Day 1070: A forever kingdom – 1 Samuel 13 vs 11 -14

11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” 12 And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favour of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”

13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel for ever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. 14 The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 1 Samuel 13:11-14 English Standard Version

We’re looking at the section where, seemingly for a second time, Saul had been required to wait for the arrival of Samuel to offer the sacrifice which only God’s priest was meant to offer. Saul explains in vs 12 why he had felt 'forced' to offer the sacrifice himself. He wanted to justify the step of disobedience to God he had taken. It’s like when God asked Adam: “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” And Adam replied: “The woman You put here with me - she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:11-12)

It appears that, as people, we look for a way to excuse wrong things we do by pointing out the situation we were in, or blaming others who 'let us down', and even blaming God! But the New Testament reminds us that “when tempted (to do wrong) no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” (James 1:13-14) What is the question we should really face up to whenever we have messed up through disobeying the Lord? (vs 11)

That's not just a casual question, like “oh what have you done now?” – but rather, “do you realize the extent of what you have done!” Not listening to God has far reaching consequences. Families, even Churches, can be torn apart. Marriages can suffer harm, our service for the Lord can become shipwrecked. What was the sad consequence for Saul because of his disobedience? (vs 13)

Just as Adam lost the paradise God had placed him in, and the close fellowship with God he had known, so now we see that Saul lost a kingdom! That's the misery and ruin that disobedience to God can bring. The only way out of such a situation is not by trying to justify ourselves, but through genuine repentance, and turning to the forgiveness which God has made possible through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Which leads us to vs 14 of today's reading - a very fitting one for this time of year that many call Easter. “The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people.” While this promise of God initially referred to the man named David, whom God would take from being a humble shepherd to becoming Israel's most famous King, it's ultimate fulfilment would be of someone born in David's line. The prophet Isaiah said: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever.” Isaiah 9:6-7.

This is why the apostle Peter was able to say to those who'd crucified Jesus: “The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead, whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Saviour that He might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.” (Acts 5:30-31) By His perfect obedience Jesus obtained the everlasting kingdom that God spoke of through Samuel.