Samuel's Pain
It had to be painful for Samuel to watch Saul descend into the abyss of immoral leadership. The nation's hopes were placed in a king and the very first king they got led them into a national decline.
Sometimes civil leaders will really let us down. They will follow paths of self-adulation or protection (see Saul here) or lead the nation to immoral decisions. They may overtax, overspend, or over engage in wars costing the nation years of work, stress, and worry. This is Israel's potential situation going forward from Saul.
1 Samuel 15:34–16:1 (ESV) Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. 1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”
Now the text tells us Samuel grieved over and the Lord regretted Saul. But notice who's able to turn the page almost instantly?
We serve a God who is a master at MOVING ON. And we would do well to learn from Him to do the same. The Lord asks this of Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul?"
Sometimes I think we can be like Samuel here - stuck in grief over what could have been and analyzing our part in the failure. Samuel perhaps felt responsible in some way since Saul came to the kingship through his endorsement. I wonder how long Samuel would have grieved if it had not been for the Word of the Lord coming to him.
The Lord is also teaching us something profound about how He operates. He is not going to let the mission of redemption slide into a morass of negativity. He is not going to let one failure stop His ultimate purpose. And He is not dependent on one person's success for the work to be finished. No, the Lord will make it come to pass.
The passage is a warning to us. The Lord quickly resolves to replace Saul instead of waiting or hoping for proper repentance from him. He says these deliberate words: "I have provided for myself a king..."
We do well to realize that none of us are indispensable to the work of God. God is not beholden to talent, visual attraction or military prowess from His kings here in the Old Testament nor His servants in the New Testament. The famous line from Mordecai to Esther was simple: "deliverance for the Jews will arise from another source." You must never take for granted God's use of your life. Rather, serve Him humbly and reverently grateful that you have this opportunity.
Many modern Christians shun ideas like these. They want their place in the world to be so important that God in heaven is hoping they won't fail. What ridiculous nonsense. The Lord of the Universe does not NEED anything, including you. YOU need Him. And if you are in Christ, He has chosen to use you where you are.
1 Samuel 15:2 (ESV) And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.”
Notice that Samuel has excuses. The anger of Saul is at hand. How can he go? And the Lord gives him instructions: "“Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’" What is the Lord's command for Samuel to learn to turn the page? Engage in worship! This is where it happens, friend. Worship is where you move FORWARD with God. Because what we find in Worship is God's true King. For Samuel, it would be David. For us, it is His Son - Jesus Christ who is making all things new.
Sometimes civil leaders will really let us down. They will follow paths of self-adulation or protection (see Saul here) or lead the nation to immoral decisions. They may overtax, overspend, or over engage in wars costing the nation years of work, stress, and worry. This is Israel's potential situation going forward from Saul.
1 Samuel 15:34–16:1 (ESV) Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. 1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”
Now the text tells us Samuel grieved over and the Lord regretted Saul. But notice who's able to turn the page almost instantly?
We serve a God who is a master at MOVING ON. And we would do well to learn from Him to do the same. The Lord asks this of Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul?"
Sometimes I think we can be like Samuel here - stuck in grief over what could have been and analyzing our part in the failure. Samuel perhaps felt responsible in some way since Saul came to the kingship through his endorsement. I wonder how long Samuel would have grieved if it had not been for the Word of the Lord coming to him.
The Lord is also teaching us something profound about how He operates. He is not going to let the mission of redemption slide into a morass of negativity. He is not going to let one failure stop His ultimate purpose. And He is not dependent on one person's success for the work to be finished. No, the Lord will make it come to pass.
The passage is a warning to us. The Lord quickly resolves to replace Saul instead of waiting or hoping for proper repentance from him. He says these deliberate words: "I have provided for myself a king..."
We do well to realize that none of us are indispensable to the work of God. God is not beholden to talent, visual attraction or military prowess from His kings here in the Old Testament nor His servants in the New Testament. The famous line from Mordecai to Esther was simple: "deliverance for the Jews will arise from another source." You must never take for granted God's use of your life. Rather, serve Him humbly and reverently grateful that you have this opportunity.
Many modern Christians shun ideas like these. They want their place in the world to be so important that God in heaven is hoping they won't fail. What ridiculous nonsense. The Lord of the Universe does not NEED anything, including you. YOU need Him. And if you are in Christ, He has chosen to use you where you are.
1 Samuel 15:2 (ESV) And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.”
Notice that Samuel has excuses. The anger of Saul is at hand. How can he go? And the Lord gives him instructions: "“Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’" What is the Lord's command for Samuel to learn to turn the page? Engage in worship! This is where it happens, friend. Worship is where you move FORWARD with God. Because what we find in Worship is God's true King. For Samuel, it would be David. For us, it is His Son - Jesus Christ who is making all things new.
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