A FLAW IN OUR CHARACTER

Image result for clipart of character flaws   Oh my, Saul is given another opportunity to show that he can function as a man after God's own heart and in today's reading, 1 Samuel 15, we will find more flaws revealed in his character. 

 Samuel again comes to Saul and give him instructions from the Lord.  Saul is to strike  the Amalekites and utterly destroy them and spare no one and no thing. (I am the first to confess that I do not fully understand such a directive, but I do know that God is good.  He is long-suffering and that fact is shown in that it had been a  couple of hundred years since Israel had come up from Egypt and  the Amalekites sought to fight and destroy Israel.)  The Amalekites are defeated.  BUT Saul and the people spare the king, the best of the animals, and all that is useful.  What they could not use or deem as worthless, they destroyed.  

Of course, God knows Saul's heart and reveals to Samuel what Saul has done.  The Lord's take, "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not carried out my commands."  Samuel's response:  he cried out all night to the Lord in his distress for Saul's decisions.  Samuel goes to find Saul and repeats the directives of the Lord to Saul.  Saul's response was that he did follow through on the mission against the Amalekites, but brought back Amalek  to Gilgal, and the people took the best of the animals to sacrifice to the Lord.  (No reason given as to why he spared Amalek.)  Saul is repentant and is most concerned that Samuel stay with him to honor him before the elders of his people and Israel.  Samuel leaves Saul and does not see him again.  Samuel calls Saul's disobedience rebellion and insubordination.  Saul will continue on for years as king, but without the influence of Samuel to guide him. 

Samuel's words to Saul, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice."  Obedience always brings blessings.  The blessings may not be immediate, but the Psalmist expresses my heart, "I delight to do Thy will, O my God; Thy Law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8  Whom would I rather delight?  The Lord God or me?  I have chosen me at times, and it has not been a pretty or happy sight!  #IHAVETHREESONS

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LAST THOUGHT ON LEVITICUS

Image
  For the first time in many years, I have enjoyed reading through Leviticus.  I have skipped it several times and read on.  This go round, I have sought to focus on some thoughts, words, phrases, or practices that God had instituted for the Israelites and their physical and spiritual well-being.  The Ten Commandments and many of the laws have real practical value for society and the Christ follower today.  The Lord God gave them a standard, a commandment, which is applicable for today, "You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees.  I am the Lord (Jehovah) your God (Elohim).  Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them.  I am the LORD."  Leviticus 18:4-5   My concluding thought from Leviticus is this admonition or commandment:  " You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."  Leviticus 20:26.  Even though spoken to Israel, the truth of being holy is directe
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more