Day 102 – 1 Samuel 15-17

Talking Points

• God gives very clear commands to Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites. Saul disobeys. The Bible says, “But Saul…” (15:9). Partial obedience is not obedience. Notice the process:
  • God gives the clear command (15:2).
  • Saul and the people were “unwilling” to obey (15:9).
    All disobedience is, at its core, due to the fact that we simply don’t want to.
  • When Saul is caught, he gives false honor to God (15:15). “It was for Him. We were going to give them to Him.” God knows our true motivation.
  • Saul claims innocence (15:20). “I did as I should.”
  • Saul starts to blame others (15:21). “It was the people.”
  • Then, Saul offers a false, insincere repentance, hoping it would appease God and the whole matter could be overlooked (15:24-25).
• Obedience is true worship! God is pleased with quick and complete obedience.
• Samuel is grieved over Saul for the rest of Saul’s life. We should never rejoice over or make light of someone’s sin. Its consequences are always heartbreaking.
• David, the youngest son of Jesse (and grandson of Ruth and Boaz) is anointed as the next king of Israel. While men tend to look at appearances, God evaluates by looking at the heart of a person. All of us should seriously consider this. It could be dreadful, or it could be comforting, depending on our hearts before God.

Thoughts

In one of the best-known accounts in all of Scripture, here we find the story of David and Goliath. It’s truly an inspiring story, but maybe not in the way you think. It’s easy to try and read ourselves into this one — to see the problems we face as “giants” and to see ourselves as “giant-slayers.” But, the focus of the description of this actual, historical day is not David, not the giant, not the armies, nor the battle. The focus is on the truth that God is faithful to deliver.

While we definitely can read this account and be encouraged to be brave, to have a courageous faith in God, and to stand firm in the Lord, if anything, we should be looking for Jesus in this account, rather than ourselves. Remember, all of Scripture points to Him. He’s the Hero.

The LORD is the Victor, here. In this story, if we are anyone, we are the Israelites, too afraid to fight and in desperate need of Someone to fight for us. In Jesus, we have exactly that. God is faithful to keep His promise to provide a Deliverer. He fought for us on the cross of Calvary. He secured the victory over the enemy, over sin, and over death.

Just as He did on this day, God works in all times and all places, “that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel” (17:46). Today, He continues to work through the gospel of Jesus Christ, showing us how He is faithful to deliver. May we live out our faith in Him, “that all the earth may know…“