I Samuel 9:24
‘Then the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.’
Saul was surprised. He wasn’t used to being treated so special. The Lord had prepared Saul for this time as well as preparing he occasion for him. He does the same for us. He prepares us and He arranges settings. This illustrates several parts of God: His omniscience and foreknowledge, His love and His ability to put circumstances in sync.
We have a part in this. The Lord won’t impose Himself and His ways upon us. We have to give Him permission. As we enter a relationship with Him, we accept Jesus as lord and savior. This is a wonderful, new beginning. He works on us and showers us with His love. He will put us in situations in which we are to be obedient. This is part of our preparation.
How do we know if it’s an obedience situation? As we begin this new walk with Him, there are a few elements that are to be added. One is reading the bible. It’s called God’s Word. That’s exactly what it is. This new life is a relationship with God. We pray to Him and the bible is His words to us. By doing so we come across some attitudes and lifestyle changes that need to be made. Some are easy, while others take more time. He is happy to help. We ask Him for the strength and desire to change.
Another addition to this new life is church and the new friends that accompany that. We learn that we are part of a team or family. The pastor and these new friends are a great blessing. They also help shape our lives. Just like the bible is an influence on us, so is church. The Lord greatly uses these in our lives.
The Lord prepares us for roles and positions. It could be a job, hobby or a service opportunity. He prepared Saul to be king. He’s got plenty for us. A dramatic example of this happened in Esther 4:14. She had learned of a plot to kill the jewish people. It was a holocaust plan several thousand years ago. Esther was the queen, but she could be punished for being too assertive with the king. She was worried. The verse were her uncle’s words to her. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” There’s that phrase again, “for such a time as this” or in today’s passage, “it has been kept for you until the appointed time”.
What’s our response to be? In I Samuel 3:10, here is what he said when he was just a boy, “Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening”. We are to say yes. He is our lord. We are to comply. It sounds a little scary, especially in Esther’s situation. Fortunately few of us will face the gravity of that situation.
Just as He prepared us for the situation, He will strengthen and help us. Jesus says this in Matthew 10:19, “And when they deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you should speak; for in that hour you will be given what you should say.” The Lord will give us the courage and the content of what to do and say.
Our walk with the Lord is just that, a walk. It’s one foot in front of the other. We aren’t to worry about ten or twenty steps ahead, just the next step. We are to walk with Him having an attitude of trust and thanksgiving. He’s got it.
Lord, thank You for preparing us and circumstances. Help us to be obedient, and trust You along the way.