The Park Forum

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel 11 Listen: (2:43) Read: 2 Peter 3 Listen: (3:21)

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 11.2, 6

2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”

6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger.9.14-18

Reflection: Confront the Spirit of Cruelty

By John Tillman

The city of Jabesh Gilead tried to make peace with Nahash the Ammonite. But cruelty made peace impossible.

They offered political, economic, and legal compromises—to pay tribute, surrender control, and be ruled by their opponent. But that wasn’t enough.

Perhaps Nahash disputed the border, feeling that he should have legal sovereignty over the area. Perhaps Nahash felt he was financially taken advantage of or deserved to gain an economic advantage in the region. If so, those claims were secondary. Nahash didn’t voice political or economic demands. He wanted to gouge out eyes. He wanted to cause shame, humiliation, and disgrace. Cruelty was the point.

When news reached Gibeah, they exhibited three biblically appropriate reactions to injustice and unacceptable cruelty—weeping, anger, and action.

First, weeping. Our hearts should be moved when others suffer cruelty, humiliation, and shame. Weeping includes crying out to God in prayer for justice. This is especially true when the victims are members of our community. However, Christ’s teaching does not define “neighbor” in geographical, political, ethnic, or familial terms. Christ charges us to act as neighbors, even across these borders and divisions.

Second, anger. Saul “burned with anger” after the Spirit “came powerfully upon him.” Injustice and cruelty should inspire Spirit-empowered (and controlled) anger. Expressing this anger, both in prayer to God and in critiques and challenges to fellow humans, is a vital part of seeking justice. When critiquing injustice we don’t need to “tone it down” so long as we are telling the truth and not being abusive, arrogant, or hypocritical. We want people to help stop injustice because they fear God, not because they fear us.

Third, action. Action takes risks. Saul not only took action himself, he demanded action from others. Saul defended those who were threatened and freed those held captive. He prevented shame, dishonor, and humiliation. There may be times we are powerless to stop oppressors. Even then, resistance is required. We cannot passively permit evil to easily overcome its victims. We must stand in its way, even if we fall before its advance.

One key to spotting injustice is the spirit of cruelty. This spirit spoils even the enforcement of good laws. Where cruelty rules, justice is absent and peace is impossible. Open your eyes to see injustice and be ready to weep, to burn with anger, and take action. Confront the spirit of cruelty wherever it occurs.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

But as for me, this is my prayer to you, at the time you have set, O Lord:
In your great mercy, O God, answer me with your unfailing help.
Save me from the mire; do not let me sink; let me be rescued from those who hate me and out of the deep waters.
Let not the torrent of waters wash over me, neither let the deep swallow me up; do not let the Pit shut its mouth upon me.
Answer me, O Lord, for your love is kind; in your great compassion, turn to me. — Psalm 69.14-18

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Do Not Take Advantage

Doesn’t a meritocracy mean that winning proves I deserve it and you don’t? Doesn’t the survival of the fittest imply the elimination of the weak?

Do Not Take Advantage

Read more: Vulnerable Quartet

The “quartet of the vulnerable” is a term for those vulnerable to harm, particularly in the Bible: the widow, the orphan, the immigrant, and the poor.

Vulnerable Quartet

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel  10 Listen: (4:34) Read: 2 Peter 2 Listen: (3:52)

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 10.24-26

24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!” 25 Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes. 26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.

Reflection: A Sympathetic Villain Origin Story

By John Tillman

Saul’s humble beginnings sound like a hero’s. But he became a villain.

When Samuel first met him, Saul was a long way from home, broke, with no food, was indecisive, and a bit of a blunderer. Saul failed to find the donkeys he was sent to seek and was gone long enough that his father was worried about his son instead of the donkeys. Saul didn’t have much going for him in the way of kingly attributes, other than being tall and handsome, but he got the job anyway. (That usually seems to be enough, doesn’t it?)

Saul had everything he needed to be a great and heroic leader: a humble beginning, a wise mentor, willing followers, and the Spirit of God upon him. However, this sympathetic start was a villain’s origin story.

In recent decades, the entertainment industry has obsessed over sympathetic villain origin stories. Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians, and Scar from The Lion King each got prequel stories explaining their motivations in a sympathetic manner. The Joker from Batman, President Snow from The Hunger Games, and Sauron from Lord of the Rings have origin stories in film or television telling how they became the villains we fear. The Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz got a full hero’s rewrite as Elphaba from Wicked.

Villain backstories done well can be cautionary tales that teach us that we are all a few bad decisions and moral compromises from villainy. Done badly, they excuse violence and become apologetics for ruthlessness and vengeance.

It’s worth examining Saul’s villain origin story as a warning to ourselves from two perspectives.

First, we must remember that villains think themselves heroes. Saul starts out “small” in his own eyes (1 Samuel 15.17) yet becomes a despot who build monuments in his own honor. (1 Samuel 15.12) The path of humility is hard and narrow. The path of pride is wide and easy.

Second, we must remember that people we trust and follow or love and mentor can become villains. I don’t think Samuel knew Saul’s destiny. At the beginning, he seemed genuinely hopeful. Someone you love right now might be on a villain’s path. Hope is good. Naiveté is not. It’s okay to be inspired and aspirational. But you need to be ready to stand in their way to confront them or tear yourself away from them.

Lord give us wisdom!

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: “In all truth I tell you, I am the gate of the sheepfold. All who have come before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep took no notice of them. I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe: such a one will go in and out and will find pasture.” — John 10.7-9

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Selfish Supermen

Flawed heroes in the Bible, like Samson, do not excuse flawed leaders today.

Selfish Supermen

Read more: Don’t Empower Villain Eras

The same person who is heroic in one moment can be villainous in another.

Don’t Empower Villain Eras

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel  5-6  Listen: (6:03) Read:  2 Timothy 3 Listen: (2:21)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel  7-8 Listen: (8:34) Read: 2 Timothy 4 Listen: (2:48)
Read: 1 Samuel  9 Listen: (4:42) Read: 2 Peter 1 Listen: (3:06)

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 5.7-12

7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?” They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel. 9 But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” 11 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. 12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

1 Samuel 6.6

6 Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When Israel’s god dealt harshly with them, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?

Reflection: Not Plagues but Presence

By John Tillman

In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Nazis captured the ark to take to their capital, Berlin, as a prize (and hopefully a weapon) for Hitler. In today’s passage, the Philistines captured the ark, and took it to Ashdod, their capital, as a prize for their god, Dagon.

The only biblically accurate part of Raiders’ is that plagues strike those who captured the ark. In the film, a mysterious power burns off the Nazi symbols stamped on the ark’s crate. In Ashdod, the idol of Dagon was repeatedly toppled until his head and hands were broken off. In the film, those who look into the Ark are burned up. In Ashdod and other Philistine cities, people died from tumors and rats.

Eventually, the Philistines realize they are suffering plagues just like Egypt when they held Israel captive. To stop the plagues, Egypt let Israel go, sending them out with gifts of gold. To stop their plagues, the Philistines let the ark go, sending it out with gifts of gold. Through the Egyptian and Philistine plagues, God redeemed from captivity a people, Israel, and an object, the ark, which represented his presence.

To Egypt and the Philistines, God’s presence was a terror and a plague because they partnered with sin and death. His hand was “heavy,” bringing them death and destruction. To Israel, God’s presence was a joy. His hand sustained them, lifting them up and providing for them. The difference was being inside the covenant or outside the covenant—a partner of life or a partner of death.

As Christians, we are redeemed to represent the presence of Jesus. The curtain to the mercy seat, the throne of God, is open. The Holy Spirit abides with us. In a very real way, we take the presence of God with us wherever we go.

Just as Israel was held responsible for properly carrying and representing God’s presence, we are responsible for carrying the cross of Christ and representing him. When Israel failed to represent and respect God, they lost the ark and God’s presence. The glory departed. (1 Samuel 4.20-22)

How are you ensuring that you respect and represent the presence of Jesus to those around you? We are not called to bring plagues but God’s presence. To those under the heavy hand of sin and death, we bring an invitation to be redeemed from plagues and join the blessings of Christ.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Love the Lord, all you who worship him; the Lord protects the faithful, but repays to the full those who act haughtily. — Psalm 31.23

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Seduced by Corn Kings

Corn kings promised profit and growth through fertility and harvest. Baal is a god of this type.

Seduced by Corn Kings

Read The Bible With Us

Our Bible reading plan immerses you in the Bible at a sustainable, two-year pace. Go deeper with God’s word.

https://mailchi.mp/theparkforum/m-f-daily-email-devotional

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel 4 Listen: (3:56) Read: 2 Timothy 2 Listen: (3:17)

Reflection: Treating God Like Dagon

By John Tillman

After a military loss, Israel’s leaders ask a good question but come to the wrong conclusion. They ask, “Why did the Lord bring defeat…?”

This could have been a good moment. We have seen better versions of moments like this. When Israel lost battles in the past, good leaders sought the Lord through repentance, weeping, and offerings for sin. (Joshua 7.3-13; Judges 20.26-28) That doesn’t seem to be what happened here.

Instead of going to God, Israel brought the Ark of the Covenant, the throne of God, to the war camp. Despite what Indiana Jones said, the Ark is never mentioned as a weapon carried into battle. At Jericho, it was there at God’s direct instructions, representing his presence. However, scripture doesn’t describe the Ark being involved in the battle. (Joshua 6.15-20) In Saul’s camp, the Ark is there explicitly for the purpose of seeking God’s will and is not carried toward the action. (1 Samuel 14.17-20) Presumably, in Joab’s camp, it served the same function. (2 Samuel 11.10-11)

However, in this war camp, Israel cheered instead of confessed because they were after power not communion. They didn’t seek God as a source of wisdom to follow, they fetched him like a weapon to wield. They made God a tool or a prop to deliver invincibility. They treated him exactly as the Philistines treated their gods. And the Philistines recognized that “a god has come into the camp.” (1 Samuel 4.7)

There are many false gods in our culture. The Philistine’s god was Dagon. He was one of the “Baals,” sometimes called Baal’s father. His powers and promises? Prosperity. Growth.

Do you notice powerful cultural forces that promise prosperity and growth in family, business, or politics? If it makes promises like a god and demands loyalty like a god, it’s probably idolatrous, even if it’s not literally a spiritual force of evil. If it quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. Beware.

Israel didn’t start worshiping Dagon here, and we probably wouldn’t knowingly worship our culture’s false gods. However, Israel did treat Yahweh like the Philistines treated Dagon and we might fall into the trap of treating God like cultural “gods.”

Sometimes the real spiritual danger is not being captured by other gods but treating Yahweh as if he is one of them. Do you treat God in the same way you treat a winning political or business philosophy? Are you after God’s presence or his power?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. — Psalm 52.8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: When God Shakes Our Foundation

Why would God treat his own Temple like Samson treated the temple of Dagon?
The people worshiped other idols alongside God…

When God Shakes Our Foundation—Readers’ Choice

Consider Supporting Our Work

How do we keep doing what we do? Because of donations from people like you. Please consider becoming a donor.

Supporting our Work

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Samuel 3 Listen: (3:03) Read: 2 Timothy 1 Listen: (2:37)

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 3:1, 12-13

1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them.

Reflection: Rare Visions and Blind Priests

By Erin Newton

Do you think God ever needs time to “recharge his social battery”? Is he ever at a loss for words? No, that’d be ridiculous. The God of the universe does not grow tired or weary.

So why is the word of the Lord during Eli’s priesthood a rare occurrence? Koowon Kim points out that just as Eli’s eyesight was failing, so too was his spiritual vision (1 Samuel, Asia Bible Commentary).

The text says, “There were not many visions.” So there had to be some. God was still speaking to his people, just as he had been doing during Abraham’s sojourn, Moses’s wildnerness wandering, and so on. God wasn’t suddenly mute. God’s leader simply stopped listening.

The apprenticeship of Samuel meant fresh eyes toward God. In fact, notice where Samuel was sleeping—in the temple. He was in the prime location to convene with God. However, when God called once, twice, and a third time(!), Samuel was unaware of his voice.

What exactly had Eli been teaching his young protégé? Lessons must have been centered around the liturgical duties he’d need to perform someday: sacrifices, cleansing, blessings, intercessions, burning, washing, etc. In all of his lessons, Eli must not have mentioned that God liked to talk to his own people. The priesthood for him was simply going through the motions.

But God doesn’t give up. Koowon Kim notes that God would have called Samuel over and over and over until he responded. He is that persistent with us. If Eli was going blind (spiritually and physically), God would grab the attention of those fresh eyes—someone willing to jump up in the middle of the night to answer the call of his master.

If God never tires of speaking to his people, why was the word of the Lord so rare? Based on the vision given to Samuel of the impending judgment for Eli, Koowon Kim suggests, “As it turned out, the corrupt leadership constituted the obstacles that prevented the words and visions of God from making it to the nation.”

And so it is today. Some Christian leaders are blind to the vision of God. Like Eli, they ignore “the sin they knew about” and tolerate those who yoke our God with sinful practices.

We can be Elis or Samuels: obstacles or prophets. We can snuff out the Light of the world in our lives or we listen to God calling us.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined from ore and purified seven times in fire. — Psalm 12.6

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: God Starts In The Dark

Samuel’s light that brought judgment and exposed corruption…banished his mother’s shame but shamed Eli’s wicked sons.

God Starts In The Dark

Read more: Where Judgment Falls

Samuel comes to remind us that judgment is coming for the Hophni’s, Phinehas’s, and Eli’s of the world…

Where Judgment Falls