Mon.’s Devo - Saul Made King

Read: 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15; John 6:43-71; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 15:1-3 Samuel spoke privately to Saul. He poured a flask of oil on his head and kissed him. He told him that he would be the leader over his people and save them from their enemies. He then gave him three signs that would happen to him on his way home. When he got to Rachel’s tomb he would be met by two men who will tell them that they found the two donkeys and his father is worried about him. Then at the oak of Tabor, he will meet three men going up to Bethel. They will be carrying three young goats, three loaves of bread, and a skin of wine. They will give Saul two of their loaves and he was to accept them. Thirdly, he would come to Gibeath-elohim and meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with musical instruments. The Spirit of the Lord will come upon Saul and he would begin prophesying like a prophet. After all that happened he was to meet Samuel at Gilgal. *** All the signs happened just as Samuel had said they would. When all the people met with Samuel at Gilgal, he reminded the people of how the Lord had brought them out of Egypt, but today they have rejected the Lord and asked for a king to rule over them. He told them to stand with their tribe. The tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. Then the clan of Matrite, then Saul’s lot was drawn, but Saul couldn’t be found. He was found hiding and was brought before the people. He stood a head taller than anyone. *** The people shouted, “Long live the king!” and Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship. He wrote them in a book and laid them before the Lord. Everyone then went home. Some were happy about the choice and others despised Saul. *** Nahash the Ammorite came up against Jabesh-gilead to take it. The people tried to make a peace treaty with them. THe Ammorites said they would make a treaty with them if they agreed to let them gouge out the right eye of all the men. The elders of Jabesh asked for 7 days to see if they could ask the other tribes to help them. If they wouldn’t, then they would agree to their treaty. *** When Saul found out about the threat, he was so mad he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces. He sent the pieces throughout Israel saying that whoever didn’t come with Saul and Samuel to fight the Ammorites, this was what would be done to them. Three hundred and thirty thousand people came from Israel and Judah to fight. *** On the day that Jabesh was to surrender to the Ammorites, Saul divided the army into three groups and they attacked the Ammorite camp and defeated them. Those who survived were scattered. *** The people wanted to put to death the men who had despised Saul, but Saul wouldn’t let them. Samuel led everyone to Gilgal to renew the kingdom. There they made Saul king and sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord. The men of Israel rejoiced. *** In John, everything Jesus talked about that Passover was explaining what the bread stood for. He was the bread of life - the living bread that came down from heaven. The manna that came down from heaven in the wilderness was a picture of him. He is the bread that gives life to the world. The bread is his flesh. *** They couldn’t understand that. Jesus told them that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life and be raised up on the last day. Even the disciples had a hard time understanding what Jesus was telling them. He explained to him that he was talking spiritually. The flesh couldn’t do anything, but his Spirit can give eternal life. To understand what he was saying, a person had to be able to see spiritually. Jesus lost many followers this day. He asked the twelve if they would leave him as well. Peter answered that they had no where else to go. Who else has the worlds of eternal life. Jesus explained that he chose them but even one of them was going to betray him. *** Lord, may we continue to believe, even when we do not comprehend what you are doing. May we faithfully follow you.