Tag: Saul

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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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Wisdom Prayer

An Enemy of Superior Strength!

An Enemy of Superior Strength!

I pray for wisdom for those who face an enemy of superior strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What response do you have when you feel outnumbered?

Do you panic? Would it be rational to hide?

In 1 Samuel 13:1-4 (ESV) we learn Saul becomes king and soon thereafter chooses three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand went with Saul and a thousand went with Jonathan. The rest Saul sent home. Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba. Saul blew a trumpet, and it was said that Saul had defeated the garrison and this made it so “Israel had become a stench to the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 13:5-7 (ESV) tells us how the Philistines responded and how the people of Israel reacted.

“And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.”

Outnumbered, the people of Israel hide.

Yet, we learn later in Scripture, others would prepare to fight.

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Wisdom Prayer

Follow the Lord!

Follow the Lord!

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

As part of Samuel’s Farewell Address, Samuel lets the people of Israel and their new king know what was expected of them.

In 1 Samuel 12:12-14 (ESV) are told what the people of Israel were to do to assure things went well.

“And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king. And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well.”

In the passage above, the people of Israel received specific instructions.

In a later passage they will be warned what would happen if they were disobedient.

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Wisdom Prayer

Defend the Honor!

Defend the Honor!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who assemble to defend the honor of a nation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When enemies came against Israel, there were victories and defeats.

This time, when word of what the Ammonite wants reaches Saul, Saul’s reaction will change the people of Israel and usher in a new era.

1 Samuel 11:5-15 (ESV) tells how Saul helped the people of Israel move from fear and weeping to unity.

“Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, ‘Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!’ Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said to the messengers who had come, ‘Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation.’ ’ When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, ‘Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.’ And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

“Then the people said to Samuel, ‘Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.’ But Saul said, ‘Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.’ Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.’ So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.”

In summary, Saul took action, the people acted in unity, a victory was won, Samuel told the people to go to Gilgal, Saul became king, the Lord was given offerings, and there was rejoicing.

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Wisdom Prayer

Mighty Men of Valor!

Mighty Men of Valor!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for mighty men of valor whose hearts God has touched. In Jesus’ name, amen.

After being named the king, men who felt called to serve Saul as the new king, went with him.

To counterbalance the good men, there were also detractors.

1 Samuel 10:25-27 (ESV) tells what happened after the king was selected, and those assembled were sent home.

“Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. But some worthless fellows said, ‘How can this man save us?’ And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.”

Have you become a mighty man or woman of valor God has called into the service of others? Perhaps you too have detractors.

Be encouraged. Stay loyal in the face of adversity.

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