16 SEPTEMBER
DARKEST BEFORE DAWN (2)
“Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.” (1 Samuel 13:8–10, NKJV)
These seven days were dark. But Saul waited. Sadly, he soon lost hope when he saw the people scattering before him while the enemy was waiting to attack. He lost sight of the dawn and did not wait to hear from God. Just at the end–just a few more minutes to wait–he gave up and in disobedience offered an unlawful sacrifice to God. As soon as he finished, Samuel the Prophet came!
What a disaster! Saul yielded to the darkness and missed his dawn. He was not given another chance. Temptation sometimes creeps in like this, the spirit of disobedience takes over and overwhelms a person, bringing disgrace and sometimes irreversible rejection.
The story is told of a man getting into the shower, just as his wife finished bathing. The doorbell rang. The wife quickly wrapped herself in a towel. When she opened the door, there stood Bob, the next–door neighbour. Before she said a word, Bob said, “I’ll give you $800 to drop that towel.” After thinking for a moment, the woman dropped her towel and stood naked in front of Bob. He handed her $800 and left. The woman wrapped back up in the towel and went back in. When she got to the bathroom, her husband asked, “Who was that?” “It was Bob our neighbour,” she replied. “Great,” the husband said, “did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?”
The devil’s apples are truly full of worms. He presents them to us as big, glowing, luscious fruits to fulfil our lusts of the eyes, flesh and the pride of life. We must be patient, sober and vigilant because, as1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
ACTION: Be patient and obedient to God’s word! Wait!
PRAYER: Oh Lord, help me never to compromise your Word under any circumstance.