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[expand title=”Devotion Text”]God gave Israel the king they wanted—a man a head taller than all the rest. Saul was a big man…with a shriveled heart. He was impulsive, imprudent, and impetuous. His downright disobedience was leading Israel down a dangerous path. It was time for God to intervene.
1 Samuel 15:10-11
The word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night.
Samuel’s anger was not directed at the Lord but at the situation. Saul’s ungodly character had consequences for the entire nation. Samuel was grieved and cried out to God during an entire night. I can only imagine that he must have shared his frustration, fear for Israel’s future, and sought counsel regarding how God wanted to use him as a solution to the problem.
The cry of the soul comes from a desperate person in a desperate situation needing discernment and direction from God. This is not a “thank you God for the food” or a “now I lay me down to sleep” prayer. This prayer pleads with God in order to clearly hear from him.
Talking Points
- Samuel didn’t spend every night crying out to God, nor will we. But some situations will be desperate. Ask God to prepare you for the times when your soul will cry out.
- Ask God to keep you in ongoing and intimate conversation with him so the cries of the soul will not feel like communicating with a stranger.
Father, prepare us all for the inevitable nights of crying out to you. We desire to have an ongoing conversation with the One we know intimately. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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