Rebellion

1 Samuel 15:23
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king."

Well, I have a confession as if you may not already know this, I heart all things clothes and shoes. Last night, I went to visit my brother. He works at Bass Pro Shops and while I was waiting on him to return from his lunch break I saw T H I S. You would have had to have been there to touch it and try it on. So soft and comfy. I "needed" a small and all they had were mediums and larges. Well, I knew with Christmas and all that I did not "need" to buy this. Still, I put it in the cart and just walked around with it for a while. When I touched the thing 1 Samuel 15:23 came to my spirit. Don't you just love hiding that word in your heart so you might not sin against the Lord. Well, I started to justify why I should buy the jacket then I reasoned with myself that I didn't need anything. Plus, Rod and I had already had a talk about not spending since we have had to buy Christmas and etc.

Anyway, in the store I was like "Lord, I know to get this would be rebellion against Rods words, and ultimately against You...but why? I mean rebellion= the same thing as divination. That is steep Lord. But you are for my good and my husband is the head over me...so NO! It's final I am putting it back."

Then, the tempter comes along...lol...my little brother and his friend. They were like Jenny just buy it. No, I said. You don't understand and I quoted the verse to my brother which him and his friend are 18 and Will thinks I am over the top anyway. So, I explained why and that Rod is the authority that God has placed over me. Doesn't seem serious...it's just a sweater. But God takes it seriously when we rebel against God ordained authority. Since I am really trying to work on that (remember me getting my car towed for parking illegally??) I just had to settle the stinking thing and obey.

Y'all you may think I am crazy but little things can turn into BIG strongholds. Rod lets me buy stuff but for now he said no. If I had bought it I would have had to deceive and plan a way to get it without him knowing and when you are being deceived you start to deceive others.

Plus we place such a high premium on stuff and the lust of our flesh and the more we consume and get the more tendency we have to implode in our selfishness. Again, it is not wrong to have clothes to like clothes...mine was an issue of obedience ultimately to the Lord in the small things. How can I stand against any bigger temptation when I can't even say no to a sweater?

Here is the context around the verses and the whole passage could teach for days:

The Lord led His people but they wanted a king like the other nations. So God gave them one. One that stood head and shoulders against the rest but hid among the baggage...Saul. Saul was a proud man and the people looked on the outside for a king and not at the heart. So, God tells Saul to go and completely wipe out the Amalekites yet he brings back the king to parade the victory and the best of the sheep and etc. He took plunder in what was a holy war as the Amalekites were enemies of God's people. There were repercussions even up to Esther with the descendants of the Amalekites because of the partial obedience. Saul tries to pull the bull over Samuel and says that he was bringing the best back as an offering to God...as if. And here is the rest.


1 Samuel 15:22-24

22 But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king."

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.