1 Samuel 13:1-15a – God’s Response to our Folly
As we look back over this chapter, it has been pretty gloomy this week. We’ve focused on fears, folly, and the fallout. But there is hope here too. Saul and the people have done things their way, and it has and will lead to pain. But God will do things his way, and provide for them despite their folly – read verse 14.
In place of Saul’s family, God will raise up a king of his choosing. Not the king they asked for, but the king they need: one who will be subject to God’s Word and will. Soon we will be introduced to David, God’s king after his own heart – God’s choice of king.
David will be loved by God and bring great blessing, but even he isn’t the full answer to the problems of rejecting God in chapters 8 and 13. God’s people would have to wait for the king after God’s own heart, who would be fully subject to God’s will and obey completely his law. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to be that king. He was God’s choice. He was after God’s own heart – loving what he loved, doing what pleased him. He was subject to God’s law, perfectly. He was the king not afflicted by the same problem as us – sin. He was the king who would deal with the problem of sin once for all by dying on the cross. He is the king whose kingdom is established forever. He is the bright hope in this dark chapter.
Isn’t God so merciful and kind? We repeatedly choose to go our own way, yet he provides a Saviour to rescue us from the fallout. And he provides a king to rule and bless us, that we may live in his everlasting kingdom, experiencing his everlasting love and enjoying everlasting peace. So don’t ‘have it your way’. Have life his way.
Questions
- How does this chapter look forward to David?
- How does it look beyond David to Jesus?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks to God for his provision of a king and a kingdom that is established forever, and that we can enjoy this by living life his way.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.