achish faithfully. When the Philistines were getting ready to directly fight the Israelites, the leaders did not trust David and wanted him to stay back from the battle. Achish told David that he could find nothing wrong with him and wanted him to go to battle with him, but the leaders did not want it. He asked David to stay back and not go to the battle.

In the workplace there are many different types of workers. Some will try to not to do any work if they can get by with it. Some will try to do as little as possible while getting the job done correctly. While others will go above and beyond the required work. They not only do the best job possible, they do extra work without being told to do it.

When a person is looking for another job, they usually need a reference from a previous job. The boss has to give a report on how they did as a worker.

In your life there will be times when another person must give a report on how you are doing. It will not only be in transferring of jobs, but in many other areas of life. What kind of report can be given about you?

Will those who work with you or are around you (such as friends) be able to give a good report of your faithfulness and loyalty?

Ultimately, God will be giving a report about you when you die and stand before Him. What kind of report can he give about you?

David had received a report of being faithful, reliable and with no faults. Would you receive the same report today?

I pray today that be faithful and reliable to everyone and God in your life; that God and others can speak only good about you; that God and others will be pleased to have you around; and that God will approve of  you being called His child.

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1 Samuel 4:6-8 Recognizing God’s Presence

Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hands of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.” 1 Samuel 4:6-8

The Israelites were being defeated by the Philistines. They decided to bring the ark of the covenant into the camp with them. They believed that if it was with them, God would give them victory.

When the Philistines learned that the ark had come into the camp, they were very afraid. The Philistines, who did not follow God, recognized it as a the presence of the god who defeated the Egyptians and felt that they were doomed to die.

Going through life, many people do not recognize the presence or hand of God in their lives. When things are going good for them, it is often marked as they had good luck or because of their hard work.

In many churches God’s presence will show up, but as soon as the service is over, everyone leaves to go home. They do not wait in God’s presence to see what He is going to do. Many do not even recognize that His presence is really there.

Some people will read the Bible on a daily basis, but just read it for the words and the duty to do so. They do not recognize that God’s presence is in the words of the Bible. His presence is there with them to guide them through their lives.

Do you recognize God’s presence when He shows up?

Or are you so busy with life and self that you do not see Him?

The pagan Philistines knew it was a god who was there, do you realize it is God who is there with you?

I pray today that you will know God’s presence; that you will not see things as your own work or good luck; that you will give God honor for all that is good in your life; and that you will show God to everyone around you.