Reckless confidence vs. Presumption
1Samuel 13-14 / Revelation 13-15
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OT
14:6 “Let’s go across to see those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
NT
14:12 Let this encourage God’s holy people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his commands and trusting in Jesus.
15:3-4 And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your actions, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
OT Flash Points
Saul’s presumption begins with acting as a priest
Guilt?
Why didn’t Saul feel any guilt for his presumption?
Conscience dictates the highest we know
Was Saul’s problem ignorance of God’s righteous standards or misplaced entitlement?
The answer – look closely into what “presumption” means
Either way, the Law, God’s standard, gets distorted
NT Flash Points
2 beasts
1 from the sea
1 from the earth
2 harvests; God’s people, Satan’s people
The Song of Moses and the Lamb, “It’s all about You!”
Perspective
Facing Reality:
Irresistible Discipleship –
Cannot be deflected or deluded because we are:
Alert and detached from all that is extraneous,
Attentive to Jesus’ instructions and point of view (right now),
Full of the stable power of Holy Spirit,
Dependable, because we are practicing the nature of Jesus
So our nature is an ally – not an enemy
Patience/Faith = Solid, robust abandonment on God