June 25, 2010
Saul had the daunting task of facing and fighting the Philistines who far out powered and out numbered the Israelites. Their soldiers were "as many as the grains of sand on the sea shore." The Israelites didn't have any swords. They were facing an impossible "do it on your own battle."
Samuel was to meet the army. As priest/judge, he would have sought God's protection and guidance in the battle. Samuel was delayed and the people became fearful and Saul became impatient. He would take matters into his own hands, and he offered the burnt offering. Samuel arrives a short time later and asks, "What have you done?" Saul's answer shows the problem. I saw... I thought... I... I... I. Samuel tells him he has acted foolishly. IF he had obeyed the LORD and waited and trusted in God, THEN the LORD would have blessed him and his kingdom would have continued, but now it was too late. His decision to act on his own and take matters into his own hands now guaranteed his end.
Jonathon (by himself and only taking his armor bearer with him) decides to go to the camp of the Philistines. The path to get to the Philistines involved going through a pass between large rocks. Jonathon did not think he could win on his own power. He was not thinking "I" can do this, he was thinking God can do this. I Samuel 14:6 - "...the LORD can give us victory if we have many people, or just a few."
Jonathon and his armor bearer head out, alone (but with God) to the enemy camp. If the Philistines called them up the pass, then, "The LORD will help us defeat them." That would be the sign. Jonathon and his officer let the enemy camp see them, out in the open, totally unprotected. The enemy makes fun of them and calls them up. Jonathon says to his officer, "Climb up behind me, because the LORD has given the Philistines to Israel!" So, Jonathon "climbed up using his hands and feet" and he struck down the Philistines as he went with his officer killing them. The Philistines panicked. I Samuel 14:15 - "God caused the panic." The enemy turned on each other, "so the LORD saved the Israelites that day." (I Samuel 14:23)
Jonathon chose to obey, but that did not mean the battle was easy. He didn't just sit back and wait! It took getting into the trenches, climbing, fighting, using his hands and feet, being totally exposed in front of the enemy to accomplish God's will. Not for the faint of heart. There was no way he could have done it in his own strength. Only God! Only God can give the strength required to go into a battle that He has ordained.
Saul just refused to "get it." He gave directives about not eating, but it was his directive not God's. The LORD tells Saul to destroy everything the Amalekites own. Everything! They were not to let anything live. The act of destroying everything was to be an offering to God. The people, following Saul's leadership, decide to destroy what was weak and useless but keep the best for themselves. They made the decision NOT to follow God's clear directive, but to do what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it. They defeated the Amalekites, they kept the best of everything, they took the king alive, and Saul built a monument to himself.
Samuel goes to Saul and Saul has the audacity to say, "May the LORD bless you! I have obeyed the LORD's commands." And Samuel says, "Then why do I hear cattle mooing and sheep bleating?" Saul tries to blame it on the people and tried to excuse it by saying that they were going to offer "the best" they kept as an offering to God. I love how Samuel responds. STOP! Saul was trying to rationalize what he had done. He was trying to pass the blame onto others and Samuel says—STOP! Let me do the talking now. Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night. Once you didn't even think you should be king, but God appointed you as a leader and sent you on a mission. You were to go and destroy those evil people. Why didn't you obey the LORD? Why did you take the best things? Why did you do what the LORD said was wrong?
Saul says, "But I did obey the LORD. I did what the LORD told me to. I destroyed all the Amalekites. (Really?) I brought back Agog their king. (How is that destroying all?) The soldiers took the best sheep to offer to your God. (Really? Because your soldiers were obeying your orders it was them and not you?)
Addendum: 1/12/14 ~ From my margins: It's not "I." It is the Lord who leads and guides! Look to Him!
For years I would hear people talk about their life verses. I had a favorite verse (I John 1:9 which was the very first verse I remember memorizing) but I did not have a life verse. Well that has all changed. Somewhere in this process I found my life verse, actually two verses. The first one is Psalm 32:8 which was also Jane's (Her Name Was Jane) life verse. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (NIV) The second is Hosea 14:8 - "I, the LORD, am the one who answers your prayers and watches over you. I am like a green pine tree; your blessings come from me." (NCV) Those two verses sum everything up. It is ALL about HIM. HE instructs. HE teaches. HE guides. HE counsels. HE watches over us. HE answers our prayers. HE fulfills His promises. HE is everlasting. HE blesses. The LORD—HE is the One.
What promises. He is in control. Our job is to surrender ALL to Him.
Next Entry: I Samuel 13:1 – 15:35 (Continued)
Saul had the daunting task of facing and fighting the Philistines who far out powered and out numbered the Israelites. Their soldiers were "as many as the grains of sand on the sea shore." The Israelites didn't have any swords. They were facing an impossible "do it on your own battle."
Samuel was to meet the army. As priest/judge, he would have sought God's protection and guidance in the battle. Samuel was delayed and the people became fearful and Saul became impatient. He would take matters into his own hands, and he offered the burnt offering. Samuel arrives a short time later and asks, "What have you done?" Saul's answer shows the problem. I saw... I thought... I... I... I. Samuel tells him he has acted foolishly. IF he had obeyed the LORD and waited and trusted in God, THEN the LORD would have blessed him and his kingdom would have continued, but now it was too late. His decision to act on his own and take matters into his own hands now guaranteed his end.
Jonathon (by himself and only taking his armor bearer with him) decides to go to the camp of the Philistines. The path to get to the Philistines involved going through a pass between large rocks. Jonathon did not think he could win on his own power. He was not thinking "I" can do this, he was thinking God can do this. I Samuel 14:6 - "...the LORD can give us victory if we have many people, or just a few."
Jonathon and his armor bearer head out, alone (but with God) to the enemy camp. If the Philistines called them up the pass, then, "The LORD will help us defeat them." That would be the sign. Jonathon and his officer let the enemy camp see them, out in the open, totally unprotected. The enemy makes fun of them and calls them up. Jonathon says to his officer, "Climb up behind me, because the LORD has given the Philistines to Israel!" So, Jonathon "climbed up using his hands and feet" and he struck down the Philistines as he went with his officer killing them. The Philistines panicked. I Samuel 14:15 - "God caused the panic." The enemy turned on each other, "so the LORD saved the Israelites that day." (I Samuel 14:23)
Jonathon chose to obey, but that did not mean the battle was easy. He didn't just sit back and wait! It took getting into the trenches, climbing, fighting, using his hands and feet, being totally exposed in front of the enemy to accomplish God's will. Not for the faint of heart. There was no way he could have done it in his own strength. Only God! Only God can give the strength required to go into a battle that He has ordained.
Saul just refused to "get it." He gave directives about not eating, but it was his directive not God's. The LORD tells Saul to destroy everything the Amalekites own. Everything! They were not to let anything live. The act of destroying everything was to be an offering to God. The people, following Saul's leadership, decide to destroy what was weak and useless but keep the best for themselves. They made the decision NOT to follow God's clear directive, but to do what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it. They defeated the Amalekites, they kept the best of everything, they took the king alive, and Saul built a monument to himself.
Samuel goes to Saul and Saul has the audacity to say, "May the LORD bless you! I have obeyed the LORD's commands." And Samuel says, "Then why do I hear cattle mooing and sheep bleating?" Saul tries to blame it on the people and tried to excuse it by saying that they were going to offer "the best" they kept as an offering to God. I love how Samuel responds. STOP! Saul was trying to rationalize what he had done. He was trying to pass the blame onto others and Samuel says—STOP! Let me do the talking now. Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night. Once you didn't even think you should be king, but God appointed you as a leader and sent you on a mission. You were to go and destroy those evil people. Why didn't you obey the LORD? Why did you take the best things? Why did you do what the LORD said was wrong?
Saul says, "But I did obey the LORD. I did what the LORD told me to. I destroyed all the Amalekites. (Really?) I brought back Agog their king. (How is that destroying all?) The soldiers took the best sheep to offer to your God. (Really? Because your soldiers were obeying your orders it was them and not you?)
Addendum: 1/12/14 ~ From my margins: It's not "I." It is the Lord who leads and guides! Look to Him!
For years I would hear people talk about their life verses. I had a favorite verse (I John 1:9 which was the very first verse I remember memorizing) but I did not have a life verse. Well that has all changed. Somewhere in this process I found my life verse, actually two verses. The first one is Psalm 32:8 which was also Jane's (Her Name Was Jane) life verse. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (NIV) The second is Hosea 14:8 - "I, the LORD, am the one who answers your prayers and watches over you. I am like a green pine tree; your blessings come from me." (NCV) Those two verses sum everything up. It is ALL about HIM. HE instructs. HE teaches. HE guides. HE counsels. HE watches over us. HE answers our prayers. HE fulfills His promises. HE is everlasting. HE blesses. The LORD—HE is the One.
What promises. He is in control. Our job is to surrender ALL to Him.
Next Entry: I Samuel 13:1 – 15:35 (Continued)
No comments:
Post a Comment