R³ Devotional - Day 100
R³ Devotional - Day 100 1 Samuel Chapters 9-12
By: Dayna Nichols
Congratulations on making it 100 days! Today's reading covers 1 Samuel 9 – 12.
Quick summary:
1 Samuel 9: Saul searches for his father’s missing donkeys and happens to meet Samuel. Samuel prepares a feast and tells Saul that he is destined for greatness.
1 Samuel 10: Samuel anoints Saul as king. He predicts many events that subsequently take place. When Saul returns home, Samuel assembles the people at Mizpah and publicly declares him as the first king of Israel.
1 Samuel 11: The Ammonites threaten to torture the people of Jabesh Gilead. Saul musters 330,000 troops and defeats the enemy with ease. The people celebrate Saul’s kingship at Gilgal.
1 Samuel 12: Samuel delivers a harsh speech in his old age. He criticizes the people for requesting a king, brings a miraculous rainstorm to scare them, and warns them to follow the will of Yahweh.
The divine orchestration of events leads to the first meeting between Saul, the future king of Israel, and the prophet Samuel and serves as a crucial turning point in Israel's history as they transition from a nation ruled by judges to a monarchy. Israel was supposed to be a theocracy with God as king. Israel wanted a king like the other nations had, and this was exactly what they got. Saul will be used by God to bring some impressive victories to Israel, but he will fall in terrible fashion. Saul was an impressive looking man. He was tall and handsome and descended from a military hero in Israel. Saul was the people’s choice to be king, but he was not a man after God’s own heart.
From Saul’s flawed example, God reveals seven warnings about selecting leaders who will serve Him and do His will on Earth.*
First, Saul was tall and extremely good looking. But he later turned out to be a terrible leader. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders based upon their faith and their character, not their looks.
Second, Saul’s father sent him on a mission to search for his lost animals. But he was unable to find them. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who will search for and find His lost sheep.
Third, Saul did not care about his father’s lost animals and wanted to give up his search. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who love His sheep.
Fourth, Saul’s servant told Saul to consult with the most famous prophet since Moses, Samuel. But Saul was blind to spiritual matters and had never heard of Samuel. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who are not spiritually blind.
Fifth, while looking for Samuel, a woman drawing water told Saul to hurry or he would miss his encounter with Samuel. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who promptly respond to God’s directions.
Sixth, although Samuel would not have chosen Saul to be Israel’s king, Samuel followed God’s directive to appoint him as Israel’s first king to teach the people a lesson. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders based upon His counsel, not your own.
Finally, Samuel held a banquet and proclaimed the Word of God to Saul. Although Saul had many faults, he humbly listened to God’s Word. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who will listen to and submit to His Word.
*Content summarized from inspiredscripture.com.
What kind of leader are you?
What Godly leadership characteristics do you need to develop?
What kind of leader do you follow?
Pray for those who lead. Pray that you will be obedient to lead when called.
Quick summary:
1 Samuel 9: Saul searches for his father’s missing donkeys and happens to meet Samuel. Samuel prepares a feast and tells Saul that he is destined for greatness.
1 Samuel 10: Samuel anoints Saul as king. He predicts many events that subsequently take place. When Saul returns home, Samuel assembles the people at Mizpah and publicly declares him as the first king of Israel.
1 Samuel 11: The Ammonites threaten to torture the people of Jabesh Gilead. Saul musters 330,000 troops and defeats the enemy with ease. The people celebrate Saul’s kingship at Gilgal.
1 Samuel 12: Samuel delivers a harsh speech in his old age. He criticizes the people for requesting a king, brings a miraculous rainstorm to scare them, and warns them to follow the will of Yahweh.
The divine orchestration of events leads to the first meeting between Saul, the future king of Israel, and the prophet Samuel and serves as a crucial turning point in Israel's history as they transition from a nation ruled by judges to a monarchy. Israel was supposed to be a theocracy with God as king. Israel wanted a king like the other nations had, and this was exactly what they got. Saul will be used by God to bring some impressive victories to Israel, but he will fall in terrible fashion. Saul was an impressive looking man. He was tall and handsome and descended from a military hero in Israel. Saul was the people’s choice to be king, but he was not a man after God’s own heart.
From Saul’s flawed example, God reveals seven warnings about selecting leaders who will serve Him and do His will on Earth.*
First, Saul was tall and extremely good looking. But he later turned out to be a terrible leader. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders based upon their faith and their character, not their looks.
Second, Saul’s father sent him on a mission to search for his lost animals. But he was unable to find them. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who will search for and find His lost sheep.
Third, Saul did not care about his father’s lost animals and wanted to give up his search. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who love His sheep.
Fourth, Saul’s servant told Saul to consult with the most famous prophet since Moses, Samuel. But Saul was blind to spiritual matters and had never heard of Samuel. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who are not spiritually blind.
Fifth, while looking for Samuel, a woman drawing water told Saul to hurry or he would miss his encounter with Samuel. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who promptly respond to God’s directions.
Sixth, although Samuel would not have chosen Saul to be Israel’s king, Samuel followed God’s directive to appoint him as Israel’s first king to teach the people a lesson. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders based upon His counsel, not your own.
Finally, Samuel held a banquet and proclaimed the Word of God to Saul. Although Saul had many faults, he humbly listened to God’s Word. From this, God reveals that He wants you to select leaders who will listen to and submit to His Word.
*Content summarized from inspiredscripture.com.
What kind of leader are you?
What Godly leadership characteristics do you need to develop?
What kind of leader do you follow?
Pray for those who lead. Pray that you will be obedient to lead when called.
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