Arise and Abide

Reading 1 Samuel 15:1-23 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion.  Watching Saul lose it. The command God gave Saul through Samuel was clear and would have been easy to remember. The LORD chose Saul, Saul was looking for approval from the people. Justifying choices people know are wrong. Saul wanted to spare the king’s life. Saul made a monument to himself and is then called out for thinking little of himself, Saul was trying to build himself up. Jesus reminding the Pharisees that God desires mercy not sacrifice.  Stubbornness being called out as being as bad as idol worship.  

Reading 1 Samuel 14:24-52 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion.  Saul’s foolish oath puts his son’s life in jeopardy and drives to people to such hunger that they sinned against the LORD by eating meat that had not been drained of blood. Saul creating a mess by trying to do what he thinks is best. The transactional worldview of God. There is nothing you can say that is equal to the weight of what God does. The people telling Saul that they will do whatever he thinks is best. Jonathan ate the honey; Saul ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of what’s good. The people Saul’s command vs God’s command. Saul grasping for control of the circumstances and for the respect of the people.

Reading Psalms 69:1-18 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. The imagery of someone sinking in mud and floodwaters. The enemies delighting in his sufferings. David responds with humility and confession. David knows his own strength won’t save him. John 15:24, They hated me without cause. Romans 15:2-4. John 2:17. God is faithful, His unfailing love endures forever, and even when we cannot see through all the mud, He is with us. 

Reading 1 Samuel 14:16-23 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. God taking a small army, gaining victory, and growing the army in the process. Saul demanding the burnt offering be made when things were not looking good for him and giving up on seeking the LORD when things are looking up. Johnathan goes into battle looking to see what God is going to do. Offerings were never transactional, and begins to remind us of Jephthah.  

Reading 1 Samuel 13:15-14:15(NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. The Israelite army being at a disadvantage as only Saul and Jonathan had a sword. Jonathan’s faith was greater than their disadvantage. It doesn’t look like it’s going to go well for Saul or the 600 men. Jonathan’s faith and boldness to go fight the Philistines. When we see our resources dwindle, we can look to God, or panic as we try to save ourselves. God’s strength so much greater than our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9. Paul’s weakness is irrelevant; God’s strength is more than enough.

Reading 1 Samuel 13:1-14 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. 1 Samuel 10:7, Saul’s failure in patience, faith, and obedience. The circumstances made Saul feel like he had to take matters into his own hands. Saul trying to do what he thinks is right. The opportunity to experience God’s power and faithfulness turns into the beginning of the end of Saul’s kingdom. What does it mean to be after the LORD’s heart. Saul’s response was blame and excuses as opposed to confession and repentance. God’s heart is not blame and excuses, it is truth and love.

Reading 1 Samuel 12:1-25 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Samuel gives the people a brief history of Israel’s history showing them the pattern of rescue and abandonment. It’s hard to see the chosen people say to Samuel, “pray to your God”. The faith journey of making God your own. Throughout the Old Testament we see a call to remember. God comes when they are oppressed and afraid, but when they were afraid of Nahash they called out for a king instead of calling on their God and King to rescue them. The Israelites abandoned God and in the state of fear they feel the LORD has abandoned them. The LORD will not abandon His people. Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of true knowledge, which is what we were after in the garden when we ate the fruit.

Reading 1 Samuel 10:27b-11:15 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. The events appointing Saul as king, the private anointing, the selection by lot, the military victory. Saul hiding in the baggage, now ploughing his fields, the king the LORD chooses isn’t going to lord his kingship over the people he leads. God doesn’t fit into our ideas of how God moves or how God works. It takes a lot to get the people to rise and go to battle. The threat is not like the threats of men. The LORD made Saul angry and cause the people to fear Saul’s anger. The LORD brought the people together, and Saul shows God’s mercy on those who didn’t want to follow Saul right away. The joy of the LORD in the coming together and the victory He provided in the tension of the truth that they still want a king.

Reading 1 Samuel 10:17-27 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Saul’s journey finds himself hiding in the luggage. God reminds the people that they are rejecting God with the request for a king. The king God chooses knows the LORD is the King. We are called to be humble servants who do not seek the glory for themselves, as Jesus exemplified. Regular reading of God’s word required for the king to fear the LORD. These stories all point to Jesus and how good God is for giving us the time to understand His love.

Reading Psalms 68:17-35 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Receiving gifts from the people, now giving the gift(s) to His people. Ephesians 4:5, a special gift, Greek: a special grace. The unity we have in Christ. Genesis 3:15 the serpent’s head will be smashed by His heal.  Each day He carries us in His arms shows us a picture of God as a good and loving father. God gives power and strength to his people.