Daily Devotions
The Kind of Man I Want My Daughters to Marry
Reading for March 29th: 1 Samuel 9-12
There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
1 Samuel 9:2
What are the qualities of a great leader?
The first king of Israel was Saul. Saul was the king the people asked for in chapter 8. They wanted a king so they would be like all the nations around them (1 Sam 8:5).
So God gave them Saul.
What do we know about Saul? Three things are said about him in this text:
1. He was rich.
2. He was handsome.
3. He was tall.
Did this make Saul a great king? NO! Saul was an utter failure as a leader of God's people (see 1 Sam 13, 15).
It seems to me that Saul was given to the people as a lesson. The people were not driven by God's priorities. They thought only about themselves. They wanted a king because it would make them look good. God gave them what they wanted and they suffered for it.
I would like to direct this devotion to any young single ladies reading this. Don't be swept away by a man's looks or his bank account. None of that matters. It will not make him a good husband. In fact, those things may get in his way.
Look for a man who is committed to God first. If he also happens to be tall, dark, handsome, and makes a lot of money, so be it. But remember that none of that other stuff matters.
Father, help our young ladies find young men who have sanctified you first in their heart (1 Sam 13:14).
