Scripture:
1 Samuel 31:7-13; 11:1-11
Fri, 17 December 2021

A Love Shining in Disgrace

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about the people of Jabesh-gilead?

Deeper Reflection
WHEN THE ISRAELITES living in the Jezreel valley area in Issachar and Manasseh “beyond the Jordan” saw that their king had died and Israel’s army had fled, “they abandoned their cities and fled”, which were then occupied by the Philistines (v.7). But the people of Jabesh-gilead in Transjordan Gad did not. More than that, when they “heard what the Philistines had done to Saul”, they “rose and walked all night”, taking a “difficult and dangerous”16 trek by fording the Jordan River and entered a territory held by the Philistines, about fifteen miles away,17 to retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons (v.12). They found the bodies and “burned” them (v.12). Burning the bodies was not normal Hebrew practice, but it might have been judged necessary, for by then the bodies would have been considerably damaged by decomposition.18 They took their “bones” and trekked another difficult and dangerous fifteen miles back home. They gave Saul and his sons a proper burial, and out of respect for their fallen leaders they “fasted seven days”19 (v.13). The people of Jabesh-gilead did all this because they remembered how Saul had delivered them from Nahash the Ammonite king (1 Sam 11:1-11). 1 Samuel does not end with the disgrace of Gilboa that resulted in the glory of pagan gods. It ends with a “debt of gratitude”20 expressed in an act of love. A love worth all the risks to be taken to show – even to one who has failed and fallen in disgrace.
16 Robert D. Bergen, 283 17 Robert D. Bergen, 283 18 Dale Ralph Davis, 328, footnote 8 19 Robert D. Bergen, 284 20 Dale Ralph Davis, 328
Application:

What are the risks that I may have to take to love certain people around me right now?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To love people like Christ loved through the cross
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 5:7-17
Wed, 31 May 2023

Answering God’s Call in Vocation

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
Daniel did not choose to serve Babylonian kings in Babylon. It was circumstances – a national crisis of his country – that compelled Daniel to be where he was and doing what he was doing. Daniel did not have the privilege, opportunity or freedom to pursue a career of his own desire. However, it was out of these adverse circumstances, that Daniel discovered God’s call for him: To serve God through serving Babylonian kings. And God gave him the specific competency to fulfil God’s call (Dan 1:17). After Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar about his dream and the interpretation, he was “promoted” to be “ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan 2:48).When Belshazzar gathered his wise men to interpret for him the inscription on the wall, Daniel was not among them. Daniel was not unknown to Belshazzar.59 He knew him as “one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah” and “appointed him chief ” over all the wise men of Babylon (vv.11-12). It was only when the queen mentioned Daniel to him, that Belshazzar called for him (vv.10-11). Belshazzar “deliberately ignored Daniel”60 . Daniel was sidelined. How do you respond to being sidelined? For Daniel, he felt secure. Daniel was secure because he had no ambition to climb the corporate ladder. He had no interest in rewards and promotion. Daniel said to Belshazzar, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else” (vv.16-17). But Daniel interpreted the inscription for Belshazzar. Daniel was answering God’s call for him.
59 Ernest C. Lucas, 131 60 Ernest C. Lucas, 131
Application:

What positive attitudes do I need to cultivate in my workplace?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: To view their vocation as answering God’s call for their lives
  • Pray for self
 

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