#DailyDevotion Just Because God Forgives You Doesn’t Mean You’ll Escape Temporal Discipline
August 12th
Read 1 Sam 28:3–25
1Sa 28:5-7 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. (6) And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. (7) Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” 1Sa 28:16-19 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? (17) The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. (18) Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. (19) Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
Saul is just a pitiful sight. He had disobeyed the Lord years before. The Lord had forgiven him but he still had a temporal punishment coming so others would take note and not do as Saul did. Just because we are forgiven by God on account of the innocent suffering and death of Jesus Christ, the Lord, does not mean we won’t receive temporal punishments to put to death the desires in our own flesh and to warn others from committing the same sins. Indeed, judgment begins at the house of the Lord.
Saul the rest of his life continued to fight against the Lord’s decree because of his sin to try to keep it from happening. Numerous times his tried to kill David who only respected and obeyed the commands of Saul and fought for Saul. Twice Saul disobeyed the Lord’s commandments and for that the kingdom is taken away. Now he breaks the commandments again by seeking a necromancer because the Lord will no longer speak to him.
He calls up Samuel. Like Samuel is going to tell him anything but bad news. Samuel speaks for the Lord and he speaks to Saul what the Lord had already spoken through him; Saul will fail and die that day along with his family. Another whom the Lord has appointed, one who seeks do the will of the Lord with his heart will take his place.
Are you harboring sins which you try to hold back and hide from the Lord? Are you trying to prevent the Lord’s discipline from happening to you? Are you seeking to do things in a manner which you know the Lord has prohibited because you don’t like the way the Lord is doing things in your life? Repent! Throw yourself down before your Lord Jesus Christ and entreat his mercy. Be willing to face the fruits of your ill-gotten labor. Turn away from the things you know the Lord would not have you do to get your way.
God has promised us in Christ Jesus that he seeks our good and not our harm, even in his discipline he is showing how much he loves you. If he ignored you, you wouldn’t be his children. He disciplines those whom he loves so accept it with thanksgiving. You will find mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.
Lord God, Heavenly Father, help us to receive from your fatherly hand divine discipline and turn our hearts by your Holy Spirit to trust in Your Son Jesus Christ and receive from him forgiveness and a heart willing and wanting to do all that you command. In Jesus’ name. Amen.