Category: Wisdom Prayer

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Wisdom Prayer

Ransomed from Death?

Ransomed from Death?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who stand condemned but are ransomed from death. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Will Jonathan die as a result of having violated his father, Saul’s, oath made in 1 Samuel 14:24 (ESV) “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies”?

1 Samuel 14:43-46 (ESV) tell us the answer.

“Then Saul said to Jonathan, ‘Tell me what you have done.’ And Jonathan told him, ‘I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.’ And Saul said, ‘God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.’ Then the people said to Saul, ‘Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.’ So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.”

Saul did not have to kill his son for violating his oath because he was ransomed.

Likewise, God has his son, Jesus Christ, die on the cross to pay the ransom for our sins. Through faith in Christ, we are set us free and given eternal life.

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Wisdom Prayer

Avoid Making Rash Vows!

Avoid Making Rash Vows!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who avoid making rash vows. In Jesus’ name, amen.

After the Philistine camp was in chaos, Saul was about to make what the English Standard Version calls in its heading, “Saul’s Rash Vow.”

1 Samuel 14:24-30 (ESV) provides context for what happened.

“And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. Now when all the people came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. Then one of the people said, ‘Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’’ And the people were faint. Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”

Jonathan, unaware of his father’s oath, violated the oath by tasting the honey. Saul’s vow carried the weight as the king. What he said, was like the law of the land.

It is easier said than done…avoid making any statements that may later be regretted.

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Wisdom Prayer

The Confused Enemy!

The Confused Enemy!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom when my enemy is in confusion. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Saul wanted to find out who was missing from the camp, and Jonathan and his armor-bearer were nowhere to be found. Evidently, they were the source of the commotion coming from the Philistine camp.

1 Samuel 14:20 (ESV) explains what was happening to the Philistines.

“Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion.”

The Lord won the battle for the Israelites.

Remember, the Lord can cause confusion among enemies.

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Wisdom Prayer

Trust the Lord to Work!

Trust the Lord to Work!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who trust the Lord to work. In Jesus’ name, amen.

As the Philistines were poised to attack, Jonathan and the young man who carried his armor left the main camp of the Israelites and went to find out about the Philistines.

We learn in 1 Samuel 14:6-15 (ESV) how the Lord was about to use Jonathan and his armor-bearer were to change everything.

“Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.’ And his armor-bearer said to him, ‘Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.’ Then Jonathan said, ‘Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.’ So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, ‘Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.’ And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, ‘Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.’ And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, ‘Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.’ Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land. And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.”

Not every situation will work out the way Jonathan and his armor-bearer’s did. Yet, what Jonathan said makes sense, “It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.”

Ever felt outnumbered but have trusted the Lord to work?

God can make a way when there seems to be no way.

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Wisdom Prayer

Prepare in Advance!

Prepare in Advance!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who are resourceful and prepare in advance. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In 1 Samuel 13:15-18 (ESV) we learn Saul and his son, Jonathan, assemble men to prepare to fight the Philistines.

According to 1 Samuel 13:19-23 (ESV) the Israelites prepare by paying the Philistines to sharpen their work tools in order to be ready for battle.

“Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, ‘Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.’ But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle, and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.”

The example of the Israelites preparing to fight can be instructive.

Are you ready for either a man-made or a natural disaster?

Why not take steps to be well-equipped for whatever happens.

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Wisdom Prayer

Unwise Decisions!

Unwise Decisions!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who have made unwise decisions. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Saul was waiting for Samuel seven days to arrive, so Samuel could make a sacrifice. Saul grew increasingly impatient because Samuel did not come. Finally, Saul took matters into his own hands, and Saul does the offering himself.

1 Samuel 13:8-14 (ESV) explains the situation and the consequences.

“He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, ‘Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.’ And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ And Saul said, ‘When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.’ And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.’”

This one unwise decision to move ahead with the sacrifice without Samuel cost Saul his kingdom.

Ask the Lord to show you what unwise decisions have you made.

Ask the Lord, if it is appropriate, to allow you to make amends.

At the very least, do not continue to make the same or similar unwise decisions.

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