We finally reached the milestone of the 100th episode, but due to lingering
illnesses, Keith falls back on a solo episode. It's still the topic that was
going to be presented, but he has to go it alone... sort of.
To make things more interesting than just having one voice to bore listeners to
tears, there are a few guest voices to appear, and mix things up. One involves
a new update to a bible app that Keith has been using. If you would like more
details on it, drop a line to say so and we'll be sure to share a link, and
mention it in another show. For now just enjoy the contribution it makes.
Besides some Retrobots to do some reading, mostly from some input that Nathan
shared about our bible passage, other voices from Keith's other podcast
<http://retro-otr.com/> make guest appearances.
The original title for this stop in the Bible survey was: Saul Fails and is
Rejected: It says it all, as far as who is in it, and what's happening at this
moment in history. Nathan's outline puts the title as: Who Had the Better Plan?
And is maybe the better title, since it tags the happenings in a way that is
relevant through the ages, and the perspective in how people ought to relate to
God. But since it's Keith's site, and podcast, the title got hacked to pieces
once again to reflect the relation of actions, and consequences. It's still a
good way to look at the principle of what's happening, and why.
The focus is on 1 Samuel 15:17-23, but in the podcast Keith backs it up to the
beginning of the chapter, so we can get a little more context of the clear
instructions that needed no interpretation, or the need to put spin on a
clearly defined mission.
1Sam 15 Review
1,2. God sends Samuel with a command for Saul.
3.
Strike Amalek.
Destroy all they have.
Spare none.
Kill Man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey
Note: Ouch. I know that's harsh. It's graphic. We are in no way encouraging, or
condoning behavior like that. We've discussed the evil nature of this ancient
tribe on the podcast before. Don't get bogged down by the historic detail.
Rather, consider what the principle behind it means. A clearly defined mission
that has been presented to you to do.
4-7. Saul gathered the army. He warned the Kenites (non Amalekites) to flee. He
defeated them.
Where it goes wrong.
8,9. Saul took king Agog alive, killed the rest. Saul and the people kept the
best of livestock, killing only the worthless animals.
More
decline for Saul
10-12. God tells Samuel what happened. Samuel is angry, and grieves all night.
Samuel learns of a monument Saul set up for himself. A matter that seems to
cause neither anger or grieff.
The confrontation.
13,16. Seeing Samuel, Saul greets him with blessings. Saul claims, "I have
performed the command of the lord." Samuel asked, why all the animal sounds in
his ears? Saul becomes defensive of his actions, claiming the people did it. To
sacrifice the animals to God. The worthless ones were killed.
Samuel told him, stop. Here's what the lord already told me.
Focus
I. Saul was nobody. God had raised him up!
17 And Samuel said,
"Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of
Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.
II. Saul disobeyed God.
A. God told him specifically to do something. He had other ideas.
18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and said,
'Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them
until they are consumed.'
19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the
spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?"
B. Saul had his excuses, but he was still in the wrong.
20 And Saul said to Samuel,
"I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the
LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the
Amalekites to destruction.
C. Never presume to have a better idea than God!
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things
devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."
III. Saul lost his kingship.
A. God wanted obedience. To obey is better than making sacrifices.
1. Is this like some people who do wrong but want to make deals with God?
22 And Samuel said,
Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying
the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
B. Saul’s disobedience was hideous in God's sight!
1. Look at the sins with which he compares Saul's actions! Idolatry! Witchcraft!
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity
and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from
being king."
To seek help from supernatural sources that is not God is what witchcraft,
divination, and the occult is all about. If you believe in supernatural things,
why not seek guidance from the highest supernatural power, and learn what he
has in store for you?
To seek guidance from an idol is what people do who don't believe in the
supernatural. Those are the people who make their own gods, idols, and either
have no concept, or desire to believe in anything higher than the goodness of
humanity. Yet they seek help from things that were made by their own hands.
To turn to either, and to reject any authority other than yourself is to reject
God, and worship things that are detestable to God.
If we reject God’s plan, we shouldn't be surprised when he rejects us as the
tool, or instrument, he uses.
Here's the chance to tell us what you thought of the presentation today,
complete with Retrobots, and other helpers. Drop us a line, to tell us.
<http://podcast.heltsley.net/contact> Send a big thermos of hot chicken soup to
Nathan... or cough drops... or something.
Why not tell us the features, or segments we've had over the past 100 episodes
that you like... or don't like. It will help to bring a better podcast, and you
can be part of it.
keith <http://podcast.heltsley.net/?author=2> | January 17, 2017 at 8:05 am |
URL: http://wp.me/p5uvFj-7I ;<http://wp.me/p5uvFj-7I>
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