TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:1
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. - Ecclesiastes 11:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a wonderful little book entitled Money Smart, Christian financial counselor Larry Burkett says that while advice from unsaved experts to Christians may be good as far as it goes, ""their counsel is lacking the most essential element: God's Word. It has been my experience that most counsel from unsaved financial advisors is aimed at protecting the assets of their clients."" But, Burkett says, as Christians we have priorities other than financial gain.

There's a word for the element that is missing in so much of the advice we receive from non-Christians: stewardship. It makes a big difference whether you consider yourself owner and master of all you have, or as a manager of God's resources whose first responsibility is faithfulness (1 Cor. 4:2).

The writer of Ecclesiastes understood the importance of setting life's goals and making decisions with the knowledge that we are accountable to God. Being a wise counselor, he reminds us to keep our focus on the Lord, and not on His gifts and blessings.

Nowhere does God's Word tell us to hoard our time, our spiritual gifts, or our money out of fear that we might make a mistake or lose something.

Remember, the only servant the master judged in Jesus' parable of the talents was the one who hid his money because he was afraid of losing it and displeasing the master (Matt. 25:25-27). God intends His gifts to be used.

Once we have our spiritual vision adjusted, we are ready to take on the challenges He gives us. Life is full of uncertainties, Solomon says, but those aren't our concern. That which we can't see or understand is in God's hands. Our job is to invest our lives in the work of His kingdom.

Verse 9b may sound like dangerous advice. However, Solomon balances it with the reminder that our desires and decisions will come under God's review. It is also true that when we make the Lord our delight, He will ""give [us] the desires of [our] heart"" (Ps. 37:4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If we had to give a title to today's study it would be, ""Go for it, but don't leave out God.""

In other words, let's not pack our lives so tightly, even with good things, that God is squeezed out. A good question to ask yourself today is this: are your heart, your mind, and your schedule so full that God would have to do something spectacular just to get your attention? Pray today that God will help you keep your spiritual eyes and ears open to Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Proverbs 27:23-27
Riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. - Proverbs 27:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you have ever done a detailed household budget, or tried to keep careful track of your time for a week, you know it's the little things that eat up the extra hours and dollars. One father of a college-bound daughter was recently surprised to learn that her chosen major required three separate private music lessons, adding almost eight percent to her total bill for each semester.

There are some expenses and time requirements we can't eliminate without real consequences. But locating and eliminating true time- and money-wasters is one reason, as experts advise us, to make a budget or get a handle on our time. In Song of Songs 2:15 we read, ""Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards.""

The speaker was referring to relationships, but it's still a great picture of the so-called hidden costs that can eat up our resources. It makes sense to know where our hard-earned money and valuable hours are going.

God's Word advises us to be knowledgeable managers. One basic demand of good stewardship is to know who we are and what we have. There are at least three reasons this is important.

First, it's important to know our condition because our resources are limited and money has a tendency to ""sprout wings"" (Prov. 23:5).

Second, knowing our status has an advantage beyond just finding and plugging the leaks in our budget or our time. When we are good managers, we get to enjoy the benefits. A farmer who takes care of his animals will have food and clothing for himself and his household.

A third reason it's important to know our condition is not stated in the text, but it is implied. Paying careful attention to things is a way of acknowledging God's provision.

The only reason farming or any other occupation produces results is that God chooses to bless the process. The more we know about where our resources are coming from and where they are going, the more we will appreciate God's gracious supply.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Is there something in the back of your mind that you've been wanting to do more--or maybe do less?

It could be almost anything: a desire to spend more time in prayer, begin an exercise program, cut down on watching television, or take more time for spouse or family. Whatever the case, if the prompting is from the Lord, He will provide the time, money, or energy to accomplish it. Check out the condition of your ""flocks and herds"" this week, and you may find extra minutes or dollars that could be used some other way.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 15:1-23
Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? - 1 Samuel 15:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
The sad story of King Saul's battle with the Amalekites and God's anger with him is often referred to as the case of Saul's partial obedience. But that's actually a contradiction in terms, because God is only interested in complete obedience.

This Old Testament account may not seem related to our subject this month, but it illustrates another valuable truth for us as God's stewards. Before God accepts our offerings, He wants our obedience.

We have mentioned this principle briefly, but it's worth more study as we come to the end of the month. God's command for Saul to destroy the Amalekites was His judgment on them for attacking Israel on its exodus from Egypt (Ex. 17:. On that famous occasion the Israelites won a great victory as Aaron and Hur held up Moses' hands, and God decreed that someday He would blot out the memory of Amalek (Ex. 17:16; Deut. 25:19).

This is the historical background to the battle. Saul must have known about God's decree, but even if he hadn't, Saul still had a direct order from God through Samuel. Instead of following God's decree, this weak-willed king decided to save the best of the animals, later justifying his disobedience by telling Samuel the animals were intended as an offering to God (1 Sam. 15:15).

God wasn't pleased with Saul's half-hearted offering; He was grieved at the king's whole-hearted disobedience. There was no lack of sheep and cattle in Israel if Saul had really wanted to give God a genuine sacrifice.

Saul revealed his insensitivity to God when he announced to Samuel, ""I have carried out the Lord's instructions"" (v. 13). The king also gave away his low regard for the Lord's command when he blamed his soldiers for his bad idea of saving the best (v. 21). The price of Saul's neglect was his throne.

Samuel's riveting question to Saul (v. 22) eliminated all the excuses. It was rhetorical because Saul knew the answer. But Samuel stated it just in case the king had missed the message: ""To obey is better than sacrifice."" No amount of giving to God or doing things for Him can replace obedience.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Obedience to God is a bigger subject than we can cover in one sitting. But that doesn't mean it is complicated.

When Joshua became the leader of Israel, God told him to be careful to obey His law. ""Meditate on it day and night,"" the Lord said (Josh. 1:. If we want to obey God, we must know His Word. The psalmist prayed, ""Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart"" (Ps. 119:34). If you have a hunger to know the Word and obey God, why not make this your prayer today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 7:7-11
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. - Matthew 7:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Here's a final thought from Larry Burkett on what it takes to be a successful and faithful steward. ""God is looking for Christians who don't give up easily. Too many Christians live by the 'open-door' doctrine: if the door is open, it must be God; if it's closed, God must not want us to go in. If that were so, God's Word wouldn't direct us to knock on doors....Good stewards of God's blessings don't give up and can't be turned from God's will.""

Matthew 7:7 is quoted a great deal, just as we have done today. Jesus said these words during the Sermon on the Mount, in which He taught what it means for us to live as kingdom people. In other words, the promise of God's answer to our prayers isn't just a blank check we can use for anything. The preparation for answered prayer is conformity to the principles of kingdom living Jesus taught in Matthew 5-7.

But the reality that gives power to our obedience is the character of God. He is a good and loving Father who knows His children's needs and is delighted to meet them. Jesus said, ""Your heavenly Father knows that you need them"" (Matt. 6:32), referring to the necessities of life.

Some Christians get nervous when passages like this are taught, because it starts to sound like we can demand things from God, and He is then obligated to supply them. But the teaching that says, ""Demand your miracle from God today"" has a problem we could call isolation.

That is, we usually get in trouble when we isolate one part of a massive amount of material and build our entire theology on it, ignoring any passages that don't fit into our system. The Bible has much to say about prayer, both in terms of promises and prohibitions.

There's no question that this is a great promise to people whose heart's desire is to be faithful and pleasing to God (see Ps. 37:4). As we said earlier, if God has our hearts, He can trust us with His blessings. Let's conclude our study on stewardship with this encouraging assurance from Jesus that when we pray, our Father is listening!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The late Vance Havner put it so well: ""We carry checks on the bank of heaven and never cash them at the window of prayer.""

Havner certainly wasn't advocating the ""name it, claim it"" mentality that is so popular today. It's just that he understood the value of persistent prayer. How about you? If your heart's desire is to please God and be the best manager possible, you have every right to keep asking, seeking, and knocking when it comes to the spiritual, material, and physical needs of yourself and others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 1:1-20
I was pouring out my soul to the Lord...out of my great anguish and grief. - 1 Samuel 1:15-16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Art and Mindy Pavelski wanted a baby. But they'd married later in life, and two years after their marriage Mindy was still not pregnant. They visited a doctor, who put Mindy on a fertility drug, but to no avail. So they visited another doctor, who told them that for the price of a new car they could slightly increase their chances for a pregnancy.

Art and Mindy decided not to pursue that option, instead trusting God for divine intervention if He wanted them to have a baby. They continued praying, along with many of their friends, taking their heart's desire to the Lord. Two months later, they discovered Mindy was pregnant!

Ryan Edward Pavelski was born on June 25, 1996 a normal, healthy, active baby, an answer to prayer! In today's reading, Hannah takes her prayer for a baby to the Lord, and her prayer is also granted with the birth of Samuel.

This month we will study the life of Samuel, who is regarded as a transitional figure in the history of Israel. He acted as the last of the judges, anointed the first two kings, and also functioned as a prophet.

But before he began to function in any of these roles, Samuel was first a prayer in his mother's heart. Although Hannah had her husband's love, she had no children a source of pain to her personally. And since her barrenness was a serious strike against her in that culture, Peninnah used it as an emotional weapon against her (v. 6).

During one of their annual trips to the tabernacle, Hannah offered a prayer and a vow to the Lord. If He would give her a son, she would dedicate him to God for his entire life (v. 11). This was not a 'bargain' with God, but a sign of the depth of her desire and commitment.

Because Hannah was praying so intensely, Eli, the priest in charge, thought she was drunk. God, on the other hand, saw her heart and answered her prayer. She bore a son, whom she named 'Samuel,' meaning 'heard of God' (v. 20).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In today's Scripture reading, Hannah takes the deepest, most painful problem in her life to the Lord. She doesn't try to pretend that 'everything is all right,' but submits her wants to the sovereignty of God (vv. 10-11). She does right to take her pain to God His love and power are her only hope.

What about you? Do you dare to take that issue to God, the issue that causes such grief, such hurt, the one you've hidden away? Do you have the faith to trust Him with that, too?

If you need some help doing this in your prayer time, consider using one of the psalms that honestly expresses negative emotions (e.g., Psalm 13).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 1:21-28
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. - 1 Samuel 1:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
God had promised Abraham that he would be the 'father of many nations' but late in life he and Sarah had no children. Now she was past the age of childbearing. How could God's promise be fulfilled?

One day three strangers visited their tent. One of them was the Lord Himself, who made Abraham an extraordinary promise: 'I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son' (Gen. 18:10). When she heard this, Sarah, who was eavesdropping, laughed to herself and thought, 'After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?' (v. 12).

The Lord spoke truly, of course, and just as He had said, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. She rejoiced: 'God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me' (21:6).

Like Sarah, Hannah experienced the joy of seeing God accomplish the 'impossible' and discovered that nothing is too hard for the Lord (Gen. 18:14). Hannah's name means 'grace' or 'favor,' which God surely showed her in granting her a son.

Then came the time for Hannah to keep her vow. After Samuel was weaned probably at about age three she took him to Shiloh, along with a special offering to show her gratitude to God. Just as she had promised, her son would serve the Lord in the tabernacle, the spiritual center of Israel at that time.

Given Israel's spiritual state then something we'll learn more about tomorrow Eli may have been surprised that Hannah kept her vow. After all, she could have made excuses the boy was too young or Israel's spiritual life was too corrupt. But she understood the serious nature of a vow and faithfully kept her promise to the Lord.

Though surely Hannah and Samuel experience the normal emotions of a mother and child being separated, the mood here is not one of despair or sorrow, but rather of celebration and thankfulness. God changed grief into joy!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Hannah's dedication of her son Samuel to the Lord is a beautiful picture of what we as Christian parents can do today.

Have you dedicated your child or children to the Lord? At many churches, this simple ceremony involves standing before your congregation and committing to be godly parents a public promise to trust God with all your parenting challenges and with your child's future. Often the church body responds with a similar pledge to be a loving, supporting community. If you haven't done this, why not talk to your pastor soon?

What is the spiritual significance of a baby dedication in your church? Discuss this issue with your pastor or an elder.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 2:1-11
There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. - 1 Samuel 2:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Throughout history, men and women of faith have been characterized by their willingness to give anything they had back to God.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son, trusting God to fulfill His promise of a mighty nation of Abraham's descendants.

Moses' parents hid him in a basket in the Nile River, trusting God to protect him from Pharaoh's wrath against the Hebrews.

And D. L. Moody, the founder of the Moody Bible Institute, gave up an enormously successful career in sales to dedicate his life to full-time ministry in evangelism.

Each of these people acknowledged that all of creation belongs to God, and each time God rewarded their sacrifice with greater blessings.

With the same faith in God's sovereignty, Hannah gave her only son, for whom she had prayed years in advance. And she praised the Lord for His loving answer to her anguished prayer, commemorating Samuel's dedication at the tabernacle, and telling a God-glorifying story of spiritual victory.

Who is God? He is the deliverer, the holy one, the Rock, the just judge, and the one who changes people's intentions and their lives (vv. 1-6, 9-10). He is sovereign and omnipotent, as well as compassionate and loving (vv. 7-10).

That Hannah can rejoice even as she must say farewell to her son proves her godly priorities. Loving and trusting God comes ahead even of loving her dear son a lesson Abraham had also been taught earlier in the Old Testament (Gen. 22:1-19).

Hannah finds delight in God's power and rulership over all creation. This means that in the long run, righteousness is protected and evil is punished (1 Sam. 2:9). True strength is God's alone (v. 10)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Hannah celebrated Samuel the answer to her special prayer with the joyful psalm of praise found in today's reading. What a creative, heartfelt way to thank the Lord!

Why not find a creative way to thank God for a recent answer to prayer in your life? Several ideas might include: (1) Like Hannah, write a psalm. Focus less on the specifics of your prayer, and more on God's attributes as shown through His answer. (2) Draw a 'before and after' picture to show the difference the answered prayer has made in your life. (3) Or follow through on another creative idea of your own!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 2:12-26
The boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men. - 1 Samuel 2:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the hardest times in parenthood comes while the child is 'sleeping like a baby.' In other words, the baby's crying in the middle of the night.

Many times, parents can't resist running in to hold the baby or to calm the child with a bottle of milk. As this trend continues over the years, those parents soon learn that they have not taught the child discipline. The ability to say 'no' to a child can frame an entire lifetime of behavior.

Catering to a child's every whim can teach children to have a very selfish attitude. Without a loving firmness toward children, parents meet the child's strongest desires, but ignore their child's best interests.

Parents who love their children must discipline them (Proverbs 13:24; 19:18). Lenience in the guise of kindness only spoils children. Perhaps that's where Eli failed as a father to his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They were wicked priests, who bullied the worshippers and dared to put themselves ahead of God in the offering sequence (1 Sam. 2:17). Eli was aware not only of these sins, but also of his sons' sexual immorality (they were probably imitating neighboring pagan practices).

The contrast with Samuel could not be more obvious. His mother's faithfulness was rewarded God blessed her with five more children. Samuel's own growth in the Lord (v. 26; cf. Prov. 3:1-4) was explicitly echoed later in the Bible, in reference to our Lord Jesus Christ (Lk. 2:52)!

That verse in Luke 2 isn't the only parallel. As with Jesus, Samuel's birth was a miracle of God. And like Jesus' mother (Lk. 1:46-55), Samuel's mother responded with words of praise. Most importantly, the child Samuel was learning to walk in righteousness and to follow the Lord.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As you know, this month's study focuses on the life of Samuel and the early history of Israel under the kings. As we study, we'll discover how crucial the righteousness of individual leaders is to the fate of the nation.

On this Independence Day in the United States, it seems especially appropriate to pray for our nation's leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Pray that integrity will be a high priority in their lives. Pray that those who do not know God will be brought to an understanding of who He is. Pray that Christians in politics will have special wisdom for how to lead godly lives in this difficult arena.

Remember that the Lord is sovereign in the area of politics (Prov. 21:1), just as He is in all other areas of life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 3:1-21
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. - 1 Samuel 3:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 386 A.D., Augustine had reached a crisis in his spiritual search. He had tried various beliefs and philosophies and was unsatisfied. He'd rejected Christianity, but then found that his arguments and objections had all been stripped away.

One day, Augustine heard a child's voice saying, 'Take up and read; take up and read.' Receiving this as God's direction, he picked up a Bible and flipped it open to Romans 13:13-14: 'Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.'

'As I came to the end of the sentence,' he wrote later, 'it was as though the light of faith flooded into my heart and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled.' Augustine answered God's call he would later become an important leader and theologian in church history!

Similarly, Samuel responded obediently to God's call in today's reading, and took his first step down the road to changing history. Though it took Eli several tries to realize that God was speaking, he gave his protegŽ the right advice. Samuel's attitude was willing and obedient: Here I am (v. 10). This was his first personal encounter with God, the first time the word of the Lord was revealed to him (v. 7).

Samuel's call also defined the judgment on Eli's family. God's message to Samuel was not the first such judgment (see 2:27-36), nor was Eli surprised, knowing his sons' sin against God's holiness. He seemed resigned, recognizing the justice in the judgment and his own failings as a parent (3:13).

Today's narrative defines the end of Samuel's childhood and the beginning of his early ministry. The reading closes with another summary of his growth and development. God was with him, and everyone could see it (vv. 19-21)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God had to call Samuel three times in today's reading before he gave the answer God was looking for. Sadly, hearing God's voice was a rare experience in those days (v. 1).

But how different are we today? Sometimes we do all the talking, pouring out many words before the Lord without staying to hear His response. If God wants to speak to you today, will He find you listening?

This week, purposefully include a period of listening in your prayer times. Simply tell God that your ears and heart are open to whatever He wants to say to you, then wait in expectation. Clear your mind of distracting thoughts and sit at His feet, enjoying His presence.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 7:2-6
Commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only. - 1 Samuel 7:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Nineteenth-century evangelist Charles G. Finney lists seven signs of the need for a revival: (1) When there is a lack of brotherly love and faith among Christians; (2) When there is dissension and jealousy among Christians; (3) When there is a worldly spirit in the church; (4) When Christians are regularly falling into gross sins; (5) When there is a spirit of controversy in the church or nation; (6) When the wicked seem to be winning the day; and (7) When sinners are heedless of the consequences of their actions.

'When such things are taking place,' says Finney, 'then it is time to awake and cry to God for a revival of religion....It is time to ask of God, 'What will become of your great Name?''

Finney speaks of the church, but his points apply as well to the nation of Israel in today's reading. They were characterized by worldliness, selfishness, and a 'spirit of controversy.' Israel badly needed the repentance urged on them by Samuel.

We have left behind Samuel's childhood and now begin to examine the early period of his adult ministry. Twenty years have passed. Samuel has grown to manhood a prophet and a judge. The judgment on Eli's family has come to pass. Shiloh has been destroyed (cf. Jer. 7:12). Nationally, there is spiritual uncertainty where is God? What do we do with the ark of the covenant?

Into this void stepped Samuel. He urged Israel to put away their idols (cf. Ex. 20:3-4), to repent and return to the Lord. Then God would save them, as He had promised. In a national gathering at Mizpah, Samuel led the way and interceded for his people (cf. Ex. 32:7-14; Jer. 15:1).

The sincerity of their confession was shown through their actions. They left their idols. They fasted. They poured out water before the Lord. Although there is no other Old Testament reference to such a ceremony, it probably indicates humility or openness of heart (cf. Lam. 2:19).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Confession of sin is a spiritual discipline which should be practiced regularly by every child of God.

Is confession a key part of your spiritual life? Today, do a 'heart check' before the Lord (Ps. 139:23-24). Ask Him to convict you of any unconfessed sin. Then don't hesitate confess, repent, and be cleansed, for the Lord has promised to forgive us (1 John 1:9)!

If too much time has passed since you last did this, consider imitating the actions of the Israelites in today's reading. That is, you might fast to show the sincerity of your repentance. Or you might ask a leader in your church to pray with you, interceding on your behalf.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 7:7-11
He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed. - 1 Samuel 2:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1288 A.D., Vietnamese general Tran Hung Dao won a stunning victory against an overwhelming Mongolian invasion force. Four hundred ships and 40ꯠ enemy soldiers were massed off the coast, and the situation looked desperate for the Vietnamese.

After gaining valuable terrain and tide information from a local tea vendor, Tran Hung Dao planted huge, iron-tipped wooden stakes into a nearby riverbed. At flood tide, he lured in the Mongolian invasion fleet; at ebb tide, the Vietnamese forces made a furious counterattack. Hurrying to withdraw, the Mongolians found their ships stuck on the deadly spikes. The invaders were defeated.

We find another impressive military victory in today's Scripture reading. Just as Samuel brought spiritual rescue to the nation (yesterday's devotional), he also brought military rescue exactly as godly leaders and judges before him had done. National security and national righteousness are closely linked throughout the Old Testament.

The Philistines chose to attack at that time because they were afraid that the Israelites' courage was growing. They wanted to keep strong the atmosphere of fear and domination that they had enjoyed for many years. And since the Israelites were all gathered together at Mizpah like sitting ducks the time seemed ripe.

The people were afraid, but they knew where to turn for help to Samuel, God's spokesman. Again, Samuel prayed for them and offered a burnt offering for sin. Instead of frantically trying to give orders and make military preparations, he chose spiritual preparation, even as the Philistines drew dangerously near. Why? Because he believed that God would be faithful to His covenant relationship (v. 3) and that He would rescue His people.

And He did! God's thunder routed the enemy and the Israelites won the victory (v. 10). Against human expectations, the Israelites stopped being 'easy targets' and soundly defeated the Philistines. Who receives the credit? God alone!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God's power is an exciting truth for all believers! We should have several verses on that topic always ready to use whenever we feel weak or discouraged.

Today, why not memorize one or two of these verses? You might write them on index cards, then tuck them inside your Bible or tape them to your bathroom mirror.

Our recommendation is Job 42:2, 'I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.' And Proverbs 2:7-8 proclaims, 'He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 7:12-17
Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake. - Psalm 79:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Thinking of God's faithfulness through history, the great hymnwriter Isaac Watts penned these famous lines:

O God, our help in ages past,

Our Hope for years to come,

Our Shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal Home.

` Under the shadow of Thy throne

Still may we dwell secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone,

And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,

Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting Thou art God,

To endless years the same.

Remembering God's faithfulness can encourage His people to keep trusting Him with future problems. That's the principle Samuel has in mind in today's story.

To commemorate the victory over the Philistines (yesterday's devotional), Samuel erected a stone and called it 'Ebenezer,' or 'stone of help.' Much more than a simple war memorial, 'Ebenezer's' purpose is to remind Israel that God won the victory, not them. The stone reminds them to follow and trust God in the future also, rather than backsliding to idolatry and disobedience.

Setting up a 'stone of remembrance' may be seen in other Old Testament accounts as well. For instance, when Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, they set up stones to mark the event (Joshua 4:8-9). Or in a more personal example, Jacob, after having his famous dream of angels and a stairway to heaven, set up a stone at Bethel to acknowledge his encounter with God (Gen. 28:18-19).

We can say that Samuel's leadership at this point was a smashing success. The Philistines were subdued. Israelite territory was secure. There was peace with another enemy, the Amorites. Justice reigned in the land, thanks to Samuel's 'circuit riding' judging. Most importantly, the spiritual life of the nation had a center Ramah, Samuel's original home (see 1 Sam. 1:1) and a focus the altar of the Lord.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When Samuel set up a stone and named it 'Ebenezer,' he intended that the Israelites remember the victory God had given them that day. This 'stone of remembrance' was a spiritual milestone in the history of the nation.

In your personal history, there have doubtless been similar spiritual milestones, 'stones of remembrance' on your road with the Lord. What are they? If you've never done so before, map out a spiritual timeline of your life, noting major turning points and seeing the 'big picture' of what God has been doing in your life. You might do this during family devotions, putting together a timeline of God's work in your family.

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to you!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 8:1-22
You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. - Psalm 44:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
An old folktale recounts how a man decided to steal grain from his neighbors' fields. 'Just a little from each one,' he thought. 'No one will notice.'

So one dark night, the man took his youngest daughter and went out. He told her to warn him if anyone was coming, then crept off and began filling his sack with stolen wheat. 'Father, someone sees you!' cried the daughter.

He looked, but saw no one. Soon his daughter called again, 'Father, someone sees you!' Again he saw no one. She did this several times finally he asked her, 'Why do you keep saying that? There's no one here.'

'Father,' she replied, 'Someone sees you from above.' That little girl knew what her father did not know dishonesty can never be hidden from God. If only Samuel's sons had learned that lesson!

Twenty more years have passed, time enough for the Israelites to forget God's power and faithfulness. Samuel, perhaps age 65 now, had appointed his two sons as leaders after him. But they stole from God and from the people by using their positions of responsibility for personal gain (v. 3). Tired of this dishonesty and corruption, the Israelites approached Samuel with a solution they wanted a king.

Samuel knew the bad character of his sons, just as Eli had known the sins of his sons. But he was not pleased with the request for a king, because he saw a deeper, sinful motivation. Why did the Israelites ask for a king? To be like the other nations (v. 5). So their request was actually a rejection of God's kingship.

Long before, Moses had anticipated this situation and warned against trusting only in a human deliverer (see Deut. 17:14-20). Samuel reminded them of these words, of the disadvantages of a king, and of their distinct character as God's people, but they stubbornly insisted that a king was what they wanted. God said He would grant their request, but that all the warnings will come true. In other words, 'You'll get what you want, but you'll be sorry!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 9:1-24
Many who are first will be last, and the last first. - Mark 10:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
Who could have guessed it? Born a slave during the dark days of the Civil War, George grew up during the difficult period of Reconstruction. Education for a young black man was very hard to come by in those days overt racism and discrimination blocked him at every turn.

Despite these barriers, George Washington Carver received a Master's degree in botany, joined the faculty of the Tuskegee Institute, and eventually became a world-famous scientist. He is best-known for his research into peanuts and sweet potatoes. In his laboratory, Carver discovered more than 100 marketable products made of sweet potatoes, and 300 made of peanuts!

Even more importantly, Carver saw science through the eyes of faith. He said of his students: 'I want them to find Jesus....How I long for each one to walk and talk with the Great Creator through the things He has created.'

God chose an ex-slave to rejuvenate Southern agriculture. And He chose a donkey-herder to be the first king of Israel!

We first meet Saul as he's doing a bothersome chore chasing after some lost livestock. Not meeting with much success, he took his servant's advice and decided to stop in at Ramah to ask the seer (or prophet) for help. In this way, the future king's path first crossed that of Samuel.

This wasn't by chance. And Samuel was not surprised. God had told him the previous day what would be happening and who would be arriving. Far from retiring quietly, Samuel was to anoint and guide the first king of Israel.

No doubt Saul was puzzled. Though he didn't know the man of God, Saul was seated at the head of the worship banquet. He was also honored with a special portion of food. Saul may have thought it was a case of mistaken identity. But little did he know what God had in store for him!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Saul both met and contradicted the Israelites' expectations of what a king should be. On the one hand, he was tall and strong. On the other hand, his clan was the least in the smallest tribe of Israel.

With that in mind, here's an open-ended question for you to think about today: What do you expect from your leaders and why? What do you think makes a good leader? What talents or abilities are required? You might make a list of the qualities you think are necessary.

Then look again. How many characteristics on your list are the reflection of a merely human point of view? What qualities would be on God's list? After considering this issue, are there any adjustments you need to make in your thoughts, words, or actions?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 9:25-10:8
God changed Saul's heart. - 1 Samuel 10:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mary Slessor was a pioneer missionary and explorer in West Africa in the late nineteenth century.

Born into a poor working-class family, Mary was interested in foreign missions from childhood. She decided to go when her brother John died; their mother had hoped John would go overseas. In 1876 Mary arrived in present-day Nigeria.

Unlike many missionaries of the day, Mary lived as one of the natives, eating their food and living in their houses. She evangelized, supervised schools, dispensed medicine, and took care of orphans. She fought the custom of killing twins at birth and earned a respect rare for a woman in those days. She took the gospel to unreached tribes in the interior for more than a quarter century!

To be called and to be anointed are much the same in both cases, people are set apart for a special purpose. Mary Slessor was called as a missionary to Africa; Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel. In both cases, God chose and equipped them for specific purposes.

After the feast, Samuel talked privately with Saul (9:25) perhaps he was getting to know Saul. One wonders what Samuel must have thought of such unpromising material. It's encouraging to see that God Himself later changed Saul's heart (10:9).

With the authority given him by God, Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. To prove the truth of this action, and perhaps to reassure Saul, Samuel foretold several specific signs. Saul's mind must have been whirling, since he didn't tell anyone about his anointing even after the signs came to pass (v. 16).

The 'prophets' Saul joins (vv. 5, 10) were probably a small community of godly men, exuberantly praising and worshipping the Lord (cf. Ps. 149:1-3).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In the Old Testa-ment, to anoint a king or priest was an act signifying consecration. These days, we don't normally anoint people in that way, but consecration to God's ways and purposes remains a spiritual necessity for believers.

Today, as a personal act of consecration, memorize one or both of these New Testament verses on this topic. Romans 12:1-2 exhorts, 'Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is His good, pleasing and perfect will.' And 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 admonishes, 'Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.