Hello! I’m Richard Exley with your one-minute devotion.
Why do you think Samuel grieved so deeply when the Lord took the kingdom from Saul? Undoubtedly he loved Saul and he was grieved to see someone with so much to offer come to a bitter end. Without a doubt he was also grieving for Israel. When a leader falls the whole nation suffers. Maybe he was also regretting his part in making Saul king. Maybe he was wondering if he had made a mistake.
Let me make one thing perfectly clear. King Saul did not come to a bitter end because he was the wrong man for the job. He was the “right” man but he made some bad choices, which brought him to a bitter end.
“Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: ‘I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.’”
— 1 Samuel 15:10 (NIV 1984)
Lord Jesus, when a spiritual leader falls may I grieve as Samuel grieved over Saul. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.