1 Samuel 31 tells us how the Philistines attacked Israel and were victorious, ending both King Saul and his sons’ lives – Saul’s sons in the battle and Saul by his own hand. Saul’s tragic life ended in a sad and lonely death, having refused to turn away from his mad pursuit of David and having failed to turn away from his sin. Saul’s death came about according to the Lord’s own warning to him, but even this did not deter him from this course of action. Saul’s death stands in stark contrast to the death of Jesus, the true King, whose death was not senseless and sad, but secured the salvation of the people of God and brings them real and eternal hope.
Month: October 2014
Naval Service report
L-R: Naval Cadets: Petty Officer Sophie Hamilton, Leading Seaman Leone Sevudredre, Leading Seaman Catherine Aikman, Lieutenant Commander Amy York, HMAS Cerberus and Reverend Peter Hastie, PTC.
Rev. Peter Hastie, Principal of the Presbyterian Theological College preached at our annual Seafarer’s (Naval) Service, from Acts 27 concerning the shipwreck the Apostle Paul endured on his journey to Rome. Peter asked the question, ‘How do you handle your worst fears?’ and then proceeded to provide encouragement from the way Paul trusted in God’s promises and plans in the most dangerous of situations, encouraging us to also ‘cast our anchors deep’ into the solid nature of those promises God gives us in His Word. (Unfortunately there was no sound recording due to an oversight.) The service was attended by members of Bendigo’s Ex-Navalmen’s Club, Lieutenant Commander Amy York, RAN, OAM, Cr Elise Chapman, Lisa Chesters MP and cadets from the TS Bendigo
‘The view you get from the bottom of the pit’ (1 Samuel 30:1-31)
1 Samuel 30:1-31 tells how, when David returned to Ziklag, he and his men found a calamitous situation. All their houses had been burned to the ground, their goods stolen and their wives and children captured. His men soon began to talk of a mutiny. David, however, found strength in God, sought and obtained His direction, saw God’s sovereign hand providing his needs, and, after all was returned, even became a channel of His grace. Even on his his worst day from the bottom of the pit, David proved that God was near and would not let him go. Jesus went to the bottom of that pit to save His people on the cross – the fullness of grace to the undeserving.
Annual Naval Service: October 19th
Join us at St John’s on Sunday October 19th at 10:30am when we welcome members of the Bendigo ex-Navalmen’s Club (and their special guest, Lt. Com. Amy York, RAN), and the cadets in uniform!) and staff of the TS Bendigo for our Annual Naval Service. This year’s speaker is the Rev. Peter Hastie (pictured), Principal of the Presbyterian Theological College. Appropriately, Peter has chosen to speak on the account of the Apostle Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27. Morning tea follows in the hall. All are welcome
‘Rescued – from the ultimate ‘Catch 22” (1 Samuel 29:1-11)
When David entered the service of the Philistine King, seeking relief from the mad pursuing King Saul, he placed himself into a real ‘Catch 22′ situation’ with no way out. God, however, had other ideas, and, as is told in 1 Samuel 29:1-11, through the unrest in the Philistine camp and the orders of the Philistine King and His own intervening hand, God rescued his servant from a terrible spot. David had to learn, however, that his own poor choices brought all this upon his own head and yet, at the same time, be assured that God held him in the palm of His hand and would not let him go.