I Samuel 10
Samuel anoints Saulverse 1
Then Samuel took a vial of oil – and poured it on his head
and kissed him and said
Is it not because the LORD has anointed you to be captain over
HIS inheritance?
Sign one for Saulverse 2
When you are departed from me today
then you shall find two men by Rachel’s sepulcher in
the border of Benjamin at Zelzah
and they will say to you
The asses which you went to seek are found
and – lo – your father has left the care of the asses
and sorrows for you saying
What shall I do for my son?
Sign two for Saulverses 3-4
Then shall you go on forward from thence
and you shall come to the plain of Tabor
and there shall meet you three men going up
to God to Beth-el – one carrying three kids
and another carrying three loaves of bread
and another carrying a bottle of wine
and they will salute you
and give you two loaves of bread
which you shall receive of their hands
Sign three for Saulverses 5-8
After that you shall come to the hill of God
where is the garrison of the Philistines – and it shall come to pass
when you are come thither to the city
that you shall meet a company of prophets
coming down from the high place
with a psaltery – tabret – pipe – harp
before them
and they shall prophesy
And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you
and you shall prophesy with them
and shall be turned into another man
And let it be – when these signs are come to you
that you do as occasion serve you – for God is with you
And you shall go down before me to Gilgal
and BEHOLD – I will come down unto you
to offer burnt offerings
to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings
seven days shall you tarry – till I come to you
and show you what you shall do
LORD gives Saul a new heartverses 9-13
And it was so – that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel
God gave him another heart
and all those signs came to pass that day
And when they came thither to the hill – BEHOLD
a company of prophets met him
and the Spirit of God came on him
and he prophesied among them
And it came to pass when all that knew him beforetime saw that
BEHOLD – he prophesied among the prophets
then the people said one to another
What is this that is come to the son of Kish?
Is Saul also among the prophets?
And one of the same place answered
and said
BUT who is their father?
Therefore it became a proverb
Is Saul also among the prophets?
And when he had made an end of prophesying
he came to the high place
Saul’s uncle questions Saulverses 14-16
And Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant
Whither went you?
And he said
To seek the asses
and when we saw that they were nowhere
we came to Samuel
And Saul’s uncle said
Tell me – I pray you – what Samuel said to you
And Saul said to his uncle
He told us plainly that the asses were found
BUT of the matter of the kingdom – whereof Samuel spoke
he told him not
Samuel tells Israel they have rejected the LORDverses 17-19
And Samuel called the people together to the LORD to Mizpeh
and said to the children of Israel
Thus says the LORD God of Israel
I brought up Israel out of Egypt
and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians
and out of the hand of all kingdoms
and of them that oppressed you
and you have this day rejected your God
WHO HIMSELF saved you out of all your
adversities and your tribulations
and you have said to HIM
Nay – but set a king over us
Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes
and by your thousands
Saul hiding in the baggageverses 20-23
And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near
the tribe of Benjamin was taken
When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near
by their families the family of Matri was taken
and Saul the son of Kish was taken
and when they sought him
he could not be found
Therefore the inquired of the LORD further
IF the man should yet come thither
And the LORD answered
BEHOLD he has hid himself among the stuff
And they ran and fetched him thence
and when he stood among the people
he was higher than any of the people
from his shoulders and upward
Samuel tells people Saul is their kingverse 24
And Samuel said to all the people
See you him whom the LORD has chosen
that there is none like him among all the people?
And all the people shouted and said
God save the king
Samuel reviews manner of a kingdomverse 25
THEN Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom
and wrote it in a book – and laid it up before the LORD
And Samuel sent all the people away – every man to his house
Two reactions to Saul being kingverses 26-27
And Saul also went home to Gibeah
and there went with him a band of men
whose hearts God had touched
BUT the children of Belial said
How shall this man save us? – and they despised him
and brought him no presents
BUT he held his peace
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you shall prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man. (2015 “turned” [haphak] means to turn about or over, to change, overturn, be converted, or retire)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel didn’t want Samuel’s sons to be their leaders. They didn’t want the LORD to be their leader. They wanted a king like all the nations around them. They wanted to fit into the world they were in. They were tired of following the LORD. They had rejected the LORD’S leadership.
A nation founded on the LORD no longer wanted the LORD to lead. We can see history repeat itself many times over with this story.
Now Samuel is talking with Saul regarding becoming the king of Israel. He was going to be the first. Samuel gave him instructions regarding what was going to happen to him as he returned home.
There were going to be three events. How did Samuel know these events? The LORD told him. Samuel wanted Saul to realize that the LORD was Sovereign. He wanted him to see the LORD working in his life. Saul was humble and shy when he met Samuel.
One of the events that was going to happen to Saul was that he was going to meet a company of prophets. Once he met them, the Holy Spirit was going to come upon him and he was going to give a prophecy.
This coming of the Holy Spirit upon Saul was going to convert him into another man. What does this mean? We use the word repent or change direction. Saul was changing direction by way of the leading of the Holy Spirit. Saul was saying things that only God could have put in his mouth.
Even while he was still with Samuel, God had given him “another heart.”
Saul was a changed man. He met a prophet, Samuel, who anointed him to be king. Samuel gave him instruction regarding a future meeting before all of the children of Israel. All that Samuel said came true.
The New Testament tells us that we become a “new creation in Christ Jesus” when we follow the LORD Jesus Christ. When we become a new creature in Christ we are indwell with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is working in us to make us more like Christ. Are we changing into a new person in Christ?
Today once we become a follower of Christ we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit and become a child of the king. HE will never leave us or forsake us. Our responsibility is to stay close to HIM. We have to ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit to help us through each day. That means a daily confession of sin. The signs of the Holy Spirits filling are: a thankful heart, singing, and submission.
CHALLENGE: Do people say that we are different? Do we have another heart? Are we a different individual than what we have been in the past?)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. (312 “another” [’acher] means next, different, or be transformed)
DEVOTION: God changed Saul’s heart. He was a different man. God was at work in him. The Holy Spirit came upon Saul and he was able to prophesy at that time. It didn’t mean that he was going to ever prophesy again but it did happen one more time.
One of the characteristics of an Old Testament relationship to the Holy Spirit was that HE could come on individuals and leave individuals. This is not the ministry of the Holy Spirit today. Once HE indwells a believer HE never leaves that believer. If the believer gets to the point of sinning where there is no return after warning are given than the individual is taken out of the world prematurely from the warning in I Corinthians 11:30.
Remember there is a difference between a genuine believer and someone who has said a prayer in church or some other place and then left and continued to live the same way they did before they said the prayer. A prayer doesn’t save you only a changed heart. God knows our hearts. HE knows if we mean business with HIM.
The LORD wants to transform our life for the rest of our life. HE knows that we are going to sin but HE also knows that we can reestablish our fellowship with HIM through confession. There is no losing salvation for those who are genuine believers.
CHALLENGE: Study the Word of God with understanding as to the difference between our relationship with the LORD and the relationship of the Old Testament saints.
:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came on him, and he prophesied among them. (5012 “prophesied” [naba’] means to be in a prophetic trance, to behave like a prophet, to deliver a prophetic message, ecstasy, or under the influence of divine spirit)
DEVOTION: Saul had left Samuel and was on his way home. One the way home he met a company of prophets and the Holy Spirit came upon him and he began to deliver a prophetic message from the LORD.
The entire life of Saul had changed after his meeting with Samuel. He was a man who was going to be used of God and God showed him signs that this was a change that was happening in his life.
At this point he was listening to the LORD and to his prophet Samuel. He was following the advice of Samuel. He was willing to follow what he had to say to him. He was yielding to the Holy Spirit at this point.
We need to realize that once we become a follower of the LORD we have to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit each day of our life. This means that we have to be studying the Word of God and going to the LORD in prayer to find out what HE wants us to do each day.
We are not to depend on ourselves but give ourselves wholly to the LORD and follow HIS leading. HE will direct our steps if we allow HIM to each day. HE has a plan for our lives and HE will gift us in the area that HE can use us in.
Too often we follow him for a while but then think that we don’t need to study HIS word or pray for direction each day. We start going off on our own thinking that we have enough leading and reading, so we think we have arrived at the right stage in our growth to just continue without a daily checkup with the LORD.
This is wrong thinking. This happened to Saul when he starting thinking that he had arrived and when he was warned of God, he didn’t listen later in his life.
CHALLENGE: We need to remember that we only have enough of the LORD’S leading when we die and are in HIS presence. Walk in a daily walk with HIM. Don’t depend on past blessings.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 19 And you have this day rejected your God, who HIMSELF saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to HIM, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. (3988 “rejected” [ma’ac] means despise, to refuse, to reject with contempt, abhor, become loathsome, trash, scorned, or be in a state of limiting or avoiding an association)
DEVOTION: The LORD gives the children of Israel a history of HIS actions in the past regarding their time in Egypt and in the wilderness. HE was the one who delivered them from the slavery in Egypt. HE was the one who dealt with the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. HE was the one who protected them from the nations they met in the wilderness. HE was the one who gave them the Promised Land. HE wanted to continue to lead them through a theocracy rather than through a human king. HE had warned them about a king back in the book of Deuteronomy 17: 14- 20 but they didn’t care. HE knew it was going to happen before they entered the Promised Land. They wanted a human king instead of an invisible God leading them through his prophets and judges.
Now HE makes the statement the HE was the one who rescued them from misery and distress and they were now rejecting HIS leadership over them. They wanted to be like other nations instead of being unique.
HE allowed this to happen because they were hard hearted toward HIM. HE chose someone from one of the tribes. We know that in the future there would be a king from the tribe of Judah because of the prophecy in Genesis 49:10.
God knows the hearts of HIS people. HE knows what is going to happen in the future. HE warns what will happen if they want to change their relationship with HIM in the future. HE still loved them even with their fickleness.
We are the same today. We want to listen to a human leader more than the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. There is a lot of ignorance regarding the Word of God today and this causes people to follow a human leader and a human denomination instead of the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: We need to make the Word of God our standard for daily living. This can only happen if we study it for ourselves and obey it with help from good Bible commentaries.
: 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. (5060 “touched” [naga] means to reach, to affect emotionally, extend to, to move the mind of anyone, reached out, or touching the heart)
DEVOTION: There were two reactions to Saul being named king of Israel. The one group of valiant men followed Saul home to help him with his responsibilities as king. They were an group that were touched in their hearts by God. They were willing to leave all to follow their new king. They wanted him to succeed as their king.
The second group was called the “children of Belial” or the devil. They questioned the choice the LORD had made. They didn’t think he was capable of leading the nation. They were individuals who despised Saul. They didn’t want to have anything to do with him. They thought they could do better. They didn’t give the new king any gifts.
Saul knew about this second group but kept silent. He didn’t want to stir up trouble at the beginning of his administration. He used the ministry of the Holy Spirit to give him wisdom in this regard.
Too often we would react to the second group right away which would give them more reasons to complain. We need to walk away sometimes from those who just don’t like us no matter what the reason.
My wife says at time what the LORD says “You can’t talk to fools.” Use your words with people who will listen with wisdom.
Remember that each of us with have two groups around us at all times. One group is encouraging. The other group is negative and discouraging.
CHALLENGE: Stay close to the one that is encouraging. Be an encourager yourself.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Samuel wrote a book regarding a kingverse 25
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Enquired of the LORDverse 22
LORD answeredverse 22
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Psalteryverse 5
Tabretverse 5
Pipeverse 5
Harpverse 5
Burnt offeringsverse 8
Peace offeringverse 8
High Placeverse 13
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Wrote in a bookverse 25
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 1, 17-19, 22, 24, 25
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 3, 5, 7, 9, 18, 19, 24, 26
LORD God of Israelverse 18
LORD has chosen: Saulverse 24
God touched heartsverse 26
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit of the LORD came upon Saulverse 6
Spirit of God came upon Saulverse 10
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Garrison of the Philistinesverse 5
Egyptverse 18
All kingdomsverse 18
Adversitiesverse 19
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Rejected your Godverse 19
Children of Belialverse 27
Despised Saulverse 27
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Anointed verse 1
Prophetsverses 5, 10-12
Prophesyverses 5, 6, 10, 11, 13
Another manverse 6
Presence of Godverse 7
Another heartverse 9
Deliveranceverse 18
Savedverse 19
Adversities
Tribulations
Chosenverse 24
Held peaceverse 27
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Samuelverses 1-27
Anointed Saul
Instructs Saul
Meets with Saul in Gilgal
Shows Saul what he should do
Called people together at Mizpeh
Saul – son of Kishverses 1-27
Captain over LORD’S inheritance
Meet three men going up to Bethel
Receive two loaves of bread
Prophecy with company of prophets
Turned into another man
God is with you
Go to Gilgal
God gave him another heart
Matter of kingdom – didn’t tell uncle
Chosen but not found – hiding
Height – taller than others
Went home to Gibeah
Band of men followed him
Rachel’s sepulcherverse 2
Plain of Taborverse 3
Hill of Godverse 5
Garrison of Philistines
Company of prophetsverses 5, 10
Gilgalverse 8
Matter of the kingdomverse 16
People gather at Mizpehverse 17
Children of Israelverse 18
Saved out of adversities and tribulationsverse 19
Samuel told people to present themselvesverse 19
Tribes of Israelverse 20
Tribe of Benjamin chosenverse 20
Family of Matri taken
Saul the son of Kish was taken
Saul chosen as kingverse 24
People shout: God save the kingverse 24
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
With the formal festivities over, two opposing reactions to Israel’s new leader surface: “Valiant men” (v.26), apparently eager to affirm God’s choice (“whose hearts God had touched”; cf. v.24), accompanied Saul to Gibeah, while “troublemakers” (v.27; the same Heb. expression is translated “wicked men” in 2:12) despised him. The latter group unwittingly echoed to Saul the earlier words of Gideon about himself: “How can I save Israel?” (Judg 6:15). Neither Gideon nor the troublemakers understood—at least not at first—that it is God, not man, who saves (Judg 6:16; 1 Sam 10:19).
In contemptible violation of ancient custom about seeking the favor or help of prophet (9:7–8) or king (1 Kings 10:25; 2 Chronicles 17:5), the troublemakers, despising Saul, “brought him no gifts” (v.27). Saul, however, always reticent, kept his silence (as he had before; cf. v.16). (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 633). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
10:17–27. Sometime later Samuel gathered the leaders of Israel together at Mizpah, a favorite place for assembly in Samuel’s day (cf. 7:5–6). After reminding them of their foolish insistence on having a king apart from the directive will of God, he set about to demonstrate God’s selection of Saul by a process of elimination (10:18–19). By lot or some similar means the choice was made of tribe, that of Benjamin … clan, that of Matri; and family, that of Kish (vv. 20–21). But when Saul was chosen, he was nowhere to be found. Indicative of his unassuming humility were his initial attempts to avoid the glare of publicity (v. 22) and his refusal to be vindictive against those who ridiculed his selection as king (v. 27). But the masses were convinced of his eminent suitability for the high office and in jubilation cried out, Long live the king!
However, in the eyes of the Lord, Saul was disqualified. The prophetic word of Jacob was that the scepter (of kingship) would not depart from Judah (Gen. 49:10). The promised dynasty of kings which would eventually produce the Messiah must originate in Judah. Saul as a Benjamite could not, then, meet the basic prerequisite of lineage. Nonetheless the people had made their demand, and the Lord had acquiesced. All that Samuel could do was invest Saul with his authority and responsibility as outlined in a scroll prepared for this occasion of coronation (1 Sam. 10:25). Undoubtedly the scroll included the Mosaic regulations for kingship found in Deuteronomy 17:14–17. Interestingly valiant men were immediately attracted to Saul in Gibeah (see comments on 1 Sam. 9:1). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 441–442). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
When the assembly was ended, everybody went back home, including the king, and there accompanied him a group of valiant men who became his officers and inner circle. They followed Saul because the Lord moved them to do so. People gave Saul gifts as tokens of their homage to the king, but one group of men despised and ridiculed him. As king, Saul could have dealt severely with them, but he held his peace. And yet later, he was willing to kill Jonathan, his son, just because the boy had eaten some honey! Saul’s emotional instability had him weeping over David one day and trying to kill him the next. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (p. 55). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications)
10:27 worthless men. Lit. “sons of Belial” (see note on 2:12). Those who did not recognize Saul with the respect befitting a king. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 10:27). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 27. But the children of Belial said, &c.] Wicked, dissolute, lawless persons; men without a yoke, as the word signifies, who did not care to be under the yoke of government, at least not under the yoke of Saul; and these might be men of wealth, and of larger tribes, and better families than Saul was of, and therefore envied him, and thought themselves fitter for government than he was; and in a jeering scornful manner said, how shall this man save us? whose family is so mean, and whose tribe is so small, that they can give but little assistance to deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, the Philistines and Ammonites; intimating, that a king ought to have been of a rich family, and a large tribe, and a prince in it, whose interest and influence were great, not only in his own tribe, but in others, which would enable him to engage in war with an enemy, and protect the people; but what, as if they should say, can be expected from this man? this mean contemptible man, of no birth nor fortune, brought up in an obscure manner, and altogether inexpert in things civil and military? and they despised him; on account of the above things, not only in their hearts, but spared not to speak out, and use opprobrious language, and with which their actions and conduct agreed: and brought him no presents; as others did, and as it was usual when a king came to the throne; nor were any visits made unto him, in token of their subjection to him, and complacency in him, and by way of congratulation of him, see 1 Kings 4:20. 2 Chron. 17:5. the Targum is, they did not salute him, or ask of his welfare: bat he held his peace, or was as one that is deaf and dumb; took no notice of what they said, as if he was deaf and heard it not, and was as silent as if he had been a dumb man, which shewed his wisdom and prudence; for had he taken notice of them, he must have punished them, and he judged it more advisable to use lenity and mildness, and not begin his reign with contention and bloodshed. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 464). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Quote from Don Whitney: Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them. Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It’s so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we’re going and where we should be going. The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
INSIGHT
By nature, we are sight-walkers, not faith-walkers. We tend to have confidence in that which we can see, that which we have known. We fear that which we can’t see and haven’t known.
Not only does Israel refuse to go into the land because of the giants-the Israelites want to return to Egypt! Do they not remember that they were slaves there? Do they not remember that they cried out in tears to God for deliverance from Egypt?
You can’t go back to your old life. There is nothing there but bondage. Your hope lies in following the Lord by faith. Walk forward.
PRAYER
· Give praise to the God who is powerful enough to defeat the giants in our own lives:
You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11).
(Quiet Walk)
When the hut of a settler in a mountainous region of Alaska caught fire, the settler was left without adequate shelter and with few provisions in the coldest state in the US—in the middle of a frigid winter. Three weeks later, the man was finally rescued when an aircraft flew over and spied the large SOS he had stamped out in the snow and darkened with soot.
The psalmist David was certainly in dire straits. He was being pursued by jealous King Saul who sought to kill him. And so he fled to the city of Gath, where he pretended to be insane in order to preserve his life (see 1 Samuel 21). Out of those events emerged Psalm 34, where David cried out in prayer to God and found peace (vv. 4, 6). God heard his pleas and delivered him.
Are you in a desperate situation and crying out for help? Be assured that God still hears and responds to our desperate prayers today. As with David, He’s attentive to our distress calls and takes away our fears (v. 4)—and sometimes even saves us “out of [our] troubles” (v. 6).
Scripture invites us to “cast [our] cares on the Lord and he will sustain [us]” (Psalm 55:22). When we turn our difficult circumstances over to God, we can trust that He’ll provide the help we need. We’re secure in His capable hands.
By Alyson Kieda (Our Daily Bread)
THE HOLY SPIRIT APPLIES CHRIST’S WORD
When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin. John 16:8
The Holy Spirit not only reveals Christ—He also applies His Word, which convicts us of sin. I have met people who said to me, “I do not understand this teaching about sin. I do not feel I am a sinner.” Well, if you do not feel you are a sinner, it is simply because you do not know yourself, and you do not know yourself because the Holy Spirit has not convicted you. Some of the best people who have ever trodden this earth have been those who have been most conscious of their sinfulness. I cannot imagine a worse state for anybody to be in than for him or her to say he or she does not feel he or she is a sinner. The Holy Spirit convicts and convinces of sin, and if He has not done it for you, if you value your own soul, ask Him to do it. Christ came to die for sinners, not for the righteous, and the first work of the Spirit is to convict of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. We come to Christ for salvation after the Spirit has convinced us of sin, because the Lord Jesus Chr ist is the answer to our need.
The Holy Spirit then gives us assurance of our acceptance and our forgiveness. He is a seal given to us to show that we belong to God. He testifies with our spirits that we are the children of God. No Christian has a right to be uncertain about his or her salvation; the Holy Spirit has been given in order that we might be certain, for “the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16). If any Christian who is reading this is uncertain or is lacking in assurance and in happiness, let me urge this upon you—ask for the gift of the Spirit in His fullness, ask for this blessed assurance, tell God you long for it, do not give yourself rest or peace, and in a sense do not give God rest or peace until you have it.
A Thought to Ponder
No Christian has a right to be uncertain about his or her salvation.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 91-92, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Greatest Love
“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Genesis 22:2)
There are many types of love in the world—romantic love, marital love, erotic love, brotherly love, maternal love, patriotic love, family love, and love for all kinds of things—pets, food, money, sports, and on and on. But what is the greatest love?
Love is probably the greatest word of the Bible, and, by the principle of first mention of important biblical words, the first time the word “love” occurs should be a key to its use all through the Bible. Rather surprisingly, love is first encountered here in our text, speaking of the love of a father for his son, of Abraham for Isaac, the son of promise. Furthermore, the father is being told by the very God who made the promise to offer his beloved son as a sacrifice!
From the New Testament (see Hebrews 11:17-18), we know that this entire scene is a remarkable type of the heavenly Father and His willingness to offer His own beloved Son in sacrifice for the sin of the world. This tells us that the love of this human father for his human son is an earthly picture of the great eternal love of the Father in heaven for His only begotten Son.
And that means that this love of God the Father for God the Son is the ultimate source of all love, for that love was being exercised before the world began. When Jesus prayed to His Father the night before His sacrificial death, He confirmed this great truth; “for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world,” He prayed (John 17:24). Indeed, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and the eternal love within the triune Godhead is the fountainhead of all true human love here on Earth. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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