WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019
Facing the Multitude
Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven.
1 Samuel 13:5
Israel had now gathered at Gilgal to join Saul; the Jewish nation was preparing for war once again. A multitude of Philistines had gathered with iron chariots and every kind of weapons available. Imagine, it would be like Russia coming against a weaker nation.
Through Jonathan, Saul’s son, Israel had just won a victory against the Philistines, Saul had stayed back from battle, yet he took all the glory for the victory. Jonathan and the Lord should have received the praise and glory, but the people had been deceived into thinking Saul had won the battle. He had blown a trumpet––a sign of victory. Now the men of Israel believed their king attacked the garrison of the Philistines, and deception set in––dangerous!
Sadly, in Saul’s life we see how easy it was for pride to take over his character. Saul was trying to be someone he was not. He took the glory. This sin of pride will lead him to greater sin––one step at a time he gets himself into trouble––slowly, he will step downward until he loses the kingship.
Now with a new battle on the horizon, victory will soon turn into defeat. Pride and fear play a huge factor in the unfolding events. God’s people will fear as they face the multitudes gathered against them. They forgot about their God again! Saul falters and does something he never should have done and reaps terrible consequence.
…if a man has not cast his fears on Christ, he must bear them himself. The safety of the Rock is for those who have put their trust in the Rock. All others must face their enemies alone.
~A.W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!