Elijah Restores the Widow's Son

1s

Elijah Restores the Widow's Son 1st Kings 17:17 to 1st Kings 18:40

Elijah brings a widow's son back from the dead. WHILE ELIJAH WAS with the widow of Zarephath, her son fell ill and died. His mother feared it was for some sin of hers that her child was taken from her, and that it was the prophet who had caused his illness. In her distress, she said this to Elijah reproachfully. But he only bade her bring her son to him; and then, lying down with the child on his own bed, he prayed earnestly that God would let its soul come into it again. God heard his prayer, and brought the child to life again; and Elijah carried him down to his mother. When the three years and six months were past, God bade Elijah go again to Ahab, for He was now about to send rain upon the earth. At this time Ahab, and Obadiah, the governor of his household, a man who worshiped God, had gone in different directions to seek grass for the king's horses and mules. As Obadiah went on his way, Elijah met him, and bade him tell his master where he might find Elijah; for Ahab, thinking it was he that had brought famine upon the kingdom, had angrily sought him in all countries. Obadiah was unwilling to carry Elijah's message, for he feared that as soon as he had left him, God might command him to go to some other place, and then, when Ahab came and found no prophet there, he himself might be put to death for having misled the king. But Elijah replied that he would assuredly show himself to Ahab that day; and then Obadiah went to tell him. When Ahab met Elijah, he haughtily asked whether he were not the man that troubled Israel. But Elijah answered that it was not he, but Ahab and his family that had brought affliction upon the nation by their wickedness. And he desired that the king would gather together all the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel, where he would offer sacrifice to God, and they to Baal; and the god whose sacrifice was consumed by fire from heaven should be acknowledged to be the true God. Ahab did this. The priests of Baal built their altar, and from morning to evening kept crying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no answer; their false god could do nothing for them. Then Elijah prepared his sacrifice; and when he called upon the Lord God, fire came down from heaven, that burnt up the sacrifice, and the wood, and even the stones of the altar. And then all the people bowed to the earth, exclaiming, "The Lord He is the God! The Lord He is the God!"

t Kings 17:17 to 1st Kings 18:40

David and Jonathan

David and Jonathan 1st Samuel 20 to 1st Samuel 26

David creeps silently into where Saul is sleeping. SAUL SENT MESSENGERS hither and thither to take David, but they failed to find him. Jonathan meanwhile kept trying to save his friend; but when at last Saul threw his spear at him, in his anger at his continuing to plead for David, he perceived that all his efforts were useless. So he and David took leave of each other lovingly; the latter retiring to the wilderness, where he soon gathered together a band of followers. While Saul continued his fierce pursuit of David, his life was twice in David's power, who refused to hurt Saul, though his followers urged him to kill the king. On one of these occasions, David, to proved how easily he might had killed Saul if he would, cut off a piece of his robe when he was asleep. And then, when the king awoke, showing it to him, he besought him not to believe those who had told him that David desired to take his life. Saul's hard heart was softened by his appeal, and he said to David, "Thou are more righteous than I;" for David had returned him good for evil. Saul added that he knew David should be king after him; and he entreated that his sons might not be put to death when David came to the throne. David solemnly promised this, and then Saul returned from pursuing him. But David, not daring to trust himself with him, went back to his stronghold in En-gedi. Saul's reconciliation with David did not last long. He was soon hunting him again with a force of three thousand men. He had pitched his camp in the wilderness; and David, with Abishai, one of his followers, came down to it at night. The people were all asleep, and Saul's tent was set up in the midst of the encampment. The two stole in among them, and came silently to the place where Saul lay sleeping, with his spear stuck into the ground by his pillow, surrounded by his guard, with Abner their captain, all fast asleep. Abishai wished to kill Saul, But David would not suffer him. Only to show Saul once more how completely he had been in his power, he carried the spear, and water-bottle, that stood by it, away with him to his own camp. When he got there he called out tauntingly to Abner, and the king's guard, asking whether they were not pretty defenders of their master, and bidding them send some one to fetch back the king's spear. Saul knew the voice; and when David complained to him of his merciless pursuit of one who had so often spared his life, he relented, and said he would do David no more harm.

David Playing Before Saul

David Playing Before Saul 1st Samuel 18 to 1 Samuel 19

Saul throws his spear at David. WHEN SAUL AND David, and the whole army were coming home in triumph, after the defeat of the Philistines, the women of Israel, as they passed along, came out of all their cities to meet them with dances and songs of joy. And as they danced and played on instruments of music, they said, "Saul has slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands! And Saul was so much displeased at their thus giving more honor to David than they did to their king, that from that day he began to regard him with jealousy and distrust. From the time that he had so sinned against God as to cause Him to give the kingdom of Israel after his death to another, Saul had become liable to fits of sadness and severe gloom. God had withdrawn His Spirit from him, and he was miserable--almost mad. His servants, who were anxious to comfort him, thought that music would soothe the distressed mind of the king, and, as David played skillfully upon the harp, they would have him play before Saul. And, whenever he did so, Saul was refreshed, and became cheerful again. But after he had grown envious of David's renown, twice, when David was playing before him, he threw a spear at him to kill him. David, however, escaped unhurt. Saul then tried in various ways to destroy him by means of his enemies the Philistines, setting him on duties that seemed as if they must cost him his life. Still God preserved David alike from the Philistines, and from Saul's own servant, whom the wicked king had commanded to put him to death. Then Jonathan, Saul's son, having sent David, whom he loved, to a place of safety, pleaded with his father for him, reminding Saul how faithful David had been to him, and what good service he had done the kingdom by killing the Philistine who had so frightened them all. And Saul yielded to the pleading of his son, and promised that he would do David no harm. So he was brought back, and served Saul as before. War, however, soon broke out again between the Israelites and the Philistines, and David again defeated them with great slaughter. This roused all Saul's ill-will against him; so that, when in one of his fits of gloom, David, as was his custom, was trying to cheer him with his harp, Saul rose and threw a spear at him with such force that, as David slipped aside, it stuck fast in the wall. That night David made his escape and never returned.

David and Goliath

David and Goliath 1st Samuel 17:1-54

David slays the giant Goliath. THE ISRAELITES AND the Philistines were now at war together, and the two armies were posted on two mountains, with a valley between them. And while they were drawn up in sight of each other, a giant, named Goliath of Gath, came out of the camp of the Philistines, and challenged any one of the Israelites to come and fight with him. If he killed the Israelite, then the Israelites were to yield to the Philistines; but if the Israelite killed him, then the Philistines would serve them. He was a huge giant, nine or ten feet high, clad from head to foot in heavy brazen armor. The staff of his spear was as thick as a weaver's beam. And for forty days this terrible giant came out, defying all the Israelites. Even Saul himself, the king, who was a brave man, was afraid of him. Now at this time the three eldest sons of Jesse were in Saul's army; and their father bade David, who was tending his sheep at Bethlehem, go to the camp with some parched corn, and bread for his brothers. He arrived there just as the two armies were advancing to battle; and as he talked to his brothers, out came the giant, defying the Israelites, who fled at the very sight of him. David was indignant at seeing the armies of God's chosen people so contemptuously treated by a heathen, and he asked those about him what should be done for the man who killed him. They told him that he should have honors and riches, and that he should marry the king's daughter. Then Saul, hearing what David had said, sent for him; and David told the king that he would go and fight the giant. Saul reminded him that he was but a youth, and the Philistine had been a soldier all his life. But David answered that he had killed a lion and a bear that had attacked his flock, and he knew that God would also help him to kill this great giant. Then Saul would have given him armor and a sword, but David would not have them. He took only his staff and sling, with five smooth stones in his shepherd's bag, and went to meet the giant, who came on cursing and taunting him. But David, running forward, took a stone from his bag, and slang it at the giant, whom it struck in the forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground, and David cut off his head with his own sword. Then the Philistines took to flight when they saw that the giant was dead.

Samuel's First Prophesy

Samuel's First Prophesy 1st Samuel 3 to 1st Samuel 4:18

Samuel finally knows that God is calling him as he sleeps. THE HIGH-PRIEST ELI had two sons, named Hophni and Phinehas, who were both priests. But they were exceedingly wicked men; and when the people who came to worship complained to Eli of the wickedness of the young men, he reproved them so gently that they gave no heed to what he said. And God was displeased with him for not using his authority to make them do better. One night, when Samuel was laid down to sleep, he heard a voice calling him; and thinking it was Eli, he got up and ran to him, to know what he wanted with him. But Eli bade him lie down again, for he had not called him. Again the voice called "Samuel," and again Samuel ran to Eli, who told him he had not called. But the third time that Samuel heard the voice, and ran to Eli thinking it was he, Eli became aware that it was God Himself who was calling to the child. So he bade him go and lie down again, and if the voice called him once more, to answer, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." Then, when he was laid down again, the voice called as before, "Samuel, Samuel." And when Samuel answered as Eli had bidden him, God told him that he was going to punish Eli and his sons in a fearful manner, because the sons had made themselves hated for their wickedness and profanity, and Eli had not prevented it as he ought to have done. In the morning Samuel rose, and, as was his office, opened the doors of the Temple. But he did not tell Eli what God had said to him in the night: he was afraid of doing so, it was so very sad. Eli, however, bade him come to him and tell him all. And when the poor old man knew that it was God's will to destroy him and his family, he would not murmur at it: he only said, "It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good." Very soon after this the Israelites were fighting against the Philistines, and thinking they should be sure of victory if the ark of God were with them, they fetched it into their camp from Shiloh. But for their sins God suffered them to be defeated; the ark was taken, and Hophni and Phinehas, together with thirty thousand of the Israelites, were slain. Poor old Eli meanwhile sat by the wayside, waiting for tidings of the battle. And when word was brought him that his sons were killed and the ark taken, he fell of his seat backward, and broke his neck. Some time after Eli's death, Samuel judged Israel in his place.

Le sage et l'insensé

Le sage et l'insensé
Matthieu 7: 24-27

C'est pourquoi, quiconque entend ces paroles que je dis, et les fait, je le comparerai à un homme prudent qui a bâti sa maison sur le roc:

Et la pluie est tombée, les torrents sont venus, les vents ont soufflé et ont battu cette maison: elle n'est point tombée, car il était fondée sur le roc.

Et quiconque entend ces paroles que je dis, et ne les met pas, sera semblable à un homme insensé qui a bâti sa maison sur le sable:

Et la pluie est tombée, les torrents sont venus, les vents ont soufflé et ont battu cette maison: elle est tombée: et grande a été la chute de celui-ci.

O Sábio eo Homem Tolo

English - detected to Portuguese translation

O Sábio eo Homem Tolo
Mateus 7: 24-27

Portanto, todo aquele que ouve estas minhas palavras e as pratica, será comparado a ele até um homem sábio, que edificou a sua casa sobre a rocha:

E desceu a chuva, vieram as enchentes, sopraram os ventos, e bateram com ímpeto contra aquela casa, e não caiu, porque estava fundada sobre a rocha.

E todo aquele que ouve estas minhas palavras e não as pratica, será comparado a um homem insensato, que edificou sua casa sobre a areia;

E desceu a chuva, vieram as enchentes, sopraram os ventos, e bateram com ímpeto contra aquela casa, e caiu, e foi grande a sua queda.

Il saggio e l'Uomo Foolish

Il saggio e l'Uomo Foolish
Matteo 7: 24-27

Perciò chiunque ascolta queste mie parole e le mette in pratica, io lo paragono verso un uomo saggio che ha costruito la sua casa sulla roccia:

Cadde la pioggia, strariparono i fiumi, soffiarono i venti e si abbatterono su quella casa, ed essa non cadde, perché era fondata sopra la roccia.

E chiunque ascolta queste mie parole, e non li mette in pratica, sarà paragonato a un uomo stolto, che ha costruito la sua casa sulla sabbia:

Cadde la pioggia, strariparono i fiumi, soffiarono i venti e si abbatterono su quella casa, ed essa cadde: e grande è stata la caduta di esso.

Die Wise Man and the Foolish Man

Die Wise Man and the Foolish Man
Matthäus 7: 24-27

Darum, wer hört diese meine Rede und tut sie, will ich ihn zu einem klugen Mann, der sein Haus auf einen Felsen baute:

Und die regen fiel und die Wasser kamen und die Winde wehten und stießen an das Haus, und es fiel nicht, denn es war auf Fels gegründet wurde.

Und jeder, der hört diese meine Rede und tut sie nicht, so wird einem törichten Mann, der sein Haus auf Sand baute verglichen werden:

Und die regen fiel und die Wasser kamen und die Winde wehten und stießen an das Haus, und es fiel, und sein Fall war groß von ihm.

Sansone e le Porte di Gaza

Sansone e le Porte di GazaGiudici 14 a 16 giudici

Sansone abbatte il tempio di Dagon, uccidendo tutti coloro che erano all'interno.

SAMSON sposato la figlia di uno dei Filistei, ma poi suo padre la portò via da lui, e, per vendetta, ha ucciso un gran numero di loro, e distrutto le loro coltivazioni e vigneti.
I Filistei poi uscito nel grande forza contro gli uomini di Giuda, e ha chiesto che Sansone dovrebbe essere data a loro. Gli uomini di conseguenza è venuto a Sansone, e hanno detto che lo deve cedere al nemico.

Così Sansone far loro lo legano con forti corde, e portarlo ai Filistei. Ma in quel momento Dio gli ha dato la forza di scattare le corde a pezzi e, afferrando la mascella d'asino, cadde sui suoi nemici, e ucciso un migliaio di loro.

Dopo questo, Sansone andò a Gaza, una città dei Filistei, e di notte la gente lo chiuse, dicendo tra loro che lo avrebbero ucciso la mattina.

Ma nel mezzo della notte si alzò, buttato giù le porte della città, e, gettando loro sulle spalle, li portò in cima ad una collina nel quartiere. I suoi nemici ora visto che non sono riusciti a vincere con la forza, in modo da corrompere una donna per ottenere da lui il segreto della sua forza.

Sansone ingannato lei e più volte, ma alla fine le ha detto la verità, che se i capelli sono stati tagliati fuori, lui non dovrebbe essere più forte di qualsiasi altro uomo. Così, mentre dormiva, l'ha tagliata, e poi, chiamando i Filistei, lo presero, messo fuori gli occhi, e lo mise a macinare il grano.

Ma come ha lavorato duramente in carcere, Dio ha dato la sua forza di nuovo a lui. Così un giorno, quando i grandi uomini dei Filistei stavano andando ad adorare i loro falso dio Dagon, e avrebbe Sansone fare sport per loro, pregò il ragazzo che lo ha portato a lasciarlo riposare contro i pilastri del palazzo dove erano assemblato.

Allora, pregando Dio che avrebbe ancora una volta gli permetterà di distruggere i suoi nemici, pose in mano i pilastri, e, chinandosi in avanti con tutte le sue forze, tirato giù l'edificio, schiacciando se stesso e migliaia di Filistei. Così è successo che ha ucciso di più nella sua morte che nella vita.

Samson und die Tore von Gaza

Samson und die Tore von GazaRichter 14 bis Richter 16

Samson reißt den Tempel des Dagon, töteten alle, die drinnen waren.

SAMSON heiratete die Tochter eines der Philister; aber später ihr Vater nahm sie von ihm weg, und aus Rache, er große Anzahl von ihnen getötet und vernichtet ihre Ernten und Weinbergen.
Die Philister kamen dann in großer Kraft gegen die Männer von Juda, und verlangte, dass Samson bis zu ihnen gegeben werden. Die Männer kam also Samson, und sagte, sie müssen ihn aufgeben, um den Feind.

So Samson ließ sie binden ihn mit starken Stricken, und bringen ihn zu den Philistern. Aber in diesem Moment Gott gab ihm die Kraft, die Stimmbänder auseinander Snap, und schnappte sich den Kieferknochen eines Esels, fiel er auf seine Feinde und tötete tausend von ihnen.

Danach ging Samson in Gaza, eine Stadt der Philister, und in der Nacht die Menschen schlossen ihn in, sagen sich gegenseitig, dass sie ihn am Morgen zu töten.

Aber in der Mitte der Nacht stand er auf, rissen die Tore der Stadt, und warf sie auf seine Schultern, trug sie auf dem Gipfel eines Hügels in der Nachbarschaft. Seine Feinde sah nun, dass sie nicht überwinden konnte ihn mit Gewalt, so dass sie bestochen eine Frau von ihm bekommen das Geheimnis seiner Stärke.

Samson betrogen sie und sie mehrere Male, aber schließlich ihr die Wahrheit gesagt, dass, wenn sich die Haare abgeschnitten wurden, sei er nicht stärker als jeder andere Mensch. Also, wenn er eingeschlafen war, schnitt sie sie ab, und dann rief der Philister, nahmen sie ihn, stachen ihm die Augen und stellte ihn auf Korn zu mahlen.

Aber als er im Gefängnis gearbeitet, gab Gott seine Kraft wieder zu ihm. Eines Tages, als die großen Männer der Philister gingen, um ihre falschen Gott Dagon verehren, und hätte Samson machen Sport für sie, bat er den Jungen, der ihn in zu lassen, ihm Ruhe führte gegen die Säulen des Gebäudes, wo sie waren montiert.

Dann betete zu Gott, dass er noch einmal damit er seine Feinde zu vernichten, legte er halten der Säulen, und Vorbeugen mit aller Macht, zog das Gebäude hinunter, Zerkleinern sich und Tausende von den Philistern. So kam es, dass er mehr getötet in seinem Tod als im Leben.

Samson and the Gates of Gaza

Samson and the Gates of Gaza Judges 14 to Judges 16

Samson pulls down the temple of Dagon, killing all who were inside. SAMSON MARRIED THE daughter of one of the Philistines; but afterward her father took her away from him, and, in revenge, he killed great numbers of them, and destroyed their crops and vineyards. The Philistines then came out in great force against the men of Judah, and demanded that Samson should be given up to them. The men accordingly came to Samson, and said they must give him up to the enemy. So Samson let them bind him with strong cords, and take him to the Philistines. But at that moment God gave him strength to snap the cords asunder; and, snatching up the jaw-bone of an ass, he fell upon his enemies, and killed a thousand of them. After this, Samson went to Gaza, a city of the Philistines, and at night the people shut him in, saying to each other that they would kill him in the morning. But in the middle of the night he got up, tore down the gates of the city, and, throwing them upon his shoulders, carried them to the top of a hill in the neighborhood. His enemies now saw that they could not overcome him by force, so they bribed a woman to get from him the secret of his strength. Samson deceived both her and them several times, but at last told her the truth, that if his hair were cut off, he should be no stronger than any other man. So, when he was asleep, she cut it off; and then, calling the Philistines, they took him, put out his eyes, and set him to grind corn. But as he toiled in prison, God gave his strength to him again. So one day, when the great men of the Philistines were going to worship their false god Dagon, and would have Samson make sport for them, he begged the boy who led him in to let him rest against the pillars of the building where they were assembled. Then, praying to God that He would once more enable him to destroy his enemies, he laid hold of the pillars, and, bending forward with all his might, pulled the building down, crushing both himself and thousands of the Philistines. Thus it happened that he killed more in his death than in life.

Thoughts on the Misery of Man

The Twenty-Second Chapter

Thoughts on the Misery of Man

WHEREVER you are, wherever you go, you are miserable unless you turn to God. So why be dismayed when things do not happen as you wish and desire? Is there anyone who has everything as he wishes? No—neither I, nor you, nor any man on earth. There is no one in the world, be he Pope or king, who does not suffer trial and anguish.

Who is the better off then? Surely, it is the man who will suffer something for God. Many unstable and weak-minded people say: “See how well that man lives, how rich, how great he is, how powerful and mighty.” But you must lift up your eyes to the riches of heaven and realize that the material goods of which they speak are nothing. These things are uncertain and very burdensome because they are never possessed without anxiety and fear. Man’s happiness does not consist in the possession of abundant goods; a very little is enough.

Living on earth is truly a misery. The more a man desires spiritual life, the more bitter the37present becomes to him, because he understands better and sees more clearly the defects, the corruption of human nature. To eat and drink, to watch and sleep, to rest, to labor, and to be bound by other human necessities is certainly a great misery and affliction to the devout man, who would gladly be released from them and be free from all sin. Truly, the inner man is greatly burdened in this world by the necessities of the body, and for this reason the Prophet prayed that he might be as free from them as possible, when he said: “From my necessities, O Lord, deliver me.”⁷⁷ Ps. 34:17.

But woe to those who know not their own misery, and greater woe to those who love this miserable and corruptible life. Some, indeed, can scarcely procure its necessities either by work or by begging; yet they love it so much that, if they could live here always, they would care nothing for the kingdom of God.

How foolish and faithless of heart are those who are so engrossed in earthly things as to relish nothing but what is carnal! Miserable men indeed, for in the end they will see to their sorrow how cheap and worthless was the thing they loved.

The saints of God and all devout friends of Christ did not look to what pleases the body nor to the things that are popular from time to time. Their whole hope and aim centered on the everlasting38good. Their whole desire pointed upward to the lasting and invisible realm, lest the love of what is visible drag them down to lower things.

Do not lose heart, then, my brother, in pursuing your spiritual life. There is yet time, and your hour is not past. Why delay your purpose? Arise! Begin at once and say: “Now is the time to act, now is the time to fight, now is the proper time to amend.”

When you are troubled and afflicted, that is the time to gain merit. You must pass through water and fire before coming to rest. Unless you do violence to yourself you will not overcome vice.

So long as we live in this fragile body, we can neither be free from sin nor live without weariness and sorrow. Gladly would we rest from all misery, but in losing innocence through sin we also lost true blessedness. Therefore, we must have patience and await the mercy of God until this iniquity passes, until mortality is swallowed up in life.

How great is the frailty of human nature which is ever prone to evil! Today you confess your sins and tomorrow you again commit the sins which you confessed. One moment you resolve to be careful, and yet after an hour you act as though you had made no resolution.

We have cause, therefore, because of our frailty and feebleness, to humble ourselves and never think anything great of ourselves. Through neglect we may quickly lose that which by God’s grace we39have acquired only through long, hard labor. What, eventually, will become of us who so quickly grow lukewarm? Woe to us if we presume to rest in peace and security when actually there is no true holiness in our lives. It would be beneficial for us, like good novices, to be instructed once more in the principles of a good life, to see if there be hope of amendment and greater spiritual progress in the future.