Inside Beauty Inspires
Embracing Divine Purpose and Wisdom: Reflecting on Hannah's Prayer, Saul’s Journey, and the Power of Daily Scripture Reading
What happens when unwavering faith meets life's greatest challenges? Join us on Inside Beauty Inspires as Stephanie L. Harrison and our special guest Savannah Grant share transformative insights on applying biblical principles to everyday life. We'll celebrate the incredible feedback from our listeners and take you on a journey where ancient stories like Hannah's prayer provide modern-day wisdom. Our discussion will show you how turning to God can be the ultimate game changer, no matter the era.
Ever wondered about the consequences of ignoring divine wisdom for human solutions? Reflect on the story of Saul and Samuel with us, as we uncover the transformative power of faith and the pitfalls of seeking earthly kings. Through personal stories and spiritual guidance, we'll learn how to lean on God’s wisdom and resist societal pressures. This episode is all about embracing your unique purpose and trusting in God’s provision over any human solution.
Daily scripture reading can change your heart and life. In our exploration of Saul’s journey, we’ll highlight the power of genuine obedience to God’s commands. From the anointment of Saul to his ultimate downfall due to disobedience, the lessons are clear: external appearances mean nothing without a heart devoted to God. We'll wrap up with an invitation to experience God’s presence deeply, finding peace and divine revelations in His love. Tune in for an inspiring episode filled with faith, wisdom, and extraordinary encounters with the divine.
What happens when unwavering faith meets life's greatest challenges? Join us on Inside Beauty Inspires as Stephanie L. Harrison and our special guest Savannah Grant share transformative insights on applying biblical principles to everyday life. We'll celebrate the incredible feedback from our listeners and take you on a journey where ancient stories like Hannah's prayer provide modern-day wisdom. Our discussion will show you how turning to God can be the ultimate game changer, no matter the era.
Ever wondered about the consequences of ignoring divine wisdom for human solutions? Reflect on the story of Saul and Samuel with us, as we uncover the transformative power of faith and the pitfalls of seeking earthly kings. Through personal stories and spiritual guidance, we'll learn how to lean on God’s wisdom and resist societal pressures. This episode is all about embracing your unique purpose and trusting in God’s provision over any human solution.
Daily scripture reading can change your heart and life. In our exploration of Saul’s journey, we’ll highlight the power of genuine obedience to God’s commands. From the anointment of Saul to his ultimate downfall due to disobedience, the lessons are clear: external appearances mean nothing without a heart devoted to God. We'll wrap up with an invitation to experience God’s presence deeply, finding peace and divine revelations in His love. Tune in for an inspiring episode filled with faith, wisdom, and extraordinary encounters with the divine.
New, new, new, everything new, new, new, new, new, new, everything new. I'm ready to go, ready for more. Hello, hello, it is Stephanie L Harrison and you are now listening in to Inside Beauty Inspires, where we motivate, encourage and inspire through biblical principles. I have my girl in the studio with me Savannah Grant, Tell the people what's up.
Speaker 2:What's up? Hello everyone, I hope you've had a wonderful week so far, so far so good Listen, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:So let me just first say thank you, thank you. Thank you, Savannah. We've gotten such an outpour of comments on the show. I mean, your inbox was going off, mine was going off. People are enjoying the show. I mean, your inbox was going off, mine was going off. People are enjoying the show. Like you know, it makes me feel amazing when I'm the word is able to penetrate the hearts of those who are listening. What was your experience with that? Just reading some of the comments and just knowing that they're listening?
Speaker 2:Yes, so it made me feel good to know that we're both making an impact on people's lives from a different perspective, but still using biblical principles, because that's what it's all about.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. At the end of the day, you know, I think that the Bible I say it each and every single time and I just can't help it but you got to get into your word. I mean, it's important, it's one of the most important pieces of the puzzle, you know, when it comes down to navigating life, this book has the Mr Manual that everyone needs and you don't know you need it until you actually start to get into it and then you don't realize how much you can apply to your own life. You know, one thing that I got was, you know, one of the ladies that called me. She said Stephanie, I just finished the show and that you know, it's the way that you present it, it's the breakdown of it, it's the way that it makes sense.
Speaker 1:And so I think that in everything that you get, get understanding, you know we can ask God for wisdom, we can ask God for understanding. He will show it to us, but we got to have an ear to hear what does, says the Lord. I also had a couple of people say that this was one of their favorite books of the Bible, just because it's so packed full of gems. So packed full of gems. So you know we left off talking about Hannah and Penana and I think everybody was a little surprised by that story because of the take that you took on it. I definitely, you know, give them a recap of of that because I want to speak about that in the essence of Hannah's prayer right.
Speaker 2:So I think I need to make a correction, because once I went back and and read over what we talked about last week, I think I said that Hannah was the other woman, but it was technically the other way around. He had two wives, hannah and Panana, but yet it was pretty much the same concept, like absolutely. It was like the other woman, absolutely, yeah, so it's still the same, just of it all. But yes, and she, she picked at Hannah because she couldn't have a child. But Hannah reached out to God. Man, was that not the game changer? That was the game changer, and so that's what we have to do as a people. What was relevant then is still very relevant now absolutely absolutely, even more now than then.
Speaker 1:I mean, truth of the matter is we don't know where we would be without the word. I mean, I can honestly say I wouldn't have any direction. Um, I wouldn't know. I would have direction based on what the world says to do. Right, because the majority and this is not, you know, to speak down on those who are doing it the world's way, but just to kind of give you an insight to there is another way. There's definitely another way of looking at this thing and navigating this thing we call life. You know, we can lean to our own understanding, but the Bible tells us not to. A lot of people take their experiences and a lot of our parents did the same thing. Savannah, you got to understand, you know they were to teach us what they knew, and so they taught us what their parents taught them. And we have to give grace and mercy in that aspect because, when it comes down to it, everybody didn't grow up the same right comes down to it. Everybody didn't grow up. The same right, that's right. That's right.
Speaker 1:I think about the story of how Saul met Samuel, and you know, I want to pick up right there, where Samuel met Saul. I want to read this here. It's in my book and I want to kind of get you guys bring you up to speed. It says here the Israelites request that Samuel established a king to rule over Israel was an act of faithlessness that led to serious negative consequences. Let's just talk about that for a minute. When you really don't believe and you really lean to your own understanding, the results could be devastating. Or when you don't add God to the equation, you know, do you want to speak on that? Because I mean, literally, it led to serious. Well, I'm not, you know. You know, we're just being honest, okay.
Speaker 1:It led to serious negative consequences and I didn't say that to lead into that.
Speaker 2:However, it's okay because it's true. So you have to have a relationship with God. There's no other way.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:I have been through so many trying times in my life. Well, I thank God that I knew the word and was able to stand on the word because, that's what got me through. Stand on the word, because that's what got me through Absolutely. If I didn't have I know the word of God, honestly I don't think I would be sitting here today. So I thank God for his grace, for his mercy that I was receiving, and receptive of the word, because it got me through some really trying times and it still does.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, absolutely. And you know, even in the request I mean I think about when I was reading it I was like, oh no, I wasn't trying to say that, but it was a negative consequence, it was the truth. And you know, even in this aspect, right here, the Israelites, they wanted Samuel to establish a king to rule over Israel. They didn't talk to God, they talked to Samuel and Samuel was a prophet, is a prophet and he does hear from God. But there's a difference between talking to the prophet about the situation and talking to your heavenly father about a situation. It says here in the book. It says kingship itself is not necessarily an evil institution. However, for the Israelites, it demonstrated a lack of trust in God to provide for their needs.
Speaker 1:Deuteronomy 17, verses 14 through 20, anticipates a kingship by outlining God's rule for a king of Israel. So why is Israel's request for a king an act of faithlessness? They didn't believe what the word was actually saying. They didn't believe that, you know, god would, would provide innocence, I mean, and a lot of times we kind of forfeit the blessing when we don't believe that God will provide. It says here here Israel's request was a desire. It was a desire to be like all the other nations that had chosen and redeemed Israel so that they would be different from the nations around them. What differentiated Israel from other nations was the fact that God was their king. This eliminated the need for a human king. Their desire to be like everyone else was an act of disobedience to what God had called them to be set apart, set apart, and I want you to speak on this because you know you can.
Speaker 1:you can actually spend we all can, but when you've had experiences in life you definitely can speak to what I just say.
Speaker 2:So for me and I think it's it holds true with a lot of people if they look at it from a biblical standpoint or just life in general God gives us choices and he gives us free wills, but he gives us clear direction on what we should and what we shouldn't do. So that's where your choices come in at, and the free will. So for me and my life experiences, looking back over those experiences if I had just chose God's way and not my way, I would have been in a totally different situation.
Speaker 1:I think a lot of people can attest to that, though. That's life. That is life and I feel like you know, even in a decision making, I feel like it's a part of the process. I feel like it is even in this sense, because you got to think about it. Hannah cried out to God for a son and God gave her Samuel. Now we're going to talk about Samuel in just a moment. We talked about him. He's so I mean the book Samuel. He has his own book. Okay, so that means he was such an important piece of the puzzle, but I want you guys to understand something it says.
Speaker 1:By deciding to become more like the culture around them, israel was denied the purpose for which God had created them to be the nation. The Israelites opened themselves up to a king who will exploit and suppress them rather than love and protect them. The king would be far from the picture God outlined for Israel in Deuteronomy 17. There would indeed be serious consequences to Israel's rebellion. What they thought would bring them peace and security would instead bring them destruction and harm, and you know, people don't really realize the decisions that they're making at the time. They don't know how much of an impact that this is going to have on the future. But it really, it really truly does. It says but even in spite of their disobedience, god honored their request for a king. He tells Samuel to surrender to their evil desire. God even demonstrated his grace in their request.
Speaker 1:It says Israel's first king, saul, would be a disappointment and would do exactly what Samuel warned. But their second king, david, will lead them well and through his offspring will come Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus will ultimately remove the guilt of the people by dying on the cross for their sins. Now, even in this sense, right here, that's what I mean when I say God makes provisions. There's nothing new under the sun. So all of these things that took place during this time had to happen in order for Jesus to even come into the reign of his life. But you know we're talking about how the people did not inquire of the Lord, they inquired of Saul I'm sorry Samuel, and Samuel gave him what they wanted. Did God not be? Was God not do it?
Speaker 2:So, because God is a just God and he is faithful and just, to give us our hearts desires.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:OK, yes, we already had what we needed. Speak about it. He was already there. He was already king over all. He was already there, he was already king over all. But they wanted a living, physical being when they already had what they needed. Is that not like people? That's just, that's so like us.
Speaker 1:God can give us what.
Speaker 2:But because and I think it's because, again, think about it they want it to be like the nations around them Around like everybody else, and that wasn't intended, but because they wanted what they wanted and they asked for it. They asked for it. God gave it to them.
Speaker 1:You know it made me want to go back to Deuteronomy 17. And I'm going to tell you why. And I want to just get back, and I'm not to deviate off of what we're talking about, but to give insight to what was given to them during this time. It says in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 17, verse 1, says never sacrifice sick or defective or defective cattle, sheep or goat to the Lord your God, for he distests such gifts when you begin living in the towns the Lord your God is giving. He distests such gifts when you begin living in the towns the Lord your God has given you.
Speaker 1:A man or woman might among you might do evil in sight of the Lord your God and violate the covenant. For instance, they might serve other gods or worship the sun, the moon and any of the stars, the forces of heaven, which I have for strictly forbidden. When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this testable thing has been done in Israel, then the man or woman who has committed such an evil act must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death. But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses. The witnesses must throw the first stone and then all the people may join in. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you. Suppose a case arises in the local court that is too hard for you to decide, for instance, whether someone is guilty of murder or only manslaughter, or a difficult lawsuit, or a case involving different kinds of assault. Take such legal cases to the place the Lord, your God, will choose and present them to the Levitical priest or the judge on duty at that time and they will hear the case and declare the verdict. You must carry out the verdict they announce and sentence they prescribed at the place the Lord chooses. You must do exactly what they say. You must do exactly what they say.
Speaker 1:Now, when I was reading this, of course you know there's more to it in Deuteronomy 17, because if we skip all the way down to verses 14, it says here you are about to enter the land the Lord, your God, has given you. When you take it over and settle there, you may think we should select the king to rule over us, like the other nations around us. If this happens, be sure to select as king the man the Lord, your God, chooses, you must appoint a fellow Israelite. He may not be a foreigner. The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you you must never return to Egypt.
Speaker 1:I'm going to stop right here. It's written. It's written. They had rules and regulations. They had things that they weren't supposed to do, but they chose to do things the way that they wanted to do them. See, the reason why I feel like the Bible is such an important piece of the puzzle is because it shows, it gives illustrations, it gives demonstrations, it gives instructions. The people don't listen and guess what? It's the same today, savannah. It's the same today. Yes, it is. What do you think?
Speaker 2:And just thinking back over the prayer call, and if myself or one of the ladies are having a problem and we'll tend to come to you and you always say did you talk to God?
Speaker 1:Girl, I do always say that I never.
Speaker 2:But you didn't know that was actually in here, right, because that's what we're supposed to do before we go seeking other people and other things. Golly, you're right. So that's the best advice that you could ever give any of us that we talk to God first. And so I want to say to our listeners, when we're going through those trying times and you know, we want to seek things of people, talk to God first.
Speaker 1:You have to, you have to. There's no other way around it for me. I mean, this is what I. The reason why I'm in this place right here, is because I've been talking to God my entire life, and that doesn't mean and even you've been talking to God your entire life that doesn't mean that we didn't deviate, that we didn't make decisions, that we didn't do things that you know we felt was like oh my God, but God used it. That's right.
Speaker 1:He uses it and that's how you know that even when you feel like you're out of line, you can definitely be right in alignment with what God is saying. I'm going to keep reading here it says when he sits on it. And here's this is interesting to me too, savannah, is that it's the Levitical priest. He's given instructions. Okay, he's straight up given instructions.
Speaker 1:It says here in verse 18, when he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instructions on his scroll in the presence of the Levitical priest. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily. As long as he lives that way, he will learn to fear the Lord, his God, by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizen. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way, and it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel. Now, even with me just reading that just as a refresher, is that not what we're doing daily?
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Is it something that we need to do every day? Yes, it is. I mean, for me it's vital. It makes the difference. It makes it, and here we see. This is Moses, by the way, people. So you know, moses has the decrees and the regulations of the Lord. All he's doing is telling them. Listen, you guys. There's blessings and curses, life and death. If you keep on going, you're going to see that this was all of the things that was laid out from the very beginning of time. So I'm not adding to this word and I'm not taking away from it. I'm just speaking from where it started and where it is now. So let's go to 1 Samuel 10, verse 1. Let's go there.
Speaker 1:And I'll start there and I'm going to want you to read the commentary because I want the people to really understand what's going on. Okay, okay, sounds good. It says here. Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul's head. He kissed Saul and said I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the rule over Israel, his special possession. When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel's tomb at Zilea, on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and now is worried about you. He is asking have you seen my son? Let me just stop right there Now. You do know Samuel is the one that's giving him those instructions and the ones that is anointing him.
Speaker 1:But, what does it say in the commentary?
Speaker 2:Okay, it says the prophet privately anointed Saul's as a ruler over Israel and to confirm for Saul that he was God's choice, samuel predicted three signs that Saul would be fulfilled. That same day, when Saul turned around to leave, god changed his heart and all the signs came about that day. The expressions God changed his heart could refer to the Holy Spirit coming upon Saul in the power to accomplish his king, his kingship, just as the spirit came upon other leaders in the old testament for specific purposes so we have Samuel anointing Saul and his heart changes because the spirit of the Lord is upon him.
Speaker 1:I don't want you guys to miss this Now. This is 1 Samuel, chapter 10, verse 6. It says at that time, the spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you and you will prophesize. With them, you will be changed into a different person. Do not miss that. When the spirit of the Lord is on you, you're no longer the same person.
Speaker 1:In this account, god changed Saul's heart. In Hebrew, this expression literally reads God changed him for another heart. It may seem that Saul's subsequent attitude and behavior did not reflect a genuine spiritual life. Yet Saul seemed to have struggled with his sin and experienced times where he desired to worship God. Nevertheless, for Saul to embrace the life God was calling him to live, he needed God to change his heart. Listen, I want you to.
Speaker 1:I get excited about this word because I know that this is something that God has given me from the very beginning. You know, inside Beauty Inspires is a reflection of that change of heart. God gave me years back changing hearts, not minds, because a lot of times your mind changes. From here and there it's fickle, but once you get it into your heart. There's something different about that and people really do think that they're deceiving people that have the spirit of God upon them. Everybody that says they have the spirit of God upon them do not have the spirit of God upon them, and you can see it in the behaviors, you can see it in the way that they act. It doesn't matter if they're not reading this word and they're not like, devoted to getting to know God and they're coming from a place of malice, strife, jealousy. That is not a clean heart. Definitely weigh in, because I know you've had these experiences?
Speaker 2:Most definitely. So yes, I agree, it is about the heart posture and I think we were reading back on the prayer call in Psalms 19.
Speaker 2:Yes yes, where it says that we do not know the secret sins lurking in our hearts. It's all about the heart posture. Absolutely, you have to have a changed heart, a constricted spirit and a changed heart. I can't stress it enough. It's about the heart posture. Stress it enough. It's about the heart posture. And in order for you to be able to see things clearly, you have to have wisdom, you have to have discernment. All of those things come hand in hand. Because if you're not in this word and if you don't know the word.
Speaker 2:If you don't know the word, you can't pray the word. If you don't know the word, you can't see those hidden things that people think they have hid.
Speaker 1:Listen, let me tell you something. That's why I read it every day. It's my daily medicine. You know, everybody have something that they do daily, every day. For me it's the prayer call shout out to the ladies of isi. You know, it wouldn't be no iron sharpens iron without you guys sharpening me and us sharpening each other through the word of god. But that's the most important piece of the puzzle and I think that once we start to realize that it's in the word, you ain't hiding from nobody, you ain't fooling nobody that's reading it.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, because if you're truly in it and it resides in your heart, then you can't be fooled. God is going to reveal everything.
Speaker 1:Yes, he will.
Speaker 2:He's going to fill you with the spirit of discernment.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and it's almost like guaranteed. You know, I went to the book John 3, verse 5, and I wanted to read what it says here. So in John 3, verse 5, it says Jesus replied. Now he's speaking to Nicodemus at the time and y'all know. You know, when I come down to Nicodemus, Nicodemus is like that friend that likes everything and are being your messengers, messages but don't never want to like you on the outside. You know what I'm saying. You know how people love your comments, love your story, but never love your story out loud in front of people. Nicodemus reminded me of them type of people because he came to Jesus by night. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:He knew that there was something different about this man and everybody did, but everybody didn't want to accept it. Right? So it says here I assure you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say you must be born again. The wind blows wherever it wants, just as you can hear the wind, but you can't tell where it comes from or where it is going. So you can't explain how people are born of the spirit. Now again, who gives the spirit? God, God gives the spirit, and you got to understand. This man was not the chosen. This man was not chosen by God. He was chosen by man. There's a difference, so something had to occur for him to be, for God to even enable him in this position.
Speaker 1:It says here therefore, believers can receive the same heart that David asked for. God works to change the hearts of those who follow him, and Saul and David are examples of what believers today can experience. They can experience exactly what he's speaking about in John 3. I'm going to keep going. It says here, on verse 9, Nicodemus asked and this is something I want to say, because people that are listening want to know how. They want to know how he said how are these things possible? Jesus said you are a respected Jewish. Now, that's why I love you. If I could be honest, y'all, I love Jesus. I love his response. Savannah, do you not be reading this Bible and being like what do you be thinking about Jesus when you be reading the words? He's a whole G, A whole, entire G. He's just like his daddy.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, he say A whole entire. He just like his daddy. Yes, yes.
Speaker 1:He say what he mean and mean what he say. Girl, let me read what he said to this Jewish teacher. He said you are a respected Jewish teacher and yet you don't understand these things. I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won't believe our testimony. But if you don't believe me when I tell you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won't believe our testimony. But if you don't believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned.
Speaker 1:But the Son of man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. But this is how God loved the world he gave his one and only son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world. Through him, there is no judgment against anyone who believes in him, but anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only son.
Speaker 1:Now I'm going to stop right there because I can definitely keep. Nope, I got to keep going. It says, and the judgment is based on this fact, on this fact. Don't miss this. God's light came into the world, but people love darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. Now let's talk about it. Let's go back over here to Saul and Samuel. Samuel has anointed Saul and gave us the information that his heart was changed. So what does that tell you within itself, the fact that God literally changed this man's heart for the position he was going into.
Speaker 2:Because you can't go into it without your heart posture being changed. It has to be changed.
Speaker 1:It has to be, it's a requirement, okay.
Speaker 2:And we as a people, we don't do the changing. It's God doing the changing within us. And see, that's what a lot of people don't quite understand.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Going into, because I've had people Criticize other people for what they were still doing. Yet they love God.
Speaker 1:Yes, ok, it's real.
Speaker 2:So people like to place judgment on others because they still doing a thing. It's God in us that does the changing Absolutely. We can't do it on our own as a people. God does and creates the change in us. He changed our will and then our ways. Yes, yes, he does.
Speaker 1:Let's see what happened and if we can fast forward just a little bit about this change heart. You know, there's something that happens along the way that causes the anointing to come up off of Saul, because the people, first of all, I want to probably keep going because I want people to realize and I'm not sure I can't remember if I did last week, but and I don't think I did but you know, he gave warning to what these, what this, what it would be like under the leadership of Saul. So it's not like they didn't know what was about to go down, it's not like they didn't have this prerequisite of you choosing the king. This is the type of king that you're choosing, but this is what you guys wanted. So this is what you guys get.
Speaker 1:Okay, where did Saul? Where did he have to fall? It's when he didn't listen, he didn't follow instructions. I want to say that it is in um. I want to say 14, or was it 15? It's in 15, it's in 15.
Speaker 1:Let's skip all the way over here to 1 Samuel 15. It says here. It says here one day, samuel said to Saul it was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord. This is what the Lord of heaven's army has declared I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalekite soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. Then Saul and his army went down to a town, amalekites, and lay in wait of the valley. Saul sent warning to the Kenites to move away, so of course they did. If we skip on down here to verse 7, saul slaughtered the Malachites and he captured Agai, but completely destroyed everyone else. Saul and his men spared Agai's life and killed the best of the sheep, the best of the goat, the best of the cattle, the fat calves and the lambs, everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroy only what was worthless or poor quality.
Speaker 2:I want you to pick up from verse 10. Okay, so the commissary says one evidence of God's power on Saul was his ability to to prophecy. With a group of prophets he encountered surprisingly surprising all those who knew him. Their questions were an expression of amazement that Saul of all people was now exercising the pathetic gift. When Saul got home, his uncle questioned him about where he had been and what Samuel had said, but Saul said nothing about the kingship, a curious omission. When the time came for Saul's and I'm at 10, 17 through 19, do you want me to continue with the commentary?
Speaker 2:so you're at 10 10 through 16 through 16 that's what I just read okay, yeah, okay.
Speaker 1:So let me pick back up right here. It says, um, then, sam, okay, I'm at 16, I'm gonna read from 16 down because I want you to pick up from my power reader. But it says here then Samuel said to Saul stop, listen to what the Lord told me last night. Now you got to understand. Samuel is a whole real prophet out here in these streets. Why are you playing this type of game with the prophet, with someone that God has anointed, someone that God speaks through? But he didn't think that he did anything wrong. Listen to what Samuel said.
Speaker 1:Then Samuel said to Saul stop, listen to what the Lord told me last night. What did he tell you? Saul asked. And Samuel told him although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel and the Lord sent you on a mission and told you go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are dead.
Speaker 1:Why haven't you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord's sight? But I did obey the Lord. Saul insisted. I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agai, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord, your God and Gagal. But Samuel replied what is more pleasing to the Lord, your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen, obedience is better than sacrifice and submission is better than offering the fat of the rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king. I want you to talk about it. I want you to talk about it. What do you? Because, of course, you got the commentary and I know, you know the story and I know you know what's going on.
Speaker 2:But give your insight to God's sight on this word so I can't say it enough obedience is better than sacrifice and in some cases and I'm speaking about biblical principle now, in today's time, because it's still relevant right now- just as it was back then.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:We always get the warnings. Get the warnings. He always gives us instructions and guidelines and how we should just go about things of life, but we'll go a whole nother direction and not follow the instructions of God. So when we don't follow those instructions, you better believe.
Speaker 1:It's a price to pay, and I think that what ends up happening is people don't think that God is who he say he is. Oh, he'll show you. I just got to say it that way. People don't think God is who he say he is. He's going to show you If he listen. There's a difference with anointing. There's a difference in the calling. You know, you said obedience and sacrifice, and I think that's such a. Those two words are very important. Obedience because there was a mandate. Okay, first of all, this isn't surprising God. Is God surprised by any of this?
Speaker 2:No, because he already knows.
Speaker 1:He knew what was going to happen. Right, it really was a setup, if you ask me, because he knew how he was going to respond. He knew his son, he knew he know his children, but he said it even in the word. I set you aside for a time such as this. You were set apart. So did his heart truly change? Absolutely it changed. But when did? When the guy started to reject him when he didn't follow his rule? Yeah, he to reject him when he didn't follow he didn't follow instructions. He didn't follow instructions. It says here 1 Samuel 15 tells the tragic story Of the Lord rejecting Saul as Israel's king.
Speaker 1:This account serves as a warning that the Lord values Obedience and his commands over religious practices. Saul and his army Were commanded by the Lord to destroy these people and leave nothing behind. But when Saul returned from the battle, the Lord was displeased and so, as a result, he lost the anointing and then told him through Samuel, you know you want to anoint another person. Pick up right there in verse 24. First Samuel 15. Verse 24 throughout um 30.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry 31 okay, so you want me to start at verse 20 yeah, start at verse yeah.
Speaker 2:Start verse 20. Okay. So the commentary says to make sure there could be no doubt about God's choice, samuel brought all the tribes and clans forward. Samuel worked his way down to smaller and smaller groups, probably by casting lots, until Saul's son of Kish was selected. But Saul, as it turned out, was hiding, apparently overcome with either modesty or fear of the glare of the cameras that's what it says, the cameras. When he was finally brought before the people, they saw that he stood a head taller than everyone else. He was just the kind of physically impressive king they wanted. So they was overcome with how he looked, the physical appearance, and that's what we mess up a lot of times. We get so caught up in how at the physical he looked, the part he looked the part, but his heart wasn't right Girl, anyone.
Speaker 1:It was not. It was not the Bible speak about it. It's telling the story y'all. And then you know. Here's the bottom line savannah can't nobody go back and forth and argue back and forth with the word of god, because that's what happens. Listen in the next chapter. He taught samuel even got it. This shows the vulnerability of even Samuel, because Samuel looked at. Well, I don't want to skip through it, but I want you guys to understand that the anointing came up off of Saul because of his rejection. Well, I mean because God rejected him because he didn't do what he was supposed to do.
Speaker 2:Right, he had instructions and he didn't follow those instructions.
Speaker 1:What happens when you don't follow instructions. You got to pay the price, time to pay the price, and it's written. You know, that's just it. We can sit here and, you know, act like it ain't what it is, but trust me, it is what it is. That's why he's focusing on the heart posture of a person. Let's pick up right here and I'm going to go to 1 Samuel 15, verse 24. It says 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. Did you hear what he?
Speaker 1:said he was afraid of who Of the people? Now, why wouldn't I do what God tell me to do?
Speaker 2:because of what the people think. You got to do what God say and not what the people think.
Speaker 1:I know what they say, but that's just it. People think you should move this way based off of the way they've always moved right. But God, if you get into this word, god moved with strategic and strategy. He knew everything was going on. That's why he put people in position that he knew would carry out the plan. And guess what? He knew that Saul was going to add the way that he was going to act in order for him to even get to David. He knew it. It was a setup. It says here.
Speaker 1:But now this is what Saul is now admitting to Samuel I have. So that lets you know another thing too you got to confess it. You got to confess it. You got to confess it I have sin. It says here.
Speaker 1: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. As Samuel turned to go, saul tried to hold him back and toward the hem of his robe, and Samuel said to him the Lord has torn the king of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else who is better than you. And he, who is the glory of Israel, will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human, that he should change his mind. Then Saul pleaded again. I know I have sinned, but please at least honor me before the elders of my people, before Israel, by coming back with me so that I may worship the Lord, your God. So Samuel finally agreed and went back with him and Saul worshipped the Lord. Did it have to go there? Did it have to be all of that? Did it have to go that way?
Speaker 2:It had to go that way Because he didn't follow instructions, and when you don't do what you're supposed to, there's consequences behind it.
Speaker 1:It wasn't nothing that he could say to change the mind. He couldn't change it. Number one it was written. He had already told them what type of king to choose. You don't choose one, Let me choose because I know everybody, that's right.
Speaker 2:He know the heart of man, he know the thoughts too.
Speaker 1:And the vows.
Speaker 2:I was ain't like his.
Speaker 1:I was ain't like he is. I was ain't like he is y'all, I was not like he is. Listen, you know, um, I want us to end it in first, samuel 15. So I want you to pick up right here and um verse 30 verse.
Speaker 2:Let's see here so in the commentary it goes from 25 to 27, and then it goes on to the next chapter.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, just read from the 27. Read that one. We're in chapter 15, right?
Speaker 2:Mm-mm, I was still at 10. Okay, I want you to go to chapter 15.
Speaker 1:Yeah, go to 1 Samuel, chapter 15. That's why, when you were reading it, it's okay, because it's still a part of it 15. That's why, when you were reading it, it's okay, because it's still a part of it. But that's why, when you was reading it, you were talking about the sons and see, I'm glad you did read it, because he did have sons and they didn't want them. They didn't want, okay, they didn't want who didn't want to be king?
Speaker 2:They didn't want his sons to be king because they weren't qualified to. So they wanted the king. Remember they were. They were, they weren't qualified either. They weren't qualified either. Go ahead, okay. So 15 says whatever shred of credibility, saul's kingship had crumbled.
Speaker 2:With the next major event in chapter 15, samuel relayed God's instructions to attack the Amalekites and destroy them. If God's enemies were ranked on a scale of how deeply they had offended him, the Amalekites would be high on that list. God had seen what they did to. God had seen what he did to his people as they were coming out of Egypt. God had promised at the time to eventually blot out the memory of the Amalekite under heaven. So God appointed Saul to complete the Amalekites destruction, even down to their animals.
Speaker 2:Saul gave the Kenites, a noblematic people living near the Amalekites, a chance to escape because they had been kind to the Israelites during the Exodus. They were also the people of Moses' father-in-law, jethro. Saul set the attack and they may have begun with the intentions of obeying God's instructions as delivered through Samuel, of obeying God's instructions as delivered through Samuel, but as the battle raged and the Israelites got underhand, got the upper hand, excuse me, saul apparently got a big head, though he struck down the Amalekites, he spared King, is that Agag, yeah Agag, and the best of the best animals? These became spoils of war, in spite of the Lord's explicit command, saul and his troops were not willing to destroy. And what God said to destroy, to destroy.
Speaker 2:And what God said to destroy, to boldly do what God clearly forbid and then to justify yourself is a consequent sharing act. So it's a price to pay every time, every time, every single time. So you better choose wisely and follow the instructions Listen listen.
Speaker 1:I mean, he makes it plain as day, even with what you just read, like why didn't you follow instructions? Simple as that. But then you try to justify, you try to say but no, there's no justification. Continue to finish it out throughout the word.
Speaker 2:Okay. So it says. It is sad, but not surprisingly, to read God's word to Samuel Regarding Saul's actions. I regret that I made Saul king. Clearly, god is omnipotent and knew how his reign would turn out. Nevertheless, he was genuinely grieved by Saul's rebellion against him. Saul's rebellion against him. Saul excuse me, samuel likewise was affected. He became angry and cried out to the Lord all night. No one sins in a vacuum. Our disobedience affects God and it affects the people in our lives. Self-glorification seems to have been Saul's intent in disobeying orders, because when Samuel came to confront him, he was told that the king had gone to Carmel to set up a monument for himself.
Speaker 2:When Samuel caught up with Saul at Gilgal, saul had his story all lined up, even had the gal to start with his testimony of disobedience. I have carried out the Lord's instruction. Samuel quickly brought Saul back to reality from his world of self-justification. With Samuel's simple questions about the noise from the Amalekites and animals which were supposed to be dead, saul realized he was in trouble but, true to form, he had an excuse ready. He didn't want to take accountability. Well, nobody does. The best of the animals were spared in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord, your God. In other words, he said I slightly modified God's commands so that I might worship him, but you can't honor God by defying him. Him, but you can't honor god by defying him. You can't glorify the king by rejecting his kingdom's agenda. See, he messed everything up. You did by by wanting to modify god's plan. It's already said and done, it's laid out before you, just do it just do it, just do it.
Speaker 1:I mean it wasn't like he didn't have clear instructions, very clear, precise, kill everything. Like he said, he got the big head girl because he wasn't used to the position. Was he really a leader?
Speaker 2:no, he wasn't. But see, god already knew that he did.
Speaker 1:And he gave the people what they wanted.
Speaker 2:But he gave the people what they wanted.
Speaker 1:Y'all better be careful what y'all want. Ask God for his desires for your life instead of y'all, you better seek him first.
Speaker 1:Okay, in all your planning, because that's what we see was happening right here. He gave him a task to see if he was able to even have a change of heart, but it didn't last that long. It didn't last that long because if his heart had truly changed, he would have gave, he would have did exactly what he was supposed to do. But being that there was a warning given to the people of how this king would rule, there was no surprise to the readers as we're reading it and seeing it play out now. They didn't understand it. Go ahead, okay so it says.
Speaker 2:Samuel didn't want to hear Saul's excuses. He proceeded to tell Saul that God thought what God thought of his actions. He had failed to obey the Lord and instead did what was evil in the Lord's sight. At this rebuke, saul protest, protested his innocence once again. But I did obey the Lord. He even implied that Samuel and God should be pleased that the animals were going to be used for sacrifice. But but that ain't what God told you to do.
Speaker 1:Do you remember that meme with Nene just in the chair like this? That's what I be thinking about every single time, because I'm like, oh, you had one job, what happened?
Speaker 2:Just take accountability. You make an excuse after excuse after excuse. It don't even matter at this point cause you done messed up.
Speaker 1:You did, and you was the one who messed.
Speaker 2:The instructions were given to you and you didn't carry out what God's gone given the rest of the lesson Saul missed cause he missed it, girl was timeless principle that to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than fat of rams. In other words, the Lord calls people to submit to his agenda, not to attempt to honor him with their own agendas. When Saul failed obedience 101, it cost him his throne. So Saul modified his justifications for his actions. He admitted that he had sinned, but blamed the people for it. Unfortunately, saul feared human more than he feared God, and that's the one you have to fear, god. You can't care about mere men, that's the problem in this world, you do not care about mere men.
Speaker 1:The men can't do nothing. It's a scripture to even say you better be scared of the one that could put you in heaven or hell, or the one that take life. You see, a scared of people, but but this, but this is what happens. This is what the world looks like. Yes, this is what the world looks like. They do it for the clout, they do it for people, they do it for the approval of people. That's why he says you can have a form of godliness and don't have no type of power. Or he says you can tell by the fruit a person bear. You know, you'll see who they are by looking at their fruit. It's true, true story. This is very true. So we're seeing the same thing in essence here. Whose approval are you wanting? He here? Whose approval are you wanting? He missed it. Moses missed it all because of people. Don't you miss it? Because of people. Yeah, it's not a popular vote. When you get into this word, you're gonna realize that God's ways are really, truly not like our ways for real and it's not.
Speaker 2:it's not. And the commissary says Saul asked Samuel for forgiveness and begged him to return with him to the people to show that Saul had not lost Samuel Samuel support again. He's still trying to please the people. That Saul grabbed and tore Samuel's robe shows a desperate man gasping for a straw of hope. But even that became a pathetic sign against him when Saul pleaded with Samuel to honor him before the elders. Samuel eventually agreed, but it didn't change God's decrees, Even though Saul was ruled for many more years. Samuel's greatest, greater mistake mission in returning with Saul was to finish the job this failed king was supposed to have accomplished. He called for King Agab and then personally put him to death.
Speaker 2:The statement in verses 35 that Samuel never saw Saul again does not country contradict Saul's appearance before Samuel in verse 1924. The verb see can also mean to have regard for, to take notice of. As far as Samuel was concerned, then his relationship with Saul was over. God had rejected him. Chapter 15 is strategic For the author's purpose of introducing David and his destiny in the chapters to follow. It was important to show that Saul's disobedient had disqualified him and his family from the kingship, and that was the Lord who chose David and his descendants. Through David's line, God would fulfill his covenant purpose to send an eternal ruler, his Messiah.
Speaker 1:Did you just read and say that it was a setup? Did you say that it was a strategic plan?
Speaker 2:It was a strategic plan.
Speaker 1:Chapter 15 had to happen in order for David to be who David is, and that's just it. God knows, listen. God knows who to put in order for David to be who David is, and that's just it. God knows, listen. God knows who to put in these positions, because he knows who's going to. You know, nothing throws God off.
Speaker 2:Nothing.
Speaker 1:Nothing. All he needed was him to be obedient, but he knew. He knew. That lets you know. He already knows what's going on. Nothing surprises him. We just have to trust him. Right, we just have to talk to him. We just have to ask him to lead us.
Speaker 1:Well, listen, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you guys have enjoyed the show today. I mean listen, if you ain't take away nothing else. Obedience is better than sacrifice. There are instructions, and guess what book? It just happens to be in the bible. When you read it, it's talking about our king, our brother and our siblings. Guess who those are jesus, god and his children. That would be me and you, savannah. You know. So you know.
Speaker 1:That's my takeaway. Listen to what the word of god is saying. Understand that if he's asking you to do something, just do what he says to do. It is is better to be obedient. It might make people feel some kind of way Trust and believe. I've had my share. When God says no, he says not right now, and I have to say okay, no and not right now. It reflects like it's me, but you don't know if I'm speaking from God or if I'm speaking from myself. So how are you going to know you have to go to the Lord yourself. That's right. That's one thing I can take away from this word. Go ahead and give them a word, just to stand on this week coming into this week okay.
Speaker 2:so as we enter a new month, the month of June, I just ask you to seek God and follow his instructions and, in your seeking, expect the extraordinary.
Speaker 1:Oh, expect the extraordinary. Let me hear it, girl, I'm excited about this word.
Speaker 2:He bows down to the ground and said my Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, don't pass me by. Stay for a while with your servant. Yes God, Genesis 18,. Two to three you have found favor with the Lord. At this very moment, God is extending an invitation into blissful encounter.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:God. He is your friend, your creator, your patient, merciful father who is absolutely in love with you and wants you to spend time with him. Yes, god, don't rush through this devotion without noticing the gentle tug of god's spirit.
Speaker 2:Take a few moments to quiet yourself in his embrace yes, god again I say stay a while, be content, even if you don't hear him say a word. Yes, god, god, be still. Notice. It feels like what it feels like to be washed in the beauty of God's presence, sink deep into an ocean of peace. He's with you right now. He's pouring out all you need, all you need for today, gracing you with his glory of holy intimacy that is reserved for those who are willing to stay and enjoy. Father, every breath is a reminder of your faithfulness. Yes, god, each heartbeat designed to point me to your love. May an awareness of you drench my thoughts. May encounters of your nearness eclipse my busy moments. Yes, god, you are all I need. You are the experience I have longed for all of my life.
Speaker 1:Thank you.
Speaker 2:Jesus.
Speaker 1:Thank you Jesus, thank you God, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. I received all of that. That word because it was a word I received it and I know you felt it, because if I felt it and hear it, then my prayer is that you feel it right where you are, feel his presence, allow his presence. And I know that you're feeling it, right where you are. Feel his presence, allow his presence. And I know that you're feeling it because I've already asked the Holy Spirit to allow this message to penetrate the hearts of those who hear it.
Speaker 1:So just allow that breath of freshness to come upon you, embrace it. Allow God to show you something you've never seen before. You guys have an amazing week, an amazing month. Be in expectancy for the extraordinary.
Speaker 2:Yes, expect the extraordinary in your upcoming week, in your upcoming month. Amen.
Speaker 1:Peace, new, new, new, everything, new, new, new, new, new, new, Everything, new. I'm ready to go, ready for more, I'm ready for new, ready for more, I'm ready for new, like a straight up start. You already know I'm ready to flow.