God hates nothing more than the disobedience of His commandments, even though the intent seems good to man. Perhaps you've read in 1 Samuel 15 where King Saul turned back from following the Lord's commands? In doing so, he made the Lord his enemy. The prophet Samuel spends the whole night prayerfully pleading for Saul. Anytime you see someone make an obvious wrong choice - their rejection of God's plan causes you to grieve.
When you know someone is making a wrong choice, a choice that will cause hardship for them and their family down the road, it grieves your heart. God does not delight in their demise, nor should we.
Saul tries to convince Samuel by justifying himself to escape being judged of the Lord. However, the lowing of the cattle and the bleating of the sheep in the background were too loud to be ignored.
You can't convince others you're in the will of God when your words and actions are full of an indulgence of the flesh, your love of the world, a disrespectful spirit and a neglect of spiritual obligations which speak louder than the conversation itself. Those things speak against you just like the cattle and sheep that Saul kept back from death.
Disobedience is never right in the eyes of the Lord. When we think to excuse ourselves from God's commandments by what pleases ourselves, we are placing our will over God's and that becomes evil in the sight of God.
God is pleased by humble, sincere and conscientious obedience to His will rather than all the works you've ever done in your lifetime. He gets more glory when we deny our flesh through obedience rather than sacrifice. Sure, you can bring a sacrifice before God, in the form of works, but if you can't cast down every high thought to the obedience of God's will - than you're unfit and unworthy to sit in a place of leadership in His Kingdom.
How can you lead others when you won't allow God to lead you?
Notice the Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Samuel does his best to bring Saul to a place of accountability for his actions. God is watching with all of His grace and mercy. However, the deceitfulness of the heart of man evokes the justice of God.
PRIVATELY - God and the prophet Samuel have a conversation
- God regrets that He ever made Saul King.
- He does not alter His will, but wills an alteration.
- All the honor associated with Saul's position in the kingdom were now displaced from the original calling.
- God repents that He ever gave Saul the kingdom and the honor and power that belonged to it. However, He never repented that he had given the gifts and callings - for they are without repentance.
- The change took place in the heart of Saul - he turned his back from following God.
- It grieves Samuel that Saul has forfeited God's favor and that God has resolved to cast him off.
- He prays throughout the night in intercession for Saul.
PUBLICLY - Samuel and Saul have a conversation
- Samuel has the unfortunate news of telling Saul the results of his wilful disobedience.
- It is never easy speaking to someone about the consequences of their actions. Especially when they delight in their actions with a great deal of pomp and self assurance.
- Nevertheless, Samuel obeys the Lord and shares, like Ezekiel in bitterness of soul, the unfortunate news of Saul's ruined reign.
- Saul attempts to justify his actions - perhaps hoping Samuel would fore go the words that were bound to be spoken.
- Saul knew what God had commanded and required of him. However, he now tries to blame the people for his own disobedience.
- Samuel is unswayed and unmoved by Saul's partial obedience and excuses.
- Samuel overlooks Saul's pleas and proceeds, in God's name, to give judgment against him.
- Those who complain that their pastor is too harsh with them should remember that, while they keep to the Word of God, they are only the messengers, and must say as the Lord directs.
- Even after Samuel pronounces judgment, Saul continues to try to vindicate himself by denying any disobedience. In other words, he still sees himself much wiser than God Himself.
- He took it upon himself to keep King Agag alive - thinking God would be pleased that there was not wilful waste. Yet, this is not what God instructed him to do.
- But this was Saul's doing...not God's.
- Friend, it is difficult to convince the disobedient.
Nothing is so pleasing to God as obedience - not even sacrifices and offerings. Nothing is so provoking to God as disobedience, setting up our wills in competition with His. This is called rebellion and stubbornness, and is said to be as bad as witchcraft and idolatry.
In the end, Samuel reads Saul's doom ... "Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, God has rejected thee as king. He that made thee king has determined to unmake thee again."
More to follow...
