It's Time To Move On
Notes
Transcript
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.”
When Our Sadness Becomes Excessive
A Sadness We inflict on Ourselves
A Sadness about a closed door we can’t open
When Duty is Calling us Elsewhere
A Duty that redirects my energy
A Duty that reaffirms God’s purpose
When Our Sadness Becomes Excessive
Samuel, known as the first fully functional prophet in Israel’s history, one who was given back to GOD due to a vow from his mother Hannah. Whose name means “GOD has heard”. He grew to be a strong spokesman for GOD and a judge or ruler over Israel. In this passage, he was an older prophet, somewhere around 75 years old. No longer in public arena because there was a king on scene to lead Israel, at the people’s request, that was Saul. In the previous chapter and since he was young man, he had heard God’s voice to rebuke others. But in this text, we hear GOD asking Samuel “How long will you grieve over Saul?” GOD is not referring to mourning the dead, rather he is referring to a sadness concerning the living!! Not an instance of sadness, but an excessive sadness, because GOD asks “How long”. Until what point in time? He was distressed and sad because of Saul’s mess ups as king, specifically that he didn’t follow God’s commands to destroy all of Amalek (ch 15:11). Then in ch 15:35, we find the beginning of Samuel’s intense sadness over Saul. And it is believed that period of nearly 4 years passes from then to this verse.
Application: One of the first indicators that we need to move on is when we are in a state of sadness, distress, or grief for an excessive amount of time. Not about those who have passed, but about the hangups somebody else has had.
A Sadness We inflict on Ourselves
Furthermore, the term grieve in the text denotes a state of sadness that nobody else had a part in. Rather it was grief that Samuel was inflicting upon himself, for 4 years.
Application: This is most likely to occur when we have strong feelings for certain people in our lives, on our jobs, or certain endeavors or life’s activities. No one is doing anything externally, rather it is what’s happening over and over internally, in our minds about what somebody else did, that was so messed up, and we allow it to play over and over again. We can put ourselves in a cycle of distress and grief.
A Sadness about a closed door we can’t open
More important than that, GOD intensifies why the state Samuel is in is even a bigger issue. GOD says until what point in time are you gone keep doing this to yourself, when you know good and well the decision I made regarding Saul. See Samuel had strong devotion to GOD, and much care for the welfare of Israel. To large degree, he had great expectations for Saul and this new form of king government GOD had permitted. GOD told him that he had rejected Saul as king and God’s spirit had left Saul. That posed a threat to nation of family Samuel loved, because GOD was no longer guiding the ruler. So essentially, this grief in Samuel was about a closed door that he could not reopen.
Application: That’s the real issue here. See GOD didn’t just closed the door on this relationship just to do it, the reality is that Saul closed his side first, and GOD responded by closing his side. Look, GOD will allow some doors to shut. Some friendships. Some fields of ministry. Some job opportunities. Listen, there are some people, some areas, some endeavors, that don’t reflect the will, love, or the word of GOD. As a result of who or what those people or things are or become, GOD might be closing some doors. I am not suggesting we stop loving people, or a pass to give up on every circumstance. Can people and circumstances change? Absolutely. But change is not my jurisdiction or power, therefore I don’t need to keep trippin if people and things don’t change.
When Duty is Calling us Elsewhere
So what is Samuel left to do. GOD says fill your horn which I initially assigned you to use for anointing. And Go!! I am sending you to Jesse’s household.
Application: This is a big indicator that it’s time to move on. When duty is calling us elsewhere.
A Duty that redirects my energy
Application: Watch the significance of this, GOD says fill your horn and go, I’m sending you to another place. See sometimes our feelings can have us pouring ourselves into people and things that drain the energy that GOD gives us. Tears take a lot of energy. Stress takes a lotta energy. When GOD wants us to move on, he will redirect our energy toward something different. It does not mean there won’t be challenges. But get ya mind off what’s draining the sacred fuel GOD gave and absolutely no return on what you’ve poured. There’s something over here that needs that gift!! When you find that this person or thing is actually prohibiting you from doing what GOD has called for, that is a huge problem.
Example: Jesus grew up in Nazareth. Knew them. Loved them. But they were draining his anointing, absolutely no belief. And GOD redirecting his energy to other places.
A Duty that reaffirms God’s purpose
Lastly, GOD shows that this duty, is not wrapped up in man’s preference and purpose. But it is God’s. He says “HE” has “selected” for “HIMSELF”. Which means it is something better.
Application: See, Samuel has been crying over spilled oil for too long, as if there is no more hope for Israel. And GOD is saying with him, there’s always hope for something better!! GOD is essentially saying I want you to move on, because I’ve already moved on!!
Is it time for you to move on? Is it time for you to stop trippin over somebody else shutting the door? Has GOD allowed for a door to shut that you had great expectations for? Could you be poured your oil into folk or activity that have already closed the door to GOD? Not that you shouldn’t love people, but is it preventing you from using your gifts? Perhaps GOD has already moved on, and these are indicators that he’s trying to get you to do the same!!