Justifying Sin Ends In Disaster

1 Samuel 15:13-15---And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 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.

Saul is still blessed by God and empowered by God to defeat the enemies of Israel. He was commanded by God to destroy the Amalekites and do as Joshua did to Jericho. He knew the story of Achan. Saul has been compromising, thinking that it is not all God but that he is a pretty great guy He just built a monument to himself. And since he is so great, he can change what God has said to fit his desires. I've heard it a number of times in the stories of fallen Christians. "You don't understand the pressure I'm under. God makes exceptions for me because of my great need. I'm in special circumstances." Saul saw the good plunder and decided God didn't need it destroyed. Saul needed it for himself. When confronted by Samuel, Saul justified his sin. Here is the main difference between Saul and David. Both are anointed, both empowered, both successful, both disobeyed, but their reaction when confronted couldn't be any more different. Saul justifies his sin. "My flesh isn't that bad. It makes necessary choices." David repents with a broken heart. There is the telltale evidence that a heart is either after God or turned to self as lord.

Do I Respond To Circumstances Or To The Word Of God?

1 Samuel 13:11-12---And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. The Philistines were gathering to fight Israel. The Philistines numbers and technology were vastly superior. Samuel had told Saul to wait seven days, and he would come to offer sacrifices before the battle. Saul could see the enemy gathering and the Israelites deserting. HE THOUGHT he needed to rally the people. The time Samuel promised to come was about up. Saul leaned to his own understanding instead of obeying in faith. Samuel arrived immediately after the sacrifice was offered and asked, "What is going on?" Saul justified his actions. He sounded very religious. "I had to seek God's favor before the battle. I felt compelled." But that was not what he was told to do by God's prophet. Compelled by whom? By his own fears, reason, and doubt. He took matters into his own hands. This began a pattern of rebellion in Saul. Today we would probably be referring to Jesus as the son of Saul instead of the Son of David if Saul had remained obedient to God. We have choices of faith throughout our life that have far-ranging consequences. Do we trust God even when our eyes see great trouble? Will we take matters into our own hands, because we think God will not or cannot help? Or will we walk in faith and be blessed?

The LORD Has Done Great Things For You

1 Samuel 12:23-25---Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

Samuel had anointed Saul as king. Shortly after, Saul led them to a great victory. Samuel gave them a sign to help them discern what an evil decision they had made in asking for a king. Then he encouraged them to make the best of their wrong choice by seeing that they and their king serve God. In today's passage, Samuel comforts them with the fact that he will pray for them. He says it would be sin for him not to. We often think of sin as an evil action we commit, but it also the good that we should do but don't. He also promised to continue to teach them the good and right way. As Christians, we have an obligation to those under our influence, to teach them the good and right way the LORD has taught us. Israel had seen the hand of the LORD in power. Their attitude of fear, in regard to their relationship with God, was a good thing. They realized His might and holiness and their need for instruction. Be sure to fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart. We need that reminder. So many distractions would pull us away from that good frame of heart and mind. Consider the great things He has done for you. That will help you keep a heart of gratitude and put distraction in perspective. Yet if you persist in doing evil, it doesn't matter how great a king you have, God will sweep you and your hero away.

A Great Beginning Doesn't Ensure A Great End.

1 Samuel 10:6-7---And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.

Knowing Saul's end, we tend to overlook his beginning. He was a humble man even though he was large in stature. Samuel told him of all the signs that would come to pass that day to confirm that it was the LORD who had chosen him to be king. When Saul met the prophets with their musical instruments as they were prophesying, the power of the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied. Samuel said that at this point he would be changed into a different person; verse nine says that God changed Saul's heart. Once our heart has been changed, we have godly desires. We are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Some people search for some special leading when God is leading them continually. It is true that we must still discern what is of the Spirit and what is of the old nature, but that is usually quite evident. If we get off track, we receive that check in our spirit that warns us something is amiss. So we proceed with each day in faith believing God is leading us by His Spirit. Seeing that Saul's beginning is so much like our own, we also have a warning. In the devotions to come, we will see a turning aside from the known will of God. We will see the increase of pride and his sad end. Nevertheless, throughout this time, he was God's anointed. It is a warning for us to heed the checks from the Spirit and remain in obedience.

Exalting Man Leads To Disappointment. Exalting Christ Keeps Us On Track.

1 Samuel 8:6-7---But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Samuel didn't have a good role model in Eli. As far as raising children was concerned, Samuel's own sons were like Eli's. The people asked for a king so they wouldn't be stuck with the evil sons of Samuel leading them. It is the nature of men to want a human leader they can see. We always look for our Superman. We want someone visible to follow. But when a man has that much power and influence, he almost always becomes corrupt. The temptation to take advantage of the situation for personal pleasure is too great. Then you have the great disappointment of all who have elevated him and proclaimed his worth. The grace of God allows leaders who are worshipped to fall. That failure turns our eyes back to God. Samuel warned them that this would happen. Still, they insisted on having a king. Samuel was displeased. He knew something in his spirit was saying that this was terribly wrong. God helped him understand by explaining, "It is not you, they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king." Churches and ministries, heed the heart of God. One elevated man with final say and authority is the way of man. It is a rejection of God. God has always worked through men whose hearts are seeking Him, not the man with the best capabilities of being a CEO. Look at the disciples Jesus chose. They were a group of equals, with the real Leader, Jesus. The church should be the same today. The most capable of being a CEO among them was Judas.

God Can Defend His Own Reputation

1 Samuel 5:11-12---So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, "Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people." For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy upon it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

Israel was defeated in their first skirmish with the Philistines. Instead of seeking God as to why, they brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle, like a big lucky charm. The evil sons of Eli carried it. They were defeated. Eli's sons were killed, and the Ark was taken. Upon hearing the news, 98-year-old overweight Eli fell backward, broke his neck and died. Did he think God could not take care of the Ark? Sometimes we think everything is lost, but we forget God can fight without us. Samuel was still in Shiloh but the LORD could bring back the Ark all by Himself. One God of the Philistines was a fish-man, Dagon. They were sea voyaging traders and so they created a god that looked like a fish but had a head of a man and hands. When the Ark was left before the Dagon statue, the next morning found Dagon collapsed and the head and hands had broken off. Everywhere the Ark went there were death and sickness. Finally, they had enough. They set the Ark on a cart with gold presents. Two cows were taken from their calves and harnessed to the cart. Crying all the way, they took the Ark back to Israel. God showed that He could take care of His own reputation. In the process, He showed that Dagon was just a statue. The Israelites had to see that the defeat was because of their sin not the lack of the power of God. We learn that God can redeem even the worst situations all by Himself.

When God Calls Your Name, Are You Willing To Listen?

1 Samuel 3:10---And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Little Samuel was raised under Eli in the Tabernacle. His older brothers (Eli's real sons) were very wicked. The word of the LORD was rare, and there were few visions. One night Samuel heard the Lord call his name but thought it was Eli. This was the first time he had a personal encounter with God. After asking Eli if he called a second and third time, Eli finally realized God was calling Samuel. He told Samuel to ask the LORD to speak and tell Him he was listening. Do you know that the LORD knows your name? When He calls your name there is a sense of His personal relationship with you. You are not just one of the many but personally known by God. He wants to commune with you personally. Eli told Samuel the perfect response. When God calls our name, we need to invite Him to speak to our hearts. We need to present listening ears out of respect and reverence. I believe the LORD wants to speak to us more than we are willing to listen. The LORD is seeking out those who will listen. What He has to say to us is often something we would prefer not to hear. It often shakes our comfort zone as it did with young Samuel. The LORD was telling Samuel of the impending judgment about to fall on Eli for not restraining his sons from their wickedness. It would be a guiding principle in Samuel's life. He knew he had a responsibility to act in the restraint of evil.

The Answers To Our Prayers Should Fill Us With Wonder

1 Samuel 2:2---There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Hannah was barren and her husband's other wife tormented her because of it. In those days, to be barren was to appear to be cursed by God. As she was pouring out her heart to God in anguish at the tabernacle, the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk. He rebuked her for it, but then heard her explanation. He asked the LORD to grant her request. She promised to give the child back to the LORD. She named her child Samuel. After she gave birth, she sang the prayer in 1 Samuel 2. That prayer includes the verse for today. We can know that even though we are mortal and of little account, the Creator hears our prayer when we pour out our hearts to Him. Hannah did not have to have children to have a meaningful life, but she thought she did. God heard the pain in her heart. What an awesome God we serve. He owes us nothing and we owe Him all, yet He hears our prayer and is concerned with our pain. Hannah declared God to be uniquely holy. That is very true. He is the standard of holiness. We can be credited with the righteousness of Christ and be made holy in God's eyes, yet He is uniquely holy. Our holiness is received, whereas He is inherent. He has always been holy throughout time. We became holy at a point in time. He is always the same, and so, He is our Rock. No other god concerns himself with a man in love and mercy like our God. No other god is forever perfect like our God. The answer to Hannah's prayer filled her with an awareness of the wonderful God she served.

Are You Living Under The Reign Of Your King Today, Or Doing As You See Fit?

Judges 17:6—In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

This is a sad commentary on that time. The judges were warrior rulers. Some of them had a heart after God, but others did not. The spiritual condition of the nation was at a low point. The Law was not enforced and everyone did as they saw fit. Our world is not much different. In fact, that is the new teaching of our culture. “Whatever you think is right for you is the way you ought to go.” We still have laws that came from our Judeo-Christian culture but we are slowly doing away with many of them, calling them antiquated.  But this is a trend of our society because it is the trend of fallen man. He wants to do his own thing, be his own lord. He considers laws and restrictions unnecessary chains if they keep him from his desires. So here is the heart check. Are you a part of this trend? Is your king the King of kings? This is what makes the difference, the presence of a king that enforces the laws. If you know your King, hear His voice, and are disciplined by His Spirit then you no longer do as you see fit. There are order and purpose to your life. You live at the direction of your King.

Flirting With Evil Will Eventually Extract A Painful Price

Judges 16:20---And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

Samson had walked the fence of serving the LORD and serving his lusts until it finally caught up with him. The flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. Eventually one must win. Samson could not see that flirting with evil would cost him so much. He'd been shown mercy by God again and again and thought that it would never end. This time he crossed the last line. "My Spirit will not always strive with man," the Lord said. Delilah conned him into telling the source of his strength. Did he really think he would get away with it again, or was he hoping he would be normal so that he could know if she genuinely loved him? Whatever was going on in his mind, he thought he was still anointed when he woke. What a warning this is to us! We go on flirting with disaster, compromising with evil and then we jump up thinking the anointing is still upon us. We go out to battle and find we have no strength. His eyes were put out. That was symbolic of his spiritual blindness. He labored for years for the enemy, another symbol of the spiritual reality. Finally, when put on display at a feast to the enemy's god, he gave himself in one last act of service to God. What a price he paid to see in the Spirit. What a price he had to pay to be free from bondage to the enemy. Still, his death took a greater toll upon the enemy than his life. God gives second chances.

Trust God To Bring Victory

Judges 7:20---And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
What a fascinating plan the LORD gave them. Each of the 300 men took a pitcher with a torch inside in one hand. In the other was a trumpet. On cue, they smashed the pitchers and the light showed out. With the other hand, they blew their trumpets and then shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" The enemy was thrown into a panic thinking that each light led a company of soldiers. Frightened in the dark, they killed one another. The dream Gideon had overheard came to pass. What sword were they shouting about? It was the word of the LORD that they were faithfully obeying. We have a treasure in jars of clay. It is the Light of the world. We seem to be totally outnumbered at times. But we keep on obeying the word and believing. We become broken vessels and the light shines out. We blow the trumpet of the Gospel and the enemy (spiritual powers) is thrown into confusion. In the darkness, the enemy does not know who is a friend and who is a foe. He ends up defeating himself. It is not as if we did any great thing. God gets all the glory. We were outnumbered and outgunned, but we just obeyed and watched God work. If God was faithful to Gideon, to give Him the plan, and encourage Him that He would bring it to pass, will He be any different with you?

The Light Of Conviction

Luke 7:45-47---Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to dinner. Since the Pharisees were at odds with Jesus, Simon was really sticking his neck out to do this. Dinner was a time of conversation with friends, but Simon still held back many of the customary greetings for true friends. He did not wash the feet of his guest, give a kiss of greeting, or provide oil for his face. A woman of ill repute, who had realized the forgiveness that Christ offered, came into the house uninvited. She washed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. She kissed His feet and poured perfume on them. Simon began to think that he had made a mistake in inviting Jesus. What holy person would let a woman of her reputation touch them? Jesus shared a parable about men who were forgiven, one for a small debt and the other for a large debt. Jesus asked Simon who would be most grateful. He realized the one with the larger debt would, of course, be more grateful. Jesus had shown Simon that he was misinterpreting both the woman's heart and Jesus' receptivity to her. Then Jesus pointed out that she had done the things he refused to do. Simon would not love Jesus as much as she did, for he did not realize the depth of his sin debt as she did. Do you? The one who is forgiven much loves much. As you open yourself to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, you see the real ugliness of the old nature. The greater your understanding of your depravity, the more you will love Jesus for the forgiveness that only He could bring. Even Christians, because of the pain, often avoid the light of conviction. It should be welcome to those who desire to love Him more.

Spiritual Health

Judges 7:2---And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

When Gideon sent out the word that he would lead a battle against the Midianites, there was a good response. 32,000 volunteers showed up. God was more concerned about Israel's spiritual health than freeing them from oppression. Though the odds were still greatly against Israel, God said there were too many men. They may take credit for what God did, and then they would be back at square one, in need of an oppressor to cause them to call out to God. Sometimes we have too much talent, too many good ideas, too much ability for the LORD to work. He may let us have our numerical strength, but if it is of man, it will eventually come to naught. For Israel and for us today, God needs insane odds against Him before He really pours out His power. He had Gideon get down to the ridiculous number of 300 men to show it was all God. We see some amazing works of man today. After gathering a pool of talent there has been a great numerical success. Surely the Lord will work even through that, but a generation will tell if the fruit will remain or if we will be back at square one. When people have called out to God, and unlikely instruments like Luther or Moody were called, the fruit remains. Never think you are too lacking in talent or ability or numbers. The Apostle Paul rejoiced in his weaknesses that the glory of God might rest upon him to accomplish God's purposes.

What Does The Lord Call You?

Judges 6:12,16---And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.  And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

Just as God had promised, oppressors came to afflict Israel when they began to worship other gods. The oppression was so severe and the oppressors so ruthless that they had to hide food in caves so they could survive. Then they began to call out to the true God. The angel of the LORD is Jesus. You will notice He is later called LORD (JHWH). Jesus is the manifestation of God (Colossians 1:15). Jesus declared He was with Gideon and called him a mighty warrior. Gideon was hiding in a winepress to thresh his grain and yet the Lord called him a mighty warrior. God sees what He is making us into. What does the LORD call you? Gideon is not so sure it is the LORD. If he is to take on this challenge to rally Israel, he knows he must have the LORD with him. The LORD promised to be with him, just as He has promised to be with us (Matthew 28:20). Whatever God asks us to do He will equip and help us accomplish it. He calls us to be co-laborers, not lone rangers. Gideon had his doubts and needed to be sure. The LORD allowed Gideon to bring an offering. He then caused a fire to come from the rock and consume the food Gideon had brought. God will assure us of His will and confirm that He is with us to help us accomplish the tasks He gives us.

The Power Of Choice

Joshua 24:15---And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

It seems as though some of the Israelites still had little golden "gods" that their parents had taken from Egypt. Archeologists suggest that they were very small, one to three-inch-long gold images of cows or other creatures. They thought of them like some today think of a good luck charm. Joshua was about to die, and he told them to get rid of those things. Amazing how gracious God had been to allow that compromise for so long! Now Joshua was saying that if you can't give them up, go worship them, but I'm not going to. You have to come to a crossroad where you must decide once and for all. Make up your mind. Choose today! Pick between the gods of Egypt and the Amorites, or JHWH! My family is going to serve JHWH! Standing on the fence is really not serving Jehovah. He will have no other gods before Him. Life is about making this choice and then carrying it out to the end, as Joshua had done. Have you settled the issue in your heart? Have you chosen to serve the LORD? Are you sticking with that choice with 100% commitment? The future of the nation depended on their choice that day. Your future depends on your choice. If you are reading this, God has probably made His sovereignty known to you. If you have not already made that commitment Joshua made, do it today.