ESOCS Devotional 29 May
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 7:1-17
MEMORY VERSE:“So the Israelites got rid of their Idols of Baal and Astarte, and worshiped only the LORD”1 Samuel 7:4
God is ever faithful. He keeps to His covenant to His people without fail at all times. Total submission to His will is what we need. We should rely on Him completely without any other. In our text, we see how God responded to save His people when they turned to rely on Him.
The first step to take if you desire that God should rule your life and get you to emerge victorious in life challenges is to trust Him extremely. Before this could happen, there has to be sincere repentance from secret and open sins, and the confession of Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). In verses 2-3, we read, “… all the Israelites cried to the LORD for help. Samuel said to the people of Israel, If you are going to turn to the LORD with all your hearts, you must get rid of all the foreign gods … Dedicate yourselves completely to the LORD and worship only him and he will rescue you from the power of the Philistines.”
The problem with men on earth is to agree and comply with the truth about God. It is either that we have an excuse to disagree with what is said or there is no regard for the one who spoke it. But in our text, there was compliance and regard for the word of the man of God (verses 4-6). In verse 4 of our text, we read thus, “So the Israelites got rid of their idols of Baal and Astarte and worshiped only the LORD.”
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
There is no one who complies with the word of God that does not attract God’s mercies and favour. All you need to do in times of trouble is to call upon the LORD in prayer and be strong at heart to face the challenge and conquer it (verses 7-17). In verse 10, we read “While Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines moved forward to attack; but just then the LORD thundered from heaven against them. They became completely confused and fled in panic.”
The attention we get from God when we totally submit to Him is all-encompassing; and the benefits eternal. Let us therefore, wholly lean on Jesus’ name, His righteousness, and the LORD will be our everlasting rock and helper. In verse 14, we read: “All the cities which the Philistines captured …were returned to Israel, and so Israel got back all its territory. And there was peace…” May the peace of the LORD be with you. Amen.
ESOCS Devotional 29 May – CHALLENGES: Is it possible to attract God’s attention and help without total surrender to his will?
PRAYER POINT: Lord, I surrender totally to your will today and reaffirm my faith in you and your saving grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, in Jesus name. Amen
FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 6:13-21; Revelation 6:9-17; 7:1-17
