1 Samuel 12:12-15

“But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the Lord your God was already your king. All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the Lord has granted your request.

“Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God. But if you rebel against the Lord’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.

Explanation:

The two most dangerous places to live are in the past or in the future. Israel consistently did both. They vacillated between longing for the pleasures of their past in Egypt, or thinking the next leader would make their lives great. God was faithful and provided for their days, but their hearts looked right past their daily provision into the fanciful delusion of what tomorrow would offer.

This particular chapter deals with their leadership issue. They repeatedly felt like the next leader would solve their difficulties. Their blind spot was their inability to stay focused on the fact that when they submitted to God and prayed, they were blessed. But as so many of us do, when they were in a season of goodness, their hearts started to wander from God. Eventually, their decision-making ability and desires warped as they closed their ears and hearts to God’s leadership in their lives. When the consequences of their choices caused their lives to implode, they would collectively decide it was new leadership they needed...not more of God.

Samuel the prophet had led them from the days of his youth until this day, when he stood before them an old, graying man. I can imagine the sadness he felt at their discontent. I can also imagine God's sorrow. Fickle hearts rarely see God in their midst. Samuel had been utterly faithful and good as their leader, but they wanted something new and shiny...a KING! Kings were cool, and since Israel had never had one, AND because other nations had one...they wanted one.

Scripture becomes alive to us when we are able to place ourselves in the narrative and come to an understanding of who we are in the story. May we align with Samuel, who lived in close relationship with God and honored God as his king.

Application:

1. Who was Israel essentially trading in for a king?

2. Does it sound like this is going to go well?

3. What stipulations are they given to have God’s blessing?

4. What example had the past given them?

5. How are we like Israel when it comes to wanting relief in a chaotic country?

6. Can we learn from them, and realize it is not a donkey or elephant that is an emblem of victory in our lives, but rather a cross?

7. What are you looking toward that is causing you to miss God today?

Devo Plus:

Isaiah 41:10

Prayer:

God, bring my mind to peace. Help me sort through the noise of my life and country in this intense time, and see You securely sitting on the throne of heaven. You are my King. You rule over all circumstances, and have my future in the palm of Your hand. I long to stay focused on that and to rest securely in that reality. Calm my heart when I feel fired up. Help my mind to focus on all things that are good, true, noble, right, and lovely…and lead me away from temptation that would rob me of peace. I am so grateful that my life rests in the knowledge that You are above all and over all. Amen.

Psalm 118:8-9 (ESV)

It is better to take refuge in the Lord then to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord then to trust in princes.

Explanation:

Refuge: a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

This passage is reminding us that it is always better to find our safety and our shelter in the Lord, and the Lord alone. God wants us to rest in this truth. This world is full of broken people, and even the greatest ones are still broken. No man can aid us in the devastating struggles of this world, such as death of a loved one, sickness, divorce, depression, betrayal, etc. Only the Lord can give us refuge. Only the Lord can give us hope in the middle of chaos and unexpected circumstances. When we put our trust in anything but God, we will always be let down and frustrated.

I tend to put high expectations on people around me. When these expectations aren’t met in the way I think they should be, I become frustrated. Over the past 10 years, God has been teaching me that people will always let me down, even the good ones. I can’t look for shelter in my earthly relationships. The only place where I can be completely safe and secure from pursuit, danger, or trouble is in God’s presence. He is our shelter.

God also wants to remind us of the importance of trusting in Him alone, and not placing our trust in leaders (princes). Even leaders are not perfect, and will let us down. God is the only one who will always protect us, always love us, and always be our security. Rest in that truth today.

Application:

1. Are you putting expectations on people in your life, and feeling let down and frustrated when they let you down?

2. How can you trust God completely, and allow Him to be your refuge this week?

3. Ask God to reveal to you the things in your life you need to trust Him with, and then write those things down. Every day, release them to God, and trust that He will take care of you.

Devo Plus:

Take some time and worship to The Tree Church Music’s song, Anchor and Refuge. Let God’s peace take over!

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for loving us so much that You want to be our refuge. Thank You for always giving us hope, and for taking care of our every need. Help us to take advantage of the promise that You provide. Help us to get out of our own way and allow You to be our safety net. When we find ourselves trying to find security in people or things, help us redirect back to You, God. Reveal to us the things we aren’t fully trusting You in, and help us to surrender to You.

Joshua 24:14-15, 19-20 (ESV)

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”

Explanation:

Joshua is saying it loud and clear: serve. Serve the one true God, worship Him, obey Him, love Him, and desire Him whole-heartedly. Joshua is telling the people they must choose what god they are going to serve…choose now, and choose wisely. He tells them to think about what God has done for all of them so far. Joshua mentions that the God he serves is a jealous God. He has been with them on this journey, but if they choose false gods, then the real God will turn His back on them. Joshua even warns them that God will turn His back on them and consume them. Not cool people, not cool.

Who do you serve? For real, stop reading this and really think about it for a few minutes. I know I serve a living God who can move mountains, heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, change my attitude and my situations. But do I serve Him every day, every hour, every minute? I hate to say this, but NO. No, I don’t. We all get pulled away by family, friends, hobbies, addictions, lust, etc. Just fill in the blank for yourself. I don’t love Him enough, trust Him enough, listen enough, obey enough. And on those days I don’t, my life is a wreck. This alone should make you wiggle a little. It hurts my heart just as I’m writing this.

And to top it all off, Joshua says God will remove His hands and blessing from you. WHAT!!!!! The Lord will actually leave us if we don’t do what He has called us to do…love Him, love others, serve, worship, obey and trust in Him and Him alone. That is enough for me. This scares me so bad. But on the flip side, this makes me feel so loved, desired, cherished. The God we serve wants to be so close to us. Walk with us, talk with us, pick us up when we fall. But on one condition: we must serve the one true God only. God is real, and He will be with you through anything this world can throw at you. You only have to choose Him daily.

Application:

1. Who or what do you serve? Better yet, what has control of your life if it’s not God?

2. Have you talked to another like-minded Christian about this?

3. Have you talked to God about this? And listened?

4. What needs to change in your life to serve only God?

5. Hardest question yet: Are you willing to let God have control of your life in this area?

Devo Plus:

Serve! I dare you to focus on serving this week. Make your prayers about serving in some compacity. Talk with God about this, listen to Him about serving. If you do even just a little, I bet He will do something huge in your heart. Because our God loves to make miracles happen for His children.

Prayer:

God, thank You for today. Thank You for loving us and challenging us. Thank You for our church and our families. God, help us to get out of Your way. Help us to dare to pray for a serving heart. Give us opportunities to serve the people around us. Even give us opportunities to serve people we may not like, or don’t see eye-to-eye with. Change our hearts to be more like You, and less selfish. Give us all a softer heart so we can enjoy the beauty You have blessed us with. We love You and pray this in Your Name. Amen.

Psalm 20:7-8 (ESV)

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

Explanation:

David knew what kings and their people usually put their trust in...human strength. Large, beastly horses and decked out chariots were what came to mind when they heard of the most powerful armies. David was writing to remind the people not to put their trust in “things.” Those mighty things will eventually collapse and fail.

What a great reminder, especially during these trying times. Without getting too political, we have to remember that our trust has to be in God alone, and not in the candidates running for president. People will fail us, as we all know. Our trust in God being sovereign over all is where we want to park our thoughts. “God isn’t surprised by any of this” is my promise I cling to. It is my go-to thought when everything seems to be out of control. When you feel like you don’t know where to turn, remember David and his words of wisdom for us.

Application:

1. Where is your trust right now? In things? In your possessions?

2. How can you switch your thinking to be more like David’s?

3. Spend some time in prayer today, asking for guidance and direction.

Devo Plus:

• Do some research on how often we’re told to trust God in the Bible. Over and over, you’ll see it. There is a reason we’re told so many times. We tend to easily forget God is in control.

• Turn on “Trust in You” by Lauren Daigle and blast it loud!

Prayer:

Father God, forgive us when we put our trust in things instead of You alone. We so easily get caught up in this life. Help us to put it all at Your feet. Be with us and heal our brokenness. Lord, we give You all the glory, and look forward to what You will do even today. Amen.

Psalm 146 (ESV)

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!

Explanation:

The psalmist begins and ends this psalm engaging himself and the reader to praise the Lord throughout all of life. Turning the focus, he explains that our trust is not to be in princes (sons of man), in whom there is no salvation. Placing our faith and hope in anyone of this world is putting our faith in something that is perishing. The psalmist goes on to say that our faith should be placed in the God of Jacob, reiterating God’s blessing through the Abrahamic Covenant. Our hope is in the Lord, the creator of the world, the God who is sovereign forever, and who keeps His faith eternally. He is forever a God of justice, freedom, healing, love, provision, and pursuit. The psalmist highlights that God will reign forever, and our trust should reside in Him alone.

This passage is such a good reminder that putting our hope in anything of this world is failing and perishing, but our hope in the Father is everlasting and eternal. The God who created the heavens and the earth is the same God who has given us the opportunity to spend an eternity with Him. He wants us to put our complete trust in Him because He cares for us. He wants to be the provider, the healer, and the Lord of our lives entirely.

Application:

1. Why is it so important for our faith be in God and not man?

2. In what areas of your life are you placing your faith in man or things of this world?

3. How have you seen the Lord provide when you trust Him?

4. Are you finding that you are idolizing what man says over God’s truth? If so, how can you go about changing where you place your faith?

Devo Plus:

Read Isaiah 2:22 and Psalm 90 to get more insight into this passage.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank You that You are a God who desires to be in relationship with us, that You are a God who loves and provides for us. Open our hearts and minds to see areas of our lives where our faith is in the wrong places and the wrong people. Help us to confidently put our faith in You in all areas of our lives. God, I pray we would be in full pursuit of what You have for us. I pray we would constantly be reminded of the grace You give us and the blessings you provide us with. Help us to be a people, in full faith, living for You. We love You and we praise You. Amen.

Exodus 20:2-6 (ESV)

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Explanation:

In this passage, God is giving Moses the Ten Commandments, the laws He created and designed specifically for His people. Before He even begins, God reminds them that He alone is God, He is the ultimate authority. So, these laws and commands He is about to give them are not only a covenant with them, but also a pathway that will lead to life.

The first commandment is clear: God needs to be number one. He alone is worthy of worship, honor, and praise. No one and nothing is to be placed above Him. No idol worship, no temple built by man, no person, no hobby, no thing is to be put above God. In the time this was written, physical idols and idol worship was consistently before the Israelites. They would often see statues and structures built for other gods. God is sending a big warning to His people not to bow down and worship any other god they see or hear about. These other gods are false gods, but He is the one true God who alone deserves their praise.

Although we are less likely to have physical statues of idols today, the command still stands for us. In fact, today’s idols look completely different, and can often creep in to a place of authority without us even noticing. It could come in the form of placing our kids and their activities as a higher importance than going to church or Connect Group. It could be putting our faith and hope in a political candidate to give us the things only God can. It can look like addictions to food, sex, drugs, or the like. It can be putting our hobbies above spending time diving into God’s Word. Anything that we allow to take higher importance than God in our lives is an idol.

But God reminds us that He alone can give us what we need. Anything we place before God will always fail us, but our God, the one true God, will never fail. He alone is worthy. He alone deserves to be placed as the highest authority in our life. When God is placed as the top priority for our lives, everything else will then flow.

Application:

1. What in your life have you allowed to take priority or top position over God?

2. Why do you think you allow other things to take priority over God?

3. What do you need to do in order to place God as the top priority in your life?

4. How does life look different when God is the top priority?

Devo Plus:

Check out Isaiah 46:9, Deuteronomy 6:14, and Exodus 15:11 for a reminder that God alone is worthy to be placed as our top priority.

Prayer:

God, will You please seek my heart today? Show me any area or thing in my life that has taken a higher priority than You. I want to lay down all of the idols in my life at Your feet. I long for You to be number one in my life, my top priority. Continue to search my heart and show me what I need to change. I long for You to always be the God of my life. Please continue to lead me and guide me. I long for more of You in my life. Amen.

Luke 11:42-44 (NIV)

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.

“Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”

Explanation:

The “Woe to you” statements were criticisms and warnings Jesus said to the Pharisees. The woes were generally criticisms for their hypocrisy and making false statements. They illustrated the differences between the inner and outer moral states. Jesus was pointing out to the Pharisees that their fastidious, nitpicking ritual observances left the inner person untouched. For example, they taught about God but didn’t love God. They taught the law but didn’t practice the most basic parts of the law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness to God. They wanted to appear to be clean (self-restrained, and not involved with lustful practices). But they were dirty inside. They were full of greed and self-indulgence. They wanted to appear as righteous, but were, in fact, not righteous; they were full of wickedness.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen this pretense in so-called “Christians” my entire life. Those people who study God’s Word and then use it to criticize others because of their lifestyle. Those people who attend church every Sunday, yet never grow in their faith and trust. Those people who want to be seen in their “How can I help you” serving t-shirt on Sunday, but never take the time to help anyone during the week. Those people who worship with raised hands, and are mean as snakes during the week. Jesus would say, “Woe to you!”

Application:

1. Are you following Christ (doing what He would do in every situation) in your daily lives? And if not, what would you need to change, beginning today?

2. Who do you need to reach out to today to offer help? Or make contact with to see how they are doing?

3. What are you doing, intentionally, to grow in your relationship with Christ?

Devo Plus:

Also read Luke 11:37-54 and Matthew 23:1-39.

Prayer:

Dear Father, help me today to be more like You. Help me to live my day in sensitivity to others. Keep me from pretending. Thank You for modeling to me how I am to live. Help me to be that example to others.

Amos 5:21-24

“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Explanation:

There is a sobering truth that when God looks at us, He does not simply see our behavior, He also sees the heart behind it. On the outside and to the world around us, we may be a “religious” person who acts the part, and still have an awful heart that does not aim to truly love God and others. It may even be that our hearts are purely aimed at seeking our own selfish desires. This is precisely what Amos the prophet is speaking to God’s people through these words in today’s reading. This is a warning…that God has reached a place where He no longer wants to see outward acts which lack a pure heart and motive to love God and others. Rather, God says we must humble ourselves. We must not get confidence from doing what we think is right, but instead, seek God’s guidance on what truly is the right way of living.

If we read these verses with a heart that is open to hearing what God has to say, we may find ourselves very convicted about our own behaviors. It can be very easy to simply go through the motions in our faith because WE think that is what God wants. But is how we are behaving truly for God, or to satisfy our own consciences? Are we behaving the way we do because we genuinely love God and others, or are we going through religious motions seeking to please God? Ugh. What a heavy but important question we must ask ourselves, not only today, but every day of our lives.

Application:

1. What would it look like for someone to be in relationship with you out of obligation, rather than out of a genuine love for you?

2. Why do you go to church, pray, worship, and do the other spiritual things that you do?

3. Have you ever noticed yourself trying to live a life of faith with the wrong motives?

4. Why does it matter that our hearts are motivated by a genuine love for God and others?

Devo Plus:

Read Proverbs 21:2. How can our hearts deceive us into thinking we know what is “right”? How does our relationship with God help us to know what is truly right?

Prayer:

God, please forgive me for the times when my behaviors were not done out of a love for You. Search me God, and help me to see the motivation I have for doing the things I do. You are so gracious to allow me to have another breath to breathe, another opportunity to humble myself and do what You have called me to do. Fill my heart and mind with Your ways, so I can live by them.

Jeremiah 22:13-17 (ESV)

“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages,

who says, ‘I will build myself a great house with spacious upper rooms,’ who cuts out windows for it, paneling it with cedar and painting it with vermilion.

Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.

He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the Lord.

But you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence.”

Explanation:

This passage was part of a message God had given to the prophet Jeremiah, to be delivered to the king of Judah. It was a reminder, and also a warning, because the people were no longer worshiping and trusting God. They had broken their covenant with God, and allowed other gods and idols into their hearts. Social injustices were everywhere, and dishonest gain and greed had become the norm. (The king and the people had been profiting off unfair business practices.) God’s warning to Jeremiah was an opportunity for Judah’s leaders to repent, to listen and obey His commandments. Despite Jeremiah’s attempts to change the people’s hearts, Israel was eventually conquered by Babylon and taken into exile. However, in Jeremiah 30-33, he speaks of a new covenant, where God will restore the nation and bring a “righteous branch” (or Messiah) through the lineage of King David.

Although Jeremiah 22 was written specifically for the people of Judah and the nation of Israel, the book still speaks to us today. Even though much time has passed since the writings of Jeremiah, sadly we still see the same injustices today as then. Currently, people are racially, socially, and economically profiled before they even speak. Immigrants are treated with discontent. Orphans, drug addicts, and the poor are considered second-class citizens. The elderly, disabled, and widowed are often overlooked in our society. Political and religious affiliations are unfairly judged. But as Christians, we can be the exception. We can speak up when justice is needed, and point people to God’s Word. We can stand up for the lost and broken, speaking truth that heals, not discourages or excludes. We are called to be God’s voice, like Jeremiah, when we see people “practicing oppression and violence.” God has specifically placed each one of us where we live for the purpose of impacting people. He wants us to show generosity and help those in need, just like Jesus did.

Application:

1. Has God placed you in a position of authority at your employment or somewhere in your life? Do you make decisions based on fairness and impartiality? Would God be pleased by how you treat others?

2. Do you have a heart for people? When you see someone struggling or in need, what is your first response?

3. Does seeing people treated unfairly affect how you react to problems that arise? Do you seek God in those decisions you make?

4. Have you ever profited or gained power/influence from someone else’s mistake or misfortune? How would God want you to handle it if this situation happens in the future?

Devo Plus:

YouTube or google search the song “I’m Listening” by Chris McClarney. Listen and speak the lyrics to our Creator.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace and the opportunities You have given me. Show me how to be the person who wants change and fairness for all. Point out areas in my life that don’t align with Your Word. Help me to be generous and recognize a need in this broken world. Thank You, Jesus, for all You have done in my life. Amen.

Isaiah 1:15-17 (NLT)

When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.

Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

Explanation:

Justice is defined as “just behavior,” i.e., that which is morally right and fair. We could read scripture after scripture and story after story that repeat God’s directive in this passage, but everything about this life comes down to our hearts. If we are not rightly related to God, then our idea of justice is not focused on how we treat others, but how others treat us. The Bible does not instruct us to seek justice for ourselves, but justice in ourselves (Micah 6:8).

The sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7 is the litmus test God uses to examine the heart. To the extent that I balk at turning the other cheek or going the extra mile, my heart is not ready to make the needs of others a priority. If I cannot pray for those who hate me or forgive my brother who offends me, then the helpless and destitute become nothing but thorns in my side.

Justice will never be served for the underprivileged until we understand that God desires our hearts to be reconciled to Him. That is the only way we can see people as He sees people. Think about how divided our nation is, and how united we could be if we sought justice on God’s terms and not our own. To quote Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest, “Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it.”

Application:

1. What are some ways Christ followers can seek the type of justice that pleases God?

2. In terms of justice, how would you explain to an unbeliever God’s refusal to hear the prayers of people who reject Him?

3. Is it possible for those who claim God does not exist to be morally right and fair? Why or why not?

Devo Plus:

Jeremiah 22:3 (Different prophet, but the same instructions for just behavior)

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, teach me to see people the same way You see people, so I can show everyone what Your love and mercy feel like.