Daily Devotional for Thursday, July 20

The Rebellion and Revelation

“It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night,” I Samuel 15:11.

God is the One who assigns the honor and authority given unto man. He is the One with the power and wisdom to establish and remove kings and the powers that be. There are expectations for those that the Lord sets up in positions of power and all are subject unto Him. Saul had been given the great privilege and responsibility of being the first earthly king of Israel. He began his reign with a humble heart for the Lord, but over time he stopped following Him and went his own direction.

As always, the Lord had given Saul specific instructions through Samuel as to what he was to do concerning the Amalekites. Nothing was to remain alive which included men, women, children and animals. All was to be utterly destroyed without exception. Yet Saul disobeyed the commandment of God and spared Agag and the best of the livestock. The Lord had been long-suffering toward Saul, yet his heart had grown haughty and rebellious toward his God. It was at this point that God revealed to Samuel that Saul would no longer be king of Israel and Samuel was grieved and cried to the Lord through the night. Truly, rebellion against God causes much grief to the people of God.

You may not be in great power or of high-ranking position, but God has still placed you as a steward over something or someone of great value to Him. Whether you are a CEO of a major company or a stay-at-home mother, you are to be a faithful steward of all God has placed in your charge. Follow Him with your whole heart and submit to Him always.

REFLECTION: “Moreover it is required in steward, that a man be found faithful” (I Corinthians 4:2)

Darla Goodrum