The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
1 Samuel 28-31, 1 Chronicles 10
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 5: Kings and Prophets: God shapes a kingdom people
Background Information: 1 Samuel 28-31, 1 Chronicles 10
David is in a predicament; he is being asked to fight against his own people. At the same time, Saul is terrified to go into battle. He goes looking for an answer that will fit his own desires rather than the answer God had already given him. One leader is looking for a way to remain faithful, the other is looking for a way to protect himself, and does so through extreme unfaithfulness. Saul consults a medium who is likely a fake at best, demonic at worst. She is shocked when her efforts work and Samuel actually shows up, something she herself did not expect. Saul does not get what he hopes for: that God has changed his mind. He only gets a reaffirmation of his own impending doom. What a tragic picture Saul has become: heart pounding, appetite gone, shaking in terror. His downfall will also be Israel’s downfall; the sins of leaders are costly for everyone. Meanwhile, David gets his out when the generals don’t want his men bringing up the rear in the fight against Saul and Israel. They are afraid David will turn on them and fight them from behind. David and his men march home, arriving tired and hungry, ready for rest, food, and the comfort of home. Horrified, they find that the Amalekites, who Saul had failed to defeat, had burned their town to the ground and taken their wives and children. David’s men are exhausted, devastated and want to kill David in their grief. David is truly experiencing what leaders sometimes experience: being utterly alone. What does he do? “But David found strength in the Lord his God.”(1 Samuel 30:6) With the strength of the Lord, he leads his men to victory. In all this, he is indicating that the Lord truly has chosen him to be Israel’s king. Meanwhile, Saul leads his army to utter defeat, and his life comes to a bitter end. Chronicles tells us why this happened: he was unfaithful and did not obey the Lord’s word. Two very different men, two very difficult outcomes. Clearly we see God’s sovereign choice at work in these two men, but we see the importance of human faithfulness and the negative impact of unfaithfulness as well.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for the Women’s retreat that begins tonight at River. Ask God to encourage them women that gather and pray that they would be strengthened in their faith.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
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.