I Hear the Sheep

While Saul and his army were marching home in the flush of victory, there was deep anguish in the home of Samuel the prophet. He had received a message from the Lord denouncing the course of the king…. The prophet was deeply grieved over the course of the rebellious king, and he wept and prayed all night for a reversing of the terrible sentence.

God’s repentance is not like man’s repentance. “The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” Man’s repentance implies a change of mind. God’s repentance implies a change of circumstances and relations. Man may change his relation to God by complying with the conditions upon which he may be brought into the divine favor, or he may, by his own action, place himself outside the favoring condition; but the Lord is the same “yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). Saul’s disobedience changed his relation to God; but the conditions of acceptance with God were unaltered—God’s requirements were still the same, for with Him there “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

With an aching heart the prophet set forth the next morning to meet the erring king. Samuel cherished a hope that, upon reflection, Saul might become conscious of his sin, and by repentance and humiliation be again restored to the divine favor. But when the first step is taken in the path of transgression the way becomes easy. Saul, debased by his disobedience, came to meet Samuel with a lie upon his lips. He exclaimed, “Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” The sounds that fell on the prophet’s ears disproved the statement of the disobedient king.

Saul denied his sin even while the lowing of the oxen and the bleating of the sheep were publishing his guilt
Conflict and Courage p.157
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Prayer Requests
—–Praise—Praise God that we had a safe trip to the coast for Ronnie Jay’s wedding. Please pray for him and Wanangwa as they start their lives together. Rose
—–Pray for Marcus’ family. Just diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma but died suddenly with a heart attack. MC
—–Please pray for Shawn who has been missing in the woods for over a week. Stephanie
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Dear Friends,

Years ago, we got two very pretty guppies, a ten-gallon aquarium, gravel, fish food, etc. Soon the new fish had a nice environment in which to live. Before long, that pair of guppies had some little ones. A few of them survived, and we got great enjoyment discovering those tiny baby guppies’ hiding places. Although we liked the new pets, we did not like the fact that the adult fish ate the younger ones. This cruelty spoiled our joy at seeing these tiny specks of life, but they were doing what came naturally.

How many times we do the very thing the Apostle Paul warned against when he said, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” Gal 5:15 However, it is not something that should not be natural to us. Even though our Great Creator created us to have love for one another, how easy it is to destroy someone with our words. Often it is the little ones who suffer from our devouring. Cruel words bite like a serpent causing wounds that cannot be healed. How we deal with the little ones in our life will bear fruit as they mature. If we have turned them away from God because of our biting, devouring words or example, woe unto us. Our Dear Saviour warns, “whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matt 18:6 Fearful words! Indeed, our treatment of others largely determines where not only they but where we will spend eternity.

James tells us, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. . . .Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 1:26, 3:2-15

May we be very careful in our treatment of others. May we, by our loving words and ways, lead those around us to the Kingdom of Heaven. May we pray as did David, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Ps 19:14

Rose