I Samuel 13 - God Rejects Saul's Kingdom

I Samuel 13

And Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you." (verse 13-14)

Message: God Rejects Saul's Kingdom 

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: I thought I Samuel 12 was a great chapter. We are His people and we are to serve Him with all of our heart. That is, His people whom He has chosen. Now in this chapter, based upon the title, it seems Saul is going to not do this. 

Saul is 40 years old and will reign for 32 years (v.1 - though these #'s have been inferred for the original text does not say this exactly). When Saul went against the Ammonites and Nahash 300,000 mean had been present. In verse 2 it says he chose "3,000 men of Israel...and sent away the rest."

Back in I Samuel 9:16 when Saul was chosen by Samuel from God, it says "he shall deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines." But after taking 3,000 men, it is not he that goes against the Philistines, but his son Jonathan. But what the people heard throughout Israel was that Saul had done this (v.3-4). 

In response, "the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel (v. 5) in Michmash while Saul was in Gilgal." In response, "the people (of Israel) hid themselves. (v. 6)" Saul was to wait 7 days for Samuel (v.8). Saul though, it appears out of fear, did not want and did a burnt offering and peace offering and then Saul came to ask Samuel what he had done and Saul admitted not waiting and asking for the favor of the Lord and instead forced these offerings (v. 9-12). 

Samuel lets him know that he did not keep "the commandment of the Lord your God. (v.13)" Saul will not have a lasting dynasty. The number of men with Saul dwindled to 600 (v. 15). The Philistines came in 3 companies. No blacksmith was present so they went to the Philistines to sharpen their weapons and thus they had limited number of weapons (v.19-23). 

Note: This is quite harsh. Saul is given one opportunity and he fails and Samuel says the Lord will reject His kingdom. It almost seems like Saul gets nervous and takes matters into his own hands and tries to figure out himself what he is to do, making offerings. Saul most likely did not offer the sacrifices himself, but instead had a priest do this. Again, most likely he wanted to show himself ready and able, but he needed to listen to Samuel's direction. 

Summary: Saul is to wait 7 days for Samuel as the Philistines are approaching him in battle, but he does not and offers sacrifices himself, with the result that the Lord rejected Saul's kingdom. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "If we are in Christ, we cannot lose our salvation, but our disobedience can cause us to lose earthly blessings."

Prayer: Lord, I am thankful for the grace that you extend so often. And  yet as we encounter bad things in our lives often I wonder if it is because of our distrust and the consequences we see could be the result. In these texts, I am reminded how you are present in all of life, in every circumstance, in all that we do. You are there and we do need to take your commands seriously. I fear sometimes I do not. Just as I know how I should eat and the last 2 days after poor eating I have been impacted by discomfort, I need to walk near your ways. I thank you that my salvation is secure and when bad things to happen, keep me close to You and help me to continue to trust You.  

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

My Utmost for His Highest - May 8th - The Patience of Faith

Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. - Revelation 3:10

    Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says--"I cannot stand any more." God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. For what have you need of patience just now? Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. "Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him. (Job 13:15)"

    Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, but you know Him. Shipwreck occurs where there is not that mental poise which comes from being established on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the heroic effort of your life, you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God.

    God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him. There are spots where that faith has not worked in us as yet, places untouched by the life of God. There were none of these spots in Jesus Christ's life, and there are to be none in ours. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee. (John 17:3)" The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

Mom's thoughts

Reckless and Confidence

My thoughts

That is a great analogy of our life being in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. He holds us and let lets us go when He thinks it is appropriate. I can trust myself in His hands. It is called the patience of faith or faith patience. I am not simply patience, but patient because of faith. I know Him because of faith and so I can fling myself in reckless confidence on God. My purpose is know Him and know Him better - so I can then face anything as He lets me fly. 

Proverbs 20:22 - Awaiting God's Deliverance

Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

Message: Awaiting God's Deliverance

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying: I notice in life that I desire people to get what I think they deserve. I hate how I actually enjoy seeing acquaintances struggle or have difficulty. Granted, I don't want them to be poor. And there is also something in me that likes seeing a person suffer. Like Tiger Woods, who cheated on his wife for many nears, then got found out. Ever since, he has struggled with his golf game. Granted, there are other reasons, but there is some sense of justice in me that likes the fact that he is struggling. 

I have a just God. He is fair. And at times, I also want to be the judge. But, in this scripture, I see the admonition that I need to wait. I need to wait for the Lord. It is not for me to repay evil. God will save me. 

Now, I think this verse speaks of someone wronging me. It could be singling out a mistake I've made at work, which happens. It could be saying something that infers that I am not doing my job, which happens at work and even happens at home. I know that I am hypersensitive to criticism. In those moments, I want to speak out. I want to defend myself. I want to basically say, "I'm not taking that from you." I do this. I actually wonder here if the very act of getting defensive is a mechanism in me to want to repay evil. I basically am thinking, "You're wrong."  

And then I often struggle with anger when someone doesn't get what I think is coming to them. I need to work on not being so sensitive. 

Promise: If I trust in the Lord for vengeance and pray that He will make me patient with sinners just as He is patient with sinners, the Spirit will enable me not to seek vengeance when it is not appropriate to do so. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this instruction. I see now how quick I am to defend myself. I see how quickly I feel someone attacking me and how quickly I want them to experience my wrath. Lord, help me to wait on You. Help me Lord to let you take care of the situation. I want to believe this God. I want to believe that You are in control and act upon it in my life. 

Jesus Calling: December 27

I am preparing you for what is on the road ahead, just around the bend. Take time to be still in My Presence so that I can strengthen you. The busier you become, the more you need this time apart with me. So many people think that time spent with Me is a luxury they cannot afford. As a result they live and work in their own strength -- until that becomes depleted. Then they either cry out to Me for help or turn away in bitterness.
     How much better it is to walk close to Me, depending on My strength and trusting Me in every situation. If you live in this way, you will do less but accomplish far more. Your unhurried pace of living will stand out in this rush-crazed age. Some people may deem you lazy, but many more will be blessed by your peacefulness. Walk in the Light with Me, and you will reflect Me to the watching world. 

Isaiah 64:4
English Standard Version
From of old no one has heard
    or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
    who acts for those who wait for him.
 
John 15:5
English Standard Version
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
 
Psalm 36:9
English Standard Version
For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.

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Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Psalm 89:38-52 - How Long? O Lord

Psalm 89:38-52

³⁸ But You have cast off and rejected, You have been full of wrath against Your anointed.
³⁹ You have spurned the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown in the dust.
⁴⁰ You have broken down all his walls; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
⁴¹ All who pass along the way plunder him; He has become a reproach to his neighbors.
⁴² You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice.
⁴³ You also turn back the edge of his sword And have not made him stand in battle.
⁴⁴ You have made his splendor to cease And cast his throne to the ground.
⁴⁵ You have shortened the days of his youth; You have covered him with shame. Selah.

⁴⁶ How long, O Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire?
⁴⁷ Remember what my span of life is; For what vanity You have created all the sons of men!
⁴⁸ What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

⁴⁹ Where are Your former lovingkindnesses, O Lord, Which You swore to David in Your faithfulness?
⁵⁰ Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants; How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
⁵¹ With which Your enemies have reproached, O Lord, With which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.

⁵² Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.

Message:  How Long? O Lord

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

[Having focused on God up this point and His provision, the Psalmist takes a shift and begins to humbly express his disagreement and disapproval with God.]

Lord God, it seems you have cast off and rejected your anointed. You have invested in your people, but now You have been full of wrath against them. You have broken down all his walls and all the means of protection and safety. What was a stronghold is now to ruin. Those who pass along the way of him plunder him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors and all who walk along his way. Am I really the anointed? Are these called out ones really your everlasting family and kingdom? His enemies rejoice; they seem to have the power now. The sword which was a shield has been turned back and now I can't nor your people defend oneself. Our splendor ceases and throws his throne to the ground. My days are shortened [The youthful and flourishing estate of David’s kingdom was very short, and reached not beyond his next successors, and it had been languishing, by degrees, till this time, when it seemed to be dead and buried.] How long, O Lord? Will you hide Yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire? How long will this present state continue? Remember how short my span of life is or is it all vanity what you have created? All men are mortal and miserable alone. We can not deliver our soul from the power of death? Where are your promises, your former lovingkindness and mercy, O Lord? Where is all that you swore to David in your faithfulness? We have boasted of all that you have done for us in the past. We have been vain and confident; remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants. We wait for Your anointed, the Messiah to come. But whatever at any time may be our distress, either as a community, or as individuals, still I believe, I hope, I will still bless, and praise Jehovah, whose word is true, whose works are faithful, whose chastisements are mercies, and all whose promises are, in Christ Jesus, yea and amen, for evermore. Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.

Promise: Our creator has kept His covenant with David, raising Jesus from the dead as proof of His steadfast Love to the Davidic line. Our Father is always truthful to His Word.  -- Tabletalk, August 21, 2015

Jesus Calling: December 11

I am working on your behalf. Bring Me all your concerns, including your dreams. Talk with Me about everything, letting the Light of My Presence shine on your hopes and plans. Spend time allowing My Light to infuse your dreams with life, gradually transforming them into reality. This is a very practical way of collaborating with Me. I, the Creator of the universe, have designed to co-create with you. Do not try to hurry this process. If you want to work with Me, you have to accept My time frame. Hurry is not in My nature. Abraham and Sarah had to wait many years for the fulfillment of My promise, a son. How their long wait intensified their enjoyment of this child! Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. 

Psalm 36:9
English Standard Version
For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.
 
Genesis 21:1-7
English Standard Version
¹ The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. ² And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. ³ Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. ⁴ And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. ⁵ Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. ⁶ And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” ⁷ And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
 
Hebrews 11:1
Amplified Version
Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

My Prayer
Lord, I give you my life - all of it. I want my dreams and hopes to be yours and not something I hide from you. You know the needs I have. I continue to pray that my son would know you and pray that you would give him a tender and responsive heart. Take away any stubbornness and give him a new heart. Lord, you know I am a planner, but I also want to adjust to what you may provide.

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Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Psalm 119:81-88 - God's Sustaining Word

Psalm 119:81-88

⁸¹ My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
⁸² My eyes fail with longing for Your word, While I say, “When will You comfort me?”
⁸³ Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.
⁸⁴ How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
⁸⁵ The arrogant have dug pits for me, Men who are not in accord with Your law.
⁸⁶ All Your commandments are faithful; they have persecuted me with a lie; help me!
⁸⁷ They almost destroyed me on earth, but as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.
⁸⁸ Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Message: God's Sustaining Word

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:
 
The outcry of Psalm 119 is looking to God's word and in that Word we have comfort (v.82). My hope is the Word of God (v. 81). We have safety. When we are feeling forgotten or alone due to the evil that we see in our world, we can remember that God will execute judgment (v. 84). The word of God is on the highest plane in our life and those that reject it will eventually be thrown down (v. 85). We need God's word to show us that our lives are more about ourselves. It is his word that confronts us and reveals who we really are (v. 86). And we see that God can restore us, so that our lives are marked by doing God's word (v. 88).

My eyes fail with longing for Your word, While I say, “When will You comfort me?” (v.82)
The Psalmist knows the word of God will bring him comfort and yet he waits for this comfort. It is as when we look for a ship long expected, or for a friend long absent, or for help when in danger. Our eyes are ever on the lookout. How often in the life of the believer now are similar expressions appropriate! God often seems greatly to try the faith and patience of his people by mere delay; and the strength of faith and the power of religion are shown in such circumstances by persevering faith in the divine promises, even when there seems to be no evidence that he will interpose. As children, we often do not understand what our parents are doing when they speak to us and it takes time to figure it out and then we see that there strong words were valid. Verse 84 echoes the same idea - How many are the days of Your servant?

Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke (v. 83)
As I am being afflicted, I can persevere. A wineskin that is dried out and covered with soot is useless for storing wine. Yet this condition will not last forever. 

The bottom line is we all struggle. We all lose our patience and we don't understand the waiting. I struggle. I struggle with God who often wants me to wait. But even in that waiting I can trust Him. 

Promise: To believe in God's word and hold fast to it and find comfort in it, we must know what it says. Lord, keep me anchored in Your Word so that I do not lose sight of all that you have provided for me. You are near.

Jesus Calling: March 26

   Waiting on Me means directing your attention to Me in hopeful anticipation of what I will do. It entails trusting Me with every fiber of your being, instead of trying to figure things out yourself. Waiting on Me is the way I designed you to live: all day, every day. I created you to stay conscious of Me as you go about your daily duties.
    I have promised many blessings to those who wait on Me: renewed strength, living above one's circumstances, resurgence of hope, awareness of My continual Presence. Waiting on Me enables you to glorify Me by living in deep dependence on Me, ready to do My will. It also helps you to enjoy Me; in My Presence is fullness of Joy.   

Lamentations 3:24-26
English Standard Version

 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”

 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the soul who seeks him. 

 It is good that one should wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

Isaiah 40:31
English Standard Version

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 16:11
New King James Version

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

My Prayer

Waiting Lord is not something that I automatically do. It is a trial often to wait in this culture that tells me I can have anything I want now. I am so impatient Lord. I notice in life how entertainment, comfort, peace, safety are expectations and often mandatory parts of each day for me, that I am trained daily to never have to wait. Teach me Lord to wait on You for Your timing. And waiting can be a good thing. I want to trust in Your timing. I want to rest in the fact that your timing is perfect. Forgive me for always thinking that my way is the best way. Help me Lord! Help me Lord to wait!


Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 

Jesus Calling: March 12

    Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand, because it is the response from My children that I desire the most. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Me. Waiting for Me to work, with your eyes on Me, to evidence that you really do trust Me. If you mouth the words, "I trust You" while anxiously trying to make things go your way, your words ring hollow. Hoping is future-directed, connecting you to your inheritance in heaven. However, the benefits of hope fall fully on you in the present.

     Because you are Mine, you don't just pass time in your waiting. You can wait expectantly, in hopeful trust. Keep your "antennae" out to pick up even the faintest glimmer of My Presence.

John 14:1
English Standard Version
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Psalm 27:14
English Standard Version
     Wait for the Lord;
     be strong, and let your heart take courage;
     wait for the Lord!

Hebrews 6:18-20 
English Standard Version
so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

My Prayer
Lord, my words, "I trust you" sometimes are just words because my actions don't say that I am really trusting you. Sometimes I don't know what it really looks like in my life to trust You. Show me. Show me what this means in my life because I want my life to be about trust. I want to believe in You. I want to wait on You for your timing.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.