Nougat 8

Siblings,

There are some lessons about the Lord’s nature that I’m sincerely glad others learned ‘for me’. For the way they learned those lessons was tough. Take Saul, for example. He learned some very powerful lessons about God the very hard way. Yet, the truths revealed about God in the lesson offers us joy and hope. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.

1 Samuel 15:29 NIV

[29] He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

Unshakable Glory 1

Siblings, many of us know of this Nougat, though we might not be as familiar with the backstory. The Amalekites and their king Agag, were notorious for wanton murder (see verse 33). They were threatening war against Israel. But God sent Samuel the Seer i.e., the prophet in those times, to Saul, Israel’s first king. God guaranteed victory over Israel’s fearsome enemies through Samuel, but there was a caveat. They were to destroy everything. Nothing and no one was to be spared.

Saul opted to save the best spoils of the battle for himself. And, as a king, he thought it wise to spare the King Agag’s life, despite Agag’s proclivity to murder. It cost Saul his crown and kingdom.

Self-Check

What instruction have we been given do we think is so insignificant that ignoring it won’t matter to God? Does the background to our Nougat challenge us to rethink it? What will it cost us?

Application

Strong’s Concordance tells us that the word used for glory in our Nougat can refer to a bright object at the end of a distance travelled. It also refers to splendour or source of confidence. As the One Who safely carried the Children of Israel out of Egypt into the Land of Promise all those years, there is no question about God being the Source of Israel’s confidence. In fact, Moses once had a conversation with God about God’s displeasure at Israel over their idolatry (see Exodus 33). Moses’ entire argument centred around God’s identity as Israel’s Glory, thus he determined God could not forsake Israel.

If we extend that premise to us all who bear God’s mark, we realize that God is also our Glory. God is the Source of our confidence and the radiant splendour Who awaits us at the end of life’s journey. Like Saul, we are obliged to obey God’s commands to us, whatever they may be. I’m not speaking only about the Great 10. I refer more specifically to instructions God gave to each of us after we began this intentional walk with Y’shua.

Let’s honestly ask ourselves whether we have kept faith with what God has asked of us believers. If we haven’t, then we are as guilty as Saul of failing to honour the Source of our confidence. Could it be time for repentance?

Points to Ponder

Can we see the joy in knowing God is our Glory?

How might we demonstrate God as our Glory in our actions this week?

Praise Break

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May all we seek be found in Christ