Focus Chapters:
- 1 Samuel 15-16
- 1 Samuel 17:1-31
Standout Verse(s):
1 Samuel 15:24-26 NLT
Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord.”
But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the Lord’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.”
Observation (s):
- Saul’s focus on pleasing his fellowmen led to his disobedience to God’s instructions.
Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord.”
- Eventually, Saul’s disobedience results in his rejection by God.
But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the Lord’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.”
Application:
There is a popular story of the encounters of a man, his son and their donkey. Whilst on their journey to town, walking by foot, a villager suggested that the son should ride the donkey. The son complied until he came across another villager who denounced him as wicked for allowing his father to walk while he rode. The father and son switched positions until they came across another villager who suggested that they both ride the donkey. Again the man and his son complied until they passed another villager who denounced them for putting their weights on the donkey. This villager suggested that they carried the donkey. The man and his son complied. They entered town carrying the donkey much to the amusement and ridicule of the villagers. Everyone’s perspective is diferent. As such, you can’t please everyone.
Saul’s story shows the danger of being a people-pleaser. He focused on pleasing his fellow Israelites in the fear of their reaction if his actions raised their displeasure. In focusing on pleasing people, Saul ended up disobeying and displeasing God. The end result of his disobedience is that he was eventually rejected by God and his kingship given to another.
Check yourself. Where is the focus of your obedience? Is it on pleasing man or God? Focus on pleasing God. Pleasing God and not man is obedience well placed and worth the effort.
