Move Forward with Me

“…And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.” (1 Sam. 15:35 NKJV)

Before the HeartSTRONG study of the Psalms and Proverbs began, I wanted to read the part of God choosing David to get myself into the right heart space. But I didn’t get to that spot because this verse jumped off the page.

What impacts me is how expressive God’s heart is. We can just feel His heart as we read, He “regretted.”

Then what immediately followed also jumped off the page: “Then the Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you… [to Jesse the Bethlehemite]. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons’.” (1 Sam. 16:1 NKJV).

This made me think of how patient God was, waiting on the sideline while Samuel grieved for Saul. I can’t help but believe Samuel may have felt personally invested in Saul’s journey: Having started out with the plan from God, he was invested from the beginning: the plan, anointing him, instructing the people by even writing the book of royalty – ‘this is what you do’ and each time, leading Saul with the next step from God and then, it seemingly comes to ruin. I can just imagine Samuel grieving the ‘loss of the plan’ as much as grieving “the one he’d intimately interacted with” coming to ruin. Can some of us identify with Samuel in this?

What impacts me the most, though, is that “God bounced back first.” Even though He was Creator and Father and was hurt much more deeply than Samuel because His people had rejected Him in the first place by demanding a king, He grieved, then waited quietly, while Samuel grieved too long. Then, finally asking, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him…Fill your horn with oil and go; I am sending you…I have provided for Myself…”

It brings this scripture to my remembrance, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19 ESV). It is hope for today. He still waits patiently alongside us, finally speaking, ‘How long will you lament what was and what might have been? I have already made a new plan, and it is good. Walk forward with Me. I have already set things in motion. I am ready. Let’s go!’

Maybe we can look at this with encouragement today in our own situations or even in a bigger view of our country or world. We know God is a God of justice, love, mercy and compassion.

We can trust that His plans are good. Even as we reflect on the goodness that He had in store not just for Israel, but for the entire world and generations — His good plan was to birth the role of David next – the man after His own heart who would give us the Psalms and invest so much into our hearts and lives. David puts into words things maybe we can’t express. Thousands of years later, we are praying and singing David’s songs, prayers and laments.

What a rich, wonderful gift God gave us in choosing David. We never know what beautiful, awesome gift God has in His mind and heart to surprise and bless us. Even when we feel like we are on the precipice of disappointment or even ruin, as perhaps Samuel felt. The BEST is yet to come. May we let go of what was and step into what will be, with great excitement and anticipation, knowing that He is a good God and Father and that His plan is good and best.

Prayer:
God, thank You that You have a plan for us to give us a future and a hope. We trust You and thank You for leading us one step at a time. Thank You for Your love, grace and mercy. Thank You for being patient with us and reminding us to look up, to keep our eyes, hearts and minds on You. Thank You for reminding us not to lean on our own understanding. Thank You for giving us good gifts that are not only meant to bless us but are meant to strengthen and grow us. Thank You for Your goodness. We love You and praise You, and thank You for who You are. Amen.