Pastor Marshall Ochs | May 28, 2023
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from 1 Samuel 13-14. These chapters record the unraveling of Saul’s kingdom. Saul’s disobedience in obeying the Lord’s command brought ruin on his lineage and the Lord sought a new king after his own heart. This tragic tale shows how insecurity and disobedience has deep consequences and communicates a warning for all who consider their words as more valuable than the Lord’s.
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Read 1 Samuel 13. We see in this story the distinct contrast between Saul and his son, Jonathan’s approach to following God. Saul deferred to his own plans and ideas rather than the Lord’s. The sin of pride is glaring here! Jonathan had faith in God, His provision and instruction. Saul tried to force God’s hand of blessing by following religious practices and not the Lord’s instructions. Taking honest inventory of your life, where do you find yourself? Have you been prideful and followed your plans rather than the Lord’s? Are you following certain religious practices you prefer and expecting God to bless you, while you ignore and disobey other instruction from the Lord?
Samuel, (God’s prophet and voice to the Israelites) instructed Saul to wait 7 days for him to come and bring an offering. However, Saul decided to take matters into his own hands when he didn’t think the circumstances were working out the way he thought they should. Saul wanted favor from God without obedience, and he desired popularity and fame from the people more than he desired God. Saul forgot that the throne belonged to God! Saul was a steward of what God had entrusted to him. Do you see this in your life? Do you see that you are merely a steward of all God has given you? (Family, time, career, money, possessions, etc.) Have you forgotten who sits on the throne of your life?
Read 1 Samuel 14. Saul looked at circumstances, but Jonathan looked to God. When we look at God, our circumstances don’t seem to matter. Like Jonathan, we must cling to faith over fear or obstacles. Jonathan didn’t have a good father figure, but he didn’t let that keep him from pursuing his faith in God. Have you allowed your family, friends, life’s challenges or personal desires to keep you from pursuing God?
It is tragic to live a nice comfortable life without the Lord! Those who choose to use religion as a means to seek God’s blessing without true obedience to God will be swept away. They will find themselves without the Lord! How tragic that would be! Please pray over this message this week and listen to what the Lord is instructing you to do. Be obedient and do as He tells you!