Touched

Touched

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - There are many things that will touch your heart and send a range of emotions in your life. A stroll along a sandy beach at sunset with the love of your life will touch your heart and send the emotion of love running through you. The loss of a loved one will touch your heart, sending grief and sadness. Being able to find that time of peace and quiet will touch your heart, giving you a since of relaxation and comfort. Receiving a call from an old friend will touch your heart, sending joyful memories through you. Seeing starving children or children suffering from cancer will touch your heart and often move you with compassion. Seeing an innocent little baby murdered at the hand of a sadistic perverted maniac will touch your heart and send feelings of rage and revenge through you like the case that happened here in Michigan this past week. Many things will touch you but there is nothing like being touched by God.

That’s why the song writer said it like this: - Shackled by a heavy burden. 'Neath a load of guilt and shame. Then the hand of Jesus touched me, and now I am no longer the same.

He touched me, oh, He touched me, and oh, the joy that floods my soul. Something happened, and now I know He touched me, and made me whole.

The touch of God will not only send different emotions through you but it will ultimately change you.

PRAYER: -

SCRIPTURE: - 1 Samuel 10:26 “And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched”.

BACKGROUND: - Before God appointed a king for Israel, God reminded them of all He did for them. Speaking through Samuel, He showed Israel how their rejection of Him made no sense at all. It makes no sense to reject the one who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations. God reminded Israel that He was still more than qualified to be their king and their rejection of Him was all because of them and not because of the Lord. However, God, in His permissive will, allowed Israel to have a king despite knowing the how this king would treat them. They did not need a king but wanted to be like other nations. God had led them through His prophets, through judges, and through priest, but they became the victim to assimilation trying to be like others.

When God first chose Saul to be king, he was a good man and a humble man. He was God's choice not the people’s choice. The physical description of Saul showed he was exactly what the people wanted, a king that looked good to other nations, because his stature was larger than the people around him. So based upon the outward appearance of Saul, the people cheered in verse 24 “Long live the King”. Verses 25 says, “Then Samuel explained to the people the behavior of royalty, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house”. Samuel taught them God’s guidelines for both rulers and subjects.

Verse 26 “And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched”.

These men that went with him were not just the average man, they were not the everyday working man but these were men that were advisors, military strong men, in todays terminology they would be considered like the secret service and cabinet of the administration.

Valiant men = boldly courageous; brave; stout-hearted: a valiant soldier. They were marked by or showing bravery or valor; heroic: to make a valiant effort. worthy; excellent. Men committed to their nation’s leader, willing to stand with him and fight to protect him. Whether advisers, analysts, or military warriors, these men were committed to the king’s success.

These valiant men experienced a Divine Touch that involved much more than you can imagine. Understand the heart, in Scripture, involves the whole spiritual nature, including the will, the intellect, and the emotions. Their Intellect was touched, causing them to discern their own duty and the true interest of Israel. Their Emotions were touched, powerfully attracting them to “him whom the Lord had appointed to be captain of their inheritance” and inspiring them with desire and confidence. Their Will was touched, compelling them to acknowledge the Divine hand in the whole matter, and their own obligation in the appointment of the Lord, and to sustain with all their force the man who had been set over them. Re-enforcing with Divine grace their purpose to carry out the resolution they had formed; so that, whatever others might do, they would adhere to the king, and go with him to Gibeah, ready to protect his person, support his prerogatives, avenge all insults offered to him, and serve him in any emergency that might arise, in any capacity that might be required.