Good morning friends! Today we get a taste of what Saul is like as a King and get a little family drama between him and his son. I found it fun to compare Saul from yesterday where he was timid to where he is today as a ruthless battle warrior. What about his leadership do you admire? What about it do you struggle with? Share your thoughts with me in the comments!
Scripture to Read
Audio Bible
Questions to Consider
What does this teach me about God?
What does this teach me about humanity?
What about the psalm stuck out to me?
What about the "main story" stuck out to me?
Would Jesus say amen to this?
- My Thoughts -
Honestly I feel for Saul here and I question God in this one. Saul makes a burnt offering because he did not see Samuel and Samuel was late to the meeting time. Saul did not skip the burnt offering...he still did it, just not Samuel and as a result God hates him now and his rule as King is over. I mean come on man talk about PETTY. Side note - a smile crossed my face as I read about how no one would make swords for Israel so they had to use their ploughshares and turn them into swords. That's the origin story for the famous description of what peace will look like in the kingdom of God from Revelation. That's pretty neat. Alright back to my rant against why I think Saul got screwed over. Saul made the army not eat until evening before his revenge would be carried out. I don't find this obsessive I find it faithful! We just learned about the jewish laws of fasting and mourning. Although it was not practical to have his soldiers be starved, it's clear that when God is on their sides they can overcome any outcome so Saul was likely just following that.
Long story short I think Saul get's a bad wrap and it's a story worth filing in the "not everything biblical is fair" book.
Prayer:
Let's pray the beloved serenity prayer today
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.
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