A Holy Slap In the Head

# 227 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 16:1 Now 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." God delivers a mild rebuke to Samuel, who had returned to Ramah and spent his time mourning for Saul, and running a school for prophets. This school was given an off-hand mention in 1Sa 19:19 Now it was told Saul, saying, "Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!" 20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. You, know, it seems like Samuel was having a little bit of a pity party. I recognize the symptoms far too well. First of all the people had rejected Samuel's leadership when they demanded a king, then the king the people wanted turned out to be a real dud. Samuel probably had enough, and cloistered himself away from the world, concentrating on raising up men of God. Of and by itself, that's not a bad idea, but with the inauguration of the first king, the duty of Samuel to anoint another was inescapable. It's time for Samuel to give up on the pity party and get on with the business of anointing a new king. Thanks for the holy slap to the head God! “Now Samuel, fill your horn with oil, be filled with the Holy Spirit and leave the walls of the church, I have a job for you!” Samuel's job was to anoint a new king! Go, and get on with it! Are you in the midst of a pity party right now. Things haven't gone the way you would like and now you have pulled away, cloistering yourself away from interaction with the church? With the world? How long will you mourn? Receive this holy slap in the head, fill your horn with oil and follow where the Lord will lead you. Pity parties are downward spirals to dead ends! Breakout! Rediscover joy as you do the Lord's bidding.