From: May 13, 2025
“Then Jonathan said, ‘My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey.'” (1 Samuel 14:29 ESV).
It’s heart-breaking to read the stories about King Saul, Israel’s first king. Although he reigned for forty years, his leadership style was fraught with short-sighted and ill-conceived tactics, blustering, macho-inspired dictates, people-pleasing priorities, and most of all – a failure to seek God first in all things. Even when God was giving him a miraculous victory over the Philistines, he jeopardized it with a foolish command saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” This command brought unnecessary hardship to his soldiers and nearly cost the life of his own son, Jonathan, who unknowingly broke the oath.
Saul’s story is a cautionary tale. He had moments of promise and opportunity, yet his leadership faltered because he feared people more than he feared God. He often relied on his own judgment rather than God’s clear instruction. His legacy serves as an example, warning us of the dangers of pride, impulsiveness, and people-pleasing in positions of influence. Saul’s kingship is a study in leadership failure.
We are all called to lead in some capacity—whether in our families, churches, workplaces, or communities. Saul’s failure reminds us that spiritual leadership is not about asserting authority or seeking approval, but about humility and obedience to God. We must resist the temptation to make hasty decisions based on emotion or personal ambition. Instead, we are to seek the Lord’s will, wait on His timing, and lead with wisdom, patience, and faithfulness.
PRAYER: Dear Father, help those of us who are called to lead that we always seek to first follow You. It’s easy to see the mistakes that others make, but we are often blind to our own. Lord, we need Your wisdom and discernment. Thank You for giving us Your Spirit. Help us to hearken to His direction this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 13, 2024
‘The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”‘ (John 7:47-49 ESV).
When the Temple guards returned to the Jewish leaders empty-handed, they questioned why they hadn’t arrested Jesus. But the guards replied that they had never heard anyone speak as Jesus did! At this, the rulers and Pharisees mocked the guards and asked the rhetorical question, “Do you see any of us believing in him?” Their point was that only the ignorant and the foolish crowds would follow Jesus. Those schooled in proper religion, such as they, would not.
The apostle Paul explained how those who think themselves wise are often the ones who reject Christ. He wrote, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:23-24). Paul went on to write, “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful” (1 Cor. 1:26-27).
As Christ-followers, we may be seen as weak and foolish in the eyes of the world’s elite, but we are blessed to know Christ, “the power and wisdom of God.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have believed in Christ Jesus for He is the power and wisdom from You to us. By faith in Him, You have made us overcomers in this world. Strengthen us to live by the power and wisdom of Christ today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 13, 2023
“Help me, O Lord my God! Save me because of your unfailing love. Let them see that this is your doing, that you yourself have done it, Lord” (Psalms 109:26-27 NLT).
David asked the Lord to rescue him from his accusers. Rather than trying to defend himself, he asked the Lord to defend him. Notice the basis on which he asked for help. He asked God to save him according to the Lord’s “unfailing love.” David didn’t ask according to his own deserving, but according to God’s covenantal love (Hebrew: chesed). Even more, he asked that the Lord would save him in such a way that others would know that it was God who had done it! David wanted everyone to know that the Lord was his Savior.
It is difficult to defend yourself from false accusations. For the harder you try to defend, the more people suspect the truth of the accusation. As in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, they think, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
So where do we turn when false accusations come our way? We can do as David did, we can give their lies to the Lord in prayer. We can ask the Lord to be our defender. And when the chief accuser comes, we can say, “Get behind me Satan, in the name of Jesus!”
PRAYER: Dear Father, we come to You with all of our cares. We trust You to defend us, so that we can focus on You and not on the attacks and false accusations of others. You are are shield and our strong tower. Defend us O Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 13, 2019
KING SAUL, A STUDY IN LEADERSHIP FAILURE
It’s heart-breaking to read the stories about King Saul, Israel’s first king. Although he reigned for 40 years, his leadership style was fraught with short-sighted and ill-conceived tactics, blustering, macho-inspired dictates, people-pleasing priorities, and most of all – a failure to seek God first in all things. Even when God was giving him a miraculous victory over the Philistines, he jeopardized it with a foolish command saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.”
In spite of this, God used Saul to lead Israel and in many ways he was one of its better kings. It’s just so tragic to watch from a distance though, because Saul could’ve been one of Israel’s greatest kings. If only he would’ve feared God more than he feared man. Saul’s kingship is a study in leadership failure.
PRAYER: Dear Father, help those of us who are called to lead that we always seek to first follow You. It’s easy to see the mistakes that others make, but we are often blind to our own. Lord, we need Your wisdom and discernment. Thank You for giving us Your Spirit. Help us to hearken to His direction this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 12, 2017
On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles when the Jews commemorated how the Lord had brought them through 40 years in the wilderness, Jesus stood up in the Temple and cried out with a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, come to Me and drink.” There was surely a great and noisy crowd in the Temple courts that day. Yet, above all the voices, Christ was heard crying out.
How appropriate. What perfect timing. During the Feast when the Jews remembered the rock from which Moses called forth water to quench Israel’s thirst, Jesus called spiritually thirsty people to come to Him to drink.
Why? Because “that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor.10:4).
From: May 13, 2016
David declared his intent to “give great thanks” to God in “the midst of the throng.” Not little thanks, but “great” thanks. Not private thanks, but public, in the middle of a noisy multitude. David, who often wrote of his gratitude in a psalmist journal, declared his intent to shout out loud thanks with his “mouth,” and not just his pen. He saw no separation between his private and public faith. He was ready to stand in the “midst” of a cacophonous crowd and be heard praising the Lord.