The Choice is Yours … by Mr. Wade Thompson

Today’s Reading – 1 Samuel 28 – 31 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers read – Matthew 13 – 14; Proverbs 7; Psalms 31 – 35)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32 (Fast)

Read the “0407 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.” (1 Samuel 28:4-5)

We’re living in a crazy time, people are losing their jobs, people are getting sick; no one is allowed to leave home, and it seems like the world is spiraling into chaos. Here in 1 Samuel we see two characters, Saul and David, and both are faced with difficult situations, but both men react very differently. In chapter 28 we see the armies of the Philistines making warfare against Israel.

Saul, knowing he is in a tight place and knowing he needs the Lord unfortunately turns to the wrong person. Saul seeks for a witch to bring back the spirit of the great Prophet Samuel.

Saul stooped down to the world’s level, trying to get an answer from God. Saul knew the ways of the Lord but chose to walk wickedly. In this time that we are in we cannot compromise what we know and what we believe in order to try and get the answers that we should be getting from God’s Word. God expects us to live holy and righteousness lives even in tough times when we don’t know what to do. Tough times are not an excuse to live wrong.

David was also faced with a difficult situation in chapter 30. David and his mighty men returned from battle to find their home city completely destroyed, burnt with fire, and all their wives and children were taken captive. The whole camp was in great distress and even spoke of stoning David. Not only did David lose his wives, family, and everything he owned; but now his own men are talking about killing him. David did not use this time to run from God or have a pity party. In verse 6, we see that he encouraged himself in the Lord and sought counsel from the priest. After doing what God told him to do he recovered everything he had lost and achieved a mighty victory. We need to remember as we go through this “virus crisis” that God is always going to be there for us. He will show us what to do, and we have nothing to be afraid of.

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56:3)

In this tough time, we need to encourage ourselves in the Lord. As we go through these strange and scary days we have to decide whether we are going to do our own thing and try to get God’s blessing in our own way, like Saul; or, are we going to encourage ourselves in the Lord and get godly counsel, and do things God’s way. It’s a choice we will have to make every day.