Wednesday 20th March 2019 - Daily Reading:
1 Samuel 11:1-11 - Actions Speak by Becky White
Even as Samuel was declaring Saul king of Israel, there were those who were grumbling behind his back, and pledging to withhold their support. Saul kept quiet. Actions speak louder than words.
The grumblers had doubted that Saul could keep them safe. Very soon, God provided an opportunity to show that he was with Saul, and that Saul did have the military know-how and courage to defend his people in battle. His victory was total, and dramatic.
Saul knew that people were grumbling against him. He could have tried himself to reassure them. He could have called them all together and made promises and tried to persuade them that he was fit to be king. Instead, secure in the knowledge that he had been chosen by God – first through Samuel, and then through the drawing of lots – he decided not to enter into debate and argument, and instead, allowed events to take their course.
The complaint had been that Saul would not be able to defend his people and save them in battle. When the time came, Saul answered these complaints more effectively through his actions than he ever could have through his words. Nobody could ignore the evidence of their own eyes.
When people doubt us, or make accusations against us, it is often tempting to leap to our own defence. Yet if we are truly secure in our calling from God, we have no need to fear. Our responsibility is rather to be obedient to the Lord, to stay close to him, and to be faithful in what he has called us to. God can take care of his own reputation, and our reputations are worth nothing if they are not rooted in him.