The Shelter of His Wings, Devotional #8

by Jane Josephs

In the midst of so much uncertainty, tension and trouble in our world, I remembered this devotion that I wrote some years ago and was reminded that our God is still in control. –JJ

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“As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe and it tore. Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today…’” –1 Samuel 15:27

What a moment! A desperate rip, an irrevocable roar. In less time than it takes to blink, the words were spoken, and the deed done. Then Samuel adds, “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

For Saul, it’s over. He may go on to rule but he will never reign. For Samuel, the sorrow is just beginning. Fellowship is broken, and the Lord “grieved that He had made Saul king over Israel.”

Hindsight is 20-20. How many of us, knowing what we know now, wouldn’t go back and change a thing or two in our life? But not God. He who knows the end from the beginning knew what He was doing when He created Saul. Scripture doesn’t say, ‘the Lord was grieved that He made Saul.’ Just that He made him king over Israel.

Sometimes it seems to us that Evil has thwarted the hand of God. Don’t believe it. Our God reigns in the midst of chaos, perversion, immorality, idolatry, greed, lies, and hate. He deplores it, just as we should. Just as Samuel hated what had become of Saul, and then grieved, mourned, and didn’t go to see him again. But God reigned all the same. Eventually, He sent Samuel to anoint a king of His choosing—David, the shepherd boy, chosen, as God revealed to Samuel, because the Lord looks at the heart. No matter the circumstances of life, God is watching, waiting, calling, correcting, and working on our behalf. At the end of the story, we win if we remain faithful. What else do we really need to know?