Altars made of Ashes
This morning, while meditating after prayer, a passage of scripture that I'm very familiar with came to mind. But what was highlighted is something I rarely focus on. In 1 Sam 15, we are introduced to the prophet Samuel, stating that he was sent to anoint Saul as King and gave him very specific instructions to complete. In verse 9, we learn that Saul did some but not all of what he was commanded to do, and what he did do was completely disobedient.
The verses that were highlighted were 11-12. Samuel was angry when he heard this. He prayed his anger and disappointment all through the night. He got up early in the morning to confront Saul, but was told, “Saul’s gone. He went to Carmel to set up a victory monument in his own honor, and then was headed for Gilgal.” By the time Samuel caught up with him, Saul had just finished an act of worship, having used Amalekite plunder for the burnt offerings sacrificed to God. (msg)
By the time Samuel reached him, Saul had just completed an act of worship — sacrificing burnt offerings using the very plunder God had told him to destroy. And yet in those days, only priests were permitted to offer sacrifices. Saul was anointed as king, yet he stepped into the office of priest, unauthorized and unqualified.
He had used the fruit of disobedience for an offering on the altar.
He built a monument to himself, not to God.
So the question that came to me was this: What happens when people step outside of the role they were anointed for? What happens when you are anointed for one thing but are operating in another? There are many in leadership walking around with a plethora of titles, but what have they really been anointed for?
Could it be that we are witnessing downfalls, not due to lack of charisma or gifting, but because people have redefined obedience to fit their own ambitions?
Are we watching individuals applaud themselves, building platforms and monuments, as if they fulfilled the Lord’s instructions — when in reality, they did not? Have they built monuments on the foundations of disobedience?
Is God now sending pure prophets — ones with no agenda — to confront the “bleating of the sheep” (v.14) that echoes in their ears? That sound wasn’t worship. It was the sound of rebellion, masked as sacrifice.1 Samuel 15:23 “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He also has rejected you from being king.”
Are today’s pure prophetic voices recognizing that assignments were left incomplete?
Are those who once stood in authority now being divinely rejected, not by people, but by God — because they rebelled in their hearts, even while offering “sacrifices” in His name?
Yes, these are hard questions — but we must begin to consider them.
Too much is happening simultaneously in the world, in the Church, and in leadership for this to be mere coincidence.
It’s time to see beyond flesh, beyond popularity, beyond longevity and legacy — and look deeply into the heart of the matter.
I encourage you: Read 1 Samuel 15 in its entirety.
Let the Holy Spirit highlight what you’ve overlooked.
Selah. Pause. Ponder. Consider.
#pointtoponder
#selah
#propheticnugget
#TheGoldenScribe
