Faith Like A Mustard Seed

I have done what God asked me to do

The days of the Amalekites were numbered. Their time was up. They had been a harsh enemy to God’s people over numerous years, and Saul received the words of the Lord from Samuel, to destroy all of the Amalekites, and everything they had. Judgment had come.

On the way to destroy the Amalekites, Saul and his army came across the Kenites, who were descendants of Jethro, the father in law of Moses. Saul told them to get their people out of harms way, for the generosity that was displayed by their people in years past was still remembered that day, and it kept them alive.

Saul did destroy all of the Amalekites, except their king, Agag. Why? Perhaps they wanted to parade him around, or have some fun with him instead. Saul and his army also kept the animals that appeared to be good to them. Well, the word of the Lord quickly came to Samuel, and he got up early the next morning to go out and meet with Saul. Samuel also found out that Saul had gone down to Gilgal, after setting up a place for himself.

Is this how God wants His children to act? Was Saul told to have some fun with Agag, do whatever seems good to him regarding the livestock, and set up a monument for himself after the conquest was complete?

No! Saul was told to destroy the Amalekites, and everything they possessed. Did he do this? No, he did not. But what does Saul say as soon as Samuel comes to meet him?

“Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” I Samuel 15:13

To which Samuel responded, Did you? What then is the meaning of the oxen and sheep that I hear?

Then Saul preceded to blame the people. He claimed that the people spared the good animals, so that they might be sacrificed to the Lord, his(Samuel) God. Samuel then told Saul how the Lord had made him king over Israel, and sent him on a mission to do a specific thing, but instead he disobeyed the Lord by doing evil in His sight.

Then Saul said that he did obey the Lord, in that he went on the mission, brought back king Agag, and destroyed the Amalekites. Then he blamed the people again for taking the livestock that appeared good to them, so that they might be sacrificed to the Lord, his(Samuel) God. Well, Samuel trumped Saul’s lame excuses with this response:

“Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.” I Samuel 15:22-23

Ouch! Not so much about the part of Saul being rejected as king, but the part where disobedience is equal to witchcraft, and idolatry. That’s a little hard to hear because we don’t usually see things the same way the God sees things. We say, this is bad, that is very bad, and that is horrible. God says, you disobeyed and it’s sin, it’s equal to idolatry. Idolatry, by the way, is the worship that is given out to anything besides God. It is trying to bring God down, or trying to make something seem to be at an equal level with God.

Getting back to Saul, after hearing this response by Samuel, he admits to his sin, but he also admits to not following Samuel’s words, and then blames the people yet again. If he was truly repentant, he would display works that show it. Instead, he asks Samuel to pardon his sin. He just wants it to go away so that things can get back to the way they were before this whole conversation with Samuel. Again Samuel tells Saul that the Lord has rejected him from being king, and as he moved to turn away from Saul, he grabbed hold of his clothing and it ripped.

“And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for He is not a man, that He should repent.” I Samuel 15:28-29

Saul tore part of Samuel’s clothing, and Samuel told Saul that God has torn the kingdom away from him that day, and given it to someone else who will walk in His ways. That’s the thing about disobedience, and unrepentance; if we don’t obey what God wants us to do, He will find someone else to do it, and that person will receive the blessing, which is exactly what happened to king Saul.

Saul admitted to his sin a second time because it was clear as day, but he also said, honor me. He wasn’t truly sorry for anything, except the fact that he was paying a price for disobedience. Okay, I did do it, can’t you build me up instead of bringing me down? Lets just worship the Lord and get things back to the way they were. That just doesn’t work with God. The way to God is not up, it’s not in making yourself to appear better, or righteous. That’s why not a lot of people are receiving the call when the sun is shining, and things couldn’t be better. Most people get the call when they are down in the dumps, when things couldn’t possibly get any worse, when the storm is raging and all seems lost. It’s crisis time, and that’s when people realize that they are absolutely not going to get things done under their own power. They answer the call, and turn to God in repentance, and faith.

This is not what Saul was doing. There was no repentance with Saul. He was gradually distancing himself from God through disobedience, and unrepentance. He was not going to be king anymore, and there was nothing that he could possibly do about that. However, there was still a chance to get right with God, to turn to Him and walk in His ways. There was still time to be the man that he was created to be. He could still have God, and thus have all that he needed. Will he choose that? Will he choose repentance?

——–> We’re not that different from Saul, are we? I mean, we’re not different in the sense of heart, attitude, motive, etc. We don’t have a different heart than Saul. The heart that says “I’m gonna do what I want to do”, or “I did do that but I have good reasons”, or even “I didn’t do that” even if, yes, we did do that. We all have the same heart, and we all have the same opportunities to repent, and to produce works in keeping with repentance. Lord, forgive us for the times when we only obeyed part of what You asked, but claimed that we had done exactly what You asked. Help us to be repentant, and to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. May we continue to turn to You at all times, and walk in Your ways, so that we may truly be able to claim, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord!” Amen.

Dave Earley
Faith Like A Mustard Seed
Bible Study Forum