May 24 – 1 Samuel 14:24-52, 1 Samuel 15 John 14:1-31 Proverbs 12:28, Proverbs 13:1-9
1 Sam 15:10-11
Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night.
Saul was not supposed to leave anything alive. The orders were clear.
But he kept the good stuff. In verse 24 we read why. He says he was afraid of the men (his men) so he gave in to them. He wanted to make sure he was popular so he let them keep the spoils. He played the politician rather than follow God. And it was his undoing.
But it wasn’t just that. In verse 12 we read he went to Gilgal to set up a monument to himself. That was an indication of where his head was at. He was making everything about himself. He wanted things done his way. He saw himself as the one in charge and he allowed pride to make his decisions.
That’s the trouble with kings… they act like kings.
The Lord regretted making Saul King. Saul had everything it took, but he did. It live up to his promise.
Don’t let pride get you off track. Don’t let it become about you, no matter how well you are doing. Don’t set up monuments to yourself. That’s never a good sign….
John 14:1-4
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in Goda ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Wow. My heart cannot be troubled after reading this.
There is a lot of space in The Father’s house. Plenty for me and you. And we know this is true because Jesus emphasises the point by saying if t wasn’t true He wouldn’t have told us he was going there to prepare a place.
He’s going there for a reason. To get a place ready for us. We know where that place is…. and He’s coming to take us there.
