R³ Devotional - Day 102
R³ Devotional - Day 102 1 Samuel Chapter 15
By: Lee Dye
Our children know better than we do. They don’t need to listen to us. We give them instructions, guidance, and direction, but at a young age, they suddenly know more than us, the parents.
Growing up, some had a wise Father or Mother, that would mentor and offer wise counsel for life. I didn’t have that great fortune. They say necessity is the cause for invention. I saw this around me and understood the value, so I would seek it out. I found it in others, such an uncle, grandfather, and later in life, a good pastor.
Saul had the benefit of having Samual in his life, through God. By the instruction of God, Samual anointed Saul as the first King of Israel and provided counsel and guidance to Saul. In 1 Samuel 15, we see how the power of being the “King” has gone to Saul’s head.
God spoke to Samuel and gave instructions to have Saul go and conquer the Amalekites, as they had attacked the Israelites, unprovoked, after they had left Egypt. God gave detailed specific instructions. Verse 3: “Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them”. Do not spare ANYTHING. Plain and simple. Clear and precise.
But Saul, now thinking he was smarter than God, thought he would do better. He spared the king of the Amalekites and the best sheep, oxen, calves, and lambs (vs 9). Saul even set up a monument for himself, he was so proud of himself.
When Saul returned, he didn’t speak with Samual. But God did speak with Samual. God told Samual [Saul] “……has not performed my commandments.” Samual, angry now, approached Saul. Saul, in all his arrogance, said to Samual: “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have done all the commandments of the Lord”. “Then what is that noise I hear, bleating of sheep and lowing of oxen” replied Samual.
Busted! Like everyone caught being disobedient or in a lie, Saul started out offering praise to Samual – why not praise God? Then he presented his idea of saving the best to offer as a sacrifice. This was a better than being obedient. WRONG.
God makes it so easy for us. His Guidance and instructions are so clear and easy. He’s the wise counselor and mentor any of us need. From the old testament, Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” even throughout the new testament, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”, God has provided all we need. It’s when we don’t listen, think we know better and are disobedient, we fail and are miserable.
From then forward, Saul was no longer King. We don’t need to be king, when He’s Lord of our lives. “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” Romans 14:9.
Growing up, some had a wise Father or Mother, that would mentor and offer wise counsel for life. I didn’t have that great fortune. They say necessity is the cause for invention. I saw this around me and understood the value, so I would seek it out. I found it in others, such an uncle, grandfather, and later in life, a good pastor.
Saul had the benefit of having Samual in his life, through God. By the instruction of God, Samual anointed Saul as the first King of Israel and provided counsel and guidance to Saul. In 1 Samuel 15, we see how the power of being the “King” has gone to Saul’s head.
God spoke to Samuel and gave instructions to have Saul go and conquer the Amalekites, as they had attacked the Israelites, unprovoked, after they had left Egypt. God gave detailed specific instructions. Verse 3: “Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them”. Do not spare ANYTHING. Plain and simple. Clear and precise.
But Saul, now thinking he was smarter than God, thought he would do better. He spared the king of the Amalekites and the best sheep, oxen, calves, and lambs (vs 9). Saul even set up a monument for himself, he was so proud of himself.
When Saul returned, he didn’t speak with Samual. But God did speak with Samual. God told Samual [Saul] “……has not performed my commandments.” Samual, angry now, approached Saul. Saul, in all his arrogance, said to Samual: “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have done all the commandments of the Lord”. “Then what is that noise I hear, bleating of sheep and lowing of oxen” replied Samual.
Busted! Like everyone caught being disobedient or in a lie, Saul started out offering praise to Samual – why not praise God? Then he presented his idea of saving the best to offer as a sacrifice. This was a better than being obedient. WRONG.
God makes it so easy for us. His Guidance and instructions are so clear and easy. He’s the wise counselor and mentor any of us need. From the old testament, Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” even throughout the new testament, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”, God has provided all we need. It’s when we don’t listen, think we know better and are disobedient, we fail and are miserable.
From then forward, Saul was no longer King. We don’t need to be king, when He’s Lord of our lives. “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” Romans 14:9.
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