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1 Samuel 13-15
What God
Wants Most
Psalm 42:1-5 Talking to Your Soul
1.“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.2.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?3.My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, "Where is your God?"4.These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.5.Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise Him for the saving help of His presence.Observation
42:1-5.Once again God has put you on hold, and your soul is going through withdrawal. Eating tears isn't very soul-nourishing. So what's the solution?
See
Praying in the Garden on Truthbase.net for how Jesus poured out His soul to God.
Application
Continue to hope in God and look to praise Him for His presence and help.
Prayer
God of My Hope, I praise You, the Living God, for being the One who saves and helps His children. Fill me with joy in Your presence. Amen.
Proverbs 11:24-31 The Wise and Righteous Flourish
24.“There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.25.The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.26.People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.27.He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.28.He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.29.He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.30.The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.31.Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner!“
Observations
11:24-29. This first group of verses advocate a generosity that seeks the good of others, and results in multiple blessings accruing to the giver. The selfish person who seeks only their own benefit will be cursed and come to ruin. So choose the wise objective of doing what is benefical to others, and you will flourish.11:30-31.
Proverbs said that wisdom was a tree of life for those who hold on to her. The righteous live and speak wisely, so that others can find life. The one who is wise wins souls, or as some translations put it, the one who wins souls is wise. Either way, souls should be won by the wise, bringing them into the paths of wisdom and righteousness. Those people will be rewarded, repaid here on earth. The wicked will also be paid back, with consequences they could have avoided if they followed the way of wisdom.
Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
Application
Be generous with your material and spiritual blessing, and you will be blessed even more.
Prayer
Lord, thanks for the abundance You've bestowed upon me in meeting my needs so that I can share what is good with others; may my words also bless others, winning them to the way of wisdom and life. Amen
1Samuel 13-15 What God Wants Most
Even though he was God's supernaturally appointed and anointed choice for king, Saul didn't develop a dependent relationship with God. As a result, he unfaithfully looked to his own natural resources when in need, disobeyed God's word, and gets disqualified from his privileged position. He is emblematic of God's chosen people. If you're short on time, skip to the middle of Chapter 15, where God tells us what He values from us above all else.
1 Samuel 13 The Test of the Timetable
1.Saul reigned...over Israel2.Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.3.Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba: and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"4.All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.5.The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven.6.When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in coverts, and in pits.7.Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.8.He stayed seven days, according to the time set by Samuel: but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.9.Saul said, "Bring here the burnt offering to me, and the peace offerings. "He offered the burnt offering.10.It came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.11.Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn’t come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;12.therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering."13.Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on Israel forever.14.But now your kingdom shall not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you."15.Samuel arose, and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.16.Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.17.The spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;18.and another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.19.Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears";20.but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his plowshare, picks, axe, and sickle;21.yet they had a file for the pick, and for the plowshares, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads.22.So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.23.The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.Observations
13:1-7.The exact number of years are corrupted in the original Hebrew text which is why translations differ here; no biggie. Jonathan, Saul's son attacks the Philistines; they counter-attack with a multitude; Saul assembles the troops who start to panic.
13:8-12.
Saul half-heartedly obeys the first command given him (10:8), to wait seven days for Samuel to come and offer the sacrifice. Looking at the people scattering rather than at God's command, Saul concludes that Samuel isn't going to show up, and violates another command of intruding into the priest's office. Just as he finishes (great timing, as are most of God's tests) Samuel shows up as promised. He blames Samuel and justifies himself with excuses, cloaking his disobedience under the religious veneer of seeking God's favor (he had to force himself to do it, since he knew it was wrong). If only he had waited like God said...(sigh).
13:13-14.
The consequence of his unfaithful disobedience is loss of the kingship. Ouch! He rejected God's command; God rejects him, and seeks a man after God's own heart, who will do what God wants. We'll meet him in a few chapters.
13:15-23.
Samuel leaves, and Saul is left with 600 men without real weapons. The Philistines deploy their troops to utterly destroy Saul.
Questions
When God doesn't meet your “reasonable” timetable, what do you do?
Application
God is never late, but tests our loyalty and obedience by sometimes waiting to beyond the last minute (from our perspective) to act. When tempted to take matters into your own hands, choose to obey the revealed will of God and trust Him for the fallout.
Prayer
Great and Mighty God, You have repeatedly shown Yourself to be trustworthy; don't let me ever abandon my commitment of trust and let me obey You. Amen.
1 Samuel 14 Smart Son, Stupid King
1.Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side." But he didn’t tell his father.2.Saul stayed in Gibeah...3.and Ahijah, the son of Ichabod’s brother...wearing an ephod.6.Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that Yahweh will work for us; for there is no restraint on Yahweh to save by many or by few."7.His armor bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Turn and, behold, I am with you according to your heart."8.Then Jonathan said, "we will reveal ourselves to them.9.If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you!’ then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them.10.But if they say this, ‘Come up to us!’ then we will go up; for Yahweh has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us."11.Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, "Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves!"12."Come up to us, and we will show you something!" Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me; for Yahweh has delivered them into the hand of Israel."13.Jonathan climbed up..and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him.14.That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land.15.There was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked: so there was an exceeding great trembling.16.The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away, and scattered.17.Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Count now, and see who is missing from us." When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.18.Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God was with the children of Israel at that time.19.It happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand!"20.Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow: a very great confusion.21.Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines...turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.22.Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.23.So Yahweh saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth Aven.24.The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.25.All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.26.When the people had come to the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.27.But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath: therefore he put forth the end of the rod who was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.28.Then one of the people answered, and said, "Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’" The people were faint.29.Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.30.How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? For now has there been no great slaughter among the Philistines."31.They struck of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;32.and the people flew on the spoil, and took sheep, and cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.33.Then they told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people are sinning against Yahweh, in that they eat meat with the blood." He said, "You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me this day!"34.Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Bring me here every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against Yahweh in eating meat with the blood.’" All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.35.Saul built an altar to Yahweh. This was the first altar that he built to Yahweh.36.Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them." They said, "Do whatever seems good to you." Then the priest said, "Let us draw near here to God."37.Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he didn’t answer him that day.38.Saul said, "Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see in which this sin has been this day.39.For, as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.40.Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." The people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."41.Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, "Show the right." Jonathan and Saul were chosen; but the people escaped.42.Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son." Jonathan was selected.43.Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done!" Jonathan told him, and said, "I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die."44.Saul said, "God do so (to me) and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan."45.The people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God this day!" So the people rescued Jonathan, that he didn’t die.46.Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.47.Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and wherever he turned himself, he defeated them.48.He did valiantly, and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who despoiled them.52.There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to him.Observations
14:1-5.Here's an interesting variation on a theme, the son surpasses the father in trusting and serving God. Usually it's the other way around. Jonathan, who initiated the offensive against the Philistines (king's job) is now used by God to deliver the nation (king's job). Saul stays in camp with a nephew of Ichabod (glory departed). Saul eventually moves in the right direction, after a couple of stupid, self-centered blunders.
14:6-16.
Jonathan has the right view of the situation and of God, recognizing that He can save with many or few (Lev 26:8; Dt 32:20), against hundreds of thousands of the uncircumcised enemies of God and His people. He steps out in faith in the revelation that God is the deliverer of Israel, and that He uses people to accomplish His purposes. A victory over twenty and a timely earthquake causes the multitude to melt and attack each other.
14:17-33.
Impotent Saul-come-lately and the Israelites join in chasing the fleeing Philistines. Even though Yahweh had saved Israel in verse 23, Saul pridefully wants to be avenged against “his” enemies, so he troubles/distresses Israel by cursing anyone who eats anything rather than killing Philistines. Jonathan is busy doing God's work, didn't hear and tastes some honey, which strengthens him. Due to their lack of energy, the slaughter of the enemy was much less than it could have been. The hunger impels people to eat the improperly slaughtered captured animals with the blood, sinning against Yahweh.
14:34-46.
Saul sets up a stone and altar, his first (about time) and inquires of God to see if they should continue the moping up at night. God doesn't answer (sin has that effect on one's relationship with God), so Saul pronounces a death sentence upon whomever has sinned, even if it's Jonathan (ha-ha). Casting lots reveal that Jonathan has violated the kings rash curse. Jonathan confesses without any excuse or justification, and accepts the death sentence. Saul with a repulsive slimy hypocrisy takes another stupid oath asking God to punish himself (and more) if Jonathan doesn't die. Fortunately the people have more sense than stupid Saul and rescue Jonathan whom God used to rescue them. Historically, it usually doesn't work like this. Saul reveals his insensitivity to God's heart and will, and is disgraced as the people overrule his silliness.
14:47-52.
Saul has limited success in constant battles all of his days. He doesn't secure peace for Israel by eliminating their enemies. He has to recruit his army of valiant men (people volunteered for David's army).
Application
God works through those who have faith in His revealed will and character, and disgraces the disloyal.
Prayer
Lord, I believe that You will do what You said You'd do; I devote my life to being used by You for Your glory. Amen.
1 Samuel 15 Obedience Beats Ritual
1.Samuel said to Saul, "Yahweh sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen to the voice of the words of Yahweh.2.Thus says Yahweh of Armies, ‘I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt.3.Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’"4.Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.5.Saul came to the city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.6.Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.7.Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, that is before Egypt.8.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 cattle, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and wouldn’t utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.10.Then the word of Yahweh came to Samuel, saying,11."It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments." Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night.12.Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, saying, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal."13.Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, "You are blessed by Yahweh! I have performed the commandment of Yahweh."14.Samuel said, "Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the cattle which I hear mean?"15.Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the cattle, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God. We have utterly destroyed the rest."16.Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stay, and I will tell you what Yahweh has said to me last night." He said to him, "Say on."17.Samuel said, "Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel;18.and Yahweh sent you on a journey, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’19.Why then didn’t you obey the voice of Yahweh, but took the spoils, and did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh?"20.Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of Yahweh, and have gone the way which Yahweh 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 cattle, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal."22.Samuel said, "Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.23.For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has also rejected you from being king."24.Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.25.Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh."26.Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel."27.As Samuel turned about to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore.28.Samuel said to him, "Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.29.Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent."30.Then he said, "I have sinned: yet please honor me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God."31.So Samuel went back with Saul; and Saul worshiped Yahweh.32.Then Samuel said, "Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites!" Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past."33.Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women!" Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal.34.Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.35.Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and Yahweh grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.Observations
15:1-15.Saul again fails to completely and wholeheartedly obey, and blames others for his failure. Even though chosen by God, he is so insensitive to His will (because of his preoccupation with his own will stemming from his inadequacy), that he boasts that he's doing good. The bleating of the sheep betrays his folly of turning from following God.
15:16-23.
Even though he knows he's wrong (next comment) Saul adds more lies to his rebellion (they often go hand in hand), again asserting his innocence, and blaming the people. Samuel reproves him in words that every religiously inclined person should cross-stitch on their pillowcase: God values the total obedience of our will more than the totality of the trinkets we offer Him. Failure to obey is rebellion, as displeasing to God as demonic divination. So is stubbornness, which comes from a word that means to push or urge one's will upon another; it was used of the Sodomites seeking to exert their will upon Lot's visitors (Gen 19). In the Hiphil (causative stem) it carries the meaning of arrogant presumption, and in our verse is equated with idolatry (see the first commandment -Ex 20).
15:24-31.
The hypocritical liar is unmasked, as Saul confess the conscious reason for his sin: he feared people rather than God, and obeyed them rather than Him. In response to the disloyal exercise of Saul's will, God rejects him, because Saul first rejected God. Saul appears more concerned about how things will appear in front of people than with losing the kingship.
15:32-35.
Samuel finishes the job in killing Agag. He mourns for Saul, and God grieves (just like in the days of Noah) that He made Saul king.
Application
Never confuse religious ritual with obsessive obedience to the revealed will of God. God requires our totally loyal obedience, and will accept no substitutes.
Prayer
God, You are worthy of the utter and complete devotion of my life; may I never offer You anything less. Show me any spots where the stain of Saul has soiled my service of You. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God has a will that He expects us to do. He delights in our complete unreserved obedience, and despises our disloyalty and rebellion. He intervenes in human affairs for the benefit of His people, using our faithful service to accomplish His purposes to bless or curse. He can bring about incredible victory through one individual who is willing to take Him at His word. God patiently and graciously spares us from some of the consequences of our sin, giving us time to learn and repent, but when we reject Him, He has no choice but to give us the sovereign consequences we've chosen.Us in a nutshell: We are masters at coming up with reasons for doing our will at the expense of God's will. If we don't get our worth and value from pleasing God, we will sell out our obedience to Him in order to get our self-worth and significance from doing what is pleasing in the sight of others. This usually backfires, and we get covered with soot. We foolishly think we can deceive God with excuses and appease Him with religious ritual. (He's too smart to be taken in by our schemes.) We have the capacity to reject God and His will for us, and reap what we have sown. When caught by our sin, repentance is always the best course of action, even if it doesn't remove all our consequences.