HATED FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING

PROCLAMATION

“And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and The Lord was with him.  Wherefore when Saul saw that he had behaved himself wisely; he was afraid of him.”  1 Samuel 18:14-15 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

After David had killed Goliath, King Saul took him in and would not let him return to his father’s house. (1 Samuel 18:2)  David was very successful in whatever Saul asked him to do and Saul gave him a high rank in the army.  This pleased the troops, the officers, and the people. (1 Samuel 18:5)  The women from all the towns of Israel sang praises to King Saul and to David.  They sang that Saul had killed thousands and David had killed tens of thousands, and this angered Saul. (1 Samuel 18:6-8)  Saul tried to kill David by throwing a javelin at him.  Saul was afraid of David because he knew that The Lord God was with him. (1 Samuel 18:10-12)  David behaved himself wisely before the people and in all that Saul assigned him to do. (1 Samuel 18:5 and 18:14)  Saul sent David to battle the Philistines hoping that they would kill him. (1 Samuel 18:17 and 18:25)  When Saul saw that David had killed the Philistines, he knew that The Lord was with him and he was even more afraid of David. (1 Samuel 18:28-29)

APPLICATION

Just as King Saul hated David, even though David had not done anything wrong, there are people in this world who will hate believers, even when they are doing that which is right and good.  Jesus, The Christ, told his disciples that if the world persecuted Him, then they would persecute us. (John 15:20)  He also said if they hate us, we should remember that they hated Him. (John 15:18)  It has been said that the more believers do for The Lord, the more Satan will attack them in order to stop them.   When an evil spirit is defeated, it will return with reinforcements which are usually more evil than the defeated spirit. (Matthew 12:43-45)  So, expect to be hated for doing the right thing and for doing God’s will.

WE NEED GOD'S HELP TO DEFEAT OUR GIANTS

PROCLAMATION

“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword … but I come against you in the name of The Lord Almighty, The God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied … David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead.  The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.  So, David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone … he struck down the Philistine and killed him.”  1 Samuel 17:45-50 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  The Philistine army had gathered to fight the army of Israel. (1 Samuel 17:1-3)  Their champion, a giant named Goliath, came forward and challenged the Israelites to send out one man to fight with him. (1 Samuel 17:8-10)  He did this for forty days.  David had only come to the battle ground to bring his older brothers some food, at the request of his father. (1 Samuel 17:17-18)  David heard the words of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:23) and he told King Saul that he would fight him. (1 Samuel 17:32)   David was not afraid of Goliath for he had fought and killed a lion and a bear while he was protecting his father’s sheep. (1 Samuel 17:34-36)  David refused to use Saul’s armor and relied instead on what The Lord God had provided. (1 Samuel 17:38-40)

APPLICATION

David knew that it was The Lord God who delivered him and allowed him to defeat the lion and the bear, and that He would deliver him from the hand of Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:37)  As we face our giant problems, we need to remember that The Lord God has helped us to overcome our problems in the past, and that He will help us with our current and future problems.  We also need to remember that what He has done for others, He can do for us.  We just need to put on the whole armor of God and stand our ground and watch as The Lord fights our battles. (Ephesians 6:11)  Some of the giants that we are fighting are not human and we need God’s help. (Ephesians 6:12-13)

CHOSEN BY GOD

PROCLAMATION

“… Then The Lord said, ‘Arise and anoint him; this is the one.’  So, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on The Spirit of The Lord came powerfully upon David…”  1 Samuel 16:12-13 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After King Saul disobeyed The Lord God’s commands, it was revealed to Samuel that The Lord was displeased with Saul. (1 Samuel 15:10-11, 15:27-28, and 16:1)  Samuel was sent to meet with Jesse and to anoint one of his sons. (1 Samuel 16:3)  After seven of his sons had passed before Samuel and none of them were chosen, they called for his youngest son David. (1 Samuel 16:10-11)  Samuel was told by The Lord God to anoint David, the youngest son of Jesse.  He was the chosen one.

APPLICATION

“Many are called but few are chosen.” (Matthew 20:16 and 22:14)  All believers in Jesus, The Christ, have been chosen, blessed with certain abilities, and given a job to do for The Lord. (Ephesians 4:7 and 4:12)  We are not all blessed with the same gifts, (1 Corinthians 12:4-12) talents, or abilities, (Matthew 25:15) but we are all blessed with whatever we need in order to accomplish that which The Lord God has for us to do. (1 Chronicles 28:20)  Each believer was chosen by The Lord God for a particular purpose.  We each must do as Jesus, The Christ, said that He must do, “I must work the work of Him that sent Me.” (John 9:4)  We are chosen for a purpose.

FEAR AND OBEY GOD NOT MAN

PROCLAMATION

“Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned.  I have violated The Lord’s  command and your instructions.  I was afraid of the men, so I gave in to them.’”  1 Samuel 15:24 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  King Saul had been told to punish the Amalekites for their past treatment of Israel. (1 Samuel 15:2)  He was told to destroy them, and all that belonged to them (1 Samuel 15:3) but Saul and his army spared the king and the best of his sheep and cattle. (1 Samuel 15:9)  When Samuel confronted Saul, he admitted what he had done. (1 Samuel 15:13-15)  This verse was Saul’s reply when he was asked why he did not obey The Lord God.

APPLICATION

Being popular and thought well of or being well-liked by people is not good when the cost is going against The Word of God.  It is not possible to please God and to please man at the same time. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  The high regard that one gets for pleasing man is fleeting, but the results of pleasing The Lord God is eternal.  Jesus, The Christ, said, “If you love me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)  Don’t be afraid to let the world know that you love The Lord.

REAL COMMITMENT

PROCLAMATION

“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said.  “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”  1 Samuel 14:7 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  At this point, King Saul had an army of about six hundred men (1 Samuel 13:15) but they had no weapons. (1 Samuel 13:19-22)  King Saul’s son, Jonathan, had a sword and he told his armor-bearer to come and go with him to the camp of the Philistines. (1 Samuel 14:1)  They had to travel over some rough terrain to reach the Philistine army outpost. (1 Samuel 14:4-5)  They were outnumbered but Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed twenty Philistines. (1 Samuel 14:13-14)

                                                                                                  

APPLICATION

This verse literally means that he will follow him wherever he goes.  Some people will tell you that they have your back, or that they will be with you till the end, through thick and thin.  However, most people really do not mean it.  It should be noted that this was not his friend.  The armor-bearer was more like his servant, he worked for him.  He was willing to go with him, over a hard road, to fight an enemy which outnumbered them.  He was willing, as the song goes, “to march into hell for a heavenly cause.”  Not everybody will help you fight “an unbeatable foe.”  Not all employees are this committed, and neither are all friends or family members.  There is only one that will stick by us through everything. (Hebrews 13:5)  He will stick closer to us than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)  He is committed to us.  He said that He would never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)  He said that He would fight our battles. (2 Chronicles 20:17 and 32:8)  He said that He would direct us (Proverbs 3:6) and protect us. (Psalm 17:8, 61:3 and Proverbs 18:10)  The Lord God is truly committed to us, the question is, are we committed to Him?

THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY FOR DISOBEDIENCE

Proclamation:

“But now your kingdom will not endure; The Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler of His people, because you have not kept The Lord’s command.”  1 Samuel 13:14 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  After Saul had won the battle against the Ammonites, (1 Samuel 11:11) the people confirmed him as their king. (1 Samuel 11:14-15)  Then he attacked the Philistines (1 Samuel 13:4) and when they regrouped to do battle against Israel.  The size of their army struck fear in the hearts of the Israelites. (1 Samuel 13:5-7)  Saul had been told by Samuel to wait seven days for him before he did anything.  When Samuel did not show up at the appointed time, Saul took matters into his own hands and offered up a burnt offering. When Samuel arrived and saw what Saul had done, he reprimanded him for not following the command of The Lord God. (1 Samuel 13:8-14)  The punishment was that Saul will be replaced by David.

Application:

All too often we are not patient, we want things when we want them, and we do not wait on The Lord God to provide them.  When we do things our way, and not His way, we mess things up and get into trouble.  We are told to wait upon The Lord. (Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:34, and Proverbs 20:22)  When we do not follow The Word of God, we will have to pay a price.  As believers we will not lose our salvation because we sin, but we will be punished for willful disobedience of the commands of The Lord God.

WITH THE HELP OF THE LORD GOD

Proclamation:

“As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.  When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; The Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying.”  1 Samuel 10:9-10 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  After The Lord God told Samuel that He had chosen Saul to lead Israel, Samuel conveyed this to Saul (1 Samuel 9:27) and then he anointed him king over all of God’s people. (1 Samuel 10:1)  Afterwards Samuel told Saul the events which would transpire after he left, and the people that he would meet when he left him. (1 Samuel 10:2-8)   The Spirit of God came upon Saul and he was changed.  He began to prophesy, then he led them in battle and was victorious over the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:11) and the people made him king. (1 Samuel 11:14-15)

Application:

With the help of The Lord God, Saul went from being a frightened young man (1 Samuel 10:22-23) to being the victorious leader of an army and king of Israel.  Once we accept The Lord God into our life and become a true believer, we will change.  All things are possible with God. (Matthew 19:26, Mark 9:23, and Mark 10:27)  God can change us, and our behavior, such that everyone who knew us beforehand will see the difference in us.  The Lord God can use whomever He chooses in order to accomplish His purpose.