1-Samuel 11-12
Give God the Glory, Give God the Credit
Saul was now a king.
Jabesh-gilead was probably across the Jordan River and in Chapter 11 we see that Ammonite people came and wanted to take over their land that kill all the people, and the people were ready to give up their freedom to Ammonites in return for their lives, but Ammonites said "On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel." (Ch.11 verse 2)
Jabesh-gilead sent out messengers to all Israel to ask for help, and when Saul heard the news "The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words and his anger was greatly kindled." He then cut an oxen in pieces and sent them to the whole Israel saying "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen! Then the dread of the Lord fell upon people, and they came out as one man."(Ch.11 verse 6-7)
There were 300,000 men who came out to fight against Ammonites with Saul. Jabesh-gilead was saved from the hands of Ammonites, majority of them were defeated and the rest fled from Israelites. After Saul was again publically appointed as a king now also in the land of Israel over the Jordan River.
But Saul didn't take the credit for this victory he said "Today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel." (Ch.11 verse 13)
Samuel then gives a small speech to the whole Israel again mentioning that Saul is now the king. Samuel is sort of retiring from being a judge of Israel, but he is still respected and valued as a prophet of God.
Samuel stand and says "Stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers." (Ch.12 verse7)
Samuel goes on reminding people how God delivered them from Egypt and how Moses and Aaron brought them to this land, and how their fathers left their Lord and turned to other gods, but when they needed help they called out to the Lord and turned away from the other gods and Lord their God delivered them.
Samuel also adds that this generation again is turning away from the Lord "And when you saw that Nahash the king of Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the Lord your God was your king."(Ch.12 verse 12)
To show that Samuel was saying the truth he prayed to the Lord and God sent thunder and rain, and the people finally realize what they have done and they said "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king."(Ch.12 verse 19)
Samuel wasn't judging people for what they have done and he said "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart, and do not turn aside after empty things." (Ch.12 verse 20-21)
God will not forsake his people for His great name's sake, but if the people turn to their wicked ways again, both the people and their king will be swept away.
Today...
Do we give credit to God like Saul gave credit to God in front of the whole nation? There are times when we are ashamed to thank God for what he has done for us.
It shouldn't be uncomfortable for us to say thank you to God out loud in front of people. We should feel uncomfortable if we don't give credit to God.
Giving credit to God is starting to die out among Christians today, they thank God for food, the house, the family, but when they accomplish something and people give them credit for it, they take that credit for themselves. We know that without God we can't do anything, literally.
Samuel was sorry to hear that people chose to have a king when God himself was their king. Today I am so sorry for the people who chose to ignore God and put their trust into gods of this world, especially those who call themselves Christian.
To stay with God Samuel says to the people, that yes they have sinned but don't stop following Him, he says to them to follow Him and serve Him with all the heart. He says to them to not put your trust into empty things, because they are empty.
When we put our trust into God we are satisfied with life, we know our purpose and our life is full. But when we put our faith into empty things like theories, or people, or money we will always be disappointed, our life will seem pointless and boring.
Saul was now a king.
Jabesh-gilead was probably across the Jordan River and in Chapter 11 we see that Ammonite people came and wanted to take over their land that kill all the people, and the people were ready to give up their freedom to Ammonites in return for their lives, but Ammonites said "On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel." (Ch.11 verse 2)
Jabesh-gilead sent out messengers to all Israel to ask for help, and when Saul heard the news "The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words and his anger was greatly kindled." He then cut an oxen in pieces and sent them to the whole Israel saying "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen! Then the dread of the Lord fell upon people, and they came out as one man."(Ch.11 verse 6-7)
There were 300,000 men who came out to fight against Ammonites with Saul. Jabesh-gilead was saved from the hands of Ammonites, majority of them were defeated and the rest fled from Israelites. After Saul was again publically appointed as a king now also in the land of Israel over the Jordan River.
But Saul didn't take the credit for this victory he said "Today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel." (Ch.11 verse 13)
Samuel then gives a small speech to the whole Israel again mentioning that Saul is now the king. Samuel is sort of retiring from being a judge of Israel, but he is still respected and valued as a prophet of God.
Samuel stand and says "Stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers." (Ch.12 verse7)
Samuel goes on reminding people how God delivered them from Egypt and how Moses and Aaron brought them to this land, and how their fathers left their Lord and turned to other gods, but when they needed help they called out to the Lord and turned away from the other gods and Lord their God delivered them.
Samuel also adds that this generation again is turning away from the Lord "And when you saw that Nahash the king of Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the Lord your God was your king."(Ch.12 verse 12)
To show that Samuel was saying the truth he prayed to the Lord and God sent thunder and rain, and the people finally realize what they have done and they said "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king."(Ch.12 verse 19)
Samuel wasn't judging people for what they have done and he said "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart, and do not turn aside after empty things." (Ch.12 verse 20-21)
God will not forsake his people for His great name's sake, but if the people turn to their wicked ways again, both the people and their king will be swept away.
Today...
Do we give credit to God like Saul gave credit to God in front of the whole nation? There are times when we are ashamed to thank God for what he has done for us.
It shouldn't be uncomfortable for us to say thank you to God out loud in front of people. We should feel uncomfortable if we don't give credit to God.
Giving credit to God is starting to die out among Christians today, they thank God for food, the house, the family, but when they accomplish something and people give them credit for it, they take that credit for themselves. We know that without God we can't do anything, literally.
Samuel was sorry to hear that people chose to have a king when God himself was their king. Today I am so sorry for the people who chose to ignore God and put their trust into gods of this world, especially those who call themselves Christian.
To stay with God Samuel says to the people, that yes they have sinned but don't stop following Him, he says to them to follow Him and serve Him with all the heart. He says to them to not put your trust into empty things, because they are empty.
When we put our trust into God we are satisfied with life, we know our purpose and our life is full. But when we put our faith into empty things like theories, or people, or money we will always be disappointed, our life will seem pointless and boring.
Comments
Post a Comment