Stay Close To The King’s Word

We should be careful not to seek the benefits and blessings of God without trusting Him.   ~~~   When the people did not like God’s instructions, they chanted, “Give us a king like the nations.” They minimized God’s word because it didn’t fit their agenda. It offended them. And then they received a king who made a habit of disregarding God’s word. When God spoke to him a word he did not like, Saul sought out other voices. Saul always sought the benefits of God, the gifts of God, but He never sought God. He didn’t trust God or His word. And the original readers would have understood this, and its final outcome in I Samuel 28, where the most miserable words a man could hear are given to Saul—“The LORD has turned from you and become your enemy.” But didn’t God turn away from Jesus as well? He did. He absolutely did. But don’t forget why. In that moment, Jesus was bearing your sin. Jesus was absorbing your punishment. Jesus was cursed on your behalf. And God turned His face away from Him, forsaking Him for a moment, so that God would turn His face towards you in blessing and pleasure for eternity.