Saul’s been chosen. He’s been anointed. He’s been tested. Now the moment has come for him to step up as king. He needs to call the army together and take on the Philistines, looking to secure Israel’s release from their overlordship. But he doesn’t. Instead, another steps into the breach, wins a victory and provokes the war. At which point Israel collapses in fear and Saul, under stress, disobeys Samuel’s lead. Yet Samuel previously said he would not sin by failing to pray for the nation. How, then, is his prayer being answered? We should be delighted when others pray for us but recognise that the answer may not come as we expect.
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Answered prayer?