Follow Up with Clay - 09.25.24

We live in a world that wants to beat men up…. We want to build men up… to bless women and children.

1st Corinthians 16:13-14, Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

Rule to live by: Remember that before she was your wife / fiancée’ / girlfriend….

She was / is His daughter…. Joint heir in the Kingdom of God.

Saul: (1st Samuel 10-15)

People began crying out for a king…. (All the other nations had kings)

Insult to God…. He was to be their King…. (They were rejecting Him / plan)

Imagine you’re there / get a vote…. How would you vote?

Additional information….

Samuel was an old man…. Sons were not good leaders….

Wanting a king to lead / protect / make big decisions….

Seems reasonable / logical…. (Don’t throw anything)

Samuel went to God…. (Not surprised)

God agreed to give them what they wanted…. an earthly king….

(Sometimes God allows us to have what we want even is it’s not what He wants)

They didn’t get a vote…. God chose the man to be king…. (Surprise to him)

1st Samuel 9:2a, …a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

1st Samuel 10:23b, And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

When Saul was announced as king / Annointed…. People cheered….

He was exactly what they wanted…. (Tall / handsome / strong / tough)

But remember…. He was what the people wanted / not what God wanted….

God chose…. But God gave what they were crying out for….

Chapter 11:

Town of Gibran under siege by Ammonites…. Messenger sent to Saul….

Saul rallies the army…. Attacked / wins a great victory…. Big celebration….

Chapter 13:

Saul gathered 3,000 soldiers to go against the Philistines….

2,000 with him…. 1,000 with his son, Jonathan….

Jonathan won a victory…. Saul took credit….

The Philistines mustered an army like sand on the seashore….

(30,000 chariots…. 6,000 horseman / troops…. )

When the men following Saul saw that they were in trouble….

They ran / hid in caves / swam across the Jordan….

All the people following him trembled.

Samuel was coming to offer burnt / peace offerings in worship to God….

(His duty as priest)

He was supposed to be there within seven days….

Day seven came…. Saul got impatient….

Saul looked around to see people scattering from him…. (Only 600 left…. )

So he offered the sacrifices himself….

Seems reasonable / logical…. (Don’t throw anything)

As soon as he was done…. Samuel showed up….

Samuel scolded him…. Starting with this question….

(What have you done?)

We’ve heard that kind of question before….

Adam / Eve….

Caine….

Aken….

Peter….

Judas….

Paul….

Have you ever opened Scripture and heard God ask you that question?

(Husband / dad / leader / work…. Christian…. Man…. )

What have you done?

Saul responds with excuses rather than repentance….

1st Samuel 15:10-11, The word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night.

But Saul was exactly what the people wanted….

But he was not what God wanted….

The people replaced God with a man….

Let me say that another way….

The people put a man in the place that should have been reserved for God alone.

He didn’t really stand a chance….

Lesson: The taller they are the harder they fall.

They = Us

Tall = Success in the world’s eyes

Fall = Failure in God’s eyes

God goes on to choose another king…. David…. (More next week)

House of Jesse…. Lined up all the sons…. (Oldest to youngest)

Samuel went down the line only to hear God say…. No to all of them….

But wait…. There is one more…. But he’s the baby…. Not very impressive….

In fact…. We didn’t even call for him to come in…. He’s tending sheep….

1st Samuel 16:7, But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

Saul looked like success to the people when they compared him to the world.

Even his biggest mistake seemed reasonable….

God doesn’t all us to stand tall / impress everybody….

God calls us to trust Him…. Even / especially when it is very hard to do so.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.

How does the world define success?

Brothers…. Do not define success by the world’s standards….

Isaiah 55:8-9, For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 11:33-34, Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?”

Questions:

How are you most tempted to stand tall? (Try to impress by worldly standards)

How can we pray for you?

Who do you know that needs this group?

Next Week: David (2nd Samuel 11-12)