Scripture:
1 Samuel 22:9-19; 11:1-15
Wed, 15 September 2021

Downward Spiral of Persistent Sinning

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Saul as seen in 1 Samuel 11:5-7, 12-13 and in verses 9 to 19?

Deeper Reflection
WE CAN TRACE the downward spiral of Saul’s persistent sinning against God in 1 Samuel 11 to 22. This picture presents a sobering spiritual reality: Disobedient servants of God can end up actively opposing God’s purposes.22 The Spirit of God empowered Saul and through him God “accomplished deliverance” for Israel from the hostile Ammonites (1 Sam 11:6, 13). Then, Saul disobeyed God’s clear commands, which led to God rejecting him as king over Israel (1 Sam 13:13-14; 15:22-28). Instead of resigning himself to God’s unalterable decision, Saul stubbornly refused to accept it and insisted on preserving his rule and his dynasty. As his inflated ego grew (1 Sam 15:12), he tightly grasped his royal position, with no intention of letting go, and relentlessly sought to kill David whom he viewed as the greatest threat to his throne (1 Sam 18:6-11; 19:1-24). His hostility toward David reached a new low when he tried to kill his own son for defending David’s honour and loyalty (1 Sam 20:30-33). This man, who was once a Spirit-empowered king, had now become an “irrational, paranoia-stricken mass murderer”23, killing the priests of God and an entire town, including women, children and livestock (vv.18-19). In the process Saul lost everything. Only Doeg was for him (vv.17-18), which is tragic and sad.24 These are “the self-destructive consequences of blatant disobedience” of one who has descended from being God’s servant to God’s enemy.25
22 Robert B. Chisholm Jr., 150 23 Robert B. Chisholm Jr., 150 24 Dale Ralph Davis, 230 25 Robert B. Chisholm Jr., 150
Application:

What do I need to watch out for to keep myself from descending from being God’s servant to God’s enemy?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • Pray for leaders:
  • Pray for singles: To be graciously restored when they have strayed away from God
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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