Come Follow Me - D&C 115-120 - Sacred Sacrifices @Unshaken

Updated September 2026, 1 day ago

Come Follow Me - D&C 115-120 - Sacred Sacrifices

$The Need for Smiths in Israel: Working the Forge of Faith Unshaken Daily Devotional #166 - No Smiths in Israel We have all been in a position where the pressure is mounting, our support system is scattering, time is running out, and it feels like the only way to survive is to take matters into our own hands. In 1 Samuel 11–13, King Saul faces this exact pressure cooker—and he misses the mark by mere minutes. Discover why it is always better to wait on the Lords timing than to force a crisis, and how to develop a heart that remains true when your circumstances are falling apart. Summary: In this episode, Jared Halverson breaks down the pivotal, kingdom-altering events of 1 Samuel 11–13. We begin with Saul’s initial triumph—channeling righteous indignation to rally and unify a fractured house of Israel against the Ammonites. We transition into chapter 12 to witness Samuel the Prophet’s legendary final accounting, where he establishes a blameless legacy and stands as a defense attorney for the historical acts of Jehovah. We analyze the devastating reality of spiritual buyers remorse when the heavens send unseasonal thunder and rain. Finally, we deep-dive into the tragic turning point of Sauls reign at Gilgal, exploring the anatomy of his self-justified overreach of authority, his inability to maintain jurisdictional boundaries under military stress, and the profound cost of letting the world control our spiritual tools. Key doctrinal insights include: Righteous Indignation vs. Reckless Anger: An analysis of 1 Samuel 11:6. We look at how the Spirit of God came upon Saul, turning his defining emotion of anger into a tool for tribal unity and swift deliverance, proving that our natural temperaments can be sanctified for the Lords purposes. A Conscience Void of Offense: Samuel’s final accounting before the nation. We explore how Samuel stood before the people completely blameless of fraud, oppression, or bribery, drawing modern parallels to President Spencer W. Kimball painstakingly setting his business affairs right upon being called to the Apostleship. Wickedness Yet Faithfulness: The core message of 1 Samuel 12:20. We analyze Samuel’s stunning response to Israel’s tearful buyers remorse: Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord. We learn how prophets and parents handle those in their charge who sin—refusing to let past mistakes paralyze future righteousness. The Seven-Day Test of Patience: Why Samuel delayed his arrival at Gilgal. We look at how the Lord purposefully tries our patience, obedience, and faith by allowing the pressure to mount until our earthly support systems begin to scatter into caves and thickets. The Anatomy of Self-Justification: We break down Sauls three classic excuses in 1 Samuel 13:11–12: blaming the people (they scattered), blaming the prophet (thou camest not), and blaming the enemy (the Philistines gathered). We look at how he forced himself to perform an unauthorized sacrifice, doing a seemingly religious thing in an entirely faithless way. The Danger of Spiritual Monopoly: Why the Philistines banned blacksmiths from Israel. We explore how Israel became completely dependent on their enemies just to sharpen their basic farming tools, drawing a modern warning against relying on worldly systems that do not have our spiritual interests at heart. No Sword in the Hand of the People: An analysis of 1 Samuel 13:22. We look at the terrifying military reality where only Saul and his son Jonathan possessed weapons. We connect this to modern discipleship: it is never enough for our prophets and leaders to be armed with testimonies; every individual member must possess their own sword of faith. This lesson stands as a sobering warning that we often give up right before the rescue arrives. Saul only needed to hold the line a few moments longer, but his lack of internal alignment cost him an eternal legacy. Whether you are currently navigating a high-stakes family transition or trying to find the courage to hold onto your covenants when the crowd is scattering, this video will help you ground your heart in the patience of Christ. Call-to-Action: Saul panicked and overstepped his bounds because he saw his army scattering and assumed Samuel wasnt coming. Have you ever experienced a Gilgal moment in your life where the pressure was intense and you were tempted to take a shortcut, but you chose to stand still and wait for the Lords timing instead? How did the Lord reward your patience? Share your experiences with waiting in the comments! Like and Subscribe to Unshaken for more deep-dive scripture study! Tags: 1 Samuel 11, 1 Samuel 12, 1 Samuel 13, King Saul, Samuel the Prophet, Waiting on the Lord, Self Justification, Man After His Own Heart, Priesthood Authority, Jared Halverson, Unshaken, LDS Scripture Study, Old Testament 2026, Spiritual Boundaries, Righteous Indignation, Ebenezer, Overcoming Fear, Come Follow Me$

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