The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
1 Samuel 13-16
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 5: Kings and Prophets: God shapes a kingdom people
Background Information: 1 Samuel 13-16
The people had asked for a king and now they have one. Instead of leading them to victory, he is hesitant, fearful, then outright disobedient. The Israelite army is hiding in brush and holes in the ground; it is not a pretty picture. This is what happens over and over when they fail to trust and obey God. Saul disgracefully refuses to take blame for any of it. He blames his rebellious act in offering the sacrifice on his troops, on Samuels’s timing, and then says pitifully, “I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.” There is no doubt the situation was difficult, but he was the king! “Difficult” is what kings do, but not this king. At this point his reign is effectively over after it has barely begun. Things are so bad that the Philistines have killed or removed all those who could forge weapons. The terrible irony in all this is that Jonathan, Saul’s son, would have made a great king. He was courageous, led sacrificially, and trusted God. Saul foolishly holds his troops to a vow of fasting in the middle of warfare. Over and over, he proves to be a terrible leader. The summary of his kingship is offered before he is actually removed as king. This tells us that he is, in fact, done as a king. The summary is fairly complementary, but it has no element of covenant commitment or faith in it. It is a summary that the nations outside of Israel would have given their own kings. Saul is a king just like those that the nations outside of Israel have: selfish and faithless. In chapter 15, God says that he “regrets that he made Saul king.” God does not make mistakes or change his mind. When the Bible speaks this way about God, it is using human language to describe divine actions. God is responding in his actions to the faithlessness of Saul. He will now turn to David, a man after his own heart.
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Pray for the nation of Myanmar as they deal with the ongoing devastation of the earthquake. Pray for So. Baptist personal working in that country. Pray that people’s physical needs would be meet and that the hope of Christ would reach hearts in the middle of this devastation. If you would like to give to support relief efforts, go here
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Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.