Carry Out God-Given Instructions
God takes pleasure when His people boldly and fully obey Him
1 Samuel Chapter 13 and 15
Introduction:
Last week Trent talked about how King Saul came into power and how it displeased God that the people of Israel wanted a King as the other nations had. Today we are still in 1 Samuel and will still be looking at King Saul and how he failed at carrying out two specific instructions from God. We will see in just a bit that not following God’s instructions can have dire consequences in our life just like they had in King Saul’s life.
As I begin my study of 1 Samuel chapters 13 and 15 and started thinking about the lesson title, I had a couple of questions come up. What are some reasons why I would not carry out God’s instructions? I have a small list I jotted down, but someone tell me what they think are reasons Christians might not carry out God given instructions.
Fear of what He might ask of me to do
Not acknowledging His authority over me
Only believing part of His word
Because I’m prideful and think I know best
I am selfish
I just don’t know what they are
Not knowing what God’s instructions are, really hit home with me. Oh I know some of His instructions, but if I am honest with myself, I have to admit there are likely instructions in His book I don’t know. I came up with my top five instructions from God. These are Brian’s top five not necessarily God’s top five.
5. We are to discipline our children.
4. Wives are to submit to their husbands and husbands are to love their wives.
3. To witness to others around us.
2. To keep the 1st commandment
1. To repent of our sins (turn from them) and place our faith in Christ.
What are some other instructions from God that we are to follow?
There are three things we can learn from King Saul about not carrying out God’s instructions. First fear leads to disobedience, second disobedience causes rebellion and third rebellion separates us from God. Let’s look at each point. If you have your bibles turn to 1 Samuel 13:5, 7-13.
Fear Leads to Disobedience (1Sam. 13:5,7-13)
As we can still see from these passages there is a lot of fighting going on, sort of like the world we live in today. We can also see why King Saul and his men might have started getting cold feet.
The Philistines had gathered an enormous army in Michmash and they were ready to fight because of King Saul’s oldest son Jonathan attacking a Philistine garrison in Geba.
Vs.7b-8: We see Saul is obedient and does go to Gilgal like Samuel told him to in Chapter 10:8, but when the seventh day came and Samuel had not shown up yet, fear started to set in on the people. They started to scatter.
Vs. 9: We see here the first sign of disobedience from King Saul. He feared losing his soldiers more than fearing God’s instructions to wait for Samuel to make the burnt offering. The burnt offering indicated absolute dedication to God. Because King Saul took matters into his own hands the offering was meaningless. If he was truly dedicated to God he would have waited. Plus only priest from the tribe of Levi were to offer burnt offerings for the people.
Vs. 10-13b: Samuel’s question to King Saul was not for information, smoke was most likely still climbing from the alter site. The question was intended to cause King Saul to see his disobedience and to contemplate the consequences of his actions. King Saul countered back to Samuel with self-justification as can be noted in the text. Samuel notes in verse 13 that King Saul acted foolishly. The Hebrew verb here usually expresses lack in a moral or spiritual sense. The verb depicts a person acting from fear and thus behaving rashly.
Illustration:
The United States economy today could cause some to fear the uncertainty of their financial and personal future therefore; they could be disobedient in their giving or being stewards of what God has given them.
Application:
Like King Saul fearing the circumstances more than fearing God and leading him into disobedience, we to have to be careful not to let the worldly things cause us to disobey God’s instructions. God honors faith.
Esphesians 5:6
Do not be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
Student Outline:
Putting you own FEAR ahead of God’s instructions can cause disobedience. Trust Him.
Do we want our own selfish desires more than we want to OBEY God?
Disobedience Causes Rebellion (1Sam.15:7-11)
Let me set up these next few verses. Because of King Saul’s son Jonathan’s courageous fighting, God sent another message to Samuel to give to King Saul. The message was for King Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites (uh MAL uh kights) which did include all men, women, children, infants, ox and all animals. Now this command might seem harsh and hard to swallow, but let’s be careful not to put ourselves up on a throne above the Holy God of the universe Romans 9:15-23. The Amalekites (uh MAL uh kights) had terrorized Israel during their exodus and God promised their annihilation Deut. 25:17-19
Vs. 7-9: We can see how King Saul’s disobedience is leading into plain out rebellion. King Saul sparing the life of King Agag (AY gag) was nothing but pure rebellion to God’s command. Not only did King Saul not carry out God’s instructions to kill all the people, but he kept the choice properties of the Amalekites (uh MAL uh kights) and was unwilling to destroy them.
Vs. 10-11: The Word of the Lord points to divine revelation to a prophet. This incident has similarities to Samuel’s call experience (Chapter 3), but Samuel here recognized God’s calling. The Hebrew verb regret indicates God was about to do something different. God never changes and did not change here, but King Saul had changed for the worst since God appointed him King.
Illustration:
In a book entitled Down to Earth, John Lawrence tells the story of a city that dared God to show Himself and paid a terrible price. It seems that the city of Messina, Sicily, was home to many wicked, irreligious people.
On December 25, 1908, a newspaper published in Messina printed a parody against God, daring Him to make Himself known by sending an earthquake.
Three days later, on December 28, the city and its surrounding district was devastated by a terrible quake that killed 84,000 people.
Application:
Disobedience can and most often does lead to rebellion. We need to make sure to always follow God’s complete instructions and not void out what we think does not apply to us. We should be careful not to act like God should appreciate us just for obeying part of His instructions. Even partial obedience is disobedience.
Student Outline:
Partial OBEDIENCE is still disobedience.
Rebellion Separates Us From God (1Sam.15:22-23)
Verses 12-21 really detail King Saul trying to justify himself with Samuel for not being completely obedient. First King Saul starts out by lying that the best of sheep and oxen were spared to sacrifice to God. (Make a note about King Saul saying first he was obedient to the Lord, then it was Samuel’s Lord and then back to his Lord and finally back to Samuel’s Lord.) King Saul even eventually try’s to blame his soldiers for not destroying everything. He was the King and the soldiers would have done what he told them to do.
Vs. 22: Samuel responds to King Saul’s justification by reminding him of his failure to be completely obedient. Samuel was pointing out that certain rituals are second to complete obedience to God.
Vs.23: Rebellion here in the text is likened to witchcraft and stubbornness to idolatry. Scripture makes it clear that witchcraft and idolatry are worthy of death. (Ex.22-Duet.13 and Micah 5) King Saul had sinned greatly against the Lord for not following completely His instructions and now was being rejected as king by God.
Rebellion against God’s instructions will always separate us from God and will always result in devastating circumstances.
Proverbs 28:9 says
One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Student Outline:
When we disobey we sometimes try to JUSTIFY ourselves. This doesn’t make it right.
Conclusion:
Are we carrying out God’s instructions in our life? Are we raising our children in the way they should go and to love God? Are we honoring our spouses and loving them like Christ loves us? Are we taking time out of our schedule to witness with others like Christ commanded? Are we putting God first in everything we do and loving our neighbors as ourselves?
But more importantly I think, are we following His instructions about repenting from our sins (breaking His laws -10 commandments) and placing all our faith in Christ. Not just believing in Christ, but really trusting everything Christ did for us. Are we putting Christ on everyday and dying to ourselves?
Just like King Saul rebelling against God and being rejected as king, are we being rejected by God because of some un-confessed and un-repented sin in our life?
Repentance and faith is the beginning to following God’s instructions in our life. After that we are continually being sanctified and growing in holiness, obeying all God’s instructions as we seek to please Him who saved us. God does take pleasure when we fully and boldly obey Him.
Jesus said in John 14:15:
If you love Me, keep My commandments.
God takes pleasure when His people boldly and fully obey Him
1 Samuel Chapter 13 and 15
Introduction:
Last week Trent talked about how King Saul came into power and how it displeased God that the people of Israel wanted a King as the other nations had. Today we are still in 1 Samuel and will still be looking at King Saul and how he failed at carrying out two specific instructions from God. We will see in just a bit that not following God’s instructions can have dire consequences in our life just like they had in King Saul’s life.
As I begin my study of 1 Samuel chapters 13 and 15 and started thinking about the lesson title, I had a couple of questions come up. What are some reasons why I would not carry out God’s instructions? I have a small list I jotted down, but someone tell me what they think are reasons Christians might not carry out God given instructions.
Fear of what He might ask of me to do
Not acknowledging His authority over me
Only believing part of His word
Because I’m prideful and think I know best
I am selfish
I just don’t know what they are
Not knowing what God’s instructions are, really hit home with me. Oh I know some of His instructions, but if I am honest with myself, I have to admit there are likely instructions in His book I don’t know. I came up with my top five instructions from God. These are Brian’s top five not necessarily God’s top five.
5. We are to discipline our children.
4. Wives are to submit to their husbands and husbands are to love their wives.
3. To witness to others around us.
2. To keep the 1st commandment
1. To repent of our sins (turn from them) and place our faith in Christ.
What are some other instructions from God that we are to follow?
There are three things we can learn from King Saul about not carrying out God’s instructions. First fear leads to disobedience, second disobedience causes rebellion and third rebellion separates us from God. Let’s look at each point. If you have your bibles turn to 1 Samuel 13:5, 7-13.
Fear Leads to Disobedience (1Sam. 13:5,7-13)
As we can still see from these passages there is a lot of fighting going on, sort of like the world we live in today. We can also see why King Saul and his men might have started getting cold feet.
The Philistines had gathered an enormous army in Michmash and they were ready to fight because of King Saul’s oldest son Jonathan attacking a Philistine garrison in Geba.
Vs.7b-8: We see Saul is obedient and does go to Gilgal like Samuel told him to in Chapter 10:8, but when the seventh day came and Samuel had not shown up yet, fear started to set in on the people. They started to scatter.
Vs. 9: We see here the first sign of disobedience from King Saul. He feared losing his soldiers more than fearing God’s instructions to wait for Samuel to make the burnt offering. The burnt offering indicated absolute dedication to God. Because King Saul took matters into his own hands the offering was meaningless. If he was truly dedicated to God he would have waited. Plus only priest from the tribe of Levi were to offer burnt offerings for the people.
Vs. 10-13b: Samuel’s question to King Saul was not for information, smoke was most likely still climbing from the alter site. The question was intended to cause King Saul to see his disobedience and to contemplate the consequences of his actions. King Saul countered back to Samuel with self-justification as can be noted in the text. Samuel notes in verse 13 that King Saul acted foolishly. The Hebrew verb here usually expresses lack in a moral or spiritual sense. The verb depicts a person acting from fear and thus behaving rashly.
Illustration:
The United States economy today could cause some to fear the uncertainty of their financial and personal future therefore; they could be disobedient in their giving or being stewards of what God has given them.
Application:
Like King Saul fearing the circumstances more than fearing God and leading him into disobedience, we to have to be careful not to let the worldly things cause us to disobey God’s instructions. God honors faith.
Esphesians 5:6
Do not be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
Student Outline:
Putting you own FEAR ahead of God’s instructions can cause disobedience. Trust Him.
Do we want our own selfish desires more than we want to OBEY God?
Disobedience Causes Rebellion (1Sam.15:7-11)
Let me set up these next few verses. Because of King Saul’s son Jonathan’s courageous fighting, God sent another message to Samuel to give to King Saul. The message was for King Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites (uh MAL uh kights) which did include all men, women, children, infants, ox and all animals. Now this command might seem harsh and hard to swallow, but let’s be careful not to put ourselves up on a throne above the Holy God of the universe Romans 9:15-23. The Amalekites (uh MAL uh kights) had terrorized Israel during their exodus and God promised their annihilation Deut. 25:17-19
Vs. 7-9: We can see how King Saul’s disobedience is leading into plain out rebellion. King Saul sparing the life of King Agag (AY gag) was nothing but pure rebellion to God’s command. Not only did King Saul not carry out God’s instructions to kill all the people, but he kept the choice properties of the Amalekites (uh MAL uh kights) and was unwilling to destroy them.
Vs. 10-11: The Word of the Lord points to divine revelation to a prophet. This incident has similarities to Samuel’s call experience (Chapter 3), but Samuel here recognized God’s calling. The Hebrew verb regret indicates God was about to do something different. God never changes and did not change here, but King Saul had changed for the worst since God appointed him King.
Illustration:
In a book entitled Down to Earth, John Lawrence tells the story of a city that dared God to show Himself and paid a terrible price. It seems that the city of Messina, Sicily, was home to many wicked, irreligious people.
On December 25, 1908, a newspaper published in Messina printed a parody against God, daring Him to make Himself known by sending an earthquake.
Three days later, on December 28, the city and its surrounding district was devastated by a terrible quake that killed 84,000 people.
Application:
Disobedience can and most often does lead to rebellion. We need to make sure to always follow God’s complete instructions and not void out what we think does not apply to us. We should be careful not to act like God should appreciate us just for obeying part of His instructions. Even partial obedience is disobedience.
Student Outline:
Partial OBEDIENCE is still disobedience.
Rebellion Separates Us From God (1Sam.15:22-23)
Verses 12-21 really detail King Saul trying to justify himself with Samuel for not being completely obedient. First King Saul starts out by lying that the best of sheep and oxen were spared to sacrifice to God. (Make a note about King Saul saying first he was obedient to the Lord, then it was Samuel’s Lord and then back to his Lord and finally back to Samuel’s Lord.) King Saul even eventually try’s to blame his soldiers for not destroying everything. He was the King and the soldiers would have done what he told them to do.
Vs. 22: Samuel responds to King Saul’s justification by reminding him of his failure to be completely obedient. Samuel was pointing out that certain rituals are second to complete obedience to God.
Vs.23: Rebellion here in the text is likened to witchcraft and stubbornness to idolatry. Scripture makes it clear that witchcraft and idolatry are worthy of death. (Ex.22-Duet.13 and Micah 5) King Saul had sinned greatly against the Lord for not following completely His instructions and now was being rejected as king by God.
Rebellion against God’s instructions will always separate us from God and will always result in devastating circumstances.
Proverbs 28:9 says
One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Student Outline:
When we disobey we sometimes try to JUSTIFY ourselves. This doesn’t make it right.
Conclusion:
Are we carrying out God’s instructions in our life? Are we raising our children in the way they should go and to love God? Are we honoring our spouses and loving them like Christ loves us? Are we taking time out of our schedule to witness with others like Christ commanded? Are we putting God first in everything we do and loving our neighbors as ourselves?
But more importantly I think, are we following His instructions about repenting from our sins (breaking His laws -10 commandments) and placing all our faith in Christ. Not just believing in Christ, but really trusting everything Christ did for us. Are we putting Christ on everyday and dying to ourselves?
Just like King Saul rebelling against God and being rejected as king, are we being rejected by God because of some un-confessed and un-repented sin in our life?
Repentance and faith is the beginning to following God’s instructions in our life. After that we are continually being sanctified and growing in holiness, obeying all God’s instructions as we seek to please Him who saved us. God does take pleasure when we fully and boldly obey Him.
Jesus said in John 14:15:
If you love Me, keep My commandments.
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