Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+020

 

CHAPTER 20 (ESV)

25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.

26 Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.” 27 But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?” 28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.”

30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Even though David and Jonathan are rivals for the same throne, they each set aside personal interests out of the deep affection they had for each other. Jonathan risked his father’s anger, and even his life, on behalf of David. Later David restored the fortunes of Jonathan’s youngest son (2Sam 9).
2. In all my relationships, which ones are covenantal (Marriage, family, culture…)? Have I faithfully fulfilled my promise in that covenant?

 

PRAYER:

Continue the Prayer meditation of Ch 18. Read the following passage from Phil 2:3-4 as God speaking to me. Focus on the relationship Jesus has with me. Why would he do such a thing for me?

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of Himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of Himself that He had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, He set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, He stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. (The Message)

 

HYMN:

Humble King – www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV_3l6Ng5lA

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+019

 

CHAPTER 19 (ESV)

19 And it was told Saul, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And one said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

 

REFLECTION:

1. The “prophesying” here was probably singing and praising the Lord. This is the second time Saul was overwhelmed by the Spirit from God and prophesied with the prophets. The first time it was right after he was anointed.
2. Saul was utterly overwhelmed by the power of the Spirit of God that he was prevented from carrying out his intention to kill David. Other than his inability, there were Jonathan’s loyalty, Micah’s deception and David’s own cleverness. The incident in this passage becomes the climax of God’s power in frustrating and thwarting Saul’s murderous scheme.
3. Do I have any less-than-holy plans which God continues to frustrate despite my persistence? What would it take for me to submit to God’s stronger and wiser will? How can I use praise and worship to help me?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

Please instruct me and teach me in the way I should go. With Your loving eye on me, and know my heart and my thoughts and everything I do.

Counsel me and direct me so that my stubbornness may be brought under Your good and perfect will. (Psalm 32:8)

 

HYMN:

All We Like Sheep – www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRxf2xcIHFo

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+018

 

CHAPTER 18 (ESV)

1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

Saul’s Jealousy of David

6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

“Saul has struck down his thousands,

and David his ten thousands.”

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

 

REFLECTION:

1. The friendship between David and Jonathan was remarkable. The kind of spiritual kinship between David and Jonathan was energized by affection and sealed by covenant. True friendship is not transactional, it is not calculating and not demanding. It is this loyal friendship that helps us to understand more of God’s covenantal love for us. And it is because “God is love” that we can love one another.
2. Contrarily, Saul is a self-centered person. When David had better accomplishments, he not only could not appreciate him, but became jealous. His jealousy turned into hatred that in the end he wanted to kill David. In all, Saul lived his life in suspecting, guarding, fighting and oppressing others.
3. At work, when I meet someone more capable than I, would I become jealous like Saul? Or would I appreciate him and learn from him? Have I ever truthfully praised and complemented someone for his or her achievement? Am I willing to be someone’s Jonathan? Who would that be?

 

PRAYER:

Read the following passage from Phil 2:3-4 as God speaking to me. Respond to God freely throughout the reading as my prayer response to Him.

Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage.

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. (The Message)

 

HYMN:

Make Me a Servant – youtu.be/r6U8O_WnPZY

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+017

 

CHAPTER 17 (ESV)

40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

41 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.

 

REFLECTION:

1. David was full of confidence in God when he faced this gigantic enemy. He didn’t fight with his own might but God’s. The enemy’s threat and challenge didn’t shake David’s trust in God.
2. What is the giant in my life? What are the struggles in my life? How could I defeat them?

 

PRAYER:

Dear God,

Help me to see, with Elisha, that greater are those who are with me than those who are with my enemy. Help me to see with Paul, that if You are for me, who can be against me? And help me to see, with David, that no opposition is gigantic when compared to You. Give me eyes to see, O Lord.

Help me to live by faith rather than by sight, courageously rather than fearfully.

Give me a God-dominated imagination, not a Goliath-dominated one.

Remind me of Your saving acts in biblical history. Remind me of Your saving acts in my own history.

And from those reminders, grant me the courage I need to fight whatever giants have come into my land…. (Conversation)

 

HYMN:

Battle Belongs – youtu.be/johgSkNj3-A

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+016

 

Chapter 16 (ESV)

4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. When Samuel was seeking to anoint the second king for Israel, he probably had the idea of finding someone who was much admired by the people with his stunning physical appearance, such as he had done with Saul. However, God clearly told him not to choose based only on the outward appearances. Appearances don’t reveal the substance of a person. God can see through a man’s heart, and understand our thoughts and motivations.
2. Am I like many who put much emphasis on the outward appearance, but not enough attention to what is inside of a person? What does God see on my inside?
3. It is often much easier to associate with people who are similar to me in speech, action, clothing, profession, and lifestyle. We are attracted to and get along with the people that they project themselves to be. If we simply focus on appearances, we might miss out on relationship with people who God has placed around us and with whom we can and ought to enter into deep spiritual friendship with. Will I intentionally make friends with people outside of my circle, those that are different from me? Why?

 

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank You for accepting me completely. You saved me despite of my most common appearances, and my often wicked and confused thoughts inside. It is Your electing grace that allows me to become Your child. May You open my inner eyes, to see others, not just their outside, but to look into their inside to truly love them as Jesus does.

 

HYMN:

Grace – youtu.be/WeY1VGQ6WG0

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+015

 

Chapter Fifteen (ESV)

22 And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”

24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 26 And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. Verses 22-23, this poem clearly indicates that faithfulness to the covenant of God is more than just adherence to the ritual life of the community. Later, somehow, Christian churches developed the tendency to view ritual and its tradition as something extraneous that could be discarded. However, here the passage (the poem) is actually emphasizing the importance of obedience for a person’s spiritual growth than following church rituals and traditions blindly or absent-mindedly.
2. From the story of Saul, we’ve witnessed his rebellion against God. From Samuel, we’ve seen the disappointment and grief God had with Saul. Although Saul is deceitful and calculating, God has always been loving and merciful. This is a story of God’s sensitivity to human sin. As Saul became less human, God became more human, which is a foreshadowing of the incarnation.

 

PRAYER:

Read the following verses slowly recalling Saul’s story and mine. Substitute my name in the Scripture below to indicate my recognition of God and myself.

If (fill in my name) die with Him, (my name) will live with Him;

If (my name) stick it out with Him, (my name) will rule with Him;

If (my name) turn our backs on Him, He’ll turn His back on (my name);

If (my name) give up on Him, He does not give up—for there’s no way He can be false to Himself. (Ref. 2 Tim 2:11-13, MSG)

 

HYMN:

The More I Seek You – youtu.be/NI_1YliutzA

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+014

 

Chapter Fourteen (ESV)

36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” 44 And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Note the interactions between King Saul and his subjects: “Do whatever seems best to you”(vv36,40) , “But not one of them said a word ”(v39), “Never”(v45). In detail after detail, we see Saul’s authority erode. Ostensibly, Saul was king, but Jonathan was doing all the work.
2. As God’s spirit receded from Saul, he became more and more anxious and religious. He rashly and foolishly made an unwise and unnecessary oath. After receiving no reply from God, he decided to root out the cause in order to show his piety to God and his faithfulness to his vow. He even wanted to kill his son Jonathan who is the real hero for their victory.
3. All of Saul’s religion was merely an external show and not an inward reality. What about me? Are all my religious activities (attending worship, cell, Bible reading and prayer, etc.) just outward show or inward reality?

 

PRAYER:

Meditate on this verse with my name in as if God is speaking to me. Listen and respond.

“(Fill in my name) comes near to me with (my name) mouth and honors me with (my name) lips, but (my name) heart is far from me. (my name) worships of me is based on merely human rules (my name) has been taught.(Ref Isa 29:13)

 

HYMN:

The Heart of Worship – youtu.be/OD4tB1o6YLw

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+013

 

Chapter Thirteen (ESV)

8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. Reading the text, we can surely sympathize with Saul for his action. Samuel is late, and the survival of Saul and the nation is doubtful unless someone acts very quickly, and, if anybody, Saul certainly seems to be the right man to do so. But the text insists that Saul should have waited, nonetheless, and not taken upon himself what God had called Samuel to perform. His seemingly reasonable impatience leads him to a rash act that will ultimately cost him and his heirs his kingdom forever. Once again, “to obey is better than sacrifice” (15:22).
2. Saul’s offering of sacrifices was seen as a lack of trust in God, motivated by fear of losing his position and power. He reduced the concept of king to military terms, believing that his authority as king depended on his success in battle. Through a seemingly inoffensive act, disguised as an act of worship, Saul forfeited his kingdom. Instead of living in the fear of God, he lived in fear of the Philistines, and the consequence of this was that he would no longer be king.
3. From now on, the story will be the dismantling of Saul as king, and it would have nothing to do with the Philistines. It will have been caused from within, by Saul’s alienation from God. Therefore the inner world of the heart is far more real a battleground than the outer world of nations warring against nations.

 

PRAYER:

Am I aware of the battle going on inside my heart? How am I doing? Sit quiet with God and listen to what God wants to say to me about my inner struggle.

 

HYMN:

Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) – youtu.be/mq59iE3MhXM

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+012

 

Chapter Twelve (ESV)

18 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” 20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. Samuel’s accusation of the people (vv6-15) combined with the awesome sign of thunder and rain in the dry season prompted the people to confess their sin of requesting a king. They begged Samuel’s intercession for them.
2. Samuel seems to say (v23) failing to pray for people would warrant it a sin. His demonstrated that God’s people have double duties: (1) to pray fervently for others (Eph 6:18), (2) to teach others God’s way (2 Tim 2:2). Samuel may not agree with the people’s desire for a king, but he assured them that he will continue to pray for them and to teach them. We may have different opinions with the others, but we shouldn’t stop praying for them.
3. Today we would call Samuel a “prayer warrior”. What gifts and qualities does a person who prays continuously for other people possess? Do I have them?

 

PRAYER:

Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind a person that has been in my mind. How much have I thought of him/her? How much prayer have I offered on his/her behalf?

Determine before the Lord to pray for this person once a day for the whole week. Give him/her a call or an email to see how he/she is doing.

 

HYMN:

Somebody’s Praying For Me – www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmu2_HVF1o0

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=1Samuel+011

 

Chapter Eleven (ESV)

11 And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Saul had previously been anointed in private by Samuel at Ramah and publicly selected as the king-designate at Mizpah. In the subsequent Ammonite crisis, his leadership did not rest on public recognition of his royal authority, but on the military victory. Now at Gilgal, Saul is inaugurated as God’s chosen king and formally assumes the privileges and responsibilities of this office.
2. The Israelites had Saul as their first ever king, in thanksgiving, they offered peace offering to God. Leviticus 3 recorded regulations of such sacrifice. It is for thanksgiving of blessings received, it symbolizes the grace of peace because of their recognition of God and obedience to God’s commandments. Though it was the people’s idea to elect a king for themselves, they demonstrate and recognise through the sacrifice, that God is still their king. Saul also acknowledged Israel’s true deliverer (v13). However, as God has foretold in 8:7-19, the trust and obey relationship did not last long.
3. Have I experienced a lot of God’s guidance and protection, and have I decided to follow God closely? However, I was not able to resist the temptations or pressures, and I turned from following God?

 

PRAYER:

Use the following hymn as my prayer as I recall my weaknesses and God’s strength.

I am weak, but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee, rant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

 

HYMN:

I am weak but Thou art strong – www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4mu5PsUa2g