Follow the Leader

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 16  (day four)

“For I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.”  (16:1)  Israel thought it was their idea to have a king.  There was surely a plan for succession to the throne.  Where Israel thought they were in charge, we discover God’s fingerprints are already there.  Where was Jesse from?  Verse 1 tells us he was from Bethlehem.  Coincidence?  Fast forward over 1000 years…Joseph and Mary are going to Bethlehem to register for taxes.  This long, treacherous trip was because Joseph was of the house and linage of David.  God has had a plan for all of time!  He is sovereign…He is unchanging…He is omnipotent…He is all-knowing.  What an amazing, loving God we serve!

Why is it that we try to take control of the events of our lives?  Do we honestly believe that our plan is better?  If we look closely, we will discover God’s fingerprints are already there.  If we listen carefully, we will hear His Spirit guiding our steps.

Risk

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 16.  (day three) 

“How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me.”

When the king lives in fear, no one is safe.  The man who lives in fear will use every ounce of energy to stave off the dread until there’s no strength left to seek the welfare of the weak and the small.  Fear is the soul’s Dead Sea.  Energy flows in but nothing flows out.  And nothing can live in or near a life like that.  No wonder Samuel kept his distance from Saul.  The whole nation was increasingly at risk of descending into anarchic madness because of the ruler’s rising fear.  In those dark days, Samuel braved Saul’s deadly wrath to shepherd the David’s ascension to the throne.  The hard work of courage is the only answer to the influence of fear.  Pray.  And rise.

Not As the World Sees

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 16.  (day two) 

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” vs. 7

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.” Luke 1:52

If there is an underlying theme that we can pull from the grand narrative of scripture it might be that God’s ways are not like ours. What we value, what we honor tend to be vapid, shallow, and very often narcissistic. God is always about the long game. What withers and fades is of little use to an eternal God bent on the everlasting future of his children. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, then, when his choice of leader, his direction for our lives, his ultimate plans deviate from ours. Our best recourse is to recalibrate our hearts to his.

The Morning after Mourning

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 16.  (Day one)

“How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him?”–v 1.

Samuel was heartbroken by Saul’s failure.  The old prophet genuinely loved the young king.  Had been a passionate and prayerful supporter.  Those days were now over.

With great patience, the Lord allowed Samuel the time necessary for mourning.  Time to grieve.  Time to recover.  (Compare the Lord’s kindness to Elijah in 1 Kings 19)

Eventually, however, it is the purpose of God for Samuel (us) to accept/release what is lost and move forward with faith.  “Weeping may come in the night, but joy comes in the morning”–Psalm 30:5.

A new and hopeful sunrise is coming for Israel.   A new king will soon be anointed and God wants Samuel (us) to be a part of it.

Lord, give courage when this call comes to me to count as loss things that were gain, and to do so for the sake of Christ! (Philippians 3:7)

Perfectly Ruined

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 15 (day seven)

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the Lord, and went on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” (v. 20-21)

Everything Saul achieved was exactly what a nation wants in battle: incredible spoils and the opposing king imprisoned. The campaign was a flawless military endeavor, a flawless military endeavor that ruined his career. There are times in this life that play out perfectly by every discernable measure, but they separate us from God. As perfect as the scenario looks, if it separates you from God it is ruinous. Do not let worldly measures of success define you, rather seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all those other things will be added to you.

Praise

“…because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”-Saul, 1 Samuel 15:24

Samuel 15 is a window into Saul’s soul; we see his truest motivations. In this account we discover what motivates Saul, the praise of men. (1 Samuel 15:17,24) Saul loves the praise of men more than he loves the praise of God, so he skirted obeying God fully because it would have put him out of favor with the people. The irony is, the people clamored for a king to lead them, and now the king was being led by the people.

Here is a good question for us to ponder:
How do you know when you prefer the praise of men more than the praise of God? What are the signs?

Saul had convinced himself (and tried to convince Samuel) that he had obeyed God, and even planned to use the spoils for a “good” thing, a sacrifice to God. Do we ever do the same thing? I’m not sure if God delights in all the “good” things we do, if we fail to obey him in what he has commanded.

Unchanged Heart

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 15 (day five)

It is not the name of the deity but the heart of the worshipper that creates idols. – Alexander Maclaren

Saul’s heart was unchanged when he was confronted with his own sin. Samuel challenges Saul’s disobedience. God meant for the battle to be about justice (God focused). Saul saw it as an opportunity for his own status and wealth (self focused). Verse 25- “Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” The fact that he wanted to return to ”worship” showed that his heart had not changed. He remained more concerned about his own standing and popularity than obedience to God. Saul is asking Samuel to endorse the celebration so that Saul might appear strong and mighty in the eyes of the people. He never learned this important lesson- The alternative to full surrender is rebellion. Sound harsh? No. Sounds Holy!!

Want to see a clear picture of a king’s heart changed through repentance? Look at Psalm 51

Obedience, Not Sacrifice

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 15 (day four)

V. 26 –“you have rejected the word of the Lord.”

This was the reason for Saul’s rejection…the reason his kingdom was taken away…he had rejected God’s Word.  It wasn’t just this one instance with the Amalekites, it was a pattern of rebellion against God.  Saul had sought to rule his kingdom according to his own desires in his own time.

Saul’s failure should serve as a warning to us.  Does God really mean what He says in Scripture?  Do we really expect to avoid judgment and punishment when we justify our disobedience?  As individuals or as a nation, can we allow abortion? Can we pervert God’s plan for marriage and the family?  Can we refuse to forgive and reconcile?  Can we pick and choose which command or how much of a command we will obey?  Forgiveness is available in response to true repentance.  True repentance will be followed by change of heart and action.  Obedience is better than sacrifice!

Master

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 15 (day three)

“I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.”

It takes Saul three iterations of the narrative for him to speak the truth.  First, Saul does his best to convince himself that the plunder is purely for noble purposes.  Second, Saul attempts to redirect: The main thing got done, didn’t it?  Finally, Saul arrives at the real story: “I acted out of fear.”  Herein lies the reign-defining difference between David and Saul.  David says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”  Saul says, “What time I am afraid, I will do fear’s bidding.”  It is not a sin to be afraid.  It is a sin to serve fear as one’s master.  Of course you’re afraid.  But what are you going to do from that point?

Don’t Stray

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 15 (day two) 

But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” vs. 14

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9

What is your first response after you sin? What happens when you are confronted in your sin by a friend, family member, or the Lord? Adam tried to cover up his shame by making excuses. Saul flat out lied. What is it in us that compels us to compound sin with sin? Whatever the case we would all do well to heed these stories as cautionary tales for our own lives. If God has given you a command, instruction, or directive – don’t deviate. His way is always better.