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8B RELIGION/^ Charlotte Thursday, October 26, 2006 Keeping promises made Continued from page 5B (1 Samuel 8:5). TliLe heartbreak was that Israel became likp the nations in more than just its choice of rule by a king; Israel also followed its neighbors in sin. Thus the history of the king dom of Israel was an ongoing battle against idolatry and fadirre to be tlie holy people of God. This was further compoimded by the perfor mance of Israel’s first king, Saul. Although chosen by God and anointed by Samuel, Saul did not live up to the heavy responsibilities of making Israel into a godly kingdom. God saw Saul’s disobedience as a rejection of His Word, which resulted in God’s rejection of Saul as kingCl Samuel 15:26; 1 Chronicles 10:13,14). Even whQe Satd was still reigning, God direct ed Samuel to anoint Saul’s successor, a new kir^ who was not Saul’s son (1 Samuel 16:1). The dynasty of Saul’s house lasted only one generation, approximately 40 years (see Acts 13:21). David had no royal qualifications to be kii^. Yet he had personal qualities that added up to the extraordinaiy credentials that God desired. His bravery was a hallmark (1 Samuel 17). David became a victorious mili tary leader in the service of Saul, so successful that S^ became jealous (18:6-9). David was also a talented musician (see 16:23), the author of many psalms. Most importantly though, was the fact that Gk)d saw in David “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). Paul explained this phrase to mean that God was confident that David would “fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). Although David, fike King Saul, failed and committed sin, his response was unlike Saul’s response. Saul responded to sin with arrogance, stub bornness, and rationalizing. David, however, came to God in humility and rep)entance. After the hideous episode of adultery and murder caused by David’s lust for Bathsheba, David wrote, “Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psakn 51:10). David was spiritually submis sive to God. In fact, David’s career was charac terized by the strong presence of God’s Holy Spirit in his life (1 Samuel 16:13). This wedfs lesson will help us understand why God’s love for David has implications for us today David (2 Samuel 7:8-9) 1. Throi^ what faithfiil prophet did God speak to David? (v 8) God’s chosen vessel for speaking to David was the prophet Nathan. God wanted to remind David that He, the Lord of hosts, had taken him finm the “sheep)cote,” The sheep- cote, or sheepfold, was usually made of roi^h stones forming an enclosure to ptrotect the sheep at night and keep out animal and human intruders. Normally it had no roof Several flocks could be contained in the pien, and one of die shepherds would guard the door In the morning, each shepherd would call for his sheep, and the sheep would go to their shep>- herds since the sheep knew their shepherd’s voice. During the day a shepherd would take his she^ to various pastures. 2. Why did God remind David of his humble beginning as a shepherd for his father? (v 9) God was reminding David of.his newly begin nings as the youngest son of Jesse of Bethle hem. In Jewish culture, the eldest usually received the greatest blessing in a family He was chosen by God and anointed by Samuel to eventually become the ruler over the combined kingdoms of Judah and Israd (1 Sam. 16:10- 13; 2 Sam. 2:4; 5:3). 3. How did God help David in his steady rise to power as king? (v 9) It is important that we remember how God deliver us finm hardships in our lives. God wanted David to remember how He helpied David rise to pxDwer as King of Israel. In His review God tells about how He had gone with David wherever he had traveled, espjedaUy as he became a fugitive fiiDm jealous King Saul and as he fought against the enemies of Judah and Israel. David had divine aid when he went up against foreign warriors. One outstanding episode was his defeat of the Philistine giant named Goliath. David struck him with a stone fix)m his sfing and then used Goliath’s own sword to decapitate him and send the Phifistines fleeing Pastor back after tour of duty as Army chaplain Continued from page 7B could still join the army “The things I got to do in the army a civilian priest wouldn’t get to do! It was the best ministry for where I was in life.” Carey was asked to cele brate Mass, and other reli gious rites wherever the sol- , diers happened to be, some times in unfamiliar sur- roimdings. His unit trained in the desert, the Arctic tun dra and in the jun^e. He went overseas as well, taking two tours in Germany includ ing a base that was used as a live fire post. “Weapon systems from around Europe would zone in there. That’s where people practice , firing all the weapons,” Carey said, adding that thae was minimal dan ger. “It was a training area. It was very regulated.” Carey’s unit was never deployed into a combat zone, although it did train other units that were preparing for deployment. Carey spent time in "decompression ses sions” talking to soldiers who were returning from war zones, when the advice was often a reminder that soldiers are "normal people that have been in abnormal situations.” He also accompanied officers dehvering the news of a sol dier’s death to the family Carey will be serving 210 families at St. Agnes, a rela tively small number com pared with other Greenwich parishes. St. Agnes, in a con verted carriage ho\ise and positioned in a grove of trees off of Stanwich Road, is a decidedly differ^t change of scenery for Carey After years of traveling from state to state and across the ocean, a church in one spot sounds appealirg- ‘Tt’s very homey here. Everyone has been very gra cious to me,” Carey said. "Fm excited to be here.” Richard W. Jacobsen, Jr. Director Brenda R. Jackson Deputy Director MECKLENBURG COUNTY Department of Social Services The Wallace H. Kuralt Centre You’re Invited! Contract Opportunity/ Outreach Session Wednesda_y, November 15, 2006 *'2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Location; Department of Social Services • 301 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211 Room: Meek A and B DSS is planning a competitive process to select licensed home care agencies to provide in home personal care and home management and respite services to older adults (age 60 +) and adults with disabilities (age 18 +) who are unable to perform these tasks. Please join us for an Information Session about: • Overall Project Description • Timelines and Proposal Process • How to Participate in this Project For more information, Call Charlotte Spence, Contract Administrator 704-432-3482 PEOPLE • PRIDE • PROGRESS • PARTNERSHIPS www.l^JeCJarlotteHoistxom For more news you can use In business, it’s all about connections. Our coynections run deeper than a smile and firm handshake. Around here, they translate into reliable power. The kind that isn’t confined to an 8'hour day. The kind that has enough energy to keep up with you. And as always, we’re here when you need us. Just like a good connection should be. Touchstone Energy* Cooperatives of Nortih. Carolina RADIO K/cellur 1490 AM The Best Variety of Christian Music in the Carolina & Georgia Rejoynetwork.com Tune in for our Live Broadcast Partners STae’m'will /OsOOfian - / To Partner, Call 980.297.7256 Fax: 980.297.7247
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Oct. 26, 2006, edition 1
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