Scripture:
1 Samuel 23:24-29
Sat, 2 October 2021

A Messenger Came to Saul

Observation:

What is the significance of “but a messenger came to Saul” (v.27) in the context of verses 24 to 29?

Deeper Reflection
THE DIVINE ASSURANCE to David through Jonathan, “The hand of Saul my father will not find you” (1 Sam 23:17), does not mean that when Saul pursued David, David needed to do nothing. No, he still had to be on the run. David and his men were staying in “a secure place”4 in “the wilderness of Maon” (v.24). When Saul heard it, he “pursued David in the wilderness of Maon” (v.25). Both Saul and David were now locationally “at the closest since David’s flight”5. They were so close that as Saul passed along one side of the mountain, David passed along the other side (v.26). Sensing that Saul and his men were “surrounding him in a pincer movement”6 “to seize them”, David “hurried to get away from Saul” (v.26). It was a very narrow escape. But the danger was still present, as Saul was still pursuing David. But just then – in the nick of time – “a messenger came to Saul”, who urgently summoned the king to confront the Philistines who were again raiding Israel (v.27). Saul had no choice but “reluctantly and temporarily abandoned his personal vendetta”7 to deal with the Philistines (v.28). Clearly, it was Divine Providence over this. God acts only at the right time. When God says He will not “delay long” but act “quickly” (cf. Lk 18:7-8), it is about the perfect timing of a God with whom “one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” (2 Pet 3:8).
4 David G. Firth, 252
5 David G. Firth, 252
6 David G. Firth, 252
7 Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, The New American Commentary (B & H, 1996), 237
Application:

What situations in my life do I need to trust in God to act in His perfect timing?

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 Church Board: To grow in waiting on God with patience
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

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 Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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