DATE: Tuesday 14 July 2026
TOPIC: “COVER UP”
TEXT: 1 Samuel 15 1-31
MEMORY VERSE: “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king” – 1 Samuel 15:23.
When King Saul was confronted with his wrongdoing publicly, he did not want to own up and be remorseful before God publicly, he rather wanted life to go on without hitch. He detested public repentance. He asked Samuel to ‘honour’ him before the people and follow him to worship as if nothing had happened. This was the height of pride. What the people will say is often considered as more important than what is right and appropriate. A Proud person wants to be seen as strong and indomitable; not submitting to anyone.
Pride wants to put up a façade that all is well before the public rather than be sincere and real. King Saul almost wanted to apply force by dragging Samuel to do his will. He did this by pulling him back when he would not admit to his request. Pride can be so confident even when heading in the wrong direction. God wants us to always yield to his nudging and be repentant when we are convicted by his Holy Spirit. Resisting the nudging of the Holy Spirit is not only disobedience, but pride.
Pride drives away helpers from someone because the proud person does not want to be seen as being vulnerable, therefore, people would not be able to know how and when to assist such a person. Pride gives a false perspective of oneself. King Saul who saw himself as small, unworthy and unqualified before he became king now saw himself as someone to be honoured before the people rather than being humble and repentant before God. Pride had changed him. Beware of pride. Kill it before destroys you.
PRAYER: Father, grant me meekness of heart. Deliver me from pride and arrogance of heart. Grant me the enablement to reverence you above anyone and all things in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.