PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: 1 Samuel 31
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The Israelite army had fled… Saul and his sons had died.” (1 Samuel 31:7)
God’s holy people and God’s anointed ruler… defeated!
This shows how God graciously works with weak and sinful humans.
God even endures defeat, being shamed before the other gods.
News would spread: Israel’s God humiliated and defeated (vv.9-10)!
God works through the twists and turns of sinful human history.
Through Jesus God stands with sinful humans (the church).
The church has been weak and sinful, violent, greedy, oppressive.
Yet Jesus is willingly and graciously humbled, to save us.
He graciously and willingly joins himself to sinners.
For all the world to see, he is humiliated and defeated.
The cross represents the ultimate humiliation and defeat of God.
But it also represents the triumph of grace, mercy and love over sin.
God in Jesus rises up over our humiliation and defeat.
This gives me hope when I see the church fleeing and dying again today.
PRAYER
Lord, you’ve endured the rise and fall of your people through history. Thank you for being willing to associate with me/us, despite the ways I/we make you look bad.
In what do I put my security? The most important security for Israel and for all is our God! When God was neglected – Saul and his army, including his sons – could not stand up to the onslaught. They were defeated and when that happened the people on the border lost their security: “they abandoned their towns and fled”. I too need to remember where my security is – its not in my own RRSPs or RRIFs – its in my relationship with my heavenly Father – through Jesus and gift of his Holy Spirit! Lord help me to trust in you alone!!
The death of Saul was the rise of David who waited patiently. As God promised to raise up David at the proper time He can also do that for you and me. God is in everything and blessed is He who trusts in the Lord. Saul did not cry out to the Lord in His troubles. David waited patiently for for God’s timing of His promise. Our God will also bring an end to our struggles as He did for David. God chose David to be His and by His grace He chooses you and me.
1 Praise him, praise him,
praise him in the morning,
praise him in the noontime.
Praise him, praise him,
praise him when the sun goes down.
2 Love him, love him,
love him in the morning,
love him in the noontime.
love him, love him,
love him when the sun goes down.
3 Trust him, trust him,
trust him in the morning,
trust him in the noontime.
Trust him, trust him,
trust him when the sun goes down.
4 Serve him, serve him,
serve him in the morning,
serve him in the noontime.
Serve him, serve him,
serve him when the sun goes down.
5 Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus in the morning,
Jesus in the noontime.
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus when the sun goes down.