Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
CONTEXT
The Philistines were at war with Israel. King Saul, wounded in battle, fell on his own sword to take his life. Notice the contrast of how his body was treated after his death by his enemies and by the Israelites.
Bible Reading
The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabeshand burned them there. And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
– 1 Samuel 31:8-13
Devotion
Saul was a wicked king. Why would the men of Jabesh-gilead honor him after his death? Even though Saul was empty on the inside, he was still God’s anointed king. God chose Saul to be the first human king of Israel. Honoring Saul was a way of honoring God.
We live in a society that spews a lot of venom at and about our leaders. Whether our leaders are godly or not, whether they believe in God or not, they received their position from God’s hand. Romans 13:1 makes this very clear: “…there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Verse six states it this way: “…for the authorities are ministers of God…” Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Rome during a time of horrible oppression by the wicked Roman government.
The Big Question
How do you treat God’s anointed leaders? Do you realize that our government representatives are appointed by God? Even though many of them don’t honor God with their leadership, someday they will all have to give an account to Him for how they have governed. You will have to give an account to God for how you honored them and their leadership. Pray for your leaders.
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.