The Beginning of the Beginning

The Beginning of the Beginning
Words of Faith 10-3-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 Samuel 14
 [46] Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land. [47] After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them. [48] He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them. [49] Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal. [50] His wife's name was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul's army was Abner, son of Ner, and Ner was Saul's uncle. [51] Saul's father, Kish, and Abner's father, Ner, were sons of Abiel. [52] All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.
[15:1] Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. [2] This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. [3] Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"

      Some would mark this passage as the beginning of the end. A better description might be the "beginning of the beginning." Yes, this transition moves toward the end of Saul's ill-fated kingship. But it also moves step-by-step closer to King David's time and the line that would lead to Jesus, the Messiah of God.
      The end of chapter 14 gives an account of Saul's career. All of his years were years of war. There can be no doubt that Saul was a great leader in war. He inspired the men, strategized effectively, and gathered a great military force. Whenever he saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into service. He fought with enemies on every side and inflicted punishment on each of them. In the eyes of the world, he was a great king.
The one thing that was missing for Saul was the leading of the Lord God. He did not have a heart after God. Nowhere in these military exploits do we see or hear that Saul was led into battle for the purpose of the Lord. Nowhere do we hear of him consulting the Lord. While these battles may have been against true enemies of the people of God, these were still battles in the flesh. These were battles accomplished by the flesh. 
It is little wonder that as we begin chapter 15, the story will lead to the anointing of another-- David-- who will lead as king over Israel with a whole heart after God. Sadly, we will watch the decline of one leader as the Lord prepares to lift up another.
The transition toward a new king began with a clear directive from the Lord. Samuel clarified that he was sent to anoint Saul as king and spoke directly from the Lord to Saul. There was an important assignment. The Lord desired to punish the Amalekites who had harassed Israel when they came up from Egypt. This was a holy war directed by God to inflict the judgment of the Lord upon the Amalekites and totally destroy them. The directive was to destroy everything-- men, women, children, infants, cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.
The idea makes us cringe. But this was a judgment that only God could pronounce. It seems shocking to us today. And while the Lord is not required to give a reason for His divine judgments, we should realize that the Amalekites sowed the seeds of their own destruction through their persistent refusal to fear God. Deuteronomy 25:18 describes the Amalekites-- When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God (Deut. 25:18).
      We do not know all the offenses of the Amalekites. We don't know the opportunities they may have had to respond to the Lord. We do know that God is patient and slow to anger, "abounding in love and faithfulness." And we also know that He "does not leave the guilty unpunished" (Exod 34:6-7). There is a point at which the sins of a people bring destruction that even affects the innocent. The greatest infraction here was that they did not fear God. A nation or people that do not fear God stand at risk of God's judgment.
        I am so often reminded of Paul's words-- Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen (Romans 11:28-36).
This strong directive set up the opportunity for Saul to obey or disobey. After many patient opportunities for Saul to set things straight in the fear of the Lord, this directive determined his destiny.
       Just a thought to ask of ourselves-- have I been battling in the flesh? Have I been battling away at enemies in my own power and flesh? Have I been trying to solve the things of God by using the tools of men? Have I been doing everything except... fearing the Lord? 
Our quick response to a text like this is to accuse God of being unfair, cruel, or unjust to the innocent. Our needed response is to look inward. Is it time to start fearing the Lord? Revering Him as the Sovereign of all creation? This is the beginning of wisdom. Is it time to start trusting in Him instead of our flesh? The "beginning of the beginning" is when we start fearing the Lord and trusting Him.
 
Father God, forgive me for the many ways I have tried to fight the battles of life in my flesh. Forgive me for the things I have approached in a way that gave me the esteem of the world rather than a deeper trust in You. I love you. I fear you. I choose to walk after You. Give me a whole heart for You. Teach me Your ways and directives, and I will follow them even if they do not make sense to me. I rejoice in all things made through You and are from You. May You be glorified. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
 
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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.