Main Verse: 1 Samuel 16:14-23

Good morning!

When you first read about the events in Amelek, you might have been tempted, as I was, to wonder why Saul was disciplined for not “completely” following the Lord’s direction; after all, what is so wrong about setting aside the healthiest animals that could be used as a sacrifice and the king could be treated like the Philistines treated Samson (Judges 16:15-27)? Saul had forgotten or,  was not aware, that God is not like mankind, He protects His name, and He does not take pleasure in other humans mistreating their fellow man even if they deserve it (Leviticus 19:15-18). As a result of these acts of disobedience, Samuel confronted Saul and declared that God had rejected him as king. This would be the 2^nd time Samuel had to confront Saul and it would be the last. Because of his actions, the Lord withdrew his divine favor and guidance leaving him vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks.

When we disobey God, indirectly or directly, and think we know better than Him, He will remove His hedge of protection; without it, we are vulnerable to the enemy’s attack just as Saul was. As servants of the Living God, we are held to higher standards (Romans 12:1-2). Unbeknownst to us, in everything we do in the church, every time we bow down to the whims of the world, and/or allow ourselves to sin, we are watched by God and by the world. So, you can either be like Eli and turn a blind eye to sin or be like Samuel and face sin head in both cases our eternity and that of our family are put on the scales (Daniel 5:25-28). If we allow Temptation to be our only source of counsel, we will fall into the trap. Conversely, when we listen to the whole counsel of the Lord, the flaws in Temptation’s arguments become readily apparent (Proverbs 18:17). I cannot encourage you strongly enough to walk in the shout of the Lord because your eternity and that of your family and/or congregation stands in the balance.

I.H.S. Mk

Father,

Please help me today to honor You in all that I say, do, and write. Your ways are higher than mine and carry more weight than any argument that Temptation could give (2 Corinthians 10:5-6). So I commit my life to your hands and anxiously await your direction.

In Jesus’ name