Character of God-Part 2

Acts 13:20b-25 

20b “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

Barber

If I have my haircut and I am not very satisfied with the way the barber cut my hair, I will not go to that barbershop again.

You will go to a barbershop or hair salon you are satisfied with, right?

Go to a barber you’re familiar with; if you’re not sure you won’t dare, right?

Similarly, many are not totally ready to ask God for help because they are not familiar how expert God is in each and every situation.

The more we understand and experience about God, the more we trust Him. God’s characters were experienced by the Israelites; we can experience them, too.

1.  Defender

20b “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 

When the Israelites occupied Canaan, they became complacent in their faith. They followed the lifestyle of other nations; they became disobedient to God.

God allowed other nations to persecute them and they cried out to God. God raised judges to defend them from their enemies. Samuel was the last judge who ruled over Israel when the Israelites asked for king.

We may not have enemies like the Israelites but in principle, we are also at war. In Ephesians 6:12 we are reminded, 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We are at war with ideologies, ideas, cultures, personalities, and attitudes, too. We struggle with depressions, frustrations, unfulfilled dreams, or expectations. We are confused with priority, influenced by fashion, troubled by life’s problems.

The Descendants

The movie, The Descendant, featured Matt King, lawyer based in Honolulu. Mr. King is the sole trustee of a family trust that controls 25,000 acres of pristine land on the island of Kauai—land that is not only of great monetary value, but of distinct cultural value as well.  in everyday life.

His wife was comatose after a freak boat accident. His children have not displayed any respect to their parents. He was pressured by his relatives to sell the inherited land. He also needed to figure out how to deal with his father-in-law.

This comedy-drama has shown how life can be very disastrous and heartbreaking. God has displayed through the Israelites that He is more than ready to defend His people from any struggle for the glory of His name.

Bad decisions, negative reactions, insignificant purchases, unexpected circumstances, the Lord is our defender, the determiner of everything.

2.  Determiner

22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 

God has anointed Saul as the first king of Israel; God determined his time to lead. Why did God choose Saul to be the first king of the Israelites and not King David?

The Israelites had their own idea what kind of king should rule over them. When Saul was presented, he was an exceptional man; in 1 Samuel 10:23 it says, 23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others.

Saul should be the perfect king because of his stature; but others did not like him. In 1 Samuel 10:27, 27 But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.

If the tallest man among them was not unanimously accepted, the young David would have been more despised if God made him Israel’s 1st king.

God’s timing is always the right timing; He determines what’s best for them. God allowed the giant Goliath to terrify the Israelites including King Saul. David presented himself to face the giant but his brothers despised him; as soldiers they were terrified. They thought that the little David can do nothing.

King Saul was a veteran of many wars; he suggested that David should wear a soldier’s armour because that was how soldiers go to battle, with armour. Soldier’s armour may be beneficial but David trusted God instead of the usual armour used in battle; he defeated Goliath by God’s grace.

Like the Israelites, we have the tendency to look down or look up to human stature. We have tendencies to imitate ministries from other churches; we copy their style.

Many are the Goliaths we would face individually and even in the church. Suggestions of so-called expert terrified soldiers like King Saul may be helpful but like David, we should rely more upon God’s grace and guidance instead. King David trusted in God and God brought Jesus to Israel from his descendants.

24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

God chose John the Baptist; John was born to elderly faithful parents. John did not have the best fashionable clothes; he also enjoyed unusual food. When God determines to involve someone; He does it without our propositions.

Joshua

Joshua and Caleb were the only 2 spies who believed that by God’s grace they will be able to conquer Canaan; they are both qualified but God chose Joshua. When the Israelites were about to enter Canaan, God designated Joshua to be take over the leadership.

Why Joshua and not Caleb? Was it because Joshua was a disciple of Moses? Was it because Joshua has proven he can lead the Israelites in battle?

In Exodus 17:9 Joshua was the first commander of the Israelite army. 9Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

Being Moses’ disciple, Joshua has proven to be a reliable and capable leader. God has established Joshua’s credibility before the Israelites; they supported him. Joshua was not as popular as Moses but he was one of the best leaders in Israel.

In Joshua 24:31 it says,31 Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.

It is my prayer that this church will serve the Lord faithfully in our generation. We may have preferences in electing church leaders but God will decide. Proverbs 16:33 says, 33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

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