Divine Encounters
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
Christianity is not a system it’s a sincerity.
It is not a theory it is a faith.
It is not an insurance policy, it’s a way of life.
Divine encounters happened all through the recorded scriptures, when men an women met with God. It was happening long before “Christianity” began, from the time of creation onwards. Divine encounters knew no age barriers, plucked the obscure and the ill prepared and put them in a place of prominence and usefulness. Divine encounters sadly sometimes removed them from the place of usefulness and cooperation with the Lord, to opposition and bitterness. Divine encounters also changed the direction so dramatically, that opposition became cooperation.
Samuel - the boy who knew nothing.
Saul - The king who knew much about himself
Saul/Paul - The bigot who knew all about the law, but nothing of the heart of God.
1 Samuel 2:17-3:18 17 This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD’s sight, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.
18 But Samuel was ministering before the LORD — a boy wearing a linen ephod.
19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. — 26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the LORD and with men.
1 Samuel 3
3:1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. ----
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realised that the LORD was calling the boy.
9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ’Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
The Boy who knew nothing.
Well that was hardly surprising, he was just a little lad. (1 Samuel 2:19) ‘Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.’ It seems almost certain this little boy only saw Mum once a year, but then it was the time for a doting mother to bring him this new garment. When we were kids, Christmas was a wonderful time of the family together and new toys. Perhaps it comes from one incident that to this day I hate clothes as presents. One year there was a lovely present on the tree, wrapped like a Christmas Cracker. - When I opened it my new toy from a dear aunt was two vests, which fitted a small boy like me! This present to Samuel was given in love from a mother who still cared for her young child. One commentator suggests that it was an outer garment that would keep him warm but would also protect his temple clothes from the grime of temple duties. - That in itself illustrates what Samuel was doing, he was the servant to Eli and the temple.
This was not a good time, if you read the verses around this story, you will see clearly that the spiritual life of the priests, let alone the nation, was at a low ebb. Along comes Hannah, a woman of dedication and desperation. Desperate for a child, she had wept before the Lord, received His promise from Eli and then later found she was pregnant. Her joy was evident, she acknowledged the goodness of God (1 Samuel 2:2) ‘There is no-one holy like the LORD; there is no-one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.’ - So into this strange situation, Samuel is placed into the temple.
Little is told about the lad, Samuel. Considerably more about the desperate spiritual plight of the High Priest’s family and then we read, (1 Samuel 2:26) ‘And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the LORD and with men.’ - The circumstances of his arrival in the temple was from the hands of a Godly mother (and almost certainly father). I believe God sees and knows the heart and desires of godly parents, but it is still down to the person themself. Parents cannot make the choice for their child, Samuel could have rebelled against the harsh life-style he was given. He didn’t and God saw the willingness of heart. God needed a man who would be faithful to Him and His ways. He was speaking to Samuel while he was still a child.
God took a young child/man to fulfil what he needed at that time. (Psalms 89:19) ‘...I have exalted a young man from among the people.’ Some commentators think this refers to Nathan while others look back to Samuel. Whoever, this is certainly what did happen to Samuel. God spoke into his life. Chapter 3 commences with the comment that the word of God was rare in those days, yet we have the wonderful story of the child Samuel being spoken to by God and not knowing at first. Finally at the end of chapter three... (1 Samuel 3:19-21) ‘The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
From the boy who knew nothing, to the man of God that shaped the path of Israel. It was God speaking and Samuel willing to listen. Jesus said if you want to follow me you have to become just like a little child. - (Luke 18:17) ‘I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ - That not ignorant, not simple, but full of faith. People like that are the people God takes and uses in a remarkable way. (1 Timothy 4:12 NLT) ‘Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.’ The influence you can have on a church, school, office, town... nation is amazing if you let god and let God have His way!
Saul. The King who knew all about ‘self’.
Read the story in 1 Samuel 9-10 and you will see all the potential that was in this young man. It was at a time of rebellion, when God’s people wanted to be like the rest of the nations. They desired an earthly King. Until then they had been led and governed by God - a Theocracy. Almighty God had never left them without His voice. Samuel was that voice at this time, but the cry of the people was for a king.
Saul was a fine looking man, I suppose in today’s language, ‘a fairy tale prince’. (1 Samuel 9:2 NLT) ‘... Saul was the most handsome man in Israel — head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.’ The story goes on, it is one of lost donkeys, the search and the seer. The modesty of Saul was obvious, he like Gideon, considered himself to be the least and he was even desperate to borrow some money from his servant to pay Samuel. He is anointed, and we see the effect God had on and in his life. (1 Samuel 11:6 NLT) ‘Then the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul, and he became very angry....’ This was the commencement of his ministry/kingship.
It doesn’t take long before his power and popularity went to his head. Two years into his reign (Chapter 13) is the time when he simply grows impatient waiting for the old prophet Samuel. He makes the sacrifice himself. He loses the blessing of God, he sees the people dispersed and the army he is left with is just 600 strong. The Philistines cause him great problems, yes there were the victories, Saul slew his thousands, but the writing really was on the wall. He fails to follow what God commands him to do and we read in chapter 15 that he spares Agag and takes the spoils of the battle. He lies to Samuel but the human response to those lies was, “How can I hear the animals?” A troubled king with things made worse by his replacement being so successful. David kills Goliath (and his tens of thousands).
How things change, and what a lesson to us all. This was a man who knew the blessing of God, but who decided the blessing of self was better. He decided, it would seem, from right early on that he could do without God. (1 Samuel 15:23 NLT) ‘Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you from being king.’
Kings and governments and the powerful of this world need to know God. No theory or fantasy will ever be bigger or better!
Saul/Paul who knew the law but not the lawgiver.
Saul of Tarsus, a Jew but born a Roman citizen./ That alone gave him some importance. He was of the same trib of Benjamin that King Saul was from, maybe that made his credentials a little better. The status of good credentials can be seen in many different ways, being able to flash the ‘Gold Card’ was at one time good. Now the banks have Platinum Cards and no doubt someone will come up with something more prestigious. It can feel good to show our status in life! He certainly knew what a good Jew he was, (Philippians 3:5-6 NLT) ‘For I was circumcised when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish family that is a branch of the tribe of Benjamin. So I am a real Jew if there ever was one! What’s more, I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 And zealous? Yes, in fact, I harshly persecuted the church. And I obeyed the Jewish law so carefully that I was never accused of any fault.’ If we could sum this up, Paul saw himself as perfect as any Jew could be. He kept so rigidly to the law at least on the outside, the public bit of his life, no one had grounds to accuse him.
Hold on though, something must have happened, (Philippians 3:7 NLT) ‘I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.’ Well what did Jesus Christ do for Paul? The simple answer is that Saul who became Paul had a life changing experience. Yes, forget the jokes, Saul really did ‘see the light.’ (Acts 9:1-5 NLT) ‘Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath. He was eager to destroy the Lord’s followers, so he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them — both men and women — back to Jerusalem in chains.
3 As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him! 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" 5 "Who are you, sir?" Saul asked. And the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!’
It really isn’t what you know.
Samuel knew nothing, but God knew him and used him;
Saul knew blessing but knew self better and lost everything;
Saul who became Paul, knew everything but then said that all he knew was worth nothing when he found Jesus!
No, it’s WHO you know!
