But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (I Samuel 15:22, NLT) Saul, the first king of Israel, began well. His ending, however, was sad. But let’s look at some background to better understand what happened to a promising life. It was never God’s plan for Israel to be ruled by a king, but the people insisted. They wanted — or perhaps demanded is a better word — a ruler like the surrounding nations. Samuel, the priest/prophet/judge who currently led Israel, was old and his sons were corrupt. Although it felt like rejection, God said the people were really rejecting Him, not Samuel (I Samuel 8:7). GOD’S CHOICE The man God chose to anoint as king was Saul, a tall, handsome young man from the tribe of Benjamin (I Samuel 9:2). However, when the time came for him to be anointed before the people, Saul could not be found. He was hiding among all the baggage. Gradually, we see changes in Saul’s life. Pride crept in. He showed impatience and then…

“For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” (Psalm 75:6-7, NKJV) Two men. Two very different motivations. They lived in the same city and crossed paths often. We find their stories in the Book of Esther. The time is around 480 BC, and the place is Shushan, a royal city in Persia. Haman’s Story Haman was an Agagite who held a position of prominence under King Ahasuerus, the Persian king. Haman had wealth, status, and power. People bowed as he walked by. But none of that was enough. One man, Mordecai the Jew, refused to bow to anyone other than Almighty God. This infuriated Haman. Haman devised an evil scheme that would destroy not just Mordecai but every Jew throughout the provinces. But power and influence are of little help if God is not on your side. Haman was defeated because of his pride, hatred, and bitterness. (Read I Samuel 15 for historical background on Haman’s possible ancestor, Agag, king of the Amalekites. Agag also held a bitter hatred toward the Jews.) Mordecai’s Story Mordecai was a devout Jew, observant of the Law. He was…

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” (Proverbs 14:30, ESV) Having a tranquil heart is a good way to live. It sounds peaceful, calm, serene. But often life is not as tranquil as we would like because other things creep in—things that tear down rather than build up. Throughout the Bible, along with many uplifting passages we find stories of conflict, dissatisfaction, resentment, envy, and jealousy. Cain killed Able because of jealousy and resentment that Able offered the better sacrifice. Joseph’s brothers grew jealous because their father favored him most. King Saul became jealous and resentful of David’s popularity with the people. Leah felt envious of the love Jacob showed toward Rachel. In Jesus’ parable, the elder brother was jealous that his father welcomed the prodigal home. Jealousy is destructive and has been described as a cancer of the soul. James 3:16 warns us that, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (ESV). If life feels messy and chaotic, it’s time to check your heart. Could envy or jealousy be contributing to the turmoil in your life? Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister, once wisely…

“I am who I am.” There are no more important words than these spoken by God. All other words in the Bible are only important because these words are true. In Exodus 3, God manifested Himself to Moses in a burning bush, so He could manifest Himself through Moses as a deliverer for His people. Because Moses’ authority was wrapped up in the God who commissioned him, he asked for His name to capture the essence of God’s character and being. In reply, God said, “‘I am who I am.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I am has sent me to you.”’ God also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “The Lord, the God of your fathers … has sent me to you.”’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations” (Exodus 3:14-15, ESV). “I am” (Yahweh, Jehovah) is written in English translations as “Lord.” It is God’s personal, self-identifying name. It speaks of Him as self-existent, unlimited, unchanging, and ever-living. Note these distinguishing characteristics of God’s name: God is. The name “I am” makes the most important statement about God: He exists. It is a revelation of God’s complete…