And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 1 Samuel 13:8.
It was not until the second year of Saul’s reign that an attempt was made to subdue the Philistines. The first blow was struck by Jonathan, the king’s son, who attacked and overcame their garrison at Geba. The Philistines, exasperated by this defeat, made ready for a speedy attack upon Israel. Saul now caused war to be proclaimed….
Before the time appointed by the prophet had fully expired, he became impatient at the delay and allowed himself to be discouraged by the trying circumstances that surrounded him….
The time for the proving of Saul had come. He was now to show whether or not he would depend on God and patiently wait according to His command, thus revealing himself as one whom God could trust in trying places as the ruler of His people, or whether he would be vacillating and unworthy of the sacred responsibility that had devolved upon him.
In detaining Samuel, it was the purpose of God that the heart of Saul should be revealed, that others might know what he would do in an emergency. It was a trying position in which to be placed, but Saul did not obey orders. He felt that it would make no difference who approached God, or in what way; and, full of energy and self-complacency, he put himself forward into the sacred office.
The Lord has His appointed agencies; and if these are not discerned and respected by those who are connected with His work, if men feel free to disregard God’s requirements, they must not be kept in positions of trust. They would not listen to counsel, nor to the commands of God through His appointed agencies. Like Saul, they would rush into a work that was never appointed them, and the mistakes they would make in following their human judgment would place the Israel of God where their Leader could not reveal Himself to them.
Conflict and Courage p. 150
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Prayer Requests
—–Ron has been having allergies for months. He has a doctor’s appointment to see about allergy testing. Please pray that the testing will show what he is allergic to. Also, Eileen is not bouncing back from surgery as quickly as we had hoped. Please pray that she can walk farther and faster without so much pain and spasms. Rose
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Dear Friends,
One fall day some years ago, my two girls and I were walking from our car to the grocery store to buy some needed items. Suddenly I felt myself being shoved along the pavement. Shocked, I looked down at my leg and saw the bumper of a white van pushing me along. The woman driving the van wasn’t paying any attention and had rolled into me as she was checking to see if it was safe to turn from her lane.
I let out a shout to tell her that she had hit me. Instead of being sorry, the woman was annoyed and acted as if it were my fault for being in her way. I was nothing more to her than a bother, an inconvenience. She didn’t care if she had hurt me or not. She only wanted to be about her own business.
I was so shocked by it, that I didn’t even think to detain her long enough to get her personal information just in case I was really hurt. Eileen had the presence of mind to write down the woman’s license number as she drove away.
When I got home and told Ron about the incident, he called the police. Even though I was only sore, they suggested I go to the nearest police station and fill out a report. The policeman asked me if I felt that she had had malicious intent. I did not. She had only been careless.
How often we are like the woman driver. How many times were injure someone through a thoughtless word or a careless deed. We go along in our own selfish, little world heedless of the pain we cause those around. Our Dear Saviour, Who was so interested in our welfare that He gave His life for us, desires us to be interested in the welfare of those about us. Yes, we, like the woman in the van, are totally immersed in our own thoughts and needs. We don’t even think how our words or actions affect someone else. How often we hoard the blessings that He daily showers upon us as did the man in one of Jesus’ parables. “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Luke 12:16-20 The man’s self-centeredness was his undoing: it can be ours as well.
Paul urges us, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Phil 2:3,4 If we maintain the loving relationship with the One Who gave His life for us, we will naturally have the love and concern for those around us. We will share our blessings both material and spiritual.
May we reflect our Saviour’s love and kindness to all we meet. May we be careful of the feelings of others. May we draw them to our Glorious Redeemer with the same love and kindness wherewith He draws us is my prayer.
Rose