Scripture to Read: 1 Samuel 13
This week we focus on king David. God spoke about David through Samuel the prophet. Samuel the prophet spoke to king Saul to let him know that his disobedience to God cost him his kingship. Saul was king over Israel, but he was not a priest. When Saul offered a sacrifice to the Lord, Saul disobeyed God and Samuel. Saul disobeyed Samuel because Samuel had told Saul in 1 Samuel 10:8, “And you shall go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will be coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and inform you of what you should do.” Saul had no right to do what only a priest should do. God shows us in 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 His judgment on king Uzziah for offering incense in the temple, which was reserved only for the priests. Through Samuel, God told Saul in 1 Samuel 13:13-14, “You have acted foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for the Lord would now have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” God desires us to be people who pursue Him with all our heart and not to pursue our fleshly desires. The choice is ours every day.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you about pursuing Him with all your heart and not your own desires?
2. How will you choose to pursue God with all your heart each day this week?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!