One Year Bible Readings and Commentary for Saturday, May 14th
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Click Here to Read 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23
The Lord Rejects Saul as King
Today we see the downfall and demise of King Saul. Not only was he rejected by God and the kingship taken from him, but he is also rejected by Samuel the priest, who had anointed him. The crushing blow came today, but it had built up for a while. Today, as he defeats the Amalekites, pride and greed lead him to disobey the Lord.
1. He was told to completely destroy the Amalekites. The king, the people, and all of their animals. Though Saul was victorious, he kept the best animals for himself and also spared King Agag's life.
2. When Samuel went to confront him about his disobedience, he had gone to Carmel to set up a monument to himself.
3. When Samuel eventually caught up to him, he feigned innocence, yet Samuel heard the animals in the background confirming his guilt. He rationalized that he had kept the best of the animals for a sacrifice to the Lord, but that was a lie.
Then we read of this famous passage summarizing the whole matter.
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”
We often hear this passage quoted, so now you know its context.
Though we might look like we are giving something to the Lord, are we giving it out of pride, or to get recognition? It is better to obey God and than to give him something that is really only pointing to how great we are!
In the end when confronted with all of this, Saul begged for mercy. And just wanted to worship the Lord with Samuel, which he did. But the final note is sad,
"Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel."
Samuel Anoints David
After a period of mourning, the Lord sent Samuel to Bethelehm to the house of Jesse, who had 8 sons. God told him that one of these sons would be the next king in Israel. When Samuel saw Eliab he thought, "Surely this must be the one!" And one by one the sons went in front him, but the Lord did not pick any of them. There was only one son left, the youngest, and he was out tending the sheep in the fields.
When Saul sent for him, David came back. David was youthful, handsome, and had a glow about him. The Lord told him to anoint David for he was the one. From that day on the Spirit came on David powerfully. We get another famous verse here,
"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
David in Saul’s Service
As Saul continued to mourn the loss of his kingship, a spirit came upon him and tormented him. His servants knew of a son of Jesse, who played the lyre and the har. So Saul sent for him. When David played, the spirit went away. Saul liked David very much and asked Jesse is he could stay with him and be his armor bearer. Saul continued to grow fond of David and whenever he was afflicted he would call for him.
Again we see the Lord calling someone that the world might not have picked. Importantly, David was a man after God's own heart. This is the number qualitifieation to be a spiritual leader.
Click Here to Read John 8:1-20
A Woman Caught in Adultery
Jesus returns to the temple where a woman caught in adultery is about to be sentenced and stoned. The Pharisees see it as an opportunity to test what Jesus will say. If he condemns her to be stoned, he will be seen as cruel. If he lets her go, he will be seen as not adhering to the Mosaic law. Jesus then does something brilliant in this story that shows the true nature of God's grace.
1. Jesus asks the person/elder who is without sin to cast the first stone. They all start leaving starting with the elders, who would know his sin the most.
2. Jesus is left alone with the woman. I wish I could have been there. What a scene! I am sure she is ready to be chastised and maybe even killed by Rabbi Jesus. But instead Jesus grants her mercy. He asks where are her accusers are, and they are all gone. And then these words from Jesus,
Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you? “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” - John 8:10-11
We learn something we should never forget. He didn't not sweep her sin under the carpet. Like any other sin it needed to be accounted for. But the only one who could have condemned her, the sinless son of God, told her she was free of condemation. As the apostle would later say,
"There is now no condemnation in Christ!" - Romans 8:1 (Make sure and read the context here!)
Finally Jesus says, "Go and sin no more!"
Though Jesus gave the woman unconditional love and unmerited grace, he still commanded her to leave her life of sin. He knew that if she went right back into her sin even though she was forgiven it would not be good for her.
Sometimes it is easy for us to receive grace and mercy, but do we also remember to go and sin no more. Sometimes we take advantage of God's grace and cheapen it. But today we remember that with forgiveness there is repentance. Turning from what we know is wrong to serve God in newness of life!
If you have any known sin in your life turn from it and times of refreshing will come upon your soul.
Click Here to Read Proverbs 15:8-10
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