Welcome!
Today: Stealing in God’s name!
Passage: 1 Sam 13, 15
7 Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves[b] and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. (1Sam 15)-emphasis added
After the incident in 1 Sam 13, where Saul offered the sacrifice that Samuel was supposed to make, Saul displeased God again, in the incident mentioned above
Both these times he was going on a war with the enemy and both disobedience had to do something with worship/God’s stuff
Saul was specifically told to destroy Amalekites completely
3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy[a] everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” (1 Sam 15, NIV)
As soon as Samuel saw what Saul did by sparing the “best” and killing the weak, it broke Samuel’s heart.
When we see certain things going in the churches today, it breaks the hearts of some people, but for some others, it is O.K!
10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11 “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night (1 Sam 15, NIV)
Saul was “cool” after doing all these. Have you seen people like that?
Many even take part in a “communion” without any repentance or confession!
God gave Saul a “second chance” here. In the previous incident when he offered the sacrifice wrongly, God had rejected him already.
15 Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” 16 “Stop!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” (1 Sam 15, NIV)
Saul put all the blame on poor soldiers. “Mr.Saul, you are in charge of the kingdom and the soldiers. Why didn’t you take action against the soldiers?”
By the way, the most “stealing” going on today, is in God’s name, regardless of religion. But that is like playing with fire!
Repentance is more than just feeling sorry for what you did. True repentance involves turning away from that sin for ever!
God bless your day, as you meditate on this and think practically
BG
Prayer: Lord, you are pleased with obedience than sacrifice, and with truth than worship. I see that sacrifice without obedience and worship without truth are things you hate. Forgive me for doing that anytime. In Jesus’ name, Amen
To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22)