Daily Devotional for Wednesday, July 5

The Placating of Saul

“And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not,” I Samuel 10:16.

During medieval times, heralds would announce the arrival of the most important guests by sounding the trumpets as they entered the gates. This would alert all in the city from the lowest peasant to the highest in the king’s court that a noble person had arrived. This is perhaps where the saying was derived, “to toot your own horn” meaning to boast of one’s own status or accomplishments. While this behavior is encouraged in the world today, it is not what the Word of God teaches.

Saul was questioned by his uncle about where he and his servant had been and what Samuel had said to him. Saul had every opportunity to tell his uncle the exciting news that he had been chosen by God Himself to be the king of Israel. He could have easily justified in his mind that disclosing such information to just one family member would be harmless. But Saul had a humble spirit about him. He was prudent, discreet and recognized such an announcement was to be made in God’s time by God’s man. Saul used great discernment in choosing to omit the information concerning the kingdom.

God calls us to humility as Christ gave us such an example. Pride is a ruthless enemy to the child of God. It creeps into our lives undetected and blinds us if we are not careful. Humble yourself before the Lord today and allow Him to bless your life in His time and according to His plan. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (I Peter 5:6). Rather than living a life attempting to impress others, live your life to please the Lord Jesus Christ.

REFLECTION: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10)

Darla Goodrum