The last chance:

As I look at Saul’s kingdom today before moving on to the life of David it is important to realize the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Christ in John 14:26 gives us this promise “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” We have this teacher in our live who will help us in our daily living, if only we study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needed not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I Samuel chapter 15:30 reveals Saul’s true desires: “Then he said; I have sinned: (yet) honour me now, I pray thee before the elders of my people and before Israel and turned again with me that I may worship the Lord thy God.” Saul had been given the commandment from the Lord to “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not” (I Samuel 15:3). However as you read the account of the story in chapter 15 Saul and the people spared Agag the king and the best of the livestock. As you read the account of this story verse 30 reveals the direction in which Saul would lead the new nation in the future. As verse 30 reveals Saul consider Israel as his people and God as Samuel’s God. He had placed himself as the king over his people not God’s people, and turned away from following God. The simple words of the Pledge of Allegiance today reads: “I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” we must remember that the words “under God” was add in 1954 by Congress at the request of President Eisenhower. President Eisenhower saw the need to make us a nation under the providence of God. Yet in I Samuel chapter 15 we see Saul as King move Israel from a nation under God to a nation that place self above God and left God as being someone’s else God.

Samuel and Saul parted ways after this event and Samuel never again came to Saul. Saul departed to his house in Gibeah and Samuel went to Ramah. Yet Samuel mourned for Saul even after knowing the Lord had rejected him. The Spirit of God departed from Saul and when it did an evil spirit from God trouble him. Let us remember the importance of the Holy Spirit in our live and let Him guide and teach us as we go about our daily routines.

After Saul’s victory over the Ammonite (I Samuel chapter 12) Samuel meet one more time with the nation to make his last speech to them. In I Samuel 13:24,25 Samuel ends his speech with these words: “Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.” (KJV) This message was directed to their desire to have a king over them like the other nations. With this decision the people of God turned from the twelve tribes of God where every man did that which was right in his own eyes, to a nation ruled by a king. A point to remember that Samuel was not only a judge but also a prophet, seer, and a man of God. His authority as overseeing the religious matters of Israel did not end with Saul becoming the king.

As recorded in I Samuel 13:1-14 Saul’s self-will and his self-glorification caused him to be denounced by Samuel. It started by Jonathan Saul’s eldest son smiting a garrison of Philistines in Geda The message soon when out in all Israel that Saul had smitten a garrison of Philistines and the nation of fighting men were called together at Gilgal. In the mean time the Philistines also gathered their forces together to a point that cause the men of Israel to hid and flee to other places. Samuel set a time to offer up a burnt-offering to the Lord, but was late. So Saul offered up the burnt offering himself instead of waiting for the priest. When Samuel arrived and confronted Saul about what he had done, he answered that he had to offer up the burnt-offering to be able to rally the troops. Saul had been foolish and did not keep the commandment of the Lord concerning burnt-offerings which were only to be performed by the priest. This was when Samuel informed him that his kingdom would not continue. When you read these verses notice that Saul never shows a repentive heart.

Saul was given the opportunity of being the first king of the nation of Israel. With this opportunity also came the responsibility of being a true Godly leader. One that would follow God’s way and instruct the nation to follow this lead. However, instead of leaning on God and his promises Saul chose the path that he saw best. We see Saul in I Samuel 14:35 again building an altar unto the Lord to keep the troops from eating meat with blood so that they would not sin against the Lord. And at the same tiime he himself was breaking the law. Israel defeated the Philistines that day but it was under the leadership of his son Jonathan. His kingdom survived for now, but at a huge cost to Israel. For we see in I Samuel 14:52 that there were sore wars all the days of Saul and when Saul saw any valiant man he took him to be part of his army. The fathers of Israel lost their strong sons to the king.

Over the years I have witness many people who have taken matters in the own hands. No time to wait on God. In my youth I use to say, when you are good, you are good, but when you are great you are like me. As I look back now on the foolishness of such a statement like that I an amazed that God still loves me and worked in my life to change my walk with Him. However, as I look at young people today who have the same outlook on live, I step back and wonder, will they stay on the path of self-glorification or will they heed God’s interventions and return to walking in His way and giving Him the glory for all the victories in their life. Paul’s life was transformed on the road to Damascus when he faced the Lord. Christ said to him “Saul, Saul, why persecutes me” (Acts 9:4) and Paul who was called Saul at that time answered, “Who art thou Lord” (Acts 9:5). Paul realized his zeal against the disciples of the Lord was wrong and he turned from his ways. The choice is yours.

Studying the scriptures will help us find the answers to some of the toughest questions that have been troubling us. One of these questions I have had is why God chose Saul as the first king of Israel. As I explore the reasons for the selection of Saul as the first king of Israel I must reflect on the political issues at that time in Israel. The twelve tribes had increased in population, but also there was also a greater force acting upon them and that force was to become more like the countries around them. Samuel served the twelve tribes as a judge, prophet, and a priest; he did not rule over them as a king. When Samuel was old, he set his sons up as judges. His sons, however, were not honest and walked not in Samuel’s way. Therefore, the elders decided they wanted a king like the other nations that surrounded them. So, God gave them a king after their own desire. This might be a reason that God gave them Saul, a king like the other nations. Early in life I was taught to be careful with what you ask for, because God might permit it to happen. Saul was the type of king they were desiring so God gave them the king they desired.

After Samuel’s withdrew to Ramah he stilled mourn for Saul. However, God instructs Samuel to stop mourning for Saul seeing that God had rejected him. God then gave Samuel the task to anoint the next king of Israel. Samuel at this time was aware of the way that Saul was ruling and how he had warned Saul that his kingdom would not continue. He also knew that Saul was keeping an eye on his activities for Samuel as a priest was still a powerful force in Israel. We see in I Samuel 16:2 that Samuel fears to execute this task that the Lord had given him to complete because of Saul. So, God told him to go and to use the occasion as an opportunity to offer up a sacrifice at Bethlehem. Another reason I believed Samuel was afraid to go was that the anointing would cause an uprising to take place in the near future. As I read I Samuel 16:1-13 I realized that Samuel was looking for an adult who might be able to take over the kingdom from Saul in the near future, but God had His own timetable. As someone who has follow the Lord for over fifty years, I have realized that waiting on the Lord is one of one of the hardest to learn attributes a Christian can develop in their walk with the Lord.

Why was David in the field instead of at the feast? I believe the simple answer is someone had to watch the sheep while the family attended the sacrifice. David being the youngest was the best choice for this task. However, he was the one that was to be anointed so they went to fetch him and waited until he arrived. When he did arrive, Samuel anointed him in the midst of his brethren and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David. Samuel went back home, and David went back to tending the sheep in the field. Unlike Saul’s anointing there were no other events that happened afterwards. It was probably a relief to Samuel. It would be several years later that we have the next reference of Samuel. This reference is found in I Samuel 19:18 when David fled and escaped from Saul and came to Samuel at Ramah.

As we study the scriptures, we must realize that the characters that we study are just like us. They have the same needs as well as fears as we have in the world today. We know that God’s hand is in the affairs of this world, not men, but we tend forget this in our daily living. As the Lord taught us to pray: “Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it in heaven.” God is in control. So, when everyone around you is worried about the affairs of this world understand that God is in control still.

So that Men are without Excuse.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what is made, so that men are without excuse.

A story was told of a man who life’s purpose was to seek after truth but after he found it, he turned away and followed his heart. This is the story of the men that Paul describes in Romans chapter one. Paul’s purpose was to present the gospel of God to all, but not all believe. As we go forth on our journey in this life, we must realize that all men and women will be without excuse on the day of judgment. We must present the simple truth of the gospel as Paul writes in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

What happens to those that reject the gospel? Their life becomes their own, they become the one who controls every aspect of their life. They become wise in their own eyes, but their hearts become darken and they become fools before God. God then gives them over to the sinful desires of their hearts. To me this means God steps out of their life. Paul describes this person in Romans 1:26-32 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,backbiters, haters of God, spiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Another story was told of a man who life’s purpose was to seek after truth, and when he found it, he realized his sinful nature. But he also found the way of salvation from God. He could now be made righteous by placing his faith in Jesus Christ. This was why we live a daily lifestyle that reflects Christ in us as our hope in glory. If we walk in the spirit then our life will reflect the fruit of the Spirit “love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

There are only two ways. As in Psalm chapter one there is the way of the Righteous or the way of the wicked. Which story will reflect your life? The choice is yours.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Paul probably read this opening Psalm several times in his life. He probably believe he was protecting the law of the Lord as he was on his way to Damascus to arrest any man or woman who belong to the Way. Act 9:1 “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” reveals how much he believed they represented the way of the wicked.

Yet on this trip Paul is confronted by the very one who made the claim that he was the the way, the truth, and the life. In Acts 9:5b Jesus reveals to Paul who he was really standing against, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Jesus revealed himself to Paul as the way of the righteous revealed in Psalm one.

Here in Acts chapter nine as well as Acts chapters twenty two and twenty six we have Luke’s writings on Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. In verse nine Luke paints a picture of what all mankind must face at some point in their life. Do we repent or do we remain on the path of ungodliness? This decision rest on what we believe about Jesus. Is he the Savior of the world, or just a figure from history? We must all face this kicking against the pricks in our life. Our conscience (pricks) must wrestle against the truth that we are ungodly and not the god-like creation that God formed in the garden. We are in need of a Savior. the one who could pay the price for our sinful nature.

In Acts 26:15-18 Paul describes his encounter with Christ as his call to make Paul a minister and a witness to the Gentiles the gospel. The purpose of his message was to open the eyes of all who hears, and to turn them from darkness to light and from Satan unto God. That they may receive forgiven of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that in Christ. Before this encounter Paul as a religious leader of the Jews was protecting his religion from the false teaching of Jesus as the promise Messiah. In I Corinthians 15:9 Paul writes “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” He justified his actions as protecting the faith. The encounter with Christ open Paul’s eyes and caused him to turn from his wicked ungodly ways, which he had in the past justified as godly.

So when I read and study Romans 1:18-32 about the wrath of God being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness I come to the realization that all of mankind fall in this group. Christ was the gift of God to the world to open the eyes of all mankind to their ungodliness and unrighteousness and provided us the way to turn from darkness to light. So then we accept Jesus and let the Spirit of God work in our lives, God will make known his wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption unto us. This is revealed to us by his Spirit that we might know the truth that is given to us freely by God. So as Christ stated in Luke 13:5 ” I tell you, Nay: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” God has provided the way, we must choose the path.