The phrase in this chapter that captivated my attention is “And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.” We don’t often think of the Spirit of God inspiring such anger. In the New Testament, James advises us to be slow to anger. Jesus exhibited tremendous patience and our only glimpse of his anger is when he overturns the tables of the money-changers in the temple and drives them out with a whip.
Pondering that example shines a light on the purpose of Nahash’s plan to put out the right eye of every man and “thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” Whether one’s disdain involves bilking His worshipers or blinding His children, God will not be mocked.
It makes me wonder how God is restraining His righteous anger in the midst of the mockery that is ongoing today? In myriad ways, our culture makes light of God and treats with contempt God’s Word, God’s Worshipers, God’s Son, and God’s Spirit.
When Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple, he wove together a cord into a whip to drive them from the holy place. When God empowered Saul to unite Israel and drive out the Ammonites, scripture tells us their destruction was overwhelming: “And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.”
God’s righteous anger toward those who mock Him is held at bay now by the blood of Christ. God waits patiently for all who are willing to repent and honor Him by following His Son. But His Word promises that the day is coming when each of us will give an account for every word we have spoken.
Pondering that example shines a light on the purpose of Nahash’s plan to put out the right eye of every man and “thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” Whether one’s disdain involves bilking His worshipers or blinding His children, God will not be mocked.
It makes me wonder how God is restraining His righteous anger in the midst of the mockery that is ongoing today? In myriad ways, our culture makes light of God and treats with contempt God’s Word, God’s Worshipers, God’s Son, and God’s Spirit.
When Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple, he wove together a cord into a whip to drive them from the holy place. When God empowered Saul to unite Israel and drive out the Ammonites, scripture tells us their destruction was overwhelming: “And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.”
God’s righteous anger toward those who mock Him is held at bay now by the blood of Christ. God waits patiently for all who are willing to repent and honor Him by following His Son. But His Word promises that the day is coming when each of us will give an account for every word we have spoken.
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