"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
1 Samuel 12 is a farewell address of sorts for Samuel. His purpose is fulfilled. The Israelites have their king, and now it is time for him to move on and for Saul to lead the Israelites into being a great, God-honoring Kingdom. But things do not exactly follow that plan.
In this passage there are two pretty simple formulas:
In the very next chapter, we have an example of Saul not fearing the Lord. So that didn’t really last long for Him. We don’t really have to go far or think too hard for many more examples of the Israelites doing things that showed their lack of fear or trust in the Lord.
1 Samuel 12:24-25
1 Samuel 12 is a farewell address of sorts for Samuel. His purpose is fulfilled. The Israelites have their king, and now it is time for him to move on and for Saul to lead the Israelites into being a great, God-honoring Kingdom. But things do not exactly follow that plan.
In this passage there are two pretty simple formulas:
1. Fear the Lord.
2. Follow His commands.
3. Prosper
or
1. Don’t fear the Lord.
2. Don’t follow His commands
3. Be “swept away.”
This is not a new idea. This is pretty much the idea put forth in much of the bible. We could debate what it means to prosper or do well (maybe another time?) But this is it. It is simple; it is to the point; and it is seemingly impossible.
In the very next chapter, we have an example of Saul not fearing the Lord. So that didn’t really last long for Him. We don’t really have to go far or think too hard for many more examples of the Israelites doing things that showed their lack of fear or trust in the Lord.
Fearing the Lord requires a certain level of humbleness that doesn’t seem becoming to people in western society. It requires us to admit that we are not our own bosses. It requires us to look up and realize that their is one much greater than us. It requires us to die to ourselves. Everyday.
While this situation might seem bleak and we might wonder if we will ever have a proper view of fearing the Lord and a proper view of what it means to follow him, there is some good news.
While it might seem impossible for us, there was one that it was not possible for.
This is Whom we follow.
This is Whom defeated sin.
This is Whom died on the cross.
This is Whom did not stay dead.
This is Whom our life is found in.
Yes, there are times that we will fail. But that isn’t where are story ends. If it was, I wouldn’t be here. I am only here now because of the grace and love of my savior. Without that, I would be off chasing money somewhere drowning in sin and doing my best to mess up everyones lives that I would happen to come in contact with through my extremely selfish actions.
