August 30, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Samuel? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Samuel 9 (NIV)
Samuel Anoints Saul
1 There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. 2 Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.
3 Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys”..........Continue Reading
God is so amazing that He is still honoring the Israelites wishes for a king even though that means they have turned away from the fact that He is their king.
God orchestrates this encounter between Eli and Saul so perfectly and in His timing as He always does. Saul is humble when he meets Eli despite the fact that he is a prominent figure in his tribe and especially since he was being presented something so important as becoming king.
1Samuel 9-10
1 Samuel 9
Even though God is opposed to Israel replacing Him with a human king, He guides Samuel in who He is to choose and even orchestrates their first meeting. At first take, Saul appears to be a good candidate. He is humble. He assumes he doesn’t have the credentials coming from where he has. And his physical stature is imposing. He shows a willingness to listen to those under him and takes his servants advice. He also seeks out God’s prophet when He is made aware that he is around and available. All good qualities to have for one who would be king.
As I read this it struck me, perhaps it was the clarification that prophets were called “seers,” that men of God could “see” and people sought them out. I pray that men and women of God hear from the Lord as Samuel did. The word of God is powerful and effective, but the Spirit must not be ignored. The thing is, He moves as He pleases and we never know when He is going to move. How do we know when it is the Spirit who speaks to us and not just our own thoughts?
It takes a great depth of maturity and learning to distinguish the two. It is best to operate in the objective will of God and then we grow in our ability to discern the subjective will of God.
Yes, for sure. I can confidently know that “guidance” is not from the Spirit when it is in conflict with God’s word….or even when it is too aligned with a desire of the flesh, even if it is not sin per se. When people say, “God told me,” I am very skeptical…even when I think that God is telling me something, I reserve action and wait for further confirmation!