daily devotional

Daily Devotional: Examples and Commands - February 10

“And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 16:2

God told Samuel to deceive Saul into believing that he was going to Bethlehem to offer a sacrifice when in reality he went to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to replace Saul as king. God honored the Hebrew midwives because they lied to Pharaoh regarding their protecting Hebrew baby boys. 62

David lied to Ahimelech in I Samuel 21 regarding his being on a mission from the king and in the process ate the sacred shewbread, reserved only for the priests. 63 As a result of David’s lie, Ahimelech died at the hand of the king’s servant. 64 In the New Testament Jesus sanctioned David’s eating of the forbidden bread, ignoring both David’s lie and infringement on the sacred food reserved for the priests. 65

The follower of Christ must learn to marvel at such seemingly moral contradictions, assured that God cannot deny Himself. 66 God defines morality in His commandments. This much you can know. But the Psalmist says, “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.” 67 You cannot follow the footsteps of God.

Equally important, you must never emulate examples negated by commands. Biblical examples are a valid source of affirmation if no command to the contrary exists. For example, if you feel led of God to remain celibate, the example of our Lord and His Apostle affirms your right to do so. But you dare not break a biblical command on the basis of one of God’s servants doing so, nor because it appears as though God Himself did it. Commands, not examples, are normative.

62 - cf. Exodus 1:15-21
63 - cf. I Samuel 21:1-6
64 - cf. I Samuel 22:11-16
65 - cf. Matthew 12:1-8
66 - cf. II Timothy 2:13
67 - Psalm 77:19

This daily devotional is provided by the Leadership Foundation (www.leadershipfoundation.org) & Walter Hendrichsen.

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