 But, what if, in the midst of the women singing (noted in 1 Samuel 18:6), Saul grabbed one of David’s arms and raised it up in a celebratory manner, you know hero fashion, as he and David and the rest of the Israelites marched home from defeating Goliath?
What if Saul gave a little speech on how Israel was delivered from bondage, and how once again God gave them victory, and how this time it was through David, and maybe comment on how this is how God’s people work together to benefit the Kingdom? What if he, on purpose, refused to let the negativity (jealousy, pride, etc) festering inside change how he operated as a godly leader? What if Saul realized he didn’t have to be the best but surrounding himself with great leaders would make him even more effective? What if he realized it wasn’t about his title or position but it was about his purpose overall as part of God’s Kingdom? So many what if’s with so much to ponder. ☺️ Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!  Saul, and all his entourage, returns home from battle and apparently the women have already heard about the victory for women from every city of Israel came out to meet the king.
Now, that had to be a lot of women. So, probably hundreds if not thousands. And they are celebrating and singing about the victory with tambourines and musical instruments and songs of joy. But Saul didn’t like the song. “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 1 Samuel 18:7b Saul perceived his position was being threatened. So, you have to wonder why, in the midst of this ticker tape parade, it never dawned on Saul that the Israelites won because he had a great warrior on his side. No, instead he could only focus on that fact that the women were attributing more victories to someone other than him and therefore he assumed David might want his kingdom. The funny thing is the kingdom was not Saul’s to keep or giveaway. See, Saul was just like David. He, too, was a servant in God’s Kingdom. Saul failed to realize he did not have the power of Supreme Administration 😀 That position was, and is, and will always be held by none other than God. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!  Goliath, the giant adversary, who threatened the Israelites to battle, was noted as being over nine feet tall. His armor was said to weigh approximately one hundred twenty five pounds. His spear head alone came in at fifteen pounds.
Not only was this guy tall but obviously he was strong. He had strength. Are you battling a giant in your life? Something that threatens to take you out? Maybe something that challenges you or something that stares you in the face and threatens to hold you back? Perhaps, it’s a problem or dilemma that just feels overwhelming every now and again. When Goliath’s come up in my life, it helps me to remember to not focus on the size or strength of it. For we know we will encounter Goliath’s of all sorts, but let us remember the size and strength of it, that giant, that thing we are facing, is meaningless compared to our God 💜 Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27 NIV  I defy the ranks of Israel. That’s what Goliath said in First Samuel 17:8-10.
Simply put, the adversary said he challenged the ranks of Israel. For him that meant from Saul on down. Goliath challenged the ranks of Israel because he believed there was no champion greater than he. There was no one that he felt he couldn’t defeat. Imagine if Saul said this back to Goliath. “Hey you! You with the big mouth. Yeah, you! My adversary who challenges us. You want to know what we have? We have the head of the ranks. Oh, you think it’s me. Well, you’re wrong buddy. You are so wrong.” Then imagine Saul looking up and saying, “LORD God, this enemy, this adversary, this giant, he is all Yours. I know You heard him. He has challenged the ranks. So, KING, Top Chief in Command, just tell me what You want me to do. Lead me. Guide me. I, Your servant, am here waiting on You. I acknowledge that You are in charge. Have Your way.” But when Goliath defied the ranks of Israel, Saul thought Goliath’s beef started with him as the head ranking official. It never even dawned on Saul, at this point in his kingly reign, that Israel was ultimately God’s Kingdom. So, inadvertently, Saul and Goliath had something in common. They both defied the ranks of Israel. Goliath verbally spoke it. Right up front. Saul, on the other hand, never said the words, but didn’t he convey it in his actions? When he didn’t consult or even acknowledge the LORD God as head of the ranks of Israel, did he not challenge the legality of the order? Did he not challenge who really was the king over Israel? Again, without even saying the words. And look at just one of the sentences David says when he confronts Goliath: Then said David to the Philistine, you come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, Whom you have defied. 1 Samuel 17:45 AMP David straight away acknowledges God as head to the giant and I can’t help but think that when God hears David acknowledge Him as head the battle is won long before it was ever fought and the forever forecast from Heaven: God reigns and the Son shines 🙌🏽 Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!  In First Samuel 16:5, Samuel invites Jesse and Jesse’s sons to a sacrifice.
So, they have been given an invitation, out of the blue, to come to a sacrifice and meet with God. It’s not like this was a standing invitation for them. This was a special invitation. It got me to thinking, today, Jesus has provided us with the privilege and the honor of being able to have a standing invitation to meet with God. We don’t have to wait until Sunday. We don’t have to wait until there is an invitation for some sort of special service. If you know Jesus then you have a standing invitation to come before the throne of God and meet with Him. Any time. Any where. No special invitation is needed. But because Jesus lives forever, His priesthood last forever. Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7: 24-25 NLT 🙌🏽 Father, Thank You. Thank You that You loved us enough to send Your Son to die for us. The ultimate sacrifice. So we can meet with You. Anytime. Anywhere. No special invitation needed. In Jesus Name, Amen. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!  Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 1 Samuel 16:4 ESV
So, we talked about Samuel’s journey from his hometown to Bethlehem, and that Samuel had to go through Saul’s territory. Now, he arrives in Bethlehem and the elders come and greet him and they are visibly shaking and the first question out of their mouth is “Do you come in peace?” So, what was it that made them nervous enough to tremble at Samuel’s presence? I’m thinking, at this point, it is probably not a secret that Samuel and Saul have had a fallout. I am guessing the news had made it to the elders. Maybe Saul even sent word to the elders to have no communication with Samuel or else. Honestly, I really don’t know. But I do know, at that moment, Samuel had a decision to make. Would he allow their anxiety to take over or would he remain focused on the task at hand? Now, Samuel, he stayed on course. He didn’t let the elders get under his skin and unnerve him. He ignored the distractions. If Samuel could’ve tweeted a word of wisdom back then it just might be, “Don’t let anyone become a distractor to accomplishing your purpose.” 😉 Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz  First Samuel Chapter 16 verse 4 tells us that Samuel did what the LORD commanded and traveled from his home, in Ramah to Bethlehem, to anoint the next king.
So, me, I had to know how long the journey was from point A to point B. The distance is said to be roughly 35 miles. Oh, and by the way, the road from Samuel’s home in Ramah to Bethlehem passed by Gibeah where Saul had his headquarters. Samuel had to pass, and possibly come face to face with what he once feared. Imagine that walk of faith. 😱 Yes, I think Samuel might have battled with fear at least once on this journey. You think so, too? Now, me, no doubt about it. I know I would have battled with fear during that more than a marathon trip. Especially as I came closer and closer to Gibeah. Who am I kidding! Probably even after passing it, too. Hmmm. So, what’s the takeaway? As you and I walk out our purpose, things around us may trigger us to fear but we must remember to do what Samuel did: Keep it moving while staying focused on purpose. 😃 Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz  The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for Myself a king among his sons. And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “ Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice , and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for Me him who I declare to you.” 1 Samuel 16:1-3 ESV
By now you have got to be thinking, “When are we going to move on from these passages?” This week my friend. This week. 😀 So, here we see the LORD had a plan to replace Saul with another king. Here the LORD provided the details that Samuel needed at the time. Notice the LORD didn’t tell him exactly who He had selected to be king. What is also interesting is Samuel didn’t run and tell anyone either. Moving forward he only involved those who were pertinent to the plan. So, maybe sometimes I don’t need to know the full plan before moving forward. Sometimes I just need to go ahead and execute what God has asked me to do even when the plan may not include all the specifics. Maybe I just need to move forward and continue to listen for His voice and His direction along the way. Trust His plan will unfold in His time. Trust God along the way. 💜 And maybe sometimes I don’t need to let others know the plan. 😮 Maybe I just need to let those who are key to the plan in on it. Trusting God along the way. 💜 Just some nuggets to ponder. ☺️ Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!  In 1 Samuel Chapter 16, when God tells Samuel to go, one of Samuel’s responses back to God is, “If Saul hears it, he will kill me.”
Samuel knew that even after all the years of growing together, working together, getting to know each other, supporting each other, loving each other, Saul would react negatively if he heard the plan. Samuel knew that if Saul heard that he was on his way to anoint someone else as king that Saul would hunt Samuel down and try to kill him. Samuel knew Saul would not allow him to walk out God’s plan without a fight. Saul would quickly go from friend to foe. As I sat back and noodled on this I thought, Liz, and you know what? Sometimes the enemy is not going to just allow you to walk out your calling. He will do whatever it takes to try and prevent you from doing what God has purposed you to do. What God has called you to do no one can stop you but you. Your limit just may be you. 💜 Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!  The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for Myself a king among his sons. And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “ Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice , and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for Me him who I declare to you.” 1 Samuel 16:1-3 ESV
God, I need help here. I get what You want me to do but I am really struggling with the how? How in the world do You expect for me to do this? You know Saul. He is not going to just allow me to walk this thing out. He is not going to give up without a fight. If he finds out I am going to anoint another king to replace him he won’t think twice about killing me. God’s response to Samuel wasn’t, “Good grief! What’s your problem? How long have we been doing this? And you want to know how?” Nope. Not at all. God loved the fact that Samuel came to Him with his fears. With his questions. I bet God loved the fact that Samuel trusted Him with his innermost thoughts and concerns. I bet Samuel loved the fact that God wasn’t harboring ‘ill will’ at the fact it took Samuel a minute to move on from his personal pity party related to Saul’s demise as king. ☺️ Samuel had a relationship with God. Samuel sought God. He went to God for guidance and direction. He engaged in a dialog with God. Samuel trusted God. God had a relationship with Samuel. God revealed truth to him. God led, and provided, and showed compassion towards him. God heard Samuel’s concerns, his heartfelt honesty, and showed him how to move forward. Weaved throughout the word of God are beautiful aspects of a relationship between God and Samuel. God and others, too, for that matter. This is what God so desires: A relationship between God and you; God and me, too. 💙 Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM! |
Hey There! I'm LizFounder of Ezra728 with a purpose of creating inspiring messages to strengthen and encourage primarily us gals across the globe. Guys, don't fret. You are definitely welcome, too. Archives
June 2020
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