IN NAME ONLY (22 OF 52)
Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:3-14
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In Name Only (22 of 52)
Series: Discipleship Part Three
Christopher B. Harbin
1 Samuel 28:3-14
All my life I have heard warnings against ''taking the Lord's name in vain.'' Most of these have been well-meaning, though poor interpretations of the passage we consider the ten commandments. That text has nothing to do, however, with cursing or ''colorful language.'' It has everything to do with making a false claim of belonging to and serving Yahweh as Lord and God. Rather than concern ourselves so much with words we would prefer not be used, we should be much more concerned with sincerely living out the faith we claim, shouldn't we? After all, what good is claiming a faith that makes no claim on the living of our lives? Of what good is it to claim Christianity in name only?
Saul's life was a shambles. He was king of Israel. He was the first king and he had spent most of his reign trying to hang onto his position in the face of his self-doubt, a sense of inadequacy, and his personal insecurity. He had too often retreated from his responsibility to lead the army in battle, only to become envious of the attention people were giving David's exploits. He had accepted Samuel's anointing as Yahweh's appointed king over Israel, then had put to death a hundred of Yahweh's prophets and priests whose only crime had been failing to consider David an enemy. He had expended untold resources chasing David down for no better reason than to prop up his own ego, abandoning his charge to protect and lead the nation in service to Yahweh and provide for its national security.
Samuel had given up on Saul and secretly anointed David to take his place. While David made no move against Saul, the king understood his time on the throne was limited. Saul had failed to honor the charge placed on his shoulders, and Yahweh had given up on him. In today's passage we find Saul at wits' end, because Yahweh was no longer answering Saul in regard to his battle plans and projects. Saul atte ...
Series: Discipleship Part Three
Christopher B. Harbin
1 Samuel 28:3-14
All my life I have heard warnings against ''taking the Lord's name in vain.'' Most of these have been well-meaning, though poor interpretations of the passage we consider the ten commandments. That text has nothing to do, however, with cursing or ''colorful language.'' It has everything to do with making a false claim of belonging to and serving Yahweh as Lord and God. Rather than concern ourselves so much with words we would prefer not be used, we should be much more concerned with sincerely living out the faith we claim, shouldn't we? After all, what good is claiming a faith that makes no claim on the living of our lives? Of what good is it to claim Christianity in name only?
Saul's life was a shambles. He was king of Israel. He was the first king and he had spent most of his reign trying to hang onto his position in the face of his self-doubt, a sense of inadequacy, and his personal insecurity. He had too often retreated from his responsibility to lead the army in battle, only to become envious of the attention people were giving David's exploits. He had accepted Samuel's anointing as Yahweh's appointed king over Israel, then had put to death a hundred of Yahweh's prophets and priests whose only crime had been failing to consider David an enemy. He had expended untold resources chasing David down for no better reason than to prop up his own ego, abandoning his charge to protect and lead the nation in service to Yahweh and provide for its national security.
Samuel had given up on Saul and secretly anointed David to take his place. While David made no move against Saul, the king understood his time on the throne was limited. Saul had failed to honor the charge placed on his shoulders, and Yahweh had given up on him. In today's passage we find Saul at wits' end, because Yahweh was no longer answering Saul in regard to his battle plans and projects. Saul atte ...
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