1 Samuel 15 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 15.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/15/1/s_251001

Meditate on these phrases from verses 22-23.

To obey is better than sacrifice…

Rebellion is as the sin of divination…

The LORD commanded Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites. In disobedience, Saul spared their king, Agag, along with the best of their animals. God was mad. Samuel confronted Saul in his sin, and with the surviving animals providing background music, Saul bold-faced lied to Samuel, telling him that he obeyed God. As the truth came out, Saul admitted to fearing the people and doing what they wanted instead of what God wanted.

This chapter from God’s Word demands immediate application. What does God want you to utterly destroy: thoughts, words, activities ... that are displeasing to Him? Are you partially obeying the LORD? Have you justified your actions and convinced yourself and others you are fully obeying God? Do you fear people and listen to their voice, or do you fear and please the LORD?

Pray 1 Samuel 15:22-23 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let ________ and me delight You by obeying Your voice.

Help us to obey and heed You.

Keep us from rebellion and insubordination,

 for they are as divination, iniquity, and idolatry.

  Do not let us reject Your Word, LORD.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

1 Samuel 14 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 14.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/14/1/s_250001

Meditate on verse 24.

Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day,

for Saul had put the people under oath, saying,

“Cursed be the man who eats food before evening,

 and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” 

So none of the people tasted food.

Saul and his men were in the middle of battling the Philistines when Saul commanded them to stop eating until he put an end to his enemies. Instead of letting his soldiers have the nourishment needed to win a war, he crippled his own army by refusing to let them eat. If the edict had remained in effect, Saul’s army would have starved to death because the Philistines warred against Saul for the rest of his life.

Have you ever issued a foolish decree? What were the consequences? Are you and those you love in a hard-pressed situation because of words rashly spoken?

Ask for forgiveness from the LORD and those you love, and pray 1 Samuel 14:29.

“LORD, I have troubled the land.

Help me to brighten the eyes of those I love.

Give us a taste of Your honey.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

1 Samuel 13 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 13.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/13/1/s_249001

Meditate on verse 13.

You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment

of the LORD your God, which He commanded you,

 for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

The Israelites were hard-pressed and overcome by the Philistines. In desperation, Saul sacrificed a burnt offering hoping to obtain God’s favor to defeat the Philistine enemies. Instead, Saul experienced God’s wrath for foolishly disobeying His commandments. Saul’s kingdom was effectively over at this point. Saul trusted in religious rituals; he did not have a heart to seek and obey the LORD.

What do you do when you are hard-pressed and overcome? The LORD uses difficult situations to establish you in holiness. Press into Him and His Word, seeking His favor. Ask the LORD to give you His heart for what is happening. Let the LORD accomplish what concerns you (Psalm 138:8).

Pray not to be like Saul in 1 Samuel 13:12-14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, I am asking for Your favor.

Do not let ________ and me act foolishly.

 Let us keep Your commandments.

  Establish us forever in You.

 Make us people after Your own heart.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

1 Samuel 12 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 12.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/12/1/s_248001

Meditate on verse 14.

If you will fear the LORD and serve Him,

and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD,

then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.

The Israelites realized their sinful foolishness in asking for a king, yet they lived with the consequences of that sin. Kings ruled them for nearly 500 years.  But God in His mercy, gave the way forward in the midst of the consequences (v. 14):

·      Fear and serve the LORD

·      Listen to His voice

·      Do not rebel against His commands

Are you or someone you love living in the consequences of sin?  Do not lose hope; God has not abandoned you.  Obey and pray 1 Samuel 12:14 and 20-24.

“LORD, let _______ and me fear and serve You.

 Help us listen to Your voice and not rebel against Your commands,

so we and our leaders will follow You.

Do not let us turn aside from following You and serving You with all our heart.

 Let us stop going after futile things

 which can not profit or deliver because they are futile. 

Thank You for not abandoning us on account of Your great name, LORD.

As for me, I will not sin against You by ceasing to pray.

  Help me instruct others in the good and right way. 

LORD, let us fear You and serve You in truth with all our heart. 

Let us always consider what great things You have done for us.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

1 Samuel 11 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 11.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/11/1/s_247001

Meditate on verse 7b.

Then the dread of the LORD fell on the people,

and they came out as one man.

The Ammonites besieged Jabesh-gilead. In desperation, the Israelites living in Jabesh sought to make a covenant with their enemies. The cost of this agreement would be the gouging out of every resident’s right eye. When word of the horrific situation reached Saul, he was mad. By the Spirit of God, he sent the vivid message to all the people that they would lose much more than an eye if they did not align themselves with him and Samuel. “Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people,” and God delivered them from their enemies (vs. 7, 13).

Who or what are you dreading? God’s Word says to fear only Him; dreading anybody or anything else will tear you apart. The LORD will deliver you from all your fears when you fear and trust Him (Psalm 34:4; Proverbs 3:25-26).

Pray 1 Samuel 11:6, 7, and 13 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“God, let Your Spirit come upon ________ and me mightily.

Let the dread of You fall upon us and our nation,

and let us come together as one.

LORD, accomplish deliverance from our enemies.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

1 Samuel 10 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 10.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/10/1/s_246001

Meditate on verse 6.

Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily,

and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man.

Notice God’s power:

·      The Spirit of the LORD came upon Saul mightily; he prophesied and was changed into another man (vs. 6, 10).

·      God was with Saul and chose him (v. 7, 24).

·      God touched and changed hearts (vs. 9, 26).

·      God delivered Israel from the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed them (v. 18).

·      God delivers you from all your calamities and distresses (v. 19).

·      After the LORD did the miraculous for Saul, worthless men despised and doubted him.  They questioned his ability to lead (v. 27).

When the LORD calls and anoints you for His service, trust His Spirit to come upon you mightily. He will give you the abilities you need. When others doubt what God is doing, ignore their negativity and focus on God’s power and deliverance. 


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

“Spirit of the LORD, come upon _______ and me mightily. 

Change us into the people You need us to be.

God, be with us and change our hearts.

Deliver us from all our calamities and distresses.

In Your name, Jesus~”

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

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