SAUL'S FIRST FAILURE: He was presumptuous and intruded on the priest's office in making an offering - out of the fear of man. The escape mentality (rapture) of the old generation results in a people who are not prepared for battle. His fear and unbelief caused him to disobey God.
SAUL'S SECOND FAILURE: He was a tyrant who starved his army. He cursed anyone who would eat before he was avenged of his enemies, thus putting his own son Jonathan at risk for eating honey unknowingly. His army was weakened and ate blood that night because when you are hungry enough you will eat anything. Saul deserted his army to chase after David and Jonathan. Saul was at war all his life - it is a way of life when you walk after the flesh.
JONATHAN: Jonathan and his armor-bearer defeated their "uncircumcised" enemies with just the two of them and GOD. "For there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few." The earth shook and in fear, the enemy killed off one another. When Saul checked to see how many of his men had done this, he discovered only two were missing! He had to send for the Ark to discern whether the tumult was of God. The noise of the battle was so great that even the backsliders joined in!
RESPONSE: Three strikes and Saul will be out. He has already lost the anointing and the approval of God, and is building his own kingdom. His way of life is "fierce WAR". His is the way of the flesh that leads to death. He is running further and further away from God and into hell. Disobedience to God is insanity. Spiritual insanity leads to mental and emotional insanity. What Saul was afraid of - when his troops scattered and hid - only made Jonathan trust God more. Jonathan knew it didn't matter how many men were with him, as long as God was on his side.
JOHN 7:30-53
POLARIZED ABOUT JESUS: The people are making decisions: Jesus' words demand it. He is either the Wonderful Messiah, or He is a fraud, deceiver and liar. No one can stay neutral or unconcerned. And your decision determines whether you can go with Him to His final destination or not! (v.43) "So there was a division among the people because of him."
RIVER FROM THE BELLY: It is interesting that water and light are features of the Feast of Tabernacles. In John 8:12 He declares Himself to be that light, and now He talks about being the Source of the water! The Spirit is the water of life, and that makes Jesus is the Fountain Of Living Water. To "come" we must "BELIEVE". He will give us "living water" - and this water will flow through us to the earth; it satisfies our thirst first, then goes beyond us to the parched world.River from the belly - John 7
River from the Temple - Ezekiel 47River from the Throne - Revelation 22
Isn't this all the same water? It pronounces the Presence of God. It heals, it satisfies our hunger and thirst, it reaches out to whosoever will come.
REMEMBER THAT THIS IS POETRY, NOT HISTORICAL. It is an "imprecatory Psalm" and was actually sung in a Temple service! The fact that it is quoted in Acts 1:20 without criticism places it in the "acceptable range". It was probably written on the occasion of David learning about the people crowning Absalom king in David's place, without David's knowledge. This Psalm speaks prophetically of JUDAS. This also refers to the Jews coming against Jesus. Character assassination causes pain but God will vindicate us. "They have hated Me without a cause", and they were ungrateful and malicious.JUDAS PRINCIPLE: It is "praise" that actually betrays Jesus, coming from the mouth but not the heart. And it is the man who puts SELF on the throne of his life instead of Jesus (2 Th 2 -
"the Son of Perdition").
"the Son of Perdition").
PROVERBS 15:5-7
The "trouble of the wicked" is the overthrow of his "treasures". A fool has no wisdom to give out because the rule is "stupid in - stupid out." If he won't listen to his "fathers" when they teach him, then it's no wonder!
RESPONSE: When a person thinks they already know all they need to know, they "tune out" any instruction. On the other hand, a person who lives with criticism all the time, finds it hard to listen to "reproof" ("correction"). But a person who won't listen to correction is a "fool". They will stay stupid! V.10 says they will DIE! I know there is nothing quite as frustrating as children who won't learn from their parents. It is NOT WISDOM to learn from your own mistakes. It is REAL WISDOM to learn from someone else's mistakes! Or better yet, learn from INSTRUCTION.
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