20^th December 2024

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

Theme: OBEDIENCE

THEME SCRIPTURE: "So Saul said, Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do]"1 Samuel 13:9 AMPC

PREPARATORY QUESTION

1. How conscious are you in obeying the Lord your God?

Obedience is the one thing God requires from us all. The Bible opens with obedience when God instructed man to eat of every tree in the garden except one—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:16-17). It is also worth noting that the Bible is divided into two by Christ's obedience (Phil 2:8) and also closes with obedience (Rev 22:14). It is only when we are willing and obedient that we can eat the best of the land (Isa 1:18).

King Saul had been set on the throne. Having reigned for two years, war broke out between Israel and the Philistines. So great was the number of the Philistine army, like the sand on the seashore in multitude, that Israel soon realized that they were in a strait. The Philistines showed up with 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen (1 Sam 13:5). At such a time like this, only God can save His people—the God who can save with few and employ natural phenomena to secure victory.

Samuel had spoken to Saul to wait for him in Gilgal for seven days, to offer to the Lord God a burnt offering and a peace offering, and commend the battle into the hands of the Lord of Hosts. During the seven days, many of the Israelites were abandoning the war out of fear. Some were crossing over to Gad, others were hiding in caves, thickets, and rocks for safety. King Saul became distressed. Is he going to lose this battle? "Where is this old man who is to come and offer this burnt offering and peace offering," Saul might have questioned. They had lost time these seven days and lost men who had abandoned the war (1 Sam 13:8). Without wasting much time, Saul called for the burnt and peace offerings and offered them, which he was forbidden to do (1 Sam 13:9). The offering might have taken 30 minutes, and immediately after Saul was done, Samuel showed up (1 Sam 13:10). If only Saul had been patient just a little while, his obedience would have been complete.

Beloved, what one lesson can we learn from King Saul's test and tragedy? It is this one thing:

The man after God's own heart is a man who obeys to the uttermost. He will wait on God with all patience and assured faith.

 In the midst of a dwindling army, the man after God's heart will set his eyes on God alone. He will dare to stand in the face of imminent disaster, and having done all, he will remain standing in obedience to God.

Precious one, God needs you to cooperate with Him, to bring you through the times and the seasons.

Your obedience is your sure cooperation with God, and your path to your high places. It was by one man's disobedience, many have been made sinners. 

It is by Christ's obedience that many more are being made righteous. From today going forward, may our obedience be full and complete before Him who judges all actions. Obedience! Obedience!! Obedience is what God requires from us.

Remain blessed.

FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 13:1-13

Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so.

 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD

1. How obedient are you to the leading of God in your life?

2. Do you struggle to obey a particular instruction or provision in His word?

PRAYER

Precious Father, I ask and receive your help to live in obedience to your word. O, if only I will be obedient to You, Lord, I will eat the best of the land. Help me, Lord, in Jesus' Precious name. Hallelujah!

ONE-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Job 25,  Job 26,  Job 27,  Zechariah 2,  Zechariah 3,  Jude 1