Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional for October 17, 2024, by Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion
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TOPIC: DISOBEDIENCE DESTROYS DESTINIES
TEXT: 1 Samuel 13: 5-25 (NKJV)
13:5 Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which [is] on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven.
13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.
13:7 And [some of] the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he [was] still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
13:8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
13:9 So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering.
13:10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
13:11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and [that] you did not come within the days appointed, and [that] the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
13:12 “then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”
13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
13:14 “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him [to be] commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
13:15 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men.
13:16 Saul, Jonathan his son, and the people present with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin. But the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
13:17 Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned to the road to Ophrah, to the land of Shual,
13:18 another company turned to the road [to] Beth Horon, and another company turned [to] the road of the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
13:19 Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.”
13:20 But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle;
13:21 and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads.
13:22 So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who [were] with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son.
13:23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.
STUDY:
When Samuel anointed Saul, he ordered him to wait for him for seven days in Gilgal (1 Sam. 10:8). But despite this clear instruction, Saul disobeyed due to pressure and went ahead to offer sacrifices. This disobedience cost him and his generation the kingship of Israel. Instead of being repentant when confronted by Samuel, Saul tried to justify his actions. Samuel informed him that his disobedience had caused him to lose the kingship, and then he left Saul and returned home.
No excuse is acceptable before God for disobeying His will, as expressed in His word. Saul’s disobedience disrupted his destiny. Have you allowed disobedience to ruin your destiny? Today, many people treat the cross of Christ and His word with disdain (Philippians 3:18). The level of disobedience to God’s word in the church is alarming, and the contempt shown to the church and ministers of God is disturbing.
Some disobey godly principles in marriage, business, relationships, dressing, examinations, and even simple traffic rules. Are you living in disobedience to your parents, spouse, teachers, pastors, bosses, or authorities? Are you stubborn, giving irrelevant reasons to justify your disobedience when confronted? Repent now before you truncate your God-given destiny!
PRAYER:
Lord, may Your fear be restored in Your church in every nation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
CONCLUSION ON TODAY’S DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL:
Disobedience to God’s commands brings not only temporary setbacks but also long-term consequences, as seen in the life of Saul. His decision to act out of impatience and fear, rather than trust and obedience, led to the loss of his kingship—a position God had entrusted to him. This story reminds us that God values obedience far more than any offering or sacrifice we may bring. No excuse or justification can ever substitute for following His clear instructions.
In our personal lives, just like Saul, we may face pressures and challenges that tempt us to deviate from God’s path. It’s easy to act based on what seems urgent or logical in the moment, but we must remember that God desires our obedience above all else. His commands are not burdensome but are meant to guide us toward the fulfillment of His divine purpose. When we choose disobedience, we risk derailing the plans He has for our lives.
Today, many of us struggle with disobedience in different forms—whether it’s neglecting God’s word, dishonoring authorities, breaking moral laws, or compromising in relationships. These actions, however small they may seem, can have a destructive impact on our destinies. The story of Saul serves as a warning to remain steadfast in obeying God, regardless of the circumstances.
To avoid such a tragic fate, we must constantly assess our lives. Are we living in alignment with God’s will? Are we justifying behaviors that contradict His word? If so, it’s time to repent and turn back to God. True success in life comes when we live in full submission to His authority, trusting that He knows what’s best for us.
Let us pray for the grace to remain obedient to God in every situation, knowing that our obedience opens the door to His blessings and the fulfillment of our God-given destinies. Only through complete trust and obedience can we fully experience the abundance of life He has planned for us.
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