Title: Success and Failure
Contents
※ Main text: 1 Samuel 15:17-23
As we read the Bible, we often see contrasting characters. Saul and David appearing in today's text are also one of the contrasting people. Both were anointed by the prophet Samuel as the first and second kings of Israel. However, it is quite different when you look at the evaluation of later generations. No one sees Saul as a successful king. Because “...the LORD has rejected you, because you have rejected the word of the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:23). David, on the other hand, is praised by all as a successful king. “...I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, and he will do all my will...” (Acts 13:21) God promised David, the son of his heart, that he would succeed. Success and failure don't just happen to Saul and David. Anything can happen to us today. So today, we are going to take a look at Saul's failure and receive grace by thinking deeply about the secret of successful faith.
First, the sense of calling was lacking.
In 1 Samuel 9, Saul and his servant searched for a she-ass for a long time, and eventually ended up going to the land of Shup where Samuel lived, and it was concluded that the search for the donkey was in vain. At this time, I made a proposal to the paper that I went with. “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, who is respected, and whatever he has said is sure to come true, so let’s go there, lest he teach us our way” (1 Samuel 9:6). In this way, the meeting between the prophet Samuel and Saul was accomplished. At this very meeting, Samuel proclaimed God's words to Saul. First, Samuel anoints Saul's head and becomes king of Israel; Second, the mission to save Israel from the battle with the Philistines; But then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you greatly, and you will prophesy with them and be changed into a new person” (1 Samuel 10:6). And, in fact, while on the road, Saul also found a donkey, met the disciples of the prophets, and began to prophesy with them.
However, the problem arose after receiving these blessings and missions and returning home to meet my uncle. At this time, my uncle asked Saul, who had been looking for a donkey for a long time. “Where have you gone?” At this time, Saul was looking for the donkey and could not find it, so he went to the prophet Samuel. Astonished, his uncle said, “Tell me everything that the prophet Samuel told you.” Saul only told his uncle that he had found the lost donkey. He hid the news that the prophet Samuel had anointed his head, made him king over Israel, and that he had become a general to defeat the Philistines. After that, even when the prophet Samuel gathered the people of Israel together at Mizpah and declared that the king of Israel was “Saul the son of Kish” (1 Samuel 10:21), Saul did not appear and hid between the passages. Why did Saul hesitate to hide that he had become king of Israel and that he had become a general to defeat the Philistines? It was because they lacked the sense of calling.
Dear brothers and sisters, successful faith requires a clear conviction that God has called me. Those who lack this sense of calling cannot succeed in their religious life. This is because a clear sense of calling allows us to have unshakable faith even in the midst of hardship.
Second, disobedience.
Third, where is the success of faith?
It is in humility. God abolishes the proud and exalts the humble. Saul became king when he was humble. “Samuel said to him, “Did you not become the head of the tribe of Israel at a time when you considered yourselves small? Did not God anoint you as first king?” (1 Samuel 15:17) it's god A humble person is a person who examines his or her life before the word of God and repents. A person who realizes his sin and repents. David shed tears when the little-known prophet Nathan pointed out his mistake with Bathsheba, and he repented thoroughly. But Saul was consistent with his excuses when Samuel pointed out his sin. In this way, those who realize their sins and repent can rectify their life of faith. On the other hand, those who make excuses even after knowing their sins cannot succeed in the life of faith. Success in the life of faith lies in obedience.
Dear brothers and sisters, do you want success in your life of faith? Make your sense of calling clear. Obey God. Be humble before God and men.
2006-11-02 09:47:36