In what ways can we acknowledge God's authority in our daily lives? Setting the Scene “And the number of gold rats corresponded to the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five lords—the fortified cities and their country villages. And the large stone on which they set the ark of the LORD stands as a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.” (1 Samuel 6:18) God’s Authority Displayed in 1 Samuel 6:18 • The pagan Philistines recognized the LORD’s supremacy by sending offerings that matched every city under their rule. • They placed the ark on a “large stone,” creating a public, permanent reminder that the God of Israel had acted. • Scripture treats the stone as still standing in Samuel’s time, underscoring a literal historical witness to God’s authority. Timeless Principles We Learn • God rules over every city, village, and household, even when those places do not yet bow to Him. • Tangible actions—golden offerings, a visible stone—are fitting responses to His sovereign acts. • Public testimony about God’s work strengthens future generations to remember His rule (cf. Psalm 145:4). Practices that Honor His Authority Each Day • Submit decisions to Scripture’s clear commands—letting His voice override personal preference (Proverbs 3:5-6). • Offer the best of your income, time, and talents as “gold” that acknowledges everything already belongs to Him (Proverbs 3:9; 1 Chronicles 29:14). • Speak openly about answered prayer and providence, creating modern “witness stones” in conversations (Psalm 105:1-2). • Order all work and recreation “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17), treating every arena like one of those Philistine cities now claimed for His glory. • Keep physical reminders—a Bible on the table, a verse on the wall—that turn hearts toward His throne whenever eyes land on them (Deuteronomy 6:9). • Guard consecrated space in the home for worship, just as the field of Joshua was forever marked by the ark’s resting place (Joshua 24:15). • Present your body “as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1), letting obedience in speech, diet, sexuality, and rest declare that He alone is Master. Keeping the Witness Stone in View The stone in Beth-shemesh silently proclaimed, day after day, that the LORD had intervened and prevailed. In the same way, deliberate, visible choices in ordinary life—consistent giving, mealtime gratitude, Lord’s-day worship, words that build rather than tear—stand as ongoing testimony that He still reigns and that we gladly bow to His unchallenged authority. |
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