Responding to God's Opportunities

Read 1 Samuel 9-10.

It is easy for those who know the Bible to jump to the end of Saul’s story.  However, we should not miss the moments here and the clear statements of the Scriptures.  This truly is a picture filled with contradictions.  Here are just a few:

Israel wanted a king.

But it was not God's timing.

Saul was from a wealthy family.  He was personally taller and more handsome than anyone else.

But he does not have any experience in leadership.

He was being looked to as a leader.

But he lacked self-confidence and displayed personal insecurities.

He was from the tribe of Benjamin.

But the kingly tribe was to be Judah (Genesis 49:10).

God answered the people's request.

But Samuel told them they had rejected God.

From the start Saul's selection appears to be a temporary appeasement until the real king is ready.  In the meantime, God did some wonderful things for Saul.  He gave him resources and opportunities to succeed, from the inside out.  The future would then be up to Saul and his responses to his God-given opportunities.

What did God do initially to help Saul?

1. "The Spirit of the LORD” rushed upon him (10:6).

2. "God gave him another heart" (10:9).

3. He was noticeably a changed man (10:11).

As Samuel prepared the nation for this leadership transition, he gave them a short history lesson and closed by charging them in writing (10:25).  In doing so, he reminded them of God goodness to them in a phrase in mid-sentence. "...who saves you from all you calamities and your distresses" (10:19b).

Consider all the God-given opportunities each of us has today.  "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises..." (2 Peter 1:3-4a).  Today, through personal faith in Jesus, the LORD has already provided all we need to live for Him.  Our life story is told in how we respond.

Timing can mean Everything

Read 1 Samuel 8.

Now, Israel wanted a king.

What prompted this?

Samuel was elderly and his two sons who would have succeeded him were corrupt.  Unlike the Elders in Eli's day, the national Elders here came to Samuel to make a change in leadership.  Instead of another Judge, the people wanted a king.  Samuel took it as a personal rejection. 

What was the real problem?

The LORD established them as a unique nation.  Under His authority, He raised up the leadership the nation needed at the time.  Moses served as a prophet leader.  Joshua was a military man.  The Judges made spiritual and ultimate decisions for Israel.

But the timing and spirit of the people was wrong.  God felt rejected also (v.7).  The people did not want to be different any longer.  They wanted to be “like all the nations” around them.

What did it cost them?

The request for a king was not out of the will of God.  In fact, God told the people back in Moses' day that once they settled into the land that He would establish a king for them (Deuteronomy 17:14-15).  According to Jacob’s prophesy in Genesis 49:10, out of the tribe of Judah would come Israel’s royalty.

In the ESV, six times in verses 10-17 the phrase "he will take" appears.  Israel will look good in battle with a royal leader arrayed in his finest, but the cost will be substantial.  The greatest cost would be when the people realize their mistake the LORD will not answer their prayer (v.18).

Someone once said, "Be careful what you ask for.  You might just get it."  There are never any regrets when we trust in God's timing to unfold His plan for us.

Addressing the true needs of the Nation

Read 1 Samuel 7.

Here we receive a sweeping overview of the ministry and spiritual impact of Samuel, the last Judge of Israel.  The nation lived in the defeat, fear and oppression of their neighbor Philistia.  What should they do?  Some would have concluded that at least they were alive and just keep peace.  Others would have launched into a massive military build up to go to war.  But instead Samuel called for a national repentance toward the LORD.

The root of the problem was spiritual.  Until the people acknowledged the real problem and dealt with it, God would continue to use the Philistines to gain their attention.

The call to the nation included the following elements.  By the way, these are the same for us today.

1. Returning to the LORD with all their heart.

The definition of repentance is not saying you are sorry.  It involves turning around from going one's own way and turning to God Himself.  It is not joining a church and engaging in religious activities.  It is first and foremost a wholehearted embracing of the One who loves us and gave Himself for us.

2. Putting away the false gods.

The proof of repentance and a love relationship with God is riddance of all that caused us to go our own way in the first place.  Certain people, places and things of pleasure, passion, and possessions can distract us from real life to one of sinful and empty pursuits.

3. Gathering publicly for repentance, prayer, fasting, offering and worship.

No one grows in their faith in a vacuum.  God's design for us to mature in our faith is to engage with other believers.  We all need to be taught the Word of God and be led in putting it into practice with others.  As believers we are part of a family of faith.  A Christian alone is contradiction.

The result is undeniable and powerful.  When God's people joined together with pure hearts for prayer and fasting, the enemy became energized to attack.  We should expect such opposition from Satan and his minions.  But in response to their repentance and prayer to God, the LORD answered (v.9).  He acted swiftly and powerfully on their behalf.  Israel was delivered.

Based on the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

When God came to Visit

Read 1 Samuel 5-7:2.

The Philistines beat Israel decisively and captured the Ark of the Covenant.  They placed it before their god, Dagon, as a spoil of war and probably as a sign of submission to their idol.  However, God allowed the Philistines to take the Ark in order to demonstrate His great power to them.

Here are a few insights:

If you have to keep helping your god stand up, maybe you need a new god.

If your god needs you to repair it, maybe you need a new god.

If your god keeps falling down before the presence of the God of Israel, perhaps someone is trying to tell you something.

Next, God caused physical discomfort by sending a plague of tumors among them.  There were five city-kingdoms among the Philistines ruled by five lords.  Moving the Ark from city to city only proved that the tumors came with it.  The false priests and so-called "diviners" came up with a plan to appease the God of Israel and to return the Ark.

Do not miss their statement in 6:6.  They knew the power of God.  They knew what He done to the Egyptians in the Exodus.  They even included as part of their plan "a guilt offering" (vv.3, 8).  Yet, instead of such knowledge and experience leading them to repentance of their sin and embracing the LORD, they only devised a plan to rid themselves of Him.

Once across the border, the men of Beth-shemesh celebrated in worship, making sacrificial offerings to the LORD.  Worship and offerings are inseparable in the scriptures.

Some of the men decided to look inside the Ark and make sure all the contents were still there.  This was directly against what God had instructed.  Such foolish action cost them their lives.  Unlike false gods, the LORD is able to take care of Himself.

The Ark remained there for the next twenty years; just enough time for Samuel to mature, reestablish true spiritual leadership in the nation, and prepare it for the next leader (7:2).

The people asked a great eternal question in 6:20- "Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God?"  On our own, the answer is no one.  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  That is the bad news.  The good news is this-"And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

Would anyone notice if God left?

Read 1 Samuel 4.

This chapter tells a tragic story in the history of Israel.  There was plenty of blame to go around.  Eli served as the High Priest and Judge of the nation for 40 years.  His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, used the privileges of their position to feed their own lusts.  Israel needed strong spiritual and judicial leadership.  Instead, they were led by sinful, evil men and no one held them accountable, except God.     

Throughout the Old Testament, when God disciplines or punishes a nation of people, He uses an opposing nation to do His work.  In this case He raised up the Philistines.  When Israel lost the first battle, they acknowledged that something was wrong spiritually.  However, they did not repent and take action against the sin among them.  No, they just wanted to do something religious.  Well, God is not a good luck charm!

They sent for the Ark of Covenant in Shiloh.  In the Tabernacle, the Ark was set behind a thick curtain.  The very presence of God hovered over the Ark.  Even the High Priest could only enter that holy place once a year and that with the annual blood of atonement.  So, unless God's presence moved they would have died on the spot.  They did not die because God was no longer there.  To be sure, the LORD would have protected the contents of the Ark with all His power, but the nation entered a life and death battle with their trust only in a gilded box.

Success would not be the result of going through the motions of ritual, but personal and national dependence on the presence and power of God.

What went wrong?

1. When the sin of the two in leadership became known, Eli should have relieved them of their positions immediately.

2. When Eli did nothing, the Elders should have stepped in and dealt with the issues.

3. When the Elders did nothing, the people should have kept up their protest (2:16) until the sinful men and practices had been removed, instead of accepting the evil and allowing it to continue.

As a result, everyone suffered.  34,000 men of Israel died in the war.  Hophni and Phinehas were killed by the Philistines.  Eli died.  Phinehas' wife died.

The summation is found in verse 21: Ichabod, "The glory has departed."  The real tragedy of this story is that because of the unchecked sin God's glory departed a long time ago and no one noticed.  It took God's intervention to shame and embarrass the people into submission and to replace the national leadership.

Two leadership models.

Godly leadership has purpose and clear direction.  It is characterized by self-sacrifice, strength, and willingness to say to "no" to what is wrong in order to say "yes" to what God wants done.  This creates a people with an attitude of service.

Corrupt leadership is characterized by the leader's self-indulgences and pride.  Therefore, they willingly give into whatever the people want.  This creates a people with an attitude of selfish entitlement.

God is speaking. Are you listening?

Read 1 Samuel 3.

Hearing and responding to God's voice is not limited to age, experience, or position.  Samuel was very young.  Not only did God speak to him directly, but "came and stood" by Samuel to deliver the message (v.10).  The content of the message had to do with what God had already told Eli in chapter 2.

The important take away for us is found in verse 9: "Speak, LORD for your servant hears."

This is the goal of every person who wants to live wholeheartedly for God.

Four observations about Samuel's call:

1. The call came to Samuel while he was serving God.  Many want to know the will of God for their lives that are not doing anything in the way of ministry for Him.  Someone once said, "You cannot steer a vehicle that is not moving."

2. The call of God was personal.  The LORD had particular plans for Samuel's life.  The fulfillment of those plans only came as Samuel personalized what God wanted done in serving Him.

3. The call of God was an assignment.  There would be an overhaul of spiritual leadership for the nation.  God wanted Samuel ready to lead.

4. The call of God took time to unfold.  Samuel needed time to mature both physically and spiritually before assuming national leadership.  Because Samuel's mind and conscience were sensitive to listening to God and obeying what He said, "the LORD was with Him as he grew" (v.19).  Note that this was in spite of the evil environment in which he was raised.  And, the LORD revealed Himself directly to Samuel later (v.21) and at other times in his leadership.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us today primarily through the Bible.  Often we understand an application of His word through sound teaching or wise counsel.  Throughout the day the Holy Spirit is speaking to us in the observations of life.

Sometimes His voice is loud and clear.  But most often, it is a still small voice.  "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21)

God is speaking all the time.  Are you listening?

What does God want from us?

Read 1 Samuel 2:12-36.

The contrast in this chapter is unmistakable.  In the first part, we are told of a godly woman who worshipped, who prayed, who experienced the LORD's blessing.  In the second part, we find that the priests were spiritually and morally corrupt.

Eli was not only the High Priest but he was also the father of these two men.  Was Eli responsible for their sin?  No.  These were grown men and fully responsible for their own behaviors.  The root of the problem was “They did not know the LORD” (v.12).  Should Eli have confronted the sin and removed them from service?  Absolutely! High Priests served for life.  Eli was quite elderly.  He knew what was happening and only reprimanded them.  Sin is like a cancer.  Left unchecked it will only spread and become fatal.

We are not left in doubt as to what God was thinking and wanted said.  He sent an unnamed "man of God", a prophet, to deliver His message.  The message had its bases in the book of Exodus where the LORD chose the tribe of Levi to professionally serve Him.  These men had received a special and godly heritage to steward.  Instead, they treated what God had given them with "scorn" (v.29).  That root attitude of rebellion against the LORD and His plan for them is a key definition in the Bible of sin for which Jesus died (Isaiah 53:6).

What does God want from us?

There are two key verses here that answer that question.

1. "...for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed." (v.30)

Do my thoughts, my words and my actions moment by moment honor the LORD?

This requires self-awareness and self-discipline.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

2. "And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind..." (v.35)

Under the New Covenant (New Testament), believers in Jesus are His priests.  We have a heritage of faith and service to steward.

How can we honor Him if we do not know what is on His heart and on His mind?

This requires reading, meditating, and being taught the Word of God. 

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11)