Let the Shepherd Lead

Intro:

• Back in March rumbling began about a major scandal in college admissions.
  • As it seems, famous families would pay a college admissions company to “prepare” their children to be admitted to the “right” college that fit the  family’s appearance in society.
  • While nothing was ever said to be certain, the families understood they had a kind of unwritten guarantee that their child would make it into the college they desired.
  • Then the company would set to work arranging for the child’s admission to college through bribes, cheating on entrance exams for college including the SAT and ACT, as well as fabricating elite sports credentials making recruitment more likely.
  • In just a few weeks Rick Singer, the CEO of that college admissions prep company was charged and pled guilty to conspiracy and racketeering.
  • Over 750 families and 25 million dollars were involved from 2011 to 2019.
• As things have unfolded coaches and parents alike have been charged and entered various pleas.
  • 33 or so  parents and coaches pled guilty and will likely face prison sentences of up to ten months.
  • Of those Felicity Huffman said, “My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her.”
  • Those who did not initially plead guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit mail & wire fraud faced more charges including conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.
  • Some who have pled not guilty say that they did not know how Singer accomplished the admissions.
  • Lori Loughlin said that she didn’t do anything illegal and  “hadn’t done anything that any mom wouldn’t have done.”
• https://www.axios.com/everything-happened-college-admission-scandal-51e66764-23b2-4539-ba05-d55740939c46.html and https://www.businessinsider.com/lori-loughlin-reportedly-thinks-she-could-be-acquitted-college-admissions-scandal-2019-5

Hook:

• So did these parents do what any parent would do for their children?
• We might agree that all parents want what is best for their children, but is paying for college admissions best?
• Is it okay to skirt the edges of the law by paying someone to “help” your children achieve?
• While most of us would say that is wrong, how many of us allow our children to bend other rules that allow us to keep up with appearances at ball, or dance, or piano, or that winning science fair project, or that impossible homework?
• Gerry Brooks a principal and YouTube contributor referring to Lori Loughlin’s character in Full House says that there are “Aunt Becky” parents out there everywhere. He defines Aunt Becky parents as those who break all sorts of school rules and policies because they just don’t apply to their children’s special situations. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-6WUaQSC_AfKZrinPuhVFw
• So friends, as we reflect on mothers and on parenting, can I ask you what appearances are more important to you than pleasing God? That is the question we will try to answer today as we look at 1st Samuel 15.

Message Points:

• Facebook, YouTube and social media were not around in ancient Israel, but let me assure you that the fear of man was alive and well in the age of Israel’s first king.
  • Saul’s life  is a case study in the vacillating fear of man that results from keeping up with appearances.
    • At the same time Saul was the prospective king who hid among the baggage and supplies because he was afraid to lead God’s people. When Samuel was to announced his anointing and choice from the Lord in 1 Samuel 10:22, they had to inquire of the Lord as to where he was.
    • Saul also was the king who went ahead and made an unauthorized offering to the Lord because he feared the defection of the troops he was leading. He was more afraid of His appearance before the troops than he was to offend God who said priests alone should offer sacrifices.
    • And later it is Saul who burns with envy that Israel would say in 1 Samuel 18:7 that Saul had slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. The appearance than anyone could best him drove Saul mad.
  • While we have instagram and snapchat to craft our image, in ancient Israel images were crafted as well. Saul always felt like he had to keep up with the appearance fitting for a king in the ancient world.
• It is that very appearance that gets him in the most trouble today.
  • In verse 15:1-3 God gives Samuel a word for Saul. Saul is to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them.
    • Notice that the Lord reminds Saul that he was anointed by Samuel and that Saul should listen to the words of the old prophet.
    • But also notice that the command to totally destroy everything comes directly from the “Lord Almighty”.
    • That word totally destroy  is one that is the same as the word used for burnt offerings.
      • That means that the spoils of war were worshipful in the same way that the sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord were worshipful. They in a way made atonement for the people of Israel.
      • Thus, the soldiers were not to profit from their actions as God’s just arm like the Aaronic priest were to receive no compensation for their actions to make atonement for the people through sacrifice.
  • At first Saul does all that the Lord has called him to do. He calls up troops, mobilizes them for war and attacks the Amelekites.
    • But when victory was sure, Saul spared Agag and the best of the spoils from the foreign nation.
    • We read twice of Saul’s discretion with the king Agag.
      • First the was taken alive in verse 8 and then he was spared in verse 9.
      • Such repetition of ideas in the Bible should alert us to something that is important.
    • Perhaps it was the flattery of Saul by Agag in his pleading to be spared that led him to believe it would be better for appearances that he be spared.
    • Or perhaps it was the wealth and authority that would be his if he kept the king and all the spoils of war for himself that led to his foolish decision.
    • For whatever reason, the dye is now almost cast for the passage that we will focus upon today.
  • We must not miss one final point. In verses 10-11 as the Lord relates to Samuel his regret over making the disobedient Saul king; Samuel gets angry, and he cries out to the Lord all night.
    • Mothers and fathers, isn’t that the way any of us would feel when we have to face the fact that our children aren’t living up to our dreams for them?
      • When they do not hit that game winning home run, or they do not make the honor roll, or they do not steal the show at a recital; how do we respond?
      • Do we take matters into our own hands and demand that they be recognized?
      • Perhaps we would be understanding of such behavior, but it does lead to more serious problems.
    • Just ask, how do we respond when our children actually do something that breaks the rules or violates our principles?
      • Do we sit silently by angry and distressed with the Lord, but refusing to rebuke or even correct our children?
      • Do we shield them from the consequences for their actions?
    • This does not only apply to parents, but also true to us as a church.
      • When a member is a part of any sinful activity in a public, unrepentant, damaging fashion what do we do?
      • Even for something as seemingly benign as non-attendance at church, we cannot deny Hebrews 10:25.
      • How often is our response to be silent, to get angry with God for not doing more to prevent this activity and just plead with him to make some kind of change.
      • But isn’t it more loving of us as parents and as church members to go to those in some form of sin and lovingly let them know that what they are doing does not please God and raises questions in us about their profession of faith?
      • After all the Great Commission does not end with us going into all the nations, and baptizing them. It continues to tell us that we are supposed to teach people how to obey everything God has commanded us.
      • Sometimes that teaching involves shepherding like we see in Matthew 18:10-20.
• Friends, that is why a passage like the one we look at today is so important. Even though Samuel, was crushed, like any loving parental figure, he ultimately confronted Saul for the glory of God and the good of Saul.
• That leads us to the first point of this message Keeping up the appearance of faithfulness to the Lord is not enough. (15:13-19)
  • Notice friends the interchange.
    • Saul greets Samuel with the news that he has obeyed the Lord.
      • This is like a post on instagram or youtube where someone is trying to get the news they want everyone to see in the public.
      • Even though facebook, twitter and other social media has audio and video; what we post can be crafted to make sure we keep up the right appearance.
    • Samuel sees right through Saul’s social media blitz.
      • He immediately replies with the obvious evidence to the contrary, “what then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle I hear?”
      • Samuel looks at all the facts and makes sure Saul knows he has failed to keep God’s word.
    • Saul then tries to spin the cattle and the sheep’s presence.
      • Agains he tries to post his version of the truth that allows him to save face and keep his appearance.
      • He says that it was the soldiers who brought them to be able to sacrifice them to the Lord.
        • Remember friends that the kind of total destruction commanded by the Lord, devoting all the spoils to destruction would have been seen as worship to God and sacrifice to God already.
        • Saul’s point is mute even as it leaves his lips; but it makes him look like a magnanimous king.
    • And Samuel knows it. Which leads him to tell Saul of God’s judgment on his sin. In verse 17-19.
      • Samuel reminds Saul that he was once small in his own eyes, but God raised him up.
        • Notice Saul’s humble beginnings were just as much a snare to him as his prominence now.
        • He was always controlled by appearances at first to try to avoid him being king, and now to try to continue looking like the king.
      • Then Samuel bluntly makes it clear – God said to totally destroy; but you disobeyed!
  • Samuel’s counsel to Saul in essence is that “keeping up the appearance of faithfulness” is not enough for the Lord.
    • And friends the same is true for us.
    • Even if our social media profile is filled with Bible quotes, crosses, and pictures of us in Easter clothes at church, that is not enough to please the Lord.
    • We can post videos of us and our children playing and singing, but that is not enough to please the Lord.
    • There is no amount of social media activity that will convert our souls in such a way that we are fit to enter into Heaven.
    • What we need is a genuine correction in our faithfulness rather than a mere appearance of faithfulness.
    • My Mama was an English teacher. When I brought her my papers to read over before turning them in, she would often begin marking them for correction she read. When I protested she said, if you did not want to correct them why did you bring them to me to read.
    • Friends, we do not need a superficial review of our lives but an exhaustive correction to our character.
• Thus, we should also recognize our second point: Keeping up appearances of obedience to the Lord is not enough.
  • Into Samuel’s clear rebuke Saul again speaks up to again try to get his truth into this conversation.
    • He posts what he wants everyone to believe, namely that he destroyed all the Amalekites and brought back their king. He wants to keep us his appearance of obedience to the Lord’s will
    • He then mentions that the soldiers brought their plunder for a sacrifice to Samuel’s God.
    • Perhaps Saul was trying to imply that he would make a public example of Agag at the time of the sacrifice.
    • In any case, notice the language at verse 15 and now at verses 21. The sacrifice will not be made to the Lord our God, but to “the Lord your God.”
    • Even in his recasting of the truth Saul displays his unwillingness to surrender to the Lord.
    • As a youth pastor, and now a pastor, when someone responds to an invitation, I feel like it is my responsibility to verify their desire to surrender to the Lord.
      • Thus I would ask a question, “why did you respond today?” and would cringe at a particular answer.
      • When a child would answer, “I came because my Mama wanted me to come.”
      • The outward activity appeared correct, but the inward motivation was all wrong.
      • You see the appearance of obedience is not enough for the Lord.
  • And notice Samuel’s response.
    • Samuel states what truly pleases the Lord in three ways:
      • The Lord does not delight in sacrifice as much as obedience.
        • Obedience shows a love and respect for the Lord.
        • Sacrifice occurs in order to restore a right relationship because God’s word was broken.
      • In that way Obedience is better than sacrifice.
        • Obedience means that there is no debt or break in our relationship with the Lord.
        • Sacrifice is a must because of that debt and break in our relationship with the Lord.
      • Rejecting God’s Word is Rebellion.
        • The passage equates rebellion with divination, arrogance, and idolatry.
          • In other words we use our own means to determine what we want to do.
          • We pridefully refuse to listen to any other advice.
          • And we idolatrously create for ourselves and idol or appearance that we must serve.
    • The reason there are so many “Aunt Becky” parents and churches out there today is simply because they do not believe that God’s Word applies to them.
      • God’s Word says in Jeremiah 29:11 that he made us all, and has good plans for us.
      • We chose to reject that Word and choose to create for ourselves an appearance apart from God.
      • God’s Word says in Romans 3:23 that we are sinners in need of a Savior, and that no amount of good works will earn us salvation.
      • But we choose to reject that Word and desperately try to keep up the appearance that we are good enough to enter into Heaven.
      • God’s Word says in 1 John 1:9 that if we would just repent and turn to Christ that we can be forgiven, cleansed, and equipped to live to please God eternally.
      • But we choose to reject that Word, keeping up the appearance that we do not need to turn to anyone for help.
  • Saul speaks up again at verse 24 now trying again post what he wants people to believe.
    • He first tries to feign ignorance of what the Lord’s command meant. It is only now at verse 24 that he says he realizes that he has sinned.
      • This kind of repentance is discussed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:10 as worldly sorrow.
      • It is a kind of sorrow that leads to death because it blames others for our sin.
      • It is the kind of repentance that comes not because we are genuinely sorry for our actions, but it is a sorrow that makes excuses for us because we have been caught.
    • He now says that he sinned, and speaking in a way that hearkened back to his own social media feed, he says that he did so because he was afraid of the men and gave in.
    • Then notice verse 25 where his main concern is that Samuel publicly forgive his sin and worship the Lord.
    • Samuel flatly refuses in verse 26, stating that Saul has rejected the Word of the Lord and the Lord has rejected him as king.
      • But notice that God does not say that he has totally rejected Saul yet.
      • There is still hope for Saul until he dies, which is why Samuel comes to him now and seeks to help him recognize his sin.
      • But Saul is blind to all but his own appearance before the people.
• That leads us to our third point: Keeping our appearances before people is not as important as important as our appearance before God. (15:27-35)
  • Saul tries to keep Samuel from leaving and tears his robe.
  • Samuel tells him that his kingdom has been torn from him as the robe was torn from Samuel.
    • Further he says that God does not lie change his mind.
      • This may sound harsh, but a king of Israel should know all of God’s Word.
      • This is actually good news for Saul, if he would heed it. God can forgive him and give him new life.
    • This means that Saul will lose his kingdom, but it does not mean that he will lose his eternity.
      • God has said that his people should “love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and strength” Deut. 6:5
      • And he also said in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 that the Word of God is very near to us and we can choose life not death by listening to the Lord’s voice and holding fast to Him.
  • But Saul was so blinded by the appearances he wanted to keep that his response in verse 30 pales in comparison to a true repentance.
    • His major concern is Samuel come back and honor him before the elders, not that he may worship the Lord “his” God.
    • See again in verse 30 that he asks that Samuel come back with him so that “I can worship the Lord your God.”
    • Saul cannot see that he is able to worship the Lord His God by listening to His Word, obeying him, and truly surrounding his life to Him.
  • The conclusion of this passage shows that Samuel, far from honoring Saul makes plain the severity of his disobedience.
    • He asks for Agag to be brought and puts him to death before the Lord just as he would have slaughtered a sacrifice.
    • Then the Bible tells us that he did not see Saul for the rest of his life, but mourned for him.
    • Again we also read that God regretted that he made Saul a king, which I believe is the Bible’s way of saying that God hated that keeping up with appearances before people had blinded Saul to his appearance before God.

Conclusion:

• Friends there is a scandal greater in our day than the college admission “varsity blues” scandal will ever be.
• We have millions of people on the rolls of our churches who have made professions of faith but do not have possession of a faith filled life – and we have been silent about it.
  • We have not mourned or taken any action.
  • We have not mirrored the grave and serious regret that the Lord has for those who care more about their appearance before people than their appearance before Him.
• Friends there is only one hope for us, and that is to preach the unpopular but saving word of the Lord.
  • God has a good plan for us, but we rejected it.
  • Now we are sinners who need a Savior, even if we don’t want one.
  • If we would surrender ourselves to Christ, he would pay our sin debt and give us eternal life.
  • But if we don’t we will face the consequences for our own actions.
• Today you have the opportunity to turn to Christ and surrender your life to Him.