Day 107: Samuel's Speech (2025)

Summary

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) – Episode: Day 107: Samuel's Speech (2025) Summary

Release Date: April 17, 2025
Podcast Host: Ascension
Guests: Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins

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Introduction

In Day 107 of "The Bible in a Year" podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins delve into the pivotal chapters of First Samuel 11 and 12, alongside the heartfelt Psalm 55. This episode, lasting approximately 20-25 minutes, offers a comprehensive exploration of leadership, obedience, and divine mercy within the context of Israel's history.

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Scripture Readings

First Samuel 11 & 12:
Fr. Mike and Jeff guide listeners through Saul’s leadership during the conflict with Nahash the Ammonite and the subsequent establishment of Saul as king. They emphasize Saul’s role in uniting the Israelites and his reliance on divine guidance.

Psalm 55:
A somber reflection on betrayal and anguish, the Psalmist cries out to God amidst personal and communal turmoil, seeking deliverance from treachery and violence.

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Reflections on First Samuel 11 & 12

Saul’s Leadership Against Nahash (1 Samuel 11):
The episode begins with the threat posed by Nahash the Ammonite to Jabesh Gilead. Nahash’s demand to gouge out the right eyes of the men serves as a brutal tactic to cripple Israel’s defense and instill fear. The elders’ plea for seven days’ respite leads to Saul’s rallying of the Israelites.

• Unity and Obedience:
  “The Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.” ([02:12] Jeff Cavins)

  Saul’s decisive action, spreading a yoke of oxen and demanding loyalty, instills fear of the Lord, uniting the Israelites to a staggering 330,000 men. Their unified response leads to a victorious battle against the Ammonites, demonstrating Saul’s capacity to lead and inspire.

Samuel’s Farewell Address (1 Samuel 12):
Samuel addresses the Israelites, reminding them of God’s past deliverances through leaders like Moses, Aaron, and himself. He acknowledges their request for a king and emphasizes that while God has permitted Saul’s kingship due to their hard-heartedness, it deviates from His original plan.

• Divine Mercy Amidst Rebellion:
  “But if you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king.” ([06:04] Jeff Cavins)

  Samuel underscores that God allows their chosen king to lead not because it aligns with His preferred plan, but out of patience and mercy. He calls for continued faithfulness, warning of dire consequences should the people and their king stray from God’s commandments.

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Reflections on Psalm 55

Psalm 55 serves as a poignant contrast to the narratives in Samuel, highlighting personal anguish and betrayal.

• Emotional Turmoil and Betrayal:
  “Let them go down to Sheol alive. Let them go away in terror to their graves.” ([09:06] Jeff Cavins)

  The Psalmist laments the treachery of a close companion, expressing deep emotional pain and a desire for divine intervention against enemies both external and internal.

• Trust in Divine Providence:
  “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” ([10:01] Fr. Mike Schmitz)

  Amidst the turmoil, the Psalmist reaffirms trust in God’s ability to deliver and sustain, despite the surrounding chaos and betrayal.

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Key Insights and Lessons

1. Leadership Under Divine Guidance:

   • Saul’s rise as king underscores the importance of leadership that aligns with divine will. His ability to unite the Israelites in battle reflects the qualities of a leader guided by faith and a sense of duty.

2. Divine Mercy Despite Human Failings:

   • Samuel’s address reveals that God’s mercy extends even when His people stray. Despite granting the Israelites a king contrary to His plans, God remains willing to work with them, highlighting His patience and unwavering commitment.

3. The Complexity of Faith and Obedience:

   • The episode explores the tension between human desires and divine intentions. While the Israelites sought a king for security, it diverged from their need to rely solely on God, illustrating the complexities inherent in faith and obedience.

4. Personal Struggles and Divine Support:

   • Psalm 55 complements the historical narrative by delving into personal anguish and the quest for divine support amidst betrayal, reinforcing the theme that God is a refuge in times of personal and communal crisis.

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Notable Quotes

• On Saul’s Leadership:

  “Here, now he has basically consecrated himself a king by the fact that he just led us all in battle into victory.” ([13:08] Jeff Cavins)

• On Divine Mercy:

  “He is merely doing this because of the hardness of your heart.” ([15:56] Fr. Mike Schmitz)

• On Trusting God:

  “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you.” ([10:01] Fr. Mike Schmitz)

• On Human Weakness and Divine Presence:

  “We have all chosen things that God didn’t want for us... Yet he’s still present to you.” ([19:58] Jeff Cavins)

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Conclusions

Day 107 of "The Bible in a Year" emphasizes the enduring themes of leadership, obedience, and divine mercy. Through the narratives of Saul’s kingship and Samuel’s farewell, listeners are reminded of the delicate balance between human agency and divine intent. Psalm 55 adds a personal dimension, highlighting that even in moments of deep personal betrayal and suffering, trust in God remains paramount.

Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins encourage listeners to reflect on their own lives, recognizing that despite past mistakes or deviations, God’s mercy and presence remain steadfast. The episode serves as both a historical lesson and a spiritual guide, urging believers to maintain faithfulness and seek divine guidance in all aspects of life.

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Final Prayer Reflection:

The episode concludes with a heartfelt prayer, where Fr. Mike Schmitz urges listeners to trust in God’s unwavering presence, even amidst personal and societal challenges. He emphasizes the importance of communal prayer and mutual support in sustaining faith and obedience to God’s will.

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Quote from Fr. Mike Schmitz:

“We all have broken lives. None of us are disqualified... But you are not disqualified. You are still present to you.” ([19:58] Jeff Cavins)

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Closing Thought:

This episode beautifully weaves together historical scripture with personal reflection, offering listeners both a deeper understanding of Israel’s past and practical insights for their spiritual journeys today. By highlighting God’s mercy and the importance of faithful leadership, Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins provide a rich and engaging exploration of Scripture that resonates with believers seeking to live life through the lens of God’s Word.

Transcript

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Hi, my name is Fr.

[Jeff Cavins]

Mike Schmitz and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The Bible in a Year podcast is.

[Jeff Cavins]

Brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation.

[Jeff Cavins]

Unfolds and how we fit into that story.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Today it is day 107. We're reading today from First Samuel, chapter.

[Jeff Cavins]

11 and chapter 12.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Well also back to the Psalms.

[Jeff Cavins]

We are praying today Psalm 55. As always, the Bible translation that I am using is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own.

[Jeff Cavins]

Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com bibleina year and you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Can get that delivered directly to your inbox.

[Jeff Cavins]

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[Father Mike Schmitz]

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[Jeff Cavins]

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[Father Mike Schmitz]

You don't need to do anything I say.

[Jeff Cavins]

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[Father Mike Schmitz]

If you want to rate this podcast.

[Jeff Cavins]

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[Father Mike Schmitz]

107 episodes and it's blessed you, great. And if you don't like it, I guess you can. I'm really glad. Thanks for sticking it out. That's amazing. But you can also rate this podcast and hopefully it will help other people.

[Jeff Cavins]

Find it and hear the Bible.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

As I said, Today is day 107.

[Jeff Cavins]

And we're reading from First Samuel, chapter 11 and 12.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

We're praying Psalm 55, First Samuel, chapter 11 Saul defeats the Ammonites. Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead.

[Jeff Cavins]

And all the men of Jabesh said.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

To Nahash, make a treaty with us.

[Jeff Cavins]

And we will serve you. But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, on this condition I will make a treaty with you that I gouge out all your right eyes and thus put disgrace upon all Israel.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The elders of Jabesh said to him, give us seven days respite that we.

[Jeff Cavins]

May send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

When the messengers came to Gibeah of.

[Jeff Cavins]

Saul, they reported the matter in the hearing of the people, and all the people wept aloud. Now Saul was coming from the field.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Behind the oxen, and Saul said, what.

[Jeff Cavins]

Ails the people that they are weeping? So they told him the Tidings of.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The men of Jabesh.

[Jeff Cavins]

And the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. When he mustered them at Bezech, the.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Men of Israel were 300,000 and the.

[Jeff Cavins]

Men of Judah 30,000. And they said to the messengers who had come, thus shall you say to.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The men of Jabesh, gilead, tomorrow, by.

[Jeff Cavins]

The time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance. And when the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you. And the next day, Saul put the people in three companies, and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and cut down the ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered so that no two of them were left together.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Then the people said to Samuel, who.

[Jeff Cavins]

Is it that said, shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men, that we may put them to death? But Saul said, not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has wrought deliverance in Israel.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Then Samuel said to the people, come.

[Jeff Cavins]

Let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom. So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Chapter 12. Samuel's Farewell Address and Samuel said to.

[Jeff Cavins]

All Israel, behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my youth until this day here I am. Testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me, and I will restore it to you. They said, you have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand. And he said to them, the Lord.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day that you have.

[Jeff Cavins]

Not found anything in my hand.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And they said, he is witness.

[Jeff Cavins]

And Samuel said to the people, the Lord is witness who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore, stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the saving deeds of the Lord which he performed for you and and for your fathers. When Jacob went into Egypt and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried to the Lord, and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt and made them.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Dwell in this place.

[Jeff Cavins]

But they forgot the Lord their God, and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Jabin, King of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. And they cried to the Lord and said, we have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you. And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt in safety. And when you saw that Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, came against you, you said to me, no.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

But a king shall reign over us.

[Jeff Cavins]

When the Lord your God was your king. And now behold the king whom you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Have chosen, for whom you have asked.

[Jeff Cavins]

Behold, the Lord has set a king over you. If you will fear the Lord and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord. And if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. But if you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Now therefore, stand still and see this.

[Jeff Cavins]

Great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord in asking for yourselves a king.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

So Samuel called upon the Lord, and.

[Jeff Cavins]

The Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And all the people said to Samuel.

[Jeff Cavins]

Pray for your servants to the Lord. Your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil to ask for ourselves a king. And Samuel said to the people, fear not, you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit or save, for they are vain. For the Lord will not cast away.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

His people for his great name's sake.

[Jeff Cavins]

Because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. And I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart, for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, he shall be swept away, both you and your king.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The Book of Psalms, chapter 55.

[Jeff Cavins]

Complaint about a friend's treachery to the choirmaster with stringed instruments Emasciel of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my supplication. Attend to me and answer me. I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked, for they bring trouble against me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

My heart is in anguish within me.

[Jeff Cavins]

The terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me, and I say, oh, that I had wings like a dove. I would fly away and be at rest.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Yes, I would wander afar. I would lodge in the wilderness.

[Jeff Cavins]

I would wait for him who saves me from the raging wind and tempest. Destroy their plans, O Lord. Confuse their tongues, for I see violence.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And strife in the city.

[Jeff Cavins]

Day and night they go around it on its walls, and mischief and trouble are within it.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Ruin is in its midst.

[Jeff Cavins]

Oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

It is not an enemy who taunts me.

[Jeff Cavins]

Then I could bear it. It is not an adversary who deals insolently with me. Then I could hide from him. But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to hold sweet converse together within God's house. We walked in fellowship. Let death come upon them. Let them go down to Sheol alive. Let them go away in terror to their graves. But I call upon God, and the Lord will save me evening and morning, and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice. He will deliver my soul and safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them. He who was enthroned from of old, because they keep no law and do not fear God. My companion stretched out his hand against his friends. He violated his covenant. His speech was smoother than butter, yet.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

War was in his heart.

[Jeff Cavins]

His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the lowest pit. Men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Father, in heaven, we do trust in you. We give you thanks, Lord God, even in the midst of not just enemies.

[Jeff Cavins]

But friends who have failed us, friends.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Who have betrayed us, even in the midst of love that has run out, people who have promised, made covenants to us and promises to us, and then have failed to live up to those promises, have broken those covenants. We know that you are faithful and you love us and you fight for us. And you never break your promise and.

[Jeff Cavins]

You never break a covenant.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And so we give you thanks. You delight in us and you love us, and you choose us and you sustain us. And so we thank you and we love you back. Help us to receive your love more and more this day and every day. In Jesus name we pray in the.

[Jeff Cavins]

Name of the Father and of the.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Okay, Amen. Wow. So, gosh, here we are with First Samuel, chapter 11 and 12. And what we have in chapter 11 is we get to see Saul as a great leader.

[Jeff Cavins]

We get to see Saul as an actual leader.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And one of the things that get context, we have Nahash the ammonite, right? So the member of the Ammonites, Philistines.

[Jeff Cavins]

These are some of the major characters.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Who are the enemies of Israel at this point. And Nahash says to the men of Jabesh Gilead, basically other Jews, they say, the men of Jabesh Gilead are afraid, terrified of Nahash the ammonite, and say, we'll serve you.

[Jeff Cavins]

And Nahash says, well, if you serve.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Me, let me gouge out your right eyes. And that'll be a sign of disgrace that you gave yourselves up to me. That you basically, if a warrior was allowed to have his right eye gouged out, you realize how compromised he would be in battle. If you had a sword and shield, your sword would typically be in your right hand, your shield be in your left hand. So you'd have your shield in your left hand kind of blind you from the left side because you have to hold it up.

[Jeff Cavins]

And you won't be able to see.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Anything on your right side where you'd.

[Jeff Cavins]

Have your sword side.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And so this is kind of Nahash's way of saying, I would basically neuter you, you know, hamstring you in such a way that you would never be able to rise up against me. If you want to belong to me.

[Jeff Cavins]

Let'S make it permanent.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

That kind of a situation. So what does Saul do? Saul says, this is the deal. We're going to go to war.

[Jeff Cavins]

We're going to fight.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

We're going to battle against Nahash the.

[Jeff Cavins]

Ammonite, and every person who belongs to Israel.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

You're going to fight, too. He unites them, rallies them behind this.

[Jeff Cavins]

Challenge that Nahash had said to the.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Men of Jabesh Gilead. And it goes well, right? And not only that, but Saul shows.

[Jeff Cavins]

That he actually has some leadership capability.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

He shows that he has the spirit of God.

[Jeff Cavins]

Why?

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Because at the end of chapter 11.

[Jeff Cavins]

The people who fought say, hey, those people who stood against Saul, because we've.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Just made him our king. Like, basically, yes, he was anointed in private by Samuel, then elected in public in front of everybody. But here, now he has basically consecrated himself a king by the fact that he just led us all in battle into victory. And they say, everyone who is against.

[Jeff Cavins]

You, Saul, let's kill them.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And Saul does a great job. He says, no, let's not do that. Let them go and we'll just renew the kingdom. We'll sacrifice peace offerings, and there he will be the leader, right, of everyone, even those who opposed him originally. And so Saul shows a great amount.

[Jeff Cavins]

Of restraint and a great amount of.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Wisdom in not just destroying those who were opposed to him.

[Jeff Cavins]

Good on you, Saul. Well done.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Again, as we said yesterday, Saul is a complex character.

[Jeff Cavins]

He is not a hero in the story.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

But that doesn't mean he doesn't sometimes do heroic things.

[Jeff Cavins]

And it doesn't.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Just because he dies without the spirit of God in many ways doesn't mean he doesn't have the spirit of God in this moment, in this time, to accomplish this call that God has given to him. At the same time, here's the next lesson of Samuel's speech in chapter 12.

[Jeff Cavins]

My gosh.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

It is so powerful and it's so important for us to pay attention to what Samuel is saying in this final address in chapter chapter 12. Here's what he says. He recounts the fact that in the past, what did God do. He led the family of Jacob, Israel.

[Jeff Cavins]

Right into Egypt, and they became slaves. And then people cried out to the Lord God.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And what did he do? He sent Moses and Aaron to deliver them. And then they had other enemies.

[Jeff Cavins]

After they wandered through the desert, they.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Had other enemies like Sisera in Judges. We heard all about this.

[Jeff Cavins]

And Jabin, the king of Ahazor and the Philistines and the king of Moab.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And what happened was they called upon.

[Jeff Cavins]

The Lord and he sent leaders, he sent people to fight for them. Here's the Lord God taking care of them. And he sent Zerubbabel and Barak and.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Jephthah and Samuel, myself, you know, and.

[Jeff Cavins]

Now what have you done? You've asked for a king you don't want to rely upon.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

This is so important. Here is Saul, who's been anointed king by God. The spirit of God has come upon Saul as king.

[Jeff Cavins]

Now even Saul has demonstrated the fact that he can unite the people as king once again.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

So. So all this stuff is happening, but Samuel is demonstrating this is not what God wants.

[Jeff Cavins]

He's allowing you to have this thing. He's allowing you to have this king. He's even giving that king strength.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

He's even giving that king power and.

[Jeff Cavins]

Giving him a role, giving him his spirit.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

But he doesn't want this. This is not part of his plan.

[Jeff Cavins]

He is tolerating this because of the hardness of your heart.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Now, this is so important for us because it highlights the ways in which, you know, we've read through Joshua, we read through Judges, we read through those battles that the people of Israel were led into. And we can think sometimes mistakenly. We talked about this before.

[Jeff Cavins]

We need to remind. Be reminded of this again. We can mistakenly think that that was what God wanted. No, that's what God allowed. So even though it says that God said, okay, go do X, Y and Z.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

When it comes to battle, when it comes to leading people into those places.

[Jeff Cavins]

Of violence, even though it says, well.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

God, you said to do this. That was not the original plan.

[Jeff Cavins]

Just like how God is giving the Holy Spirit, you know, the spirit of God upon Saul. And you think, well, no, this is clearly God's plan because he's giving the spirit upon Saul. And Saul can lead into battle.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

He was anointed by Samuel, all these pieces. But God is saying, I'm merely doing.

[Jeff Cavins]

This because of the hardness of your hearts.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

I'm doing this maybe some ways in spite of myself. You know, it's what we're going to hear later on in Matthew's gospel chapter 19. At one point, the people or the scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce. And Jesus says, no, divorce and remarriage is not allowed. That's committing adultery. And they say, what? Moses, you said you could divorce and marry another.

[Jeff Cavins]

And Jesus says, because of the hardness.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Of your hearts, Moses said you could do this. One of the things we're going to find is that God's call is always higher, but he sometimes allows us to stay lower, I guess, for lack of a better phrase. But what we have to do is.

[Jeff Cavins]

Keep our mind and our heart and our eyes set on the heights, set on, what would God's original plan be?

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And this is so important. Not just when it comes to the Bible, not just when it comes to these areas of.

[Jeff Cavins]

He was willing to let them have a king.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

He was willing to again allow things that he doesn't like, like violence and like this destructive warfare or divorce, that kind of situation. But in our lives, this is the word of encouragement in our lives. Many of us have made the wrong decisions. Sorry, let me clarify.

[Jeff Cavins]

All of us have made the wrong.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Decisions in our lives. And yet what has God done? He hasn't said, well, you're disqualified now. You made the wrong choice. Therefore, I don't want to go where you're going. You're done. And, hey, it was a good run, but we're. It's over now. He doesn't do that.

[Jeff Cavins]

What God does is he says, okay, you made a choice that's against my will.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

I can send you my spirit even now. Okay, you made a choice. He made a, maybe even a permanent choice where here you are now in a state in life that you can't get out of. Okay, but this is not my wealth, not what I wanted, but I can still work with this, that I can still give you my spirit.

[Jeff Cavins]

Ultimately, here's the word.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Is that in 1st Samuel, chapter 12, that Samuel is saying, even though you're.

[Jeff Cavins]

Choosing what God does not want, he. He is still going to be with you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And that's just such a hard word to really allow it into our hearts. Because one side we can say, well, if that's the case, then I'll just.

[Jeff Cavins]

Keep choosing whatever I want if God's going to still be with me. On the other hand, we can say, are you sure? I don't know if that's the case. I still believe that I'm disqualified from the Lord's anointing. I'm disqualified from the Lord's spirit. I'm disqualified from the Lord being present to me. And yet here is the truth that.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Is revealed in 1st Samuel chapter 12 is that here's the people who are directly going against what God wants, and yet he is going to cooperate with them in their hardness of heart, out of the greatness of his own heart.

[Jeff Cavins]

Out of the patience in his own heart, from the mercy that is unlimited.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

In his own heart. Now, of course, what does he say the last word here? He says that this will be blessed, this will be a blessing, provided that you and your king both are faithful to me. If not, it will end in catastrophe. It will end in catastrophe. So, yes, I can give you this thing that you've asked for. I don't want it, but I'll do it and I'll be with you. But even in this moment, you're not disqualified. But, but please, please know that from.

[Jeff Cavins]

Now on, you're called to be faithful.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

This is what conversion is all about. We recognize our brokenness and we recognize that I need God's grace, I need his help. And he says, okay, you have it. You have my mercy, you have my forgiveness. Okay? Now, like he said to the in.

[Jeff Cavins]

Adultery in chapter four of John's Gospel.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

We just read it a couple days ago. It's okay. Now go and sin no more. Okay, you're forgiven, but sin no more. Okay, that's not what I wanted.

[Jeff Cavins]

So I'm with you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

I'm with you in your presence.

[Jeff Cavins]

Now move forward.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

You're not disqualified. I'm present to you. I can heal you. I can restore you. Now let's move forward together.

[Jeff Cavins]

I think that's one of the messages.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Here in Samuel's final farewell speech. Even though we're going to see Samuel for the next number of days, at.

[Jeff Cavins]

The same time, it is his last.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Big speech that we get in 1st Samuel, chapter 12.

[Jeff Cavins]

I am so grateful for you all.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

To hang with me. Stick with me here. What a gift to be able to be journeying in this way together. We all have broken lives. None of us are disqualified.

[Jeff Cavins]

We've all chosen things that God didn't want for us.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And yet he's still present to you.

[Jeff Cavins]

If you're listening to this, he is.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Still present to you.

[Jeff Cavins]

And I know I brought up even topics of violence or topics of divorce.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And topics that are really present in a lot of people's lives right now. Recognize you are not disqualified.

[Jeff Cavins]

The Lord continues to be present to you. The Lord continues to call you and me and me forward.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

That's why we need to pray for each other. Other, because we hear those words of Jesus.

[Jeff Cavins]

Okay.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

You've been forgiven. Now go and sin no more. And sometimes even that is so daunting. And so sometimes that is so intimidating. But that is our call.

[Jeff Cavins]

So we need.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

We need God's grace. That's why we need to pray for each other.

[Jeff Cavins]

Please. Please pray for me. I am praying for you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.