A Clean Heart

To ancient people, the “heart” often referred to one’s inner thoughts and conscience. But today we know that it is the brain that does the cognitive functions that gives rise to emotions. Nevertheless, expressions of emotions are often referred to as matters of the heart, because of the emotions we feel coming from within.

Augustine, one of the early church fathers once quoted:

“One must look deeply into the human heart to see in what direction it is turned, and on what point its gaze is fixed.”

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God’s Will and God’s Way Come Together

As Saul’s story progresses, we can observe that he is never able to own the wrong he has done when it is pointed out to him.
In 1 Samuel 13, Saul was told to wait for Samuel before offering sacrifices to God and initiating a battle with the Philistines. He didn’t listen, however, and bulldozed ahead impatiently. Even though Saul eventually wins the battle, he did it on his own terms instead of God’s, a point that he seems to never grasp.

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Faithful in a Foreign Land

The story of Ruth was known to Boaz, one of commitment and self-sacrifice in the face of loss and tragedy. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, lost her husband and two sons, and decided to return to Israel when word arrived that the Lord had provided food for Israel, for they had been living in Moab. Naomi had urged her Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to return to their families where they will be better off.

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The Snare of a Forbidden Romance

Samson is part of the fabric of God’s tapestry. He was an important example of unfulfilled potential. Although Samson did great things for God, we can only wonder what he might have done or been for God. But despite his sin God still moved behind the scenes and used Samson for good. Though God can make even the evil of man to serve His purposes, it never justifies the evil that man does.

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