Rejection of God’s Chosen One

 

And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!” Then Samuel explained to the people the behavior of royalty, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men were with him, whose hearts God had touched. But some rebels said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace. (1 Samuel 10:24-27)

 

As I read our focus passage I must confess I had to set aside a long ago formed bias against King Saul. That bias stems from learning that he had no heart for God, which in fact was true. However, he did not start out that way. So, with that being said, Saul’s beginning reminded me of some things that our Lord Jesus Christ experienced which was doubt and rejection. Saul also displayed some very Christ like attributes.

 

The final verse on our focus passage reveals those who rejected Saul with their words and actions. Saul heard and saw this rejection and he chose to hold his peace. We all have felt rejection from others, and of course the flesh wants to respond in one way, while the Spirit of God would have us respond in another that is quit the opposite. Jesus of course was the perfect example of how one should respond to rejection. Saul did display that, which took great self control, power that I believe came from the Holy Spirit.

 

The people demanded a king, so God gave them what they wanted. Saul was chosen by God, which means God with His Spirit also anointed him. Saul had started with great promise. Not only was he chosen and anointed by God, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, supported by a great man of God (Samuel), given gifts appropriate to royalty, supported by most of the nation, surrounded by valiant men whom God had touched, and was wise enough to not regard every doubter or critic as an enemy.

 

Those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ as our King will face rejection by those who do not follow Him. How will you respond? Hopefully you can learn from this passage and respond as Saul did.   Remember this when that will occur: they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting the true King Jesus, God’s Chosen One!

 

 

 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up John 15:8, Luke 10:16)

Give Us a King

 

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.   According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. “Now therefore heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. (1 Samuel 8:7-10)

 

God had established Israel as His chosen people and had set them up to be different than all the other tribes of people in the world. They did not have a king, and they were monotheistic. However, the fact that the people coming to Samuel demanding a king did not take God by surprise because it was well established in Israel that He intended that they should have a king as seen in Genesis 49:10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet. Until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

 

God chose the fact that the people would have a king and that He would come from the line of Judah. We also see in Deuteronomy 17 that He laid out specific guidelines for setting up a king. The displeasure of God is based on the motives of Israel to be like all the other nations, something God had not intended. Samuel felt that the people were rejecting him, and so God comforts him in his disappointment and rejection by sharing His own pain in Israel’s continuing rejection of Him.

 

We should not be too harsh on the people of Israel for demanding a king simply because we can be just like them at times. We are called to be a people set apart from the rest of the world, and yet, many times we are not because we want to fit in with the rest of the world. This goes against what God has planned for those that He has called. We are to be different, trusting in Him alone and not worldly systems or governments. They will fail, but God won’t.

 

Verse 6 that precedes our focus passage, Samuel was displeased with the request of the people to have a king. What did he do? He prayed to God, which was the right thing to do. We, too, need to go to God in prayer because He is our King and wants to hear from us and instruct us, just like He did when Samuel came to Him. Those of us who have accepted Jesus have a King who will never fail!

 

 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up Deuteronomy 17:14-20)

Corporate Prayer Requires Confident Leadership

 

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah. (1 Samuel 7:3-6)

 

The people of Israel had fallen into a spiritual vacuum, and because of this they had no clear direction on finding God and seeking His help. Samuel stepped forward to provide the much needed spiritual leadership to direct them to back to the Lord. His action demonstrates how confident leadership in corporate prayer can reopen the way for the fullness of God’s work to be restored to His people.

 

If you have walked with the Lord for a period of time, you should be able to lead a group of people in corporate prayer. The Lie Whisperer would have you believe that you can’t lead out; therefore, you shouldn’t lead out. However, that is just a lie! One of the greatest needs of the church today is to have people who pray, because without prayer we will have little or no direction. It is through prayer where we seek God and His direction; it is through prayer where we receive our marching orders.

 

A leader who leads people into prayer should do so prophetically and with tender compassion; by calling the people to renounce their sin, return to God, recommit themselves fully to Him, and to seek His face together as seen in 1 Samuel 7:1-5. This doesn’t just have to happen in the church on Sunday as important as that is. It should be happening in our families, and also in our small study groups as well. Remember, “For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

 

When the people of Israel submitted to the leadership of Samuel into corporate prayer they saw God move mightily. I firmly believe that the very same thing can and will happen today. As people of God we can either help lead out in corporate prayer, or just as important submit to the leadership of those who do and follow their lead in seeking God.

 

 

 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up Acts 12:5-18)

Are You Rejoicing in the Lord

And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD, my horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.

(1 Samuel 2:1-3)

 

The Lord had heard Hannah’s prayer and request in chapter 1 regarding having a son. In chapter 2 the first 10 verses are a beautiful song of praise that provides a model for Mary’s (the mother of Jesus) song of thanksgiving found in Luke 1: 46-55.

 

As we read this prayer notice how Hannah’s whole personality is involved in praising the Lord: her heart, which is the very center of her being; her horn, which signifies strength. I smile is literally, “My mouth is opened wide”, this is a figure of speech that is used for defeating one’s enemies that can be found in Psalm 35:21, 25.

 

Hannah’s prayer is literally a song of praise unto the Lord. How often do you come before the Lord with just a prayer of praise?   If we are truthful, it’s probably not often enough. I know I stand guilty of that charge myself. If anyone should have reason to have a heart full of praise it would be those who have tasted of His salvation offered through the amazing gift of His Son, Jesus. Regardless of our situation here on earth we have a promise to be with Him for eternity; that in itself should fill our horn so that we can exalt the Lord as Hannah did.

 

Personally, I am convicted by Hannah’s prayer. I confess that I don’t give thanks and praise to God often enough. I do pray and bring my petitions to Him, and I do see many answered of which I do give thanks for, and yet I quickly forget and move on with my life. Our lives are to be a walking, living, continual praise unto God. Our hearts should be in a constant state of rejoicing because our Creator has chosen to dwell within us by giving us His Holy Spirit. Our God has given us His strength to overcome the enemy and all that stands against us.

 

Father, forgive me when I lapse into the woe-is-me doldrums. Forgive me when I fail to praise You and give You glory and honor regularly for all things, regardless of my situation. Father fill my heart with a song of praise daily for You, in Jesus name, amen.

 

 

 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up Luke 1:46-45)