Soren Kierkegaard

 

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Did you know that giants never stop growing? Giants came into this world slightly larger than a normal child but where a normal child stops growing, the giant continues to grow.

1 Samuel 16:13 tells the story of how David the young shepherd boy is anointed to become king. He is the youngest of his family but the Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully upon him. He carries the anointing - and we have already seen how precious and powerful that is.

In the next chaper we find David is sent off with food for his eldest brothers in the army. I bet his brothers were pleased to see him with all his goodies but as he spent time in the camp David was shocked by what he saw. He found that the army of God had been cowering for 40 days in the shadow of an ugly brute. His name was Goliath and he was the giant that you visualised in all the fairy stories told to you - such as Jack and the beanstalk.

He had stood and defied the chosen of God - he said “you are only servants of Saul” (v10). David looks past his vast size, his uglyness and is livid. He cries out “Who is this pagan anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” (v26). He knows that God is bigger, greater and will have the victory, he cannot believe the men of Israel in their cowardice. He is not a servant of Saul - but of the living and powerful Lord of the Universe, how dare he insult his God.

He asks questions with the intention of going out and whipping Goliath’s butt but his brothers start throwing criticsm at him. “I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!” (v28). He could have doubted his intentions, questioned himself and lost his courage. It is hard when people accuse us even if it is unfounded. The hardes thing of all is that usually there is some truth in what people say - he did want to see the battle - from within the middle of it!! (more…)

In 1 Samuel 15 we find Saul spoken to by God, through Samuel the prophet. He is sent out to defeat the Amalekite army. God gives very precise instructions to Saul  - that the entire nation was to be destroyed (people, cattle, camels, donkeys and goats).  Saul defeats the people but only destroys that which was poor quality or worthless - the best of the goats, cattle and livestock he and his army take back with them.Â
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Samuel visits Saul and starts asking Saul why his has disobeyed God. “I don’t know what you are talking about” Saul says - just managing to raise his voice above all the mooing, braying and baaing “We have carried out God’s command”.

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God is not happy and rejects Saul as king of his chosen people.  So what went so drastically wrong? How did Saul get to this place? Well looking out the clues in chapter 15 this is what I have found: 

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Just close your eyes and listen to this

Now stand here quietly before the Lord as I remind you of all the great things the Lord has done for you

1 Samuel 12:7

Those of us in modern times have lived under the new intimacy for so long that we take it for granted. We sing choruses to God and converse in casual prayers. To us, the notion of sacrifice seems primitive. Too easily we forget what it cost Jesus to win for us all - ordinary people, not just priests - immediate access to God’s presence. We know God as Abba, the loving Father, only because of Jesus.

The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancy

Every year in France there is a ‘Thieves Fair’ Where people are encouraged to try to steal things from the stalls

God has given the Israelites victory over the Ammonites and now they are faced with the dreaded Phillistines, a massive army. Only 600 Israelites in the army remain. Of the 600 only Saul and his son Jonathan have a sword or a spear. The odds are not looking great. (1 Samuel 14)

Jonathan,though, will not accept defeat. He ventures out of the camp - not happy to wait - ready for action. I love his words “Let us go across to the outpost of those pagans… perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!” (14:6) God loves the mavaric - someone like Jonathan who believes all God says about seeing great things come to pass. Jonathan knows that God is with his people, that God is greater than the enemy and that His plan is to defeat his foe. Jonathan stands strong in all he believes and goes with an expectancy for God to act. God does act. He brings panic amongst the Phillistines and an earthquake of terror.

Saul is excited by all this commotion. He is seeing the very army he was in awe of melt in front of his very eyes. What a thrill to see deafeat from the belly of fear. He then makes a foolish statement - he says “let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening - before I have full revenge on my enemies”.

Is it that in his disbelief in his own kingship he feels the men are not with him but love Jonathan more? Perhaps he is now trying to please God by showing he does really have faith the enemies will be distroyed. Maybe he is trying to show the men in the army that he too can be as good and tough like Jonathan. Whatever his motivation, his lack of self belief in his place in God nearly spoils the victory. The army become weaker and weaker. Jonathan his son is nearly put to death (1 Sam 14:44)

When we are not in a good place we easily get jealous or compare ourselves with others. This only brings foolish reactions that can actually make things worse. They can affect those around us and even bring distruction on those closest to us. We are made special in God’s eyes to do all that he has called us to do. We can be content with who God has made us and, as we live by faith, God is delighted with all we achieve. If we mess up - and we confess our sins - God will accept us with arms wide open. Let us stand in faith and do great exploits - without trying to prove who we are.

Saul is now established as King of Israel (1 Samuel 11). He has had a fantastic defeat against his enemies and he has re-united the kingdoms of Israel. Samuel has prophecied “Now stand here and see the great things the Lord is about to do” (12:16) and as a sign of God’s greatness he makes it thunder and rain in the dry season. The people are all terrified and astounded. God reassures them that “it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people” (12:22) His eye is on them and He will never leave them.

So when the Philistines are ready to attack in their next battle are the people are full of expectation? They know God is with them, that they will see amazing things and are led by are mighty king. Are they out on the battle field ready for their exploits? - no they are hiding in caves and holes (13:6)

Saul begins to panic as the number of the enemy looks like the grains of sand on the shore (13:5) and he only has around 600 men left as the rest have fled (13:15). Under the pressure of the circumstances and being pressurized by his soilder’s reaction he didn’t wait for Samuel the priest to offer a sacrifice as instructed, but rushed in to sacrifice his own burnt offering. (It was the burnt offerings that revealed the heart of Eli’s sons and showed little fear/awe for the greatness of God. Even though they slept with the girls that served in the temple the sin that upset God by far was treating the burnt offerings of the people with contempt (2:17).) God is not impressed with Saul and when Samuel turns up he tells him that his reign must now end for he has found someone else after his own heart. (13:14)

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