Daily Readings & Thought for July 3rd. “I HAVE OBEYED”


Today’s readings.. (1 Samuel 15), (Isaiah 59), (Matthew 3,4)

King Saul was highly successful in destroying the Amalekites, but we note what Samuel said to him (1 Sam 15 v.1-3) before he did this!  After giving him the reasons why the Amalekites should be destroyed, Samuel tells him, “Now go and strike Amalek, and devote to destruction all that they have.  Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.”    In v.7 to 9 we read “And Saul defeated Amalek … and devoted to destruction all the people … But Saul and the people spared … the best of the sheep and oxen … and all that was good …. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.”    

What a valuable lesson there is in the LORD’s reaction to Saul’s selective obedience to his commands.  Samuel is sent to express God’s anger at his failure to obey him properly, he tells Saul, “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD?  Why did you pounce on the spoil  and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?” [v.19]  Saul claims in reply, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD” [v.20], but he only did so partly.  His claim is that the animals were saved to offer as sacrifices – and of course, as a result, Saul and the people enjoyed much feasting! The phrase “the voice of the LORD” should cause us to meditate – they did not hear his actual voice – and neither do we!  We have his word – that is “the voice of the LORD” for us.

Then Samuel makes a very vital point, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?” [v.22]  What a clear and vital lesson this is for us – it dovetails in with Isaiah’s message at the start of today’s ch. 59.  “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save … but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”     

If there were prophets like Samuel and Isaiah around today what kind of message would they give?  Let us not pick and choose only the parts of God’s word we like – to believe and obey – let us live so that we can in truth say in our prayers – and on THAT day, “I have obeyed…”


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