They say that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Through the many thousands of books my bibliophile family has checked out from our local library, we’ve found some instances in which a book’s exciting cover art did not at all indicate the dull or inappropriate nature of the story, but we’ve also noticed times in which the lackluster cover did no justice to invite the reader into the truly engaging tale told within its pages. Likewise, it’s easy to make judgments about people at first glance and to label someone incorrectly, for the good or bad.
When I was in elementary school, my youth group was invited to participate in a Billy Graham Crusade children’s choir. I thought it was so cool to perform with hundreds of other children at a local minor league baseball stadium! I don’t remember much beyond one of the musical numbers that still resonates with me: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (based on I Samuel 16:7). That scripture song encouraged my soul, which was weary from the teases and jeers of my peers. It reminded me that God cared more about who I was inside than what I looked like on the outside.
That verse I mentioned above about people focusing on appearance while God sees deep into our hearts was spoken by God when he sent Samuel to Jesse’s family to meet the new king. David was initially not even invited with his brothers to be selected for the potential kingship, perhaps because he was the runt of the family, more stinky shepherd than warrior (even though David boasted a thorough resume of survival and sheep-protection stories that could probably put to shame the war talk of his brothers and other cowardly soldiers.) Though verse 12 indicates that David was healthy and handsome, maybe he didn’t look quite as kingly as his brothers; nonetheless, David was a man after God’s own heart and an ancestor to Jesus, our Forever King.
God knew David had a genuine heart that was eager to serve his Lord, which was far more important in a king than being tall, dark, and handsome. If David’s photo had been on the cover of a book about kings, perhaps no one would have bothered to read such a juxtaposition! Though the culture thought David’s appearance lacked kingly features (and even though David was still a flawed human), he was a part of the greatest story ever told in the most important Book ever written. Will you, too, seek to have a heart like God’s and play a role in His ongoing story?
Reflection questions:
What are some ways that people have misjudged you? How have you misjudged others?
What kinds of expectations or hindrances do you need to release to God so He can help you reach your full potential for His purposes?
Prayer:
Father, help us to see others through your eyes. Give us a heart like yours.
-Devotion by Brian K Froehlich – posted on his facebook page on April 11, 2026, where he has been writing and sharing his thoughts as he is reading through the Bible chronologically this year.
There are moments in life where everything seems to hang in the balance. The pressure builds. The clock is ticking. The outcome feels uncertain. And in those moments, what we believe about God is revealed—not by what we say, but by what we do.
That is exactly where we find Saul and Jonathan in these chapters. Two men. Two responses. Two very different outcomes.
Let’s walk through the story together.
Saul has been made king. The people have what they asked for. But almost immediately, we see the tension. The Philistines are gathering. Their army is overwhelming—chariots, soldiers, numbers beyond counting. Meanwhile, Israel is afraid. People are hiding in caves, in holes, anywhere they can find safety.
And Saul is waiting.
He was told to wait for Samuel. Seven days. Wait for God’s instruction. Wait for the offering. Wait for the moment when God would act.
But waiting is hard when fear is loud.
The people are scattering. The pressure is rising. And Saul makes a decision: “Bring me the offering.”
He steps into a role that was not his. He offers the sacrifice himself.
And just as he finishes… Samuel arrives.
The timing is almost painful. If Saul had just waited a little longer.
Samuel’s words cut straight to the heart: “You have done a foolish thing.”
Not because Saul didn’t care. Not because he didn’t want victory. But because he did not trust God enough to wait.
There is a difference between acting in leadership and acting out of fear. Saul’s decision was not rooted in faith—it was rooted in panic.
And here is the lesson for us:
Impatience often looks like responsibility. It feels like we are doing something necessary. But if it steps outside of what God has said, it is not faith—it is fear in motion.
Saul explains himself. “The men were scattering… the Philistines were assembling… I felt compelled.”
“I felt compelled.”
How often do we make decisions based on what we feel in the moment instead of what we know to be true about God?
Saul had clear instruction. But pressure made him rewrite it.
And Samuel tells him something sobering: his kingdom will not endure. God is seeking a man after His own heart.
Now the story shifts.
If chapter 13 shows us fear-driven leadership, chapter 14 shows us faith in action.
Jonathan, Saul’s son, quietly tells his armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf.”
Listen to that carefully.
“Perhaps the Lord will act.”
This is not doubt. This is humility. Jonathan is not presuming on God—but he is also not paralyzed by uncertainty.
He continues: “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
That is faith.
Faith is not having all the answers. Faith is knowing who God is, even when the outcome is unclear.
Jonathan doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. He steps forward based on what he knows about God’s character.
And his armor-bearer responds with one of the most beautiful lines in Scripture: “Do all that you have in mind… I am with you heart and soul.”
Faith has a way of spreading. Courage invites courage.
Jonathan proposes a sign. If the Philistines call them up, they will go—trusting that God has given them victory.
And that is exactly what happens.
Two men climb up a cliff, exposed, vulnerable, outnumbered.
And God moves.
They strike down about twenty men. Panic spreads through the camp. The ground shakes. Confusion overtakes the enemy. What began as a small act of faith becomes a sweeping victory.
Here is the contrast:
Saul had the army, the position, the authority—and acted in fear.
Jonathan had none of those things—and acted in faith.
One rushed ahead without God.
The other stepped forward trusting God.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Saul, seeing the confusion in the Philistine camp, joins the battle. Victory is within reach. But then Saul makes another rash decision.
He puts the army under an oath: no one is to eat until evening, until he has avenged himself on his enemies.
Notice the wording—“until I have avenged myself.”
This is no longer about God’s victory. It has become personal.
The result? The army grows weak. They are exhausted. They cannot fully pursue the enemy.
Jonathan, who did not hear the oath, tastes some honey. His strength returns. And he says plainly, “My father has made trouble for the country.”
It is a powerful moment. The one who acted in faith sees clearly. The one who acted in fear continues to complicate the situation.
Later, the people are so famished that they begin to sin by eating meat with the blood still in it—something God had clearly forbidden.
Fear leads to impatience. Impatience leads to poor decisions. Poor decisions lead others into trouble.
And Saul almost puts Jonathan to death for breaking the oath—until the people intervene and save him.
So what do we take from all of this?
First, waiting on God is not weakness. It is trust. Saul’s failure was not a lack of action—it was a lack of trust in God’s timing.
Second, faith does not require certainty—it requires confidence in who God is. Jonathan did not know exactly what would happen, but he knew God was able.
Third, leadership that is driven by fear will always create burdens. Leadership that is grounded in faith will bring clarity and life.
And finally, small acts of faith can change everything.
Jonathan did not have a large army. He did not have a perfect plan. He simply stepped forward in trust.
And God used that.
There may be areas in life right now where the pressure feels overwhelming. Where the timing feels uncertain. Where the temptation is to act quickly just to relieve the tension.
But these chapters remind us:
Do not let fear make your decisions for you.
Wait when God says wait.
Move when faith calls you forward.
Trust that the God who saves “by many or by few” is still at work.
And remember—He is not limited by your resources, your position, or your circumstances.
He is looking for hearts that trust Him.
Reflection Questions
Brian wrote, “Impatience often looks like responsibility. It feels like we are doing something necessary. But if it steps outside of what God has said, it is not faith—it is fear in motion.” Can you think of a time when you were acting with fear in motion? What was the outcome? What might have been better?
“How often do we make decisions based on what we feel in the moment instead of what we know to be true about God?” What do you know to be true about God regardless of your feelings?
What can you do during the difficult waiting times?
What might God be calling you to do to move forward in faith? Is there another person who could help add courage and faith to this forward, God-honoring movement? Pray about it. Find out what God thinks.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You are a God of power, righteousness, and perfect timing and direction. Help me wait well in waiting seasons and courageously move in faith to follow Your lead and help me know the difference. I confess the times my fear, impatience, and lack of faith have led me away from You and what You have said is best. Help me honor You in my waiting and in my moving.
Today we are sharing the second half of Brian K Froehlich’s devotion on 1 Samuel 9-12 which he posted on his facebook page on April 11, 2026. Brian has faithfully been writing and sharing his thoughts as he reads through the Bible chronologically this year. Become his facebook friend and read along with his I Believe series.
1 Samuel 11 – A Real Victory
Saul leads Israel against the Ammonites (11:6–11).
God’s Spirit comes on him.
He unites the people.
He wins a decisive victory.
This is important.
Saul is not useless.
He is not a joke.
There is real success here.
And the people say:
“Now establish the kingdom in Saul’s hands!” (11:15)
It feels like everything is working.
But success does not always mean approval.
Sometimes God allows something to work
to show something deeper.
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1 Samuel 12 – The Truth Comes Out
Samuel gathers the people and speaks plainly.
First, he asks:
“Have I wronged you?” (12:3)
They answer:
“No.”
Samuel has been faithful.
Then he reminds them:
God delivered you from Egypt.
God saved you again and again.
God raised up leaders when you cried out.
And yet…
“When you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.” (12:12)
There it is again.
God was already their King.
Their problem was not lack of leadership.
Their problem was lack of trust.
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The Key Lesson from These Chapters
God says:
“They have rejected Me as their king.” (1 Samuel 8:7)
But what does God do?
He gives them a king anyway.
A man:
Saul
This is the pattern:
God is the King.
God appoints a human king.
That king rules under God.
That matches what God had already said:
“Be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses.” (Deuteronomy 17:15)
The king is chosen by God.
The king is under God.
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Why Saul Was Not Enough
Saul had:
• The look
• The opportunity
• The support
But he could not fix the real problem.
Because the real problem was not enemies.
It was sin.
It was the human heart.
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Then Comes David
A better king.
“A man after His own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
But even David fails.
So the Bible keeps pointing forward.
God promises:
“Your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)
A future King is coming.
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The One Who Could Do the Job
From David’s line comes:
Jesus Christ
And the Bible describes Him clearly:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
A man.
The right man.
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He is:
• “A man accredited by God” (Acts 2:22)
• The one God raised (Acts 2:24)
• The one God made Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36)
And Jesus says:
“All authority… has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18)
Given.
Not taken.
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How the Story Ends
Even at the end, Scripture says:
“He hands over the kingdom to God the Father.” (1 Corinthians 15:24)
God remains the King.
The Son rules under Him.
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Bringing It All Together
1 Samuel 9–12 is not just about Saul.
It is about a pattern:
God is the King.
People struggle to trust Him.
God appoints a human ruler.
Saul wasn’t the one.
David wasn’t the one.
But God never stopped working.
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The Final Truth
We trust and receive the man Christ Jesus
to lead our world back to God.
Not because He replaced God.
But because God chose Him.
Because He obeyed perfectly.
Because He overcame sin.
Because He was raised to life.
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Saul couldn’t do it.
David couldn’t do it.
Jesus WAS the one for the job.
Jesus IS the one for the job.
Jesus WILL BE the one for the job.
Reflection Questions
What are your impressions of Samuel?
What does the Bible tell us about who Jesus is? What is his relationship with God? What is his relationship with man? What jobs has he already done, is doing now, and will do?
Prayer
Dear God, I praise You for Your perfect plan. You are the All Wise & All Powerful King deserving of my allegiance, love, and obedience. Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son to draw us close to You, to mediate between God and man, to show us how to please You, to conquer sin, and destroy the enemy, to rule for a time and then hand Your kingdom back to his Father and God. I desire to be a faithful, loving, obedient subject of You and Your perfectly chosen & anointed Messiah. Please show me how to serve well.
-Devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL) – Brian has been writing devotions on his facebook page this year as he reads along with a chronological Bible reading plan. We will post Brian’s writing on 1 Samuel 9 & 10 today and 11 & 12 and summary tomorrow.
Let’s walk slowly, line by line, through 1 Samuel 9–12 and let the Bible explain itself.
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1 Samuel 9 – A Man Looking for Donkeys… and Finding a Kingdom
Saul is introduced while searching for lost donkeys (9:3).
That matters.
He is not chasing a throne.
He is not asking to lead.
He is walking through ordinary life.
But God tells Samuel ahead of time:
“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man…” (1 Samuel 9:16)
Saul thinks he is searching.
God says, “I am sending.”
This is how God works.
God is already acting as King—
directing people, setting appointments, moving history.
Saul meets Samuel.
Samuel tells him:
“All the desire of Israel is turned to you.” (9:20)
The people want a king.
And Saul looks like the answer.
He is:
• Tall (9:2)
• Impressive
• The kind of man people notice
Everything about him says:
“This is what we were looking for.”
But the question is not:
“Does he look right?”
The question is:
“Is he the one who can lead people back to God?”
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1 Samuel 10 – Chosen, Confirmed… and Hiding
Samuel anoints Saul (10:1).
God gives signs:
• Donkeys found (10:2)
• Bread provided (10:3–4)
• Spirit comes upon him (10:6)
Everything confirms:
God has chosen this man.
But then comes a strange moment.
When it is time to present the king:
“They looked for him, but he was not to be found… he has hidden himself among the supplies.” (10:21–22)
The king is hiding.
The man who stands tall in appearance
is small in confidence.
This is a warning.
A person can look ready
and still not be ready.
The people see his height.
God sees his heart.
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Tomorrow we will share the rest of Brian K Froehlich’s devotion on 1 Samuel 9-12 which he posted on his facebook page on April 11, 2026.
Reflection Questions
Who do you recognize as chosen by God to be a leader in your life? Is there perhaps anyone else that you have overlooked or not accepted as God’s chosen?
Have you ever been surprised by what role it might appear God has chosen you for?
Have you ever wanted to run and hide when God called you to a job? Where should your confidence lie?
Prayer
Dear God, You are perfect and all Your ways are perfect. Help me see and know that You are the Ultimate King I need all the time. Thank you for selecting, anointing, and working through the human leaders You have chosen for my life. Show me, Lord, what job You desire me to do. Fill me with Your Spirit, prepare me, make me bold, keep my trust in You in all things. Thank you for Your Son Jesus and the job You have given him to reign.
-Devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL) – Brian has been writing devotions on his facebook page this year as he reads along with a chronological Bible reading plan. Great job sharing God’s Word, Brian! Today’s devotion covers 1 Samuel 4-8.
I believe God is not something we carry. He is Someone we follow.
And in 1 Samuel 4–8, Israel had to learn that the hard way.
In 1 Samuel 4, Israel goes into battle against the Philistines—and they lose.
Instead of asking, “Why did this happen?” or “Are we right with God?” they ask, “What can we bring into battle next time?”
So they come up with a plan.
“Let’s bring the ark of the covenant.”
Not to worship. Not to repent. Not to seek God. Just… bring the box.
They treated the ark like a good luck charm.
When the ark shows up, Israel shouts so loudly the ground shakes. The Philistines hear it and panic: “God has come into the camp!”
But here’s the problem—God hadn’t.
They brought the symbol, but ignored the God behind it.
And the result? Israel loses again. Thirty thousand die. The ark is captured. Eli’s sons are killed. And a woman names her child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel.”
They had the object, but they lost the presence.
I believe this still happens today. People carry Bibles, wear crosses, sit in church pews—but they are not walking with God.
God is not a charm you carry. He is a King you follow.
In 1 Samuel 5–6, the Philistines take the ark and place it in the temple of their god Dagon.
The next morning, Dagon is face down before the ark.
They set him back up.
The next morning, he has fallen again—this time his head and hands are broken off.
God didn’t need Israel to defend Him. He handled it Himself.
Then tumors break out among the people. Panic spreads from city to city. They finally say, “Send it back!”
They put the ark on a cart with two cows and say, “If this goes back to Israel, we’ll know it was God.”
It goes straight back.
Because God does not need help proving He is God.
I believe we forget this. We argue like God is fragile. We panic like truth is losing.
God is not on trial. He is still on the throne.
Then in 1 Samuel 6, the ark returns to Israel. The people rejoice.
But then something sobering happens.
Some men look into the ark—and they die.
There is something in us that wants to look.
Even when we know we shouldn’t, we want to see.
It reminds me of what happened after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
When he died in 1865, his body was placed on a funeral train that traveled across the country. In city after city, thousands of people lined up. They waited for hours—sometimes all night—just for a few seconds to look at his face.
Not touch. Not speak. Just look.
But it didn’t stop there.
After he was buried, his body was moved multiple times. Reburied. Relocated for security. There was even an attempted grave robbery.
And over the years, his casket was opened again and again.
Not once. Not twice. Multiple times.
Each time—people looking. Checking. Confirming. Curious.
The last time was in 1901. More than 35 years after his death, they opened it again just to make sure he was still there.
A teenage boy named Fleetwood Lindley was allowed to step forward and look inside. He later said Lincoln’s face was still recognizable.
And that boy lived until 1963.
Think about that.
For nearly 100 years after Lincoln died, someone could still say, “I saw him.”
There is something deep in human nature that doesn’t just want to hear—we want to see for ourselves.
And that same instinct shows up in 1 Samuel.
The ark wasn’t just a box. It represented the presence of God.
And the people thought, “What’s inside? Let me just look. Just a quick peek.”
But God had already made it clear—this is not something you handle casually.
This is not something you open out of curiosity.
Because what starts as curiosity quickly becomes irreverence.
And irreverence in the presence of a holy God is deadly.
Not everything sacred is meant to be opened.
In 1 Samuel 7, the people finally ask the right question: “Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?”
And Samuel gives the right answer: “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods.”
Repentance—not rituals.
They gather. They fast. They confess, “We have sinned against the Lord.”
And when the Philistines come again, this time God thunders from heaven and throws them into confusion.
Israel wins.
Samuel sets up a stone and calls it Ebenezer—“Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
Notice the difference.
Before, they carried the ark into battle.
Now, they come to God in repentance.
Before, they tried to use God.
Now, they submit to Him.
And that changes everything.
I believe victory doesn’t come from having God near you. It comes from being right with Him.
Then in 1 Samuel 8, the people come to Samuel and say, “Give us a king.”
Why?
“So we can be like all the other nations.”
God tells Samuel, “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.”
They didn’t want “no king.”
They wanted a king they could see. Control. Be like everyone else.
Samuel warns them—a king will take your sons, your daughters, your fields, your money.
And they say, “We still want a king.”
I believe this is still true.
People say they want freedom. They say they want no king. But they don’t.
They just want a king they can manage.
But God does not compete with other kings.
He calls you to surrender to Him.
I believe God is not a tool to use. God is not weak and in need of defense. God is holy—not casual. And God alone is worthy to be King.
So the question is not, “Do you have God with you?”
The question is: Are you with Him?
Because you can carry the ark and still lose the battle.
But if you return to Him with all your heart, you will find that He was never lost at all.
Reflection Questions
It’s hard to get the right answers when you ask the wrong questions. What wrong questions do people ask today? When have you found yourself asking the wrong questions? What are better questions to ask?
Is there a time when your lack of repentance got you into deeper trouble? What happens when you repent? Is there something you need to repent of right now?
What or who do you want to be the leader of your life? Do your actions andd attitudes agree with the answer you gave? What does submitting to God look like?
How has God helped you thus far? How will you remember these things?
Prayer
Dear God, You are a holy, righteous God, maker of heaven and earth, the only true God, the One who sits on the throne today with your Son at Your right hand. How amazing that the King of the Universe wants to have a relationship with me! Help me to not take You for granted, God, or treat You irreverently. Help me see clearly what I need to repent of, that I will repent, submit and be right with You.
A quick review of the story of how David and Abigail meet (if you haven’t already, I highly recommend reading 1 Samuel 25):
David has been running from king Saul for some time
David and his men camped in the wilderness near a rich man’s flock of sheep and their shepherds
When it became time to shear the sheep David sent some men to ask the owner (Nabal) for some sheep & food for his men
They went on a feast day – a day of celebrating the profits the owners of the flocks would make
David’s men tell Nabal how they had protected his shepherds and flocks and then ask for food to be shared with them in thanks for their efforts
Nabal, whose name means “fool”, sent David’s men away empty handed
David’s response was to command, “Every man strap on his sword!”
One of Nabal’s shepherds went to Nabal’s wife, Abigail, and told her what had happened – he understood that Nabal’s response to David would bring harm to the household
Here is where we meet Abigail. Abigail is one of my favorite Bible characters. She is brave, wise and humble. A great example of strength.
The first thing we learn about Abigail is in verse 3 where we are told she is discerning and beautiful. We then see her in action in verse 18, “Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.”
And, it’s not just what she does, but how she does it! First, she reacts quickly. When we know the right thing to do we should “make haste” and get it done.
Reading on we see David ready to kill every male in Nabal’s household. But Abigail intervenes. Verses 23-24 say, “When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant.” Again, we see her moving – she hurried and got down. Then, even though she had nothing to do with Nabal’s words and inaction, she offers David great respect by bowing before him. She asks that Nabal’s guilt be on her. Why would she do this? To save her whole household. So, after reacting quickly, Abigail humbles herself to make peace for her household.
Only after humbling herself does she offer the gifts of food she brought for David and his men. The tangible gifts are secondary to her words, posture/body language, and attitude.
Abigail boldly tells David he should accept her gift and not continue with his plan to attack. She reminds him that he doesn’t want to have that blood on his hands/conscience when he becomes ruler over Israel. David accepts her gift and blesses her for her cautionary words of advice.
Abigail’s strength does not stop with this one encounter with David. She continues to exhibit strength when she goes home and courageously faces her husband, telling him she went against his directives. She even bravely waits until he has sobered up from celebrating before approaching him. This news kills Nabal.
In verse 31 Abigail asks David to remember her. In verses 39-42 we see David hearing about Nabal’s death and sending for Abigail to be his wife. The strength of character she demonstrated to David wound up providing for her at a time when she would have likely had nothing left and no one to take care of her.
Amy Blanchard
Reflection Questions
Do you consider yourself to be strong? Discerning, acting quickly, being humble, being a peace-maker, bold, courageous, brave…this is strength. True strength comes from God; ask Him to help you grow in these areas.
When faced with conflict or a negative situation, whether involving your own choices or not, what do your words, posture/body language, and attitude reflect is in your heart?
In today’s reading, we see more examples of Saul’s rebellion against God and his hatred of David. Ahimelech the priest had inquired of the Lord for David. In his rage, Saul ordered that not only Ahimelech, but all the priests must be killed – so Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul’s goons, killed 85 priests, then went to their town and killed every man, woman, and child (and its cattle, donkeys, and sheep). In chapter 23, Saul chased David and tried to kill him multiple times.
In chapter 24, David finally has his opportunity for revenge. Saul was again chasing David. David and his men were hiding in the Desert of En Gedi. Saul and 3000 chosen troops were in hot pursuit. Along the way, Saul needed to go to the bathroom. He wanted a little privacy, so he stepped into a cave to relieve himself. Little did he know that David and his men were hiding further back in that very cave.
If you were David, what would you have done? Would you have eliminated the threat to your life, and ushered in your reign as king? To be perfectly honest, I think that’s exactly what I would have done. David’s men encouraged David to kill Saul, but instead, David crept up to Saul, and cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
Afterward, David was conscience stricken and said, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.”
Wow! Clearly Saul was a scoundrel, but David spared his life because God had made him king. I think we can learn a lesson or two from David’s respect for the office of authority, even when the man in the office wasn’t worthy of respect.
This is exactly what we’re told to do in 1 Peter 2:13-14 – “For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.”
David’s actions also remind me of Romans 12:17-18 – “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
So too, we need to submit to authority, even when we don’t like the person in authority, or what they are doing. Also, we need to be intentional about never repaying evil for evil.
To finish today’s story, because David had spared Saul’s life, Saul promised to leave David alone, and returned home (for now). David and his men went up to their stronghold. God had protected David yet again.
Steve Mattison
(originally posted April 13, 2020 for SeekGrowLove)
Reflection Questions
What do you admire about David?
When have you found it difficult to pass when given the opportunity for revenge, a cutting comment, or having the last word? What is the world’s position on paying back evil for evil? What is God’s? What is the advantage to leaving it up to God to be the judge, rather than taking out revenge for wrongs done against us?
In what ways do you think God wants to see Christians submit to authority today?
Today’s reading, found in 1 Samuel chapters 18 through 20, highlights how far Saul has fallen from his successes of chapter 14. (Remember from chapter 15, that Saul had deliberately disobeyed a direct command from God, and things have been going from bad to worse for him since.)
In 18:10-11, we read, “The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.”
Once Saul decided to abandon God, God not only abandoned Saul, God tormented Saul. This should be a lesson to us – never disobey God – there are always negative consequences.
Saul became jealous of David, after David had killed Goliath, because the women of Israel sang this song, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” As a result of his jealousy, Saul tried to kill David with his spear in 18:11 and again in 19:10. Saul also tried to kill David by having the Philistines kill him in 18:17, 21, 25. In 19:1, Saul urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. In 19:15, Saul ordered his men to bring David (and his bed) to Saul to be killed, when Saul thought David was sick in bed. In 19:20, 21 and 22 Saul unsuccessfully sent troops to get David three times.
In 20:30, Saul boiled with rage at his own son, Jonathan, who was friends with David, and in 20:33, Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him.
So much for Saul, what about David?
If you were David, how would you react? What would you do?
Remember that Samuel had anointed David in chapter 16, and declared that David would be the next king over Israel. So what did David do? He wrote some songs about this. Let’s see what he said in those songs…
David wrote Psalm 59 when Saul sent his soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him. This psalm starts out, “Rescue me from my enemies, O God. Protect me from those who have come to destroy me. Rescue me from these criminals; save me from these murderers. They have set an ambush for me…”. This makes sense. David was in trouble, so he cried out to God for help. David continues in verse 9, “You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress.”
Then an astounding thing happens. David starts praising God – in advance of God’s rescuing him. Psalm 59 ends with, “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning, I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.”
David, the man after God’s own heart was actually praising God when he was literally afraid for his life. This shows his great faith that God will indeed rescue him. Maybe this is one of the reasons he was called a “man after God’s own heart.”
Psalm 11, the other chapter from today’s reading also shows David’s faith through difficulty. It starts out, “I trust in the Lord for protection…”, and ends with “For the righteous Lord loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.”
I believe David’s response is a good example for us. When times are tough, it’s natural to cry out to God for help. We need to move on from just asking for help, and follow David’s example to also have faith and praise God, even before the answer comes. And in the process, we, too, may become people after God’s own heart.
–Steve Mattison
(originally posted April 12, 2020 for SeekGrowLove.com)
Reflection Questions
Compare and contrast Saul and David based upon what we know from 1 Samuel.
What do you see in your own life that is similar to Saul? And David?
What does it look like to show faith in God during the difficulty?
What difficulty (big or small) have you recently found yourself in, in which you can practice giving God praise even before the answer comes?
Being raised as a pastor’s kid, I probably took for granted the accessibility of all things church related. Being a Christian was something that was easily practiced because of the environment I was constantly in. I asked Jesus to come into my heart when I was 5 years old. I was baptized the summer before my eighth grade. But it wasn’t until I went off to college that I really realized that my faith was my own responsibility. If I was going to have Christian friends, I needed to find them on my own. If I was going to attend a mid-week Bible study, I needed to find it on my own. If I was going to attend a Sunday morning service, I needed to find it on my own. Mom and Dad weren’t there to guide and direct me. If I wanted to continue to build up my faith, it was now up to me.
As we read through King Saul’s life, we see that he was hand selected and groomed to take on the role of leading Israel – everything was handed to him. And as a result, he never really owned the responsibility of the position he was put in. He never connected the dots of being the leader of God’s people and having a relationship with God himself.
This is particularly evident in 1 Samuel 15. Saul has carried out God’s instructions of taking up arms against the Amalekites. Once Israel wins the battle, they were supposed to destroy everything: man, woman, child, cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys. Nothing was to be spared. But…that’s not what Saul did. He kept the best of the spoils. He claims that he was going to use the prime plunder as a sacrifice.
Here’s how I know that Saul didn’t own his relationship with God: in verses 21 and 30 of chapter 15, Saul refers to the LORD as Samuel’s God.
“…the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” (v 21)
“…come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.” (v 30)
Saul didn’t understand his disobedience because he hadn’t bothered to grow a relationship with the One who made him king of Israel.
More than anything God desires to have a relationship with us. He wants us to seek Him more than any other person or pursue any other passion. When we grow our relationship with Him, we come to know the things that please Him as well as the things that displease Him. As we grow our relationship with God, our hearts swell with love for Him, His word, and His people. And when our hearts are full of love, obedience comes naturally.
Bethany Ligon
(originally posted for SeekGrowLove April 11, 2020)
Reflection Questions
Why is obeying Him important to God?
Have you ever felt like God is just someone else’s God?
What do you do when you think God is taking too long to answer your prayer?
If you are King Saul, you tell the priest to “withdraw your hand” (1 Sam 13:19) – meaning that God is taking too much time responding to a prayer request. King Saul believed that he had some sort of advantage over the enemy and didn’t want that advantage to slip away. So he took matters into his own hands, assembled his men, and went into battle. The outcome wasn’t too good.
Have you ever prayed for something so long, that you become impatient waiting for God to give you directions and end up rushing the timeline just to pursue your own desires, wishes, or dreams? Any time we read a Bible study about an individual doing something for him/herself rather than waiting on God, it never ends well; it’s always a disaster. Why do you think that is?
After some careful self-reflection, I think that I’ve got it figured out for myself: It’s because I like being in charge – to be independent – to not have to rely on someone else’s timing. And even as I type these words, I know it’s ludicrous because my decisions are based on a very limited perspective; whereas, God has a completely different view of my life. His reasons for delaying an answer to prayer, is all about the timing that will give him the most credit.
So the next time you are tempted to move on without God’s response to your prayers, just remember that Saul ended up making some outlandish ultimatums and in so doing, ended up discrediting himself and losing God’s favor.
Stay persistent in your prayers. Do not give up. Keep waiting for an answer to your prayers. At the proper time, God will provide an answer or solution for your need. And in the meantime, always remember that God is by your side – he has not abandoned you.
Bethany Ligon
Reflection Questions
From above: “Any time we read a Bible study about an individual doing something for him/herself rather than waiting on God, it never ends well; it’s always a disaster. Why do you think that is?”
And: “Have you ever prayed for something so long, that you become impatient waiting for God to give you directions and end up rushing the timeline just to pursue your own desires, wishes, or dreams?” What was the outcome?
What are some reasons God works on His time schedule not ours?
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