DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-08-02
WRITTEN AT: O Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Samuel 14:36-39
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁶ …Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and destroy every last one of them.”
“Fine!” his men replied. “Do as you think best.”
But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”
³⁷ So Saul asked God, “Shall we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But the Lord made no reply all night. ³⁸ Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! We must find out what sin was committed today. ³⁹ I vow by the name of the God who saved Israel that though the sinner be my own son Jonathan, he shall surely die!”

APPLICATION: I love the accountability of those close to Saul in reminding him to turn to God before making his decisions. This is an awesome reminder for those who love and respect other – that they will see those things that we tend to overlook, and that are for our own good – remind them Lord to always remind us and make us accountable to God. I’ve had friends contact me in the past and asked me to be an accountability partner, but they were looking for one who would be honest and frank with them. What a joy it is to help someone in their path to closeness with God! Another part of this Scripture that caught my attention, is the fact that Saul expected an answer from God, and he wouldn’t walk away without knowing why there wasn’t an answer. Based on his knowledge and past experience with God, Saul knew that he would normally hear from God. Do you have such a relationship with God? I remember an elderly church member who prayed so sincerely for my injured arm that when she approached me the following Sunday and I was still having pain, she was befuddled about what must have happened. She had prayed for me, and she was confident that God would answer her prayer. Isn’t it rewarding that we could approach the throne of God and ask anything of the Creator of this Universe? Are you catching a glimpse of the awesome power available to the child of God? Now, one of the things that I’m glad that God chose to permit in His Word, is the silly oath that Saul made. I admit that Saul was extremely confident in the power of God, but to bet his life, or that of his son’s, on the lack of response from God, seemed way overboard. We can have all the confidence that’s humanly possible in our God, but to say like some, that ‘you would put your head on a chopping block’, or like Saul, that he or his son would die if they blocked the decision of God, is beyond reasonable, at least in my sight. Friends, we have tremendous insights into what a true and sincere relationship with God looks like. Adding the extra oaths like we do to convince mankind, is not necessary with God. Let our yes be yes, and our no be no. God knows what we say, and He even knows our heart and our thoughts. Any oaths we make is for the good of our fellow man, not for God. Notice that Saul waited for God’s response before continuing with the next step for he and his army. Oh that God will give us the wisdom and the commitment to always do the same.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: In our relationship with God, I am overjoyed that we can wait for, and receive, His response to our prayers BEFORE we move forward on our own and mess things up!

PRAYER: Loving Jesus, thank You for who You are and for all that You are to Your children. Please help us to never attempt to move forward in our own power, especially with such limited wisdom and knowledge about tomorrow. Lord, I pray that after being reminded of the experience of Saul, every reader and listener will have a deeper desire to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and ALL these gifts, wisdom and decisions, will be given to us. You alone are God, and we are nothing compared to You – powerless and dumb to the plans You have for us. Please help us to live in the light of eternity, and to always depend on You for all things. Please touch the hearts and lives of those who are seeking for the Savior today. Oh that they will find, accept and obey Jesus. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!