"And I will teach you the way that is good and right"

The scholastic study of the last series kinda wore me out, so today we're going to do things a bit differently and talk about a passage of scripture that I stumbled across in 1 Samuel 12.

20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”

A little background:

Israel didn't have a king for quite some time.  They had leaders, starting from Moses and ending with Samuel, but the majority of them weren't considered as kings, which is why records the leaders of Israel after Joshua isn't called "Kings"; it's called "Judges".

The people of Israel saw all of the powerful people around them having kings, and they wanted a king to lead them too.  The problem is that the Israelites already had a king: God.

But the people demanded, and God relented.  After all, he put Egypt in power to prove his might, so he can put a king over Israel to prove his power as well. The man God chose to become king was Saul, and he chose the then current leader of Israel, Samuel, to annoint him.  These are the final teachings Samuel wanted to express before he would fade from Israel's political scene.

Now let's break this aforementioned passage apart:

V20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart."

What evil did you do before you became a Christian?  What wrath is in store for you for doing those things?  We've done some messed-up stuff that angers and concerns God all the time, yet it doesn't matter: God forgives.  "Do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart."  God's concern over you outweighs the sins you have done, and as long as you persist in doing what is right you'll restore that relationship He desires.

V21 "Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless."

There are literal idols and metaphorical idols.  Samuel was referencing the literal ones, but the heart behind worshipping them is the same as worshipping our modern-day metaphorical idols.  People were under the belief that devoting time, attention, and resources to other "gods" will make them feel secure and fulfilled.  What do you do to make you feel secure and fulfilled that doesn't come from God? Can these things rescue you?  How useful are they in your life?

V22 "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right."

Samuel was obviously at a loss trying to do what is right for the people of Israel; but he didn't give up, he kept believing, and kept helping others.  How often do you give up on other people?  How often do you think people are a lost cause?  How often has God given up on you?

On a side note, Samuel's conviction to keep teaching and nurturing the Israelites despite their sin mirrors God's affection for us.  Samuel was a righteous dude.

V 23 "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."

How often do we forget the miracles that God has done for us?  How often do we take God for granted, and convince ourselves that we are entitled to living the life we live?  We have to keep God in mind at all times, and be motivated by the gratitude we have for all of things God has done for us.  Think about it: when you were a kid, didn't you suddenly "warm-up" to your parents before Christmas or your brithday?  Didn't it last a little while after?  Be grateful for what God has done for you always.

V24 "Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”

Many Christians today are under the belief that as long as they think God exists, they can pretty much do anything they want.  This idea is so contrabiblical that I won't bore you with the plethora of passages that support it.  I will, however, say that the inevitable outcome of our persistence "in doing evil" will result in our spiritual death, and the death of our relationship with our God and King.

So what have you placed as "king" in your life?  What passages have you been reading that has moved and inspired you?  Let me know in the comments below, and I'll see you next week. :)