Yahweh says what HE means and means what HE says. I was reminded of this again today as I read the story of Saul, the first man king of Israel.
The LORD gave specific instruction to Saul. Saul then ignored the specific instruction and determined to do it his way. HE was told to completely destroy every man, woman, child and animal of the Amalekites. Saul looked at the situation before him and decided to leave the king of the Amalekites alive and to take the best of the animals alive, in direct disobedience to what the Word of Yahweh said.
We can read the story of Saul and we can determine that it is just a good story or we can look at it as it is intended; an example for us that we should not fall into the same disobedience and incur the same judgment as Saul. The choice is ours. The choice is the same as the one that Saul made; we can decide to say that we are being obedient to the LORD, while leaving out important parts of HIS Commandments, thus deceiving ourselves into thinking that we are right where HE wants us to be. This is a result of putting ourselves on the throne instead of bowing to HIS sovereignty as HE is on the throne.
Let’s look at some key portions of this text to gain some understanding of this.
1st Samuel 15:3 – “Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheel, camel and donkey.” The Voice of Yahweh is very specific in that HE says the king is not to be spared, nor child or infant, nor man nor woman, nor any animal of any kind. Yahweh is and has been consistent and specific in HIS Torah.
1st Samuel 15:9 – “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they destroyed.” A simple comparison of what Yahweh commanded in Verse 3 with what Saul and the people did in Verse 9 shows clear disobedience – rebellion against the Voice of Yahweh. They made a judgment call to spare what they deemed good, and to destroy what they deemed as bad. In this they ignored how Yahweh saw the Amalekites and their possessions. It is the same today as many say, “That’s not how I look at it,” as they blatantly ignore HIS clear commandments and made a judgment call in their heart as to what is good and acceptable to the HOLY CREATOR.
1st Samuel 15:10-11 – “Then the Word of the LORD (Yahweh) came to
Samuel, saying, ‘I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not carried out My commands.’” Note: Doing some of HIS commandments is not good enough!
1st Samuel 15:13 – “And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, ‘Blessed are you of the LORD (Yahweh)! I have carried out the command of the LORD.’” Saul sees it differently than Yahweh, doesn’t he? Saul is basically saying that since he attacked Amalek and was victorious over them that he fulfilled the commandment. But based on the reading of the clear commandment and the response of the LORD to Saul’s actions, we see that Saul’s view of his discipleship is far different than how Yahweh sees it.
1st Samuel 15:15 – “And Saul said, ‘They have brought them (the animals) from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed.’” Remember the golden calf that Aaron cast with the gold from the children of Israel? We see the same thing here. Aaron cast the golden calf and declared their pagan/lawless/debauched feast as a feast unto Yahweh! Here we see Saul and the people disobeying HIS clear commandment and recasting their disobedience as worship unto HIM. Today most in the professing church embrace the pagan feasts of Christmas, Easter, and others and recast them as worship unto the LORD who forbade their practice. There is indeed nothing new under the sun, is there?
1st Samuel 15:19 – “Why then did you not obey the Voice of the LORD (Yahweh), but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD (Yahweh)?” What Saul was trying to pass off as obedience and worship to the Almighty is seen by the Almighty as disobedience. Saul continues to try and plead his case to Samuel, but Samuel will cut right to the chase and shows Saul how Yahweh sees HIS commands and man’s response to them.
1st Samuel 15:22-23 – “And Samuel said, ‘Has the LORD (Yahweh)as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the Voice of the LORD (Yahweh)? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination (witchcraft), and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the LORD (Yahweh), HE has also rejected you from being king.” When man says, “I don’t see it that way,” that man is in direct rebellion to the Almighty. Such a man/woman has rejected the Voice of Yahweh in favor of his own voice or the voice of other men. It always comes down to which voice you will hear and that reveals which kingdom you are in.
1st Samuel 15, Verse 26 and 29 – “But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not return with you; for you have rejected the Word of the LORD (Yahweh), and the LORD (Yahweh) has rejected you from being king over Israel.’” “And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change HIS mind’ for HE is not a man that HE should change HIS mind.” The ONE True God – the Elohim of Israel does not change nor does HE lie. HE says what HE means and means what HE says. Who is this Elohim? Who is the Voice of Yahweh? I believe Scripture reveals that HE is Yeshua and none other! I believe that it was HE who spoke to every man who would hear HIS Voice from Adam forward. And I believe that HE is saying the same thing today that HE said to Adam and all the prophets who ever lived.
Hebrews 1 tells us that Yahweh spoke through the prophets and then sent HIS Son to speak to man. Remember that “the Word of the LORD came to Samuel.” We see this phrase used time and time again in reference to HIS speaking to all the prophets throughout the Scriptures.
1st Peter 1:11 – Peter tells us clearly that it was the Spirit of Messiah who spoke through the prophets. Remember, again, “The Voice of the LORD came to Samuel” and all the prophets. Yeshua is the Voice of the LORD that came to Samuel and all the prophets.
In coming to the prophets and then coming in the flesh, the Voice, the Word of the LORD brought the timeless message of obedience to HIS unchanging message. Remember that HE said through Samuel that HE does not change HIS mind! HE came bearing the same message that we should not reject HIS Voice in favor of our own, or the voice of any man. The Word made flesh is the Torah made flesh. HE spoke through the prophets and then came speaking the same Word in the flesh. A reminder that Moses was a prophet is important here. And a reminder that HE doesn’t change HIS mind is also important. Remember that HE said HE would raise up a Prophet like Moses? That was HIMSELF HE was talking about. This one the people should hear. Remember that John tells us in John 5; “But, if you do not believe his (Moses’) writings, how will you believe MY Words?” Same Voice of the LORD that spoke the Word to Moses to write down is speaking the same thing to those who said they believed Moses. But their actions decried their words, just as Saul’s actions decried his insistence that he obeyed the Voice of the LORD.
As I read 1st Samuel 15 the phrase, “And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change HIS mind; for HE is not a man that HE should change HIS mind,” really stuck out to me.
The key is the word “glory.”
H5331
נֵצַח נֶצַח
netsach nêtsach
neh'-tsakh, nay'-tsakh
From H5329; properly a goal, that is, the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially), continually (that is, to the most distant point of view):—alway (-s), constantly, end, (+ n-) ever (more), perpetual, strength, victory.
I was reminded of Romans 10:4 – “For Christ (Messiah Yeshua) is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” The key word is “end.”
G5056
τέλος
telos
tel'-os
From a primary word τέλλω tellō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid):—+ continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare G5411.
Notice the Greek word “telos” compared to the Hebrew word “netsach.” They have the same meaning. Both have the meaning of setting out to reach a goal. Neither means that anything has come to an end, as in done away with, or destroyed.
The Glory of Israel is the Truthful Goal of Israel who does not change HIS mind. Messiah is the Goal of Torah who has not changed HIS mind.
Christ – Messiah Yeshua is the goal of Torah to everyone who believes HIM, the Torah made flesh. The Torah who spoke to Moses, that if you believe Moses’ writings you will believe HIM.
I believe the evidence is clear. Will you hear HIS Voice and submit to HIS Torah, in its entirety, not leaving out one jot or one tittle, or will you claim obedience while adding the commandments and doctrines of men that you deem good in your own judgment? Will you viewing HIS Torah, as a burden and outdated, in spite of HIS clear commandment, and ignoring the specifics of HIS Instruction? That is what Saul did and what man has done from the garden forward. It is the way of man today.
We claim obedience while we are in rebellion, practicing witchcraft and idolatry as we ignore HIS clear commandments. Galatians 5 tells us that the deeds of the flesh include “idolatry… sorcery… and enmities.” Paul tells us in Romans 8 that the flesh of man is enmity against the Law (Torah) of God. The hostility to HIS Torah; rebellion to HIS Torah is witchcraft (divination as HE said in 1st Samuel), and idolatry. Those who practice the lawlessness of witchcraft and idolatry will not enter HIS kingdom. Revelation tells us that only those who keep HIS commandments will have the right to eat of the Tree of Life, but those on the outside are those who love and practice a lie.
HIS judgment is sure. HE will come to bring wrath upon the sons of disobedience, as Peter said, and The Holy Scripture bears witness throughout. There are people whom I love who will read this. Please hear HIS Voice. You cannot claim obedience while rejecting HIS Word. You are in rebellion, in witchcraft and idolatry. Please hear HIS Voice; repent and come out of Babylon before judgment comes!
The LORD wants none to perish. HE has made a way. HIS Son, Yeshua, the Torah made flesh, came to set men free from the bondage to lawlessness. If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed. You are not set free to continue in lawless living, rejecting HIS Word. You are set free that you might live in the blessedness of Torah keeping. It is HIS New Covenant realized in you. HE will write HIS Torah upon your heart, put it in your mind, and cause you to walk in HIS statutes and keep HIS commandments, as you submit. And when you fail, though having a heart that wants to obey, yet repent, acknowledging your sin, HE will restore you in HIS mercy. HIS mercy is reserved for those “who love HIM and keep HIS commandments.”
Believing HIS Voice is true Biblical faith. Faith that comes from believing HIS Word and committing to do it, accesses HIS wonderful, amazing grace. This amazing grace is the power of Yahweh. Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Lexicon tell us what grace is. It is “especially” HIS “divine influence” on our heart with the reflection of HIS influence seen in our lives. We are HIS workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua, for good works that HE prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. See Romans 6-8, Ephesians 2:8-10, Ezekiel 36, Jeremiah 31, and Hebrews 8.
Bless you as you seek the Torah made flesh, the Goal of Torah, the Goal of Israel, the point of it all, according to what HE has established in HIS Word. HE can be trusted because HE does not lie and will never change HIS mind. HE will reward obedience to HIS Word with blessing and HE will reward disobedience with the curse. It will always be our choice.
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