Day 107: Samuel's Speech

1 Samuel 11:1-15 Saul’s convincing victory over the Ammonites dispelled any doubts about his leadership. He was confirmed again as king of Israel at Gilgal, this time with the support of all Israel.


Ch 12:1-25 Samuel briefly reviewed the history of the Israelites, pointing out the many times when God had intervened and delivered them from evil and ruin. He reminded them of a basic truth: As long as Israel kept its covenant with God, God would shower blessings upon them; When they chose evil instead, they faced painful consequences. Now, with a monarchy in place, it was incumbent on both the people and the king to uphold the covenant, the contents of which are the Mosaic Law. (CCC 2060)


Ch 12:23 Here we see a succinct summary of both the benefit of interceding for others in prayer and of the negative effects of failing to do so. It is virtuous to pray for others, and it can be a sin of omission not to pray for others. Samuel, as an anointed prophet, promised to teach proper and effective intercessory prayer to the people. (CCC 946-948, 961-962, 2578, 2634-2635, 2647)


Psalm 55 This psalm speaks of false friends who caused the protagonist tremendous grief. 


It is not an enemy who taunts me: What makes the situation all the more painful is the betrayal of his friend, one to whom he was exceptionally close, a companion in conversation and a fellow worshiper at the Temple. 


Cast your burden...trust in you: Christ, like the psalmist, urges us to place all our trust and confidence in the loving care of God the Father. By abandoning all our troubles, fears, anxieties, and suffering into the hands of God, we can be assured that a good outcome awaits us. (CCC 322)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)


(*Walking With God: A Journey Through The Bible by Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins)



Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven, we do trust in you. We give you thanks. Lord God, even in the midst of not just enemies but friends who have failed us, friends who have betrayed us, even in the midst of love that has run out, people who have promised, who have made covenants to us and promises to us and then failed to live up to those promises and broken those covenants. We know that you are faithful. And you love us. And you fight for us. And you never break your promise. And you never break your Covenant. And so we give you thanks. You delight in us. And you love us. And you choose us. And you sustain us. And so we thank you and we love you back. Help us to receive your love more and more this day and every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”