Open Heaven 4 June 2025 Today Devotional: & Commentary

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
1 Samuel 15:24

READ: 1 Samuel 15:1-31

1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord.
2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,

11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.
12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.
14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?
18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?
20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
28 And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.
31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the Lord.

RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 4 JUNE 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. Proverbs 27:21

People should not chase after fame because of its potency to destroy. In 1 Samuel 9:1, Saul’s father, Kish, was described as a mighty man of power who was also wealthy. Yet, Saul was obviously very humble because when his father sent him to search for their lost donkeys, he went without complaining. Even during the search, he listened to his servant’s advice to seek a prophet’s counsel concerning the lost animals (1 Samuel 9:6-8).

When he became the king of Israel, he was humble in the first two years of his reign until he began to seek the approval of men. Saul forgot that it was God who appointed him king, and he began to chase after endorsements from men. The first time he did this was when the Philistines gathered against him, and Samuel delayed before joining him at Gilgal. When he saw the people scattering from him, he did what he wasn’t supposed to do by offering the burnt offering (1 Samuel 13:7-10). He did the wrong thing because he wanted to gain the people’s attention and approval. It was a costly mistake because it earned him God’s disapproval.

When we allow the desire to gain people’s approval to move us into doing the wrong things, we have set ourselves against God.

In 1 Samuel 15, despite his earlier mistake, God gave Saul a chance to repent. He instructed him to destroy the Amalekites. God’s command was clear: utterly destroy them and spare no one (1 Samuel 15:3). However, Saul, in his blind lust to be ‘a man of the people, went against God’s instructions (1 Samuel 15:24).

When we seek fame above serving God, we have fallen into the trap of the fear of man because the Bible says that the fear of man brings a snare (Proverbs 29:25).

People who desperately seek fame will compromise God’s standards to please people. At the end of the day, such people, like Saul, will lose out because God will not trust a man who desperately desires fame with the precious matters of His Kingdom.

Beloved, do not chase after the approval of men. Rather, let God’s approval be your primary motivation. When you fear the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly, He will position you to influence others for Him.

OPEN HEAVEN 4 JUNE 2025 KEY POINT

If you seek fame above serving God, you have set yourself against God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Job 35-38

HYMN 34: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 4 JUNE 2025 COMMENTARY

The Test of Praise and Approval

Proverbs 27:21 compares a man to a refining pot—how he responds to praise and recognition reveals his true character. King Saul’s downfall began when he shifted his focus from pleasing God to seeking human approval. His story serves as a sobering warning for believers today.

1. Saul’s Humble Beginnings vs. His Downfall

A. The Humble Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-8)

Background: Saul came from a wealthy, influential family (1 Samuel 9:1).
Character: Despite his status, he was humble and obedient—willing to search for lost donkeys and listen to his servant’s advice (1 Samuel 9:6-8).
Appointment: God chose him not because of his achievements but because of his potential for obedience (1 Samuel 10:1).

B. The Turning Point: Seeking Man’s Approval

Saul’s downfall came in three key moments:

Offering the Sacrifice Without Samuel (1 Samuel 13:7-10)
- Samuel delayed, and Saul’s army scattered.
- Instead of waiting on God, Saul disobeyed and offered the sacrifice himself to appear strong before the people.
- Consequence: God rejected him as king (1 Samuel 13:14).
Sparing Agag and the Best of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1-9)
- God commanded complete destruction, but Saul spared King Agag and the best livestock to please the people.
- Excuse: “The people took of the spoil…” (1 Samuel 15:21).
- Consequence: “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” (1 Samuel 15:23).
Confessing His True Motive (1 Samuel 15:24)
- Saul admitted: “I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”
- Root Issue: He valued man’s praise over God’s command.

Lesson:

Fear of man leads to disobedience.
Compromise for popularity is rebellion against God.

2. The Trap of Seeking Fame and Approval

A. The Fear of Man is a Snare (Proverbs 29:25)

Saul’s desire to be liked led him to:
- Disobey God’s clear instructions.
- Make excuses instead of repenting.
- Lose his divine assignment.

B. Fame Distorts Priorities

Worldly fame demands:
- Compromise.
- People-pleasing.
- Self-promotion.
Godly influence requires:
- Obedience.
- Humility.
- Faithfulness in secret (Matthew 6:4).

Lesson:

If you chase applause, you’ll lose God’s approval.
True greatness comes from serving God, not seeking recognition.

3. How to Avoid Saul’s Mistake

A. Seek God’s Approval First (Galatians 1:10)

“If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Ask: “Am I doing this for God or for people’s praise?”

B. Obey God Fully, Not Partially

Saul’s 90% obedience was still 100% disobedience.
Partial obedience = Disobedience.

C. Repent Quickly When You Fail

Saul made excuses (1 Samuel 15:20-21).
David repented immediately (Psalm 51).
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

D. Let God Promote You (Psalm 75:6-7)

“Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another.”
Example: Joseph remained faithful in prison before God exalted him (Genesis 41:14).

Prayer Declaration

“Father, deliver me from the fear of man. Help me to seek Your approval above all else. Let my heart be fully obedient to You, not swayed by the opinions of others. Align my desires with Your will, and use me for Your glory alone, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Conclusion: Whose Approval Are You Chasing?

Saul’s tragedy was not his enemies but his desire for human validation. His story warns us:
Fame is a dangerous master.
God rewards faithfulness, not popularity.
True success comes from fearing God, not man.

Final Thought:
“If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). When God approves you, no man’s rejection can stop His plan for your life.

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Open Heaven 4 June 2025 Today Devotional: & Commentary