Here’s the deal–life is a series of battles. Some are minor skirmishes but others are full-scale war. While we may experience a cease fire agreement from time to time we must not fool ourselves into thinking it’s permanent. No, it’s merely a time to catch our breath to gear up for the next attack.
That was the case for Israel in 1 Samuel 13-14. The Philistines, a war-like people who inhabited the southeastern coastal area of the Mediterranean, had been a thorn in Israel’s side from the time the twelve tribes entered the Promised Land. They were a constant threat relentlessly seeking to encroach on Israelite territory.
Unfortunately, King Saul wasn’t a leader who sought the Lord’s direction. Instead he often refused the wise counsel of Samuel, the aged prophet, and impulsively did things his own way. He made foolish decisions that often negatively impacted the nation Israel. In contrast, his son, Jonathan, was a man who welcomed the Lord’s direction and chose not to act until he could clearly discern the Lord’s will.
That was the background for our Bible study last Wednesday. Here are the three take-aways from our lesson.
(1) Fear and pressure usually cause me to act impulsively rather than wait for the Lord’s guidance. Because King Saul was quaking in his boots, seeing his army dwindling, and observing the huge military presence of the Philistines, he presumptuously offered the sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel who was authorized to offer it.
What do you do when you feel the pressure mounting and fear taking over? Many people like me, feel compelled to act instead of waiting. Somehow acting feels better than waiting. However, F.B. Meyer poignantly points out in The Secret of Guidance, “If you do not know what you ought to do, stand still until you do. And when the time comes for action, circumstances, like glowworms, will sparkle along your path. You will become so sure that you are right, when God’s three witnesses [God’s Word, Prompting of the Holy Spirit, and circumstances] concur, that you could not be surer though an angel beckoned you on.”
When we allow fear and pressure to force us into action instead of waiting for the Holy Spirit to give us the green light we often take a bad situation and make it worse.
(2) I cannot expect the Lord’s favor if I choose to be disobedient. When Saul took it upon himself to offer the sacrifice, he over-stepped his boundaries. Not only was he not a priest but he had been instructed by the Lord’s prophet to wait. When confronted with his disobedience, Saul tried to explain it away by blaming it on his diminishing army, Samuel’s delay, and the military prowess of the Philistines.
Let’s don’t fool ourselves. God does not honor disobedience. Saul thought that if the sacrifice was offered it didn’t matter who offered it. He was wrong. It did matter. God told him up front to wait and Samuel would offer the sacrifice.
Saul learned that disobedience carries a huge price tag—loss of his dynasty and having to hear that his replacement had already been chosen.
You and I cannot expect to be under the umbrella of the Lord’s favor if we choose to be disobedient acting as if God’s commands don’t matter.
(3) However, I can expect the Lord’s favor if I choose to be courageous and act on faith when the Lord does give me direction. Sensing that he was supposed to take on an impossible task—for him and his armor bearer to attack the Philistines—Jonathan said, “Perhaps the LORD will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving whether by many or a few” (I Samuel 14:6).
Jonathan was a man of faith. When he perceived the Lord’s confirmation he was ready to spring into action—a decision that required both courage and faith and would have been fool-hearted without them. You see, there comes a point when it’s time to stop talking or even praying about something. It’s time to act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit trusting the LORD to enable us to do what we know we don’t have the skill, energy, or resources to accomplish.
When our task looks daunting and fear tends to paralyze us, we must always remember, “God is never intimidated by the size of the enemy or the complexity of the problem. With Him, there are always enough resources to resist the pressures and win the battle. If God has called you to action, then bravely commit what resources you have to God and rely upon him to lead you to victory.” (Life Application Study Bible NKJV p. 467).
Let me ask you three questions. (1) Are you under intense pressure and gripped in fear? Are you about to mess up? Are you on the brink of making a bad mistake or committing a grave sin by acting on your impulsivity rather than waiting on the Lord’s direction? (2) Is there an area of disobedience in your life that is depriving you of the Lord’s favor? (3) Do you sense the Lord prompting you to take action in a current situation? Do you clearly hear the Lord telling you it’s time to stop talking about it, even praying about it, and act on what He has revealed to you?
Dear Lord, how grateful we are today that You are “not intimidated by the size of [our] enemy or the complexity of [our] problem.” Help us, Lord, to wait on You when we are tempted to buckle due to pressure and fear. Help us to obediently follow Your commands and to faithfully and courageously take action when You direct us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 14-15
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