Samuel: Learning Real Obedience
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
11/16/2014 PM
|
Text:
|
I Samuel 15:10-23
|
Psalters: |
403, 273, 243, 321 |
- God’s vengeance.
- The comfort of divine vengeance: Deut. 32:35 with Ex. 17:18; Num. 24:20; Deut. 25:17-19.
- Now God executes His judgment through Saul: utterly destroy, spare not, slay (3), until they be consumed (1-9,18,32,33).
- Jehovah’s vengeance is to be praised as just and is a source of great comfort for those treated unjustly.
- Without God’s vengeance on His and our enemies there would be no deliverance for His people (Isa. 35:4; 61:2; Rev. 6:9,10).
- Be aware that God’s vengeance is not only on the reprobate but also on the elect, though with a different result.
- The importance of obedience.
- God declares that Saul turned back from following Me (11) and that he rejected God’s Word (23,26).
- Saul cheeringly claims that he carried out God’s command (13), directly contradicting God’s judgment (11a).
- When Samuel asks about the noise of the animals, Saul claims that the livestock were for sacrifices.
- Samuel’s second question was why Saul did not listen to Jehovah, but did evil in God’s sight (19).
- Samuel’s third question is whether Jehovah delights in burnt offerings and sacrifices (22,23).
- Samuel asserts the value of obedience.
- He condemns formal worship, declares that it is no substitute for obedience.
- More clear is Samuel’s identifying Saul’s disobedience as “rebellion” and “stubbornness” (pride).
- God declares that He “repenteth,” that He made Saul to be king (11a), because he failed to obey, to carry out God’s command.
- Samuel found this difficult to accept; he: “grieved” (11b) was angry and his wrath was kindled (11b).
- How are we to understand that God “repenteth” (11,35b) and “will not lie nor repent” (29).
- Saul’s “repentance” (24,25, 30) is not genuine repentance.
- God’s communion with Saul as king through Samuel is ended (34,35).
- May we learn that obedience is possible only in our union with Jesus (who came to do and did do God’s will (Ps. 40:7).