1 Samuel 12:16-25
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“How to come back to God”
“How to come back to God”
Now last week we spent some time looking at panoramic views of a life lived well and a life lived poorly
Now last week we spent some time looking at panoramic views of a life lived well and a life lived poorly
We looked at Samuel (A life lived well) v.1-6 His life was marked by consistency, Character and integrity, A life spoken well of, A life that is above reproach
We looked at Israel (A life lived poorly) v.7-12 Their history was marked by the cycle of sin God delivered them...then they would forget about God...then there would be a discipline, then they would cry out to the Lord…then he would deliver them again…but all of it lead to a roller coaster of a life that was marked by brokenness and inconsistency
“Grace means you can come home”
“Grace means you can come home”
The question this presented was “which one of these lives best describes yours?
Maybe your life looks like Samuel’s
Maybe your life looks like Israel’s
But in verse 14 Samuel stops talking about the past…and begins to tell them it’s not too late to get right with God today…and this is what we’re gonna speak about today
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
(Prop) Today as we look at the rest of Samuel’s farewell address we’re gonna see Samuel describe what getting right with God looks like
(Prop) Today as we look at the rest of Samuel’s farewell address we’re gonna see what getting right with God looks like...
Prone to wonder
“What who says’ I’m wrong with God”…the bible
(Prop) Today as we look at the rest of Samuel’s farewell address we’re gonna see what getting right with God looks like...
Samuel mentions 5 things
Samuel tells them to do 5 things
Confess your sin
Confess your sin
Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.” So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.”
1 Sam 12:1
16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.” 18 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.”
It’s like me saying in southern California the middle of July that their was gonna be a storm…that would be kind of a shocking thing
A life lived well - Samuel v.1-6
A life lived well - Samuel v.1-6 His life was marked by consistency, Character and integrity, A life spoken well of, A life that is above reproach
So, Samuel says “stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes” and what he’s gonna do is make it rain during the harvest season…why was that great? because that was their summer season...It’s like me saying in southern California the middle of July that their was gonna be a storm…that would be kind of a shocking thing…now it is sad that this was what God had to resort too...
A life spoken well of
Now understand that this “great thing” a sign of Judgment to show them emphatically that it was a sinful decision to pine after a king like Saul
A life lived poorly - Israel v.7-12
So, Samuel says “stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes” and what he’s gonna do is make it rain during the harvest season…why was that great? because that was their summer season...It’s like me saying in southern California the middle of July that their was gonna be a storm…that would be kind of a shocking thing…now it is sad that this was what God had to resort too...
A life lived poorly - Israel v.7-12 Their history was marked by the need for deliverance..then they would forget about God...then there would be a discipline, then they would cry out to the Lord…and He would send them relief…but all of it lead to a roller coaster of a life that was marked by brokenness and inconsistency
A life that is above reproach
But understand the purpose of this “Great thing” - It was to expose the people’s wickedness - It is to show the people that their asking for a king was a sinful decision
A life lived poorly - Israel v.7-12
They forget about God
App: Sometimes the greatest thing God can do is expose your sin
Jesus
A call to obedience v.13-25
Thiers a discipline
The question this presented was “which one of these lives best describes yours?
App: Sometimes the greatest thing God can do is expose your sin
Anything that exposes sin from the darkness to the light is a great thing in God’s eyes…here it’s a fearful things...It’s often a painful thing…It’s in the scope of eternity…It’s a great thing
They Cry out…God restoresA call to obedience v.13-25
Jesus exposed people’ sin
But it wasn't all hopeless because In verse 14 Samuel stops talking about the past…and lays before them
Think about Nathan speaking to David…It was a painful thing…but it was a great thing
Think about Nathan speaking to David…It was a painful thing…but it was a great thing
Think about Jesus and the women at the well…I’m sure it was embarrassing…but it was a great thing
And there will be times when your sin will be exposed - Might not be through a thunder storm…but it might be through a friend…a parent…a spouse…It might be embarrassing in your eyes…It’s great in God’s
And look at what it produces here....
19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.”
So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
This is called Ownership....now we know that their aran’t where they need to be because their saying things like “Pray to the Lord your God Samuel” But at the very least their willing to own their wicked choice
2 things stand out here:
They take personal responsibility for their sin - No deference here....Deference has been around from the beginning and Satan absolutely loves it - Adam “The women you gave me”
They understand they they've sinned against God first - “Pray for your servants to the Lord”They doin’t say “Samuel, we’re so sorry “ no they understand that this sin was against the Lord first
App: One part of repentance is to understand what sin is: It’s a transgression against God LawNow effects othersBut the sin is always Godward
App: One part of repentance is to understand what sin is:
It’s a transgression against God LawNow effects othersBut the sin is always Godward
It’s a transgression against God LawNow effects othersBut the sin is always Godward
Makes me think of David - “Against you and you alone have I sinned” - when David says, "Against you and you only have I sinned," I don't think he means, "I didn't wrong Uriah by killing him, and I didn't wrong Bathsheba by raping her, and I didn't wrong the baby by being the cause of its death." He meant, "The horrible thing here, ultimately, is that I rebelled against God.
Makes me think of David - “Against you and you alone have I sinned” - when David says, "Against you and you only have I sinned," I don't think he means, "I didn't wrong Uriah by killing him, and I didn't wrong Bathsheba by raping her, and I didn't wrong the baby by being the cause of its death." He meant, "The horrible thing here, ultimately, is that I rebelled against God.
Now Samuel speaks about the next step
Follow the Lord
Follow the Lord
20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.
Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” But David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.” Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.’ If he says, ‘Good!’ it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him. Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?” And Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?” Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?” And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So they both went out into the field.
And Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? But should it please my father to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father. If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord take vengeance on David’s enemies.” And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap. And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. And behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then you are to come, for, as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. But if I say to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the Lord has sent you away. And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.”
So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.
Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.” But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?” Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.”
Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.
In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy. And he said to his boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?” And Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!” So Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.” And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’ ” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s herdsmen.
Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.” And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”
And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,
‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”
And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
1 Sam
Wow…how awesome is that…First Samuel takes their sin very seriously…But then He says “You don’t need to be afraid…their hope for you still…walked with God today....repent today…embrace his mercy…begin to serve him with your whole heart today
Understand the power the “today” Holds - Satan would love for you to caught up in the present or the future...All nostalgic about when you were on fire for the Lord...Always putting off tomorrow what you could do today
All nostalgic about when you were on fire for the Lord...
The young girl in Brazil - App: Understand what Jesus grace has proved with today…An opportunity to return home and follow him
Always putting off tomorrow what you could do today
Don’t turn aside after empty things - To turn aside means to retreat so Samuel is saying “don’t retreat from the battle by chasing after empty things” - Whats an empty thing? Anything that takes a place in your heart above Jesus…because in comparison to Jesus…It’s empty
Follow the Lord today
Don’t turn aside after empty things - To turn aside means to retreat so Samuel is saying “don’t retreat from the battle by chasing after empty things” - Whats an empty thing? Anything that takes a place in your heart above Jesus…because in comparison to Jesus…It’s empty
It’s tough to follow Jesus…It’s harder not too...
Here’s the next thing
Trust in God’s Love
Trust in God’s Love
22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.
You know what he’s communicating here? the Love of God...The fact that God loved these people…even though they were the further thing from lovely
Why will he not abandon his people in spite of their constant failure to live up to to his commandments …because he loves you
Why did he make a way for to be restored? because he loves you
Why
App: Why will he never give up on you and I in spite of our faults and failings?…Because he loves you
App: Why will he never give up on you and I in spite of our faults and failings?…because of his steadfast love
Why does he love us? It’s for his name sake - In the bible names were always connected to someones nature…we see this in
Moses wanted to see God’s glory…God said thats above your pay grade…But I’ll pass before you and proclaim my Name…and thats what he did
Why does he love us? Because He is love - In the bible names were always connected to nature…we see this in
Moses wanted to see God’s glory…God said thats above your pay grade…But I’ll pass before you and proclaim my Name…and thats what he did
5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
App: God loves us because He is love
If you think he hates you all you will do is give up
App: God’s loves us because He is love...
Because It pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself - Samuel’s saying…this is who you are to God....You are his!
Repentance is easier when you when you begin from that place - I’m not just an outsider…I’m a child who is love unconditionally by God
For some reason I think about the Shulamite womanShe says “don’t look at me i’m ugly…the sun has burnt me…my brothers have scared me…He’s like…Your so beautiful…Your so beautiful…Your so beautiful…till she believes and she’s His banner over me is love!”
App: Maybe your here…and you have let sin and shame drive you away from Jesus…Understand He loves…and let that love make you lovely again
You might say “so I can do whatever I want right?” wrong…His kindness is to lead you too repentance
So confess your sin, follow Jesus, trust in his Love, Here’s the next thing
Find a Samuel
Find a Samuel
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
Remember whats happening here…Samuel is passing the torch to Saul...He could have easily said…I’m done...But he said I’m never gonna stop praying for you and teaching you the right way…why did he say that? because they were gonna need it…and So do you
This walk with God was never meant to be walked alone…we need men and women who are willing to come along side us pray for us and instruct us in the good and right way
Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
Everybody has blind spots…everybody can be ruled by their emotions from time to time...
This more rare these days because - We live in a culture where people super connected…yet incredibly iso
Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
In the bible, this is called discipleship....It’s a vitally important in the life’s of Jesus’ followers
In the bible, this is called discipleship....It’s a vitally important in the life’s of Jesus’ followers
In the bible, this is called discipleship....It’s a vitally important in the life’s of Jesus’ followers
This is called discipleship....It’a vitally important in the life’s of Jesus’ followers
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
It takes 2 things:
A willing teacher - Think about Samuel, He’s old and gray…He’s transitioning on from his ministry…Yet, he’s not being put out to pasture…he’s not retiring…He says “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray and instruct you” Samuel knew it would have been a sinful thing to not invest into other people’s walks with God
App: This is too the older saints here - older in age…but older in faith - it’s awesome that you know the bible, and you know some things about life…but are you passing that wisdom down to others that might need it?
Be willing to Ask:
Facebook
Be willing to Ask someone young then you to grab some Coffee
A willing disciple - Notice in verse 19 their saying “Samuel could you pray for us?” in other words they were in such a desperate state that they were willing to depend on someone else’s help
App: Be willing seek out discipleship from those who are older than you - More than your peers and your parents
Now there can be issues
Cult
Some of the most pivotal moments in life have come sitting across the table
Get together and talk about God’s word - “This is how you will be instructed in the good way…this is how you be fulfilling the great commission by says “this is what Jesus said on this”
Here’s the last thing...
Fear the Lord
Fear the Lord
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.”
Isn’t it interesting that Samuel just said in v. 20 “don’t be afraid” and now he’s saying “Fear the Lord” whats he talking about?...For the unbeliever, the fear of God is the fear of the judgment of God and eternal death, which is eternal separation from God (; )....but For the believer, the fear of God is something much different. The believer's fear is reverence of God. is a good description of this
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
For a Christian to fear the Lord we are to have in fearful wonder of Who God is and what God has done…there are 2 ways to describe it
It's the kind of fear that you feel Victoria Falls in Africa…drawn to the beauty…but very aware of It’s power
It’s also like the that fear that we have of hurting the person you most love...
But theirs also a relational part to the fear of the Lord…He means so much to me, I don’t want to disappoint him - I think about my daughter
This is the kind of fear that is produced in us when we “Consider what great things he has done” His holiness and His Love for us…and this becomes a healthy motivator for us to live pleasing to the Lord
App: Do you fear the Lord? It should be a part of every christians walk
How can i fear the Lord? - Read the Bible
Ask the Holy spirit
Conclusion:
So Here we have Samuel’s call to repentance:
Own your sin
Follow God
Trust in his love
Find a Samuel
Fear the Lord
This is what the road back to healthy looks like…You can take it today