Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 9 and Psalm 55.

Think for a moment about the day before 1 Samuel 9. Saul and his companion were riding through the hill country, searching for lost donkeys. Samuel, on the other hand, received an unexpected prophetic word from the LORD: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of My people…” (v. 15-16)

Consider what Samuel must have done immediately. Without hesitation he acts on the LORD’s word. He invites the leading men of the town to attend a special public sacrifice and feast. He arranges that event. He tells them there will be a special guest of honour, but not who that will be. And then he waits. He risks his reputation on one word from God.

The next day, in perfect trust in God’s Word to him, he wanders out of town in the direction of the place of worship at the appointed time. And there God whispers to him as he looks at Saul: “This is the man I told you about. Anoint him. ” And the rest of the story unfolds just as we read it in 1 Samuel 9.

The question is not whether you or I can hear from God the way Samuel did. We most certainly can. The questions are: Do I listen for God’s whispers? And when I listen, do I act because I trust them to be true? Am I willing to risk being wrong and looking like a fool because I believe God?

Heavenly Father, I do believe in You and Your ability to speak. Help me to trust the ears of my heart. Help me to make time to listen. Open my ears to hear Your voice. Make me discerning to know the sound of Your voice. Give me courage to act on what You say. And please, let no word which comes from Your mouth to my heart fall to the ground unfruitful. Amen.