When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. – 1 Samuel 19:18
At this point in David's legacy, he had become favorable among the Israelites and king Saul. However, Saul had become less favorable to God, and therefore began to resent young David. After multiple attempts on his life, David fled to seek counsel from Samuel, a prophet and his mentor prior to David's time in the kingdom.
In my own life, though I am not in a similar situation as David (fleeing for his life while anointed to be the next king of Israel), I have still been learning to seek counsel from the Godly people during uncertain times. I cannot say that I have felt discouraged in the same way that David did feeling betrayed by his close friends, yet I have felt discouragement not knowing what I would do in a certain situation. Despite my anxiety in these situations whether it was stress from a past relationship or a work-related issue, my faith has certainly been growing among the trials God has allowed me to go through. All praise be to Him who gives me strength.
As I closed on chapter 19 and am going through chapter 20, God has been showing me how his Holy Spirit was at work in David's life during his time on earth. In any circumstance, God is able to work through a mentor or spiritual leader so that they can guide you (or me) in the direction that God is guiding us. As a word of encouragement from the example of David, continue trusting that God has a purpose and that He will support you in his will for your life. Know that the future king of Israel did seek the King and counsel from those who God put in his life to aid him. Eventually David even humbly receives advice from a woman named Abigail, in chapter 25, who helps him to look back to the Lord instead of his own intentions.
In the past two or three years (and most of my life), God has been working in my life in ways that I would not have expected. He has led me to understand how to be closer to him and to trust him more in daily circumstances when I am not sure where to turn. Prayer and scripture have been a bigger part of my faith and routine as I have learned to look to him each morning. I am at a point where I feel incomplete on the days I cannot set aside time to spend with the Lord, reading scripture or praying. In any circumstance, trust in the Lord and bring all things to him so that he may lead you in His glory.
May God lead you in all that you do. Amen.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Pride and Support
Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God." So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord. – 1 Samuel 15:30-31
At this point in the book of 1 Samuel, Saul's right to be king over Israel has been taken away from him. God has had enough of his pride. Although Samuel had to deliver this message to Saul, Samuel turned back toward Saul, that his soul might be saved, if he were to truly repent.
In my own life, I'm finding the need to look to God more often as I grow in my faith. Reading the scriptures, on the prideful fall of Saul has shown me that I do not want to end up the way he did. Though I have not been given rule over an entire nation, God has put me in a leadership role at my current job, and it is easy to be prideful in that position. However, there is more to the story.
In the passage, Samuel turns back to Saul in hopes that he will have meaningful worship with God, and that God may save his soul. In chapter 15, we find that Saul actually never truly repents of the sin that lost him the kingdom, yet Samuel grieves over that. Samuel is a faithful servant of the Lord, and not a "dispassionate messenger of God's word" (Trapp), meaning he knew there was value in support of others' faith, as little as it may be.
God may not have plans for me to be a great profit, as Samuel was, yet I know that (through Christ) my soul has been saved, and he wants me to set aside my pride and support the faith of those who need it. I will pray for anyone reading this; that your faith may increase each day and you may support those in your life who are lacking faith.
At this point in the book of 1 Samuel, Saul's right to be king over Israel has been taken away from him. God has had enough of his pride. Although Samuel had to deliver this message to Saul, Samuel turned back toward Saul, that his soul might be saved, if he were to truly repent.
In my own life, I'm finding the need to look to God more often as I grow in my faith. Reading the scriptures, on the prideful fall of Saul has shown me that I do not want to end up the way he did. Though I have not been given rule over an entire nation, God has put me in a leadership role at my current job, and it is easy to be prideful in that position. However, there is more to the story.
In the passage, Samuel turns back to Saul in hopes that he will have meaningful worship with God, and that God may save his soul. In chapter 15, we find that Saul actually never truly repents of the sin that lost him the kingdom, yet Samuel grieves over that. Samuel is a faithful servant of the Lord, and not a "dispassionate messenger of God's word" (Trapp), meaning he knew there was value in support of others' faith, as little as it may be.
God may not have plans for me to be a great profit, as Samuel was, yet I know that (through Christ) my soul has been saved, and he wants me to set aside my pride and support the faith of those who need it. I will pray for anyone reading this; that your faith may increase each day and you may support those in your life who are lacking faith.
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