Remember “The wizard of OZ”? There was a song in the show called “follow the yellow brick road” which I can still sing (sort of). But what if God really did give us a literal “yellow brick road” to follow in our lives? What effect would it have on us? I think it would make into robots. So, what is the plan? Well, we have the examples of both ungodly and godly people from the Bible to follow. Saul was chosen by God to lead Israel but could not really do the job. First, the bad example:1Sa 15:1 Samuel also said to Saul, the LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou to the voice of the words of the LORD.
1Sa 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
1Sa 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
1Sa 15:4 And Saul assembled the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
1Sa 15:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
1Sa 15:6 And Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, withdraw yourselves from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up from Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
1Sa 15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah, until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
1Sa 15:8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
1Sa 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
1Sa 15:10 Then came the word of the LORD to Samuel, saying,
1Sa 15:11 I repent that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried to the LORD all night.
And also….. (the good example, Jesus)
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in by it.
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there are that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits: Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles:
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them,
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
The Webster Bible
Saul knew the right thing to do, but did not do it. Some teach today that all that is required is just mentally assent to the concept that God is king and everything will be OK… hum… what about obedience? In fact, it is God's will that we adhere to a very specific pattern as outlined in Acts chapter 2. Talk is cheap, actions speak much, much louder than words; obey the will of God and head down the right road, bricks are optional!
