ESOCS Devotional 16 October 2022
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 9:15-27
MEMORY VERSE: “And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over my people.” 1 Samuel 9:17
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
What could God have seen in Saul to select him among all the children of Israel, to honor him and anoint him king over all Israel? He was not from the tribe of Judah where the scepter was to remain until Shiloh come. Rather, he was from the smallest tribe in Israel and from the smallest family in this smallest tribe. He was by no means a king stuff. Though tall with a striking look, he appeared naïve and non-kingly in many ways. He lacked the necessary confidence to lead a people as a king. There was not much to commend him and by human rating, he had no chance of ever becoming king. Yet, God singled him out and set him up for leadership and greatness.
As the scripture says, He chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27). He chooses the lowly things and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before Him. God is sovereign and does what He likes (Eccl. 8:3). There is no limiting Him. He is able to do all things and to use all things. He gives strength to the weak and brings ability into him that is said to be unable. God’s grace and favor towards man; all the blessings upon man is of God and not of man. God made Saul king in spite of all that he wasn’t; and gave him the ability he needed to be king. Thus, what he was, all his successes and the glories of his exalted position were of God; a gift from God.
No one should ever forget God’s grace and favor. But Saul did. He grew powerful, used the office for himself, became disobedient and rebellious and did not glorify God. He forgot his humble beginning and how God chose him and made him great, and that was the beginning of the end for Him. His fall was great, his end very tragic, and his posterity destroyed.
When God decides to favor you, don’t forget He did it not for anything you are, but because He chose to show you mercy. It is His ability and not yours that works in you to bring success into your life. Don’t forget to give Him the glory.
CHALLENGES
- Think of all the ways God has favoured you. Write them down and give Him thanks.
- Evaluate how you have responded to God in all His goodness.
PRAYERS: Father, we thank you for thy grace and all the things you have bestowed on us. Forgive us in any way we have been self-centered and ungrateful. Give us a heart that will love and appreciate you. Amen.
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ESOCS Devotional 16 October 2022
