Tuesday, 14 April 2009

The signs were there

1 Sam 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..."

As a young Christian, I used to wonder: "How is rebellion like the sin of witchcraft? What was it that rebels have in common with witches?" Now, a little more seasoned, I have come to realise that rebellion, like witchcraft, is an act of trying to seize control.

"And how is stubborness equal to idolatry?" Stubborness -- the desire to have one own's way -- is like idolatry because it puts Self before God. And that is wickedness in His sight.

The signs were there: Saul would repeatedly speak to Samuel about "the Lord Your God" -- in other words, the Lord was Samuel's God, not Saul's. He never fully accepted God's rulership over his life, and bent His commands to suit his whims.

Saul desired Self as King, not God. That desire drove him to become extremely jealous of David's popularity which led to him trying to kill David and all who sided with him. He threw his spear at his own son Jonathan, who tried to talk sense to him. He ordered the murder of the priests who had innocently helped David. Even his own officials would not stoop to that; it took a power-hungry Edomite to do Saul's dirty job.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, help us have humble hearts; give us the desire and ability to discern our motives correctly, that we may correct ourselves and do right in Your sight. Amen.

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