Destiny Empowerment Daily Devotional (15th December 2023)

by Sunday Akanni

TOPIC: Don't Displease God To Please A Human

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. I Samuel 15:24 NKJV

*Message*

The story of Saul's degradation from grace to grass is such a disheartening one, filled with great lessons for anyone who loves wisdom. He started off well as a humble guy who enjoyed the grace of God to be picked as the very first crowned King of Israel. The Lord had decided to establish his kingdom forever over Israel, and everything seemed to be going well.

Saul was doing exploits and doing a lot for his country, but he failed to recognize a major weakness he possessed: he's a man-pleaser. Since he couldn't even identify this weakness, how could he have possibly worked on it? Unfortunately, it led to his ruin!

First, in 1 Samuel 13, just a few months after he became king, he gathered the people for a battle with their enemies. Amid everything, he committed a big error: "So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering." (I Samuel 13:9). When Samuel was querying him, the excuse he gave indicated he was trying to please men at the expense of obeying God. And he received a harsh verdict:

And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” I Samuel 13:13‭-‬14 NKJV

You would have thought he learned his lessons. But, no! Some months later, in 1 Samuel 15, he committed the same plunder, plunging himself into a deeper pit: "Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice." (I Samuel 15:24).

Make sure you never displease God just to please men. It's something you will always regret doing.

*Prayer*
Ask for the audacity to always please God over and above humans at all times.

*Further Reading*
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28 NKJV

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What's the solution if you do?

Maynman:
What's the solution if you do?

Pleading His mercy. This was Saul's error. He should have asked God for mercy. God is abundant in grace and mercy, even under the law.

Interesting15:


Pleading His mercy. This was Saul's error. He should have asked God for mercy. God is abundant in grace and mercy, even under the law.

I thought he did?
1 Samuel 15:25
Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.

Maynman:

I thought he did?
1 Samuel 15:25
Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.

Nah... He was talking to Samuel, not God. It's just like telling Samuel "Please, ignore my error so I won't lose my reputation before the people"

Interesting15:


Nah... He was talking to Samuel, not God. It's just like telling Samuel "Please, ignore my error so I won't lose my reputation before the people"

Nah, he was sorry for what he did and ask for forgiveness, and he was going to the LORD HOUSE so he can worship.

I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.


what was Samuel response?
Yahweh already rejected Saul even if he Repented or not.