For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
1 Sam. 15
Saul and his troops clung to the nice things. They were not willing to destroy them, though they did destroy the worthless and unwanted stuff. This was a problem because it was not in full compliance with what God commanded them, which was to destroy everything. But what was at the heart of their disobedience? I see several things.
- Jesus talked about perfect love being unbiased; not dependent on the recipient. (See Matt. 5, Luke 6). While Jesus was referring to people, not things, the concept of bias in our lives still applies. The problem with it is that we set ourselves up as the deciding factor on worth. In this case, God had declared everything the Amalekites had as worthy of destruction. Who were Saul and his troops to determine otherwise?
- God did not give the things they kept; they took them. They had no right to them, so they essentially stole from God. The lesson for me, then, is that I need to rely on what God gives me, not go my own way to get what I think I want.
- Saul tried to cover up their pride and greed with a token sacrifice. He tried to claim they did what they did for God’s sake. Problem one – if somebody makes a request of you but you give them what you want instead, you can’t say that you did what they asked. Problem 2 – 1 Samuel 15: 9 says that Saul and the troops spared not just the livestock, but, “the best of everything else”. Trying to make our sin look like righteousness is never a good plan.
To be honest, I can relate to their unwillingness to destroy the best of all that stuff. I think it would have pained me as well. Not that I would necessarily want those things for myself, but just that it seems like such a waste. I see a problem with that, too. Nice things, whatever they might be, should never cause reluctance on my part to obey God, no matter the reason. While I believe we should be good stewards of what God give us, my aversion to waste indicates a misplaced focus. My stewardship should be to honor God, not the stuff He gives.
1 Sam. 16-17
David made a truly prophetic statement before Goliath. He said, “…it is not by sword or by spear that the LORD saves” (from 1 Sam. 17:47). I can’t help but think of all the people in Jesus’ day, including those closest to Him, who did not understand this. Throughout the ages the Israelites waited for a conquering King and salvation from whatever nation subjected them at the time. Even after so many victorious battles where they never lifted a finger against their enemy, they still didn’t understand what David knew to be true. God brought salvation through David that day the same way He brings it to us through Jesus today. “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is God’s gift.” (Eph. 2:8).