In 1 Samuel 15 God gives specific instructions for the Israelites to destroy the Amalekites and everything they owned. Often times God would allow the Israelites to keep the plunders of war but in this case, God did not permit it. Now my last post talked about this already so I am not going to repeat everything I have already mentioned, but this is just something from which I can't not seem to get away. Obedience or Sacrifice.
When Samuel arrives at the camp after the battle, he rebukes Saul for not following God's instructions. How does Saul respond to this rebuke? He rationalizes the actions and throws the blame on the soldiers. He says the troops took them to offer as a sacrifice for the Lord. When Samuel informs Saul God has rejected him as king, does Saul repent? No he takes no responsibility for his actions. He says to Samuel, but I have obeyed the Lord. I went on the mission the Lord gave me and I brought back the King of Amalek and destroyed everything else. The troops brought back the livestock as a sacrifice for the Lord.
Recap, at the beginning of the chapter God said destroy everything! Kill everyone (not spare the king's life) Everyone includes the king. Destroy all the livestock. Not spare the best and kill the rest. The words everything, everyone, and all are all inclusive words. There was no buts or excepts which followed those words, which means there were no exceptions. Saul and the soldiers justified their actions by convincing themselves and attempting to convince Samuel, because they obeyed part of God's instructions and because they had good intentions with what they spared then it was acceptable.
God saw things differently. He didn't see partial obedience, He saw saw complete rebellion. You say, no way, God wouldn't be that harsh. vs 23- For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king. Hard core, huh? Now we may think God was being strict, after all the sacrifices were to honor God. However, right before vs 23 is vs 22 when Samuel says Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. God wants us to obey Him. When we obey God, it demonstrates the level of trust we have in Him. We trust He is going to instruct us to do things which will benefit us.
Just think back to when you were a child and your parents told you to do something and you did, the first time you were asked you did it and how did your parents respond? They were probably very excited (if they didn't show it, trust me on the inside they were leaping with joy). Now how would your parents have responded if they asked you to do something and you went and colored them a picture instead? It took time and effort to color that picture, but it won't what they asked you to do so the sacrifice was not enjoyable. Now if you had completed the task your parent asked then colored a picture for them they could have enjoyed both. If the Israelites had followed through with God's instructions then offered a sacrifice (from their own flock or herd) to thank Him then God could have been pleased with both.
We must also remember God saw the heart of Saul. This was not Saul's first offense. in chapter 13 Saul exalted himself to the priestly position and offered a sacrifice when he was suppose to be waiting for Samuel. God knew Saul's heart and He knew he was not in a right place with God when he made his decision to spare the king of Amalek's life and allow livestock to be spared. God knows our hearts as well. Are we sacrificing over being obedient? You may be faithfully serving at your local church every Sunday but if God has called you to mission field and you are not doing anything to get there, are you obeying or only sacrificing? Maybe you pay your large amounts of tithes every week, but God wants you to go into ministry which means leaving your current job. Perhaps you spend plenty of time alone with God but God desires for you to participate in outreach ministries and go impact the lives of people. Maybe you are the opposite, you may be spending so much time doing God's work you have failed to spend one on one time with God. I am sure we can all think of a way we have sacrificed instead of being obedient. I encourage you to take the time to seek God and search to see where and/or in what areas God may be calling you to be obedient instead of just sacrificing. I know I am guilty and am working to try and be more obedient. I truly want to make God happy. I desire for Him to be pleased with my life, which means I need to make sure I am obeying Him 100%.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Obedience and Sanctification
I Samuel 15 contains the story of Saul's disobedience when fighting the Amalekites. This is a story of following God's instructions as well as the importance God places on sanctification.
God informed Samuel He would give the Amalekites to the Israelites but instructed them to COMPLETELY destroy EVERYTHING. In case that was obvious enough, He spelled it out for him and listed items He wanted destroyed.
Well Saul and the Israelites struck down the Amalekites but instead of destroying, they captured the king and left him alive and took the best of the livestock and everything else. God said destroy it ALL but the Israelites chose to pick and choose what they deemed worthy enough to keep. Their rationale was, we only saved the best. We destroyed the weak and sick, and worthless and unwanted things. We only kept what was strong and healthy and easy on the eyes. Anyone see the problem with this? The bible says the Israelites were not willing to destroy them (referring to what they considered the best of everything).
God gave them specific instructions yet they were not willing to follow through with them. They thought they knew better than God. Now there were times when God allowed the Israelites to keep the plunders of war but this is not one of those occasions. God wanted the Israelites to trust Him to know what was best for them. God wanted to sanctify the land. The Amalekites were unclean and unholy people which means everything they owned, regardless of how beautiful or strong it appeared, was unclean. God wanted sanctification but the Israelites were not willing to destroy "the best" of what they found.
How many times have we been given instructions by God to remove something from our lives but we only do a 1/2 way job? How many times have we tried to hang on to the best of what the world has to offer? It's easy to give up the ugly and weak things. It's much easier to get rid of those things in our lives, but what about the more appealing things? The things some times we don't see as sin but God is still calling us to remove from our lives so we can live a more holy and sanctified life. Certain TV shows we know we shouldn't be watching. Movies that are not appropriate. Food we eat too much of even though we know it's bad for our health. People at work with whom we spend too much time and notice some of their bad habits rubbing off on us. Maybe God wants you to give up some things so you can spend more time with him. What are some things in your life you feel God may want you to get rid of so you can live closer to him? Don't just look at the ugly things. Take the time to truly reflect on all things in your life, even the pretty and attractive things. Seek God's will and begin to sanctify your life so you can be obedient to God and please him with your life.
God informed Samuel He would give the Amalekites to the Israelites but instructed them to COMPLETELY destroy EVERYTHING. In case that was obvious enough, He spelled it out for him and listed items He wanted destroyed.
Well Saul and the Israelites struck down the Amalekites but instead of destroying, they captured the king and left him alive and took the best of the livestock and everything else. God said destroy it ALL but the Israelites chose to pick and choose what they deemed worthy enough to keep. Their rationale was, we only saved the best. We destroyed the weak and sick, and worthless and unwanted things. We only kept what was strong and healthy and easy on the eyes. Anyone see the problem with this? The bible says the Israelites were not willing to destroy them (referring to what they considered the best of everything).
God gave them specific instructions yet they were not willing to follow through with them. They thought they knew better than God. Now there were times when God allowed the Israelites to keep the plunders of war but this is not one of those occasions. God wanted the Israelites to trust Him to know what was best for them. God wanted to sanctify the land. The Amalekites were unclean and unholy people which means everything they owned, regardless of how beautiful or strong it appeared, was unclean. God wanted sanctification but the Israelites were not willing to destroy "the best" of what they found.
How many times have we been given instructions by God to remove something from our lives but we only do a 1/2 way job? How many times have we tried to hang on to the best of what the world has to offer? It's easy to give up the ugly and weak things. It's much easier to get rid of those things in our lives, but what about the more appealing things? The things some times we don't see as sin but God is still calling us to remove from our lives so we can live a more holy and sanctified life. Certain TV shows we know we shouldn't be watching. Movies that are not appropriate. Food we eat too much of even though we know it's bad for our health. People at work with whom we spend too much time and notice some of their bad habits rubbing off on us. Maybe God wants you to give up some things so you can spend more time with him. What are some things in your life you feel God may want you to get rid of so you can live closer to him? Don't just look at the ugly things. Take the time to truly reflect on all things in your life, even the pretty and attractive things. Seek God's will and begin to sanctify your life so you can be obedient to God and please him with your life.
Monday, September 5, 2011
I Samuel 1 The Mantle of Hannah!
So we open the book with Elkanah (Elk) and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah (P) Now Elk actually loved Hannah even though Hannah was unable to have children, which in the Bible having children, especially males was the sole purpose of a woman's existence. However, Elk favored Hannah even though she was unable to bear children, well this made P mad, who by the way bore Elk multiple children and she would taunt Hannah about not having children. Sound familiar, Jacob, Rachael, and Leah (just sayin' back to the story).
The Bible says Elk Loved Hannah even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. Let's think about this, The Lord, the one who knows the desires of our heart, it says He kept her from having children. God kept her from having kids. Why would God do this? God needed her to come to a place of desperation.God had plans for Samuel's life and if she was able to conceive right away then what is the likelihood she would have committed Samuel to the Lord? God needed her to be desperate. Sometimes God has to do that to us for His Will to be done. He has to bring us to a place of desperation so we will surrender to His Will.
Because of the taunting and the desperation she didn't even want to eat so ya know what she did? She didn't sit there and whine and complain, she didn't pout, she didn't retaliate to the taunting. She could have said to P well you have children, but our husband loves me more. Instead she took her concerns to the Lord. She came to God in her brokenness and desperation and cried out to Him. She made a vow to commit her son to God, but the Bible said she KEPT on PRAYING! When Eli saw her he thought she was drunk and went to rebuke her. She corrected him and stated she was POURING out her soul to God. She was praying out of her anguish and grief. She was looking for a breakthrough. Eli then told her to go in peace and what she was seeking would happen. She prayed until she received confirmation. She demonstrated to God her persistence and desire.
This is what I love about the scripture, it says Hannah went her way, ate something, and was no longer downcast. That shows the amount of Faith Hannah had in God's word. She took her brokenness and desperation to the alter and left them there. She prayed for her breakthrough and left believing God would give her what she wanted. She didn't walk away saying Okay God, I know you said you were going to do this, but how long do I have to wait? She didn't question Eli and say are you sure? She didn't laugh when he said she would be given what she was seeking. She walked away in confidence. Knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt God was going to give her a son and He did. She was faithful and kept her vow and dedicated Him back to God.
When I was younger someone once said to me I would receive the Mantle of Hannah. I had no idea what they meant, however when I was reading this scripture God brought this word to my mind and said that is the Mantle I have for you. Believe in me and never doubt and you can walk in confidence knowing I will give you the desires of your heart. I get excited just thinking about it!
The Mantle of Hannah can belong to all Christians, all God is asking is for us to believe what He tells us. He's God, for all eternity He's never failed why would He start now? Oh and He's never gone back on His word either. Come to God in your brokenness and desperation. Pray for your breakthrough. When you receive confirmation, leave your downcast spirit at the alter and walk away in confidence knowing God will make it happen because He said He would.
The Bible says Elk Loved Hannah even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. Let's think about this, The Lord, the one who knows the desires of our heart, it says He kept her from having children. God kept her from having kids. Why would God do this? God needed her to come to a place of desperation.God had plans for Samuel's life and if she was able to conceive right away then what is the likelihood she would have committed Samuel to the Lord? God needed her to be desperate. Sometimes God has to do that to us for His Will to be done. He has to bring us to a place of desperation so we will surrender to His Will.
Because of the taunting and the desperation she didn't even want to eat so ya know what she did? She didn't sit there and whine and complain, she didn't pout, she didn't retaliate to the taunting. She could have said to P well you have children, but our husband loves me more. Instead she took her concerns to the Lord. She came to God in her brokenness and desperation and cried out to Him. She made a vow to commit her son to God, but the Bible said she KEPT on PRAYING! When Eli saw her he thought she was drunk and went to rebuke her. She corrected him and stated she was POURING out her soul to God. She was praying out of her anguish and grief. She was looking for a breakthrough. Eli then told her to go in peace and what she was seeking would happen. She prayed until she received confirmation. She demonstrated to God her persistence and desire.
This is what I love about the scripture, it says Hannah went her way, ate something, and was no longer downcast. That shows the amount of Faith Hannah had in God's word. She took her brokenness and desperation to the alter and left them there. She prayed for her breakthrough and left believing God would give her what she wanted. She didn't walk away saying Okay God, I know you said you were going to do this, but how long do I have to wait? She didn't question Eli and say are you sure? She didn't laugh when he said she would be given what she was seeking. She walked away in confidence. Knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt God was going to give her a son and He did. She was faithful and kept her vow and dedicated Him back to God.
When I was younger someone once said to me I would receive the Mantle of Hannah. I had no idea what they meant, however when I was reading this scripture God brought this word to my mind and said that is the Mantle I have for you. Believe in me and never doubt and you can walk in confidence knowing I will give you the desires of your heart. I get excited just thinking about it!
The Mantle of Hannah can belong to all Christians, all God is asking is for us to believe what He tells us. He's God, for all eternity He's never failed why would He start now? Oh and He's never gone back on His word either. Come to God in your brokenness and desperation. Pray for your breakthrough. When you receive confirmation, leave your downcast spirit at the alter and walk away in confidence knowing God will make it happen because He said He would.
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