Proper Response

Intro

Have you ever experienced the wrong response to your actions?

Have you ever spent way too much time cooking a meal, only for your children to despise the meal?

One time I decided for myself that I would smoke some pork belly burnt ends. If you have not tried them, then you surely are missing out big time!!!

I spent a big part of my time hyping up JJ about this meal! I told Him I was going to cook Pork Belly, and he thought that was the coolest thing ever! We went to the store and he kept looking everywhere for the pork belly! He truly was all about it! We finally get to the pork section and I even let him pick out the piece we would cook, and all the way through the store he is talking about Pork Belly!

I was so excited about this piece of meat, and he seemed just as excited!

I get all the spices, we go to Ace to get a specific BBQ Sauce that I wanted to try, and get some wood for the smoker.

We get home, JJ helps me to start the fire, he gets his cooking tools, and all that morning He kept asking how the pork belly was going! He would even run up to me randomly and ask me if I wanted to go check on the pork belly!

I couldn’t wait for it to be ready and done, so that we could stop talking about it and just simply eat it!!!

Finally after hours of smoking this thing, it is time to put it to rest before we start eating.

JJ is so excited about this meal, which makes me even more excited! The color is perfect, the juiciness is perfect, everything about this pork belly screams masterpiece!

JJ keeps wowing and making me even more excited about this meal as he stares at it and keeps asking me when dinner time will be!

Can you imagine my excitement for this piece of food???

I am guessing you know what happens next…

Meal time finally comes, and we are all sitting around the table, we say our blessing and I start to serve all the pieces in the different plates, and to my surprise, but likely non of yours, JJ is smiling and calmly says,

“I don’t want that daddy. Can I just have French fries and chicken?”

Transition

What a disappointing response to such a monumental moment. Or at least that is what it felt like! After all the hard work, all the expectations, and all the excitement built up, my hard work was sun down by this little 4 year old. To be honest at some point it became more about doing it for him than it was about cooking something amazing!

This morning I want to take us into the Old Testament and read a part of King Saul’s story. We really could have gone anywhere in scripture, to talk about the topic we will be focusing on, as it is a very prominent topic in all of scripture. That topic being how people respond to God.

Saul stands out, not just because he is king of Israel, but because his story really connects with our story today.

Saul sees God at work first hand in his life, and then he gets to a point in which he has to make the proper response to God.

So we will be in the book of Samuel, and we will look at several passages through that together this morning.

Scripture Intro 1 Samuel 13:8-14

Let’s start out by reading the passage together this morning.

8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

This is the point of Saul’s story in which he had to make a crucial decision. One which, clearly, had eternal implications! His response to this moment would shape his generations to come. So let’s look at how he got here a bit.

Saul Chosen king 1 Samuel 10

In chapter 10 we find the moment in which Saul is chosen to be the king of Israel. This is the first king that they would have since they entered the promised land. And if we know that story, the book of Judges shows us several things. First it shows us that God is faithful to the people.

God fulfills the land part of the promise, and the people of Israel are able to enter the land and inhabit it. God’s goodness in full display as they enter, conquer, and live in the land. But we also see how quickly the people turn away from God, so much so that by the end of the book of Judges, they blame their actions on their lack of king! So the book of Judges ends with this phrase;

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own ways.                                                    - Judges 21:25

So finally comes the day in which God will place a king over Israel, and he sends Samuel to anoint Saul. And as he anoints him with oil, he speaks the following words for Saul;

“Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies.”

- 1 Samuel 10:1

Saul is placed as king by God to reign over them and to save them from their enemies.

Spirit of God rushes into Saul 1 Samuel 11

And Saul does just that! He is a fantastic was general, and he has success quickly over his enemies. But the most important part about Saul’s success is that He is led by God into it!

The Ammonites, aka Israel’s enemies, are attacking fringe areas of Israel, mainly Jabesh Gilead. The people of Jabesh were all ready to make a treaty with the ammonites and to become their slaves, to save themselves. Their only hope was that someone would show up and save them!

Then Saul hears of this, and look at what the Scriptures say.

Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.

                  -1 Samuel 11:5-6

This is important here. Remember what God anointed Saul for. “You shall reign over the people, and you will save them from their enemies.

Well the Ammonites in this moment are enemy number one, so the Scriptures tell us that the Spirit of God rushes upon Saul! I imagine that as he heard the news of Jabesh the words of Samuel rang in his ears, as the Spirit of God was urging him into fulfilling his purpose.

As king, Saul had a reason and a purpose from God. It was up to him to follow God’s leading into his calling!

So as the Spirit prompted, Saul responded.

Saul of course goes out into the battle and is victorious, not only in defeating the enemy of Israel, but in fulfilling the call that was for him!

Renewing the kingdom to God 1 Samuel 11:12-15

We normally see Saul through the lenses of David’s story. And we miss out on how committed he was to God when his reign began!

After defeating the Ammonites, Saul calls out to the people to bring a new reign to the people of Israel. Just listen to his words!

But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.” Then Samuel said to the people, Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

- 1 Samuel 11:12-15

Through his obedient response to God’s prompting, Saul renewed the people of Israel, and led all of them to make offerings before the Lord!

The kingdom under Saul had such a promising beginning!

A Warning 1 Samuel 12:24-25

Yet Samuel was sure to warn the people, because as promising as it was to have a king, He knew that with man they needed to be extra certain that they would follow God.

“Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

                  -1 Samuel 12:24-25

One response does not set the heart straight.

Just think of all the times God has done amazing things in our lives! Yet we continue to sin! Think of all the ways God has been faithful unto us, yet we falter. During the season of joy and plenty we tend to give ourselves the glory, and in the time of trials and famine, God is the first to be blamed.

And our response at times is like Saul.

Wrong Response 1 Samuel 13:8-14

Saul came upon another enemy of Israel, the Philistines. And this time as he prepared for war, he had been given instructions by Samuel to wait 7 days before acting. This is the same Saul who had responded to God’s prompting a year earlier, and the same person who had brought the people to worship God.

He does something that seems to be righteous. His actions might seem holy and pleasing to God.

Saul cannot wait seven days for Samuel, so he takes matters into his own hands and makes a sacrifice to the Lord.

What may have seemed like the appropriate thing to do. What was likely a righteous thing to do, would be the thing that would cost him and his lineage from reigning over Israel beyond him.

But why?

Does not God ask for sacrifices? Is not God pleased when the people bring the burnt peace offering before him?

Well, yes, and no.

This is the story of the people of Israel, the story of Saul and even our story.

Saul made the right response in the most inappropriate of ways!

In his impatience, in fear, and in a moment he believed that God would bring him success through his actions. He believed that all that God needed was a simple burnt offering, and that through such, Saul would have favor in the eyes of the Lord!

Surely the offering made to God should suffice…

We would never do such a thing would we?

In the scriptures we see how time and time again, the people of God fail to respond appropriately to God.

The Gospel Hoseas 6:6

Yet at the proper time, God responds to us.

In that while we were still sinners, while we continue to fail, and as we continue to fall, he responds by sending his one and only Son Jesus. God in the flesh stepping down from his throne so that we may commune with him, so that we may know him, and so that we may have salvation in him!

In Jesus, God repeats the words of the prophet Hosea saying

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burn offerings

- Hosea 6:6

More than just those words, he responds to us sinners by providing the ultimate sacrifice for our lives. Literally no longer needing the people to make the sacrifices by fulfilling the sacrifice with his son. So that whoever believes in him would have eternal life.

Saul believed that a simple sacrifice was what God wanted. But in Christ we realize that what God truly wants is much greater than any offering we could bring to him.

Greater than attending a service, greater than lifting your hands, and greater than anything we could ever give, the only proper response to the gospel of Jesus Christ is our very lives.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

- Romans 12:1

Invitation

Maybe you have heard the gospel, and maybe you responded on that day. Maybe today God is prompting you to respond for the very first time. And maybe, just maybe, God is prompting you to examine your response, and reminding you that the only appropriate response is your life lived out continually as a living sacrifice of worship to Him.

Not simply worshipping Him when it is convenient, or expected, but worshipping Him always, everyday, as long as it is called today.

Not because we are worthy, but because the sacrifice of Jesus is worth every single bit of our lives.

That may look like accepting him as Lord and savior today. It may look like following him in obedience through baptism. Or maybe it looks like repenting and returning to the prompting of God.

Not simply hoping that our spare time or spare change is enough, but fully presenting every aspect of our lives, work, school, home, as grandparents, and parents, as aunt, uncle, as a single male in this world, or a single female. As a widow, as a divorcee, as a child, as a teen, as a person knowing that they are on their last days on this earth. Every part of us, and everywhere we may be present. In times of plenty, and in times of need. May it always be a time, a place, and a reason to Worship our God.

Altar Call

I encourage you today, to bring it all to Him who is worthy. As we prepare for a time of thanksgiving, even though there might seem to be nothing to be thankful about, may we be thankful for our God.

For our God is creator, he is leader, he is provider, he is stronghold, he is refuge, He is strength, He is goodness, He is Mercy, He is forgiveness, He is Love. He is worthy of honor, worthy of praise, worthy of all of our lives lived out for him.

As we pray and worship, the altar is open, deacons are here at the front ready to pray.

What will your response be today, this week, the rest of this year, and all your life? May it be worship pleasing to Him.

Prayer

God we come to you today, knowing you are worthy of worship, worthy of praise. We come to you with in the midst of our sins and our failures asking you to forgive us, and to lead us into a life of worship holy and pleasing to you. As our calendar reminds us to be thankful, may we be reminded to be thankful to you for all that you are and all that you have done for us.

May our gratitude lead us closer and closer to a life devoted fully to you, in the times of plenty and in the times of need. Knowing that you alone are God.

Be with us oh Lord, bless us, keep us, and let your face to shine upon us. In Jesus name we pray. AMEN.