1 Reis 20
F.B. Meyer · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Reis 20
Meyer - This was likely enough to happen on a battlefield. It would not be possible to hold your prisoner, and to busy yourself about other things at the same time.” THOUGHT - APPLICATION FROM G CAMPBELL MORGAN - “If a man is called to preach the Word, and becomes busy over a hundred things other than that of his central work, and so loses the opportunity to preach, his failure is complete. That which is our God-appointed work, we must do. If we fail in that, the fact that we have been ‘busy here and there,’ doing all sorts of other things, is of no avail” David Guzik on He was gone: Even as the fictional prisoner escaped, so many opportunities escape us in the Christian life. “I want you all to remember this morning that if any portion of life has not been spent in God’s service it is gone. Time past is gone. You can never have it back again, not even the last moment which just now glided by” (Spurgeon). (ED: SEE MY ARTICLE ON REDEEM THE TIME AND MY Youtube Recording on Redeeming the Time) Be careful about being busy with so many petty details, we may end up missing divinely given opportunities. And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it - NLT - "Well, it's your own fault," the king replied. "You have brought the judgment on yourself." Ahab rightly judged that he should be held responsible for his failure to guard what was entrusted to him. Little did Ahab know that he (like David below) was pronouncing judgment on himself! Brian Bell - The king was self-condemned in his judgment of the prophet. Let’s remember, in deciding the case of others, we are pronouncing sentences on ourselves. Ahab succumbed to the parable in action just as David had done after the prophet Nathan's "parable" (2Sa 12:1-4+) when he uncovered David's sin with Bathsheba and his role in the murder of Uriah... 2 Samuel 12:5-7+ Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die. 6 “He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.” 7 Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. Spurgeon Study Bible - 20:40 “While your servant was busy here and there, he disappeared.” This story was originally told in order to touch the conscience of King Ahab, who had allowed Ben-hadad, king of Syria, to escape when providence had put the cruel monarch into his hands that he might receive his doom. Ahab is no more, but this Scripture is not. Like a spent shell, there is truth and power in it. It is a law of discipline in the army that what someone is ordered to do by legitimate authority he must do. So the man’s chief business was to detain his captive till he could hand him over to the officer. We are under a higher obligation still—to serve, honor, and glorify God. Every person is bound to serve his Creator and live to his glory. We would never have existed if it had not been for his power; we would cease to exist at this instant if that power did not sustain us. Surely that existence which was originated by God should be spent to his honor, and the being which hourly depends on him should be used for his glory. For this end the Almighty made us, that we might glorify God and enjoy him forever. When someone fashions a vessel or a tool, it is that it may fulfill the purpose for which he designed it; and if it does not fulfill his purpose, he casts it away. Though people should set us on a column high in the air and say we are heroes, if we have not lived for God, we have lived in vain. As an arrow which falls short of the mark, as a fig tree which yields no figs, as a candle which smokes but yields no light, as a cloud without rain and a well without water is one who has not served the Lord. He has led a wasted life, a life to which the flower and glory of existence are lacking. Call it not life at all, but write it down as animated death. C H
1 Reis 20
Meyer - 1 Kings 20:40 As thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. This was likely enough to happen on a battlefield. It would not be possible to hold your prisoner, and to busy yourself about other things at the same time. This man, in the prophet’s parable, made a great mistake to concern himself about a number of trifles, when so serious a matter as his own life depended on giving all his attention to the custodianship of the prisoner entrusted to his care. But is it not thus that men miss the main end of life? Busy here and there and life is gone.— Many spend their days in mere trivialities. Like children they dig in the sand; like the butterfly they flit from flower to flower. A round of visits, a few novels, a good many hours of light gaiety; vanity, fashion, and amusement; these fill their hours, the days flash by, and life is gone. They have nothing to show for it. Busy here and there, and the chance of saving others is gone.— Lives touch lives, for the chief purpose that one should influence the other. But too often we deal only with superficialities, busying ourselves in the slightest interests, but not seeking the salvation of those with whom we associate. The dance, the game, the business relationship, monopolize our thought, and our friends are swept from us in the eddying whirl of life’s battle, and are gone. Busy here and there, and the knowledge of God is gone.— Remember how the birds caught away the seed of the Kingdom; and be sure that, in the same way, the cares and riches of this world, and the lusts of other things may enter in, and destroy the impression made on the heart. The ephemeral interests of life press hard on its real interests. Like boys, we squander in trifling the hours given to prepare for an examination on which all the future must turn.