The authority to enforce the will of God

STUDY: #844 CHURCH IN THE HOMES FROM: January 27, to February 2, 2015

TOPIC: "The authority to enforce the will of God" I Samuel 16: 1, I Samuel 19:23, 24

Our feelings should never intervene with the way God deals with men. We must always act according to the experience and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Samuel, the prophet, felt a very strong grief and sorrow for King Saul (I Samuel 15: 10-11 "Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and he has not carried out my instructions. And Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. "). This shows that Samuel was not a man of hatred, he was loving. But such feelings were "conflicting" with his PUBLIC DUTY AS A PROPHET. Samuel was a prophet of God, he was not working for himself. The prophet belonged to, and worked for God. Samuel’s duty was always towards God. Samuel worked for God, and for the good of the people. What are you? How are you doing? Samuel should have understood that God’s purpose for taking the kingdom of Israel from Saul’s hands was not an angry threat. It was much bigger: it was a fixed and unchangeable decree. Therefore the prophet SHOULD HAVE SUBMITTED SOONER TO THE DECISIVE MANIFESTATION OF THE DIVINE. So that there would be no doubt that this was what God had decided, Samuel was sent on a private mission to anoint Saul’s successor (I Samuel 16: 1 "The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king’. "). GOD ORDERS THE EARTH AND THIS CANNOT BE AFFECTED NOR CHANGED! Therefore, we need to understand that our job is for God, in favor of justice. When God’s chosen are filled with or act according to their limited thinking, he/she will never do things right for God; will never act upon His will or desire. "But Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me’." (I Samuel 16: 2). We work for God, and must obey Him, even if this provokes men’s anger. The people had a need, and Saul could not continue as king of Israel. He had to be dethroned or killed, whichever. But another king had to reign over Israel. And this new king would have a heart like God’s. THAT WAS DAVID! The change was for the better. But Samuel said, "How can I go?" This was a sign of weakness from Samuel because God had sent him, and would protect him as long as he would comply with God’s will. God tells Samuel: "(Go) and say, I have come to make sacrifice to Jehovah." I Samuel 16: 3 "Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate." God gave Samuel the solution. The Lord provides the solution according to the fear inside human beings. Fears should be put to rest by the faith that IT IS GOD WHO FIGHTS OUR BATTLE! OBEY! That’s what Samuel had to do. God said, "You will anoint the new king, who lives in Jesse’s home." Samuel didn’t know David, but God did! He told Samuel to invite Jesse, David’s father, to the sacrifice. As a prophet of Israel, Samuel had the right to invite anyone to the sacrifice. That is the authority that those who work for God, and do His perfect will have. Samuel was a sentimental prophet, but obedient. God then sent fear upon the people of Bethlehem. (I Samuel 16: 4 "Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They said, ‘Do you come in peace?’"). That fear provoked God’s holy will to be done. Bethlehem was a small, humble town; unlike the cities frequented by Judge Samuel. Those men feared that there was evil among them, since Samuel was the judge. Despite his feelings and fears, Samuel faithfully obeyed God. Even if Saul set out to kill him, God would defend him! The "great risk" of obedience belonged to Samuel! (I Samuel 19: 23-24) In this other wonderful story, we see how the power of God is revealed to those who obey. Saul fell naked in a state of ecstasy; stripped of his weapons and his outer clothing. The prophets’ school was a holy site. A holy place filled with God's presence. Those men sent by Saul were unable to grab David and carry him away captive. That was their mission. But God's mission was imposed over Saul’s. BY MAKING MAN’S WRATH SURRENDER TO HIM, GOD SAVED THE PROPHETS, RUINED SAUL’S PLAN, AND SAVED HIS SERVANT! Samuel sanctified himself, and all who attended the sacrifice (I Samuel 16: 5 "Samuel replied, ‘Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.’ Then he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. "). This is what those who are able to assume the authority of God do. Obey what God commands. And you? Amen.