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REFLECTION

Saul and Samuel is the theme for our reflection. Saul was the first King of Israel after the period of the Judges and Samuel was a priest and prophet of Israel who anointed Saul and received instruction from God to him. To reign successfully as King, Saul was to listen to Samuel the Prophet and obey the Word of God. Samuel received a specific instruction from God for King Saul. “Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” (1 Samuel 15:1-3). However, Saul disobeyed God and failed to follow the instruction delivered by Samuel. “Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. (1 Samuel 15:7-9). When they got to Gigal, Samuel met Saul and revealed to him God’s displeasure and anger for his disobedience. Samuel said to Saul, “…Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.” But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!” (1 Samuel 15:23-26)

What are the key lessons for our reflection?

First, as believers, obedience to God must be our paramount aim, no matter our positions in life. We must obey God because He is our creator and sustainer. In other words, we have been created to obey God and have a fruitful relationship with Him on earth, It is, for this reason, Samuel said to Saul when he disobeyed God, “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Any time we sin or disobey God we incur His displeasure and anger.

Second, disobeying God can be costly although we may have been forgiven. It caused Saul his kingship when he disobeyed God. Both King Saul and King David disobeyed God, Saul’s sin was to bring back home the plunders of war and David on other hand, sinned by sleeping with Uriah’s wife and killing Him in an attempt to hide his affair with Uriah’s wife. When Samuel made Saul and David’s sins known to them respectively, they both showed remorse and pleaded for forgiveness. It is however interesting to note that although by our human analysis, David’s sin was more abominable (murder and adultery) while Saul’s sin was simply not following God’s instruction to the letter, David was retained as King of Israel but Saul was rejected and removed from office. Dear friend, disobedience is costly, you may never know the ramification or outcome of your disobedience against God, therefore, let us not compromise our faith and obedience to God for anything. A prostitute may be committing abortion for several years yet she may give birth later in life but the only time a sister who has hitherto been Christian attempts abortion, that may become the cause of her childlessness for the rest of her life. Beloved, we may never know how disastrous and regrettable the outcome of our disobedience to God will be, let us not even entertain temptations but remain obedient and focused on our relationship with God.

Third, leadership come with privileges and responsibilities. We must be ready to take the ultimate blame if we fail as leaders. Saul was a leader who was supposed to carry out instructions from God who is His highest authority but he allowed himself to be influenced by his followers or soldiers. He failed as a leader when he gave the excuse that “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. (1 Samuel 15:24). A Christian leader with a clear vision and mission of God’s purpose for the Church does not give in to the members of the church simply because it is desirable to please them. Peter and the Apostles have taught us that “…We must obey God rather than human beings (Acts 5:29). In other words, apart from leadership, believers must always weigh other people’s advice, influence or direction with the Word of God before heeding by them. We must do the will of God and not the will of human beings no matter our relationship with them. Shalom,

Fourth, we must have the courage to speak the truth and the will of God to power as God’s anointed and appointed spiritual leaders. Samuel was called and anointed by God as a priest and a prophet to give spiritual and moral guidance and direction and also admonish the King and the nation. Samuel always rose to the occasion when the King disobeyed God and he made known to him the will of God without fear or favour. Samuel told King Saul “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!” (1 Samuel 15:26). The fundamental role of the men and women of God in nation building is to be the voice of God and the conscience of the nation by speaking God’s will and purpose to political leaders and the nation as a whole. How many of our Christian leaders are bold to speak truth to power in the twenty-first century? In other words, Christian leaders such as pastors, evangelists, priests and for that matter, all believers or God-fearing Christians must be the salt and light of the world spiritually and morally (Matthew 5:13-16). We must positively make an impact by influencing political and traditional leadership and policies in our nation and communities through preaching and application of the Word of God in our national life. When we are consistent in our ministry or stewardship to the nation as Christian leaders we shall please the Lord and His glory will continually be upon the nation and its leaders.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen us to overcome temptations and the spirit of disobedience even as You lead us to always obey the Word and the Will of God as leaders and also as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen,