AIM: Rebellion is the only alternative to obedience to God's voice (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
- Giving more (Offerings) won't cut it
- Taking less (Sacrifices) won't either
The message: Do you think all God wants are sacrifices-empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production.
- Just obey because the alternative is equal to divination\witchcraft
- Just obey because insubordination/stubbornness/presumption/arrogance equals iniquity (planning of sin) and idolatry (putting someone/something in place of God).
Saul came from humble beginnings and was given everything by God, his downfall was that he didn't listen to God until he couldn't hear his voice anymore. This is a great story contrasting trusting in God versus ourselves and it's consequences. When we reject the written word of God, we lose the ability to hear the God speak in our hearts. I think a God hardened heart is simply the absence of God, pushed away by the person who chooses rebellion rather than obedience. No offerings or sacrifices can replace simple obedience to God.
Saul was humble (1 Sam 9:21)...Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day. - 1 Samuel 10:9
Don't turn from following the LORD, serve the LORD with all your heart (1 Sam 12:20)
Fear the LORD, serve Him in truth with all your heart; consider great things He has done for you (1 Sam 12:24). Saul is 30 years old and ruled for 40 years (1 Sam 13:1).
- They wanted a different king than God (1 Sam 12:12-13), so blessings OR curses:
If you will fear the Lord and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God.
If you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the command of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers. Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes. 1 Samuel 12:14-16
The people were terrified as they followed and fled their king, in a panic Saul attempted what only Samuel (the spiritual leader) could do (1 Sam 13:2-12). Samuel pronounced judgment: "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you (1 Sam 13:13)." Curses were pronounced, yet Saul continued with only a 1/3 of his men, no weapons and a half-baked plan (1 Sam 13:14-14:5).
Meanwhile, Jonathan (Saul's son) thought "perhaps the LORD will work for us" as he remembered, "the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few (1 Sam 14:6)". I think God put a plan in his heart and the armor bearer was witness to him "do ALL that is in your heart, and here I am with you according to your desire (1 Sam 14:7)."
- God uses others to confirm his will in our lives, like John the Baptist and Jesus, like Ananias and Paul
- Service and spoken encouragement goes from both directions of authority
Jonathan put into a play a plan with defined milestones and success criteria:
- crossover to men, reveal ourselves. If they say wait, we'll wait. If they say come, we will go up because the LORD has delivered them into our hands. "This shall be the sign to us (1 Sam 14:10)."
- Jonathan crawled up to them, killed twenty and the earth quaked, causing fear in the camp (1 Sam 14:11-15). Philistines in confusion killing each other, the LORD delivered Israel that day (16-23).
- When we see God at work, we can go "all in"
Saul speaks a heavy burden of fasting on his people for his own glory (1 Sam 14:24), Jonathan unknowingly defies his father and speaks mutiny against Saul (25-30). They struck Philistines, rushed greedily and ate animals with the blood, Saul built an altar to the Lord to atone for sins (31-35).
Saul's plan starts with himself (1 Sam 14:36), "do whatever seems good to you... Let us draw near to God here."
- The LORD didn't answer Saul, so he asked others to seek him, escalates to putting someone to death even his own son (1 Sam 14:37- 42). People went along "what-evs".
- When it came down to killing Jonathan, people protest and rescued Jonathan (43-46).
- Saul had a family, fought Philistines all his days, rewarded valiant men with staff positions (47-52)
Saul is anointed king, given instructions to completely destroy the enemy of God, yet he spares what he thinks is good (1 Sam 15:1-9). He did this in order to "sacrifice to the LORD your God (1 Sam 15:15)"
- God "regrets" Saul as king because "he has turned back from following Me and not carried out My commands." Samuel distressed and cried all night to the LORD (1 Sam 15:11).
- Turned his back is, akin to backsliding (Heb 6:4-6), regret is akin to grieving the Spirit (Eph 4:30), by moving away from Christ
- Application: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5), confess your sin (1 John 1:9), Return and be healed of faithlessness (Jeremiah 3:12,22). Righteous rise when they fall down (Proverbs 24:16). Let me help you back into fellowship (James 5:19) away from temptation (Galatians 6:1). If we confess our sins to one another, the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective (James 5:15,16). Pray, and don't lose heart (Luke 18:1).
Saul defends his behavior, then blames the people for his disobedience (1 Sam 15:12-21)
- Key truth from 1 Samuel 15:22-23: Obeying the voice of the LORD is better than offerings/sacrifice because rebellion is the only alternative.
Saul tries to bargain with Samuel, tearing at him - but Samuel points to the offended party "you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you (1 Sam 15:26)." Saul knows he sinned but wants honor before people, that he may worship the LORD your God - again seeking the approval of others, even Samuel - but the result was Saul worshiped the LORD (if even briefly (24-31). Samuel grieved over Saul, LORD regretted that He made Saul king over Israel (32-35).
1 Samuel 9-15
A) Saul was anointed as king of Israel (1 Samuel 9-10)
9:15-20) Lord tells Samuel the day before he met Saul, he'll meet this guy to be anointed as ruler/king
- God gives specific instructions
21-24) Saul, the smallest tribe, least in Benjamin
9:25-10:8) Samuel anointed Saul with oil, king over Israel (6) Spirit of Lord upon you, prophesy, changed into another man
10:17-19) God didn't think it was a good idea to give them a king, because God is our true king
- our wants are not always good for us
- God is our best king because he's the owner of all, good and can be trusted, loves people
B) Saul was confirmed as king (1 Samuel 11-12)
12:6-11) Samuel reminds the people of Moses, Aaron, Jacob, Moab
• How did Samuel cause the people to remember how good God had been to Israel?
• How would life be different if you honestly trusted in Jesus and asked God’s forgiveness?
Principle: God forgives sin.
C) Saul was rejected as king (1 Samuel 13-15)
• How was Jonathan different from his father, Saul?
• How is God calling you to complete obedience today?
Principle: God is serious about our obedience to His Word.
How do I avoid grieving the Holy Spirit?
Three Surprising Ways to Grieve the Holy Spirit
- Giving more (Offerings) won't cut it
- Taking less (Sacrifices) won't either
The message: Do you think all God wants are sacrifices-empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production.
- Just obey because the alternative is equal to divination\witchcraft
- Just obey because insubordination/stubbornness/presumption/arrogance equals iniquity (planning of sin) and idolatry (putting someone/something in place of God).
Saul came from humble beginnings and was given everything by God, his downfall was that he didn't listen to God until he couldn't hear his voice anymore. This is a great story contrasting trusting in God versus ourselves and it's consequences. When we reject the written word of God, we lose the ability to hear the God speak in our hearts. I think a God hardened heart is simply the absence of God, pushed away by the person who chooses rebellion rather than obedience. No offerings or sacrifices can replace simple obedience to God.
Saul was humble (1 Sam 9:21)...Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day. - 1 Samuel 10:9
Don't turn from following the LORD, serve the LORD with all your heart (1 Sam 12:20)
Fear the LORD, serve Him in truth with all your heart; consider great things He has done for you (1 Sam 12:24). Saul is 30 years old and ruled for 40 years (1 Sam 13:1).
- They wanted a different king than God (1 Sam 12:12-13), so blessings OR curses:
If you will fear the Lord and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God.
If you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the command of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers. Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes. 1 Samuel 12:14-16
The people were terrified as they followed and fled their king, in a panic Saul attempted what only Samuel (the spiritual leader) could do (1 Sam 13:2-12). Samuel pronounced judgment: "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you (1 Sam 13:13)." Curses were pronounced, yet Saul continued with only a 1/3 of his men, no weapons and a half-baked plan (1 Sam 13:14-14:5).
Meanwhile, Jonathan (Saul's son) thought "perhaps the LORD will work for us" as he remembered, "the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few (1 Sam 14:6)". I think God put a plan in his heart and the armor bearer was witness to him "do ALL that is in your heart, and here I am with you according to your desire (1 Sam 14:7)."
- God uses others to confirm his will in our lives, like John the Baptist and Jesus, like Ananias and Paul
- Service and spoken encouragement goes from both directions of authority
Jonathan put into a play a plan with defined milestones and success criteria:
- crossover to men, reveal ourselves. If they say wait, we'll wait. If they say come, we will go up because the LORD has delivered them into our hands. "This shall be the sign to us (1 Sam 14:10)."
- Jonathan crawled up to them, killed twenty and the earth quaked, causing fear in the camp (1 Sam 14:11-15). Philistines in confusion killing each other, the LORD delivered Israel that day (16-23).
- When we see God at work, we can go "all in"
Saul speaks a heavy burden of fasting on his people for his own glory (1 Sam 14:24), Jonathan unknowingly defies his father and speaks mutiny against Saul (25-30). They struck Philistines, rushed greedily and ate animals with the blood, Saul built an altar to the Lord to atone for sins (31-35).
Saul's plan starts with himself (1 Sam 14:36), "do whatever seems good to you... Let us draw near to God here."
- The LORD didn't answer Saul, so he asked others to seek him, escalates to putting someone to death even his own son (1 Sam 14:37- 42). People went along "what-evs".
- When it came down to killing Jonathan, people protest and rescued Jonathan (43-46).
- Saul had a family, fought Philistines all his days, rewarded valiant men with staff positions (47-52)
Saul is anointed king, given instructions to completely destroy the enemy of God, yet he spares what he thinks is good (1 Sam 15:1-9). He did this in order to "sacrifice to the LORD your God (1 Sam 15:15)"
- God "regrets" Saul as king because "he has turned back from following Me and not carried out My commands." Samuel distressed and cried all night to the LORD (1 Sam 15:11).
- Turned his back is, akin to backsliding (Heb 6:4-6), regret is akin to grieving the Spirit (Eph 4:30), by moving away from Christ
- Application: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5), confess your sin (1 John 1:9), Return and be healed of faithlessness (Jeremiah 3:12,22). Righteous rise when they fall down (Proverbs 24:16). Let me help you back into fellowship (James 5:19) away from temptation (Galatians 6:1). If we confess our sins to one another, the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective (James 5:15,16). Pray, and don't lose heart (Luke 18:1).
Saul defends his behavior, then blames the people for his disobedience (1 Sam 15:12-21)
- Key truth from 1 Samuel 15:22-23: Obeying the voice of the LORD is better than offerings/sacrifice because rebellion is the only alternative.
Saul tries to bargain with Samuel, tearing at him - but Samuel points to the offended party "you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you (1 Sam 15:26)." Saul knows he sinned but wants honor before people, that he may worship the LORD your God - again seeking the approval of others, even Samuel - but the result was Saul worshiped the LORD (if even briefly (24-31). Samuel grieved over Saul, LORD regretted that He made Saul king over Israel (32-35).
1 Samuel 9-15
A) Saul was anointed as king of Israel (1 Samuel 9-10)
9:15-20) Lord tells Samuel the day before he met Saul, he'll meet this guy to be anointed as ruler/king
- God gives specific instructions
21-24) Saul, the smallest tribe, least in Benjamin
9:25-10:8) Samuel anointed Saul with oil, king over Israel (6) Spirit of Lord upon you, prophesy, changed into another man
10:17-19) God didn't think it was a good idea to give them a king, because God is our true king
- our wants are not always good for us
- God is our best king because he's the owner of all, good and can be trusted, loves people
B) Saul was confirmed as king (1 Samuel 11-12)
12:6-11) Samuel reminds the people of Moses, Aaron, Jacob, Moab
• How did Samuel cause the people to remember how good God had been to Israel?
• How would life be different if you honestly trusted in Jesus and asked God’s forgiveness?
Principle: God forgives sin.
C) Saul was rejected as king (1 Samuel 13-15)
• How was Jonathan different from his father, Saul?
• How is God calling you to complete obedience today?
Principle: God is serious about our obedience to His Word.
How do I avoid grieving the Holy Spirit?
Three Surprising Ways to Grieve the Holy Spirit
No comments:
Post a Comment