June 16, 2024 Service
1 Samuel 15:1-3
And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
Samuel, a good prophet of the LORD, speaks to Saul, a worldly king who rules over God’s people Israel. Samuel makes it clear that it is the LORD who sent him to anoint Saul as king. Knowing Samuel and God’s dialogue along the way I can hear a bit of an undertone of, “I didn’t want to anoint you, God made me do it, and because God said to, you better listen to His words and obey Him.” We’ll see in the coming week how Saul does.
This is a difficult text where we see God’s wrath against the Amalekites. Why? Because they have acted against God’s people, perhaps envious and jealous that their forefather Esau had his birthright stolen from him by his brother Jacob. From their perspective, it has gone well for Jacob’s line but not for them. They have also been unholy in their ways over generations. God had promised Moses a day would come when He would deal with their unholiness (Deut. 25:17-19). Today is that day.
Throughout the Bible we see God dealing with and addressing the issues of unholiness. God is holy and He will always deal with that which is NOT holy. This is one of many ways He demonstrates His love for us and for His creation. His ultimate act of love was by placing all of His wrath against unholiness on His son Jesus who was perfectly holy. The only way we obtain holiness is by this act of love on our behalf. This is what I call a compound act of love. God deals with all of our unholiness through Jesus as our atoning sacrifice. For those who repent of their unholiness and believe in this gift from God, you are JUSTIFIED for eternity. God’s love goes further and continues through the work of the Holy Spirit to root out daily, the unholiness in us, that His kingdom would come in our hearts and lives, so we are growing in relationship with Him and we are becoming His witnesses in the world. This is our SANCTIFICATION in this life until eternity. The deep love of God.
Reflection
For our reflection this week, let’s apply the theme of what is holy and unholy to our hearts in a prayerfully responsive way. We are leaning into the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Respond honestly in prayer with God with each question.
1. Do I love what is holy more than what is unholy?
2. Am I open, desiring for God to show me and root out what is unholy in me? This is His sanctifying work. Confess and repent with what the Holy Spirit brings to your heart and mind.
3. Am I now able to see and receive more deeply how much God loves me? That HE alone is my way of being made holy before God? Take some time to receive this and give Him thanks and praise.
Prayer: Father in heaven, by your grace open my eyes to see what is unholy and despise it. Create in me a longing for that which is holy. Give me courage to repent of all that is unholy in me and appeals to me. Help me to see the depth to which your love goes in dealing with my unholiness through Jesus. Receive my gratitude and praise as I receive this anew today. May you be glorified as you have set me apart by your grace in Jesus and for a witness to the world of all you have done for me and in me. Amen
Share what God has done in your heart this week with your community group and/or friends.
Grace and peace on this journey together,
Chad Hollowell
Executive Pastor
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Dan Gray
Read 1 Sam 15:1-3. What stands out to you? What are your initial thoughts on the passage?
What is your experience with this passage, and ones similar to it? Do you struggle with how God is portrayed? Have passages like this ever caused you to question the God we worship and serve?
Have you ever found yourself comparing the Old Testament God with the New Testament God? Do you find yourself avoiding the Old Testament in your personal reading and studying?
Where do you see the Gospel in this passage?