1 Samuel 31 … Consider Him Who Ordains the Outcome

Originally posted: 12/18/2019

The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons… (Samuel 31:2).

“Moreover the Lord will also give over Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines…” (1 Samuel 28:19).

The Philistines celebrated their apparent victory, even going so far as to ascribe the triumph to their gods.

The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons… ⁹ They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. ¹⁰ They put his weapons in the temple of Ashtaroth, (31:2, 9-10).

Being ignorant of the truth did not eradicate the facts. The LORD had already Ordained the Outcome revealed through His prophet, Samuel.

“Moreover the Lord will also give over Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, therefore tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Indeed the Lord will give over the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines!” (1 Samuel 28:19).

Consider Him Who Ordains the Outcome

• He Ordains the Outcome over all His creation.
  • The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
    And His sovereignty rules over all, (Psalm 103:19).

• He Ordains the Outcome as He pleases.
  • But our God is in the heavens;
    He does whatever He pleases, (Psalm 115:3).

• He Ordains the Outcome of our days.
  • Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
    And in Your book were all written
    The days that were ordained for me,
    When as yet there was not one of them, (Psalm 139:16).
    

• He Ordains the Outcome as He has planned.
  • The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand, (Isaiah 14:24).

• He Ordains the Outcome with perfect faithfulness.
  • O Lord, You are my God;
    I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;
    For You have worked wonders,
    Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness, (Isaiah 25:1).

• He Ordains the Outcome freely bestowed in love and grace.
  • just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved, (Ephesians 1:4-6).

How do we respond to Him Who Ordains the Outcome?

The truth is, every appropriate response must begin with faith. Self-examination time:

Have I trusted in anything other than the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for my salvation?

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood, (Romans 3:25 NLT).

None, but Him Who Ordains the Outcome, knows the time we have here on earth. Do not wait; if you hear His voice, then today is the day of salvation.

Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice,
⁸ Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, (Hebrews 3:7-8).

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— (2 Corinthians 6:2).

When we place our faith in Jesus, and are brought into relationship with God, it does not mean our struggles and sufferings cease. But it does mean, that even in the midst of our trials, we can have full confidence in Him Who Ordains the Outcome.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸ and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls, (1 Peter 1:6-9).

Though we will never understand all His ways, we can rest in His sovereignty and faithfulness. May we grow in our faith to wholeheartedly trust Him Who Ordains the Outcome.

 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! (Romans 11:33).

obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls, (1 Peter 1:9).

Let’s Grow Together!