Monday, February 28, 2011

1 Samuel 13
Saul and Jonathan were leading the Israelites against the Philistines in battle, but the Israelite army began "quaking with fear" when they became hard pressed and "hid in caves and thickets among the rocks and in pits and cisterns". Saul was waiting for Samuel to come offer up the burnt offering and the fellowship offering in order to seek the Lord's favor in the battle, but Samuel was late. When Samuel didn't arrive at the arranged time to perform the offerings unto the Lord, Saul disobeyed the Lord's command and he offered up the offerings himself. When Samuel finally arrived, he said to Saul "you have done a foolish thing and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command".

Saturday, February 19, 2011

1 Samuel 12
Samuel addressed the people of Israel once more, reminding them of the Lord's grace and goodness and faithfulness to His people. He tells them to "be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you....But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against His commands, His hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors."

Monday, February 14, 2011

1 Samuel 11
The Ammonites were going to war with the Israelite town of Jabesh, but the citizens of Jabesh asked for 7 days before they invaded. The King of Ammon agreed, so they sent word to Saul. "The Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry". Saul mobilized 300,000 men from Israel and sent word to Jabesh that he would be there to rescue them soon. The ammonites were wiped out by Saul's army, but Saul gave God the glory, saying "today the Lord has rescued Israel". Then Samuel addressed the people again and before the Lord they affirmed Saul as their king and "all the Israelites were filled with joy".

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

1 Samuel 10
Samuel anointed Saul as King over Israel, pouring oil over his head, saying " I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you ruler over His special possession". The "Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul" , he was "changed into a different person", and the Lord "gave him a new heart". Samuel then gathered all the people of Israel and said, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!" All the people shouted, "Long live the king".