Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Senior Pastor Dr. Larry Crawford brought us our Sunday morning message: "When You're Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place."

We stood for opening prayer and the reading of God's word taken from 1 Samuel 14:1-14.

The children of Israel were in a constant state of war all the days of King Saul. King Saul, Jonathan's father, had been king at this point in the story for only two years and had been at war with the Philistines for some six months. Things were not well in the kingdom, as King Saul "bit off more than he could chew" and was in a state of hiding in the rocks, hills and caves from their larger and better-equipped enemy - the Philistines. If the Israelite army is killed, there are more fatherless children and widows for the nation to deal with, and there are no crops being planted while the men are away at war.

The situation in chapter 14 is thus: The army is in disarray -- men have been lost and, for months, they were in a perpetual "Catch 22." All the while, in this mess month after month, King Saul is in the vast rear of the front line, "sitting under a pomegranate tree" 7 to 10 miles away in Gibeah, wishing and hoping his problems would just magically go away. We also know through the scriptures in this chapter that Saul was suffering spiritually.

1 Samuel 14:37 says, "And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day."

Dr. Crawford reminds us, as Christians he hopes we never find ourselves in this predicament - when we are "between a rock and a hard place" and God doesn't answer that day.

As this verse reminded us, Saul had backsliden from God. King Saul's son, Jonathan, was in the same predicament as his father, yet he takes a different attitude and thusly different actions. Dr. Crawford explained that Bozez was smooth and slippery and Seneth was full of briers.

Jonathan is now in the passages, down in a valley "between a rock and a hard place." He informed his armor bearer they would rely on God for which way to progess. Dr. Crawford quoted Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Dr. Crawford stated, "But if you are away from your heavenly Father, your need for a lesson far outweighs your need for deliverance!" He then asked the congregation, "Are your problems, trials and tribulations drawing you closer to God or father away?"

Jonathan knew he was a soldier in his father's army. It takes faith when God is doing something. It takes greater faith when it seems he's doing nothing. A soldier knows the meaning of "duty."

Ecclesiastes 12:13 states, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

In closing, Dr. Crawford had an altar call and plans to continue with this lesson the following week.

Have you read your Bible today? If not, read 1 Samuel 14.

Please come join us for church. We have services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday School follows the first service.

Beginning Oct. 2, 2016, our new hours for Sunday School will be 9 a.m., followed by the church service at 10.

The Nursing Home Ministry meets at Golden Living Center in Anderson at 2:30 p.m. every other Saturday. The next meeting is Sept. 24.

Check out our FBCP Teen Group Facebook Page.

We bring a covered dish and our Bibles for Friday Night Bible Study.

"Lead" by Brother Bob Cole and Brother Steve Hartman will resume at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, in the church gym.

WMU is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the FBCP.

Hear a rebroadcast of one of Dr. Larry Crawford's services on KURM radio, 100.3 on FM dial, at 8:30 a.m. Sunday mornings or listen to our pastors' service at www.firstbaptistchurchpineville.com/Sermons.html.

Religion on 09/22/2016