Daily Devotional
How Long Wilt Thou Mourn For Those God Have Rejected
Text: 1 Samuel 16:1
“And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.”
Message
Saul, the first king of Israel, came to be by the popular choice of the Israelites, followed by Prophet Samuel anointing of him as king.
1 Samuel 9:1 describe Saul as a mighty man of power, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people (1 Samuel 9:1-2).
The story continues, 1 Samuel 10:1, “Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?”
But in 1 Samuel 15:10, “Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
1 Samuel 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.”
1 Samuel 15:16, “Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
1 Samuel 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
1 Samuel 15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
In consequence, 1 Samuel 15:26, “And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
1 Samuel 15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rented.
1 Samuel 15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
King Saul has not been a man to easily give up in 1 Samuel 15:30 said, “…, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
1 Samuel 15:31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD. ” This was a worship in sympathy, self will, and disobedience that one would not have expected Samuel to be part. But here he was parttaking, taking God for a ride and trading off his anointing when each time God talks, it is the end of discussion and final, without further appeal!
Samuel probably part took to honour his relationship with Saul being the one who anointed him, as a face safe measure and an ego trip of having not to recant his word that God has anointed Saul king over his inheritance. Samuel have perhaps forgoten that it was Israel rejection of theocracy as a form of governance and preference for human government that first brought Saul on throne since God have long promised not to strive with man in his exercise of his right of choice!
In all, despite Saul initial exploits, things turn away, but Prophet Samuel continues to cry over the spoilt milk. So, in 1 Samuel 16:1, we read, “And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.”
That’s God getting vexed with Samuel for queuing behind a man God rejected, a dead horse and crying over a split milk.
One of the main lessons here is for us not to queue behind any person or thing that God has rejected. God knows better and has the best plan for our lives.
It’s common for the grief process to take some time, and grief most often gets less intense over time. Certain events, mementoes, or memories can bring back strong emotions that usually last for a short time and you should control your spirit, moved ahead from where you fell for weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.
Your tomorrow is bigger and greater than the past including today. This informed while the LORD said to Samuel, in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Instead of thinking, “I shouldn’t feel this way,” think about how normal it is to feel like you do, given your situation. Notice how intense your feelings are. So admit how you feel, but don’t dwell on it. Rather, think about what you’re good at and what’s good about you. Give yourself credit for trying and tell yourself, “My glory and light shall shine again. This is not where my story end. I will break forth and break through many times again and again in Jesus name”.
Come to think of it, “when God looks at you, what do you think he sees?”
He sees you in the Beloved—He sees you in Christ, and He sees the blood that has been shed for you by His dear Son. When God looks at you today, He sees Jesus. Because of this, His thoughts toward you are thoughts of loving-kindness, forgiveness, blessings, and favour.
Remember Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”
Truth is, “The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Job 14:7, “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.”
As to those rejoicing over your situation, the word of God says, “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me (Micah 7:8).
What more, Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
All things work together for good means that no matter the circumstance, there are only two qualifiers for God to be working all things together for our good. First, He works for “the good of those who love Him.” If you love God, you can trust that He is working for your good. He loves you back, and when we love people, we seek their welfare.
I’m happy to say to you that I know that you love God. You have a dominion glory. The word must listen to your music and dance with you. You are not a God reject.
Laugh Jesus love you. Your testimony shall be squared with Psalms 126:1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
Psalms 126:2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
Psalms 126:3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Psalms 126:4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Psalms 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
May God heal your wounds and restore you roundabout in Jesus’ name. Amen.
We love you, empathise, and share in the pains, for it is our collective pain, and we are all in it.
You will arise. You will shine. There is light at the other end of the tunnel. This darkness will go as it has always. Cheer up. God is on our side.
Once again, Jesus, your friend loves you. So do we, too.