Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 11:1-15, 1 Samuel 12:1-25, Isaiah 5:8-12, Micah 6:1-5
I still vividly recall my third year of law school, when graduation neared and I had no offer of employment. The plan had been to work at a Washington, D.C., law firm during the second summer and, by the end of my time there, secure a permanent offer to return upon graduation. But the firm suffered a financial downturn and could extend only two offers. (Another firm I’d turned down extended more than twenty.) Stressed out and covered in hives, I was sure I’d be forever unemployed.
Please, let me get this position. My heart uttered those words with every resume sent, every interview secured. Still, the rejections piled up. Then, one week before graduation, my resume found its way to the desk of a federal judge in Madison, Wisconsin. She conducted a phone interview, flew me out for a face-to-face, and offered a clerkship on the spot. It was one of the best jobs I could’ve gotten. And oh, how I celebrated, calling it as a blessing.
A month later, my fiancé and I ventured to Madison to begin our careers. We rented an apartment and moved in together. I didn’t know the Lord at the time. I wanted His blessings, but I didn’t want Him as Lord and King over my life.
Such was the state of affairs in Israel during the latter part of Samuel’s time as judge. The people asked for a king to reign over them “like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5), thus rejecting God as King. They got what they asked for. God chose Saul to be their king, and, empowered by His Spirit, Saul led the people to a great victory against the Ammonites. And oh, how they celebrated. They had their king! They had victory over the enemy!
With such immense blessings, they surely felt all was well. Don’t we tend to think the same? When we’re being blessed—especially if we’ve received the very thing we asked for—we don’t see “warning” flags. To the contrary, we feel good about ourselves and our situation, perhaps even about our relationship with God. After all, we must be doing something right in order for God to bless us, right?
But blessings have more to do with God than with us. They reflect His amazing grace and His long-suffering character. They flow from His lovingkindness and goodness. “For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).
In the midst of great blessing, our hearts can still be far from God. And apart from Him, blessings are merely temporal and empty.
God was gracious in pointing this out to the people of Israel. Through the prophet Samuel, He interrupted their revelry to remind them that they had rejected Him and to point to where true prosperity lay.
“If you fear the Lord, worship and obey him, and if you don’t rebel against the Lord’s command, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God.”
– 1 Samuel 12:14
Madison ended up being the place where I met the Lord, where He drew me to Himself and saved me. That was the true blessing—the greatest blessing. Now, when I think of that time, I’m reminded that no matter what is happening outwardly in our lives, whether hardships or joy, the true measure of our well-being is in the posture of our hearts before God. The ultimate blessing is in following Him and allowing Him to reign as King over our lives.
Kim Cash Tate is the author of several books, including Though I Stumble (2016) and Cling: Choosing a Lifestyle of Intimacy with God (2017). A former practicing attorney, she has a passion for studying and teaching the Word of God. Kim lives in St. Louis with her husband and their two young adult children.
“Now, when I think of that time, I’m reminded that no matter what is happening outwardly in our lives, whether hardships or joy, the true measure of our well-being is in the posture of our hearts before God. The ultimate blessing is in following Him and allowing Him to reign as King over our lives.” This is what I needed to read today. I have been struggling for the last year and longer afraid to make a move as what if it isn’t God’s will but these words gave me understanding that as long as I am focused on Him it will be okay even if it doesn’t look like that outwardly. I get it now. It’s been a strange year as I have been scared to move forward or take action but at the same time have experienced His peace and joy on a daily basis. Thank you! I feel as if a weight is lifting that I wasn’t even sure was there.
Perfect timing for this. Thank you, Lord.
My prayer today: “Please do not let my heart be far from you Lord, in blessing and in drought.”
Great prayer! Thanks!
Amen! It’s never about us. It’s always about him! I love that every blessings he gives us creates the opportunity for us to give him all glory and praise!
http://www.in-due-time.com
I have returned from a week of serving at Camp Barnabas which is a camp designed for people with disabilities of all kinds. I took a group of 16 high school students from our church who served as missionaries and each of us were there to insure that the children with disabilities had an amazing week at camp. It was a week of intense service including everything from cleaning bathrooms, changing diapers, feeding, pushing wheelchairs, doing loads of laundry, walking miles, providing fun parties…but mostly just loving on these campers. Throughout the week I did my best to encourage my students and the others I had in my cabin so that they could keep their minds, hearts, and strength up in order to be able to power through the rough days and keep going strong. During this week several unexpected things happened that I had to deal with and it became increasingly difficult to find time to recharge myself. I found myself whining to God about how hard it was. And each time I started sinking, he sent someone to me to pray with me, or share scripture with me, or do a load of laundry for me….showing me that He was with me. And I realized that I was like Peter when he stepped out of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus. If I kept my focus on Jesus I could do the work He called me to do. But if I took my eyes off of Him and focused on my problems, I began to sink. I wanted God to remove my problems but that would have been like the Israelites asking for a king. And I would have missed His greater blessing of relying on my King. How many times has it taken Him to teach me this? How many times will I forget again? Praising my Lord today for loving me no matter how slow I am to learn.
Thank you for sharing this.
Love this outlook : I wanted God to remove my problems but that would have been like the Israelites asking for a King.And I would have missed His greater blessing of relying on my King” Reminds me of, “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus”
As someone with friends who have attended that camp, I just want to say thank you for serving there.
I think it’s interesting how God had finally given Israel a King, and yet in the time of danger, they still didn’t turn to this King immediately. They tried to negotiate themselves. Israel definitely had a leadership problem. It wasn’t until God helped Saul conquer their enemies that they turned to him as a real King. No matter God had been doing that for them all along.
To me, it seems like God sent Nahash to solidify Saul’s leadership. Then he entered Saul so that Saul could do what was necessary to be seen as a leader in their eyes.
It’s interesting how God will send opposition to help us and to bless us. So much was out of their control. God was doing all of the work.
I try not to focus on the enemy. I focus on the God who manages to work through the enemy. “Consider the great things he has done for you,” really convicted me this morning. I need to be more intentional with my gratitude. Not only does this help my heart stay in a pure place, it helps me remember all the good God has done for me. Because the way I see it, Israel’s main problem is their forgetfulness. I pray that God always goes before me. I surrender to his ultimately fabulous plan. May I write out my blessings every morning so that I too may never forget.
Kim, your story sounds exactly like mine does! I graduated from law school in D.C. last May, and was in the same position – without a job, praying to God for every resume, but my heart was far from Him. And in the same way, God used the job He did miraculously provide me (with a judge! Praise!!) to bring my heart close, and not just my desires. A friend I recently shared my story to sent me this this morning, and I just want to thank you so much for sharing! As I start applying for the next position, what a great reminder of what’s (& WHO) is truly important. Thank you!!
That’s not just logic. That’s really seilnbse.
How often I measure God’s love and attention to me with whether or not He has answered my prayers. If a prayer goes unanswered, maybe He does not see, maybe He has not heard, I am invisible and left to suffer alone. What direct lies those are! I am ashamed to see so much of myself in the changing attitude of the Israelites, praising God one minute and doubting Him the next.
Today’s Scriptures have challenged me, and my loving Abba has chastened me. After all He has done for me, but even more than that, while I feel His presence tangibly around me, why do I doubt? What more could He do? If He answered all of my prayers at once, I am sure it would take very little for me to doubt Him yet again.
May I take my eyes off of myself and place them solely on the Lord, see through my life and circumstances to the One greater who holds all of creation in His hands. May I not be quick to doubt like the Israelites, but stand firm on who He says He is and trust, rest.
Isaiah 40: 21-26
“Do you not know? Do you not hear?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
who brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name;
by the greatness of his might
and because he is strong in power,
not one is missing.”
This!!! ….. ” If He answered all of my prayers at once,
I am sure it would take very little for me to doubt Him yet again. “. These words won’t let me go …
thank you.
I love when I read verses like 1 Samuel 12:20-22 because it’s just a constant reminder of what kind of God we worship. The true blessing doesn’t come in a job we’ve always wanted, in a house we’ve always dreamt of, or any other temporary gift we can be given. Our greatest blessing is following a God who is merciful, loving and unconditional. Today’s passage spoke to me because sometimes I get too caught up in what kind of earthly possession I want to desperately have… but the only thing that’s ever going to make me complete and feel fulfilled is having God reign over my life and giving my life to Him. I have been blessed immensely but if I had to choose the biggest or most important blessing, it would be Him and that’s something I always have to remember.
The same verses struck me…I want to plaster them somewhere! So lovingly written. What a God we serve!
Yes! So true!