GOOD WORSHIP vs. GODLY WORSHIP

Proverbs 28:4-5 “They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.”

Good intentions do not eliminate the consequences when we choose to disobey God’s commands. One example would be that of Cain. In Genesis 4:3-7, Cain brings an offering to the Lord. It seems as though his hearts desire is to honor God with the best of his garden, in which he has labored much. However, Cain knew what an offering to the Lord was supposed to be. He had to have seen his parents sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord during his growing up years. Yet, he brings an offering of his own choosing. God gives him another opportunity to do the right thing, but Cain is rebellious toward God and refuses. The result, Abel is murdered, and Cain is cursed. He is alienated from all who knew him, becoming a fugitive and a vagabond for the rest of his days.

Another example is found in II Samuel 6. David wants to see the ark of the Lord sitting in the city of Zion. I believe that David’s heart was in the right place. However, back in Numbers 4:15, you will find that God had given specific instruction on how to handle the ark of the Lord. He even defines “how and by whom” it should be moved. (Deut. 10:8) No matter how good David’s intentions were, he still was not doing it God’s way. Even though his hearts desire was to honor and worship the Lord, it still had to be done according to the Lord’s command. Thus, Uzzah dies. (v.6-7) David is displeased with what the Lord has done. However, unlike Cain, he learns his lesson and when he returns to move the ark, he does it God’s way. (I Chronicles 15:1-15)

The next example we find is in Acts 5. The church is doing well. They are enjoying each other in fellowship and revival. Often when this is happening, there is a “but” that takes folks attention off of their service. Such is the case in Acts 5. Ananias and Sapphira have just seen (in Acts 4) Barnabas and others, sell their property and possessions and give them to the church. I don’t know if they envied the honor that was bestowed upon those who did this, or if they were just trying to follow their lead. Either way, they messed up. It is good to follow the example of those who live righteous lives and serve the Lord faithfully but honor without sacrifice is not God’s way. The basic moral sin here is that they lied! They knew what was right but somehow they rationalized in their own minds that what they were doing was okay. (Pro. 16:25) “There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” There are no secrets from God. We can fool everyone around us, but we cannot fool Him. Satan always takes the lead when we allow our will to take precedence over God’s will. Thus, the punishment is sudden and severe. Both die and are carried out and buried within a few hours of each other. 

You may think that God was far too harsh in his dealing with these men. Some might say, “The punishment didn’t fit the crime.” There are many areas of service in which we can honor, and worship our Lord. However, both must be based on His Word, and done in the manner that God has commanded it to be done, or it is for naught. No matter how good our intentions may be, we still have to follow God’s commands. It does not matter if we can justify our actions to ourselves, or others. It only matters that our actions glorify God. He has given us specific instructions on “how and by whom” the service is to be done. He even instructs on the “where and when” of our worship. Just because we “mean well” does not mean that God has to accept it. Good intentions do not secure the blessings of God. God is looking for people to worship Him, but He commands that it be done in spirit and in truth. No one can be a good servant of God unless they are willing to follow the rules given in His Word. 

Titus 1:16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Redefining God’s Word began long before the many “revised-perversions” of today were ever published. In fact, it seems to quite popular in the lives of most Christians. We tend to search for “loop holes” in the word of God so that we can justify our way of life. When we cannot find them, we just “redefine” the words. That way we can say it doesn’t apply to us, or “we’re not convicted that way.” Incomplete obedience is still disobedience. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. This is something that I see as a constant reoccurrence in the life of King Saul. 

When you read First Samuel chapter nine, the Bible tells us that there is no one “goodlier” than Saul. It calls him an honorable man. Later, in chapter eleven, the Spirit of God came upon him. With all this, it would seem that Saul was set, ready to be the king. Yet, his beginning does not match his end.

I. Saul’s Disobedience (I Sam. 13)

Saul had reigned for only one year when he openly disobeys the law of God by performing a task that was only to be done by the priest. Thus God judges Saul by taking his kingdom from him. The throne would not be handed down to any of Saul’s sons.

II. Saul’s Defiance (I Samuel 15)

Saul is given specific instructions by God to destroy all the Amalekites and he openly defies him. Even when approached by Samuel, Saul blames the people instead of taking responsibility for his own actions, or lack thereof. (v.21) For his complete defiance he is rejected from continuing to be king. (v. 23-26) God had to use Samuel to do the job that he instructed Saul to do. This rebellion evens caused his relationship with the man of God to come to an end. (v. 31-35) It grieved Samuel that Saul had disobeyed God. Saul never sees Samuel again until his death.

III. Saul’s Deceitfulness (I Sam. 18, 19, 20)

Saul realizes his days as king are numbered. He begins to do everything in his power to retain his throne. He begins to be envious of David and openly tries to kill him several times. (18:9-15, 28) He tries to use his daughter, Michal, to snare David. (18:18-30) He even uses the friendship of his son, Jonathan, with David to try to destroy him. (19:6) Saul is sinking low, very fast. He begins to pursue David in order to kill him.

IV. Saul’s Distress (I Sam. 28)

Saul finally wearies of chasing David. And now he has come to point where he needs help in a battle he is about to face. He enquired of the Lord, but the Lord does not answer. The Lord had departed from Saul long ago. Proverbs 28:9 says, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.” 

Yet Saul is so delusional that he seeks the help of a witch so that he can talk to Samuel. Saul’s mental process was so affected by his sin that he actually thinks he get Samuel to change God’s mind. (v.15-16) But it is to late. Hearing the judgment that is to come sickens him to his stomach and he refuses to eat.

V. Saul’s Desperation (I Sam. 31)

Saul had defied God and disobeyed his commandments for far to long. Now in a time when he needed him most, the Lord would not hear him. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” He has just heard that he and his sons are going to die, and there is nothing he can do to save them. Saul has to watch as his sons die in battle, and it is his fault. Can you imagine being a parent, knowing your child is about to die, and there is NOTHING that will save them? Personally, I do not believe that Saul asked the armourbearer to kill him because he feared what the Philistines would do to him. (v. 4) I believe the guilt of his own son’s deaths was so great that he WANTED to die. His son’s were gone and it was HIS fault.

When I was growing up, and I would tell my Daddy I loved him, he’d say, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Isn’t that the way our relationship with God is too? God loves us, and we know it. But how does God know that we love him? I John 3:22 says, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” How in the world can we as parents expect our children to love and respect us, if they see us openly defying God and disobeying his word? And how could we as parents take our children’s health and well-being (whether physical or spiritual) so lightly that we would not want to be as close to God as we can possibly get? Who do our children have to be an example of a Godly walk with Christ if they do not have their mother and father? I am not a perfect mother, but the thought of my child’s life being at stake, and the only thing that can save them is me being able to get a hold of God’s ear, makes me want to try.

Isaiah 59:1-2 “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”