1 Samuel 9 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 9.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/9/1/s_245001

Meditate on verse 20b.

And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? 

Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?

Saul was taken aback when Samuel spoke to him about having everything that is desirable in Israel. Saul was from the smallest of the Israelite tribes, and his family was the least in that tribe of Benjamin; he certainly did not deserve such honor. The LORD often chooses those who are weak and despised to bring honor to Himself (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

Even Samuel, the prophet of God, came from humble beginnings. His father was from the tribe of Ephraim, yet because of his mother’s vow to dedicate him to the LORD, Samuel lived in the tabernacle with Eli, the priest (1 Samuel 1). Although he was not from the tribe of Levi, God raised Samuel up to be His faithful priest (1 Samuel 2:35).

Is the LORD calling you to do something that you feel inadequate to accomplish? Your adequacy comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:5). Let your obedience bring glory to Him.

Pray 1 Samuel 9:6 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make ________ and me people of God,

 people held in honor who speak the truth.

For the sake of Your glory, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Samuel 8 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 8.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/8/1/s_244001

Meditate on these phrases from verses 7, 11, and 14.

The LORD said to Samuel, “They have rejected Me from being king over them.”

This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you:

He will take the best…

The LORD wanted to be King of Israel, but the people wanted to be like all the other nations around them and have a human king. Despite warnings from Samuel and the consequences of their choice being spelled out by God Himself, the Israelites insisted on getting what they wanted. God said, “Okay.”

Be careful what you ask for; sometimes God will give it to you. If your request is contrary to God’s will, it will come with His chastisement. Ask the LORD to show you anything or anyone you have made king of your life instead of Jesus. All those other “kings” will take God’s best from you. The best comes when you truly let God reign supreme.

Pray to be the opposite of 1 Samuel 8:7-8 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, do not let _______ and me reject You from being King over us.

Do not let us forsake You and serve other gods.

In Your name, King Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Samuel 7 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 7.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/7/1/s_243001

Meditate on verse 12b.

Thus far the LORD has helped us.

It had been 20 years since the Philistines returned the ark of the LORD, and it was still not in the tabernacle. The people grieved because its absence made them feel separated from God; plus, they were still plagued by their enemies, the Philistines. Samuel addressed their real problem:

“If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

—1 Samuel 7:3

The people didn’t need the ark in the proper place; they needed their hearts in the proper place. Only the LORD delivers those who come to Him in humble repentance.

Do you want the LORD to deliver and rescue you?  Seek His help by:

v returning to the LORD with all your heart

v removing your idols (anything more important to you than God)

v directing your heart to the LORD

v serving only Him

Pray 1 Samuel 7:3, 6, 10, and 12 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, ______ and I have sinned against You.

Help us return to You with all our heart. 

Remove the foreign gods from among us. 

Direct our hearts to You, and let us serve You alone.

Deliver us from the hand of our enemies;

thunder against them; confuse and rout them.

Because You are our help, LORD Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Samuel 6 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 6.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/6/1/s_242001

Meditate on verse 6a.

Why then do you harden your hearts as

 the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?

Smitten with tumors and deadly confusion, the Philistines experienced the severe hand of God. They wanted the ark of the LORD removed to hopefully bring relief. It was placed on a cart pulled by two untrained milk cows and sent out of town. The same hand of God that heavily struck the Philistines gently guided those cows to Beth-shemesh.

What does the LORD’s hand feel like on you, today? If it is heavy, “humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:6). He wants to gently lead you in the way you should go.

Pray 1 Samuel 6:5-6 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD God, I give You glory.  Please ease Your hand from _________.

Let _________ and me not harden our hearts. 

May You not have to deal severely with us.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Samuel 5 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 5.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/5/1/s_241001

Notice the repeated word “hand.”

Meditate on verse 11b.

For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city;

the hand of God was very heavy there.

The Philistines took the ark of God to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of Dagon, their fertility god1. The next morning, the idol was face down on the ground before the ark. The people put Dagon back in his place, and when they returned the following morning, the head and the hands were cut off.  The hand of God was heavy on those idol worshippers, bringing very great confusion to the people of Ashdod and causing tumors to break out on them.

Do not be tempted to put the LORD beside anyone or anything as the object of your trust and supreme affection. If the LORD’s hand is heavy upon you, ask Him to show you idols in your life that need to be destroyed.

Pray for God not to have to do 1 Samuel 5:6-7, 9, and 11 to you and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may _______ and I live pleasing to You,

 so Your hand will not have to be heavy and severe on us. 

We do not want Your hand against us with great confusion.

 Do not let tumors break out on us. 

Please return to Your proper place in our lives.

 Remove the deadly confusion.  May Your hand not be very heavy on us.

In Your name, Jesus~”

1. Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1712&t=NASB.

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Samuel 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/4/1/s_240001

Meditate on verse 3.

When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said,

 “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? 

Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the LORD,

 that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.”

In an attempt to turn the tide of the battle against the Philistines, the Israelites took the ark of the covenant out of the tabernacle hoping it would deliver them from their enemies. Instead of trusting the LORD to deliver them, they trusted in a religious object. God was not pleased; He let the Philistines kill 30,000 Israelite soldiers and steal the ark.

Beware not to give people or things credit for taking care of you; the credit belongs to the LORD. Ask Him to intervene in everything that is happening in your life. God loves it when you totally rely on Him to accomplish what concerns you (Psalm 138:8).

Pray the opposite of 1 Samuel 4:22 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, do not let Your glory depart from _________ and me.

Because You are in our midst, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Samuel 3 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/3/1/s_239001

Meditate on verse 3b.

Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was.

Picture what happened so far in 1 Samuel. From the time he was approximately three years old, Hannah left her precious gift from God, Samuel, with Eli at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:24). Eli’s two sons were also at the tabernacle committing all kinds of evil, and everyone knew and talked about it (1 Samuel 2:24). Surprisingly, Hannah kept her promise to God and allowed Samuel to stay at the temple, despite the atrocities surrounding him. Samuel slept near where the ark of God was. The ark was in the Holy of Holies and represented the presence of God. Despite evil all around him, Samuel was safe because he was with the LORD.

God wants you to rest in the same place as Samuel; in the presence of the LORD, there is security despite the evil all around. God wants you to trust your loved ones to Him. He is calling you into His presence; say, “Here I am, LORD” (v. 4).

Pray 1 Samuel 3:9-10, 19, and 21 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, call ________ and me by name.

Speak, LORD, for Your servants are listening.

Speak, LORD, for Your servants are listening.

LORD, be with us, and let none of our words fail.

Reveal Yourself to us by Your Word.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell