1 Samuel 15:35 KJV
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.
See in Samuel the heart of this man of God.
First, when instructed of God to pronounce judgment against Saul he wept all night.
There is no pleasure in pronouncing such judgment. The man of God loves the men whom God has created. Saul had already been judged and had demonstrated himself to be less than spiritual but that did not affect Samuel's care of him. We are to love the most unlovely of sinners.
Secondly, though Samuel loved him, his allegiance was to the Lord.
The ministry must be a ministry unto the Lord or our love for people will corrupt it. First and foremost under all circumstances, the Preacher's devotion must be toward the Lord. Loving people must appear as hatred for our great love of God. Otherwise our ministry is lost in compromise.
Thirdly, though Samuel never again met with Saul, yet he mourned for him the rest of his life.
This was rebuked of the Lord, but I think that rebuke should be considered before being applied. We must never grieve those who fall away so much that it haunts us from forward progression. Though Saul was lost, God had a king after His own heart waiting in the background. Though one is lost, God is not done. It is appropriate to mourn the fact that some are lost to God. Our hearts are rightly grieved that multitudes of men and women are bent to rebel from the grace of God. But that grief need not overtake us. Look up! Just ahead is another who is anxious to serve the Lord.
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.
See in Samuel the heart of this man of God.
First, when instructed of God to pronounce judgment against Saul he wept all night.
There is no pleasure in pronouncing such judgment. The man of God loves the men whom God has created. Saul had already been judged and had demonstrated himself to be less than spiritual but that did not affect Samuel's care of him. We are to love the most unlovely of sinners.
Secondly, though Samuel loved him, his allegiance was to the Lord.
The ministry must be a ministry unto the Lord or our love for people will corrupt it. First and foremost under all circumstances, the Preacher's devotion must be toward the Lord. Loving people must appear as hatred for our great love of God. Otherwise our ministry is lost in compromise.
Thirdly, though Samuel never again met with Saul, yet he mourned for him the rest of his life.
This was rebuked of the Lord, but I think that rebuke should be considered before being applied. We must never grieve those who fall away so much that it haunts us from forward progression. Though Saul was lost, God had a king after His own heart waiting in the background. Though one is lost, God is not done. It is appropriate to mourn the fact that some are lost to God. Our hearts are rightly grieved that multitudes of men and women are bent to rebel from the grace of God. But that grief need not overtake us. Look up! Just ahead is another who is anxious to serve the Lord.
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