99 - The fear of man brings a snare

Saul Reproved by Samuel
for Not Obeying the Commandments of the Lord
John Singleton Copley

Chareen's Thoughts

1 Samuel 13-16

• Today we continue reading about Jonathan and King Saul.
• Jonathan is a man of courage and is with his father King Saul leading the army. We read how he goes forward and slays 20 men on his own.
• Unknown to him his father takes an oath and forbids everyone from eating till they have conquered. Jonathan eats some honey and is condemned to death but the people save him from Saul.
• The Lord instructs Saul to destroy Amalek, all it's people, animals and city.  The people destroy the city and all people accept it's king and they keep some of the animals.
• When Samuel challenges Saul about this disobedience he passes the blame to the people and justifies his actions ....
• Samuel replies: Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (household good luck images). Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.
• Saul then tries to repent.  Samuel kills the king from Amalek and they part ways.
• Samuel mourned Saul and the LORD regretted He had made Saul king over Israel.

Such a small thing yet it destroyed one man and averted what could have been.

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high. Proverbs 29:25  

You can see the evidence of this in the life of Saul.

At his own coronation as king: Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, if the man would yet come back. And the Lord answered, Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage 1 Samuel 10:22
When he is declared king the word says:  But some worthless fellows said, How can this man save us? And they despised him and brought him no gift. But he held his peace and was as if deaf. 1 Samuel 10:27.
In Samuel 13 the people are fearful and he waits for Samuel to come and sacrifice but after 7 days he does not see Samuel and the people start to leave in fear he makes a sacrifice himself to encourage the people.
In Samuel 14 He forbids the people to eat and takes an oath, then before the people declares: For as the Lord lives, Who delivers Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But not a man among all the people answered him.
When he finds out it is his son and prepares to kill him But the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan, who has wrought this great deliverance to Israel, die? God forbid! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head perish, for he has wrought this great deliverance with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die. 1 Samuel 14:45.
Then when he is sent to destroy Amalek and is challenged we read: 1 Samuel 15:9 Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but all that was undesirable or worthless they destroyed utterly. and this excuse 1 Samuel 15:15 Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we have utterly destroyed. Lesson learned you can not lead well and will sin if you fear the people.

• Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, but he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] is rewarded Proverbs 13:13

Be blessed today as you walk humbly before your God
Chareen