Tag: in Jesus’ name

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Wisdom Prayer

Blessed with Special Gifts!

Blessed with Special Gifts!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those are blessed with special gifts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David was anointed by Samuel and destined to be the next king.

In 1 Samuel 16:14-23 (ESV) we learn how the Lord orchestrated it so David’s special gifts opened the door to allow him to meet and serve King Saul.

“Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. And Saul’s servants said to him, ’Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.’ So Saul said to his servants, ‘Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.’ One of the young men answered, ‘Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.’ Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, ‘Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.’ And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, ‘Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.’ And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.”

The hand of God was on David.

David’s ability to play the lyre opened the door, so David’s God-given gift of music could calm King Saul.

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Wisdom Prayer

The Next King!

The Next King!

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

God had sent Samuel on a mission to find and anoint the next king.

Samuel was obedient and went to Bethlehem.

In 1 Samuel 16:3-5 (ESV) we learn how the events unfolded.

“‘And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.’ 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ And he said, ‘Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.’ And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.”

Samuel looked at each of Jesse’s sons who were present (1 Samuel 16:6-9). Then, in 1 Samuel 16:10-13 (ESV), we learn Samuel finds the one he is looking for.

“And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.’ And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him, for this is he.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”

Samuel did as the Lord commanded.

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Wisdom Prayer

Those Who Are Chosen!

Those Who Are Chosen!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those the Lord has chosen. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Saul did not do what God said, and thus, he sinned against God.

1 Samuel 16:1-2 (ESV) takes us to Bethlehem where Samuel is searching of new leadership.

“The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’ And Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.’ And the Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’”

Although Samuel was God’s prophet, Samuel was still fearful of Saul. God addressed Samuel’s concern by telling him to take a heifer with him and giving him the words to say.

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Wisdom Prayer

Grow Closer to God!

Grow Closer to God!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who read Scripture to grow closer to God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

We are told in 1 Samuel 15:1-3 (ESV) how God used Samuel to tell Saul what to do.

“And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

Later in 1 Samuel 15:7-35 (ESV), we learn Saul did not follow these very specific God-given directions. For Saul’s disobedience, he would suffer the consequences.

Can anything be learned from this? A possible answer is given by Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:22-23.

“And Samuel said,
‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.’”

1 Samuel 15:35 (ESV) says,

“And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

Please read 1 Samuel 15 to get all the details.

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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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