Pointing to the True Hero | 1 Samuel 12:6-14

Spiritual leaders always point out the real hero in the story.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 12. I've titled this chapter "God is Faithful When We Are Not."

Before I read the text, let me give you a little context. The nation of Israel is gathered at Gilgal. Samuel and Saul have gathered the people for a day of celebration, remembrance, and rededication. Think of this moment as a gathering on the National Mall. Samuel addresses the nation and references some historical people who have played critical roles in Israel's history. I will read verses 6-14, and it would be good for you to circle or underline these critical players in the text. Here's the text:

And Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers. When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. But they forgot the Lord their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. And they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.’ And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety. And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king. And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. — 1 Samuel 12:6-14

There are two things worth noting about this part of Samuel's address.

First, Samuel mentions a listing of great spiritual leaders—Moses, Aaron, Jacob, Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and himself. These are generational leaders who left a mark on the people of Israel forever.

I believe that every generation needs spiritual leaders like this. Those who leave a generational mark. We should be praying for leaders like this in our time because we need them. But we should pray that they have these qualities—that they direct us toward deliverance, cry out against oppression, and drive us toward repentance.

Second, we notice that Samuel also explains these historic spiritual leaders, including himself, were mere vessels. The heroes of the story were not these men. The hero was the Lord. It was the Lord who performed all the righteous deeds. He provided the leaders and the people with salvation, deliverance, safety, and a place to dwell.

What I find especially profound about Samuel's address to the people is how he redirects attention to the Lord. If you think about the context of this situation, it could have been very easy after this military victory to make Saul the hero of the story and to boast and celebrate that. But Samuel doesn't play to this opportunity. In fact, he does the opposite of what we would expect. He tells them in their victory that their desire to have a king (i.e., Saul) over God, who is their King, was wrong and sinful.

Great spiritual leaders do this. They have the propensity to look back over time, define the fine points of spiritual drift, and then carefully redirect people back to the real hero of the story—God.

Today, we need more spiritual leaders like this in our homes, churches, and workplaces. So pray that God will raise up new spiritual leaders like Samuel who understand that the finite stories of our generations are only short sentences in a longer narrative with one Hero and King—God.

God, raise up spiritual leaders who direct us back to you, the only Hero and King. Amen.

#GodIsFaithful, #SpiritualLeadership, #TrueHero

Ask This:
In what ways can you recognize and acknowledge God's role as the true hero in your personal victories and successes?
How can you actively encourage and support the development of spiritual leaders in your community who consistently point others to God?
Do This:
Pray for spiritual leaders.

Pray This:
Lord, help me to always see You as the true hero in my life and give me the wisdom to direct others to Your greatness. Raise up spiritual leaders around me who will guide us with humility and a steadfast focus on Your glory. Amen.

Play This:
Champion.