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 am amazed that God still loves me and worked in my life to change my walk with Him that gives Him the glory. For I am nothing without Him in my life. However, as I look at young people today who have the same outlook on live as I did in my youth, 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 persecutest 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. God was then able to use Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. The remember the choice is yours.

Saul as King

I Samuel 8:9 “Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.” (KJV) The decision of having a king over the nation of Israel so that they could be like the other nations would cost them their children,their land, and they themselves would become his servants. And then Samuel warned them that there would be a day in the future that they would cry out to the Lord to deliver them from the king, but God would not answer them. However, the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warnings. They wanted a king like all the other nations who would judge them and go before them to fight their battles. This was the setting for the selection of Saul.

Was the selection of Saul God’s decision or the children of Israel? In I Samuel 9:2 Saul is described as a choice and handsome man who was taller than any other man. There was not a more handsome person than him in the entire country. The decision to chose Saul was done by lots. First the tribe of Benjamin was taken, then the Matrite family was taken, and then Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But during this time Saul hid himself among the baggage. Why? There are many answers, but he soon realized that he could not hide from the Lord. When he did appear he was taller than any of the other people from his shoulders upward. What a sight for the people of Israel to see. A king that looked like a king, a man of great physical ability. Soon, after the anointing, Saul departed to his house in Gileah, with valiant men whose hearts God had touched. God gave them a king like all the other nations.

Saul’s first battle was against Nahash the Ammonite. Saul summon Israel to join him in a forceful way by sending pieces of the yoke of oxen throughout the kingdom with the message if you do not come after Saul and Samuel your oxen will be destroyed. The dread of the Lord came upon all the people and they came out as one man. This message summoned 330,000 men for battle. God gave them a great victory over the Ammonites and the nation renew the kingdom with Saul as their king. This was the event that finalized the passing of leadership of the tribes of Israel from Samuel to become the nation of Israel under the leadership of King Saul. In this event at Gilgal the tribes of Israel made Saul their king before the Lord. Saul was wise in the way he handle the earlier group of people that did not want him as king. Instead he offered up praise and thanksgiving to the Lord as the one who gave them this deliverance. Saul now started the process of building his kingdom with a strong army of 3000 men.

I Kings 15:5 presents David as a man after God’s own heart. As I have attempted several times in my life to start a study of David’s life I have always been drawn back to I Kings 15:5: “Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” These words speak volumes on how God viewed David’s heart and his life. In verse three of this chapter it is said of David as having a perfect heart with the Lord his God. The Hebrew meaning implies not sinless perfection, but a single-minded sincerity to God’s Word. So as I study David’s life from the almost one thousand references to him in the scriptures this verse will be my starting point. David’s heart was the human reflection of God’s heart to mankind. Even through his life on this earth was over three thousand years ago the words that David penned in the Psalms alone brings comfort to millions everyday. The words written by David are still being used by God every day on this earth. Therefore as I study David’s life it will be in light of how David’s words and actions reveals to me how to be more of a man after God’s own heart. Understanding the events that happen with the rule of Saul before David was anointed by Samuel to become King (I Samuel 16:12,13) will not only add an extra understanding to David’s life, but will also give insight on the way God works in the daily affairs of a nation. Samuel anointed Saul king because the people of Israel wanted to be like other nations. This was over Samuel’s objectives which was displeasing to him, but he took it to the Lord in prayer. The Lord’s answer to Samuel was to hearken to the voice of the people of Israel and give them a king, because they had rejected God and did not want God to reign over them. So as part of my study of the life of David I will include the reign of Saul. The reign of Saul is a reflection of rejecting God’s way and the making self the most important issue in one’s life and career. The reign of Saul can serve as an example of a nation under God, but not conducting itself as a nation living in God’s way.

One of the earliest duties I had in the ministry was working with the youth group (yes I was only eighteen at that time). One of the songs the youth group choir would sing was, Let the Whole World Know by John Patterson. As I reflect on these words written over fifty years ago I see that this message is needed as much in today’s culture as it was when I was eighteen. Today as in the past the message of salvation should been the most important message that I present to the world.

Everybody seems to have a cause for which to speak,

Loudly from the rooftops they proclaim the things they seek.

Often for a needless cause and often to deceive,

should not we who know the Lord declare what we believe.

Let the whole world know, we are on God’s side forever!

Let the whole world know, He’s a friend and guide along the pathway!

For in Christ new life we found, and our lives were changed around,

now we travel heaven bound, let the whole world know.

Let the whole world know, there’s a job to do we’ll do it

Let the whole world know,others need him too they surely need him.

Like a brightly shining light,in the darkness of the night,

we will stand for truth and right, let the whole world know.

At the age of fifteen, I started attending Forestville Baptist Church. The four years I spend at this church before I left for college created the Christian foundation for the rest my life. Every service was blessed by a great song service, a great teaching message, and the blessing of being surronded by loving people who loved the Lord.  This church loved the great hymns of the faith.  These services help me hide the words of the great hymns in my heart.  One of these hymns Blessed Assurance by Fanny Crosby became one of my favorites.  The refrain: “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savoir, all the day long.” has been a goal that I have daily strived to achieve.  May those around me see Christ in me.

My these words penned by Fanny Crosby many years ago comfort and guide you today as they have guided me for these past fifty plus years.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blessed,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love. 

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

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• I had not posted in several months because of all the confusion and the uneasiness of the issues that are being forced upon us at this time.  However, I have finally found a way to face these issues that are being forced upon us at this time.  One of the greatest treasure a Christian can have is the peace of God that passes all understanding.
• Eighteen years ago I had the honor of teaching a Sunday School class.   This class was made up of two and three years.  As I taught this class I would tell them a Bible story and then have an art project for them to complete.  I would end the class with a song.  One of my favorite songs was My God is So Big.  Here are the words of this song:
• My God is so great, so strong and so mighty!
  There’s nothing my God cannot do!
  The mountains are his, the rivers are his,
  the stars are his handiwork too.
  My God is so great, so strong and so mighty!
  There’s nothing my God cannot do!
• Why is it that as we age we seem to forget the importance of these simple words in our life.  So join me as I make these words the guiding light in my life.

Trust in him at all times, O people pour our your heart to him for God is our refuge.

Sometimes when the people around me are conversing, I seem to be distracted.  I am really not, but it because I am having a side conversation with someone else.  That someone else is God.

I wonder why we leave God out of our conversations?  And then when we try to include him we must defend him or our faith in him.  One of the reasons that always comes up is my faith must also included human reasoning.  But here David writes “trust in him at all times and pour out your heart to him”. So in these moments of crisis I will place my refuge in him and not in the wisdom of the world.

I John 1:1-4

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

John start his introduction as one that bore witness to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. He was an eye witness of Jesus’s ministry on this earth. He was the disciple that Jesus loved and wrote the fourth Gospel call John. He ends this Gospel with these words: “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” Truly his fellowship was with Jesus and his Father and this was the same fellowship we can also enjoy.

As I look back on my life, I too can declare my fellowship with Jesus and the Father. It has been a wonderful journey with many ups and downs in my life however, I can witness that my joy has been full. As I read the last words of John’s Gospel, I realized how deep the words are that states: “the world could not contain the books that should be written. One of those books could be the story of how Jesus has changed my life and the affects these changes had on the ones around me. Then I realized that books could be written about the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit on all the believers world-wide. Truly all believers’ fellowship is with the father and his son Jesus. All the shelves in the world could not hold these books.  So in the following weeks as I start this study on I John, I will focus on the key question of how much am I a witness of Christ in my daily activities.

Twenty years ago I was able to purchase ten acres on the headwaters of the Tallapoosa River.  This has became the place that I escape to enjoy the beauty of nature. I have realized in my old age how much quiet time with the Lord can free me from the worries of this world.

The beauty of spring time brings new growth.  This Mayapple patch came up about two years ago.

These plants just started to come up.  In the next two years they might produce a patch about half the size of the one above.