Saturday, August 30, 2008

I’m a little slow

I didn't think it would take me this long to get to the 15th chapter of 1 Samuel! For the last month I've been reading through the book of 1 Samuel and blogging what I felt God revealed to me on that day.

Why is the 15th chapter so significant?

Well, in April of 2006 was the first time that I really looked at the life of Saul in depth and God had me preach on the 15th chapter, mainly I believe so that my own thinking would be changed. Then, as I was teaching this chapter in my small group a month ago and preparing for our series "Obey", I felt led to go through the whole book of 1 Samuel and journal or blog my thoughts daily. So, here we are 30+ days into it, OK, I'm a little slow!

"Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. 1 Samuel 15:1

Samuel reminds Saul that he is to serve God not his own interest. Man, I could use that kind of reminder every day, although it would be hard to hear! We have a saying "live in such a way as to make Jesus famous", but we have to fight that daily drift of wanting to make our own self known and famous.

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.' " 1 Sam 15:2-3

God's instruction won't always make sense to us.

Ever had God ask you to do something that didn't make sense to the rest of the world?

I have, and each time I believe it was a testing of my faith to see if I would be obedient.

But here is the interesting thing that I noticed this morning, God actually told him why,
"for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt." Saul was actually getting a chance to fulfill prophecy.

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."

 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."
Exodus 17:8-16

God was fulfilling His promise and He was asking a disobedient king named Saul to do it. If He asked Saul to carry out His plan, don't you think He might ask you also?

What may seem strange to you might be a chance to fulfill what God has planned from the beginning!

Will you have the courage to obey?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Brian,

I love the information you and Scott have brought into my life. Thank you for your loving example of leadership and energy for Christ!

Thank you for digging into the old Testament and explaining that historical stuff!

My walk mirrors some of this...things that happened to me in 2006, visions I had of the future and God's plan for me in His kingdom are coming true today.

There are many people of faith who were with me in 2006 and watched what happened. Now they are still in my life and I believe God is using my "breakdown" to show them His will and power over our lives.

I know I have a story that will be told one day. There are so many details that glorify His presence in my life...I am reminded each day of a new miracle!

Only it's been two years, not 400. I feel like God is fulfilling the promise He whispered in my ear two years right now.

Time seems to be quickening, I feel the Kingdom is upon us...

I look foward to meeting you "in real life" soon!