April 28, 2023 – A Gigantic Taradiddle

  April 28, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Samuel 12-13 / Luke 18:31-43

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 13:11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        What in the world is a taradiddle? Is it a newly found dinosaur bone dug up by Dr. Diddle they have now named the taradiddle? Nope. Is it a galaxy far far way that they have just discovered with a high-power telescope that could be new Terra firma, dry ground, to explore and discover? Not that either. Taradiddle simply means senseless talk, or deception. Webster’s says it is nonsense, or a petty lie. For example, “no sane person would make up such a taradiddle.” Meaning, “no one in their right mind would make up such nonsense.” That is what Saul was trying to feed Samuel in today’s passage of scripture. A Gigantic Taradiddle.

 

        Samuel ask’s Saul why he did not wait for him to come, but instead went ahead and offered up sacrifices that only a priest was allowed to do? Saul gives him a list of nonsense. First, he says; People were leaving, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me.” They were leaving, but that is not an excuse to sin. Second, he says; People were late, “thou camest not within the days appointed.” Also true, yet not a good reason to disobey God. Finally, he says; People were lashing out; “that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash.” Again, the enemy was gathering, but still no reason to break God’s law. These were all excuses, nonsense, a bunch of taradiddle. In the end, it costs him his position as king. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        People often try to make an excuse for their sinfulness. Things like, “others are doing it,” “it is not that big of a deal,” or “who am I hurting anyway it is my life.” Truth is, it is all a taradiddle. There is never a good reason to break God’s heart with sin.

 

Do we try to feed God a taradiddle?