At a Moment’s Notice

By Barry Blackstone

At a Moment's Notice is the very first writing project the author ever attempted in 1988. After thirty-five years, the author took a second look at the series of devotionals and decided they needed to be made into a book. At a Moment's Notice contains fifty chapters based upon the truth of the title. Gleaning from the word of God, the Bible, the preacher in the author recognized that more often than not the main characters underlined in the Scriptures reacted immediately to certain situations and circumstances they were confronted with. Take a trip through Holy Writ as we encounter the judge Shamgar as he comes face-to-face with a marauding band of Philistines in his field; as Lydia the purple saleswoman meets Paul by a river in Philippi; as Hur helps Moses at a moment's notice with the Rod of God that eventually wins an important battle; as Simeon comes into Herod's Temple just at the right moment to meet the Christ-child; and as Naboth has to make the most difficult decision of his life that will also cost him his life. Though the actions and reactions of each famous or infamous hero or heroine highlighted in the book have the same quality, the lessons being taught are as varied as the stories being told. Take a few moments to read the account and ponder what is being taught, and then hopefully an application can be made in the reader's heart--at a moment's notice!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Feb 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781666760361

Barry Blackstone

Barry Blackstone is the pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Ellsworth, Maine, a thirty-two-year ministry. A writer since 1988, this was actually the author’s first attempt at a book project, now resurrected thirty-five years later. Having entered his fiftieth year in the pastorate, he thought it was important to get this first book into print. This will be Blackstone’s nineteenth book through Resource Publications.

Book preview

AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE

by BARRY BLACKSTONE

AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE

Copyright ©

2023

Barry Blackstone. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers,

199

W.

8

th Ave., Suite

3

, Eugene, OR

97401

.

Resource Publications

An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

199

W.

8

th Ave., Suite

3

Eugene, OR

97401

www.wipfandstock.com

paperback isbn: 978-1-6667-6034-7

hardcover isbn: 978-1-6667-6035-4

ebook isbn: 978-1-6667-6036-1

version number 090921

Table of Contents

TITLE PAGE

PRELUDE – 1) MARY: AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE

2) SHAMGAR: STANDING ALONE

3) SIMON: CROSS SHARING

4) JAMES: ANONYMOUS APOSTLE

5) JAEL: STRIKING A BLOW FOR GOD

6) URIAH: LOYAL UNTO DEATH

7) JOSEPH: A SECRET DISCIPLE

8) BARUCH: EARNEST ENDEAVORS

9) NABOTH: SACRIFICED TO THE WORLD

10) EUTHYCHUS: FALLING ASLEEP

11) BEZALEEL: SPECIAL ABILITIES

12) RIZPAH: GREAT GRIEF

13) ADINO: MIGHTY IN BATTLE

14) ZACCHAEUS: UP A TREE

15) SIMEON: WAITING

16) ANNA: PRAYER WARRIOR

17) DEMETRIUS: A GOOD REPORT

18) LAZARUS: FULL OF SORES

19) EPAENETUS: FIRST FRUITS

20) ORPAH: WRONG DECISIONS

21) ELEAZAR: CLEAVING THE SWORD

22) SHAMMAH: IN THE MIDST OF THE FIELD

23) EHUD: LEFTHANDED

24) OBADIAH: LITTLE BOOKS

25) BARTIMAEUS: DON’T KEEP STILL

26) ELIEZER: CHOOSING A BRIDE

27) ACHAN: THE ACCURSED THING

28) JUSTUS: HONORABLE MENTION

29) JUBAL: MUSIC MAN

30) PHEBE: FOR WOMEN ONLY

31) ANANIAS: NO ONE SPEAKS YOUR NAME LIKE JESUS

32) DINAH: RAPED

33) TABITHA: A WIDOW’S WIDOW

34) DELILAH: A WOMAN’S WILES

35) ANDRONICUS: IN CHRIST BEFORE ME

36) AUGUSTUS: MOVING THE WORLD

37) ITTAI: A FRIEND IN DEED

38) BARABBAS: HE DIED FOR ME

39) MALCHUS: CHRIST’S LAST MIRACLE

40) ARAH: ABOMINABLE ABORTION

41) JEHONADAB: LEGACY OF FAITHFULNESS

42) PHURAH: TWO BY TWO

43) CORNELIUS: FIRST CHANCE CONVERSION

44) RHODA: DOORKEEPERS

45) LYDIA: OPEN HEART

46) LAHMI: GIANT BROTHERS

47) HUR: HELPING HANDS

48) ISHBIBENOB: WEARY IN THE BATTLE

49) SAPH: THE BIGGER THEY ARE

POSTLUDE – 50) ABEL: BEING DEAD YET SPEAKETH

OTHER BOOKS OF BARRY BLACKSTONE

Though None Go With Me

Rendezvous in Paris

Though One Go With Me

Scotland Journey

The Region Beyond

Enlarge My Coast

From Dan to Beersheba and Beyond

The Uttermost Part

Homestead Homilies

Rover: A Boy’s Best Friend

North to Alaska and Back

Another Day in Nazareth

Sermonettes from the Seashore

Earth’s Farthest Bounds

Angling Admonitions

Beyond the Bend

Expendable

Meows from the Manse

THIS DEVOTIONAL BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY GRANDFATHER, CARROLL BLACKSTONE, UNKNOWN TO MOST, BUT WELL KNOWN TO GOD FOR HIS LITTLE KNOWN DEEDS, AND THE MAN THAT TAUGHT ME BY HIS LIFE THE PRECEPT OF AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE!

PRELUDE

1) MARY

AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE

THE MOMENT AND ITS MEMORY

Matthew 26:13-Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman (Mary) hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

(Postscripts are usually given at the end of something, but I will begin this book with a postscript, so would this be called a pre-script? For those that have read one or some of my published works you might think that this book project is just another book in a long series of books, but despite the fact I have now seen eighteen of my books go into print in actuality this book before you is the first book I even wrote. At the re-compiling and revising of this book I am nearing the 33rd anniversary of the first short story I ever wrote and within the year of that article I started writing my first devotional book-At a Moment’s Notice! On November 1, 1988, I started writing and to date I have completed over 250 writing projects: short books of 50 pages or so and I just finished my biggest project to date: a book of 411 pages with over 274,000 words. Each time I finish one project I ask the Lord: what shall I do next? Do you know of Solomon’s precept on books? "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end…" (Ecclesiastes 12:12) This time the Good Lord told me to return and revisit my first book and take a second look, thirty plus years later; so here we go!)

Some of the most thrilling characters of the Bible to me are also the most obscure! The one-deed champions of God’s Word have been for a long time a fascination for me (brought up in a Christian home I had been exposed to the Bible since childhood). These people and their valor often verging on the unbelievable, but because their lives and legacy falls within the inspired pages of Scripture; they are all factual because of my deep-seated belief in the infallible Truth of God recorded in Holy Writ. Most of these heroes and heroines have been long ignored by the scholars, mainly, because of the wealth of material written about the more famous and better recognized individuals of the Word. Men like David and Elijah, Peter and Paul often get all the attention, while Simon of Cyrene and Shamgar, Rhoda and Rizpah are often overlooked. The well-known saints of the Scriptures are recorded for their many deeds of faithfulness; while the little known personalities are mentioned for only one act of bravery, faithfulness, giving, or helping; sadness or sorrow. Yet Paul teaches me clearly: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (II Timothy 3:16–17) My paraphrase of verse seventeen goes like this: So that the man or woman of God may be sufficiently equipped and prepared At a Moment’s Notice to do any good deed!" Just because these examples are mentioned only performing one memorable act, it doesn’t make them any less valuable in the preparation of our lives for God’s glorious service. And I will admit that the Lord laid on my heart and mind the title before He directed me to these texts where I discovered that At a Moment’s Notice was the common denominator between them and their deeds.

Take for example what Jesus said to the woman that anointed Him at Simon’s house that I have printed above. This precept explains to me why she and the other individuals in this book are remembered. I am not here to debate who this was, for many think it is Mary as I do because of the similar story recorded in John 12:1–8. Named or not named, this example follows the pattern I would like to follow in this writing project. A favorite author of mine is Mrs. Charles E. Cowman and in her first devotional (Springs in the Valley) she wrote: Mary wanted it to be known that this act of hers was done for Him exclusively. Just for Him, without thought of self, or anything else. Martha was serving, but it was not exclusively for Him. It might be in His honor, but it was done for others also. Simon might entertain, but others were included in the entertainment also. What Mary did was for Him alone. When Jesus understood it, He said unto them, why trouble ye the woman? Jesus understood! (As you can see Cowman thinks our unnamed woman is Mary, but whether it was or not doesn’t change the focus of these individuals we will study in this book.) It is not for fame or fortune they were done, but simply to please God, as we ought! Cowman goes on in the article to say: For Him, for Him, the true man cries as he plans his boards, sells his goods, adds his figures, or writes his letters. For Him, for Him sings the woman as she piles her needle, makes her bed, cooks her food, and dusts her house. All day long the hand is outstretched to touch the invisible Christ, and at night the work done is brought to Him for His benediction! Amen and Amen!

It is to this end therefore that these Bible characters and their stories are presented to you in devotional form; numerous little acts and actors that will inspire and hopefully change your life as well. May each hero and heroine become a champion in your corner cheering you on: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1) And may their single acts of faith help conform you to the image of God’s wonderful Son (Romans 8:29). May they so long ignored and overlooked and forgotten be remembered one more time for their At a Moment’s Notice experience. Another favorite author, Annie Johnson Flint, gives us this challenging poem:

"The Great Composer writes the theme

And gives us each a part to play;

To some a sweet and flowing air,

Smooth and unbroken in the way;

They pour their full heart’s gladness out

In notes of joy and service blent;

But some He gives long bars of rests,

With idle voice and instrument,

Be silent unto God, my soul,

If this the score He writes for thee,

And hold the rest, play no false note

To mar His perfect harmony!"

My prayer is as we begin this project together that each of us on a weekly, daily, momentary bases will be prepared to shine for Jesus At a Moment’s Notice; if only one deed at a time; even if it is our one and only recognized deed for Him. For we never know when the Lord God will ask for us to say something or go somewhere or to help someone. That is way II Timothy 2:21 is so important: "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Many years ago at Hampton Bible Camp in New Brunswick, Canada I was taught a chorus based on Paul’s precept. Words and music from the great American song writer Alfred B. Smith called Vessels for the Master’s Use":

Filled to overflowing, hearts aglow and showing Christ to those who do not know Him; sanctified and holy, yielding to Him only, vessels for the Master’s use. O make my life a blessing, Lord. May it stand Thy testing Lord? Let us do this IN MEMORY OF MARY!

II Peter

1

:

15

: Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Barry Blackstone

November 1, 1988

2) SHAMGAR

STANDING ALONE

THE FARMER AND HIS FOES

Judges 3:31-And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

In every age God has had His champions: Noah before the great Flood; Abraham after the Flood, Moses during the great Exodus and Joshua and Caleb during the reclaiming of the Promised Land. During the turbulent, terrible, tragic days before the kings and champions like David and Solomon God raised up judges to help His people return to political and religious freedom: "And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went out the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them." (Judges 2:13–16) These were men and women that were willing to stand in the gap against those that would reclaim the land for the devil and the diabolical nations that Israel failed to eradicate from Canaan. Out of the pages, recorded by I believe Samuel, the last judge before the king age, comes a little known champion named Shamgar. Some would like the prophets, dividing the judges up into Major Judges and Minor Judges, but though little is shared with us about the little known judges, doesn’t make their exploits any less important and worthy of our consideration. I like to call Shamgar the ‘two-verse’ judge while judges like Deborah and Barak are ‘two-chapter’ judges. Most know the stories of Samson the strongest man in the world and Gideon and his famous three-hundred, but few stop to study Shamgar’s great exploit, yet Shamgar was a man who was willing At a Moment’s Notice to stand against and stand up and stand for His God and his nation even if that meant that he would have to stand alone against an invading army!

I believe Shamgar lived at the end of Ehud’s judgeship (the ‘and after him’ of Judges 3:31) and the beginning of Deborah’s judgeship: "In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. (Judges 5:6–7) I believe that these verses are telling us that the main lanes and the small towns of Israel were no longer safe because of wandering, marauding bands of foreign invaders from places like Philistia that periodically raided the countryside. Sounds like parts of our country today with the ever increasing strength of gangs! No doubt these roving bands sought to plunder what they could steal from the People of God in their new possession. After Ehud’s victory over the invading Moabites, Ammonites, and Amalekites (Judges 3:13), a peace of 80 years was the result (Judges 3:30), but a new threat from the west was emerging with the Philistines. But who would stop them? With no standing army or central government the land was open to such incursions, but then on an unknown, unrecorded day a large group of Philistines decided to invade Israel through Shamgar’s field, and At a Moment’s Notice everything changed. If you study in Judges the times that God used the Philistines as Israel’s spoiler" (Judges 2:14) you would need to compare Judges 3:31 with Judges 10:7. If you compare the years between these two verses you will discover that Shamgar’s stand against the Philistines would keep Philistia out of the land for more than a hundred and fifty years. This one stand, this one At a Moment’s Notice stand would make a great different for many years to come and the generations of Jews during those days, weeks, months, years, decades and yes, a century and a half!

Whether Shamgar heard of other raids or not, we know not, but what we do know from Holy Writ I interpret this way (Romans 14:5). On a given day while Shamgar was plowing with his team of oxen on a back field that bordered Philistia, a battalion of armed Philistines appeared. With no time to summon help or no time to get a proper weapon Shamgar turned and faced the foe with only what was in his hand: the ox goad he used to prod his beasts of burden. I have asked myself: What was in his mind? What was on his heart as he faced this seemingly invincible force? In my imagination I think he heard the voice of God that asked him the same question Jehovah asked Moses: What is that in your hand? (Exodus 4:2) I also think a promise Joshua had shared with the nation just before he died came to Shamgar’s mind: "One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, He it is that fighteth for you, as He hath promised you." (Joshua 23:10) What happened in the mind of Shamgar we are not told, but what we are told is that he killed 600 Philistines with that ox goad and delivered Israel from their enemies. The Philistines had come against this man of God with too few troopers! Shamgar’s feat on a field of conflict would only be surpassed by Adino’s 800 with a spear (II Samuel 23:8) and Samson’s 1000 with the jawbone of an ass (Judges 15:15).

So what does this tell us about Shamgar and his God, and our Lord? First, it tells us that God and you do make a majority in any fight no matter the odds. Impossible some would say; possible the Bible says: For nothing is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37) Paul tells us: "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) I was taught as a child this little chorus that highlights and underlines this precept: Got any rivers you think are uncrossable; got any mountains you can’t tunnel through; God specializes in things thought impossible, He does the things others cannot do! Like using a farmer with an ox goad (now if you think an ox goad would be an inferior weapon, most believe they were seven feet in length, 3 to 4 inches thick with a pointed end and a blent end) to defeat 600 probably trained mercenaries. I believe there might have been more Philistines than 600, but after the first 600 fell the rest fled and the story they told about this one man put fear into the hearts of all Philistines for a century and a half! An old Greek proverb says: If God be with us everything that is impossible becomes possible!"

Second, it tells us that God is not handicapped by the occupation of His servants. Shamgar was a sower not a soldier, but God still used him to win a great victory and to deliver His people again. I feel Paul’s precept is illustrated here: "But God hath chosen the foolish things (ox goad) of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things (farmer) of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence." (I Corinthians 1:27–29) You might be an electrician not an evangelist, but God can still use you to win someone to Himself. Remember, with God, we are never outnumbered; we are never outmatched, and we are never outclassed with the Lord on our side. I feel we are the very people God loves to use At a Moment’s Notice to bring forth His Glory.

For me, it has been an interesting observation of Scripture that God loves to use the individual and not the crowd to do His work most of the time. Granted, He can use the group like with Gideon’s three hundred (read again why God used the 300-Judges 7:1–7), but who gets the glory when the odds are 600 to 1 and the one wins? There was no boasting in Shamgar because how could he have even imagined that he would survive the Battle of the Ox Goad? So for me the challenge is very clear. None of us knows on any given day when the Good Lord might put such a challenge before us. Unprepared, but willing, we must trust our God that He will supply the strength (wielding an ox goad to kill 600 would have taken supernatural strength) and the skill to accomplish the task, but are we ready At a Moment’s Notice to take a stand, even if we must stand alone. I think the key for the Christian is Paul’s admonish: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…" (Ephesians 6:10–13) Let us do this IN MEMORY OF SHAMGAR!

II Samuel

23

:

11

–

12

: And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.

3) SIMON

CROSS SHARING

THE CYRENIAN AND THE CROSS

Matthew 27:32-And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

The Bible gives us many men by the name of Simon. There was Simon Peter the famous (John 1:41) and Simon the sorcerer the infamous (Acts 8:9). There was the other disciple of Jesus named Simon (Matthew 10:4) and the other brother of Jesus named Simon (Mark 6:3). There was a leper named Simon (Matthew 26:6), and a Pharisee named Simon (Luke 7:36). Judas Iscariot’s father’s name was Simon (John 6:71), and there was a tanner in the Book of Acts called Simon (Acts 9:43). And then there was Simon of Cyrene; a man known in the Bible for only one thing. A man seemingly caught at the wrong time and in the wrong place, or was he? Simon’s one memorable, Scriptural act certainly qualifies him for the theme of this book: at a moment’s notice! Unexpected and probably unprepared, Simon was instantaneously thrust into the most dramatic trek in history: Jesus walk to Golgotha’s brow, and it happened to Simon At a Moment’s Notice!

Some call it fate, but I call it fantastic. It was not mere chance or circumstance that Simon was where he was on that fateful morning; just like it was not by chance or circumstance that Esther was queen of Persia at the time of Haman’s devilish plot. Mordecai’s great question applied to Esther but I also believe to Simon: …and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14) I also believe it was not by chance or circumstance that Joseph was prime minister of Egypt at the time of the great Egyptian Famine. What did Joseph tell his brothers? Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. (Genesis 45:5) God does not deal in chance or circumstance! I have always loved the story of King Ahab and his death on the battlefield of Ramoth-Gilead. Remember the little known prophet Micaiah predicted that Ahab would die in the up and coming battle, but Ahab through he would outsmart God by going into the battle disguised, yet we read: "And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded." (I Kings 22:34) We forget that God is in control of every arrow that flies in battle and every pilgrim who comes to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover festival!

Granted, I would believe that Simon had come for the celebration and not to help a condemned man carry his cross to a crucifixion. I believe Simon probably resisted at first because of the words in our key verse above: they compelled him!