Scripture:
1 Samuel 23:1-12
Fri, 24 September 2021

When Humans Let Us Down

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about the people of Keilah?

Deeper Reflection
HAVING HEARD that David was in Keilah, Saul sought to “destroy the city” on David’s account, so as to force Keilah to surrender David to him (vv.10-11). David suspected that this might happen and so he inquired of God about this, whereupon the divine reply was, “They will surrender you” (v.12). One would expect Keilah to be grateful to David for having delivered them from the Philistines and would not betray him, but stand on his side. Wisdom tells us: “Many will say they are loyal, but who can find one who is truly reliable?” (Prov 20:6, NLT). In this regard, we make a two-pronged application. On one hand, we seek to be truly reliable, but the other hand, we should not be surprised when people let us down, even though they have claimed to be loyal. David the fugitive had sought refuge with human beings, but only to discover that humans are unreliable and will do what is expedient even when they should be grateful for past favours.45 God alone is a dependable refuge. In His intense struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sought the support of the disciples closest to Him, but they let Him down in their slumber (Matt 26:36-38, 40, 43). Jesus knew that an hour would come when all His disciples will be scattered and will “leave Me alone”. But Jesus’ strong and steadfast conviction was: “Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me” (Jn 16:32).
45 Robert B. Chisholm Jr., 154
Application:

How will I respond in the Lord when people let me down unexpectedly?

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 look at the faithful God when let down by people
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

Download this Building Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for East QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for WDL QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

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

Download this New Life Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for BPJ QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.