In the last two chapters of Samuel, we have seen the Israelites face significant threat from the Philistines. Saul’s army of a few thousand was quickly whittled down to 600 men, and it felt like the new kingdom was immediately threatened. When Saul looked around and saw people flocking away from him, his response was panic. He disobeyed God and would not repent from sin. His son Jonathan however displayed great faith in God. He sabotaged the Philistines camp with only one other man. God used Jonathan’s small victory to spark chaos with the Philistines, and soon their mighty army was defeated with the Israelites chasing after them. Verse 23 says, “So the Lord saved Israel that day:” While this happened and in the days after, Saul made foolish decisions with bad motivations. His rejection of God has damaged him personally, and He tries to force things to happen on His own without God’s Spirit and help. We find quickly that Saul was not the king that Israel needed. Saul diluted God’s victory with a preoccupation with his own honor. Saul displayed for us symptoms of failed human leadership. We should take inventory of our own lives and also be led to thankfulness for Jesus!

Scripture References: Genesis 9:4, 1 Samuel 14:1-52, Psalms 63:1-11, 1 Samuel 8:18, Leviticus 17:10-14, Leviticus 7:26-27

More Messages from James Sumpter

From Series: "A Study of Samuel"

In the last two chapters of Samuel, we have seen the Israelites face significant threat from the Philistines. Saul’s army of a few thousand was quickly whittled down to 600 men, and it felt like the new kingdom was immediately threatened. When Saul looked around and saw people flocking away from him, his response was panic. He disobeyed God and would not repent from sin. His son Jonathan however displayed great faith in God. He sabotaged the Philistines camp with only one other man. God used Jonathan’s small victory to spark chaos with the Philistines, and soon their mighty army was defeated with the Israelites chasing after them. Verse 23 says, “So the Lord saved Israel that day:” While this happened and in the days after, Saul made foolish decisions with bad motivations. His rejection of God has damaged him personally, and He tries to force things to happen on His own without God’s Spirit and help. We find quickly that Saul was not the king that Israel needed. Saul diluted God’s victory with a preoccupation with his own honor. Saul displayed for us symptoms of failed human leadership. We should take inventory of our own lives and also be led to thankfulness for Jesus!

Scripture References: Genesis 9:4, 1 Samuel 14:1-52, Psalms 63:1-11, 1 Samuel 8:18, Leviticus 17:10-14, Leviticus 7:26-27

More Messages from James Sumpter | Download Audio

In the last two chapters of Samuel, we have seen the Israelites face significant threat from the Philistines. Saul’s army of a few thousand was quickly whittled down to 600 men, and it felt like the new kingdom was immediately threatened. When Saul looked around and saw people flocking away from him, his response was panic. He disobeyed God and would not repent from sin. His son Jonathan however displayed great faith in God. He sabotaged the Philistines camp with only one other man. God used Jonathan’s small victory to spark chaos with the Philistines, and soon their mighty army was defeated with the Israelites chasing after them. Verse 23 says, “So the Lord saved Israel that day:” While this happened and in the days after, Saul made foolish decisions with bad motivations. His rejection of God has damaged him personally, and He tries to force things to happen on His own without God’s Spirit and help. We find quickly that Saul was not the king that Israel needed. Saul diluted God’s victory with a preoccupation with his own honor. Saul displayed for us symptoms of failed human leadership. We should take inventory of our own lives and also be led to thankfulness for Jesus!

Scripture References: Genesis 9:4, 1 Samuel 14:1-52, Psalms 63:1-11, 1 Samuel 8:18, Leviticus 17:10-14, Leviticus 7:26-27

More Messages from James Sumpter | Download Audio

From Series: "A Study of Samuel"