October 3 Morning Verse of the Day

Ver. 9. Destroy him not.—Vengeance left with him to whom it belongs:—
Our attention has been called to the fact that the first great victory achieved by David was over his own spirit. As we pursue his history, we are glad to find that his first triumph of this noblest kind was not his last. His cruel and implacable foe, who had come out with three thousand armed men determined either to take him prisoner or to hunt him to death, was now entirely in his hands. It was a golden opportunity, and David made a golden use of it, for he refused to avenge himself, and suffered his deadly enemy to depart in peace. For three years he had lived the life of a fugitive, and in many ways and places had sought to shelter himself against the unrighteous and pitiless wrath of Saul. There were many things to enkindle his resentment and make forbearance towards Saul a most difficult virtue. Think of what he had lost, and what he had suffered! How strangely things combined together to make the worse appear the better course! The promise and the providence of God both seemed on the side of instant and complete vengeance! But David was versed in the Law of God; and in one of the earlier books of his incomplete, but precious, priceless Bible, he had read these commandments: “Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.” (Lev. 18–19.) David’s generous forbearance touched the heart of Saul, disarmed him of his rage, melted him into tears, and constrained him to become a suppliant at the feet of the man for whose blood he had been thirsting. This second display of magnanimity on David’s part was a greater triumph of saintly principle than the first. All the former reasons in favour of avenging himself still existed, and in greater force, because of the additional sufferings he had endured; and now there was to be added another reason of almost irresistible power. He had cast his pearl before swine which had turned again to rend him. His kindness had been shamefully abused, and evil had been returned for his good. The King’s life, which he had nobly spared, was consecrated afresh to the work of securing his destruction. To spare it a second time was for David to sharpen the sword by which he himself would be slain; and that surely would be charity degenerating into fanaticism. It is evident that David’s faith in God was one of the great roots out of which all these fruits of forbearance and patience and compassion grew. He was confident that God would in His own way and in His own time fulfil the promises which had been made; and, therefore, instead of taking the matter into his own hands, he could rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. They say that “Revenge is sweet.” There can be no doubt of the truth of this, for perverted natures have perverted tastes, and loathe what they ought to love, and banquet with delight on what they ought to abhor. David had feelings in his heart which would have been intensely gratified if he had taken vengeance on his enemy; but would not his revenge have been like the book the seer did eat in the Apocalypse, sweet in the mouth, but bitterness in the belly? Patience and meekness and forgiveness are often very hard to exercise, but when they become matters of memory, are they not things of beauty, and a joy for ever? The poet tells of one who sat by the grave of the friend from whom he had parted in anger, and wept at the remembrance of his former harshness:—“Cruel, cruel the words I said! Cruelly come they back to-day.” Probably there are men now sleeping in the dust who in their lifetime wronged and injured you. If you forgave them, and prayed for them, and sought to bless them, does the memory of that Christ-likeness on your part ever give you a moment’s sorrow? Yes, revenge may be sweet, but, like all the pleasures of sin, it is but for a season. Mercy is God’s delight. He who receives it through Jesus secures his passport to the skies. He who learns to imitate it, lays up treasure for himself in heaven. Happy he who by the grace of God so carries himself toward them that curse him and despitefully use him, that he does not invoke his own condemnation, when, in his daily prayer, he cries, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us.” (C. Vince.)
Who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord and be guiltless?—David’s magnanimity:—
I. THE PERSONS HERE CONCERNED ARE SAUL AND DAVID, AND THE STATE IN WHICH THE TEXT SHEWS US THESE TWO WAS THAT OF ENMITY. Consider, therefore, that the prince that was his captive now, and at his mercy had somewhile since descended so below himself, as to become the envier and detractor from his praise, was poorly jealous of the honours he had purchased, and tried to blast the laurels he had gathered, at the expense of so much painful toil and hazard; and tis no little share of grace and goodness that can restrain a young aspiring hero from taking vengeance on the maligners of his praise, and from removing all impediments in his pursuit of fame and glory. When men’s lives are so apparently sought after, they usually lay all respects aside, and listen to the dictates of unruly Nature. He was a false, perfidious prince. Nothing affects a generous mind so sensibly as being cheated under shew of friendship; and treachery is never viler than when tis covered with the mask of godliness. But further, he was perjured. He had but lately taken a solemn oath before the Lord and Jonathan, David should not be slain. And when a prince has thus abandoned common honesty, broken the sacred cords that knit societies, and keep up governments and mutual correspondences, he is justly delivered into the hands of those whose innocence and good credulity he had imposed on, and abused almost to their destruction. Oh, what a mighty measure of God’s grace must fill the heart of him that then could say, “The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed.” There are some things besides our lives and persons, in which, if we are touched, we think ourselves extremely injured; and they are specially our friends, our fortunes and religion; and David was in every one of these affected more or less by Saul’s implacable pursuit, and hunting after him. But notwithstanding all this, great as he was in court, great as he was in camp, and greater yet in favour of the people, he would not venture on the impious fact, still it was, “The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed.” ’Tis surely with ambition, as with other passions, the imaginary joys are greater than the experienced and substantial ones: The hopes and expectations far exceed the pleasures of possession. Whatever cares belong to crowns, they lie concealed within their circles, and are more seldom seen than felt. But this temptation found no place with David, young, and gay, and vigorous as he was, and even so near the crown, that by conniving at Abishai’s blow, he might have been in full and sure possession of it; yet he suffered not himself to be transported beyond the bounds of rigid honesty and loyalty, and still cries out, “The Lord forbid.” Now, to conclude, and to complete this character, add, lastly, to these great advantages of being son-in-law, a mighty man of valour, and accepted in the sight of all the people, of knowing Saul rejected, and himself designed for successor, the greatest yet of all advantages, and that is opportunity; that without which all others signify but little; and that with which alone men serve their turns, and make up the defects of all the rest; that pander to all sin, and fatal snare of virtue! That that has ruined many thousand souls, and betrayed them into most detestable commissions. Opportunity, that few have virtue, few have strength sufficient to withstand, and of all opportunities, none are so strong, and work so powerfully upon the minds of men as those that look providential ones, and seem to come from God. Yet this was David’s opportunity, and yet withstood.
II. CONSIDER THE REASON DAVID GAVE FOR HIS REFUSAL OF ABISHAI’S AND THE SOLDIERS’ PROFFER, “It is the Lord’s anointed.” The laws of God did certainly secure the lives of kings as well as other men’s, if it did no more. The Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come, or he shall perish in the battle, that is, I leave him to God’s disposal; let God, the Judge of all the earth, do with him as he pleases. And though we think the leaving wicked kings to God is the lightest and the kindest expression of nothing in the world that can be; yet we would quickly alter our opinions and be of David’s mind, if we would give ourselves leave to consider:

1. That he hates injustice more.
2. That he is much more ready.
3. Much more able to punish it than we can be. (W. Fleetwood.)

Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator: I Samuel (pp. 555–557). Fleming H. Revell Company.

APRIL 24.—MORNING. [Or August 15.]“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

1 SAMUEL 15:1–3; 9–11; 13–23

SAMUEL also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
This wandering people had wantonly attacked the Israelites in the desert, in the most cowardly manner, and this national sin had long been registered in God’s book against them. They were moreover a barbarous race of plunderers, most dangerous to their neighbours and to all settled government. The time was come when divine justice required that they should be brought to condign punishment. Saul was therefore sent of God to be the executioner, and was commanded to do his work thoroughly.
9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. (This was half-obedience, which is whole rebellion. Many are ready to slay their disreputable sins, but their fashionable transgressions they cannot give up.)
10 ¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. (The rejection of sinners is a great grief to saints: God has no pleasure in the death of sinners, nor have his people.)
13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
He brags most who has most reason for shame.
14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. (He lays his fault upon others, and pleads the good intention of the act. Neither excuse would avail.)
16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17, 18, 19 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22 And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Nothing can compensate for a want of obedience to God’s will. We may pretend great zeal for God’s glory, but wilful neglect of divine commands will condemn us. External religion cannot be a substitute for holiness. Those who pretended to witchcraft were put to death by Saul, but so long as he himself would not do as the Lord bade him, he was as guilty as the witches whom he slew. Idolatry was known to be overt rebellion against Jehovah, but obstinate disregard of his law was quite as evil a form of rebellion. May the Holy Ghost make us scrupulously obedient, for nothing short of this will prove us to be the true servants of the Lord.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1964). The Interpreter: Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible (p. 238). Baker Book House.

APRIL 21.—MORNING. [Or August 9.]“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

1 SAMUEL 7:1–13; 15–17

AND the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. (Thus the candlestick was removed from Shiloh, but the candle shone on far more brightly than before.)
2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. (This was a happy sorrow. Whenever men lament after God he will soon appear unto them. It should be the business of any of us who have not yet found Jesus, to sigh and cry after him till he appear, and it will not be long before he looks upon us in love. God had already come back to Israel when the people lamented after him, and when a soul sighs for the Lord, the Lord is with it already.)
3, 4 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. (Their repentance would have been all in vain if it had not been practical. Men cannot keep their sins and have their God; no man can serve two masters.)
5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. (Yet they had no cause for fear, now that God was reconciled. He who is at peace with God should be fearless.)
8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. (This was a wise speech, and shewed that they had faith as well as fear. Faith in God gave them faith in the power of prayer.)
9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
True repentance, prayer, and faith in the great sacrifice, must win the day.
10, 11 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. (Samuel won that battle on his knees, and afterwards he recorded with praise what he had won by prayer. Praying men are not ungrateful when their intercession prospers.)
13 ¶ So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
15, 16 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. (God does not cast off faithful servants when they grow old, neither do they ask for a retiring pension and for leave to be idle. O to serve God from our childhood to our hoar hairs! May such grace be given to the young members of our family.) And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

     I my Ebenezer raise
     To my kind Redeemer’s praise;
     With a grateful heart I own
     Hitherto thy help I’ve known.

     What may be my future lot
     Well I know concerns me not;
     This should set my heart at rest,
     What thy will ordains is best.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1964). The Interpreter: Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible (p. 231). Baker Book House.

APRIL 19.—MORNING. [Or August 5.]“Quit you like men, be strong.”

1 SAMUEL 3:19–21

AND Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. (He was faithful when God spake to him once, and therefore he honoured him again. May all young Christians be firm and true from the first, and God will bless them. Meanwhile God was preparing terrible judgment for the wicked sons of Eli.)

1 SAMUEL 4:1–11

1, 2 Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle; and, when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
3 ¶ And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. (They trusted in the outward sign, and forgot that the most holy emblems bring no blessing to ungodly hearts. God will have us know that external religion is nothing worth without inward holiness. It is vain to trust in lying words, saying, “the Temple of the Lord are we.” Ceremonies cannot help us if the Lord be not with us. A cross on the bosom is worthless, Christ in the heart is precious.)
4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. (Thus in the order of providence they were fetched to the field where they were doomed to forfeit their guilty lives. God knows how to reach wicked men, and deal out justice to them.)
5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
Presumptuous men are always ready to shout, but ere long they will have to weep and wail as did these noisy boasters. The law was in the ark, but what help could the broken law bring to them, its very presence condemned them; those who trust in the law are in an evil case.
6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
7, 8, 9 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
The Philistines were heathens, and therefore mistook the ark for God himself, but they knew well enough that if God were indeed with Israel, it would go hard with them. Had they known God to be Almighty, they would not have attempted resistance, but believing him to be only such a god as their own Dagon, they shewed their valour by determining to quit themselves like men. If they were so bold in their apparently desperate condition, how brave ought we to be who are assured of victory, because the Lord of Hosts is with us. To us the Lord says, “Quit you like men, be strong.” To be cowardly in the cause of Jesus would be infamous. Never let the fear of man have the slightest power over you, or the reality of your religion will be doubtful.
10 ¶ And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter.
11 And the ark of God was taken; (It was never captured till it was defended by carnal weapons; true religion always suffers when men would guard it by force;) and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
Thus did the Lord keep his word. He will be as faithful to his threatenings as to his promises. Woe unto us if we continue in sin; for the Lord will surely punish us. Are we all saved in Christ Jesus?

Spurgeon, C. H. (1964). The Interpreter: Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible (p. 227). Baker Book House.

MARCH 19 | Obedience Is Better

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Samuel 15
KEY VERSE: Romans 6:16

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (KJV)

Obedience can be a tough command. Saul discovered this, and in 1 Samuel we learn that he failed the test of obedience miserably. As a result of his disobedience, God took steps to remove him from Israel’s throne. The Lord commanded sacrifices to be done a certain way. Yet Saul disobeyed God’s instruction, citing the fact that he was afraid of the people.
Peer pressure is deadly and tempts us to turn from what is right. In addressing Saul’s error, the prophet Samuel told him: “To obey is better than sacrifice.”
Oswald Chambers affirmed, “It is a great deal better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than to perform great acts of sacrifice.”
It was extremely important for Saul to remain true to the Lord’s commands and not compromise his life before God. Each of us will be tested just as Saul was. You may not be a king or a ruler, but you are a child of God. And He demands obedience. To settle for anything less is to miss His will.
Many think they can compromise their lives with sin, and nothing will happen. But sin carries with it horrendous consequences.
God knows the temptation you are facing has the power to destroy your life. But He has provided a greater way of escape through His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit. Cry out to Him. He is your Defender.

Forgive me, Lord, for disobeying You. I cry out to You. You are my Defender.

Stanley, C. F. (2002). Seeking His face (p. 82). Thomas Nelson Publishers.

MARCH 6 | SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HEART

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.—MATT. 5:8

Throughout Scripture the heart is used metaphorically to represent the inner person, the seat of motives and attitudes, the center of personality. But in Scripture it also includes the thinking process, particularly the will. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (KJV). The heart is the control center of the mind and will, as well as emotion.
Jesus said that it is in the inner person, in the core of our very being, that God requires purity. This was not a new truth but an old one long forgotten in ceremony and tradition. “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life,” counseled the writer of Proverbs 4:23.
God has always been concerned above all else with the condition of a person’s heart. When the Lord called Saul to be Israel’s first king, “God changed his heart” (1 Sam. 10:9). Until then Saul had been handsome and athletic, but not much more. Soon the new king began to revert to his old heart patterns. He refused to live by the new heart God had given him.
Consequently, the Lord took the kingdom from Saul and gave it to David because David was “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). David’s deepest desire was, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer” (Ps. 19:14). May that be your desire as well.

ASK YOURSELF
What are some things you’ve learned about your heart over the years? What motivates it to action? How trustworthy is it? Where does it usually like to lead you? When do its passions most vividly fire into flame? How inclined is it to purity?

MacArthur, J. (2008). Daily readings from the life of Christ (p. 74). Moody Publishers.

He Will Deliver | Pastor Jack Hibbs

He Will Deliver

Samuel 24:15

“Therefore let the LORD be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.” 

Saul’s murderous ways against David were well known before this meeting of the two, and what a sad story it is. Look at poor Saul. Tall of stature, mighty in battle, the king who was once mightily used by God, now driven by jealous rage against the psalm-writing shepherd.

Look at David. Here is a man of no ambition who delights in the presence of the Lord and hopes for nothing more than continual fellowship with his God. David trusted the One who had upheld and delivered him from every trouble and foe. Saul had no reason to go up against David, yet Scripture says, “Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him” (1 Samuel 18:12).

Are you being attacked by those whom you hold nothing against? Is someone in relentless pursuit of your downfall because you worship God? If so, take instruction from David. 

During this time, David penned Psalm 59, and in verse 5, he calls upon the “LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel.” No greater title could have flowed from David’s lips. David appealed to the One who can remedy all of life’s situations—his, yours, and mine—to come to his rescue. He is the all-powerful, unchanging LORD, Commander of the heavenly host, the God of Israel who will keep His eternal covenant with His people, now and forevermore.

And so, it is with us today. This same Lord of all is Lord for all. Cry out to Him who can deliver you.

Awaiting His Return,

– Pastor Jack

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Pray Like Samuel | IFA

The following is an excerpt from our daily devotional series Pray Like an Intercessor!

This mighty prophet was actually a living answer to his mother’s intercession. His first encounter with the Lord came when he was only a child. While the priest Eli was sleeping, the lamp in the Tabernacle was going out, something that was not supposed to happen. God calls to Samuel and reveals that He will bring judgment on Eli and his house for corrupting the priesthood. Young Samuel could have been afraid, but he told Eli everything the Lord had said. This courage and honesty at a tender age was a quality that was needed. God would raise Samuel as a mighty prophet in word and deed, but Samuel was also an intercessor. We find him seeking God’s deliverance from the Amalekites. He intercedes for the nation after the people rebelled by rejecting God and demanding a human king (see 1 Samuel 8:6–8).

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The Lord even answered Samuel’s prayers more than once with thunder and rain. We see Samuel interceding when King Saul disobeys the Lord, who then decides to anoint a new king. Samuel’s continual intercession proved that though the people were rebellious, he still cared for them. Because he loved them, he continued interceding and seeking God’s restoration. We can learn a thing or two from Samuel.

When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him (1 Samuel 7:7–9 NIV).

Lord, forgive us as intercessors for our lack of love. We love this nation and long to see it delivered not just from our physical enemies, but even from the spiritual enemies called apathy, complacency, and compromise. We want America to be restored to the destiny You had in mind when it was birthed. This nation has a purpose, but we’ve lost our way. Like the Israelites, we’ve sinned as a nation — looking elsewhere for deliverance, even though You alone are the Lord, King of kings. Like Saul, our leaders have sinned against You time and again. Move us with compassion so that we might mourn over how our leaders have betrayed You. Take our extreme anger and give us love, so that we may be steadfast in prayer. Align our hearts and minds so that our intercession will be precise for America and its leaders. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Read 1 Samuel 8 and ask the Lord to speak to you.

Intercessors are moved by love. It was love for God’s people that kept Samuel praying for them. Samuel’s persistence to pray, even in the face of all the trouble the Israelites brought on themselves, and his deep mourning for King Saul are evidence. Our prayers for America and our leaders must be motivated by love, or else we are nothing more than clanging cymbals or noisy gongs. We may be speaking many words, but are we saying anything? Remember: Of faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love, because God is love.

Did you like this article? If so, share it!

IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: Olivia Snow on Unsplash.

Source: https://ifapray.org/blog/pray-like-samuel/

January 31 | A PROMISING BEGINNING

SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Samuel 9–10
KEY VERSE:
1 Samuel 10:9

So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.

One of the most important elements in a race is a good start. In swift competition a poor start is tantamount to losing.
For believers, that start is the decision to trust Christ as Savior. Just as essential is the character building in the ensuing months and years. When the prophet Samuel identified Saul as king, it was obvious that Saul had begun his journey with admirable qualities. After Samuel anointed him king, Saul demonstrated his patience and humility by enduring the taunts of “certain worthless men” who mocked him, saying, “How can this one deliver us?” (1 Sam. 10:27 NASB).
Perhaps your beginning hasn’t been so favorable. Perhaps circumstances beyond your control have thwarted you at every turn. Perhaps you have never chosen to follow Christ. You can begin today. If you are not a believer, receive Jesus’ offer of salvation by inviting Him in as your personal Savior.
If you do know Jesus but are continually frustrated, submit completely to His lordship, asking Him to take control of you and your circumstances. Trust Him to use even your problems for your welfare. He can do it if you turn to Him.

I want a heart to follow You, O God. Give me a good start and the power and endurance to cross the finish line in victory.

Stanley, C. F. (1998). Enter His gates: a daily devotional. Thomas Nelson Publishers.

JANUARY 26 | Our help on life’s journey

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”
1 Samuel 7:10–12, ESV

Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.
Psalm 22:3–5, NASB

Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by Thy help I’m come,
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
Robert Robinson, 1735–90

Manser, M., ed. (2015). Daily Guidance (p. 35). Martin Manser.

One Man vs Goliath: David’s Faith in Battle – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon

One Man, David, With God – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon

1 Samuel 17:1-32
New American Standard Bible
17 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 Saul and the men of Israel were assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, and they drew up in battle formation to confront the Philistines. 3 The Philistines were standing on the mountain on one side, while Israel was standing on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. 4 Then a champion came forward from the army encampment of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze saber slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-carrier walked in front of him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle formation? Am I not the Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man as your representative and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “I have defied the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man, so that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and very fearful.

12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, the man whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. 13 The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who had gone into the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and second to him, Abinadab, and the third, Shammah. 14 So David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine came forward morning and evening, and took his stand for forty days.

17 Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers. 18 Bring also these ten slices of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the well-being of your brothers and bring back confirmation from them. 19 For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the Valley of Elah, fighting the Philistines.”

20 So David got up early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper, and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the entrenchment encircling the camp while the army was going out in battle formation, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle formation, army against army. 22 Then David left the baggage in the care of the baggage keeper and ran to the battle line. And he entered and greeted his brothers. 23 As he was speaking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard him.

24 When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were very fearful. 25 And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will make the man who kills him wealthy with great riches, and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.”

26 Then David said to the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and rids Israel of the disgrace? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?” 27 The people answered him in agreement with this statement, saying, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard him when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why is it that you have come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I myself know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.” 29 But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?” 30 Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people replied with the same words as before.

31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they informed Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, “May no one’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”

Source: One Man vs Goliath: David’s Faith in Battle – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon

December 23 | Making Course Corrections

Scripture reading: 1 Samuel 10:17–11:14

Key verse: Psalm 19:12

Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse me from secret faults.

There is a tendency to think of King Saul’s life as being sinister and foreboding. But Saul didn’t begin his reign as a baneful terrorist. The Bible tells us, “He was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. And Samuel said … ‘Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.’ So all the people shouted and said, ‘Long live the king!’ ” (1 Sam. 10:23–24 nasb).

Saul bore God’s anointing along with the love and respect of the people. The first obvious sign of erosion came in 1 Samuel 15 when Saul willfully disobeyed God and offered a sacrifice only Samuel was commanded to make. Pride and jealousy, combined with insecurity, led to even deeper erosion of his spiritual values. In the end, Saul’s life was void of all that was godly.

Most of us think there’s no way we would yield to such spiritual decline. Before you adopt this view, recall the life of Saul. He was a humble man when he first became king. But by the end of his life, disobedience and pride were his captors.

Ask God to surface any area of erosion in your life. Then pray He will give you wisdom and the ability to make the necessary course corrections in the days ahead.

Dear God, please surface any area of erosion in my life, and then give me the wisdom and ability to make the necessary course corrections.¹

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¹  Stanley, C. F. (2002). Seeking His face (p. 374). Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Finding God’s Mercy When You Fail

Christ’s mercy says, “Do not despair. Do not lose hope, for you have living hope in Christ, an imperishable and incorruptible hope.” May you rejoice in this hope, and may you embrace it in faith. Every Christian has the sure hope of the forgiveness of sin and the resurrection. In Christ, the end of your story has already been written, and it is not a tragedy but rather the best of all endings—resurrection from the dead and a life everlasting to glorify God.

Have you ever wondered if you were beyond God’s mercy? Maybe you were given a host of opportunities in life, but you squandered them and are left with little or nothing to show for it. Maybe you hurt people and caused a lot of pain, and you can’t make it right. Will God forgive even you? Thankfully, God has given us the Bible so we can answer such crucial questions. We can learn a lot about God’s mercy by reading about King Saul in the first book of Samuel.

Saul wasn’t a king who struggled with idolatry; he always served the Lord. Yet, Saul was a king who just couldn’t bring himself to obey (1 Sam. 13:8-14; 15:1-10). He put himself and his own honor before obedience to the law. Even when the Lord told him that his reign was over, Saul clung to his throne with the iron grip of jealousy (1 Sam. 19).

In dying by his own hand, falling on his sword to avoid capture by the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:4), Saul attempted to spare himself from the curse of the uncircumcised. Ironically, his life ended depicting the classic consequence of sin. If there was ever a story demonstrating how “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), this is one.

Quite literally, Saul died by his own sin, and this was God’s punishment. Saul failed to execute the Lord’s wrath upon the Amalekites, and so that wrath fell upon him. Like all sinners, Saul attempted to escape his fate and free himself from God’s punishment. He tried to save himself by his own hand.

There is no “self-salvation” from sin.

There is no escaping God and his punishment. Indeed, Saul thought falling on his sword would spare him the shame of being savagely abused by the Philistines, but it happened anyway. The next day when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and desecrated his body, cut off his head, and stripped him of his royal armor—just as he feared. The Philistines did to Saul what David did to Goliath, and then the Philistines gloated about the evil they had perpetrated against Israel’s king.

The Philistines deposited Saul’s armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, the goddess of war. According to 1 Chronicles 10:10, Saul’s head was placed in the temple of Dagon. To deposit such trophies in a temple is to give credit to the temple’s god for the victory. The Philistines then proceeded to proclaim their triumph throughout the land, praising Ashtaroth and Dagon for their victory over Saul and Yahweh.

As a king, it is bad enough to have your people die for your own sins, but it is even worse to dishonor the holy name of the Lord. So, in his sin Saul gave the Philistines an occasion to gloat in their idols; he brought shame upon the name of God.

The Philistines took the headless bodies of Saul and his sons and nailed them to the wall of Beth Shan. They exposed Saul’s body to the elements—and to the scavengers and vultures. As the law says, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Gal. 3:13; Deut. 21:23). This was not some victory of an idol but rather God’s just punishment. For his royal disobedience, the Lord’s curse fell upon Saul. Truly, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). The day of the Lord’s judgment and wrath is a dark day.

This dark day is pierced by a ray of hope.

And yet, just as the shadow of wrath appears to be total, it is pierced by a ray of hope. Imagine seeing your king beheaded and nailed to a wall. What could be more despairing? Once again, Israel could cry out, “Ichabod!” (“The glory has departed from Israel!” [1 Sam. 4:21].) And yet, as all other Israelites ran away in hopelessness, a few good men stood up.

The valiant men of Jabesh-gilead rose to the occasion. These men remembered what Saul had done for them. In 1 Samuel 11, the Ammonites had besieged Jabesh-gilead and were going to enslave them cruelly.

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December 17 | God’s Perfect Timing

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 13:1–14

Key Verse: Psalm 128:1

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.

All of us know the feeling; a decision must be made, and from our point of view God seems to be dragging His feet. That was what Saul was feeling just before battling the Philistines. Samuel had instructed him to wait seven days. At the end of that time, he would come and make the appointed sacrifice.

But by the morning of the seventh day, Samuel had not arrived and Saul made a spiritually devastating decision to make the sacrifice himself:

Saul’s motivation … seems genuine and appropriate: the Philistines were gathering for battle against Israel, his men were deserting him, and Samuel had not arrived … Saul therefore felt the urgent need to seek God’s favor—or at least that was his excuse. What he apparently failed to realize, however, is that animal sacrifice is not a prerequisite for entreating God … The fact is that Saul had not heeded the divine word through the prophet, and obedience is always better than sacrifice. (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

Shortcuts are never an acceptable alternative to God’s chosen plan. Before you make the decision to go ahead of Him, think of the consequences and how they will affect your life at a later date. At that point Saul lost his right to the kingdom. Remember, whatever you think needs to be done now can wait for God’s perfect timing.

Father, Your timing is perfect. Don’t let me be diverted by shortcuts. Your way is best, even when it seems longer. Give me patience to wait.¹

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¹  Stanley, C. F. (1999). On holy ground (p. 368). Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Commendable David Arrives in Declining Saul’s Court – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon

Commendable David Arrives in Declining Saul’s Court – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon

LIVE ON SUNDAY, 12/15/2024, AT 11:00 AM:

Commendable David Arrives in Declining Saul’s Court – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon

1 Samuel 16:14-23
New American Standard Bible
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrified him. 15 Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you. 16 May our lord now command your servants who are before you. Have them search for a man who is a skillful musician on the harp; and it shall come about whenever the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will become well.”

17 So Saul said to his servants, “Now select for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18 Then one of the young men responded and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a valiant mighty man, a warrior, skillful in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.” 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.” 20 And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine, and he took a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David.

21 Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul greatly loved him, and he became his armor bearer. 22 So Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David now be my attendant for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would feel relieved and become well, and the evil spirit would leave him.

December 1 | A Tragic End to a Promising Beginning

scripture reading:	1 Samuel 15:13–23
key verse:	1 Samuel 15:29

The Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.

The race of life that God has placed us in requires daily, deliberate exercise as well as a good start if we are to finish well and strong. Many of us know Christians who started with great promise but ended in tragedy and despair.

Initially Saul loved God and did His will. God even changed his heart for good, and before long, Saul had captured the hearts of his countrymen and countrywomen. However, this great man’s life was spent in bitterness, hatred, and depression.

Saul offered a sacrifice when he became impatient for Samuel to arrive. It didn’t seem that much at the time, but it grew into increased rationalization. He began to blame others—“the people took some of the spoil” (1 Sam. 15:21 nasb)—until Saul no longer took responsibility for his sin, and his self–will loomed larger than God’s will for him.

The process hasn’t changed. We flirt with a particular sin, we rationalize it—and before long we are captive to it. Our hearts are hardened to God’s loving conviction, and we pursue our own destruction.

Are you rationalizing a sin today? Is there a known area of disobedience in your life? If so, go to God and confess and repent of it. God will restore you.

Lord, I want to end well. Reveal any disobedience so that I can deal with each issue. Restore me so that I can finish strong.¹

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¹  Stanley, C. F. (1998). Enter His gates: a daily devotional. Thomas Nelson Publishers.

November 18 | Positioned to Hear His Voice

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 5:22–25

Key Verse: Psalm 62:5

My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.

David had just been anointed king over Israel when the Philistines attacked. The first thing he did was to go to God in prayer and inquire: “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt Thou give them into my hand?” (2 Sam. 5:19 nasb). The Lord affirmed the victory to David.

Israel captured the Philistine camp. In desperation, the Philistines attempted another raid. David could have looked at the situation from a human perspective. His army easily won the first victory; what was there to stop them from repeating the same action? Plenty, and David knew it. Joshua failed to seek God at Ai and lost to a much smaller army than the one David faced (Josh. 7:1–12). Making decisions such as that one apart from God invited defeat. David immediately went back to God for the solution.

The Lord told him not to attack the enemy! Instead, he was to wait until he heard the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. Try to imagine what David felt. He knew the enemy was poised and ready to strike, but he had to wait for God’s timing.

Times of waiting are times of great blessing. When we learn to wait on the Lord, we position ourselves to hear His voice. God’s timing is always perfect. And when you commit yourself to following His lead, you will never be disappointed.

O God, help me wait for Your timing, even when I frantically feel I must do something. I commit myself to follow You. I know I won’t be disappointed.¹

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¹  Stanley, C. F. (1999). On holy ground (p. 337). Thomas Nelson Publishers.

17 NOVEMBER | Seeking the Good of Others

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son. 2 Samuel 1:17

suggested further reading: 1 Samuel 26

We are not to obscure the commands of God to excuse ourselves. On the contrary, knowing very well that God condemns all vengeance, we must loathe it. Whenever we are tempted to give way, let us run to God, who controlled his servant David and bestowed on him the grace of stamping on those violent passions that could have moved him to hatred and bitterness toward Saul. This is the first point of this text.

Second, let us learn from David to seek the common good of those with whom we live. Let us seek to maintain and preserve peace in the community so that our personal profit and loss does not influence us when we confront a question of the public good. People should not just look after themselves but after others.

David shows us the way. Because he was a frail man like ourselves and did not lack feelings, he was in the same condition that we are in; nevertheless, he put other things before his personal concerns. They were nothing compared to the salvation and preservation of the people of Israel. That is why he mourned over Saul.

This seems strange at first glance, but it is certain that David’s burning zeal for the good of the people over which God had placed him as king made him forget everything else. So he fought against himself and submitted to the will of God in proclaiming Saul’s good characteristics.

As for the rest, there is no doubt that the lamentation recorded here was published all over the country so everyone would realize that David was not cut off from the people of Israel. They would take him as a faithful member, recognizing that he had always pursued the welfare and safety of the people and was still seeking that goal.

for meditation: Our own personal struggles should not cloud how we conduct ourselves in the community, for we must contribute to its health, not adversely affect it. In what areas of your life are you presently putting your welfare before the welfare of those around you? Ask God for grace to repent in these areas, so that you put him first, others second, and yourself third in every area of life.¹

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¹  Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 340). Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

November 10 | Take Out Your Earplugs

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1–10

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 3:10

The Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

Visit a major airplane construction plant and you will be amazed by two things: the size of the airplanes under construction and the noise level.

Much of the machinery used to assemble aircraft is driven by air-pressure devices. Because of this, a person in the assembly plant is subjected to constant noise pollution. Safety is a top concern, and workers are given earplugs and safety glasses for protection. Plant managers also have keen eyes as to potential dangers. Once the earplugs are in place and the machinery turned on, there is no way you can yell to a coworker and be heard.

Many of God’s people are like employees in an airplane production plant. They cannot hear God’s voice because they are too busy assembling the pieces of their lives. They wear the earplugs of worldly thinking, becoming complacent toward the things of God. When the bottom drops out, they wonder why God allowed it. But in actuality, God spent months and in some cases years shouting warnings that went unheeded.

In your life, is it time to take out the earplugs, turn off the machinery of the world, and listen to God’s voice?

O Lord, I’m too busy trying to assemble my life. Please help me to take out my earplugs, turn off the machinery of the world, and listen to Your voice.¹

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¹  Stanley, C. F. (1999). On holy ground (p. 329). Thomas Nelson Publishers.

October 21 | Daily Treasures

Intro

Welcome to Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Today’s reading is First Samuel 28 through 31. Our lesson is from First Samuel 28:5–6, “When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.” (NASU)

Lesson

We need to be careful of allowing fear to control us. This can disarm the believer. We should not be foolish if a dangerous situation arises but we should be able to put our total confidence in the Lord, who can rescue us.

First, Saul saw the Philistine army. The enmity between Israel and the Philistines went back for many years. Saul’s problem was he focused on the strength of the Philistines rather than seeing the hand of the Lord. He looked at the apparent potency of his enemy instead of seeking God’s presence.

Next, Saul was afraid. This was the result of not trusting in the Lord; instead he looked at himself. As a matter of fact, he was more than just afraid. Our text states he was terrorized. The degree of fear was great. When one is in a panic mode, it totally disarms the person because they are not able to think sensibly. When a person tends to freeze, it makes one totally subject to their emotions and prey to the enemy of our souls.

Third, Saul inquired of the Lord. It appears this was his last resort. It is good to see that King Saul did try to seek the presence of the Lord but tragically the Lord did not respond. The ways Saul sought the Lord were through dreams, Urim and the prophets. The Almighty does use different channels to communicate His will but Saul had disobeyed the Lord.

The king should have waited on the Lord but he took matters into his own hands. He contacted a medium. This was an abomination and totally prohibited by the Torah. In reality, what Saul did was to transfer his allegiance from the Lord and His revelation to the lies of the kingdom of darkness. How tragic!

Any part of the occult world whether it be horoscopes, Ouija or contacting the dead are not to be played with because the satanic powers are behind those practices. There is a great difference between magic and signs and wonders in the Bible.

In review, Saul saw the Philistine army. Saul was afraid. And Saul inquired of the Lord.

May we learn to trust wholehearted in the Lord and have the Bible as our rule of thumb. The Bible is there to use as our reference guide to life. It informs us on how to behave according to God’s desires and will. God’s Word and counsel are indispensable for daily living.

End

It has been a pleasure to share with you Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Tomorrow’s Bible reading is Second Samuel 1 through 5. Let’s not forget the words of the psalmist, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Until tomorrow and may God bless you in abundance as you study the Word of God.¹

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¹  Venditti, L., & Venditti, N. (2012). Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Logos Bible Software.