Topic: Voice of God versus voice of men
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 13-15; Luke 11:1-28.
Memory Verse: “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.” 1 Samuel 15:1 (KJV)
In our Bible reading passage of today, God spoke to king Saul through Samuel reminding him how he got to the throne as king and then gave him instruction to obey the words of God. Thereafter he delivered the message of God to him. This underlies the importance of the message and Saul heard and was prepared to honour it to the letter. In 1 Samuel 15:1-6, God’s instructions to him was to destroy everything in Amalek. But when Saul got to Amalek with his soldiers, he was advised by those soldiers that they should keep the good livestock to use it as sacrifice to God later; contarary to God’s instructions, he agreed to them because he was afraid of his soldiers! He said this much in 1 Samuel 15:24 (KJV), “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.”
He paid dearly for this act of disobedience as he lost his position and died a disgraceful death, suicide on the battle ground (1 Samuel 31:1-5). Saul disobeyed God in order to please his subordinates to look good in their eyes. How are you disobeying God to please others? Yours may not be at the war front but at place of work where you are asked to dip your hand in corruption with others, or commit immorality, or outright fraud. Because you do not want to lose your job, you consented! In some other cases, yours may be allowing your child to disobey God because you want to be a “nice” father or even in a church where you say to the people what you know is ungodly but because of the need to please the congregation, you are ready to disobey God. You now fear the creation instead of the creator! The consequence is unpalatable but it may not be instant.
Samuel spoke to Saul giving him subtle warning in 1 Samuel 15:1 (KJV), “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.” but he forgot the warning because of the need to please his flesh. God has also spoken to you in His word and through different messages you have heard, are you still pandering to your flesh by obeying the voice of men or are you dead to the flesh? May God grant you the grace to obey the voice of God above the voice of men at all times.
Prayer point:
Father, please give me the grace to always obey your voice instead of the voice of men in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero