1 Samuel 6-10: Day 080: Journey Through the Bible in a Year
March 22, 2022
1 Samuel 6-10
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Day 080: Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Focus Verses for Today: 1 Samuel 8:5-9
Take some time to pray for God’s guidance as we study 1 Samuel 6-10. While you are in prayer you may have something you want to share with the Lord or maybe seek His help for someone. Read 1 Samuel 6-10. Let’s journey!
Commentary: The Philistines wanted to return the ark of the Lord to Israel, as the five leaders of the Philistines and their cities were suffering. To prove that the suffering was caused by the God of Israel, they placed the ark on a wooden cart, along with golden and silver gifts, drawn by two cows who had young calves penned up. If the cows went to Beth Shemesh (Israel), rather than their calves, the Philistines would know their afflictions were caused by the God of Israel. The cows delivered the ark of the Lord to Beth Shemesh. God struck down 70 inhabitants of Beth Shemesh for mishandling the ark of the Lord. The ark was sent on to Kiriath Jearim, where it remained for 20 years.
Samuel encouraged the people of Israel to forsake the false gods they worshiped. Instead, he encouraged them to give all of themselves to the true God, the God of Israel. Only through sincere and earnest repentance was Israel once again able to receive the blessings of the Ark. The Israelites asked Samuel to appoint them a king so they “could be like other nations.” Despite Samuel’s objections, the people insisted and Saul was crowned king. Saul’s private anointing, instead of public, shows that Israel may now have a king like other nations, but their king will be different. Their king will be held accountable by the Lord, often through a prophet of the Lord.
Focus Verses: 1 Samuel 8:5-9 – In their request for a king, how was Israel rejecting God? By having a king, what were they giving up? Are there areas of your life where you are rejecting the Lord? What lesson is to be learned from these verses that you can apply today?
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