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King SaulProphet Samuel

Character Flaws

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Saul, not unlike many, had one major character flaw — self worship. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and confront the errors within him, he was left to his own devices, ruled by one focus–himself. In 1 Samuel 15, we see the final unravelling of a man who had been anointed by God for great things. Saul exhibited pride rather than humility, preferred deception over truth, and made excuses rather than accept responsibility.

Pride

Pride inhabited Saul. After God enlightened Samuel, he spent a night weeping before the Lord. In the morning, he searched for Saul. Initially, a young man hiding among the baggage, Saul had now built himself a memorial. Even his response at seeing Samuel was full of pride. “Blessed are you of the Lord. I have performed the commandments of the Lord.”

Deception

His response, driven by his pride, also shows he was deceived. Samuel confronted the deceit. “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen, which I hear?”

 Excuses

Saul’s answer reeks of self-preservation. “The people spared the best to sacrifice to the Lord; the rest we have utterly destroyed.”

“Be quiet.” Samuel said. It was time to enlighten the fallen saint. Still, Saul continued his defence. “But I have obeyed.” Samuel then made a declaration that would resound throughout Christian history. “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.” “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

God rejected Saul from being king. How does the story move forward? Next week we will reflect on the dramatic close to this encounter between the man of God and Israel’s first king.

 Saul exhibited pride rather than humility, preferred deception over truth, and made excuses rather than accept responsibility.

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Old Testament StoriesProphet SamuelUncategorized

Defenseless? Not!

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Were the Israelites defenseless?  1 Samuel 13:16-23 is a passage which highlights the deficiencies of the Israelite army. While the Philistines had the upper hand, the Israelites cowered and trembled beneath them. Scripture highlights a different perspective. What did the Philistines have over the Israelites, what did the Israelites not have, and what determined victory?

The Philistines

The Philistines had 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen and innumerable people. Three companies of raiders went out to terrorize the Israelites. In Philistine cities and villages, there were blacksmiths who charged the Israelites what they did not have, to sharpen their implements necessary for farming.

The Israelites

The Israelites were victims, beaten down by Philistine raids and domination. Only Saul and Jonathan could afford the expensive weapons, leaving their army defenseless on the day of battle.

The Victor

In our minds, the Philistines would be the victor, but what does scripture tell us? “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.” God had given victory to the Israelites, as Samuel reminded them, by raising up leaders like Moses and Aaron, Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel. In God lay their victory. In allegiance and obedience to Him, they overcome their enemies. They were defenseless, only apart from Him.

Consider what the Philistines had, what the Israelites did not, and Who brought the victory.

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Old Testament StoriesProphet Samuel

Samuel Challenges the People

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Samuel, in the last section of his coronation address, challenged the people of Israel. Their desire for a king displeased not only Samuel, but God as well. They rejected the sovereignty of God. For them to understand, Samuel gave them an object lesson. He prayed in rain and thunder on the day of wheat harvest. It terrified them and they feared God and His prophet Samuel. The prophet directed them to face the facts, turn to God, and he promised to pray for them.

Face the Facts

The storm enabled them to face the facts. God was displeased because of their wickedness. The ensuing fear of death caused the Israelites to beg Samuel to pray for them, God’s servants.

Turn to God

Samuel spoke plainly. “Do not turn aside.” After acknowledging their sin, the tendency was to wallow in their misery and return to their sinful ways, ways that would not profit. Then Samuel reinforced the truth. God, for His name’s sake would not forsake His people. It pleased Him to make them, His people! “Fear the Lord,” he said, “serve Him wholeheartedly and in truth. Consider all the great things He has done for you.”

Promise to Pray

Then Samuel made them a promise. He would pray for them. It would be a great sin if he did not. In addition, he would teach them the good and right way. If they did wickedly, however, it would be to the peril of both them and their king.

The prophet directed them to face the facts, turn to God, and he promised to pray for them.

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King SaulOld Testament StoriesOur Great DelivererProphet Samuel

God Sets A King In Place

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

God sets a king in place and Samuel addressed the crowd. Part one of Samuel’s convocation address dealt with his credentials. The second part deals with what God had done for the children of Israel. He began by relating how the cries of their fathers led to God’s great deliverance from Egypt and slavery. “It is the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers, up from the land of Egypt,” he said. “Now, therefore, stand still. I want to reason with you about the righteous acts of God on behalf of you and your fathers.” Samuel, God’s representative, summarized their deliverance, talked of their desire for a king, and caused them to consider their future.

Deliverance

Beginning with their deliverance from Egypt, Samuel reminds them of God’s continued help till this time, and what happened when they forgot God. He sold them into the hand of Sisera, and the Philistines, and the king of Moab. When they cried out to God, confessed their sin of idolatry, begged for His mercy and promised to serve Him, God sent men like Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah and Samuel who delivered them to a place of safety.

Desire for a King

But they wanted a king. When Nahash King of the Ammonites came against them, it was no longer enough to have God over them; they wanted a king. Samuel took it as a personal rejection, but God told him they were rejecting Him. Even though Samuel told them how their lives would change having a king, they still desired a king to rule over them. God heard and gave them Saul to be their king.

Consider the Future

Here is the king you have chosen and have desired. Take note, God has set a king over you. But look to your future. It isn’t your king who will decide your future. It will be how you deal with God. If you fear the Lord, serve Him and obey His commands, then you and your king will continue to follow Him. But if you do not listen and choose to go your own way, the Lord will be against you just as he was you fathers. Such were Samuel’s words to the people.

Samuel, God’s representative, summarized God’s deliverance, talked of their desire for a king, and caused them to consider their future.

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ConfidenceProphet Samuel

A Voice to Trust

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

The cacophony of the world makes finding the voice to trust increasingly difficult. Whether wanting a reliable news station or a pastor who does more than tickle the ears. The man or woman behind the message gives it credence. Samuel knew this, as did the apostle Paul. In 1 Samuel 12, Samuel addressed the nation of Israel at King’s Saul’s coronation. His message began with his credentials. In his letters to new Christians, the apostle Paul also gave his credentials. Why was it necessary?

Samuel’s Credentials

Samuel lived before the nation of Israel as a prophet, and they experienced hearing and then seeing his words come to fruition as with Eli and his two sons. “I listened to you,” he said, “and have found you a king.” Then he asked the people, “Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey? Have I defrauded any of you?” They knew this man, an honourable man of God, living among them. “No, we have nothing against you.” And God was their witness.

Paul’s Credentials

In like manner, Paul, writer of the Book of Romans writes of himself, “a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.” To the Corinthians, he writes, “called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God.” To the Galatians, Paul wrote “an apostle (not from man nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)” Paul recounts his spiritual journey. “I did not receive this message from man. It came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” He had stern words for the new church. They needed to know he knew who was speaking.

Why Necessary?

In both cases, these were men of God. They were His representatives, who spoke forth His truth. What we know of these men makes their message credible. Their message lined up with the lives that they lived. It is called integrity, the state of being whole, not divided. Even in difficult times, they shared the message of God and backed it up by the lives they lived before him. To this day, people of God trust the message passed down from these men.

Samuel’s coronation message began with his credentials. The apostle Paul also gave his credentials, and we understand how the messenger affects the message.

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