Beware The Serpent
May 12, 2012 Bible Reading
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-29
Psalms 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
Beware The Serpent
The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4 NIV)
This is where the battle begins. Slithering up that tree. Watching the children of God playing and becoming hungry. Waiting for their weakest point so his work comes easy. Of course I’m talking about the Fall of Man in Genesis, but look where all of this shows up today in our reading.
Saul becomes prideful and thinks because God anointed him King over Israel that he is sufficient to do the work God had given to Samuel. Because of this pride we see that Saul’s army is left with no weapons later as the Lord leaves them. This pride that slithered into Saul’s life because of “his own accomplishments” (Saul forgot that God gave it all to him to start with) God will anoint another. Samuel says a man after His own heart.
The Psalms come alive to bring that home with this:
Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies? Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies. (Psalm 108:11-13 NIV)
Jesus shows us how to handle pride… Did you notice it in the reading? When His brothers tempt Him with the “power” of becoming “a public figure”, Jesus tells the truth. He says His time has not yet come for that. Of course He is foreshadowing His day in court where He will be executed. That is His “public figure day”. But He answers that temptation of pride by staying true to His purpose. His purpose is God’s purpose. He knows what He is supposed to do and He doesn’t veer right or left from His purpose. He does end up going, but in stark contrast to the way His brothers suggested. He did this on purpose!
Some might say He gave in because He did end up going. I say He stayed true because His purpose was NOT notoriety. His purpose was revelation and fulfillment of prophecy.
Today’s Prayer
As pride comes against me (for it comes against us all), I will come against it by holding on to your purpose for me, Lord. Help me to recognize it quickly Lord and squash it like you did in today’s reading. Give me the strength to fight. You have given me the tools… Ephesians 6:10-19