1 Samuel 10:17-11:15
Everyone was so happy - ‘Long live the king! (24). Everything seemed to be so promising - ‘The Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul’(6). God’s people were victorious (11). God’s people ‘rejoiced greatly’(15). This is not, however, the whole story. Things were to get worse, much worse - ‘You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you’(Galatians 5:7-8). Remember the parable of the sower: ‘Satan immediately comes and takes away the Word... When tribulation or persecution arises on account of the Word, immediately they fall away... The cares of the world and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful’(Mark 4:15,17,19). Pray - ‘Deliver us from evil’(Matthew 6:13).
1 Samuel 12:1-13:15a
To the king as well as the people, God speaks in promise and warning: ‘If both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well... If you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord... then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king’(12:14-15). Samuel was not afraid to speak very directly to the king - ‘You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God... Your kingdom shall not continue’(13:13-14). Saul’s reign was about to end. God’s love continued: ‘The Lord will not cast away His people, for His great Name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for Himself’(12:22). Saul had become too full of himself and his own importance. He needed to be replaced by ‘a man after God’s own heart’(13:14). To the divine King be all the glory!
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
Everyone was so happy - ‘Long live the king! (24). Everything seemed to be so promising - ‘The Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul’(6). God’s people were victorious (11). God’s people ‘rejoiced greatly’(15). This is not, however, the whole story. Things were to get worse, much worse - ‘You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you’(Galatians 5:7-8). Remember the parable of the sower: ‘Satan immediately comes and takes away the Word... When tribulation or persecution arises on account of the Word, immediately they fall away... The cares of the world and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful’(Mark 4:15,17,19). Pray - ‘Deliver us from evil’(Matthew 6:13).
1 Samuel 12:1-13:15a
To the king as well as the people, God speaks in promise and warning: ‘If both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well... If you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord... then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king’(12:14-15). Samuel was not afraid to speak very directly to the king - ‘You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God... Your kingdom shall not continue’(13:13-14). Saul’s reign was about to end. God’s love continued: ‘The Lord will not cast away His people, for His great Name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for Himself’(12:22). Saul had become too full of himself and his own importance. He needed to be replaced by ‘a man after God’s own heart’(13:14). To the divine King be all the glory!
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
