Lie Down and Sleep

Hungry, thirsty and wearied from a narrow and frightening escape, King David led family, close friends and his army from the comfort of their homes in Jerusalem across the Kidron brook east of the city to set up camp in a wilderness area somewhere north of the Dead Sea. Absalom, David’s son, was in pursuit of the throne of Israel. Absolom was in pursuit of David.

Absalom’s hatred was originally aimed at his half-brother Amnon who had fallen in love with Tamar, Absolom’s beautiful sister. Tamar refused Ammon knowing that his intentions were sinful. Amnon raped Tamar and then in a fit of anger sent her away. Tamar confided in her brother Absalom, but he encouraged her to be quiet about the matter. He had nothing to say to Amnon, good or bad.

Two years later Absalom saw an opportunity to resolve his hatred. He invited all his brothers together for a celebration during the shearing of the sheep. During the party, when everyone was merry with wine, Absalom gave the command and his men killed Amnon. Absalom ran to the land of Geshur where his grandfather (mother’s father) was king. There he stayed for three years.

Daily David mourned the death of Amnon, his firstborn son. Eventually, Joab, the commander of David’s army, humbly requested that David send for Absalom. However, upon Absalom’s arrival David refused to see him face-to-face.

Having no interaction with his father Absalom sat at the entrance of Jerusalem and greeted people as they came to the city. He assured everyone that he would render justice if only he had the authority to judge their complaint. He endeared himself to all of Israel, while, at the same time he was calculating a secret plan to overthrow King David.

Absolom had many reasons to be angry with his father. However, for this occasion his anger grew into hatred so that he wanted to kill David and assume the throne of Israel.

And yet, no evil plan is without fault and a messenger informed King David that “the hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” David understood and immediately evacuated his family, close friends, and his loyal army. While fleeing from Absalom he wrote the third Psalm which begins:

O Lord, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me!

Many are saying of me,

“God will not deliver him.” 

--Psalm 3:1-2

David had victoriously faced the giant, Goliath; but now he had to face his son. How could he fight his own flesh and blood? With Absalom enthroned what would be the fate of Israel? What could David have done or said to bring about a better result? Before going into battle, he told his men to deal gently with Absalom. Could they follow his command? Would they?

David: 

   deposed king; 

   one son lost to death, one son lost in life; 

   leader of family and friends, 

   leader of an army, 

   leader of a nation; 

   chosen by God.

What an enormous burden weighed upon David’s shoulders. Yet as we look back at this event, David stands as a tremendous example of dependence on and confidence in God. From Psalm 3:

You are a shield around me, O Lord (v. 3)

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. (v. 5)

From the Lord comes deliverance. (v. 8)

David knew that God was greater than his problems. Even with impossible circumstances he was able to prepare a place of rest and peacefully lie down and sleep knowing that God was his sustainer and deliverer.

How do you view God?

   Is He your sustainer and deliverer? 

   Is your God bigger than your problems? 

   Can you prepare a place and lie down and sleep?


Mark Stinnett

June 2, 2024

Why Are There Seven Days in a Week?

I spoke with a young preacher who had taken issue with something I had said in a sermon. As we talked, I began to realize that he had a very different view of scripture than I had. So, I interjected, “Not everything in the Bible is black and white.” I detected shock in his voice as he corrected me, “Of course it is.”

I once lived in a black and white world when it came to religion and morality. And please don’t get nervous thinking I’ve closed my Bible. Rather, I have come face-to-face with a few situations in which the answer simply was not clearly presented in Scripture in black and white terms.

Let me be more specific by considering some things about the Sabbath…

The observance of the Sabbath Day was commanded in the Law of Moses and applied specifically to the Israelites. Yet, Christians are not commanded to observe the Sabbath. Still, we are not instructed that it is wrong to observe the Sabbath Day. In fact, God’s reasoning for the Sabbath Day for Israel was rooted in the creation sequence. In other words, the idea of the Sabbath and God’s intention for man to keep the Sabbath predated the Law of Moses.

In my youth I was taught that the Israelites had the Sabbath Day and Christians have the Lord’s Day. Even so, our worship assembly on the Sunday is more from examples of early Christians than direct command.

Luke, the writer of Acts, reported that he and his missionary companions met on the first day of the week in Troas. Paul instructed the Corinthian Christians to put something aside for benevolence on the first day of the week so that he did not have to go around collecting money when he arrived. These are the strongest statements in the Bible for scheduling a gathering of Christians every Sunday. I recognize that, historically, the Sunday meeting was widespread among early Christians, but the instruction is not black and white. Even then, Sunday is never referred to as the Christian Sabbath.

Did you know that Sabbath literally means 'rest,' not 'seventh'?

Over time, the Jews, in an effort to clarify the things that were lawful on the Sabbath, added restrictions that God had not intended. In response, Jesus said that the day of rest was made for man; man was not made for the day of rest. In other words, God did not create mankind to serve a calendar. Rather, He added an extra day to the creation sequence so man could have rest from his work.

So, God intentionally rested for a day after creation so that our week cycle would have seven days instead of six. His purpose was that we would rest for a day each seven-day cycle.

Knowing that man would not be very good at resting, God made a law for the Israelites. The Sabbath law was etched in stone...literally. However, it is not so black and white for us.

When God explained His intentions to Israel regarding the rest day, He said that man was given six days for work. We often overlook all the things that God included in the six days: work, hobbies, sports, entertainment, vacation, yard work, house projects, family fun, etc. He intentionally gave man six days to get all his stuff done. Then God asked that man give Him one day; just one...but the whole day.

God has not made a rigid Sabbath law for us. But His intentions from the creation sequence are quite clear.

Do you take advantage of a rest day for God?

Or...

Is every day another day for you??

Mark Stinnett

December 24, 2023

Are You on Auto-Pilot?

I have a morning routine when I arrive at my office. After getting my laptop connected and turned on and other things situated, I sit at my desk and put on my reading glasses. Not thinking and not paying attention, I placed my reading glasses over my regular glasses. (Eye roll. Chuckle.) This morning I was on auto-pilot.

Do you ever find yourself living on auto-pilot? Not really thinking, not really paying attention, you just drift through life.

That’s not the best way to live life. That is a terrible way to live a Christian life.

Offering practical advice that applies to every aspect of life, Solomon pointed to the ants that work diligently for provisions. He warned…

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest, and

poverty will come upon you like a robber;

your need, like a bandit.

—Proverbs 6:10-11 (HCSB)

The simple point is that it is wise to be alert, think ahead, plan, and prepare, like the ants.

Jesus taught His disciples to be alert and ready in numerous teachings, such as, in...

• Matthew 24 & 25
• Mark 13:33-37
• Luke 12:37-40
• Luke 21:34-36

[I did not list these passages to prove a point, but in hopes that you will actually look them up, read them, and give them a little thought. It's worth the time.]

I knew of a preacher who carried brief notes for a sermon in his billfold in case he was needed on short notice; and a song leader who carried a preselected list of songs. Both men showed forethought. They were alert to the possibilities and prepared for an uncertain situation.

Near the end of several of his letters, the Apostles Paul urged his readers to be awake, sober, and alert. Check out the following Scriptures...

• 1 Corinthians 16:13
• Ephesians 6:18
• Colossians 4:2
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6 & 8

[Likewise, I didn't list these passages to prove a point, but in hope that you will look them up and read them and give them some thought.]

The Apostle Peter urged his readers:

Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

—1 Peter 1:13

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 

—1 Peter 4:7

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

—1 Peter 5:8

There may be times in which you are just trying to get through the day. The schedule is full, life’s challenges are many, circumstances are not working out satisfactorily more than they are. You might shift into auto-pilot just to get through. Even so, God expects us to be awake, alert, sober-minded, and ready for action.

You may need to respond to spiritual danger, or respond to needs, or pray. You ought to be alert to opportunities to let your light shine.

Jesus offered:

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

—Matthew 11:28

And yet, that did not mean for us to check out and go to sleep spiritually. Finding rest in Jesus actually gives you confidence so that you can boldly live in service to the King.

If you’ve been on auto-pilot...isn’t it time you wake up? 

Be watchful. 

Be ready. 

He’s coming back!


Mark Stinnett

November 26, 2023

God Gave You a Day of Rest for Him

Finger-pointing, strict adherence to the Law and religious piety; those are typical descriptions of the Pharisees of Jesus day. The origin of the Pharisees is unclear, though the sect clearly began after the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, probably around the 2nd Century B.C.

The Pharisees were not priests, but were devoted to the Law of Moses. Their own experts, the scribes, became the teachers of the Law. Their teachings, known as the traditions of the elders, were passed orally to successive generations. The traditions were eventually written down between the 3rd and 6th centuries A.D.

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees were highly regarded by the people for their devotion to the Law. Their poor reputation came partly from their tendency to stand aloof from anyone who was not a Pharisee. They were also known to be judgmental of those who did not keep the Law and the traditions as carefully as they did.

Of particular interest to the Pharisees was the Sabbath, one of the Ten Commandments. And if that was not enough for serious consideration…

Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.

—Exodus 31:14

With such consequences it is understandable why strict instructions developed. No one wanted to be guilty of breaking the Sabbath. So, there were rules about the definition of work, how far a person could walk on the Sabbath, how much they could carry, how work animals were to be fed and used, etc. These additional laws were, at least at first, meant for the good of the people. They were meant to give practical application to the Sabbath commandment.

However, over time, the rules became a burden and overshadowed the purpose of the law.

Do you know the purpose of the Sabbath?

The word sabbath literally means rest (not seventh). Though set in place in the creation sequence, the Sabbath Day was not explained in the Bible until the Law of Moses. The Sabbath was given to Israel as a day of rest from their work, and it included rest for their servants and work animals. It was a day that was “holy to the Lord.” In other words, it was a day that was to be set aside for the Lord.

Jesus understood the purpose of the Sabbath when He said: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) With that, let me share a few non-legalistic observations about the biblical Sabbath (rest day):

• Jesus did not assign a specific rest day for his followers, nor did His Apostles.
• If Jesus had commanded Sunday to be the Christian rest day, human tendency would be to make additional laws regulating that day.
• The rest day was set in place at creation. So, it was not intended for the Israelites only, and not just for ancient times.
• Without a sabbath day, man would foolishly work 24/6/365. (And that’s no typo.)
• Participating in work and entertainment is not the same as setting a day aside for God.
• God did not categorize work into job, work at home, and play (like we do). All of that is still man’s work. He asked that we stop our efforts and give Him...just one day a week.

Think about your Sabbath. It is not about resting rules, but rather, your relationship with your God. Do you think two or three hours on a Sunday is a day? On what day do you rest from all your activity in order to maintain and nurture your relationship with God?

Mark Stinnett

December 11, 2022