The LORD Rewards Faithfulness

I know it’s a churchy statement, but “God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.”  This is a great reminder to all of us that the goodness of God surrounds us.  God keeps the earth rotating on its axis, orbiting at the right distance from the sun, with an atmosphere and water cycle that provides fresh water, animals and plants that provide enough oxygen and carbon dioxide for each other, and gravity that keeps us all stuck to the surface rather than flying off into space.  All of this is given to us by God whether we believe in, agree with, or follow Him or not.  God is good all the time…

The LORD rewarded me for doing right; He restored me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I have followed all His regulations; I have never abandoned His decrees. I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. (2 Samuel 22:21-24 NLT)

There is another group of God-given blessings, however, that are conditional.  God is a God of peace, yet peace only comes to those who follow God’s design for our lives.  God’s Spirit produces joy, but those who do not draw near to God will regularly find joy an elusive concept to understand, much less experience.  God is Love.  We do not experience the love of God, though, when we turn our back, walk away, avoid, or fight against The LORD.

The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence. "To the faithful you show Yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show Yourself pure, but to the wicked you show Yourself hostile. You rescue the humble, but Your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them. (2 Samuel 22:25-28 NLT)

How about you? Do you see that God is good all the time?  Do you experience the goodness of God?  Do you experience additional blessings that come to those who are faithful to God?  Does The LORD reward your faithfulness?

Lead others, following The King.

We began this week, the Sunday sermon, and the devotional series for the week with one word: Lead.  It may seem strange that we spend so much time, then, focused on following.  It isn’t strange though.  It is necessary.

Our comparison and contrast this week has been between Samuel and Saul.  Samuel was a non-king leader.  He was old and gray-haired (advanced in years).  He had been  leading Israel for a long time as a prophet (speaking God’s words) and a judge (balancing the scales of justice by applying God’s law).  He lead the people of Israel by following, and teaching them to follow, God as King.  In his “retirement” speech, he encouraged and warned the people of Israel to remember that God is King.

Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you--they are totally useless! The LORD will not abandon His people, because that would dishonor His great name. For it has pleased the LORD to make you His very own people. "As for me, I will certainly not sin against the LORD by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and faithfully serve Him. Think of all the wonderful things He has done for you. (1 Samuel 12:21-24 NLT)

Saul, on the other hand, was a young, untested king.  He was chosen by God, empowered by God, humble before God, and a servant-warrior.  Only time would tell whether he would be faithful to God or not.  Faithfulness can only be seen over a long period of time.  When we are faithful, our life-choices will show it.  Saul wasn’t faithful, though.  Right away, he didn’t trust God’s instructions, God’s prophet (Samuel), or God.

But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away." (1 Samuel 12:25 NLT)

Leadership is not about power, position, or politics.  Leadership is about walking with God and helping others do the same.  Samuel was a good, Godly leader.  Saul was not.  This cost him his role of leadership.  That’s because he didn’t recognize that his role was one of sub-leader.  He was supposed to lead people to follow the One True King.  We do that by leading ourselves first.  We lead others by following The King.

Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left! (1 Samuel 13:15 NLT)

How about you?  Are you more of a Samuel or a Saul?  Do you lead others by following The King?

Return to The King

Saul, the new king of Israel, was ready to lead the Israelite army into battle against the big, scary Philistines.  The Philistine army was so numerous that it looked like grains of sand on the seashore.  Saul’s army was getting frightened waiting for prayer time with Samuel, so they started to run away and hide.  Finally, Saul took things into his own hands and led the prayer time and sacrifice to the LORD.

Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?" Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. So I said, 'The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven't even asked for the LORD's help!' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came." (1 Samuel 13:10-12 NLT)

Sometimes, when we are working through the details of allowing God to be King, we find places where we went against God’s instructions.  We think our decisions are good decisions at the time, even though God clearly warns against them.  Then, we come face to face with the reality: God’s way was the right way.  God’s way was better.  We should have let God be King.

"How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after His own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of His people, because you have not kept the LORD's command." (1 Samuel 13:13-14 NLT)

Saul’s foolishness will cause him the kingdom.  We already know that Saul will reign as king for 42 years.  (The narrator told us that up front.) His son Jonathan, though, will not inherit the kingdom.  God will take the kingdom away from Saul and give it to another because Saul did not follow God as King.

The Israelites realized they were not following God as King, too.  Samuel’s speech to them made it clear.  They asked for a human king instead.  God let them know how rebellious they were being by giving them a miraculous sign.  Rain came, on command, in a season that never rains.  They came face to face with the truth: they were not honoring God as their King.

"Pray to the LORD your God for us, or we will die!" they all said to Samuel. "For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king." "Don't be afraid," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the LORD with all your heart, and don't turn your back on Him. (1 Samuel 12:19-20 NLT)

How about you?  Have you turned your back on God as King?  When you recognize what you’ve done, do you turn back to God as your King?  Do you return to the King?

Follow The King

Samuel is speaking to the Israelites about their transition from a prophet/teacher/judge leader to a king as their leader.  They were reminded that God rescued them from Egypt, forgave them when they rebelled, and rescued them from their oppressors by sending judges as military leaders.  Now, they are receiving the king that they requested.

"Now if you fear and worship the LORD and listen to His voice, and if you do not rebel against the LORD's commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the LORD as your God. (1 Samuel 12:14 NLT)

When we go through life, it helps to remember what the LORD has done in our lives.  God is the giver of all good gifts.  It’s even better to remember what the LORD wants to do.  God’s design and desire for us is beautiful – a Garden Walk.  When we remember that God has a specific part of His plan for us to fulfill, there is only one thing left to do: follow The King.

But if you rebel against the LORD's commands and refuse to listen to Him, then His hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors. (1 Samuel 12:15 NLT)

Through this process, the Israelites learned a lesson that we need to learn today.  It doesn’t matter who our political, social, workplace, school or household leaders are.  God is the only true King.  All leaders are subject to God as King.  So are we.  Once we get that into our minds and live accordingly, everything clicks into place.

"Now stand here and see the great thing the LORD is about to do. You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the LORD to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the LORD for a king!" So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the LORD and of Samuel. (1 Samuel 12:16-18 NLT)

How about you?  Do you follow The King?

Remember what the LORD wants you to do.

Samuel was speaking to the Israelite community, reminding them about the things that the LORD had done for them.  They were rescued from Egypt, but it didn’t take long before they turned away from the LORD.

But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the LORD your God was already your king. All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the LORD has granted your request. (1 Samuel 12:12-13 NLT)

God gave them Saul to be their king.  God communicated this selection to Samuel.  When Samuel told Saul, he needed to be convinced.  So God convinced Saul with several prophetic signs, including the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Samuel instructed Saul about all this ahead of time so that Saul would believe that the LORD had called him to be king.

After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions." (1 Samuel 10:7-8 NLT)

Now, Saul is king. He is trying to get ready to go to war against the Philistines who had been oppressing them for years.  Saul gathered together the Israelite army to battle.  The Philistine army was so big (they were tall) and numerous (like the grains of sand on the seashore) that they were terrified and started to hide.  So, Saul got scared, too.

Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn't come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. (1 Samuel 13:8-9 NLT)

When we face battles in life, it helps to remember what the LORD has done for us already.  It builds our confidence that God will get involved today.  It also helps to remember what the LORD wants to do.  This way we don’t expect God to do something that goes against His Will and His Plan.  Once we remember these things, though, it is equally important to remember what the LORD wants YOU to do.

God doesn’t expect us to do every part of His plan.  We have a part to play, to be sure, but it is only one part.  When we ignore our part of God’s Plan, one of two things happens.  We can struggle because we are not doing our part of God’s plan.  We can also struggle because we try to do our part and other parts of God’s plan.  Either way, we struggle.

Either way, God’s team struggles, too.  When we don’t do our part, God’s team suffers because the LORD had given us an important part to accomplish.  When we try to do more than our part, the team suffers because we are telling other people that they are not necessary.

When we remember what the LORD wants us to do, and we do it, everything falls into place.  We do our part.  Others do their part.  God does His part.  The team experiences victory and God gets the glory.

So, how about you?  Do you know your part of God’s Plan?  Do you live out your part of God’s Plan? Do you remember what the LORD wants you to do?

Remember what the LORD wants to do.

Saul, the new king, is ready to take on the challenge that caused the Israelites to ask for a king.  He is about to lead Israel into battle against the Philistines.  Victory over the Ammonites was good, but the Philistines are bigger, scarier, and greater in numbers.  All of Israel will need to come together to fight this enemy.

So the entire Israelite army was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal. The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns. Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. (1 Samuel 13:5-7 NLT)

When we face challenges, struggles, and enemies that are bigger, stronger, and greater in number; it is natural to feel fear.  Everything in our past experiences tells us that we are in trouble.  We can’t handle it.  We are too weak.  We will lose.  Everyone tells us this, with one exception: God.

But the people soon forgot about the LORD their God, so He handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor's army, and also to the Philistines and to the king of Moab, who fought against them. "Then they cried to the LORD again and confessed, 'We have sinned by turning away from the LORD and worshiping the images of Baal and Ashtoreth. But we will worship You and You alone if You will rescue us from our enemies.' Then the LORD sent Gideon, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel to save you, and you lived in safety. (1 Samuel 12:9-11 NLT)

When we look back over our lives, it’s important to see one other part of the pattern.  We lose battles when we fight battles the LORD does not want us to fight.  We lose battles when we fight battles the LORD wants us to fight, but we do not fight the way the LORD wants us to fight.  We lose battles without the LORD.

When we go into the battles of our daily lives, we need to remember not only what the LORD has done.  We need to remember what the LORD wants to do.  What battle does the LORD want me to avoid?  What battle does the LORD want me to fight?  When I do fight, how does the LORD want me to fight the battle?  It isn’t good enough to come up with a battle plan and then ask God to bless it.  We need to turn to the LORD and remember God’s plan.

How about you?  Do you remember what the LORD wants to do?

Remember what the LORD has done.

Israel now has their first human king.  Saul has been selected, appointed, and praised with “Long live the king!”  Samuel is the retiring leader, now, who pointed people to follow God as their King.  Samuel is giving a “retirement” speech as he passes the reigns to Saul.
"It was the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron," Samuel continued. "He brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt. Now stand here quietly before the LORD as I remind you of all the great things the LORD has done for you and your ancestors. (1 Samuel 12:6-7 NLT)
It’s worth pointing out two things here.  First of all, when a preacher says he is about to recount “all the great things the LORD has done for you,” you know you are in for a long sermon.  Secondly, Samuel had them stand for the whole sermon.  (That’s one way to keep from falling asleep!)
While we listen to Samuel’s sermon - the words of an old, grey-haired, faithful man of God – we will also look at the actions of Israel’s new leader-king – the actions of a young, untested, king chosen by God.
Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years. Saul selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took 2,000 of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul's son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba and that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal. (1 Samuel 13:1-4 NLT)
Saul is gathering the Israelites together for battle.  This is exactly why the Israelites asked God for a king.  They were being defeated and oppressed by people like the Ammonites and the Philistines.  Saul already led Israel in victory against the Ammonites.  Now they need to get ready for the big one: the Philistines.
"When the Israelites were in Egypt and cried out to the LORD, He sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egypt and to bring them into this land. (1 Samuel 12:8 NLT)
Samuel, in his retirement speech, recounts the days when the LORD set the Israelites free from Egypt.  They had no army back then.  They only had Moses, a man of God, and the power of God to break them free.  That’s exactly what happened.
When we face struggles in life, fighting the battles that get us through our day, it is good to remember the victories of our past.  It is good to remember what the LORD has done.  When we do, we gain the motivation we need to face today.
How about you?  Do you remember times when God has given you victory over your struggles?  Do those victories give you encouragement to stay faithful today?  Do you remember what the LORD has done?

Lead, Following The King

Then Samuel addressed all Israel: "I have done as you asked and given you a king. (1 Samuel 12:1 NLT)
The mantle of leadership has now been passed.  Samuel, the prophet and judge, will no longer be the leader pointing Israel to God as their King.  Saul is taking the new position as king.
Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you--an old, gray-haired man--and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day. (1 Samuel 12:2 NLT)
Samuel, even though he was not king, pointed people to the perfect king.  Not only that, he functioned as a perfect leader.  He was chosen by, empowered by, humble before, and faithful to God.  He was a servant warrior who fought the enemies of God and served people.  Samuel was a good representative of The One True King.
Now testify against me in the presence of the LORD and before His anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong." "No," they replied, "you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe." (1 Samuel 12:3-4 NLT)
When we are a good representative of The One True King, people notice.  They may not like it all the time.  They may even disagree with us.  It may drive them crazy.  But, they notice.  They know, whether they like it or not, that you lead by following The King
"The LORD and His anointed one are my witnesses today," Samuel declared, "that my hands are clean." "Yes, He is a witness," they replied. (1 Samuel 12:5 NLT)
How about you?  When people look at you, do they see a good representative of the One True King?  Do you lead, following The King?