Devotionals for GET A GRIP (GRASPING THE STORY OF GOD) MAJORS, MINORS, & MESSIANICS Saul

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1 Devotionals for GET A GRIP (GRASPING THE STORY OF GOD) MAJORS, MINORS, & MESSIANICS Saul Monday Welcome to our first day of looking at the life of King Saul in the Old Testament. It's great having you with us in our devotional times this week as we unpack several areas of Saul s life. Now, this story is a little disturbing, so this will be more of a down week than an up week. I want to take a moment to thank our other guys who are writing devotionally Sam Thomas, Brian Combs, Bruce Clark, and Stephen Elkin, Jr. Thanks so much, guys, for covering some of the hard areas of Scripture in King Saul s life! Now, to begin with today, please read 1 Samuel 10. Let s make some observations. First of all, there is a reluctance to lead by Saul. I'm not sure what to attribute that to. It doesn't say he was born for this role, but rather he was chosen, but let's remember the context in which he was chosen. If you recall, the Israelites wanted a king for one main reason, and that was to be like the other nations. God told Samuel not to feel personally bad about Israel's terrible decision, because the nation wasn't rejecting Samuel as a leader as much as they were rejecting God as their King and Leader. So Saul comes on the scene, desired by the people who have no clue what they're in for! Now, did you notice the one phrase in our passage where it says Saul was hiding among the baggage when it came time for the coronation? Think about that. In the King James Version, the phrase is, he was "hiding amongst the stuff." Let's make sense out of that together today, if you will. He was insulating himself for being the leader. He was reluctant, he was tentative, he was unsure. And he did not have a heart that was quick to ask God, to trust God, or to follow God. Now, the application of all that today for you and me personally is to simply ask ourselves the question, What are we hiding in? It's safe to say we re hiding from God or from our responsibility of something, but what are we hiding in? What is your escape? What is your drug, if you will, of choice? You might be hiding as a husband who needs to be with his wife or a father who needs to be with his kids more. Maybe you're hiding from the boss, maybe you're hiding from your employees, maybe you're hiding from financial realities that are hard to face or physical and health issues that you've wrestled with for a long time and just wish you didn't have to deal with anymore. I get that. So does God. He understands our reluctance to engage at times. But if we refuse to engage in the simple calling on our lives like employment, finances, health and fitness, relationships, and even our spiritual growth, we will find those realities and responsibilities won't go away! So how do I come out from hiding? How do I remove myself from the stuff? How do I break away from the baggage? I'm glad you asked that question. It begins with simple verses that you can Google, rather than my reference. Verses in the Bible like taste and see that the Lord is good. Go ahead, Google to see where that's found. A simple hint is that it s in the Psalms. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. That's a start, Google that one to see where it's written. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength. Okay, that's in Mark 12. All these things are simply a beginning, a step like if you get involved in a small group (Let me suggest in January as the new year begins). You journey with other people beside you, and you begin to come out of hiding together, because we all have insecurities and we all have fears. We all have anxieties about doing what God wants us to do, and we can be intimidated by the devil into remaining quiet, complacent, and insulated. Because, what we're really missing is not so much of an obligation and spiritual duty, but we're missing a huge incredible blessing: the blessing of his presence, the blessing of fellowship with other believers where we experience a tremendous sense of authentic community. Saul missed those things. He missed closeness with God; and, if you would've seen his report card from kindergarten, it would've said, Doesn't play well with others. Let me encourage you today to open His Word. Pray about things that we bring up like this in the devotion. Be there this weekend as we worship and continue studying about these godly leaders in the Old Testament. Find a place to serve. Find a spiritual group to be a family. I'd love to see that happen for you. And if you do that, trust me, God will bless you, and He will raise you up to be the servant and leader that He wants you to be! Love you, Northside family, George

2 Tuesday We are back today, looking more at the life of King Saul. As Saul took the matter of leading God s people into his own hands and ignoring the leading of God, God once again directed the future of Israel by rejecting Saul as king and anointing David as the future king. Furthermore, 1 Samuel 16:14 says, Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. I imagine this as if Saul was going through the worst panic attack you can imagine and feeling sad, angry, scared, and helpless all at once, without any respite or way to find relief. God is once again orchestrating the future care and leading of His people when, out of all of the possible people in Israel, He causes Saul s attendants to suggest that David, a talented musician and recently anointed future King of Israel, come and play for Saul to ease his affliction. Then, when David would play for Saul, verse 23 tells us that, Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. A couple of years ago, a documentary came out called Alive Inside. The premise of the film was to follow an organization called Music & Memory, which specializes in using music therapy to bring back neurological function in the elderly, especially those battling Alzheimer s and dementia. The effect of music on the patients is astounding. People who are barely able to function, staring at the floor as if in a waking coma, come alive again. Their eyes light up, their shoulders and feet wiggle, and some can even communicate again in coherent conversations following the listening of music. It really speaks to the gift of music from God to us in an amazing way. As the Creative Arts Director here at Northside, I have the privilege to be able to work with Sam Hancock and our worship team to choose new worship music for our weekend services. The selections of the worship songs we sing on a weekend are not something that we treat flippantly. In fact, there are many more songs that we listen to and decide against than ones that we even consider introducing. As Saul s attendants realized thousands of years ago, we also realize the amazing and unique way we can connect to God through music. We don t just look for songs that make you feel good and get your toes tapping; we focus on songs that are going to speak to our hearts and connect to God in a unique way. Every part of the service is important, from the welcome to the close, and we have the privilege of offering the musical worship portion of the weekend as a tool that God can use to cause the world to melt away until there is nothing left but a heart surrendered to Him. What we do isn t about performance. It is about emotion. It is about connection. It is about realizing who God is, why we worship Him as our Creator and King, and the very real relationship He so strongly desires to have with us. It is a gift, and it is amazing. Sam Thomas

3 Wednesday Saul Loses His Kingdom I have noticed a frightening trend over the past few years. As I approach an intersection, after the light turns red, I will watch, not one or two, but three and more cars blast through the red light. The first time, we didn t really even mean to do so; we just weren t paying attention. But each time we beat the system, we get a little bolder. We begin to believe the law of red lights doesn t really apply to us. But eventually, the guy coming the other way, who has beat the system, blasts through the intersection at the same time. It is in that moment, we realize the red light was there, not to punish us, but protect us. It is the same with God s Word. So we come to this guy Saul in the Bible. He was anointed the first king of Israel. When we first meet him in 1 Samuel 9:2, here is how he is described, Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else. But as time goes on, we learn appearances can be deceiving. In 1 Samuel 15, God has had enough. Saul tries to maintain control in three ways: 1) Trophies: set up a monument in his own honor (v.12) 2) Excuses: I was afraid of the men (v.24) 3) Escapes: find someone to play for me (1 Samuel 16:17) But Samuel replied: Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king. ~ 1 Samuel 15:22-23 The fatal flaw of our kingdom theology is the belief that God wants to be a part of my life rather than the source of it. Losing your kingdom isn't necessarily bad. Our defining moment isn't the moment of great success or failure, but the moment after. The defining moment is the moment after I realize I have lost control. The difference between surrender and resignation is not just what you give up, but what you take up. The Lord s Prayer gives us a powerful language to apply this to our lives. Take a moment to read Matthew 6:5-15. Jesus teaches that His Kingdom requires three things: 1) Surrender: Your kingdom come, Your will be done 2) Gratitude: Give us this day 3) Obedience: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil Questions to consider: What is something you need to surrender control? What is one thing you are grateful for? Are there any areas of your life where you have rejected the Word of the Lord? Take some time to pray for God to help you see any areas of your life where you have beat the red light and need to give God control. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ~ Colossians 1:13-14 Brian Combs

4 Thursday The Witch of Endor 1 Samuel 28 Saul had expelled the mediums (witches) and spiritists from the land. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him. Saul then said to his attendants, Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her. There is one in Endor, they said. So Saul went to the woman. ~ 1 Samuel 28:5-8 We know that God answers prayer. However, He does not always respond as quickly as we want Him. Sometimes, during our toughest struggles, He seems distant and uninterested in our situation. Even though we have His promise that Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5), the temptation is to find an answer elsewhere instead of waiting on God. In this story, Saul had expelled the mediums from the land, but not entirely. He knew that they were still available should he ever need one. His prayer was not one of faith, but out of fear, and he had not been seeking the heart of God or taking His commands seriously. For God had said, Anyone who does these things [consults a medium] is detestable to the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:12). God did not want Saul listening to those who practice sorcery or divination and, thereby, be led into error. Rather, He insisted that he wait on Him and resist the notion that he was sufficient within himself. Saul, however, failed the test by quickly embracing something that God had condemned. As believers in Christ, we have been graciously rescued from a corrupt culture that is in opposition to God and granted citizenship in His kingdom. Afterwards, we were made ambassadors to this world for the purpose of representing God s love and plan of salvation for mankind. We cannot, however, live for God in this world according to the principal of Satan, who opposes God on every front. When I have questions about God s will or important decisions to make, why would I look to the sinful nature of man or rely on counsel from people who may be intelligent but clearly have no interest in following Christ. Rather, they follow the self-seeking, self-honoring, unscriptural principals of Satan. I should wait on God s clear direction and ask myself questions like: Is it scriptural? Would Jesus do it? Is it God-honoring? Does it promote unity? Is it being a good steward of my time and money, etc.? Sometimes, it is better to do nothing than to just do anything. Let us stay off the couch of the world and earnestly seek God and wait on Him for answers (Psalm 40:1). We may avoid some major pitfalls and see God win some great battles in our lives if we do. Bruce Clark

5 Friday THE DEATH OF SAUL How Kingdoms Crumble The nation of Israel was ruled by judges a system that God had set up so they would not be like the other nations. These judges were to be holy and dedicated to the service of the Lord. There were great judges, and there were wicked judges. Samuel was a great judge; and, as he grew older, he appointed his sons to be the next judges. The people of Israel had rejected them, and they requested a king. The people wanted to be like the surrounding nations. They were rejecting God, so He gave them what they wanted. He instructed Samuel to anoint Saul as King of Israel. Saul was a handsome man a head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. He was a great military leader, and God wanted to use him to rescue the Israelites from the hands of the Philistines. Saul was a humble man from the smallest tribe and the least important family of the tribe. Samuel anoints Saul as king of Israel, and the people accept him as their leader. Saul began to lead the nation and win battles against the enemies of Israel. His military successes began to build. Saul fought his enemies in every direction. Wherever he turned, Saul and his sons were victorious. Saul began to trust in his own hand and the work of his men on the battlefield more than following the direct commands of the Lord. Again and again, he doesn t follow the Word of the Lord that is delivered to him through Samuel. Saul became a proud man and began to believe he was in control of his kingdom. Because of his disobedience, the Lord told Samuel that he regretted the fact that he ever made Saul king. Samuel tells Saul that the Lord had rejected him as king because he has rejected Him. Samuel goes on to say that the Lord has given his kingdom to someone after God's own heart. God removed His Spirit from Saul, and he became a tormented soul. This was when David came into God s plan, and Samuel anointed him as the next king of Israel. Saul became jealous of David and sought to kill him. Only Jonathan, Saul s son, accepted David as the future king. Jonathan warned David to flee and hide from his father. Saul was so obsessed with preserving his power and kingdom that he stopped at nothing to kill David. Because of this obsession, Saul took his eye off the task of protecting God s people and the Promised Land. Saul started out as a humble man, but his power, greed, and pride lead him to disobedience. He became an arrogant and jealous man! While Saul and his army were off looking for David and his men, the Philistines were attacking the nation of Israel. Saul realized that he and his men needed to return to protect the people for whom they were responsible. This set the scene for the final battle that Saul and his sons would see against the Philistines. During battle, Saul was mortally wounded and his sons were killed. The Israeli army was fleeing the battlefield and being slaughtered. Saul turned to his armor bearer and told him to take his sword and kill him before the Philistines capture him. The armor bearer refused his order, so Saul took his own sword and fell on it, killing himself. The question is this: How do we keep our life, our kingdom, from crumbling like Saul s did? It starts with not having a kingdom of our own! Saul believed he was in control of his life; that it was all in his hands. On that mountaintop, Saul was determined to be in control, even in his death. He was going to die in his own way, on his own time, and by his own hand. This is not what God desires for our life. God wants us to live for HIS Kingdom. The one that is everlasting. God knows that we will ruin any kingdom that we try to build. David was known as a man after God s own heart, and Saul wasn t. David struggled with some of the same sins that Saul did, so what is the difference between these two men and us? We all have sin in our lives! We can see the difference when we look at the Book of Psalms. Here we see David, a man after God s own heart, crying out to Him, depending on Him, seeking Him, submitting to Him, loving Him, serving Him, and trusting Him with all the things of his heart and life. David knew he couldn t be good enough! David knew he couldn t serve two masters. So he had to make a choice when it came to whose kingdom he was going to serve and in whom he was going to trust. Whose kingdom are you serving? What next steps do you need to take to trust in God and not in your own ability? Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. ~ Psalm 139: NLT Stephen Elkin, Jr.