Prophet Samuel's Faith

When Faith Abounds 

We discovered aspects of Samuel's life to glean for our own in the past two devotionals. His faith captured God's attention. Let's peek into Samuel's life as he anointed two kings. I Samuel 8-15

Samuel was the last judge that Israel had ending a 200 year season of judges ruling God's people.

"Samuel appointed his two sons as leaders but they did not follow in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice." 8:3

"The elders of the people came to Samuel and said, 'You're old and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.'" 8:5

The people demanded a king.  God said to Samuel they are not rejecting you, but Me. Give them a king but let them know the consequences of their actions. So he did. It wasn't good but they wanted to have a king anyway. 

Saul was a handsome young man and a head taller than anyone. His wealthy dad owned many donkeys which had gotten lost so he was sent to find them.

On his search he wandered into the town of Ramah and there he met Samuel. His men had advised him to ask the man of God who resided there to ask God where the donkeys were. 

The day before Saul arrived the Lord told Samuel that about this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over My people. Saul was 30 years old when he became king. Chapter 9

And it happened exactly that way.

While we are on our way God orders our steps to a pivotal place and we move into our destiny. 

Saul disobeyed the Lord on many fronts time and again during his 42 year reign. God regretted that He made Saul king. I Samuel 15

Saul got caught red-handed and lied to Samuel saying that he had kept the Lord's instructions. "Enough!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night." 15:16

"Once you were small in your own eyes and God anointed you as king. Now you have disobeyed Him."

Saul began making excuses that his men had sinned but they only did it because they wanted the plunder to sacrifice to God. Sounded so "right" in their own eyes. 

Samuel replied, "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft (divination), and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king."  15:22-23

Saul tried to beg his way out of it saying, "OK, yes, I have sinned...but I did so because I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them."  Sounded reasonable, right? Nope!

Samuel wasn't buying it. He said YOU rejected the Lord and now He has rejected you as king over Israel.

As Samuel tried to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors - to one better than you. He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a human being, that He should change His mind." 15:27-29

Samuel cleaned up the mess Saul left undone and returned home but he mourned for Saul. They had shared a long history together. Now, it was over.

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way;

I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." 

Jesse had his sons appear before Samuel. All good looking guys, similar to Saul back in the day...so he thought surely one of these will be king. 

The Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 16:7

Don't you have any other sons?  Yes, but he's the youngest. He's out tending sheep. "Go get him."

"Then the Lord said, 'Rise and anoint him; this is the one.' So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.'"

David was publicly anointed king years later but God was preparing David privately for his future. II Samuel 2:4; 5:3

As we read through I and II Samuel we see both kings sinned...many times. Saul made excuses while David took responsibility for his choices. 

We, as born again believers, have been anointed as kings before the Lord. 

Will we be a Saul or a David?

Your destiny is in your choices. Learn from these two kings. Choose wisely.

 

"But you are God's chosen treasure - priests who are kings, a spiritual 'nation' set apart as God's devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience His marvelous light, and now He claims you as His very own.

He did this so that you would broadcast His glorious wonders throughout the world.

For at one time you were not God's people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God's mercy, because you hadn't received it yet, but now you are drenched with it." I Peter 2:9-10 

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