March 10 - I Samuel 14-16
Thankfully, Saul's son, Jonathan, steps forward in faith and leads Israel to a great victory in this seemingly impossible situation. He does not look at the multitude of the Philistines, but He looks to the Lord, because he knows that God can give victory through many or through a few. Nothing can hold God back when He decides to act. God was looking for faith, and when He saw it in Jonathan's willingness to trust Him, He confused the enemy, sent an earthquake, and simply caused the great enemy to melt away. This is a great testimony to the power of just one person who will trust the Lord.
In all of this Saul continues to show his lack of faith in God. He makes the foolish curse upon anyone who would stop to eat as they were pursuing the enemy. He made this statement thinking that it would be human effort that would bring the Philistines down, when all along it had been the power of God. Then, in his pride he did not destroy the Amalekites as God commanded. He listened to the people's greed. He allowed them to save the best spoils and just destroy the worst things. He did not kill king Agag, either. It was a case of rebellion against God's clear command; so when Samuel came to Saul, he told him of God's decision to remove Saul from being king. Saul tried to say that they had saved the spoil to sacrifice to the Lord, but Samuel tells him that obedience is better than sacrifice. We must always remember that incomplete obedience is sin. In this case it cost Saul the kingdom, and David was anointed the new king.
The Spirit of the Lord that was put on Saul to empower him to be a godly king was withdrawn by God. This does not mean that he was no longer saved. It means God had taken His hand of favor and power off of him. Then, a distressing Spirit from the Lord came upon Saul. This was the result of his sin and lack of true repentance. The guilt began to eat away at him and make him angry to the point that he needed music to soothe him. What Saul really needed was to turn his heart over to the Lord completely, but he just would not do that.
When Jesse's youngest son, David, is chosen by God to be the next king. Samuel anoints him in a private ceremony with the family. It would be years before David would take the throne, but the Lord began the process in this simple way. Why was David chosen? He was chosen because God was looking at his heart this time, not on the outward appearance. This was the king God wanted, not the one the people wanted. God is constantly looking at hearts to see who is faithfully loving Him. I pray that what He sees in our hearts is pleasing to Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 17-19.
In all of this Saul continues to show his lack of faith in God. He makes the foolish curse upon anyone who would stop to eat as they were pursuing the enemy. He made this statement thinking that it would be human effort that would bring the Philistines down, when all along it had been the power of God. Then, in his pride he did not destroy the Amalekites as God commanded. He listened to the people's greed. He allowed them to save the best spoils and just destroy the worst things. He did not kill king Agag, either. It was a case of rebellion against God's clear command; so when Samuel came to Saul, he told him of God's decision to remove Saul from being king. Saul tried to say that they had saved the spoil to sacrifice to the Lord, but Samuel tells him that obedience is better than sacrifice. We must always remember that incomplete obedience is sin. In this case it cost Saul the kingdom, and David was anointed the new king.
The Spirit of the Lord that was put on Saul to empower him to be a godly king was withdrawn by God. This does not mean that he was no longer saved. It means God had taken His hand of favor and power off of him. Then, a distressing Spirit from the Lord came upon Saul. This was the result of his sin and lack of true repentance. The guilt began to eat away at him and make him angry to the point that he needed music to soothe him. What Saul really needed was to turn his heart over to the Lord completely, but he just would not do that.
When Jesse's youngest son, David, is chosen by God to be the next king. Samuel anoints him in a private ceremony with the family. It would be years before David would take the throne, but the Lord began the process in this simple way. Why was David chosen? He was chosen because God was looking at his heart this time, not on the outward appearance. This was the king God wanted, not the one the people wanted. God is constantly looking at hearts to see who is faithfully loving Him. I pray that what He sees in our hearts is pleasing to Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 17-19.