My Daily Meditation
Today’s Reading
The First Book of Samuel
Chapter 10:17-27
Brethren in Christ;
In an earlier chapter we read the warning that God gives the people of Israel about the dangers of setting a man above them, instead of looking to Him for guidance. He speak to them, through Samuel, and tells them of all the things that will happen if they want to choose this course of action. Basically He says it will not work, nor go well with them. But people, being flawed as we are decided that they know best, instead of trusting in God, and reject His warning. In the very last verse of today’s reading, we find that within seconds of the new king Saul being introduced, there were already forces of dissent among the people.
So it is with us today friends that when we reject God, and His guiding hand in our lives, we suffer strife, anxiety, fear, loathing, envy, and know not the meaning of true peace in our lives for we create for ourselves many of our own problems. To coin a phrase, we’ve become our own worst enemies.
17 And Samuel assembled the people unto the Lord in Mizpah,
18 And he said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have brought Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hands of all kingdoms that troubled you.
19 But ye have this day cast away your God, who only delivereth you out of all your adversities and tribulations: and ye said unto him, No, but appoint a king over us. Now therefore stand ye before the Lord according to your tribes, and according to your thousands.
20 And when Samuel had gathered together all the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
21 Afterward he assembled the tribe of Benjamin, according to their families, and the family of Matri was taken. So Saul the son of Kish was taken, and when they sought him, he could not be found.
22 Therefore they asked the Lord again, if that man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
23 And they ran, and brought him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from the shoulders upward. (a)
24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye not him, whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? and all the people shouted and said, God save the King.
25 Then Samuel told the people the duty of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord, and Samuel sent all the people away every man to his house.
26 Saul also went home to Gibeah, and there followed him a band of men, whose heart God had touched.
27 But the wicked men said, How shall he save us? So they despised him, and brought him no presents: but he held his tongue.
(a) Editor’s thought - Re: vs 21-22 - Saul seems very reluctant to want to take on this roll.
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