GetWisdom PaperturnSampler FINAL SinglePages - Flipbook - Page 43
Saying Yes in the Dark ness
PSAL MS
Samuel goes on to give Saul God’s instructions for dealing with the Amalekites (1 Samuel
15:2-3).
Does Saul do exactly as he’s been asked? _____________
Samuel goes to meet Saul early in the morning and was told that he had gone to another town to
set up a monument in his own honor. (Who does that?! C'mon, Saul). When Samuel reaches the
town of Carmel, the king comes out to greet him, saying, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out
the Lord’s instructions!”
Saul is so pleased with himself. I love how Samuel responds with dry sarcasm—basically
saying, “Oh yeah? Then what’s this bleating of sheep in my ears? Why am I hearing lowing of
oxen?” (15:14). Saul tries to make excuses and defend himself, but his disobedience is impossible
to cover up.
The next two verses, 1 Samuel 15:22-23, have long been underlined in my Bible.
Read 1 Samuel 15:22-23 in your favorite translation. What’s the most important point or takeaway
from this passage?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
We absolutely cannot go ahead of God on things. We may not pick and choose where we will
obey, where we can be trustworthy and where we simply decide we can sweep things under the
rug or ignore. What we need to ponder is, does God want our sacrifices and empty traditions that
we do simply for show or purely because we think we’re supposed to do it? Where are our hearts?
Doing something for the Lord is actually worth nothing if it’s done purely out of habit rather
than out of love. What God wants is an obedient and willing heart! God desires for us to listen and
respond in accordance to what He’s asked. God would far rather you obey than give something
up.
What have you sacrificed in your life that you think might justify not obeying in another area?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________
As Samuel tells Saul that God is ripping the kingdom from his hands and giving it to another man
who is better than he (1 Samuel 15:28), Saul (of course) apologizes for his actions. It’s the same
today, isn’t it? When someone abuses power and gets caught, remorse and regret slither out of
their mouths. But it’s often empty and solely spoken to regain power, not because they are actually
41