PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: 1 Samuel 15-16
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless.” (1 Samuel 15:33)
I will be honest, I struggle with the command to totally destroy the Amalekites.
I wish that God did not have to work with this kind of violence and killing.
But saying that is wishing that God did not have to work with us.
The thing is, God does work with us, as we are, with all our immoral ways.
These were evil times, it was a ‘wild west’ scenario, slaughter was ‘normal’.
These Amalekites were getting what they were otherwise giving to others.
God directs our evil, God does not cause it… God directs it to a better outcome.
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)
God uses Agag, Saul, David, Solomon, Caesar, Hitler, Trudeau and Trump for the kingdom.
But they also suffer when they sin, and get as good as they give.
Somehow, through this story, God is paving the way for Jesus to come.
All this shows us how much we need Jesus to break this cycle of sin and death.
All this shows me why I submit to Jesus as my leader, my lord, my king.
PRAYER
Lord, if you did not work with sinners, you could not work with me. Thank You for humbling Yourself to work with us, to establish Your kingdom over the mess of our own.
Saul lost God’s support – the presence of his Spirit – now in its place is a harmful spirit – one that torments him. Saul wants to look good and be popular – driven by his own need for affirmation as a leader – but from the wrong source. We can get distracted too – the externals affect us. Help me Lord to be driven not by that which is wrong – the evil – even as evil tests me – but help me to be spirit driven – to be a ‘man after your heart’ – a man after you Lord Jesus!
Whose voice do I listen to?
Do this and live. That is what the Master said. I need to listen and do. Word and deed need to go together. Not my way, but His will be done. I need to listen to the voice which says, This is the way – walk in it. And that is only possible with the leading of the Spirit showing how to live for Jesus.
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy [redemption],*
Didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.