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Sunday, December 7, 2008

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.




11 comments:

ocean mommy said...

That is a GREAT modern day picture of obedience. (One I'm sad to say I can totally relate too.)

Saw on FB that Morgs has a cold...hope she's better soon!!!

Love
steph.

Stacey said...

Praise God for your obedience! I know sometimes it seems like something so small, but you are very wise to know that nothing is small when it comes to obedience in being faithful in the little things so that you will be able to stand on the days of GREAT temptation.

Cindy said...

People so don't understand obedience anymore do they?

I had a small "discussion" with my husband at the beach and I got so upset that I thought the best thing for me to do was just to leave and cool off for awhile. That led me to a shoe store. Which led me to purchase a pair of sandals that was way too expensive just because I was angry. So I purchased them out of spite which is rebellion.

When I later tried to wear them my foot kept sliding off the shoe. And of course I knew instantly that I sinned out of rebellion.

Thanks for the post. I have been praying for you.

Lora said...

Amen Siesta, Amen.

Femin Susan said...

Hi......
Your blog is really interesting... Keep posting....Good Luck...Welcome to my blog...

Merry Christmas and happy New year.

Anonymous said...

Great post. Solomon wrote, "It is the little foxes that spoil the vine." It is the small things that tend to derail us. How wise of you to recognize the importance of keeping small things to turn into huge acts of disobedience. Blessings.

Anonymous said...

Wish I didn't understand this rebellion so well, but I do. It's so hard this time of the year -- so many pretty things vying for my attention..... focuse on the Lord! That's what I keep telling myself.

GratefulinGA said...

Congratulations! Good job Jenn and nice post!

BethAnne said...

It seems that obedience has become obsolete in most homes/workplaces/churches.
Thank you for sharing and being a great example of what it means to submit to God and to your husband....(I almost wrote "to God and to Rod" --- oops!)

Yolanda said...

Winning over the small stuff, isn't it so sweet?

Love,
Yolanda

fuzzytop said...

Oh I have done that - buying something when I know we have agrgeed NOT to, and then having to sneak it in... Makes me feel like such a loser.... Thanks for sharing honestly.

Hugs,
Adrienne