1 Samuel 11-15: Day 087: Journey Through the Bible in a Year

March 29, 2022

1 Samuel 11-15
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Day 087: Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Focus Verses for Today: 1 Samuel 15:24-31

Take a few minutes to ask for God’s guidance and understanding as we journey through 1 Samuel 11-15. Read 1 Samuel 11-15. Let the journey begin!

Commentary: Chapter 11 parallels Judge 19-21. How? Following his victory, Saul was reaffirmed as king and Samuel gives a farewell speech, although prophets would continue to speak for the Lord. Samuel reminds the people that they had sinned by rejecting God as their King and choosing Saul to lead them as king. Samuel cautioned them that they and their king needed to be obedient to God if they wanted God’s providence. It was a warning soon forgotten. In chapter 13, Saul displeases the Lord by offering the sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel. As punishment, Saul’s descendants were not going to inherit his throne, rather a new line of kings would be chosen. In the war against the Philistines, the Philistines had the advantage of numbers and weapons. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had swords.

In chapter 14, we see what kind of king Jonathan could have been, if not for his father’s mistakes.  Additionally, we see that Saul has fallen farther from God. Accompanying the army is a priest from the house of Eli, whom the Lord is no longer with. Later during the war, Saul is shown as indecisive and failing to seek God’s direction. Saul is rejected as king when he fails to do as the Lord instructs. Obedience is worth more to the Lord than any sacrifice. Saul’s confession in verse 24 is a self-serving confession. He is not sincere, which is evident in verse 30. Saul no longer considers the Lord “his” God and is more concerned with what the people think than God. At the end of the chapter, everyone is grieved, except Saul.

Focus Verses: 1 Samuel 15:24-31 – How can you tell that Saul is not sincere in his confession? Have you ever given a similar confession (insincere)? Is there something about which you need to humble yourself before the Lord?

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