Ever think why didn’t Saul keep silent once Samuel commented on hearing the sheep and cattle? (Found in 1 Samuel 15:13&14) Why didn’t he just admit he screwed up? Why didn’t he do something to accept responsibility?
When Samuel confronted Saul on not obeying God’s instructions, instead, Saul makes matters worse. In the midst of the dialog Saul tries to defend himself by blaming it on the people. Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” 1 Samuel 15:15 NIV The ‘ole “It wasn’t my fault. It was the people” excuse. Somebody should have told Saul, “Hush. Let’s think about this son. This excuse didn’t work for Adam so what makes you think it will work for you?” 🧐 The truth of the matter is sometimes accepting responsibility for our disobedience can be a hard thing to do. 🤷🏽♀️ Just a little something to ponder. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz Say to the Daughter of Zion [inhabitants of Jerusalem], Behold, your KING is coming to you, lowly and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey [a beast of burden]. Matthew 21:5 AMP
At one point in Jesus journey, HE is riding on a beast of burden. A draught animal created, or one could say purposed, to carry or pull heavy loads. Said to be a hardy animal in that they can survive much: extreme temperatures, poor diet, lack of water and neglect would be the shortlist. The one purposed to carry heavy loads carrying ONE purposed to do the same. The one purposed to survive much carrying ONE who survived it all. Our KING came in riding on a beast of burden with the weight of the world on HIS shoulders. Are you burdened with all that is going on in the world today? Are you anxious? Worrisome? Concerned? So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you. Psalms 55:22 TPT Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. 1 Samuel 10:26 NIV
Look at that. Saul now has followers. 😀 At one point, Samuel gives strict instructions to Saul to go and fight the Amalekites. Samuel tells Saul to totally destroy every thing that belongs to the Amalekites and to kill all the people, too. Found in 1 Samuel Chapter 15. Saul and his army go and defeat the Amalekites. But Saul spares the life of the Amalekite king. Saul and his army also keep everything that they considered good. So, back in the day, that would be the best of the sheep, cattle, fatted calves and lambs. Later Samuel goes to see Saul. See, God has given Samuel the inside scoop. God revealed to Samuel that Saul did not completely obey the instructions. God, also, told Samuel that Saul would no longer be king and God had given the role to someone else. So, Samuel arrives to convey the message to Saul and my summary of the conversation goes like this: Saul greets Samuel and excitedly says: “Hey, what’s up, my friend. I did what the LORD asked!” I imagine Samuel pausing, and then looking up at Saul, with resignation and saying, “Hey, what’s up Saul. Hold on. Wait. I hear something. You hear that? Man, that sounds like sheep and oxen. “Oh that! Well, what had happened was…. “. I imagine with a look of reproach Samuel thinking, while refraining from slapping him on the back of his head, “Saul! Quit. Just quit! Did you really think God wouldn’t know? All the LORD asked was that you obey HIM. Yet, you didn’t! You had it made, Saul. What were you thinking? Well, thanks for your service but it will no longer be needed.” The fact of the matter: Obedience is that serious. Father, As we grow in our purpose, help to keep us obedient to Your Word. In Jesus Name, Amen. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king. 1 Samuel 15:23b NIV Only fear the LORD and serve HIM faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things HE has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24 ESV
Today, in the midst of all that is going on in our world, pause, and take a moment to consider what great things God has done for you. 🙌🏽 Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 1 Samuel 12:23 ESV
There was a season where Samuel was anointed to be judge over Israel. I like to say he was their assigned leader. But sometimes the Israelites sure didn’t act like it. Sometimes they ignored his guidance taking it upon themselves to do whatever they felt was best. But Samuel didn’t quit. Whether the flock listened or not. Whether they did what they were supposed to do or not. Samuel continued to pray for the Israelites and guide them. In the face of adversity, Samuel continued at his post fulfilling the purpose as God intended. He did what he was called to do. He remained focused and was obedient to the will of God for his life. An aspect of leadership: Standing firm and letting nothing move you knowing who God created you to be Father, As we serve in our positions, whatever they may be, help us to remain focused on fulfilling the purpose as You intended for us. Especially in the moments when it feels as if no one is cooperating or even listening. In Jesus Name, Amen. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.”
And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake HIS people, for HIS great Name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for HIMSELF.” 1 Samuel 12:19-22 ESV The Israelites finally realized that asking for a king was a mistake. Plain and simple, the people had messed up. No doubt. My interpretation, if I may, of God’s response to the Israelites: Come on home. I want nothing more than a relationship with you. I take delight in calling you My own. I am here. Waiting on you. All day. Every day. 💜 I am so grateful, no matter what, it is HIS response to you and me, too. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NIV So, me, I imagine this:
Samuel standing before the Israelites, trying so hard to keep his composure, heart swelled in disappointment, fighting back the raw emotions. And then after a long pause, in exasperation, I picture Samuel saying: So here’s the king you wanted, the king you asked for. God has let you have your own way, given you a king. If you fear God, worship and obey Him, and don’t rebel against what He tells you. If both you and your king follow God, no problem. God will be sure to save you. But if you don’t obey Him and rebel against what He tells you, king or no king, you will fare no better than your fathers. 1 Samuel 12:13-15 MSG Imagine the sick feeling deep down in the pit of Samuel’s gut now because he knows the Israelites have made a horrible mistake. It’s as if he has just sounded the trumpet, hoping they hear and understand, longing for them to just remember one simple truth: “God is KING!” Though, deep inside, he knows the warning has been silenced by the fulfillment of their idolatrous hopes and desires. The problem with having a king is that we may begin to worship him. Author unknown. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to Me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the LORD your God was your King. 1 Samuel 12:12 NIV And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!” Revelation 15:3 ESV Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah and said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you'.
But you have now rejected your God, Who saves you out of all your calamities and distresses. And you have said, ‘No, set a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans". 1 Samuel 10:17-19 NIV And through a process Saul was selected to be king over the Israelites. Get this. When they called Saul’s name, as the chosen king, they could not find him. Saul was hiding. They eventually located him, and when he stood amongst the people he was a head taller than any of them. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!” 1 Samuel 10:24 NIV See, there came a point in the lives of the Israelites where they wanted a king. So God gave them a king. Saul. Saul, already elevated in stature, now is being elevated in status. Little did they know, the thing they so desired (a king) would drop them to their knees. Hmmm. Something to ponder. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz Be careful of what you desire for it may just be the thing that drops you to your knees. Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, Where did you go? And Saul said, To look for the donkeys, and when we found them nowhere, we went to Samuel.
Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, what did Samuel say to you? And Saul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the donkeys were found. But of the matter of the kingdom of which Samuel spoke he told him nothing. 1 Samuel 10:14-16 AMPC When Saul arrived home he was noticeably different. God’s Anointing was on Saul. Imagine his uncle thinking, “I can’t put my finger on it but there is something different about you.” Oh, Father, that is my prayer today. Let You so continue to change us that it is noticeable to everyone around. In Jesus Name, Amen. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you will show yourself to be a prophet with them; and you will be turned into another man. 1 Samuel 10:6 AMPC So, let’s come back to the servant. Saul’s servant. The guy he picked to go with him on his ‘donkey finding mission’. (1 Samuel 9:3)
The servant shared information, one might say wisdom, with Saul. At the time, the servant didn’t realize that the information that he possessed, and was willing to share, would be critical to fulfilling the destiny of Saul. Critical to fulfilling the purpose of God. Said another way, he didn’t even understand that he was being used to fulfill God’s plan for providing the nation of Israel with a king. He just thought he was on a mission to find some lost donkeys. Let us never forget that our role, our purpose, no matter how big or small, may be just what is needed to propel someone else to their destiny. Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM, Liz |
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
March 2021
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