March 1, 2022 - 1 Samuel 13-16

Saul got off to a pretty good start but the rest of his reign was fraught with problems: his unlawful sacrifice, his rash vow that almost ended in Jonathan's death, his disobedience in sparing Agag, his battles with David, etc. Saul had started well with his rescue of Jabesh-Gilead, but it seemed downhill from there. Things got so bad that God rejected Saul as king and instructed Samuel to anoint David as king. A good start is not good enough, we must persevere in obedience and right actions. Lots to learn from Saul’s life.

Centuries later, the author of Hebrews counseled, “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Often, it has been said that the Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. Indeed, it is! And we are able to run it only as we look to Jesus.

My faith looks up to thee,

thou Lamb of Calvary,

Savior divine.

Now hear me while I pray;

take all my guilt away;

O let me from this day

be wholly thine! --Ray Palmer (1830)