How does this passage encourage us to seek God's guidance in difficult situations? Setting the Scene “They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish at Zela in Benjamin. After they had done everything the king commanded, God answered their prayers for the land.” (2 Samuel 21:14) What We Learn About Seeking God’s Guidance • Difficulty drove David to seek God (v. 1). Hard seasons should send us straight to Him, not to human schemes. • God revealed the hidden cause of the famine. When we ask, He exposes deeper issues we could never diagnose alone (James 1:5; Psalm 32:8). • Obedience followed revelation. David carried out the Lord’s instruction, even when it was emotionally painful (vv. 2-9). Guidance without obedience is meaningless (John 14:21). • Respect for what God values mattered. Proper burial honored Saul and Jonathan, showing that even hard commands are to be carried out with compassion and integrity. • After obedience, “God answered their prayers for the land.” Divine guidance culminates in tangible intervention (Proverbs 3:5-6). Linked Truths Across Scripture • David regularly “inquired of the LORD” in crisis—1 Samuel 23:2-4; 30:8—modeling a life pattern, not a one-time act. • Solomon later counseled, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). Straight paths begin with humble consultation. • Isaiah 55:6 invites, “Seek the LORD while He may be found.” Times of difficulty are prime opportunities to heed that call. Bringing It Home • Let hardship trigger prayerful inquiry, not panic. • Listen for God’s specific direction through Scripture, wise counsel, and the Spirit’s prompting. • Act promptly and thoroughly on what He shows, even when it stretches comfort. • Trust that on the other side of obedience, God still answers prayer and restores what hardship has damaged. |
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