King James Daily Bible Study: Job Evaluation
Date: Tuesday April 05, 2011
Chapters: I Samuel 15-16
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-5
Details of Today's Reading: Saul’s incomplete obedience to God, God dethrones Saul, Samuel mourns, God chooses David as king, Samuel anoints David, and Saul calls for David.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word evaluation is defined as a estimation, a determination of merit based on a set of standards. Of all the employers in the world the most prosperous and rewarding is God, when He chooses you to work for Him, regardless of the position, it is an honor, and one that we should strive to excel at. We can expect an evaluation from God based on His standards. Now, we are all human and are going to make some mistakes from times to time. God knows this, so, what He is actually basing His evaluation on is our attitude and how we handle things, especially when God points out our mistakes. The Bible says, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” - I Peter 4:17.

Saul, had everything going for him, he was the first king of Israel, prosperous, and was chosen by God Himself to reign over His people. Saul loved God and truly thought that he was following God's will, yet quite often he only followed His will partially. Whenever Samuel confronted him about his actions he always made some kind of excuse as to why he had not followed God's command directly. This time, however, his excuses had no merit,

God declared a war on the Amalekites. Saul was commanded to destroy everything, people and livestock, not one thing was to be spared nor taken for themselves. However, Saul did things a little differently.

“And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly...And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” - I Samuel 15:7-9,13-15.

Saul disobeyed by sparing the kings life as well allowing the people to take their livestock, he then lays the blame upon the people, which they could not have done without his consent. Even worse, he tries to say that the animals were spared for God's sake to offer up sacrifices to Him. Okay, we can come up with as many excuses as we can to justify our reason for not following a command, but bring God into it and watch what happens. Saul truly thought that he had obeyed God's commands completely, but his response gave him away. After giving excuses Samuel told Saul that God was renouncing him as king. Saul then admitted he sinned, but it was too late God had already chosen a new king.

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.” - I Samuel 15:20-26.

Saul, like many Christians had the mentality he could do anything he wanted and God would forgive him. While God is a forgiving God and forgives all our sins when we truly repent, He much rather us be obedient in the first place. We can not pick and choose which of God's commands to follow, we are to follow all of them. Following God partially is just as bad as not following Him at all, in fact, it is worse. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” - Revelation 3:15,16.

It was time for Samuel to anoint a new king of God's choice, God sent Samuel to Bethlehem, where a man named Jesse who had eight sons. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart...Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” - I Samuel 16:7,10-13

God reminded Samuel that while men look at the outward appearance of a person in choosing whether or not they are qualified to work for them, He looks inside their heart. We can tell how men look, which can be deceiving, but God can tell what they are. He judges of men by the heart. We often form a mistaken judgment of character, but God values only the faith, fear, and love, which are planted in the heart, beyond human discernment. And God does not favor our children according to our fond partiality, but often most honors and blesses those who have been least regarded. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” - Hebrews 11:3.

God knows each and every one of our hearts. Do you love and fear God? Do you have faith in Him? Are you willing to give up your favorite pass time to live by His standards? God calls every Christian to serve Him in some way, regardless of whether or not we serve Him in the church, at home, or at work, our job performance will be evaluated by His standards. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:..That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” - Ephesians 4:11,12,22-24.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through David's name which means beloved, he was a type of God's beloved Son, whom Jesus was. “...and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” - Luke 3:22.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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