ESOCS Devotional 7 November 2025 – A Praying People
MEMORY VERSE: “And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away.” 1 Samuel 30:18
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 30:18-31
So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. 19 And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. 20 Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, “This is David’s spoil.”
21 Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.”
23 But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. 24 For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.” 25 So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.
26 Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord”— 27 to those who were in Bethel, those who were in Ramoth of the South, those who were in Jattir, 28 those who were in Aroer, those who were in Siphmoth, those who were in Eshtemoa, 29 those who were in Rachal, those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, those who were in the cities of the Kenites, 30 those who were in Hormah, those who were in Chorashan, those who were in Athach, 31 those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to rove.
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Paul says in 2:1, “First of all.” Based on all the information Paul has written in Chapter 1, then this is the first thing we need. Paul urges that all kinds of prayers be offered for all kinds of people. Rather than being caught up in useless speculations and fruitless discussions (1:4, 6), we are to be a praying people. We have looked at various descriptions about how we are a kingdom of priests, as God’s people (Rev. 1:6; 5:10; Is. 61:6). One of the most important ways we function as priests to the world is through an active prayer life. Notice that Paul says we are making petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving for all people. We are praying for everyone. We are praying for God to give time for people to repent. We are praying for God to show mercy. We are praying for people to turn their hearts to the Lord.
In this way, we are given one of our more difficult commands as the people of God: pray for your enemies (Matt. 5:43-44). Paul says to pray for everyone. There is no one excluded from the list of people we are to pray for. So, we need to consider our prayer life. The people of God are people who pray for everyone, even their enemies. It is the best response we can have to our enemies. Prayer is what we need to do for someone who hurts us or is an enemy to ourselves or to God. God’s people are to be a praying people, even for enemies.
Furthermore, Paul wants us praying for our government leaders. Paul says to pray for those who are kings and in authority. We should consider what this would have looked like in the first century. Paul would have been instructing Christians to pray for Emperor Nero Caesar. This would mean praying for Herod Agrippa, king of Judea and President Tinubu. This would also mean praying for the various governors and procurators in the Roman Empire, like Felix and Festus. So, when Paul proclaims this, he is not talking about government leaders that people would like nor people that would be favourable to Christianity. Paul was not praying for a democratic government. Paul was not praying for a capitalist economy. Paul was not praying for a government or economic system that was like the one we have in Nigeria. Yet Paul says to pray for them.
Notice Paul does not say that we pray for our leaders only when we agree with them. Paul does not say that we pray for our leaders only when they are godly. Paul does not say that we pray for our leaders only if we voted for them or wanted them in power. In fact, it would be reasonable to consider that our prayers should increase all the more if we are not pleased with what our leaders are doing.
Dearly beloved, the era of selective prayers has gone. This can only be effective only when our hearts are circumcised. You need to forget about the past and keep to God’s word. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour (v 3).
CHALLENGES
- How often do you pray for people who hurt you, dislike you or hate you? Just obey God.
PRAYER POINT
- Father, teach me how to pray always and for everyone. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Job 9:1-20; 10:13-22; 1 Timothy 3:1-16
ESOCS Devotional 7 November 2025
