Scripture:
1 Samuel 27:1-12
Sat, 20 November 2021

Is God in the Picture?

Observation:

What is the significance of God not being mentioned at all in 1 Samuel 27?

Deeper Reflection
THERE IS NO MENTION OF GOD in 1 Samuel 27. The text does not say precisely or directly what God was doing in this episode. It does not inform us of God’s point of view. There is no overt indication of the narrator’s position. But the text seems to be “sympathetic to David’s difficulty and yet presents him as in the wrong”32. David was in Philistia for 16 months (v.7). Was God present with David during this rather long period of time? Why didn’t God intervene in David’s plan to escape to Gath (v.1) as He did in His initiative of grace in 1 Samuel 24 to 26? Doesn’t Scripture say, “The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps” (Prov 16:9)? Well, at least we know that there are times when God intervenes and there are times when He does not. God acts in His sovereign freedom and sovereign wisdom (Psa 115:3; 135:6). God is still working when He appears to be inactive. Divine waiting itself is divine activity. While 1 Samuel 27 is about David’s escape from Saul, “the will of God for us includes more than escaping from Saul”33. 1 Samuel 27 is not the end of David’s discipleship journey. As we read on in David’s story, we can trace the divine footprints in 1 Samuel 27. David might have strayed off course, but “the LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand” (Psa 37:23-24, NIV).
32 Dale Ralph Davis, 281 33 Dale Ralph Davis, 285
Application:

What are the divine footprints in those times in my discipleship journey when God was silent and seemed to be inactive?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • For Church Board: To be able to see the unseen footprints of God in their lives
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

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 pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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