Thoughts from my personal time with God.
…And Samuel said to him, “No, the Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” Then he asked him, “Do you have any more sons?”
Jesse answered, “There is still the youngest, but he is out taking care of the sheep.”
“Tell him to come here,” Samuel said. “We won’t offer the sacrifice until he comes.” So Jesse sent for him. He was a handsome, healthy young man, and his eyes sparkled.
1 Samuel 16:8 – 13 Read More »
As long as Samuel lived, he never again saw the king; but he grieved over him. The Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king of Israel.
Samuel no doubt felt responsible for Saul’s failure but there are so many things that occur beyond our limited vision. What is the cause behind the effet is not always clear (2 Samuel 24:1).…
1 Samuel 15:32 – 16:7 Read More »
Samuel said, “Which does the Lord prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him. Rebellion against him is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance is as sinful as idolatry.”
Disobedience is the root that manifests itself in so many different ways (Romans 1:28-32).
…“Because you rejected the Lord’s command, he has rejected you as king.”
1 Samuel 15:22b – 31 Read More »
“Why did you rush to grab the loot, and so do what displeases the Lord?”
The list is long of those that fall victim to the love of money: Laban (Genesis 24:29-30), Achan (Joshua 7:20-21), Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27), Judas (Matthew 26:14-16), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), … Others fall victim to the love of pleasure / sexe (Proverbs 7:6-23).…
1 Samuel 15:18-22a Read More »
The Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I made Saul king; he has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands.”
This mirrors God’s response in Genesis 6:5-8 where it states he was “sorry” he created man. Regret seen from a certain perspective perhaps but we have to remember that we were chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).…
After Saul became king of Israel, he fought all his enemies everywhere… Wherever he fought he was victorious. …As long as he lived, Saul had to fight fiercely against the Philistines. So whenever he found a man who was strong or brave, he would enlist him in his army.
A bit like Saul before his conversion (Acts 8:3): zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:2).…
1 Samuel 14:47 – 15:9 Read More »
…“Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.”
“You are traitors!” Saul cried out. …“Go among the people and tell them all to bring their cattle and sheep here. They are to slaughter them and eat them here; they must not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood in it.”
1 Samuel 14:31 – 46 Read More »
In that first slaughter Jonathan and the young man killed about twenty men… All the Philistines in the countryside were terrified; …the earth shook, and there was great panic.
We can never foresee the consequences of our actions and words – however small. I need to act and speak, always thoughtfully and with purpose.
…“Bring the ephod here.”
As Saul was speaking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp kept getting worse…
“There’s no time to consult the Lord!”
1 Samuel 14:14 – 30 Read More »
“Let’s cross over to the camp of those heathen Philistines. Maybe the Lord will help us; if he does, nothing can keep him from giving us the victory, no matter how few of us there are.”
I love his attitude! It incarnates faith. Help me to apply that attitude every day Lord, anticipating the opportunities.
…“Whatever you want to do, I’m with you.”
1 Samuel 14:1 – 13 Read More »
“What have you done?”
The question has to be asked even when the answer is known (Genesis 3:8-9).
“The people were… you had not… besides that, the Philistines… So I felt I had to…”
“That was a foolish thing to do… You have not obeyed the command the Lord your God gave you.”
There is no “I felt I had to” when it comes to not obeying God.…
1 Samuel 13:11 – * Read More »