Sermon Central
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The Bleating Of Sheep & The Lowing Of Oxen
Contributed by Darren Felarise on Oct 18, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Sometimes we’re not totally obedient to the Lord, & we try to hide our sin, but God has a way of bringing it to the surface.
1 Sam 15:1-3; 7-9; 13-14
15 Samuel also said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: ’I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’"
7 And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
13 Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord."
14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" (NKJV)
Title: ~~~
The first thing we se is…
I) The Order
1 Sam 15:3
3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’" (NKJV)
His orders were to destroy all of them. He was to destroy everything. Nothing was to be left alive.
That may sound radical to you, but our orders are the same.
2 Cor 6:14-7:1
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."
17 Therefore
"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you."
18 ’I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty."
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (NKJV)
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (NKJV)
The mandate is very clear, not one speck of filth can remain. God demands purity! God demands holiness! The orders couldn’t be any clearer, yet, we’ve allowed bits & pieces of the world to creep into our lives.
It’s just like when we try to do a diet. Everything is going great, then we see something that looks so good. We think, “One little taste won’t hurt.” The problem is that we keep on tasting & before you know it the diet’s out the window & we’re twice as miserable as before.
Get rid of it all!!!
The next thing we see is…
II) The Lie
1 Sam 15:13
13 Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord." (NKJV)
He tried to hide his sin. He tried to keep it secret from Samuel.
Ps 19:12
12 Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults. (NKJV)
Secret Sins! Read my lips, “No sin is ever secret!”
1 Sam 15:14
14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" (NKJV)
2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. (NKJV)
Don’t think that you can hide sin!
Num 32:23
23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. (NKJV)
God has a way of bringing it to light.
1 Sam 15:16-19
16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on."
17 So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? 18 Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ’Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?"
