30 ‘Those who honour me I will honour, 1 Samuel 2
I just wanted to reiterate God’s Word and Promise from yesterday’s blog. The verse given to Eric Liddell in ‘Chariots of Fire’, just before the race began. He won the 400metres even though it wasn’t his main event in a record time. He honoured the Lord’s Sabbath and won the race. Paul talked about running the race to win.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? RUN IN SUCH A WAY AS TO GET THE PRIZE. 1 Corinthians 9
We could say run with intention and according to the rules.
Saul, the first king of Israel, wanted the Favour of the Lord but he took things into his own hands when Samuel didn’t come as expected.
3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land… 1 Samuel 13
The Philistines were much more powerful than the Israelites and Israel were afraid of them.
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited for seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.
The pressure on Saul was mounting all the time and finally he didn’t want to wait any longer.
9 So he said, ‘Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.’ And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 JUST AS HE FINISHED MAKING THE OFFERING, SAMUEL ARRIVED, and Saul went out to greet him.
Saul was so close, he had waited seven days. If he’d only waited a little longer everything would have happened just it should have, but he didn’t.
11 ‘What have you done?’ asked Samuel.
Saul replied, ‘When I saw that the men were scattering (Saul was influenced by other frightened men around him), and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12 I thought, “Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I HAVE NOT SOUGHT THE LORD’S FAVOUR (He Lost God’s Favour by acting impulsively).” SO ‘I FELT’ compelled to offer the burnt offering.’
Saul was looking at his frightened men running from the battle and took things into his own hands. He wanted the support of men more than the Favour of God and it cost him the future of his kingdom.
GOD KEEPS HIS BEST FOR THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM!
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6