In First Samuel, chapter twelve, verse twenty-four, although King Saul was the ruler of Israel, Samuel, as a prophet of God, continued to call both the king and the people to walk in God’s way. Representing God and His Word, the prophet stood apart from Saul and all the future kings of Israel as God’s …
In First Samuel, chapter twelve, verse twenty-three, Samuel was a man of prayer. He was born in answer to his mother’s prayer: as in chapter one, verses ten through twenty. He prayed for God’s people and, over prayer, saw Israel deliver them from their enemy in chapter seven, verses five to fourteen. Samuel prayed when …
God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray Read More »
In First Samuel, chapter twelve, verse twenty-two, God continues to work with the Israelites even though they had made a wrong choice and departed from His perfect will for them. In His mercy and patience, God will often keep helping us even when we make bad choices and enter a path that is not wholly …
In First Samuel, chapter twelve, verse twenty-one, Samuel warned the Israelites not to follow after useless and powerless idol gods. Only the Lord could give them the help they needed in any crisis. Many who will not have Christ to reign over them would yet be glad to have him intercede for them, to turn …
In First Samuel, chapter twelve, verse fourteen, Samuel made it clear that God’s blessing and welfare of the nation are conditional not upon having a king but upon their response of reverence for and service to God with obedience to his covenant word. Samuel, with mournful earnestness, would drive home to the hearts of the …
In First Samuel, chapter twelve, verses seven through eighteen, Samuel manifested the true prophet’s heart by pleading with the people to remain faithful to God and His commandments. Samuel remained faithful to God and his purpose throughout his life and never deviated from his original personal integrity, mission, or message. Samuel obtained testimony from them …
In First Samuel, chapter eleven, verse six, the assurance of the empowering of the Spirit spoken by Samuel at Saul’s anointing as king is present. Saul, as king, gave the same kind of military leadership against Israel’s enemies as the judges did. One dimension of the Holy Spirit’s work in the believer is genuine anger …
In First Samuel, chapter ten, verse twenty-five, Israel’s king was to be distinctly different from the kings of other nations. Rather than being an absolute monarch, he was to be a theocratic king, subject to God as the ultimate ruler of the king.Though the people were bent on having a king, yet were sensible that …
In First Samuel, chapter ten, verse nine, Saul possessed many God-given abilities to help him righteously serve God and Israel. Initially, he had a changed heart, an empowering by the Holy Spirit, a strong body, a humble attitude, and the guidance and prayers of Samuel, as stated in verses six and twenty-three of chapter ten, …
In First Samuel, chapter ten, verse six, God changed the inner deposition of Saul through his anointing by the Holy Spirit. This change was not unconditional or permanent, but something that could be maintained only by the holy fellowship with and loving obedience to God. When Saul later drifted from dependence on God to direct …
