King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Chapters: I SAMUEL 15-16
Study: True Repentance
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
[Repentance; 1. Sorrow for any thing done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct. 2. The pain, regret or affliction which a person feels on account of his past conduct, because it exposes him to punishment. 3. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law.]
There is something lacking in this world today that is prominent in every nation right now and that is true repentance. True repentance comes with more than tears over some wrong that we have done, it comes with a deep sorrow in our heart and soul when we know we have failed God and that the wrong that we did was to God. God, is so merciful that we can mess up a thousand times a day and He will forgive us just as many times, that is as long as we are sincere in our confession. However, keep mocking Him or changing up His Law to suit your sin and watch what happens,
[Galatians 6:3-8 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.]
Saul, was the first king of Israel, chosen by God Himself because of his faith and faithfulness to God in the following of the Law to the best of his ability. Something happened in the two years that he reigned, while he still had faith in God he started making up his own version of the Law. Perhaps it was because he watched Samuel as he was the last judge of Israel as well as a prophet and priest and thought that he could be the same way. Perhaps it was because he was full of pride and got so arrogant that he thought that he was above the Law. He had two strikes against him, now, God is giving him the opportunity to turn things around. As we continue in the reading of 1 Samuel, God, gives the command to Saul to get vengeance on the Amalekites.
[1 Samuel 15:1-3,7-9 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.]
[now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.] Saul, had one command, destroy all the people and everything living thing that the Amalekites possessed. [and utterly destroy all that they have,] God’s judgment upon Amalek went all the way back to when they fought against Israel when they were passing through from Egypt. God, had warned them that there will come a time when He would get vengeance, [Deuteronomy 25:17-19 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; 18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.]
[But Saul and the people spared Agag.] We could ask ourselves why this angered God, but think about it. Yes, it may sound cruel to kill an entire nation of people, especially when it was something that happened centuries ago, but they were wicked back then and teaching their children the same wicked ways. We need to understand that when a child realizes that they have sinned that is when they become accountable for their sin. Infants, babies, little kids, and those with special needs who are unable to understand what sin is are not under the same accountability because God has a special place for them, [John 9:1-3 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.]
Well, it was three strikes for Saul and now he is out, God, was done with him being king, in fact, God, repented that He even made Saul king. If the man that was anointed as king could not follow God’s commands, how were the people going to? God, sent Samuel to Saul for one last opportunity to repent, but instead of repentance he made up excuses as to why king was spared and all the spoil was in their possession.
[1 Samuel 15:11,13-14,19-21 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. 13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? 20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.]
[But the people took of the spoil,] You kind of feel bad for Saul, he really had no clue that what he was doing was wrong, and every time he was confronted he blamed someone else. God, is no different today than He was back than, all Saul had to do was admit that he sinned, and be sincere about it, then God would have forgiven him. Samuel, tries to explain this to Saul, it was only when he found out that God had rejected him from being king that he wanted get right with Him, but it was too late.
[1 Samuel 15:22-26 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. 26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.]
[and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.] Notice that God said that He rejected Saul from being king, He did not reject him at this point. While obedience surely is better than constantly sinning willfully, God, would have us repent a thousand times a day than see our soul end up in hell. However, if we deny Him He will deny us, [Matthew 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.]
Samuel, probably did what was one of the most saddest things that he ever had to do, and that was strip Saul of his title as being king. As Samuel walked away, Saul, reached for him, and ripped the edge of his clothes, and while he did admit that he sinned, God was not buying his confession.
[1 Samuel 15:28-33 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD. 32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. 33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.]
[Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now,] Do you see why God did not accept His confession? God, does know when we are sincere and from the heart. God, knows every heart, and if they turn their heart away from Him He will find someone else with a heart for Him, [1 John 3:18-21 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.]
[And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.] Samuel, might have been up in age, but he was still a judge and capable of defending his nation. When it comes to God there is no retirement, we may not be able to do everything that we did when we were younger, but we can do what is in our ability to do in our own strength, then Jesus will give us the strength to do the rest, [1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.]
Samuel, still grieving, saddened, and disappointed over Saul, mourned for a while, but now the time came for him to anoint a new king. God, told Samuel to snap out of it and sent him to a man named Jesse, who had eight sons. [1 Samuel 16:1-5 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.]
[Comest thou peaceably?] When the people saw Samuel come into town they freaked out because they knew something was going down. This time, he did come peaceably, although something indeed was going down, God, was going to choose the next king to reign over His people. Many showed up for the sacrifice, Jesse and his sons sanctified themselves, meaning they were to prepare themselves for the sacrifice by cleaning up, and changing their clothes, but there was one person missing, and that was David. Samuel, literally went up to each of Jesse’s sons, who were all tall soldier built men, but none of them were the chosen one. God, said something to him that would change his perception of how he saw people.
[1 Samuel 16:7,10-13 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.]
[Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance,] In other words, David was a very handsome young man, not someone that you would expect to be a mere shepherd boy. Some of God’s, in fact, most of God’s servants do not look at all qualified to do the job He calls them to do. And if you think a secular job is not something that God calls you to do, think again, everything we do has God’s hand in it, [2 Timothy 2:11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.]
Now, the strange thing about God is that when He calls us to do something, it often becomes a challenge in order to prepare us for the job. The second Samuel anointed David with the oil, the Holy Spirit came upon him, but it left Saul, and he knew it did too. In fact, so did his servants, and oddly enough David would becoming his armor bearer.
[1 Samuel 16:14-16,19,21-23 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. 21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.]
[But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul,] Do you see what happened? Even though Saul still believed in God, and wanted His blessings, he wanted to worship Him his own way, and God would not have that. You either believe all of His Word, accept it, and follow it, or He will reject you. This is included as one of the saddest moments in the entire Bible, and is proof that true repentance brings everlasting salvation, but true rebellion will always bring eternal death, [Matthew 25:31-33,41,46 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy and grace, and for eternal life, which You have given me when I accepted Your Son as my Saviour alone. Thank You, Jesus, for taking my place on the cross, for dying for the sin I am guilty of, and for giving me life beyond the grave. You paid the price for my sin, and for that reason I pray that You keep me as Your faithful servant. Lord, Keep my heart tender and pure, always on my faith in You, watch over me, guide me, keep me as the apple of Your eye, the one who lives by faith and not by sight. Teach me, discern me, grow me, and show me what to learn, follow, and teach so that I am a blessing to others. I love You, and ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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