Day: March 23, 2026

Day 82 – A Year in the Bible – 1 Samuel 13-15

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1 SAMUEL 13 – A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

The LORD Hath Sought Him a Man After His Own Heart
And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. – 1 Samuel‬ ‭13:13-14‬

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1 SAMUEL 14 – BEHOLD I AM WITH THEE ACCORDING TO THY HEART

His Armourbear Said Unto Him Behold I am with Thee According to Thy Heart
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. – 1 Samuel 14:6-8

Cursed be the Man that Eateth Any Food Until Evening
And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. – 1 Samuel 14:24-26

My Father Hath Troubled the Land
But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines? – 1 Samuel‬ ‭14:27-30‬

Shall Jonathan Die, Who Hath Wrought this Great Salvation
Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die. And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. – 1 Samuel‬ ‭14:43-45‬ ‭

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1 SAMUEL 15 – REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCRAFT

To Obey is Better than Sacrifice
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. – 1 Samuel 15:22-23

So many things to ponder in today’s scripture passage. This story of Saul making excuses to Samuel of why he didn’t follow every instruction of the Lord is a great lesson for us. So many times, we don’t follow through doing everything the Lord has commanded. If the Lord gives the word for someone and we change even one word of His Word to make it an easier Word, we have done just like Saul. To these kinds of sins, the Lord reminds us today that

• Obedience is better than sacrifice
• To hearken is better than the fat of rams
• Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft
• Stubbornness is sin
• Idolatry is sin
• If I reject the Word of the Lord, He will reject me!!!

Saul did much of what the Lord instructed him to do, and he said he kept the best sheep alive to offer them as a sacrifice unto the Lord. That sounds like a good thing, BUT it was not what God had told him to do with the sheep.

Obey – to follow commans or guidance of; to conform to or comply with
Hearken – listen; to give respectful attention; to bring to mind something; to give heed to
Rebellion – opposition to one in authority or dominance; open defiance of or resistance
Stubborn – unreasonably unyielding; unmoving; obstinate; persistant manner; difficult to handle or manage; fixed or set in purpose or opinion
Idolatry – excessive or blind adoration, reverence, or devotion

Help me, Lord, to follow every instruction that You give to me today! Convict me when I don’t. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen!!!