Worship

Scripture

Saul fascinates me. Here is a man who was chosen by the Lord. However, when Saul hears he will be the king…what does he do?  He hides!  I am not sure that would inspire the people too much. Yet they declare that’s what they want. He describes himself as least among the smallest tribe. Again, he doesn’t seem to suffer from a large ego. 

Saul does seem to suffer from a poor sense of himself and needs everyone else to approve of him. He viewed himself poorly, he hid himself, and in chapter 12 Samuel tells the people that they got a king because they wanted a king. But wanting a king was a great evil. I wondered what it would feel like to be introduced as the king but oh by the way, having a king is bad. You wanted it though, so you got it.

I was feeling bad for the guy. I would feel bad for myself! God is telling everyone that even having me as king is a bad deal. I struggle with some self-image things anyway…how tough would this be?

I realize in that moment while thinking like Saul, that I am focused on me and not God. I am not stopping to say, “guys listen to this prophet—picking a king is not good for us. I will do it because God chose me to do it, but He really doesn’t want this for us”.  Instead, we look at it just from our perspective. I am not good enough, or I did it and you didn’t love me for it. It’s all about me. In fact, I purposely left in this writing the mistake I made—God didn’t tell them that Saul was a bad choice—He told them having any king was bad. 

So, saying that Saul didn’t suffer from a large ego might not be true. He seemed very consumed by a sense of feeling inadequate. As a person who can do this all too easily, I can take the focus away from God and put it on me, all while beating myself up and thinking poorly of myself. We can stop obeying and trusting Him and instead think about how it looks and feels to us, even while doing what He asks. If we do that, we end up trusting our eyes and not God!

Prayer

HONOR GOD

Romans11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

 In every instance that I do not have an answer, God does. 

ASK GOD

Romans 8:32 NASB

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 

 Surely the Lord is willing to grant us our very minor requests in comparison to the absolute best that Heaven has to offer; which He has already given us in His son Jesus!

SUBMIT TO GOD

Lamentations 3:24-25

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I wait for Him.” The Lord is good to those who await Him, To the person who seeks Him. 

 I chose to wait until God’s answer is clear, until His hand is present, until His peace is my guiding force. I trust in His goodness.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, we know you are in control. Thank you that we can trust in your power and your word. Help us to recognize the magicians and illusions of this world that will attempt to distract us from your power. May your Holy Spirit lead us through conviction and encouragement to trust in your holy word.  In Jesus Name, Amen.