God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 9-12

1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

Samuel was a prophet and a judge in Israel. He was responsible for anointing the first two kings of Israel at God's command. He was a leader. He was an intercessor.

He knew that the people's desire for a king was wicked.

1 Samuel 8:6-7 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. 7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

1 Samuel 10:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.

1 Samuel 12:17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king.

And yet, he loved the people and he knew they were the recipients of God's covenant. It would have been easy for him to grow bitter. It would have been a great temptation for him to be judgmental and have wanted to quit his prophet's role in Israel. But he did not choose those routes. He chose prayer. Even more! He said it would be sin for him not to pray for his people.

Do you have that kind of heart? Do you pray for the people of God? Even when they do wickedly? God's heart is to give mercy, grace and forgiveness.

1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

You do not have to wink at sin. You need to pray for your brother. Please let the Holy Spirit break your heart over the sin of this world and be an intercessor.

In Christ,
Rody