Devotion for Wednesday 13 October
Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from The First Book of Samuel, Chapter Three verse Four, “And the Lord called: Samuel, Samuel! And Samuel said: Here I am,” (NRSVB). The Prophet Samuel served as a prophet in Israel at a time when the Israelites were asking to have a king, like the other nations around them. Instead of being ruled through judges, prophets and priests, being directly governed by the Commandments of the Lord and his instruction through ordained leaders, the Israelites wanted a monarchy. Samuel was deeply troubled and prayed to the Lord to give him insight to know how to deal with this unprecedented situation. This marked a turning point in the history of the nation of Israel. We read in Chapter Eight verse Seven, in the First Book of Samuel, “And the Lord said to Samuel: Harken to the voice of the people in all they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be King over them,” (Amplified Bible). Samuel explained to the people that a king would demand loyalty to the uttermost, which in turn will replace their loyalty to God, and ultimately their kings would lead them astray. Notwithstanding the warnings, the people demanded to have a king like all the nations around them. God told Samuel to go and anoint the new leader of Israel, who was King Saul. His reign led Israel to the brink of destruction. However, the next king that Samuel anointed, King David, was a man after God’s own heart. He continued to lead the Israelites in the way of love for God and his commandments with all their heart, mind, soul and strength.
The Prophet Samuel’s place in the history of Israel spans the crossing from one period of history to another, a period where the leadership was divided into specific realms, where the king and his kingdom would be obeyed, over and above the instruction and prophecy of the prophets. From this time forward, history demonstrated how the prophets would warn the kings that their course of action was against the word of the Lord, but the kings would continue in similar vein, even going as far as killing their own prophets. The prophet Samuel’s position in the story of Israel was unique, he was prayed for from God, by his mother Hannah. Through the High Priest Eli, Hannah was told that God would grant her the wish for a son. Hannah returned her beloved son to the Temple of the Lord, to serve the Lord. As a young boy Samuel heard the voice of the Lord calling him while in the temple. He answered God that he was ready to serve, “Here I am Lord.” Samuel served the people as prophet and called them to obey and honour God. He suffered rejection as they ultimately rebelled against his authority. God honoured him and gave him the unique command of anointing Israel’s first two kings. Samuel’s rejection as prophet is a foreshadowing of what would happen to the King of Israel, Jesus Christ, in the time to come. The king of heaven, the Lord of all, was rejected on earth, in favour a client king and a foreign military rule and justice system, a system that did not acknowledge the reign of God on earth.
When the Apostle Paul started out to preach the word of God, reflected in the Cross of Jesus, throughout the Gentile world, he was persecuted, just as the other Apostles were, preaching the message of Christ in Jerusalem. He suffered rejection, opposition and ultimately death at the hands of those who were vehemently opposed to his message of salvation through the work of Christ. Despite the situation he found himself in, he followed through, like Samuel did, on his promise to the the Lord, “Here I am Lord!” He never turned away from the suffering of the rejection of his message and thus himself, and continued to preach Christ, and Christ crucified. The prophets and apostles of the Lord were strengthened by the word of God, that spoke to them through visions, and gave them courage to point kings and rulers to the King of the Universe. God still speaks to his messengers and gives them words of prophecy and promises of guidance and blessing on their work, despite outward appearances of failure. “And one night the Lord said to Paul in a vision: Have no fear, but speak and do not keep silent; for I am with you , and no man shall assault you to harm you, for I have many people in this city,” as we read in Acts Chapter Eighteen verses Nine to Ten, (Amplified Bible).
Father God, we pray to you and confess that the world has rejected you and your lordship and kingdom here on earth. Help us to stand in the gap and intercede like the prophets and apostles did. Help us to seek your will and your face as we turn our faces to you to meet you and come into your holy presence, Amen.
