Life Applications and Lessons in the Book of I Samuel (Vol. 88 )
As we continue our Bible reading, we see so many life applications and lessons in the book of I Samuel.
Let’s jump right in and see how we can apply these lessons to our daily lives.
Life Applications and Lessons
“The people refused to listen to Samuel. ‘No!’ they said. ‘We must have a king over us. Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.’” I Samuel 8:19-20
My question is, “Why would they want to be like all of the other nations?” They had been conquering all of the other nations!
I can ask the same question to us as a nation, and to myself personally – “Why do we (I) want to be like the other nations, people, societies, etc…?” With the Lord, we have the best, yet we seek out lesser things. It doesn’t really make sense.
- We are called to be different than the world.
- We are in the world but not of the world!
- They wanted someone to fight their battles for them.
- A human king could only be in one place at a time.
- The Lord fights our battles for us. He goes before us, and He is the rear guard. He is in both places at the same time, surrounding us with His protection.
I Samuel Chapter 9
“Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.”
I Samuel 9:3
- The Lord used lost donkeys to bring about His purpose and plan.
“But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.” I Samuel 9:6
- The Lord used a servant to bring about His purpose and plan.
“Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”
I Samuel 9:21
- The Lord used a humble person to bring about His purpose and plan.
- He will use whoever He wants to bring about His plans.
“Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on My people, for their cry has reached Me.” I Samuel 9:15-16
- The Lord directed everyone who had a part in the story.
- Samuel knew to trust the Lord, so he was already expecting Saul.
“Samuel said to the cook, ‘Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.’ So the cook took up the thigh with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, ‘Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion from the time I said, “I have invited guests.” And Saul dined with Samuel that day.”
I Samuel 9: 23-24
- The preparations were made in advance, because the Lord told Samuel what would happen the day before.
- When the Lord puts a plan in place for us, He aligns all of the right people and works out all of the details.
- How wonderful it would be to be as in tune with the Lord as Samuel was. If we truly listened to the Lord’s plans and believed what He said, we would be ready for anything!
“He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering.” I Samuel 13:8-9
- Only the priests were supposed to offer the burnt offerings. This was the Lord’s command to keep things from turning into idol worship.
- Fear, desperation, and impatience caused Saul to take matters into his own hands, which led to sin.
- When you are in desperate times, wait for the Lord’s answer or direction. Don’t go out on your own.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” I Samuel 16:7
- The Lord knows our hearts, and He will use us accordingly.
- We need to pray to see people the way the Lord sees them.
- The Lord can use someone with the right heart more effectively than someone who “looks” like they fit the part.
- The Lord uses the unlikely – Here are just a few:
- Noah
- Moses
- Rahab
- Ruth
- Gideon
- Jonah
- Mary
- Peter
Life Applications and Lessons in Bible Study
Please join us as we read the Word each week, and share your insights on the scriptures as well.
Life Applications and Lessons Resources
If you have joined me recently, these daily life applications from the Bible are examples of some of the comments I am writing in the Bibles I am giving to my grandchildren when they graduate from high school. Click here to see the post where I explain this eternal gift idea. I want to give them all the resources I can to use in today’s world!
Related Post
I Know the Plans: Planting Seeds of Faith
I hope these life applications and lessons will help you in some aspect of life. Please share any encouragement and lessons you have learned this week as you read the Word of God.
I hope you will join me next week as we seek life applications and lessons from the story of David and Goliath.
Until next week…
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“From one Man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.” Acts 17:26
(New Testament)
