But You Have Today Rejected Your God--Day 124 Through the Bible

                                       God's creation reveals His tremendous capability and love for us.
                                   "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us."
                                                                                              (Psalm 33:22)
                                                                           
Israel wanted a king so they could be like the other nations. Samuel reminded the people of all that God had done for them in bringing them out of Egypt.  He went on to say, "But you have today rejected your God". When I choose my own way over God's, I am in truth, rejecting God.  Saul was a man of stature, the Bible says he stood taller than any of the other people from his shoulders upward.  Saul looked powerful on the outside, however, he was found hiding among the equipment when it was time for him to be presented to the people as their king.  Dr. Stanley comments that "Throughout his rule he let fear keep him from obeying God--and in the end, it cost him everything".

The first challenge for King Saul came when he was given news of a threat to Israel. "The Spirit of God came upon him when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused".  Saul included Samuel in the plan for going out to battle and the people feared the consequences Saul laid out--causing them to come out with one consent.  The battle was a success for Israel and the people were impressed with Saul.  But Saul gave the credit to God and told the people "for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel". A ceremony followed and Saul was officially made king.

A short passage in today's reading in Psalm may shed some light on Saul's eventual failure. The last part of verse 19 of Psalm 55, says, "Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God".  Saul had problems that he obviously never dealt with. The passage goes on to describe outward appearances that are betrayed by what is really in the heart--words were "smoother than butter, but war was in his heart", his words were soft, "yet they were drawn swords". We will follow Saul in this study as his lack of confidence in God leads him to jealousy and a fear of losing his throne, resulting in attempts to murder David.

In Luke, Jesus reveals that a true leader is a servant of the people--unlike the world's definition of leadership. Today's reading concludes with spiritual insight from Jesus as He tells the disciples to "Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation".  Samuel and Saul had different lifestyles.  Samuel would remain faithful to God all the days of his life, while Saul would experience a "swift and steep decline" (Dr. Stanley).  The difference?  Samuel obeyed God--his name appears in the "Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11).  Saul took matters into his own hands and did things his own way, straying from God's guidance. His name does not appear in Hebrews 11.

There are tremendous lessons for us in the lives of these two men.  May we ask God to help us stay close to Him. Jesus sweated blood in the process of carrying out God's will so that we could have salvation.  The writer of Hebrews reminds us, "You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin" (Heb. 12:4).  In the previous verses of Hebrews 12, God reminds us to look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith lest we be weary and faint in our minds.  Saul evidently fainted in his own mind by failing to trust and obey God.  At the end of each day, it might be good for me to consider whether I have today rejected my God in any way!