May 14- Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice

May 14, 2011

Scripture Readings:
I Samuel 15:1-16:23; John 8:1-20;
Psalm 110: 1-7; Proverbs 15:8-10

Democracy is worth dying for, because it is the most deeply honorable 
form of government ever devised by man.  
~Ronald Reagan

I Samuel 15:1-16:23

One of the most admirable things about America's federal republic government is that the world is able to witness the peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another.  In the ancient world this was rare.  Usually transfers of power, especially if it meant power being removed from one family or clan to another, included assassinations or war.  Today, we see that God is going to transfer power from Saul and the tribe of Benjamin to David who is from the tribe of Judah. This will not be a pretty process.

As our story begins, Samuel has a message for Saul.  The Lord has decided to finally punish the Amalekites for how they treated Israel when they came out of Egypt many centuries before.  This is proof that God has a long memory, folks!  He intends for Saul to completely decimate them as a people group, including all of their possessions as a judgment against their sin.  Saul is a disobedient, prideful king.  He goes and defeats the Amalekites, but allows their king to live and keeps the best cattle and livestock for himself.  Saul is concerned with how he will look as a king, rather than what God is trying to accomplish through him.

Samuel comes to rebuke Saul for keeping the cattle.  Saul claims that he kept the cattle in order to do a burnt offering for the Lord.  Samuel states that obedience is better than a burnt offering.  We see this concept repeated by Jesus in the New Testament.  Saul admits that he was afraid of the people's opinion of him and so he did not obey the Lord.  Samuel is angry and refuses to return with Saul.  Saul grabs Samuel's robe and tears it.  Samuel uses this opportunity to shout that the Lord will tear the kingdom from Saul and give it to someone better than him.  Samuel reminds Saul that God is not a human who changes His mind.  Saul convinces Samuel to go with him.  Although flawed in character, Saul worships the Lord.

This is not the end of the story.  God is once again going to follow the spiritual principle that the last shall be first and the first shall be last.  This first king of Israel is not going to be the chosen one.  He is going to be the cursed one.  The second king is God's chosen king.  The second king is the one who is blessed. It is through David (the second king chosen), not Saul, that the promised Messiah will come. Remember the lesson that the first son of God, Adam, was unrighteous, but the second Son, Jesus is righteous.  He is the one who saves the world.  This displacing of the first king of Israel mirrors that spiritual picture.

Samuel, not Saul,  is the one who completes the judgment of God against the Amalekites by killing the king of the Amalekites with the sword.  Samuel mourns for Saul and his sin.  This is a sign of Samuel's godly character.  We learn that God is sad, also. God tells Samuel to stop mourning and fill his horn with anointing oil in order to anoint the next king of Israel.

After a long process, the youngest son of Jesse, David,  from the tribe of Judah is chosen as the next king.  The Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully on David who is ruddy and handsome. The Bible mentions that he has nice eyes.  What a great description!  Meanwhile, a tormenting spirit has replaced the Holy Spirit in Saul.  Saul is overtaken with fear/paranoia and depression.  Music seems to comfort his soul, so the brave, good and courageous musician, David, is called to play the harp for the troubled king.  Ironic?  You betcha.  God is a good storyteller. : )

John 8:1-20

Today, Jesus is back in the temple.  The religious leaders bring a woman who was caught in adultery to him.  They want to see his judgment against unrighteous behavior.  Jesus teaches us an important lesson about his mission on earth at this time. 

Before condemning her, he asks the religious leaders to cast the first stone at her, only if they have never sinned.  No one is able to condemn her under these conditions.  You and I know that Jesus was sinless and could have stoned the woman, himself.  Why didn't he?  Because his purpose in coming to earth the first time is to forgive sins.  We are in the age of grace.  God is offering forgiveness to those who are flawed and have sinned.  Please note that Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more.  Jesus expects a repentant life from this woman after forgiving her.  He expects a repentant, obedient life from us after he has forgiven us.

Our job is not to judge.  Our job is to be obedient to Christ.  Offer his mercy to others.  He will judge in the end. This does not mean that we can not be discerning in who we associate with and how we behave.  It means that we let Jesus be the ultimate judge of someone's salvation.

Next, Jesus explains that he is the Light that gives us understanding of all truth that leads to eternal life.  The Pharisees shout that he is making false claims!!  Jesus counters that even though he is testifying about himself, they are not false claims.  He tells them that they have human limitations as they judge him.  Jesus says that his witness to this truth is himself and his Father who sent him.  "Where is your Father?" they ask.  Jesus is evasive and says that since they don't know him, they can't know his Father.  He is making it hard for them on purpose.

Jesus is arguing his position.  He doesn't have to, but he wants to reveal himself to those who are going to love God.  This passages can be either comforting or disturbing, depending on where you are on God's scale.  Walk in his light.  Darkness cannot overcome those who are in the Light.

Psalm 110:1-7

"The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet."  Jesus quotes this psalm to the Pharisees when he challenges them to explain how David can be calling his descendant "Lord".  Jesus asks them to explain how David can be the father to this person and yet call this person "my Lord". 

The psalms are prophetic in nature.  Jesus is throughout the psalms.  Always look for him as you read them.

Proverbs 15:8-10

Sacrifices from wicked people are detestable to the Lord.  He loves the prayers of the righteous.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal

Kathy Fullerton
© 2011