1 Samuel 16:1-13 – MOVING ON
Life is full of disappointments. Our own actions, circumstances, health conditions, people, and a host of other things will disappoint us. It is very easy to let the disappointments get us so discouraged that we stop serving the Lord! When things aren’t going the way we’d like them to go we have a tendency to give up. There is a time to accept the disappointments and move on to whatever God has planned for us next.
The prophet Samuel was discouraged. He had anointed Saul as King of Israel, but in God’s eyes, he was a great failure. 1 Samuel 13:5-16, 1 Samuel 15:1-31
Through the life of Samuel, God teaches some lessons about moving on after a disappointment.
1. THERE IS A TIME TO STOP MOURNING. – Vs. 1 – Samuel mourned because of Saul’s failure. All the mourning in the world does not change situations. There is a time to stop grieving, realizing that in spite of disappointments, God is in control.
2. THERE IS A TIME TO ACCEPT GOD’S WILL – Vs. 1 – Saul had been rejected! Samuel had to accept the fact that God had another plan for Israel and for him. So often we stubbornly hold on to what we think God’s will should be, when in reality, God has another plan. God’s plan is always the best plan.
3. THERE IS A TIME TO MOVE ON IN MINISTRY – Vss. 1-5 – God’s plan was for Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint another king. Although Samuel was afraid of what Saul would do, he chose to obey God and go to Bethlehem. When we finally stop mourning and accept God’s will in a disappointment, it is time to move forward and do as God directs.
4. THERE IS A TIME TO BE SENSITIVE TO GOD’S LEADING – Vss. 6-13 – It would have been easy for Samuel to anoint the wrong son of Jesse as king. He had to listen for God’s guidance and God led him to His choice as King. After we have been grieving, we especially need to get back “in tune” with God and allow Him to guide us.
If we think about it, it is always time to accept God’s will, move on in ministry and to be sensitive to God’s leading.