The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 22:17,
"Then the king [Saul] ordered the guards at his side: 'Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.'"
The king here is Saul, a king who had rejected the Lord, in spite of the fact the Lord had chosen him to be the first king over his people, Israel. In 1 Samuel 15:11 we read that Lord told Samuel, "I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions."
Without the mooring of his kingship to the Lord, this pitiful man had become filled with fear and anxiety. He felt compelled to defend his reign from threats that were not threatening - and, here is Saul, commanding the deaths of innocent priests in his insanity to protect his throne from David.
Saul's life had run off the rails in his failure to embrace the Lord. He had placed himself in a spiritual darkness that prevented him from seeing life clearly. It resulted in his poor judgment, his mistreatment of innocents, and an inability to make wise choices and decisions. Of Saul it can truly be said, "They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them." 1 John 2:11.
"Then the king [Saul] ordered the guards at his side: 'Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.'"
The king here is Saul, a king who had rejected the Lord, in spite of the fact the Lord had chosen him to be the first king over his people, Israel. In 1 Samuel 15:11 we read that Lord told Samuel, "I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions."
Without the mooring of his kingship to the Lord, this pitiful man had become filled with fear and anxiety. He felt compelled to defend his reign from threats that were not threatening - and, here is Saul, commanding the deaths of innocent priests in his insanity to protect his throne from David.
Saul's life had run off the rails in his failure to embrace the Lord. He had placed himself in a spiritual darkness that prevented him from seeing life clearly. It resulted in his poor judgment, his mistreatment of innocents, and an inability to make wise choices and decisions. Of Saul it can truly be said, "They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them." 1 John 2:11.
How about us today? Is the leadership of our country making wise decisions? Or do you sense a stumbling around in darkness? More importantly, how about you and me? Do our lives manifest a spiritual clarity that demonstrates a connection with Jesus Christ, our embrace of him?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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