Angels by Wayne Brown

In Job 38 verse 4 God asks Job

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the cornerstone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkeness a swaddlingband for it, and brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, and said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place..."

God was describing to Job how he had created the earth. But what has this got to do with our Angels? God doesn't mention any Angels in these verses... or does he? Lets read verse 7 again "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?.." These are of course the Angels, but what have they got to sing about? Lets consider what they had just achieved... God had chosen to start new life on an earth without form or void and he had his Messengers to carry out his will. The Angels were given creative power and possibly a task each so Creation could take place. Genesis 1 verse 2 reads "And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters..." verse 3 "And God said Let there be light" and under the Ultimate creator, an Angel made the light. Over the six days of creation imagine the buzz of excitement from the Angels as they were given each job to do and were able to see what the others were creating.

How much fun would it be to make an animal for God?

Possibly the Angels had never even set eyes on some of the animals or plants made for this planet, it would be an exciting stimulating time for all present. God planned everything to the finest detail and the Angels one by one followed his designs creating birds and their beautiful plumes such as the Peacock in Job 39 verse 13, the individual instincts that animals have, their sense of smell and sight.. Job 39 verse 26 says "Doth the hawk fly by the wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? Doth the eagle mount up at thy command and make her nest on high?..." some birds have a homing instinct that leads them back to the same nest every year after travelling great distances, all part of Gods great design.

Then Genesis 1 verse 26 reads "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.." what a rewarding time for the Angels who were now allowed to form a human in their own image, pushing the dust of the ground into shape and then watching as the breath of life was given to him.

When creation was completed it was then that the Angels could stand back and fully comprehend what had been achieved, they could see how each individual animal or plant complemented each other and how intricate Gods new earth was.

We know that modern man is only scratching the surface of some of the beauty God and the Angels set in place for us, for example Job 38 verse 22 tells us "Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail?..." Before microscopes were invented people would not know what this verse was leading to but we know now that each individual flake is made up of crystals forming their own design and no two are alike. Only God has the power to create without limits.

The Angels have been with God as he has influenced time through his creations, they saw the power of the climate as described in Job 38 verse 22, 23 "Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?" When we read verses like these we are reminded how people such as Napoleon and Hitler were defeated by weather patterns, perhaps more handy work of Gods messengers.

After we consider the Angels role in the six days of creation we can understand why they would be singing for joy as described in Job 38 verse 7 There are no words that could describe the feelings after such a glorious event, imagine being part of the choir of Angels as they all joint in to celebrate the beginning of new life and to praise their creator.

We don't know how Angels rose to their position but we are assured that we have the chance to be immortal and spiritual like them. We know they looked forward to the birth of Christ with intense interest and who wouldn't? The bible tells us that Jesus is Gods only begotten son and to think he was given to this creation makes us very fortunate. The Angels had helped God set in motion the course of time often unaware of the "full picture" There must have been many Angels through time that were wondering why they were doing certain tasks, consider the Angel who was instructed to guide Abraham to the mountain where he would slay his only son Isaac, or the Angel who made sure that Reuben and his brothers sold Joseph to a bunch of strangers.

We can read our bible and see why these things had to happen but the Angels at that time would be waiting for Gods next move unaware they were laying down the pattern for the arrival of Christ. 1 Peter 1 verse 12 reads "Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the holy spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into..." Despite all the information the Angels had they were burning with curiosity about the son of God, they wanted to fully comprehend this method of atonement that God was now going to work in his own son.

The words Desired to look into in verse 12 mean in Greek they "stared inquiringly, " the same word used as the disciples looked into the empty tomb of Christ. So as the prophets wrote down their message not fully comprehending it, over their shoulders were Angels staring inquiringly as they tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together for themselves.

The excitement of the Angels would be intense as the time grew near to Christ's birth. There had been very little Angel activity in the past 400 years and now there was a lot of preparation for the event. The Angels could look back and see how humanity had led to this point and how their input had helped. Angels visited Zacharias and Mary to give them the exciting news of what was about to happen and then Joseph was visited and reassured by an Angel. These were very important visits but behind the scenes others were hard at work preparing for the child. Spare a thought for the Angel who had the task of making sure every Inn and spare room in the town of Bethlehem was full.

Luke 2 verse 7

"And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And Lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the Angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord..." and in verse 13 "and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to all men. And it came to pass as the Angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord had made known unto us..."

Once again the Angels showed their delight by giving praise by song at this wonderful occasion, they had all been curiously waiting for Jesus and now he was here. The one and only Son of God. From that day on the Angels looked on as Christ grew into a young man and they would all be interested in how he was progressing and what sort of man he would become. Later in life he needed help such as after the temptation and an Angel would be there to help immediately. Luke 22 verse 42 reads "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an Angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.." What a terrible time for the Angels to go through after all their hard work of preparing the way for Christ then getting to know him, now he was about to be crucified.

Their sorrow for Jesus and the Lord would be a genuine sadness.

As Christ died on the cross the Angels were at work in Matthew 27 verse 51 "And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent..." After Jesus was resurrected and spent a short time on the earth it was time for him to assend to heaven to be with his father and meet all the spiritual beings who took such loving interest in his life.

Now it is time for Christ to return to the earth and Judge each and every one of us, and there will be an Angel who has spent time looking after us who will report whether we are worthy or not to join them in the kingdom with the Saints and prophets of old. What an honour to be given the chance to be like these beings who God trusts in to do his will.

Ezekiel 40 verse 44 explains about the chambers of singers in the inner court of the temple and we pray that we might be able to join that Angelic choir and sing praises to our heavenly creator for eternity.

read article at findthelight.org...

Past Kings and Their Lessons for Us - David by Lyndon Jackson

David was not a tall man, and in Halley's Handbook to the Bible it refers to him as a man "...short of stature, ruddy, of beautiful countenance, handsome, of immense physical strength, of great personal attractiveness, a man of war, prudent in speech, very brave, very musical and very religious." Some of these are backed up and found in 1st Samuel 16:18 "Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valour, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Yahweh is with him."

The story of David becoming king begins a long way back when Saul was still reigning as king over Israel and David was still a young lad in 1st Samuel chapter 16. It was also at this time when Samuel was called by God to go and anoint a new king to rule over Israel because Saul had done evil in the sight of the Lord.

This 'anointing' had to be done in secret behind Saul's back; otherwise the life of David could have been in danger. We read of this in 1st Samuel 16:1-4 where it says...

"And Yahweh said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel?"

it goes on to say

"...fill thy horn with oil, and go: I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, how can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And Yahweh said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Yahweh. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which Yahweh spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling..."

We read here that although Samuel wholeheartedly trusted in the God, he was still scared of the task set before him and feared for his very life! Yet this did not stop him carrying out what God asked of him. All to often we read something from the Bible or books of study and never really grasp the true extent of what it actually says and the time involved, for example, we just read that Samuel feared for his life when God asked him to go to Bethlehem and anoint the future king, right under the nose of the current King Saul, who would not have hesitated in killing him, but did any of us actually take into account the hours of anguish, fear and agonising thoughts that would have gone through his mind as he walked along that road towards Bethlehem? I know myself that this would have made me think twice. And this would have been the same fear that Peter felt in Matt 26:69-75 when he was following the Lord through the final hours of his life and denied him three times fearing for his own life.

David's first foot in the door to Saul's 'king-ship' came about from his fame as a musician. This musical talent he possessed bought him to the notice of King Saul, who did not know at the time that he had been anointed as his successor "And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing" (1st Samuel 16:17) ...It was from here that David became Saul's armour-bearer and threw David into association with the King and his Counsellors for the first time. In chapter 17 we see that David's residence at the Kings Court was only temporary and that he soon returned to Bethlehem to be with his family, and as the years passed by the boy David had changed so much that king Saul barely recognised him

"And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, as thy soul liveth, 0 king, I cannot tell. And the King said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is. And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, "whose son art thou, young man"? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite." [1st Samuel 17:55-58]

It is from this point that we lead into the story of David and Goliath. Socoh, where Goliath was encamped, was about 15 miles west of Bethlehem. Goliath himself was about 9 feet tall, his armour weighed about 150 pounds, (approximately 65 kilograms, which was probably about the weight of David at the time) and the weight of his spear-head about 20 pounds. (which is about 8 kg's) so when David's offer, armed with only a staff and a sling, to take on Goliath, was an act of unheard of bravery and amazing trust in God. His victory thrilled the nation. He became at once the King's son-in-law, commander of armies and the nation's popular hero. Chapters 18,19,20 it talks of Saul's increasing jealousy towards David. David's popularity turned Saul against him and Saul subsequently tried to kill David but he fled, and for years became a fugitive in the mountains.

Jonathan's friendship for David is found in chapter 20. Jonathan was heir to the throne. His brilliant victory over the Philistines in chapter 14 and his nobility of character were good evidence that he would have made and become a worthy king. But he had learned that God had ordained David to be King, and his graceful effacement of himself from the succession, and his unselfish devotion to his rival, form one of the noblest stories of friendship in history. Chapters 21 to 27.

David a Fugitive from Saul escaped to the Philistines, feigning insanity. Sensing danger he fled to the Cave of Adullam in west Judah; then to Moab then back to south Judah, in Keilah, Ziph and Maon. During his time fleeing from King Saul who was still hot after him David had accumulated approximately 600 followers, but David with God on his side, always escaped. It was in this period that he composed many of the Psalms.

At Engedi, Saul became trapped and David had every opportunity to kill him. But David, refusing to come to the throne by blood, spared Saul's life. And again, at Ziph, Saul acknowledged being a "fool" but this never stopped him from continuing to be one. At Maon David met a woman by the name of Abigail, a wealthy, tactful and gracious woman who became David's wife. David finally found refuge among the Philistines again, and continued to dwell there until the death of Saul. 1st Samuel Chapters 28, 29, 30 and 31.

The Death of Saul
The Philistines invaded the land, and encamped at Mt. Gilboa. One of the Philistine princes had wanted David and his men to go along with them. But the other princes did not trust David. So, David remained behind, and with his 600 men, guarded the South against the Amalekites. It was through these battles, Saul was slain. He had reigned 40 years (Acts 3:21).

Archaeological Note: Saul's Armour (31: 10).
It is here stated that Saul's "armour was put in the house of Ashtaroth" in Bethshan, and in 1st Chronicles 10:10, it is said that his head was "fastened in the house of Dagon." Bethshan (Beisan) is just east of Mt. Gilboa, at the junction of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. The University Museum of Pennsylvania (1921-30), uncovered, in Bethshan, the ruins of a temple of Astaroth, and also a temple of Dagon, the very same buildings in which Saul's armour and head were fastened. At least it is proof that there were such temples in Bethshan in Saul's day.

2nd Samuel - The Reign of David - David the Head of an Eternal Dynasty of Kings Chapters 1 to 6
These chapters talk of David's Grief over the Death of Saul. And although Saul tried many times and for many years to kill David, David still forgave him and loved him enough to grieve over his death. I wonder how many of us would cry over the death of somebody who had tried to kill us numerous times and made us live in fear of our lives for many years.

These chapters also tell us of the time when David was made King over Judah and how in the early years of his reign how he fought with Ishbosheth, Saul's son, for seven years. In chapter 5 and vs. 3 David was finally made King over all of Israel, where it says they anointed him and it was also then that he made Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

Chapter 7. God Promises David an Eternal Throne
The Old Testament is the story of God's dealing with the Hebrew Nation for the purpose of one day Blessing All Nations. As the story unfolds, it is explained that the way the Hebrew Nation would Bless All Nations would be through the Family of David. As the story further unfolds, it is further explained that the way the Family of David would bless the world would be through ONE GREAT KING who would one day be born in the Family, who would himself personally LIVE FOREVER, and establish a KINGDOM of ENDLESS DURATION.

Here, in this 7th chapter of 2nd Samuel, begins the long line of promises that DAVID'S FAMILY should reign FOREVER over God's people; that is, there should come from David an Eternal Family Line of Kings, culminating in ONE ETERNAL KING. Here are some of these promises:

• "Thy throne shall be established forever" (2nd Samuel 7:16).
• "If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel" (1st Kings 2-4).
• "A son shall be born to thee ... His name shall be Solomon I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever" (1st Chronicles 22:8, 9, 10).
• "If thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked... then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel." (2nd Chronicles 7:17, 18).
• "I have made a covenant with My Chosen. I have sworn unto David My Servant, Thy Seed will I Establish Forever, and build up Thy Throne unto all generations ... I will make Him, my first-born, higher than the kings of the earth... And my covenant shall stand fast with Him. His Seed will I make to endure forever, and His Throne as the days of Heaven... My Covenant; I will not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out from My lips. Once I have sworn by My Holiness, I will not lie to David His Throne shall be Established Forever." (Psalm 89:3, 4, 27-29,34-37)
• "The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David: he will not turn from it: Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne" (Psalm 132:11).
• "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen that they may possess ... all the nations, which are called by name, saith the Lord" (Amos 9:11, 12).
• "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no END, upon the throne of David" (Isaiah 9:6, 7).
• "There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots... which shall stand for an ensign of the people, and to him shall the nations seek" (Isaiah 11:1, 10).
• "Thou, Bethlehem (city of David)... out of thee shall come forth unto me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose going forth are of old, from everlasting ... He shall be great unto the ends of the earth" (Micah 5:2, 4).
• "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord ... Behold, thedays come, saith the Lord, that I will raise up unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign ... and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 22:29; 23:5, 6).
• "If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of night, so that there should not be day and night in their season, then may also my covenant be broken with David" (Jeremiah 33:20, 21).
• "I will bring forth my servant the Branch... And I will remove the iniquity of the land in one day" (Zechariah 3:8, 9).
• "The man whose name is The BRANCH ... he shall build the temple of the Lord, and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne ... and his dominion shall be from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth" (Zechahah 6:12, 13)
• "In that day... the house of David shall be as God... In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David for sin and for uncleanness" (Zechariah 12:8; 13: 1).

Thus, the promise of an Eternal King, to arise in David's Family, was repeated over and over: to David himself, to Solomon, and again in the Psalms, and by the prophets Amos, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah and Zechariah, over a period of some 500 years. By and by, in the fulness of time, the angel Gabriel was sent to Nazareth, to Mary, who was of the family of David, and he said:

"Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the THRONE of his father DAVID; And he shall reign over the house of Jacob FOREVER; and of His Kingdom there shall be NO END" [Luke 1:30-33]

In THIS CHILD the Davidic promises found their fulfilment.

Chapters 8, 9, 10. David's Victories
After Saul's death David had been made king over Judah. 7 years later he was made king over all Israel. He was 30 when he became king. He reigned over Judah 7¼ years, and over all Israel 33 years; 40 years in all (5:3-5). He died at age 70.

Soon after becoming king over all Israel, David made Jerusalem his capital. Situated in an impregnable position, and with the tradition of Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, David thought it best suited to be the nation's capital. So, he took it, brought in the Ark of God, and planned the Temple (chapters 5, 6, 7).

David was very successful in his wars. He completely subdued the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Edomites, Ammonites, Amalekites, and all neighbouring nations. "The Lord gave victory to David whither-soever he went" (8:6). David took an insignificant nation, and, within a few years, built it into a mighty kingdom.

In the southwest the Egyptian world empire had declined. Over in the east the Assyrian and Babylonian world empires had not yet arisen. And here, under David, the Kingdom of Israel, almost overnight, became, not a world empire, but perhaps the most powerful single kingdom on earth at the time.

Chapters 11, 12. David and Bathsheba
This was possibly the blackest spot in David's life, marked by adultery and virtual murder to cover the adultery. His remorse made him a broken man and God forgave him, but in forgiving him pronounced the fearful sentence, "The sword shall never depart from thy house" (12: 10), and it never did. David reaped exactly what he had sown, and more of it, a long hard and bitter harvest.

• His daughter Tamar was raped by her brother Amnon, who in turn was murdered by their brother
• Absalom led a rebellion against his father David, and was killed in the struggle.
• David's wives were violated in public, as he had secretly violated the wife of Uriah.

Thus, David's glorious reign was clouded with unceasing troubles.Yet this was the "man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). David's reaction showed him to be just that. Some of the Psalms, as 32 and 51, were born of this bitter experience.

Chapters 13 to 21. David's Troubles
Absalom probably knew that Solomon was selected to be David's successor as king. Hence this effort to steal the throne from his father David. Judging by the space given to the account of it, it must have been one of the most troublesome things in David's reign.It involved defection of some of David's advisers, and utterly broke his heart. But Absalom was finally killed and David restored to his throne. Then followed Sheba's Rebellion (chapter 20). Absalom's attempted uprise probably weakened David's hold on the people. So Sheba tried his hand at it too, but soon was crushed. Then the Philistines grew bold again (chapter 21) and again David was victorious.

Chapter 22. David's Song of Praise
Here, as in many Psalms, David exhibits his unfailing Trust in and his unbounded gratitude to God for His constant care.

Chapter 23. David's Last Words
That is, his last Psalm. It shows what David's mind was on at the end of his glorious but troubled life: the Justice of his reign as king; creation of the Psalms; his devotion to God's word; God's covenant with him of an Eternal Dynasty.

Lessons for us, taken from the life of king David...
All in all, David was a grand character and a man after Gods own heart, just as we all should be too. He did some things that were very wrong, such as in chapters 11 and 12 when we read of him committing adultery then murder, but for an oriental king, he was a most remarkable man. He was, heart and soul, devoted to God and the ways of God. He always desired to put God first, even when in fear of his own life, such as when Saul was pursuing him in the effort to kill him.

This here was a reflection of David's true love for God. Do we always put God first and foremost in our hearts when we are constantly surrounded and pulled from the strings of temptation in this world? which we could liken it unto Saul in pursuit to kill us. Do we put the fear of our very lives behind us to let the light of God shine through in our lives as David did? In a world of Idolatry, and in a nation that was continually failing away into Idolatry, David stood like a rock for God. He continually prayed to God for guidance in decisions he had to make and praised him for all blessings and victories he received. This too should be how we too live our lives. Constantly asking God for guidance in this present dark and evil world. Asking him to shine a light on our footsteps. We should always acknowledge God in our lives, through our successes and our failings. How easy it is to look to God in times of distress, but when things are going well how easy it is to forget, every now and then, who made all things possible. In every circumstance of life he went directly to God, in prayer, in thanks or in praise.

His two great accomplishments were: the Kingdom he established in Israel and the Psalms he wrote at the various points throughout his life. Let us too establish a kingdom of God in our own hearts. A kingdom that cannot be broken down from the constant desires and sin of this world which is for ever trying to pull as from the things of God. And let us also write and study on the things of the lord as David did with the Psalms. Let us use them for instruction, for uplifting us and for constant guidance as to what we should be achieving in. To David, Yahweh was a reality who was ever present to hear and watch over him, let us make him a reality in our lives so we can know and obey him also.

read article at findthelight.org...

Past Kings and Their Lessons for Us - Saul by Lyndon Jackson

Israel had been governed by Prophets and judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Now, Samuel was very old and set his two sons as judges over the people of Israel. However, they did not walk in the ways of their father as we can read in 1st Samuel 8 v 3-7 "And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment."

This foolish and insane behaviour soon took its toll on the people of Israel where we continue to read... from verse 4

"Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah. 5. And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that one should not reign over them."

So Samuel obeyed the words of the Lord and appointed the people their first king, Saul.

Saul
Saul was a handsome and humble man who stood head and shoulders over his brethren. But this did not stop the people from doubting their cries to Samuel for a king and the impact it would have on them... although this doubt was soon to disappear near the beginning of Saul's reign with brilliant victory over the Ammonites.

However, Saul's humble nature was not to last and humility soon gave place to pride. We read of Saul's First mistake in 1 Samuel 13 v 9. It is here we see that his successes as king quickly went to his head. The first sign of Saul's presumptive self importance was when he offered a sacrifice to the lord, this usually being the exclusive function of priests. (in vs. 9)

"And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him."

Saul had no idea what he was about to hear next (and from vs. 13)

"...And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly... Thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever-. 14. But now thy kingdom shall not continue... the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee."

God's lack of faith in Saul didn't seem to bother him and he went on reigning as king getting further and further away from the heart of God.

Saul's Second Mistake we read of in chapter 14 where he orders a foolish oath for the army to abstain from food. Verse 24 of 1 Samuel 14 reads...

"Now the men of Israel were in distress that day; because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes, before 1 have avenged myself on my enemies". "So none of the troops tasted food."

It goes on to say...

"The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 26. When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out, yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. 27. But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honey comb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. 28. Then one of the soldiers told him, 'Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, 'Cursed be any man who eats food today! 'That is why the men are faint.' 29. 'That is ridiculous!' Jonathan exclaimed, A command like that only hurts us, see how much better I feel now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. 30. If the people had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies think how many more we could have slaughtered."

Then the senseless death sentence Saul passed down for his son Jonathan, showed the people what a fool they had for a king. In 1st Samuel chapter 15:10-23 we read of Saul's disobedience towards God where he is finally told by Samuel

"Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 10. Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 11. It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king... for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel, and he cried unto the LORD all night. 12. And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. 13. And Samuel came to Saul... and Saul said unto him. Blessed be thou of the LORD... I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 14.And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15. And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites... for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God, and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 16. Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. 17. And Samuel said, when thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 18. And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? 20. And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. 22. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king."

The lessons for us...
Saul was a man that began his reign as King with a good and pure heart, following in the ways of God. He soon strayed from walking in the Lord's footsteps and let his successes as king go to his head. This downward spiral continued to grow when he began making sacrifices to God in place of the high priests, and handing out ridiculous orders to his army. It was then when he had 'forgotten' the Lord that God gave up hope in him and went in search for another king to lead Israel. This is the same for us and our walk in the truth in that we should always keep God in the forefront of our mind if we are to have him guide our path in the way of righteousness. And if we forget him and all he does for us each and every day he too will forget us and go in search for those deserving of the Kingdom of God.

read article at findthelight.org...