STEWARDSHIP AND THE BLEATING OF THE SHEEP
Pst. Toks Oshokoya
Who is a Steward? 18 times in OT & NT (steward, stewards, stewardship)
Hebrew: mesheq
Greek: oikonomia
from 3623; administration (of a household or estate); specially, a (religious) “economy”:–dispensation, stewardship.
1 a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.
2 a person who has charge of the household of another, buying or obtaining food, directing the servants, etc.
3 an employee who has charge of the table, wine, servants, etc., in a club, restaurant, or the like.
4 a person who attends to the domestic concerns of persons on board a vessel, as in overseeing maids and waiters.
5 an employee on a ship, train, or bus who waits on and is responsible for the comfort of passengers, takes orders for or distributes food, etc.
6 a flight attendant.
7 a person appointed by an organization or group to supervise the affairs of that group at certain functions.
Synonyms:
administrator
agent
chamberlain
purser
representative
Genesis 15: 2 “…the steward of my house..”
(“my God a help”.)
1. Gen 15:2, “the steward of Abram’s house, Eliezerbof Damascus,” literally, “the son of the business,” or possession (i.e. heir) of my house. Entering Canaan by Damascus, Abram took thence his chief retainer, and adopted him in the absence of a son and heir. He was not “born in Abram’s house” as Gen 15:3 of KJV represents in contradiction to Gen 15:2 (unless it was while Abram was in Damascus); but, as Hebrew expresses, was “son of his house,” i.e. adopted as such, according to the paternal relations then subsisting between patriarchs and their servants.
Thus, he discharged with fidelity, prayerful trust in Providence, and tact, the delicate commission of choosing a wife from his master’s connections for his master’s son Isaac. Justin (36:2) and Josephus (Ant. 1:7, sec. 2), from Nicholaus of Damascus, assert that Abraham reigned in Damascus. Eliezer’s prayer, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray Thee send me good speed today, and show kindness unto my master;” his looking for a providential token to guide him; God’s gracious answer in fact; and his thanksgiving, “Blessed be the Lord God of my … who has not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth, I being in the way, the Lord led me:” are a sample of God’s special care for His people’s temporal concerns, and of the way to secure it (Genesis 24).
Luke 16: 4 “…put out of…”
Luke 16: 2 “…give account of…”
1 Corinthians 9:17 “…a dispensation of the gospel …”
Ephesians 1: 10
Ephesians 3: 2
Colossians 1: 25
Stewardship Unto God Through Serving Under Others
DAVID’S MEN & Joab
It is remarkable to note that when David was going to make up his team, he chose those who were in Distress, In Debt and Discontented. (1 Sam 22: 1 – 2)
1Sa 22:1, 2
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
This was the previous characterization of David’s band of rovers.
Later, these ones became the renowned mighty men of David!
2 Samuel 23: 8 – end
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had:
The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory. And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord. And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men. And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men. He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard. Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Irathe son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
For you to become a member of David’s men, you must realize that everyone cannot be in the very first front.
As the influential circle and status of the one leading you increases, his greatness increases, and the more you have to accept the fact that you are really just one of those building it. When the leader is just at his base level, you might feel you are the only one helping as a support, but when the number of efficient helpers (dynamic and productive destiny facilitators) increases, you would need to upgrade your perspective and realize that each of them is adding to the greatness of the leader, and you are one important part of the number. Yet there is still just one leader.
The way you serve the leader, when you are just two may differ from how you serve when the number of helpers increases but the zeal and loyalty ought not to change.
Many of David’s men, as we can infer, had to adjust gradually as David’s greatness increased. To your godly assigned leader, you will have to find out the part that God has apportioned to you in his life and divine assignment as his influential base increases. Those were the things that David’s men had to learn.
Joab – Who was he?
Oldest of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister. The father is not named; his sepulchre was in Bethlehem 2Sa 2:32). Revengeful and bold as his brother Abishai, at the same time more able as a statesman 2Sa 2:18; 2Sa 2:22; 2Sa 3:27).
Early joined David, whose family and relatives were not safe from Saul 1Sa 22:3-4; 1Sa 26:6). Became “captain of the host.” Abishai is mentioned in David’s flight before Saul; but Joab not until after Saul’s death. Then, commanding David’s servants, Joab encountered Abner at the pool of Gibeon by the challenge of the latter, and defeated him with the loss of only 19 men. Up to Abner’s involuntary slaughter of the fleet-footed Asahel, Abner’s relations with Joab had been not unkindly. Joab, at Abner’s appeal to his generosity, the Benjamites having rallied round the fleeing chief, forbore to press the vanquished to extremities. He added further 2Sa 2:27), “unless thou hadst spoken (challenged to combat, 2Sa 2:14) surely then in the morning the people would have gone away every one from following his brother,” i.e. there would have been no such fratricidal strife at all.
But Joab cherished revenge for his brother’s death; and on his return front pursuing a troop, finding that Abner had been favorably received by David, he broke out into a reproof of the king as though Abner had come as a spy; then by messengers recalled the unsuspecting general, and, taking him aside at the gateway of Hebron as if for a peaceable conversation, treacherously stabbed him.
Jealousy of a possible rival in David’s favor probably was an additional incentive. David, deeply grieved, prayed that the guilt and its penalty might ever rest on Joab and his house, and constrained Joab to appear at the funeral with rent clothes and in sackcloth. Yet David felt himself powerless to punish Joab and his brother; “these men, the sons of Zeruiah, be too hard for me,” at once necessary to him and too formidable to provoke. He left the punishment with the Lord 2Sa 3:39, compare 2Sa 19:7). Joab speedily attained the command in chief by his being first gallantly to scale the Jebusite stronghold and drive out the enemy.
Treachery – He killed both Abner and Amasa via treacherously
Syrian War
His exhortation before the battle was worthy of a better man: “be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God; and the Lord do that which seemeth Him good” 2Sa 10:12). Bad men may utter good religious sentiments; practice is the test.
Absalom War
Possibly Joab at first was disposed to join the rebel; but Absalom’s appointment of Amasa to the command “instead of Joab” determined Joab’s course 2Sa 17:25), and made him thenceforward bitter against Absalom, so that after thrusting three darts through his heart he had his corpse cast into a pit and heaped with stones.
Amasa‘s Murder
David stung by his disrespectful plainness, and feeling that Joab if his own interest was at stake was as little to be depended on as the adversary just defeated, appointed Amasa to supersede Joab. But Amasa was as dilatory as Joab was prompt. David therefore, when Sheba’s rebellion broke out, had to send Abishai to pursue the rebel at once, with Joab’s men and all the mighty men. Joab, meeting Amasa at the great stone in Gibeon, pretended to kiss him in friendship, holding his beard with the right hand, and then stabbed him with the sword in his left hand. Jealousy made this “bloody and deceitful man” reckless what blood he shed when a rival came across his path.
One of Joab’s aides de camp stood by the corpse and invited all to follow Joab; but all stood still at the ghastly sight. Then he removed the body out of the highway, and cast a cloth over it; so the people moved on, and Joab resumed the chief command, with the blood of the treacherously murdered victim still upon his girdle and sandals 1Ki 2:5),
What did Joab do?
He killed Abner the commander of Saul’s army.
After the death of King Saul, Abner (the commander of Saul’s army) took Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth and made him king over the areas of Israel called Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, Ephraim, and Manasseh (2 Samuel 2:9).
Later Ish-Bosheth fell out with Abner.
2 Sam 3: 22 – 30 Joab kills Abner
Abner met with David and made an agreement to bring the entire nation of Israel under David’s control. Afterwards, Joab, the commander of David’s army, came before David and accused Abner of falsehood. According to Joab, Abner was only seeking ways to defeat David. Without David’s permission, Joab tracked down Abner and murdered him (2 Samuel 3:26–27). This deed was more than an act of supposed loyalty to David, however. Joab had been seeking to avenge his brother Asahel’s death at the hands of Abner (2 Samuel 2:19–23).
Another reason why Joab killed Abner
When Joab realized he might not be the number one lieutenant to David anymore if he became the King over all of Israel, after the visit of Abner to David, he tricked Abner and subsequently killed him, to reduce the chances of playing second fiddle.
This made David to put a curse over Abner and his descendants that the blood of the innocent Abner was over his head.
David made all of his people mourn and declared that he had nothing to do with Abner’s death. Joab had been acting on his own.
This gruesome series of events paved the way for David to transition from leading the tribe of Judah to becoming king over all of Israel. Despite the violence around him, David remained innocent of the blood of his rivals.
After Ish-Bosheth’s and Abner’s murders, David remained in Hebron for five more years until the elders of Israel came to him and made a covenant to establish him as king of all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1–5). At that time, David and his men conquered Jerusalem, making it the capital of Israel and the “City of David.” David ruled from Jerusalem for the remainder of his 40 years as king.
Initially, Joab was David’s main strong man when David was ruling over Judea alone, though it was God’s plan for David to rule over all of Israel not just Judea.
It is important to note that, David began ruling in the wilderness before he was made king over Judea by the people there. Then-after Saul died, the people of Jerusalem led by Abner asked David to come rule over them, there was Abner and other strong men.
What did Joab do?
He killed Abner the commander of Saul’s army.
After the death of King Saul, Abner (the commander of Saul’s army) took Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth and made him king over the areas of Israel called Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, Ephraim, and Manasseh (2 Samuel 2:9).
Ish-Bosheth was 40 years old at the time and reigned for two years (2 Samuel 2:10).
During this same time, David served as king over the tribe of Judah in Hebron, a city in southern Israel. David’s men and Abner’s men fought one another in battle.
After about two years, King Ish-Bosheth accused Abner of sleeping with Saul’s concubine (2 Samuel 3:7). Abner became angry at the false accusation and promised to turn over all of Israel to David (2 Samuel 3:8–10).
Abner met with David and made an agreement to bring the entire nation of Israel under David’s control. Afterwards, Joab, the commander of David’s army, came before David and accused Abner of falsehood. According to Joab, Abner was only seeking ways to defeat David. Without David’s permission, Joab tracked down Abner and murdered him (2 Samuel 3:26–27). This deed was more than an act of supposed loyalty to David, however. Joab had been seeking to avenge his brother Asahel’s death at the hands of Abner (2 Samuel 2:19–23).
David made all of his people mourn and declared that he had nothing to do with Abner’s death. Joab had been acting on his own. However, when Ish-Bosheth heard that Abner had died, he and all Israel were troubled. Two men named Rechab and Baanah came to Ish-Bosheth’s home “at about the heat of the day.” King Ish-Bosheth “was lying on his bed at noon. And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach” (2 Samuel 4:5–6). The assassins then cut off Ish-Bosheth’s head and slipped away (2 Samuel 4:7).
Rekab and Baanah brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David, hoping for a reward. Instead, David had them executed, because they had “killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed” (2 Samuel 4:11). David also gave orders to bury the head of Ish-Bosheth in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
This gruesome series of events paved the way for David to transition from leading the tribe of Judah to becoming king over all of Israel. Despite the violence around him, David remained innocent of the blood of his rivals.
After Ish-Bosheth’s and Abner’s murders, David remained in Hebron for five more years until the elders of Israel came to him and made a covenant to establish him as king of all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1–5). At that time, David and his men conquered Jerusalem, making it the capital of Israel and the “City of David.” David ruled from Jerusalem for the remainder of his 40 years as king.
2 Sam 3: 22 – 30 Joab kills Abner
2Sa 3:22
And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? Behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
Another reason why Joab killed Abner
When Joab realized he might not be the number one lieutenant to David anymore if he became the King over all of Israel, after the visit of Abner to David, he tricked Abner and subsequently killed him, to reduce the chances of playing second fiddle.
This made David to put a curse over Abner and his descendants that the blood of the innocent Abner was over his head.
As the greatness of David increased, there became leaders over thirty, leaders over hundred under him.
Scripture Reading: 2 Sam 2: 18 – 23
Who was Zeruiah to David? She was David’s sister. David was an uncle to Abner, Abishai and Asahel. Joab being the eldest of the trio.
You had to get through those three to get to David.
Who was Joab? He was the Commander of David’s host.
Even after Saul died, the battle continued between the men of David and the men of Saul. There was a war between them Saul’s people had to beat a retreat because the war was so sore. Abner was retreating with his own army, Asahel still pursued after him. Abner asked “why are you still pursuing after me”. You can capture some of people if you want to, yet he wanted to get to Abner. Abner killed Asahel (it was a case of foolishness of Asahel trying to have a lightweight champion compete with a heavyweight champion).
Be careful of those who follow you, who feel they must know everything.
Some of the soldiers who followed David [who went there in the capacity as the leader, knowing the vision] to have a meeting with Abner, went back to inform Joab of the feedback of the dialogue, this made Joab contemplate that he might not remain the Chief of Army Staff to David if he became king over all of Israel with the aid of Abner hence he began to plot to kill Abner. [David possibly didn’t take Joab along to that meeting because he was hot headed]
We did not read from the scriptures of Joab going to meet David to understand what transpired during the meeting. The activities of the men who went with David for the meeting in telling Joab what transpired, was a case of loyalty taken too far.
** Make reference to what Joshua did when the Lord took from the Spirit upon Moses and put on the 70 elders.
There are certain things that are not about man, but about God and Israel.
** The sons of Zebedee wanting to sit at the right and left of Jesus Christ.
Be careful to find out from God your position, not what your human thought wants to contort for yourself.
Be careful, don’t be too trusting.
Abner and Uriah died similar deaths, too trusting (they died like nobodies, generals who died because of trickery)
If not for God, the battle between Saul’s army and that of David might have escalated after the death of Abner by Joab.
Joab was a soulish man, his position mattered more to him that is why he was part of the rebellion against David.
** Make reference to when he wanted to name a city after himself if David didn’t come in time, and also when he killed Absalom.
As you play your role in the life of a leader, as he increases, you also increase. Yet not having a complex, or wanting to be the almighty 2nd in command
JEREMIAH
Jeremiah 1 vs 1 – 10
Jer 1:4
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jer 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Jer 1:7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Jer 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jer 1:9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
Jer 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Explanation:
Vs 5: Before I formed you, I knew you: No one can destroy your life except you want to destroy it yourself.
Before ones progenitors ever came together to procreate to bring a child forth, God had already determined what would happen to the offspring of that union.
If God is God, there is only two people who can determine if it would happen, it is God and You.
Formation is different from shaping, shaping (from discouragements, frustration) helps to achieve the plans of what God had in mind for you.
…and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee:
Sanctified means to set apart, consecrated unto God.
How can God say we were sanctified?
With all the times we lost our bearing in sin before coming to the knowledge of God, we were yet Sanctified (set apart for God)?
…and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
There is a progression in this knowing) Jeremiah didn’t know he was a prophet till the word of the Lord came unto him, he didn’t even start as a prophet to the nations, but a prophet to Israel and later to the uttermost parts.
The ordination happened first inside the belly by God.
Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child
The way you see yourself has nothing to do with the way God sees you.
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Yet Jeremiah was rooted out, pulled down et al, for him to have remarked to God that “Thou hath deceived me, curse be the day I was born” [Jer 20:7, 14]
Rather Jeremiah ought to have prayed this prayer after the word of the Lord came unto him.
Ephesians 1: 15 – 23
Eph 1:17
“…That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him;
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,…”
There should come a time when you ask, the person (God) who says He knew us before we were formed, we should seek to know Him also.
We see in the life of Jacob, when he wrestled till He said I would not let you go except you bless me (let me know who you are) [Genesis 32: 22 – 32]
Paul remarked I want to know why you apprehended me for [Philippians 3:12]
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Why did God call me, why did I become a Christian?
There is a hope in God for calling you and me, this is what we should seek to know first.
In our own minute thoughts, we think we are trying to gain something from God, whereas He actually seeks to gain from us. Which is why God said, “My reward is with me”
Rev 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Before we were born, God had sanctified us, but many times we go out of the sanctification ourselves. The reason why Jesus Christ died for us, is to create a way for us to come back into that sanctification. If He didn’t die for our sins, we wouldn’t have been able to find our way back into sanctification when we turn away from him.
That is why the word REPENTANCE is not for sinners, it is for believers.
For an unbeliever, it is needed just once. But for a believer it is needed many times, to return back to sanctification. If not Jesus died, we would not have been able to come back.
Why do we go out from sanctification? It is because every time we are inside of sanctification, Satan cannot touch us. So he entices, cajoles and deceives us until we come out of sanctification, hence he can beat such believer black and blue, hoping to destroy such believer so that such a person can have the same destiny as himself.
While the devil is buffeting such believer who has fallen away from sanctification, the Father is enlarging the door of repentance for the believer to come back in. Once the believer comes back in, Satan is in trouble.
Woe unto those who never repent, which is why “the once saved, forever saved doctrine” is a lie.
…that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance [God’s inheritance in us who have believed] in the saints.
Colossians 1 vs 9 – 20
Col 1:9
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
…and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
We must desire earnestly to be filled with the Knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
If Jeremiah had this wisdom, he would not have been confused when he was being slapped, because it was part of the wisdom of God for it to have occurred first that way.
When we get to heaven, we would not see Joab there, he was cursed because he did not know nor followed the wisdom of God and Spiritual understanding from God before he was formed. God knew him as one of those who would help David, and his destiny was tied with the destiny of David also. Joab did not realise that it was all about God, and not about David, it was not about his position.
Joab started plotting to perpetuate his position within David’s army, not realizing it was all about God and not about his position. It is about God who knew us before we were formed and born.
Part of what God knew was that:
1. Joab was going to work with David as a helper
2. That David was going to be a son of Saul.
(David used to call Saul “My father! My father!!”)
Never allow temporary situation shape you from the ordination that God has for you. Thank God there is a room in God to come back.
All of us are stewards not servants (we are working under a master and are accountable to him) a servant can be sold away.
Everyone wants to be called a minister.
Ministry is actually stewardship and not lordship.
Every time you can substitute accurately ministry with stewardship, we would function rightly, knowing that we are accountable for all our actions and inactions.
The Master who has committed us into stewardship, has a blueprint laid down that we ought to follow after.
It is not only a matter of your zeal. It is a matter of following the laid down pattern for ministry as shown in the blueprint. It is not about being in a haste, not getting it right or adding from the portion of others to yours to make it bigger that guarantees a successful ministry/stewardship. It is all about following God’s blueprint.
You can be busy, having lots of helpers helping you, yet having no reward from God in it. Yet physically it is a “big ministry”.
God knows everything from the beginning, He does not work from afterthought. E.g. God begins to ponder in His mind “I didn’t know Brother A would be this sharp, let me add more to his portfolio”; No! God knew all that from the beginning and had already apportioned our positions.
People add more to that which God has called them to, how then can one explain that everyone is trying to preach on TV, when clearly there is no substance in what they say on TV. Clearly there is no call of God for them to be on the airwaves, and therefore no reward from God for this.
When you do not know what has been apportioned for you according all wisdom and spiritual understanding, you would fight, envy etc. It is simply because you do not know and never bothered to ask from God. Once you know, nothing moves you.
SAUL’s Stewardship & The Bleating of Sheep:
Israel said they wanted a king, because they had looked at other nations and seen how they were ruled. Hence they began to ask for a king. God gave them a king that would satisfy their desires.
God had a desire, for the Amalekites to be wiped out utterly. This was as a result of how the Amalekites followed after the children of Israel after they left Egypt and started to kill those behind who were the frail and vulnerable.
God gave Saul the messy job to take out the Amalekites, though he was a king in interim.
David was actually God’s first choice in second position as king over all of Israel.
Wipe out the Amalekites, this was all of Saul’s ordination/ministry/stewardship. This was one major thing that God had knew and determined about him, before he was born.
He got it on the platter of gold, to fulfil a prophecy that had been in the heart of God. Yet he burgled that prime opportunity.
Saul saw Agag, and saved him and also the best of the sheep, oxen, the fatlings and the lambs that looked good to the eyes for the expansion of his ministry. The moment you extend the blueprint there is a problem.
God told Samuel, I knew Saul would not fulfil all I asked him to do, but he (Samuel) didn’t know how Saul had failed. [1 Sam 15:10 – 1 1]
As soon as he approached Saul, he began to recount how that he had utterly wiped out Amalek, Samuel started to hear the bleating of the sheep. This caused Samuel to ask “what meaneth the sound of the bleating of the sheep in my ear” (He didn’t hear this physically, but heard it in his spirit). [1 Sam 15:13 – 14]
Saul couldn’t have been stupid to leave the sheep roaming up and down.
It is dangerous to alter what God had commanded, God didn’t say Saul did most of my command, save for the best sheep, oxen, fatling and lambs and Agag.
God said he did Saul had not performed His Commandments. He said Saul turned back from following Him. [Because Saul didn’t fulfil the Scripture written about him].
The scripture showed how Samuel interceded for Saul all through the night, before setting off to meet Saul the next morning. The scripture doesn’t tell if God accepted Samuel’s intercession or not.
God said to Samuel “Saul did not perform my commandment”
Saul said to Saul “I have performed the commandment of the Lord”
Did Saul go to war?
Did he fight Amalek?
Did he kill the Amalekites, save a few choice animals and Agag?
Why then did God say Saul had not performed His command?
Who was lying?
Do you have enough focus to resist the pressure of the people following you? Saul said it was the people were the ones who spared the best of Amalek to sacrifice to the Lord thy God [1Sam 15:15], despite God’s command to Saul. It was a good idea, but it was not godly.
Good does not mean Godly (refer to the message on Recalibration)
Just because it works, doesn’t make it right.
The mandate was to utterly destroy the Amalekites, not to do that which you heart concocts.
Obedience is what God requires not sacrifice (mere ministry).
As you add or subtract from the command of God, it is witchcraft, iniquity and idolatry.
Saul accepted that he had sinned, at the door of entering back to the door of sanctification, but he didn’t understand who called him. The prayer he asked Samuel to pray, had been done before Samuel came to meet Saul, but God didn’t tell him what He had decided. God was waiting on Saul’s prayer directly to God seeking repentance. But he had no relationship with God.
When the prophet told David and Hezekiah that they had sinned, they turned to God for repentance.
There is only one time when the prophet rents his garment it is a case of lamentation and judgement.
When Saul rent Samuel’s garment, Samuel remarked that the kingdom had been torn away from him, yet at that point he could still have repented.
Vs 30 – I have sinned, yet honour me now, before the people. It wasn’t about God who he had dishonoured, he was seeking for honour in the front of the people.
This increased God’s indignation against Saul.
He kept referring to God as the Lord thy God (the God of Samuel), unlike David who had a relationship with God calling him ‘the Lord my God’.
If he had prayed the prayers in Ephesians 1 (the knowledge of God) and Colossians 1 (the knowledge of His will), he would have had a relationship with God.
1 Sam 15: 1 – 35
1Sa 15:1
Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
1Sa 15:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
1Sa 15:6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
1Sa 15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
1Sa 15:8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
1Sa 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
1Sa 15:10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
1Sa 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
1Sa 15:12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
1Sa 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
1Sa 15:14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
1Sa 15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
1Sa 15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
1Sa 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
1Sa 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
1Sa 15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
1Sa 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
1Sa 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1Sa 15:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
1Sa 15:25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
1Sa 15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
1Sa 15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
1Sa 15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
1Sa 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
1Sa 15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
1Sa 15:31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
1Sa 15:32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
1Sa 15:33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
1Sa 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
1Sa 15:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
PRAYER:
1. Lord, let me hear when the Sheep bleat and respond (instead of someone else)
2. Lord anything that is wrong around me let the sheep bleat, so I can know what to repent of.
If the sheep does not bleat, one can die and go to hell.
The bleating of the sheep that Samuel heard, Saul had been hearing it physically since, but did not respond
3. Lord give me the knowledge of your will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
