November 2016 – New Orange Baptist Church

Be Molded into God’s Vessel

JEREMIAH 18:1-17 THE LESSON OF THE POTTER’S HOUSE

VERSES 1-4 JEREMIAH VISITS THE POTTER’S HOUSE

THE WORD WHICH CAME TO JEREMIAH FROM THE LORD, SAYING: ARISE AND GO DOWN TO THE POTTERS HOUSE, AND THERE I WILL CAUSE YOU TO HEAR MY WORDS. THEN I WENT DOWN TO THE POTTERS HOUSE, AND THERE HE WAS, MAKING SOMETHING AT THE WHEEL. AND THE VESSEL THAT HE MADE OF CLAY WAS MARRED IN THE HAND OF THE POTTER; SO HE MADE IT AGAIN INTO ANOTHER VESSEL, AS IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE POTTER TO MAKE.

SOMETIMES GOD INSTRUCTED HIS PROPHETS, THROUGH A LIVING LESSON, SOMETHING FROM DAILY LIFE. THE VESSEL THAT HE MADE OF CLAY WAS MARRED IN THE HAND OF THE POTTER, SO HE MADE IT AGAIN INTO ANOTHER VESSEL: WATCHING THE POTTER AT WORK, JEREMIAH NOTICED A LUMP OF CLAY THAT SEEMED UNCOOPERATIVE. THE POTTER DECIDED TO START AGAIN, MAKING SOMETHING THAT SEEMED GOOD TO THE POTTER TO MAKE. POWER WAS MANIFESTED IN HIS MANIPULATION OF THE CLAY, THE CLAY WAS MARRED, TWISTED; IT FAILED TO EXPRESS THE POTTER’S THOUGHT, BUT THE POTTER DID NOT ABANDON IT. IS THIS NOT WHAT GOD DOES, CONCERNING HIS PEOPLE? HE WILL MOLD US AND IF NEED BE REMOLD US INTO USEFUL INSTRUMENTS FOR HIS PURPOSE AND GLORY.

WE MUST REMEMBER WE ARE BUT DUST.

A MAN NAMED GEORGE GILL ONCE SAID: “GOD REMEMBERS THAT WE ARE DUST, BUT MAN SOMETIMES FORGETS IT. AND HE GETS STUCK ON HIMSELF. AND WHEN DUST GETS STUCK ON ITSELF, IT’S MUD.”

WE MUST REMEMBER GOD IS SOVEREIGN, WHILE WE ARE CLAY. MOST PEOPLE LIVE A LIFE WITH NO REAL PURPOSE OR MEANING. THINK OF THE POTTER WHO HAS FORMED NUMEROUS VESSELS FROM CLAY. THE CLAY IS JUST A HEAP OF SHAPLESS MUD. NO FORM, SEEMINGLY OF NO USE.

BUT WHEN IN THE POTTERS HAND, IT CAN BECOME AN INSTRUMENT OF USE OR BEAUTY. SO ARE WE, A HEAP OF SHAPLESS MUD, TILL WE ALLOW OUR POTTER, OUR MASTER, TO MOLD US INTO INSTRUMENTS OF USE AND BEAUTY THAT HE DESIRES.

VERSES 5-10

GOD’S RIGHT TO DEAL WITH HIS PEOPLE AS HE PLEASES

THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME, SAYING: O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, CAN I NOT DO WITH YOU AS THIS POTTER? SAYS THE LORD. LOOK, AS THE CLAY IS IN THE POTTERS HAND, SO ARE YOU IN MY HAND, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL! THE INSTANT I SPEAK CONCERNING A NATION AND CONCERNING A KINGDOM, TO PLUCK UP, TO PULL DOWN, AND TO DESTROY IT,IF THAT NATION AGAINST WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN TURNS FROM ITS EVIL, I WILL RELENT OF THE DISASTER THAT I THOUGHT TO BRING UPON IT. AND THE INSTANT I SPEAK CONCERNING A NATION AND CONCERNING A KINGDOM, TO BUILD AND TO PLANT IT, IF IT DOES EVIL IN MY SIGHT SO THAT IT DOES NOT OBEY MY VOICE, THEN I WILL RELENT CONCERNING THE GOOD WITH WHICH I SAID I WOULD BENEFIT IT.

THROUGH THE VISIT TO THE POTTER’S HOUSE GOD SPOKE TO JEREMIAH AND TO ALL OF ISRAEL, REMINDING THEM OF HIS SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO DO WHAT HE PLEASED WITH A MARRED OR SEEMINGLY UNCOOPERATIVE VESSEL.

AT THIS TIME ISRAEL WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO SEPARATE COUNTRIES. GOD CALLED THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, THE NOTHERN KINGDOM WAS CALLED JUDAH.

IN THIS ILLUSTRATION THE CLAY HAD NO MORAL CHOICE OR DIMENSION, WHEREAS ISRAEL’S DISOBEDIENCE WAS CHOSEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE VESSEL AT THE POTTER’S HOUSE WAS MARRED. ISRAEL MARRED THEMSELVES MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY BEFORE GOD.

THE ILLUSTRATION AT THE POTTER’S DID NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATE GOD’S RIGHT TO DISPLAY JUDGMENT, BUT ALSO HIS RIGHT TO DISPLAY MERCY. HE WAS FREE TO WORK WITH A PREVIOUSLY MARRED VESSEL IF HE CHOSE TO DO SO. YET HE WAS ALSO FREE TO TAKE BACK GOOD HE HAD DONE TO A NATION IF THEY DID EVIL IN HIS SIGHT.

THE MAIN LESSON IS THAT GOD IS FREE TO RESPOND TO HIS PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN MORAL CONDUCT AND CHOICES. PREVIOUS PROMISES DO NOT RESTRICT THE EXERCISE OF HIS CORRECTION OR JUSTICE. PEOPLE ARE NEVER AT THE MERCY OF AN UNFEELING DEITY; IT IS IN OUR POWER TO REPENT AND ALIGN OURSELVES WITH GOD’S PURPOSES. GOD DOES NOT CAST US AWAY, BUT PUTS US BACK ON THE WHEEL, AND MAKES US AGAIN.

WE SHOULD ALWAYS YIELD OURSELVES TO GOD‘S WILL. WE ALL MAR HIS WORK. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO HUMBLY ASK THAT HE SHOULD MAKE US, AND KEEP MAKING US, TILL WE ARE MADE MORE IN HIS IMAGE.

THE POTTER DOES NOT WANT ROCK OR STEEL, BUT CLAY. SOMETHING HE CAN MOLD, SOMETHING HE CAN MAKE INTO THE VESSELS OF HIS DESIRE. SO IT IS WITH US. OUR POTTER, THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WANTS US TO YIELD OURSELVES TO HIM, AS OUR POTTER, LETTING HIM MOLD US INTO THE VESSELS THAT PLEASE HIM.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER THOUGH, WE DO HAVE FREE WILL. UNLIKE CLAY, WE HAVE A SAY IN OUR BEING ALLOWED TO BE MOLDED. ARE YOU WILLING TO ALLOW THE LORD TO MOLD YOU INTO THE VESSEL HE DESIRES?

WE OFTEN ASK, WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE. THAT SHOULD NOT BE OUR QUESTION, BUT OUR QUESTION SHOULD BE, WHAT IS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE. OUR PURPOSE MUST BE FOUND IN HIS PURPOSE FOR US. IF OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE IS FOUND IN OUR OWN SELF, THEN WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED PURPOSE, ONE THAT IS LIMITED BY THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE ON EARTH.

WHEN WE ALLOW OUR PURPOSE TO BE YIELDED TO GOD’S PURPOSE, THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIFE BECOMES AN ETERNAL PURPOSE. WE SHOULD NOT ASK, WHAT IS THE REASON I EXIST TODAY, BUT WHAT IS GOD’S REASON THAT I EXIST TODAY.

IF WE WERE TO WATCH A POTTER AS HE MOLDS HIS LUMP OF CLAY, WE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT HE IS MAKING, TILL IT TAKES SHAPE, BUT THE POTTER DOES. WE MAY NOT KNOW WHY WE GO THROUGH THE THINGS OF LIFE EACH DAY, BUT THE LORLD DOES. HE KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS IN HIS END PRODUCT.

1 JOHN 3:1-6 SAYS: BEHOLD, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HATH BESTOWED UPON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD: THEREFORE THE WORLD KNOWETH US NOT, BECAUSE IT KNEW HIM NOT. 2 BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, AND IT DOTH NOT YET APPEAR WHAT WE SHALL BE: BUT WE KNOW THAT, WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS. 3 AND EVERY MAN THAT HATH THIS HOPE IN HIM PURIFIETH HIMSELF, EVEN AS HE IS PURE. 4 WHOSOEVER COMMITTETH SIN TRANSGRESSETH ALSO THE LAW: FOR SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW. 5 AND YE KNOW THAT HE WAS MANIFESTED TO TAKE AWAY OUR SINS; AND IN HIM IS NO SIN. 6 WHOSOEVER ABIDETH IN HIM SINNETH NOT: WHOSOEVER SINNETH HATH NOT SEEN HIM, NEITHER KNOWN HIM.

WE ALL SIN, BUT JOHN IS REFERRING TO A LIFESTYLE OF SIN.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES US. HE ALLOWS US TO BE CALLED HIS CHILDREN, AND WE REALLY ARE! THE PEOPLE WHO BELONG TO THIS WORLD DO NOT KNOW GOD, THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE HIS CHILDREN. WE ARE ALREADY GOD’S CHILDREN, AND WE CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT WE WILL BE LIKE WHEN CHRIST RETURNS. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WHEN HE COMES WE WILL BE LIKE HIM, FOR WE WILL SEE HIM AS HE REALLY IS. ALL WHO BELIEVE THIS WILL KEEP THEMSELVES PURE, JUST AS CHRIST IS PURE.

THOSE WHO SIN ARE OPPOSED TO THE LAW OF GOD, FOR ALL SIN OPPOSES THE LAW OF GOD. AND YOU KNOW THAT JESUS CAME TO TAKE AWAY OUR SINS, FOR THERE IS NO SIN IN HIM.

PSALM 17:15 SAYS: As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. But because I have done what is right, I will see you. When I awake, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face to face.

VERSE 11 THE LORD DEVISES A PLAN OF JUDGMENT

NOW THEREFORE, SPEAK TO THE MEN OF JUDAH AND TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, SAYING, THUS SAYS THE LORD: BEHOLD, I AM FASHIONING A DISASTER AND DEVISING A PLAN AGAINST YOU. RETURN NOW EVERY ONE FROM HIS EVIL WAY, AND MAKE YOUR WAYS AND YOUR DOINGS GOOD.

THE LESSON OF THE POTTER’S HOUSE WAS MEANT TO REBUKE THE FALSE CONFIDENCE OF THE MEN OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM. THEY BELIEVED THAT SINCE THEY WERE GOD’S COVENANT PEOPLE THAT NO HARM COULD COME TO THEM. IT MADE IT EASY FOR THEM TO BELIEVE THE POSITIVE WORDS OF THE FALSE PROPHETS.

AMERICA IS GOING DOWN THE SAME ROAD THAT ISRAEL DID AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING. AS A NATION WE ARE TURNING OUR BACKS ON GOD. WE ARE, AS A NATION, NO LONGER ALLOWING THE POTTER TO MOLD US. WE NOT ONLY RESIST, BUT COMPLETELY IGNORE HIS DESIRES FOR US AS A NATION.

THIS BEING TRUE, KEEP IN MIND, EACH OF US ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN LIVES. THOUGH THE NATION MAY BEHAVE AS STONE, LET THE CHRISTIAN BEHAVE AS CLAY, WILLING FOR THE MASTER POTTER TO MOLD US INTO HIS IMAGE.

BEHOLD, I AM FASHIONING A DISASTER AND DEVISING A PLAN AGAINST YOU: GOD WANTED THE POTTER’S HOUSE LESSON TO AWAKEN THEM TO THE DANGER OF IMPENDING JUDGMENT. JUST AS A POTTER FASHIONS THE CLAY, GOD FASHIONED DISASTER AGAINST HIS UNREPENTANT PEOPLE. DO NOT BE DECEIVED, WHAT THE LORD DID IN THE DAYS OF JEREMIAH, HE WILL DO TODAY. IN THE CASE OF ISRAEL, SHE WOULD GO INTO EXILE.

WE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT GOD PLANS FOR THIS NATION, BUT IF WE KEEP GOING DOWN OUR PRESENT PATH, YOU CAN BE ASSURED JUDGMENT WILL COME UPON US.

THEN THE LORD SAYS: RETURN NOW EVERY ONE FROM HIS WAY, AND MAKE YOUR WAYS AND YOUR DOINGS GOOD: THE LESSON OF THE POTTER’S HOUSE COULD ALSO BE TAKEN AS AN ENCOURAGEMENT, REMINDING THEM THAT REPENTANCE AND SURRENDER TO GOD WAS NOT MEANINGLESS. GOD WAS FREE TO RELENT FROM JUDGMENT IF THEY DID IN FACT REPENT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

THIS TRUTH ALSO APPLIES TO OUR NATION, AND TO EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES A LIFE OF SIN. THERE IS URGENCY IN THESE WORDS: RETURN NOW EVERY ONE FROM HIS WAY.

CHARLES SPURGEON WROTE: “MEN ARE QUITE WILLING TO PROMISE TO RETURN WHEN THEY HAVE GONE A LITTLE FURTHER; WHEN, PERHAPS, THEY WILL HAVE GONE PAST ALL POSSIBILITY OF RETURNING; BUT ‘NOW,’ IS ALWAYS AN UGLY WORD TO THEM. ‘TO-MORROW,’ THEY LIKE MUCH BETTER. ‘NOW,’ IS A MONOSYLLABLE, ( MONOSYLLABLE: THAT IS A WORD CONSISTING OF ONE SYLLABLE), WHICH SEEMS TO BURN INTO THEIR BOSOM LIKE A HOT COAL, AND THEREFORE THEY PLUCK IT OUT, AND THROW IT FROM THEM.”

VERSES 12-17: THE PEOPLE”S RESPONSE , AND GOD’S ANSWER.

AND THEY SAID, THAT IS HOPELESS! SO WE WILL WALK ACCORDING TO OUR OWN PLANS, AND WE WILL EVERY ONE OBEY THE DICTATES OF HIS EVIL HEART. THEREFORE THUS SAYS THE LORD: ASK NOW AMONG THE GENTILES, WHO HAS HEARD SUCH THINGS? THE VIRGIN OF ISRAEL HAS DONE A VERY HORRIBLE THING. WILL A MAN LEAVE THE SNOW WATER OF LEBANON, WHICH COMES FROM THE ROCK OF THE FIELD? WILL THE COLD FLOWING WATERS BE FORSAKEN FOR STRANGE WATERS? BECAUSE MY PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN ME, THEY HAVE BURNED INCENSE TO WORTHLESS IDOLS. AND THEY HAVE CAUSED THEMSELVES TO STUMBLE IN THEIR WAYS, FROM THE ANCIENT PATHS, TO WALK IN PATHWAYS AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY, TO MAKE THEIR LAND DESOLATE AND A PERPETUAL HISSING; EVERYONE WHO PASSES BY IT WILL BE ASTONISHED AND SHAKE HIS HEAD. I WILL SCATTER THEM AS WITH AN EAST WIND BEFORE THE ENEMY; I WILL SHOW THEM THE BACK AND NOT THE FACE IN THE DAY OF THEIR CALAMITY. THEY REPLIED, “DO NOT WASTE YOUR BREATH. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO LIVE AS THEY WANT TO, FOLLOWING THEIR OWN EVIL DESIRES. THEN THE LORD SAID, “HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING, EVEN AMONG THE PAGAN NATIONS? MY VIRGIN ISRAEL HAS DONE SOMETHING TOO TERRIBLE TO UNDERSTAND! DOES THE SNOW EVER MELT HIGH UP IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LEBANON? DO THE COLD, FLOWING STREAMS FROM MOUNT HERMON EVER RUN DRY? THESE CAN BE COUNTED ON, BUT NOT MY PEOPLE! FOR THEY HAVE DESERTED ME AND TURNED TO WORTHLESS IDOLS. THEY HAVE STUMBLED OFF THE ANCIENT HIGHWAYS OF GOOD, AND THEY WALK THE MUDDY PATHS OF SIN. THEIR LAND WILL BECOME DESOLATE, A MONUMENT TO THEIR STUPIDITY. ALL WHO PASS BY WILL BE ASTONISHED AND SHAKE THEIR HEADS IN AMAZEMENT AT ITS UTTER DESOLATION. I WILL SCATTER MY PEOPLE BEFORE THEIR ENEMIES AS THE EAST WIND SCATTERS DUST. IN ALL THEIR TROUBLE I WILL TURN MY BACK ON THEM AND REFUSE TO NOTICE THEIR DISTRESS.” JUDAH WAS IN THE TRAGIC PLACE OF FEELING IT WAS HOPELESS TO REPENT. IT SEEMED HOPELESS BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DID NOT FEEL IT WAS WORTH IT TO CHANGE THE DICTATES OF THEIR EVIL HEART SIMPLY BECAUSE ONE PROPHET TOLD THEM TO.

GOD RESPONDED TO THEIR ANSWER WITH ASTONISHMENT. NOT EVEN AMONG THE GENTILES WAS THERE SUCH FOOLISHNESS AND HARDNESS OF HEART. IT WAS LIKE LEAVING PURE WATERS (SNOW WATER OF LEBANON) FOR STRANGE WATERS, A MUDDY POOL OF FILTH. IT WAS LIKE LEAVING A SAFE AND PAVED HIGHWAY FOR UNSAFE PATHWAYS WHERE MEN TRIP AND FALL. MEN WILL SHAKE THEIR HEADS AT THE NATION’S UNCOMMON STUPIDITY.

GOD COMMANDED THE PRIESTS OF ISRAEL TO BLESS GOD’S PEOPLE, AND PART OF THAT BLESSING WAS THAT THE LORD WOULD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEM. IN NUMBER 6:24-26 WE READ: 23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

SHOULD WE NOT, AS CHRISTIANS, SEEK GOD’S BLESSING UPON US, ASKING THAT HE BLESS AND PROTECT US? SHOULD WE NOT ASK THAT GOD SMILE UPON US, AND BE GRACIOUS TO US, AND SHOW US HIS FAVOR AND HIS PEACE? OF COURSE WE SHOULD, EVEN THOUGH MANY AROUND US WILL NEVER RECEIVE THESE BLESSING, WE AS CHRISTIANS, HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK THESE THINGS FROM OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. ONLY LET HIM MOLD US INTO HIS IMAGE, AS IT PLEASES HIM

PARTIAL OBEDIENCE IS DISOBEDIENCE

THE BOOK OF 1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 15, VERSES 1-23 RECORDS THE ACCOUNT OF SAUL, THE FIRST KING OF ISRAEL.

KING SAUL DISOBEYED A COMMAND OF THE LORD, WHEN HIS ARMY WENT AGAINST A PEOPLE, KNOWN AS AMALEKITES.

VERSES 1-3 GOD MAKES IT CLEAR, KING SAUL AND HIS ARMY ARE COMMANDED TO DESTROY EVERY AMALEK, AND ALL OF THEIR LIVESTOCK.

1 SAMUEL ALSO SAID UNTO SAUL, THE LORD SENT ME TO ANOINT THEE TO BE KING OVER HIS PEOPLE, OVER ISRAEL: NOW THEREFORE HEARKEN THOU UNTO THE VOICE OF THE WORDS OF THE LORD. 2 THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, I REMEMBER THAT WHICH AMALEK DID TO ISRAEL, HOW HE LAID WAIT FOR HIM IN THE WAY, WHEN HE CAME UP FROM EGYPT. 3 NOW GO AND SMITE AMALEK, AND UTTERLY DESTROY ALL THAT THEY HAVE, AND SPARE THEM NOT; BUT SLAY BOTH MAN AND WOMAN, INFANT AND SUCKLING, OX AND SHEEP, CAMEL AND ASS.

SAMUEL TOLD SAUL,THAT HE HAD ANOINTED HIM KING OF ISRAEL BECAUSE THE LORD TOLD HIM TO. LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE FROM THE LORD! THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: ‘I HAVE DECIDED TO SETTLE ACCOUNTS WITH THE NATION OF AMALEK FOR OPPOSING ISRAEL WHEN THEY CAME FROM EGYPT. COMPLETELY DESTROY THE ENTIRE AMALEKITE NATION–MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, BABIES, CATTLE, SHEEP, CAMELS, AND DONKEYS.’ “ THIS WAS A MESSAGE FROM THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF ISRAEL TO THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADER OF ISRAEL.

THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR: PUNISH WHAT AMALEK DID TO ISRAEL, GO AND ATTACK AMALEK, AND UTTERLY DESTROY ALL THAT THEY HAVE, AND DO NOT SPARE THEM. THE JUDGMENT ISRAEL WAS TO BRING AGAINST AMALEK WAS FRIGHTENINGLY COMPLETE: KILL BOTH MAN AND WOMAN, INFANT AND NURSING CHILD, OX AND SHEEP, CAMEL AND DONKEY.

GOD CLEARLY TOLD SAMUEL TO TELL SAUL TO BRING A TOTAL JUDGMENT AGAINST THE AMALEKITES. UTTERLY DESTROY: THIS HEBREW VERB IS USED SEVEN TIMES IN THIS ACCOUNT. THE IDEA OF TOTAL, COMPLETE JUDGMENT IS CERTAINLY STRESSED.

WHY? WHAT DID THE AMALEKITES DO THAT WAS SO BAD? CENTURIES BEFORE THIS, THE AMALEKITES WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO ATTACK ISRAEL AFTER THEIR ESCAPE FROM EGYPT (EXODUS 17). HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE, THE LORD SAID HE WOULD BRING THIS KIND OF JUDGMENT AGAINST AMALEK: THEN THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, “WRITE THIS FOR A MEMORIAL IN THE BOOK AND RECOUNT IT IN THE HEARING OF JOSHUA, THAT I WILL UTTERLY BLOT OUT THE REMEMBRANCE OF AMALEK FROM UNDER HEAVEN.”

MOSES BUILT AN ALTAR AND CALLED ITS NAME, THE-LORD-IS-MY-BANNER; FOR HE SAID, “BECAUSE THE LORD HAS SWORN: THE LORD WILL HAVE WAR WITH AMALEK FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.” (EXODUS 17:14-16) DEUTERONOMY 25:17-19 REPEATS THE POINT: REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK DID TO YOU ON THE WAY AS YOU WERE COMING OUT OF EGYPT, HOW HE MET YOU ON THE WAY AND ATTACKED YOUR REAR RANKS, ALL THE STRAGGLERS AT YOUR REAR, WHEN YOU WERE TIRED AND WEARY; AND HE DID NOT FEAR GOD. THEREFORE, IT SHALL BE, WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS GIVEN YOU REST FROM YOUR ENEMIES ALL AROUND, IN THE LAND WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU TO POSSESS AS AN INHERITANCE, THAT YOU WILL BLOT OUT THE REMEMBRANCE OF AMALEK FROM UNDER HEAVEN. YOU SHALL NOT FORGET.

THE AMALEKITES COMMITTED A TERRIBLE SIN AGAINST ISRAEL. WHEN THE NATION WAS WEAK AND VULNERABLE, THE AMALEKITES ATTACKED THE WEAKEST AND MOST VULNERABLE OF THE NATION (ATTACKED YOUR REAR RANKS, ALL THE STRANGERS AT YOUR REAR, WHEN YOU WERE TIRED AND WEARY). THEY DID THIS WITH NO PROVOCATION, NO REASON EXCEPT VIOLENCE AND GREED. GOD HATES IT WHEN THE STRONG TAKE CRUEL ADVANTAGE OVER THE WEAK, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEAK ARE HIS PEOPLE. SO GOD PROMISED TO BRING JUDGMENT AGAINST THE AMALEKITES.

ALL THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE! WHY DID GOD HOLD IT AGAINST THE AMALEKITES? THIS SHOWS US AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE: TIME DOES NOT ERASE SIN BEFORE GOD. BEFORE GOD, TIME CANNOT ATONE FOR SIN. ONLY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST CAN ERASE SIN, NOT TIME.

IN FACT, THE TIME WAS TIME THAT THE AMALEKITES WERE MERCIFULLY GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT. AND THEY DID NOT REPENT! THE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF HARDENED UNREPENTANT HEARTS MADE THEM MORE GUILTY, NOT LESS GUILTY!

THIS WAR WAS NOT FOR PLUNDER, FOR GOD COMMANDED THAT ALL THE PROPERTY AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE DESTROYED. IF GOD WANTED TO JUDGE THE AMALEKITES, WHY DIDN’T HE JUST DO IT HIMSELF? HE COMPLETE DESTROYED THE CITIES OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM MAN. WHY NOT JUST DO THE SAME HERE? GOD HAD A SPECIAL PURPOSE IN THIS FOR HIS ISRAEL. HE WANTED IT TO BE A TEST OF OBEDIENCE FOR SAUL, AND ALL OF ISRAEL.

SINCE AMALEK’S SIN AGAINST ISRAEL WAS A MILITARY ATTACK, GOD WANTED TO MAKE THE JUDGMENT FIT THE SIN. JESUS MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WAS ESTABLISHING A SPIRITUAL KINGDOM, NOT A POLITICAL OR A MILITARY KINGDOM. JESUS SAID IN JOHN 18:36: MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. IF MY KINGDOM WERE OF THIS WORLD, MY SERVANTS WOULD FIGHT, SO THAT I SHOULD NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE JEWS; BUT NOW MY KINGDOM IS NOT FROM HERE.

PAUL MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH WERE NOT MATERIAL, BUT SPIRITUAL: FOR WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS AGE, AGAINST SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. (EPHESIANS 6:12)

THROUGH THE CENTURIES, WHENEVER THE CHURCH HAS TRIED TO RULE THE WORLD POLITICALLY OR MILITARILY, IT HAS RUN INTO ENORMOUS TROUBLE. WE WANT TO WIN THE WORLD FOR JESUS CHRIST, BUT WE WANT TO DO IT THROUGH THE INFLUENCE OF INDIVIDUAL LIVES, TRANSFORMED ONE AT A TIME BY THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF JESUS CHRIST.

THOUGH GOD NO LONGER CALLS HIS PEOPLE TO TAKE UP ARMS AS INSTRUMENTS OF HIS JUDGMENT, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT GOD HAS STOPPED JUDGING THE NATIONS. WE CANNOT SUPPOSE, FOR A SINGLE MOMENT, THAT THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS IS TO BE RELEGATED TO THAT FINAL DAY. THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD THE NATIONS HAVE BEEN STANDING BEFORE CHRIST’S BAR. NINEVEH STOOD THERE, AS WELL AS BABYLON, GREECE AND ROME, SPAIN, FRANCE, AND GREAT BRITAIN. NATION AFTER NATION HAS FALLEN INTO DECAY: AS THEY TURNED THEIR BACK ON GOD, NEVER WORSHIPPED HIM, OR DID NOT BUILD THEIR NATION UPON GOD‘S TRUTHS.

VERSES 4-6 SAUL PREPARES TO ATTACK THE AMALEKITES

AND SAUL GATHERED THE PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND NUMBERED THEM IN TELAIM, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND FOOTMEN, AND TEN THOUSAND MEN OF JUDAH. 5 AND SAUL CAME TO A CITY OF AMALEK, AND LAID WAIT IN THE VALLEY. 6 AND SAUL SAID UNTO THE KENITES, GO, DEPART, GET YOU DOWN FROM AMONG THE AMALEKITES, LEST I DESTROY YOU WITH THEM: FOR YE SHEWED KINDNESS TO ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, WHEN THEY CAME UP OUT OF EGYPT.

SO THE KENITES DEPARTED FROM AMONG THE AMALEKITES. SAUL MOBILIZED HIS ARMY OF 230,000 THEN SAUL WENT TO THE CITY OF AMALEK AND LAY IN WAIT IN THE VALLEY. SAUL SENT A MESSAGE TO THE KENITES: “MOVE AWAY FROM WHERE YOU ARE OR YOU WILL DIE WITH THEM. THESE PEOPLE HAD BEEN KIND TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WHEN THEY CAME FROM EGYPT. SO THE KENITES PACKED UP AND LEFT. SO SAUL GATHERED THE PEOPLE TOGETHER AND NUMBERED THEM.

SAUL WAS CERTAINLY A CAPABLE MILITARY LEADER. HE SHOWS HE HAS THE ABILITY TO GATHER AND ORGANIZE A LARGE ARMY. HE ALSO KNEW HOW TO TIME HIS ATTACK PROPERLY; HE LAY IN WAIT IN THE VALLEY. SAUL SHOWS WISDOM AND MERCY IN LETTING THE KENITES GO. GOD’S JUDGMENT WAS NOT UPON THEM, SO HE DID NOT WANT TO DESTROY THEM WITH THE AMALEKITES.

IN VERSES 7-9 SAUL ATTACKS THE AMALEKITES: 7 AND SAUL SMOTE THE AMALEKITES FROM HAVILAH UNTIL THOU COMEST TO SHUR, THAT IS OVER AGAINST EGYPT. 8 AND HE TOOK AGAG THE KING OF THE AMALEKITES ALIVE, AND UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL THE PEOPLE WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD. 9 BUT SAUL AND THE PEOPLE SPARED AGAG, AND THE BEST OF THE SHEEP, AND OF THE OXEN, AND OF THE FATLINGS, AND THE LAMBS, AND ALL THAT WAS GOOD, AND WOULD NOT UTTERLY DESTROY THEM: BUT EVERY THING THAT WAS VILE AND REFUSE, THAT THEY DESTROYED UTTERLY.

SAUL SLAUGHTERED THE AMALEKITES. HE CAPTURED AGAG, THE AMALEKITE KING, AND KEPT THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND CATTLE, THE FAT CALVES, AND LAMBS, AND WHAT EVER APPEALED TO THE KING AND HIS SOLDIER. THEY DESTROYED ONLY WHAT WAS WORTHLESS OR OF POOR QUALITY. ATTACKING THE AMALEKITES WAS GOOD, IN THAT SAUL WAS OBEDIENT TO THE LORD. BUT IT WAS A SELECTIVE, INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE.

FIRST, SAUL TOOK AGAG KING OF THE AMALEKITES ALIVE, AND UTTERLY DESTROYED ALL THE PEOPLE WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD. GOD COMMANDED SAUL TO BRING HIS JUDGMENT ON ALL THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE KING.

THE ISRAELITES SPARED THE BEST OF THE SHEEP, THE OXEN, THE FATLINGS, THE LAMBS, AND ALL THAT WAS GOOD, AND WERE UNWILLING TO UTTERLY DESTROY THEM. GOD HAD CLEARLY COMMANDED IN 1 SAMUEL 15:3, THAT EVERY OX AND SHEEP, CAMEL AND DONKEY WAS TO BE DESTROYED. SAUL DID NOT DO THIS. ISRAEL WAS NOT REFLECTING GOD’S HEART IN HIS JUDGMENT. THIS DISHONORED GOD, WHO BRINGS HIS JUDGMENT RELUCTANTLY AND WITHOUT PLEASURE, LONGING THAT MEN WOULD HAVE REPENTED INSTEAD.

PARTIAL OBEDIENCE IS COMPLETE DISOBEDIENCE. SAUL AND HIS MEN OBEYED AS FAR AS SUITED THEM.

VERSES 10-11 TELL US OF GOD’S WORD TO SAMUEL: 10 THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO SAMUEL, SAYING, 11 IT REPENTETH ME THAT I HAVE SET UP SAUL TO BE KING: FOR HE IS TURNED BACK FROM FOLLOWING ME, AND HATH NOT PERFORMED MY COMMANDMENTS. AND IT GRIEVED SAMUEL; AND HE CRIED UNTO THE LORD ALL NIGHT.

THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL THAT HE WAS SORRY THAT HE MADE SAUL KING FOR HE WAS NOT LOYAL TO THE LORD AND REFUSED TO OBEY HIM. SAMUEL WAS SO DEEPLY MOVED WHEN HE HEARD THIS THAT HE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD ALL NIGHT. GOD’S HEART WAS BROKEN OVER SAUL’S DISOBEDIENCE.

THE MAN WHO STARTED OUT HUMBLE AND SUBMISSIVE TO GOD WAS NOW BOLDLY GOING HIS OWN WAY IN DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD. IT GRIEVED SAMUEL, AND HE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD ALL NIGHT: SAMUEL SHOWS THAT HE HAS GOD’S HEART. IT HURT GOD TO REJECT SAUL, AND IT HURT GOD’S PROPHET TO SEE HIM REJECTED.

WE ARE CLOSE TO GOD’S HEART WHEN THE THINGS THAT GRIEVE HIM GRIEVE US, AND THE THINGS THAT PLEASE GOD PLEASE US. IN VERSES 12-13 SAUL GREETS SAMUEL 12 AND WHEN SAMUEL ROSE EARLY TO MEET SAUL IN THE MORNING, IT WAS TOLD SAMUEL, SAYING, SAUL CAME TO CARMEL, AND, BEHOLD, HE SET HIM UP A PLACE, AND IS GONE ABOUT, AND PASSED ON, AND GONE DOWN TO GILGAL. 13 AND SAMUEL CAME TO SAUL: AND SAUL SAID UNTO HIM, BLESSED BE THOU OF THE LORD: I HAVE PERFORMED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD.

EARLY THE NEXT MORNING SAMUEL WENT TO FIND SAUL. SOMEONE TOLD HIM, “SAUL WENT TO CARMEL TO SET UP A MONUMENT TO HIMSELF; THEN HE WENT ON TO GILGAL.” WHEN SAMUEL FINALLY FOUND HIM, SAUL GREETED HIM CHEERFULLY. “MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU,” HE SAID. “I HAVE CARRIED OUT THE LORD’S COMMAND!” RELUCTANTLY, SAMUEL (WHO HAD ANOINTED SAUL AS KING YEARS BEFORE) NOW COMES TO DISCIPLINE THE DISOBEDIENT KING.

WAS SAUL GRIEVED OVER HIS SIN? NOT AT ALL. INSTEAD, HE SET UP A MONUMENT FOR HIMSELF. SAUL WAS QUITE PLEASED WITH HIMSELF! HE FELT HE HAD DONE SOMETHING GOOD, AND HE BELIEVED HE WAS TOTALLY JUSTIFIED IN WHAT HE HAD DONE. THERE IS NOT THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF SHAME OR GUILT IN SAUL, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD DIRECTLY DISOBEYED THE LORD.

IN COMING CHAPTERS, GOD WILL RAISE UP ANOTHER MAN TO REPLACE SAUL AS KING. DAVID, IN CONTRAST TO SAUL, WAS KNOWN AS A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART (1 SAMUEL 13:14). EVEN THOUGH DAVID, AS KING OF ISRAEL, WOULD ALSO DISOBEY GOD, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND SAUL WAS GREAT. DAVID FELT THE GUILT AND SHAME ONE SHOULD FEEL WHEN THEY SIN. SAUL DID NOT FEEL IT. SAUL SHOWS BY SETTING UP A MONUMENT FOR HIMSELF, HE IS NO LONGER THE HUMBLE PERSON PRESENTED IN 1 SAMUEL 9:21 AND WHO ONCE HID OUT OF SHYNESS (1 SAMUEL 10:22). THE YEARS, THE MILITARY VICTORIES, AND PRESTIGE OF THE THRONE OF ISRAEL HAVE ALL REVEALED THE PRIDE IN SAUL’S HEART. THE TRUTH IS, HE WAS ZEALOUS FOR HIS OWN HONOUR AND INTEREST, BUT LUKEWARM WHERE GOD WAS CONCERNED.

SAUL SAID TO SAMUEL, “BLESSED ARE YOU OF THE LORD! I HAVE PERFORMED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD.” HOW COULD SAUL DO THIS? HOW COULD HE COME TO THE PROPHET OF GOD WITH SUCH BOLDNESS, SUCH CONFIDENCE, AND BOAST OF HIS OBEDIENCE? BECAUSE OF HIS PRIDE, SAUL IS SELF-DECEIVED. HE PROBABLY REALLY BELIEVED WHAT HE TOLD SAMUEL. HE PROBABLY BELIEVED, “I HAVE PERFORMED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD.” PRIDE ALWAYS LEADS US INTO SELF-DECEPTION!

IN VERSES 14-16 SAUL EXPLAINS HIS SIN TO SAMUEL: 14 AND SAMUEL SAID, WHAT MEANETH THEN THIS BLEATING OF THE SHEEP IN MINE EARS, AND THE LOWING OF THE OXEN WHICH I HEAR? 15 AND SAUL SAID, THEY HAVE BROUGHT THEM FROM THE AMALEKITES: FOR THE PEOPLE SPARED THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND OF THE OXEN, TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD THY GOD; AND THE REST WE HAVE UTTERLY DESTROYED. 16 THEN SAMUEL SAID UNTO SAUL, STAY, AND I WILL TELL THEE WHAT THE LORD HATH SAID TO ME THIS NIGHT. AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, SAY ON.

SAMUEL DEMANDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BLEATING OF SHEEP AND LOWING OF CATTLE. SAUL REPLYS THAT IT IS TRUE THAT THE ARMY SPARED THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND CATTLE, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO SACRIFICE THEM TO THE LORD YOUR GOD. WE HAVE DESTROYED EVERYTHING ELSE.” THEN SAMUEL SAID TO SAUL, “STOP! LISTEN TO WHAT THE LORD TOLD ME LAST NIGHT!” “WHAT WAS IT?” SAUL ASKED. SAUL HAD BEEN PROUD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. HE SET UP A MONUMENT FOR HIMSELF. HE COULD OPENLY, AND IN HIS OWN MIND, HONESTLY SAY “I HAVE PERFORMED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD.” AT THE SAME TIME, THE EVIDENCE OF HIS DISOBEDIENCE COULD BE HEARD. AS HE SPOKE, THE LIVESTOCK THAT GOD CLEARLY COMMANDED TO BE KILLED COULD BE HEARD, SEEN, AND SMELT AS SAUL SAID, “I HAVE PERFORMED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD.”

PRIDE AND DISOBEDIENCE MAKE US BLIND, OR DEAF, TO OUR SIN. WHAT WAS COMPLETELY OBVIOUS TO SAMUEL WAS INVISIBLE TO SAUL. WE ALL HAVE BLIND SPOTS OF SIN IN OUR LIVES, AND WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY ASK GOD TO SHOW THEM TO US. WE NEED TO SINCERELY PRAY THE PRAYER OF PSALM 139:23-24: SEARCH ME, O GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART: TRY ME, AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS: AND SEE IF THERE BE ANY WICKED WAY IN ME, AND LEAD ME IN THE WAY EVERLASTING.

SAUL’S EXCUSES ARE REVEALING.

HE BLAMES THE PEOPLE, NOT HIMSELF (THEY HAVE BROUGHT THEM . . . THE PEOPLE SPARED THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND THE OXEN).
HE INCLUDES HIMSELF IN THE OBEDIENCE (THE REST WE HAVE UTTERLY DESTROYED).
HE JUSTIFIES WHAT HE HAS KEPT BECAUSE OF ITS FINE QUALITY (THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND THE OXEN).
HE CLAIMS TO HAVE DONE IT FOR A SPIRITUAL REASON (TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD). WHILE THIS MADE PERFECT SENSE TO SAUL (IN HIS PROUD SELF-DECEPTION), IT MEANT NOTHING TO GOD AND SAMUEL. IN FACT, IT WAS WORSE THAN NOTHING – IT SHOWED THAT SAUL WAS DESPERATELY TRYING TO EXCUSE HIS SIN BY WORD GAMES AND HALF-TRUTHS.

THIS REMINDS ME OF MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY MANY POLITICIANS. BUT EVEN IN HIS EXCUSE, SAUL REVEALS THE REAL PROBLEM: HE HAS A POOR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. NOTICE HOW HE SPEAKS OF GOD TO SAMUEL: “TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD.” THE LORD WAS NOT SAUL’S GOD. SAUL WAS SAUL’S GOD. THE LORD WAS THE GOD OF SAMUEL, NOT SAUL. IN HIS PRIDE, SAUL HAS REMOVED THE LORD GOD FROM THE THRONE OF HIS HEART.

SAUL STATES, “THE REST WE HAVE UTTERLY DESTROYED”. THIS WAS NOT TRUE. THERE WERE AMALEKITES HE LEFT ALIVE. DAVID LATER HAD TO DEAL WITH THE AMALEKITES (1 SAMUEL 27:8, 30:1, 2 SAMUEL 8:12). MOST IRONIC OF ALL, WHEN SAUL WAS KILLED ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE, THE FINAL THRUST OF THE SWORD WAS FROM THE HAND OF AN AMALEKITE! (2 SAMUEL 1:8-10).

THEN SAMUEL SAID TO SAUL, “BE QUIET!” SAMUEL HAS HAD ENOUGH. HE WILL LISTEN TO NO MORE FROM SAUL. THE EXCUSE WAS REVEALED FOR WHAT IT WAS – JUST A LAME EXCUSE. NOW IT IS TIME FOR SAUL TO BE QUIET, AND TO LISTEN TO THE WORD OF THE LORD THROUGH SAMUEL. EVEN IN THIS, SAUL CAN’T SHUT UP. HE SHOWS HIS PROUD DESIRE TO RETAIN SOME CONTROL BY REPLYING, “SPEAK ON.” AS IF THE PROPHET OF GOD NEEDED SAUL’S PERMISSION! HE WOULD SPEAK ON, BUT NOT BECAUSE SAUL HAD GIVEN HIM PERMISSION. HE WOULD SPEAK ON BECAUSE HE WAS A MESSENGER OF GOD.

IN VERSES 17-21 SAMUEL BRINGS THE CHARGE AGAINST SAUL, AND HIS FEEBLE DEFENSE:

17 AND SAMUEL SAID, WHEN THOU WAST LITTLE IN THINE OWN SIGHT, WAST THOU NOT MADE THE HEAD OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, AND THE LORD ANOINTED THEE KING OVER ISRAEL? 18 AND THE LORD SENT THEE ON A JOURNEY, AND SAID, GO AND UTTERLY DESTROY THE SINNERS THE AMALEKITES, AND FIGHT AGAINST THEM UNTIL THEY BE CONSUMED. 19 WHEREFORE THEN DIDST THOU NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD, BUT DIDST FLY UPON THE SPOIL, AND DIDST EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD? 20 AND SAUL SAID UNTO SAMUEL, YEA, I HAVE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD, AND HAVE GONE THE WAY WHICH THE LORD SENT ME, AND HAVE BROUGHT AGAG THE KING OF AMALEK, AND HAVE UTTERLY DESTROYED THE AMALEKITES. 21 BUT THE PEOPLE TOOK OF THE SPOIL, SHEEP AND OXEN, THE CHIEF OF THE THINGS WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN UTTERLY DESTROYED, TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD THY GOD IN GILGAL.

SAMUEL TOLD SAUL THE LORD HAS ANOINTED YOU KING OF ISRAEL. AND THE LORD SENT YOU ON A MISSION AND TOLD YOU, ‘GO AND COMPLETELY DESTROY THE SINNERS, THE AMALEKITES, UNTIL THEY ARE ALL DEAD.’ WHY HAVEN’T YOU OBEYED THE LORD? WHY DID YOU RUSH FOR THE PLUNDER AND DO EXACTLY WHAT THE LORD SAID NOT TO DO?” I DID OBEY THE LORD,” SAUL INSISTED. “I CARRIED OUT THE MISSION HE GAVE ME. I BROUGHT BACK KING AGAG, BUT I DESTROYED EVERYONE ELSE. THEN MY TROOPS BROUGHT IN THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND CATTLE AND PLUNDER TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD IN GILGAL.”

GOD HAD GIVEN HIM A SPECIFIC COMMAND, AND HE HAD DIRECTLY DISOBEYED IT. THOUGH THE DISOBEDIENCE WAS THE MOST APPARENT SIN, THE ROOT OF SAUL’S DISOBEDIENCE WAS FAR WORSE: PRIDE. SAMUEL REFERS TO THIS WHEN HE REMEMBERS WHEN THINGS WERE DIFFERENT WITH SAUL: WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE IN YOUR OWN EYES, WERE YOU NOT THE HEAD OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL? AND DID NOT THE LORD ANOINT YOU KING OVER ISRAEL? NOW, IT COULD NO LONGER BE SAID OF SAUL, YOU ARE LITTLE IN YOUR OWN EYES. HE WAS BIG IN HIS OWN EYES, AND THAT MADE THE LORD SMALL IN HIS EYES! SAUL FIRST INSISTS THAT HE IS INNOCENT. BUT HE IS SO SELF-DECEIVED, THAT HE CAN SAY, I HAVE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DESCRIBE HOW HE DID NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD! (SAUL ADMITS THAT HE BROUGHT BACK AGAG KING OF AMALEK).

SAUL’S CLAIM, I HAVE UTTERLY DESTROYED THE AMALEKITES IS PLAIN EVIDENCE OF THE POWER AND DEPTH OF HIS SELF-DECEPTION.

HE ADMITS THAT HE BROUGHT BACK AGAG KING OF AMALEK. THERE WAS AN AMALEKITE RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM WHOM WAS NOT UTTERLY DESTROYED!
THE BIBLICAL RECORD MAKES IT CLEAR THAT SAUL HAD NOT EVEN UTTERLY DESTROYED THE AMALEKITES, BECAUSE LATER DAVID FOUGHT THEM (1 SAMUEL 27:8, 30:1, 2 SAMUEL 8:12), AND SAUL HIMSELF WAS KILLED BY AN AMALEKITE! (2 SAMUEL 1:8-10) YET, SAUL CAN “HONESTLY” SAY, “I HAVE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD” AND “I HAVE UTTERLY DESTROYED THE AMALEKITES” BECAUSE HE IS SELF-DECEIVED.

AFTER INSISTING HE IS INNOCENT, SAUL THEN BLAMES THE PEOPLE FOR THE SIN. HIS STATEMENT IS A HALF-TRUTH THAT IS A WHOLE LIE. IT IS TRUE THAT THE PEOPLE TOOK THE PLUNDER, BUT THEY DID SO BY FOLLOWING SAUL’S EXAMPLE (HE SPARED AGAG KING OF AMALEK), AND SAUL DID NOTHING TO STOP OR DISCOURAGE THEM.

SAUL COULD BE ZEALOUS IN COMMANDING HIS ARMY WHEN IT SUITED HIM. IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER, HE COMMANDED A DEATH SENTENCE ON ANYONE WHO ATE ANYTHING ON THE DAY OF BATTLE. HE WAS WILLING TO EXECUTE HIS OWN SON IN HIS ZEAL TO HAVE HIS COMMAND OBEYED. SAUL WAS FULL OF FIRE AND ZEAL WHEN IT CAME TO HIS OWN WILL, BUT NOT WHEN IT CAME TO THE WILL OF GOD.

IN VERSES 22-23 SAMUEL PROPHESIES GOD’S JUDGMENT AGAINST SAUL 22 AND SAMUEL SAID, HATH THE LORD AS GREAT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? BEHOLD, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS. 23 FOR REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT, AND STUBBORNNESS IS AS INIQUITY AND IDOLATRY. BECAUSE THOU HAST REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HE HATH ALSO REJECTED THEE FROM BEING KING.

SAMUEL REPLIED, WHAT IS MORE PLEASING TO THE LORD: OUR BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES OR OUR OBEDIENCE TO HIS VOICE? OBEDIENCE IS FAR BETTER THAN SACRIFICE. LISTENING TO HIM IS MUCH BETTER THAN OFFERING THE FAT OF RAMS.

REBELLION IS AS BAD AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT, AND STUBBORNNESS IS AS BAD AS WORSHIPING IDOLS. BECAUSE SAUL REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, THE LORD REJECTED SAUL FROM BEING KING. HAS THE LORD AS GREAT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? BEHOLD, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS. RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE WITHOUT OBEDIENCE IS EMPTY BEFORE GOD. THE BEST SACRIFICIAL OFFERING WE COULD BRING TO GOD IS A REPENTANT HEART (PSALM 51:16-17), AND OUR BODIES SURRENDERED TO HIS SERVICE FOR OBEDIENCE (ROMANS 12:1).

ONE COULD MAKE A THOUSAND SACRIFICES UNTO GOD; WORK A THOUSAND HOURS FOR GOD’S SERVICE; OR GIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HIS WORK. BUT ALL OF THOSE SACRIFICES MEAN LITTLE IF THERE IS NOT A SURRENDERED HEART TO GOD, SHOWN BY SIMPLE OBEDIENCE. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT WE OFFER OUR OWN WILL BEFORE GOD.

MATRIN LUTHER USED TO SAY, “I HAD RATHER BE OBEDIENT, THAN ABLE TO WORK MIRACLES.” A REBELLIOUS, STUBBORN HEART REJECTS GOD JUST AS CERTAINLY AS SOMEONE REJECTS GOD BY OCCULT PRACTICES OR IDOLATRY.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR SAUL TO POINT HIS FINGER AT THE AMALEKITES OR THE PHILISTINES AND SAY, “LOOK AT THOSE GODLESS IDOLATERS. THEY DO NOT WORSHIP THE TRUE GOD LIKE I DO.” BUT SAUL DID NOT WORSHIP THE TRUE GOD EITHER, BECAUSE THE REAL WORSHIP OF GOD BEGINS WITH SURRENDER. ALL CONSCIOUS DISOBEDIENCE IS IDOLATRY, BECAUSE IT MAKES SELF-WILL, INTO A GOD.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HE ALSO HAS REJECTED YOU FROM BEING KING: IN HIS EMPTY RELIGIOUS PRACTICE, REBELLION, AND STUBBORNNESS AGAINST GOD, SAUL WAS REJECTING GOD’S WORD. SO GOD REJECTED HIM AS KING OVER ISRAEL. IT WOULD BE ALMOST 25 YEARS BEFORE THERE WAS ANOTHER KING ENTHRONED IN ISRAEL. SAUL’S REJECTION WAS FINAL, BUT IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATE. IT WOULD TAKE ALMOST 25 YEARS TO TRAIN UP THE RIGHT REPLACEMENT FOR SAUL!

VERSES 24-25 SPEAK OF SAUL’S WEAK ATTEMPT TO REPENT THEN SAUL SAID TO SAMUEL, “I HAVE SINNED, FOR I HAVE TRANSGRESSED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD AND YOUR WORDS, BECAUSE I FEARED THE PEOPLE AND OBEYED THEIR VOICE. NOW THEREFORE, PLEASE PARDON MY SIN, AND RETURN WITH ME, THAT I MAY WORSHIP THE LORD.” SAUL’S STATEMENT BEGINS LIKE A GENUINE CONFESSION, REFLECTING A GENUINELY REPENTANT HEART. BUT THAT CHANGES AS HE CONTINUES: BECAUSE I FEARED THE PEOPLE AND OBEYED THEIR VOICE. IN THIS, SAUL REFUSES TO OWN UP TO HIS SIN; INSTEAD HE BLAMES THE PEOPLE WHO “MADE HIM” DO IT. ON THE SURFACE, THIS IS NOT A BAD STATEMENT OF REPENTANCE. IT IS BETTER THAN MOST OF THE CONFESSIONS OF SIN WE HEAR TODAY! YET, AT THE SAME TIME, THESE WERE ONLY WORDS FOR SAUL. HIS HEART WAS NOT IN THOSE WORDS. IF SAUL HAD TRUSTED IN GOD, HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO FEAR THE PEOPLE.

NOW THEREFORE, PLEASE PARDON MY SIN, AND RETURN WITH ME, THAT I MAY WORSHIP THE LORD: INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE DEEP ISSUE OF HIS HEART OF REBELLION AND STUBBORNNESS AGAINST GOD, SAUL THINKS THAT WITH A WORD FROM SAMUEL, EVERYTHING CAN BE FIXED. BUT A WORD OR TWO FROM SAMUEL WILL NOT CHANGE THE NATURE OF SAUL’S HEART.

GOD KNEW SAUL’S HEART. NOT ONLY DID HE KNOW IT WAS FULL OF REBELLION AND STUBBORNNESS, BUT IT WAS SETTLED IN THAT CONDITION. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NO MAN COULD KNOW WITH CERTAINTY, LOOKING FROM THE OUTSIDE. BUT GOD KNEW IT, AND GOD HAD TOLD SAMUEL THE PROPHET THIS WAS THE SETTLED STATE OF SAUL’S HEART. A SIMPLE “PLEASE PARDON MY SIN” WOULD NOT DO WHEN ONE’S HEART IS SETTLED IN REBELLION AND SIN AGAINST THE LORD.

THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER:

ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU KNOW THE LORD WANTS YOU TO DO. DO IT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, AND DO IT COMPLETELY. ALWAYS GIVE OF YOUR BEST TO THE LORD.
DO NOT LET THE TROUBLES OF THE WORLD LEAD YOU TO BE REBELLIOUS OR STUBBORN REGARDING THE LORD.
IT DOES NO GOOD TO STAND BEFORE THE LORD AND GIVE HIM EXCUSES FOR YOUR SINS.
DO NOT THINK THAT IN ASKING FOR FORGIVNESS, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN, IF YOU HEART IS NOT RIGHT WITH GOD.