1 Samuel 10:17-27

The Proper Response When you Have rejected God’s rule over your life

We all make mistakes! yes or no?

We all have sinned against God. yes or no?

We battle sin everyday! Indeed, we must battle sin everyday by and through the grace of God, not apart from God! That is just the reality of the presence of the sinful nature in us, even Christians.

We strive and struggle by the strength and the grace of God. Let us remember that.

Everyday we make decisions and sometimes our decisions are not pleasing to the Lord. Sometimes we end up rejecting the Lord’s rule and the Lord’s will for our lives. We sometimes act like god and we want to rule over our little kingdom- we don’t want God in it.

That is exactly what happened to the Israelites as we found out in our study of 1 Samuel. They would rather have a human king than the divine King - YHWH.

But even in their rejection of God, God is still merciful to them. For God carefully choses and equips a man for the job - Saul.

A very important lesson here is that God is sovereign in choosing a King over Israel.

God’s choice of Saul is His provision for the peoples rejection of God as their King. The people’s rejection of God made their lives miserable and we can read that in the next few chapters. They could have waited for God to give them King but they could not wait.

But I believe that you and I can get very important practical lessons here that will help us on how we should respond when we find ourselves rejecting God’s rule over our life.

The Proper Response When you rejected God’s rule over your life:

I. Listen to God’s rebuke

God’s rebuke to all Israel (vv.17-19)

God reminded the people who He is - their savior and their king. But they have rejected Him. A great insult to God who has been their savior, provider, and protector from the beginning. God reminded them of the covenant in Mt. Sinai as we read in Exodus 20:2

“2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

1 Samuel 10:18 “18 and he said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians.

God rebuked them for violating the covenant. They could have repented after they have heard God’s words through Samuel. They could have changed their mind and asked for God’s forgiveness, but they did not. God is very merciful because He did not judged them right then and there.

Reflection:

If you are a child of God, He will rebuke you and He will allow you to see your sin so that you will repent.

Application:

A. Listen to God’s rebuke through repentance.

why? so you will avoid painful consequences.

There silence (no response) is actually a sign that they don’t think their decision to ask for a king (like other nations) is wrong (indirectly justifying their sin).

Transition: Despite their rejection of God, God was merciful to them. God did not reject them. Instead, He ask them to draw near to Him and present themselves to Him.

II. Draw Near to God

God commanded them to present themselves before God so God could publicly select and reveal the identify of the new King.

They present themselves before the Lord (vv.20-24)

Except Saul - He hid in the baggages/supplies.

Saul was chosen but he was not present. He hid himself so well that they could not find him. They have to inquire from God just to find Saul (v.22).

No matter how you hide or run from God, God will find you.

Saul did not present himself - why? there could be many reasons but it’s not explicitly told here in the passage.

was it because of fear? he was unsure?

or

was he humble and he does not want to desire power and fame?

His absence and reluctance to take the responsibility is the foreshadowing of what kind of King he would become - he did not take full responsibility and abandoned his role as the designate King of YHWH.

He has the potential to be a great king but he changed when he tasted the power and authority which boosted his pride.

Application:

A. In presenting ourselves to God, we need to be humble. We need to understand that God is holy and sovereign and we are not.

B. It is our duty to submit to God because He is our creator and we are His creation.

D. Stop running away from God. He will find you no matter where you run or hide.

III. Read and Obey God’s Word

God’s law is to be followed by the King and the people (v.25)

God wanted them for the King to remember that he has duties and responsibilities to God and to the people of God in a form of a covenant.

God wanted the people to remember that they have duties and responsibilities to the King and to God as their creator and savior (covenant).

Having a human king over them does not remove their responsibilities to God.

The Ordinances of the Kingdom was provided so that they may learn to avoid rejecting God’s rule. They may remember that they are set apart for God and that they are to be different from other nations.

Application:

A. You need to remember that you are a child of God and a citizen of heaven. Your allegiance is to God and not to anyone on earth.

B. You need to know and obey the law of God which is found in His Word - the Bible. so that you may avoid rejecting God’s rule and the painful consequences.

IV. Accept God’s provision

God’s choice accepted and rejected by some (vv.26-27)

God provided them what they have asked - Saul “the one requested”.

Accepted - Valiant men went with Saul to Gibeah.

God provided Saul the resources (people) needed to rule Israel. (God touched their hearts)

God did not leave Saul to rule Israel on his own. God was with Him. Providing him the needed resources so he can do his job accordingly.

Rejected - the rebellious people, they rejected God and the one whom God chooses to rule them.

They did not think that Saul can save them from the Philistines. They did not bring him gift to honor him.

Saul kept silent - he did not retaliate nor grumble. As King, he could have ordered their deaths but he did not. He showed grace and wisdom. The reason he failed later on was he did not exercised wisdom and grace.

Gospel:

In the same way, God provided a SAVIOR in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s choice and God’s best!

God in the flesh!

For centuries since the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, many people have rejected Him.

They have not accepted Him as their Lord and savior because He did not fit to their idea of a savior.

So they hanged him on a cross to die a criminal’s death! But Jesus did not retaliate! He did not ordered His angels to kill those evil people right then and there!

He showed grace and compassion. He is inviting the sinners to come to Him to receive forgiveness and acceptance to His eternal Kingdom.

Application:

A. Accept God’s greatest providence for your soul - Jesus Christ. Do not continue your rejection of God.

B. If you are a child of God, examine your heart whether it is right with God.

Conclusion:

God is the sovereign ruler and king of your life. If you are His child and you find yourself rejecting Him in the process of making decisions for your life, do not harden your hearts and do not run away from Him. Come to Him because He is merciful and kind.