Life and Lessons from 1 Samuel

I haven't posted in quite awhile, mostly because I have so much to write that I'm almost not even sure where to start. Every time I attempt to start a post, I just get overwhelmed and stop.
So this is me attempting again.

I'm currently home on spring break, which is absolutely glorious. It's always beautiful to be home and spend much needed time with my family. It's always good to be home.
The past two weeks have been so insane, every day bringing a new, original situation and circumstance. This year I have been a frequent gym-goer, but the past two weeks I literally spent every spare moment on assignments, studying for midterms and SLD (Spiritual Life Director) interviews.
After many SLD interviews, intense praying, extreme discouragement and many moments with God, God finally gave me an extreme peace and joy about one specific hall, the hall that will be my home next semester.

That whole process was definitely straining, begging God to make it clear on what hall and with what leadership team I will be most affective. Every hall I interviewed with was solid and the RAs were great, but at the end of the interview- no peace. It wasn't until my 5th interview that God brought on an intense peace and complete joy. I have no idea what is in store for the rest of the semester and for my junior year, but knowing God, there will be a lot of growing, learning and stretching involved. I absolutely am excited to see what God will do, and I just pray that I can be used for His glory in any way possible.

Some things I've been learning in my spiritual life?
Well, I have been reading through 1 Samuel, which has been incredible. God has been teaching me so much about what it means to be a true leader and servant and what He expects of us as believers in Him. I'm just going to hit on the two bigger lessons I've been learning, or else this would end up being a novel. So let's get going, since we're all here and this is obviously one of my lengthier blog posts.

1. I Samuel 8 --> Israel demands a King

"Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." (vs 19-20)

Before I dive into what God has shown me through this section of the book, let me first give a quick background.
-God is the head of Israel, completely taking care of them.
-Israel keeps falling into idolatry, being unsatisfied with God. Instead of being the outstanding nation God called them to be, they wished to blend in with every other nation.
 Now that we know a little bit of the tone and the environment, we see Israel demanding of God that they have a king. Here are my first thoughts- "...why do you need a king? You already have a King and He is all-powerful and all-knowing." And then I realized something... I do this too.
So often I forget that I have THE King of Kings as my Lord and Savior, and I still end up looking towards humans to fulfill my needs. I seek human love, human approval and human presence, hoping that it will fill me up, when in reality, what I need has and always will be right here- Jesus Christ.
While human leadership can be useful and human love is natural, it fails.
Jesus Christ never misleads and his love never fails.  

2. I Samuel 15 --> Saul Spares King Agag; Saul Rejected as King

"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?
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.'
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?" (vs 17-19)
..*insert Saul's excuses*... (vs 20-21)
"So Samuel said, 'Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."

At first, Saul served God with the position he was given. In I Samuel 11, Saul is brave, filled with the Spirit, intentional and does what is right. He did not make it about him; he knew it was about GOD (vs 13). Slowly, but surely, he allowed power to corrupt him, seeking self-praise and personal glory.
In this passage, God directly commanded Saul to WIPE OUT all of the Amalekites. All livestock. Everything.
Instead, Saul decides, "Oh hey. I think even though God said to do that.. I think I'm going to just.. keep stuff alive and take it home! FREE GOODIES!!"
So as I read this, I tried to figure out WHY. Here are some "maybes" I came up with:
A. Selfishness
B. He thinks he's smarter than God.
C. Doesn't care
D. Wants to be in control
Obviously, Saul wants to do things his way.
Saul's excuse? "I wanted to serve God. I was going to sacrifice it all to God."
Here's where the "teachable moment" happens in this story- It's all fine and dandy if we serve God, but we must do it GOD's way. God does not find favor in empty sacrifices that go against His will. He wants us to OBEY Him.
Service is great, but when it becomes an idol or an escape from doing what God REALLY wants us to do, it is sin.

I know that in my new position as SLD for next year, I MUST remember that OBEDIENCE is better than sacrifice. Service must be done God's way. On top of that, I cannot look to men to lead me and satisfy me, but only GOD is the true King of Kings in my life.