The People

Saul had been crowned king. Not everyone was thrilled. He went back to work for his father. Then a crisis came.

Nahash the Ammonite, wanted to gouge out the right eye of everyone in Jabesh-Gilead and make them his servants. The messengers came to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to the people, and they all wept.

1 Samuel 11:5, “… ‘What’s the matter with the people?’…”
Christian Standard Bible

Saul had separated himself from everyone. He didn’t see individuals, his friends, or his family; he saw “the people.”

Do my political representatives see me? Or am I just part of a crowd referred to as constituents?

1 Samuel 11:6, “When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly came powerfully on him, and his anger burned furiously.”
Christian Standard Bible

God was angry! Was Saul?

What would have happened if the Spirit of God had not touched Saul? Would he have sent the men of Gibeah home? Would he have said, “Sorry, some of you are going to die? It’s going to hurt and you will never recover your sight?”

Dear God,

I pray that Your Spirit will suddenly come powerfully on our politicians.

Amen

Our politicians are asking for unity. The Bible showed us how to get unity.

1 Samuel 11:7, “…the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out united.”
Christan Standard Bible

It was easy to pray for the Spirit of God to fall on the politicians. It is harder to pray for the “terror of the Lord” to fall on me!

1 Samuel 12:23-24, “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way. 24) Above all, fear the Lord and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you.”
Christian Standard Bible

I must pray for them, or I sin against the Lord. I must teach the “good and right way,” or I sin against the Lord.

What is the “good and right way?”

Fear (respect) God.
Worship Him.
Be faithful to Him.
Worship Him wholeheartedly.
Remember the great things He has done.

How did Saul do?

1 Samuel 13:9, “So Saul said, ‘Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.’ Then he offered the burnt offering.”
Christian Standard Bible

He did not fear or respect God. Only the priests could offer burnt offerings.
He was impatient and wouldn’t wait on Samuel. Why? His army was deserting him. His trust was in his army, not God.
Worshipping irreverently is not worship. Just as it is not my place to try to “lead worship” from the congregation, it was not Saul’s place to offer a burnt offering.
Saul didn’t remember the great victory over Nahash and the Ammonites, see 1 Samuel 11:11.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the great thing you did for me yesterday. After 16 months battling facial hives, the dermatologist found the trigger – air-born eucalyptus from my vaporizer and diffuser. Thank you for the great improvement after one treatment. I know you are healing me because the treatments were supposed to take two weeks! I am humbled and grateful.

Thank you for the fruit from my suffering. While I was at the dermatologist’s office, David took his Bible to “The Vine,” (a coffee shop), and ordered breakfast. When he finished reading, a young man came over and asked some questions.

When I get to heaven, I will meet that young man. He may ask me if the pain, suffering, embarrassment, and humiliation were worth it.

I will say, “Yes!”

Thank you for forgiving me when I tried to lead worship from the congregation. I will never forget the humiliation I felt when You pointed it out to me.

Thank you for loving me even when I am too embarrassed to love myself.

Thank you for teaching me.

Thank you for never giving up on me.

In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Amen!