1 Samuel_13
Scripture1 Samuel 13:11-12“What have you done?” asked Samuel.Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”Observation - What does it say?Samuel didn’t show up as soon as Saul had hoped, in order to offer a burnt offering to God. This offering was to seek God’s blessing and favor for the battle they were about to engage in with the Philistines. Saul felt the pressure, as his troops began to abandon him, to take matters into his own hands and so he offered the burn offering himself instead of waiting for Samuel (which God commanded him to do). He obviously knew what he did was wrong because, when confronted by Samuel about it, he went on the defensive and listed all these reasons that he hoped would justify to Samuel his foolish decision. The consequences were most likely far worse than Saul could have ever imagined. That decision revealed Saul’s character, that he was a man who couldn’t be trusted to obey God’s command, and so his kingdom would be stripped from him and given to another.Understanding - What does it mean?In disobeying God, we will forfeit the great destiny God has made available to us.David, the one God stripped the kingdom from Saul to give it to, was declared to be a man after God’s own heart. And as a result his kingdom was established forever, as Jesus came from the family line of David and is now forever enthroned in glory. Why was David considered a man after God's own heart?Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’Because he would do everything God wanted him to do! God is looking for men and women who will do everything He wants them to do. Obedience to God, even in situations that don’t make sense or where we feel pressure to take matters into our own hands, is what will lead to God promoting us and using us in greater ways.Life ApplicationObey God even when it doesn’t make sense!
- When it doesn’t look like I can pay my bills and also tithe, obey God and tithe!
- When it doesn’t look like I can find a job with hours that will enable me to attend church, quit or turn down that job and trust God to provide another job that will!
- When someone wounded me so deeply and I can’t imagine letting it go, obey God and forgive them!
When we take matters into our own hands, we forfeit our own God-given destiny and rob ourselves of the blessings God intends to pour out on us. So, God, please give us the strength and wisdom to obey even when it's hard! Amen.- Levi Thompson