Wed.’s Devo - Saul Becomes King

Read: 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15; John 6:43-71; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 15:1-3 Samuel had walked with Saul to the outskirts of town where no one could see him. He took a flask of oil and poured it over Saul’s head and kissed him. He told them that because God had chosen him to rule Israel, he was also God’s chosen possession. He then told him three signs that would happen at strategic places along his way home. The last one was that he would prophecy and get a new heart. God fulfilled every sign and he did give Saul a new heart. Samuel also told him after all these things happened he was to meet Samuel in Gilgal where he would offer sacrifices. Saul would have to wait seven days for him to come. When Saul began prophesying the people wondered how someone who was not a prophet could prophecy. Saul called all the people of Israel to Mizpah to show Israel who their king was but when he went to present Saul he was hiding among the baggage. They found him and stood him before the people. He was head and shoulders above anyone else. The people rejoiced and Saul wrote down his duties as king on a scroll and placed it before the Lord. All the people went home. Some of the men followed Saul but others doubted his authority and refused to give him gifts. Saul chose to ignore them. Meanwhile, Nahash the king of the Ammornites was oppressing the tribes east of the Jordan. He gouged out the right eye of the Israelites. Seven hundred of them had escaped and gone to Jabesh-gilead. When Nahash came to them they begged for a peace treaty. The only way Nahash would give it to them was if they let them gouge out their right eye. Jabesh-gilead sent news to Gibeah where Saul was to ask if they would help them. Saul got so angry, he took his two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the pieces to all Israel saying this is what would happen to their oxen if they didn’t come help. They came, all 330,000 of them. Saul sent word to the people of Mizpah that they would rescue them by noontime tomorrow. They were so happy. They sent word to the Ammonites to come and do whatever they wanted to them. Saul’s army arrived early that next morning and were ready for the Ammonites. They killed them all morning. Saul had a great victory. Samuel called them all to Gilgal where they would anoint Saul as king. In John, Jesus continued to teach about the bread that came from heaven as being himself. They were having a hard time with this so he threw in the kicker: “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But none who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.” Even his disciples had a hard time with this teaching. He had already said that no one could come to him except the Father draws them. Jesus knew the ones who would accept them and the ones who wouldn’t. He wasn’t afraid of offending people. He was exposing their hearts. Lord, help us not to be offended in You and what you choose to do in our lives. We trust that you way is better than ours.