Deborah is a smart girl. My firstborm really has a good brain operating that can pick up concepts very well and is able to explain them clearly and confidently.
Seeing her doing it makes me very happy. This evening we were reading 1 Samuel 15 and considering why God wasn’t happy with Saul. Deborah heard the chapter and beautifully summarised the narrative. As I heard her outline what went on, I was struck with Saul’s attitude to God through Samuel.
Having given a devastating display of military might in line with the instructions initially, Saul takes it upon himself to allow the best stuff in terms of livestock to stay alive and as a sign of his victory keep the Amalekite king alive. Indeed such is his feeling of vindication he even sets up a tribute to himself, before nipping down to offer sacrifices to God.
Samuel’s charge to Saul is sent through clearly when he tells Saul that disobedience to God is like divination and arrogance is like idolatry.
To take ourselves and our reputation with the people too seriously is the mark of an arrogant rebel. What God says is relevant only in as much as it serves my will. With such stubbornness we reinforce our rejection of God.
I certainly see how disobedience and arrogance virtually takes our allegiance from God and gives it to whatever it feeds on – prestige, position, finances, etc.
I wonder if we take God seriously when He establishes what disobedience does to us? I wonder, does God mark out the arrogant? If so I wonder if we would be as arrogant as we are at timesin doing things our way regardless of what God says …
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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