JUNE 9 – When Courage Counts
3-Year-Bible Reading: Proverbs 17:15–16; 1 Samuel 11
//3-Year Bible Devotional Book (Year Two) Available on Amazon
//
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“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?” — Proverbs 17:15–16 (ESV)
“And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.” — 1 Samuel 11:6 (ESV)
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Have you ever faced a moment when you had to stand up for what was right—when staying silent would mean letting injustice win? In 1 Samuel 11, the people of Jabesh were in serious trouble, threatened by enemies who wanted to humiliate them. When Saul heard about it, something powerful happened: the Spirit of God stirred him to action. He didn’t sit back and hope someone else would step in—he responded with courage.
On the other hand, Proverbs 17 warns us about making excuses for what’s wrong or failing to act when we should. Real wisdom isn’t just knowing what’s right; it’s choosing to do it. God calls us to live with courage, speak truth, and take action when people need help or when wrong needs to be made right. Courage isn’t about being fearless—it’s about trusting God enough to act even when you feel scared.
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THINK ABOUT IT
1. Courage Over Comfort: When have you been tempted to stay silent instead of standing up for what’s right? How can Saul’s courage in 1 Samuel 11:6 inspire you?
2. Wisdom in Action: Proverbs 17:15–16 shows that wisdom isn’t about money or status—it’s about living God’s way. How can you show wisdom through your choices this week?
3. God’s Strength, Not Yours: Saul’s courage came after the Spirit of God came upon him. How can you rely on God’s strength instead of your own when facing challenges?
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BOTTOM LINE
True courage comes from trusting God and choosing to do what’s right, even when it’s hard.
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PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the courage to stand up for what is right. Help me to rely on Your Spirit when I feel afraid or unsure. Teach me to live with wisdom, to act with boldness, and to honor You in every choice I make. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Welcome to Bible Chat, where we
have devotional conversations
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rooted in Scripture and relevant
for today, June 9th, when
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courage counts.
There’s always a moment, maybe
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in the hallway, at school,
online or in a group chat, where
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you see something wrong
happening.
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Someone is being bullied,
someone is being lied about,
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someone needs someone to speak
up.
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And in that moment you have a
choice.
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Stay quiet because it’s safer or
speak up because it’s right.
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Most of us have stayed quiet at
some point, and we know what
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that feels like afterward.
First Samuel Chapter 11 verse 6
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says something remarkable.
And the Spirit of God rushed
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upon Saul when he heard these
words, and his anger was greatly
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kindled.
The people of Jabish were being
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threatened and humiliated by
their enemies.
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And when Saul heard about it,
God’s Spirit moved in him
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powerfully.
He didn’t rationalize it.
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He didn’t wait for someone else
to act.
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He responded because the Spirit
of God stirred him toward
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courage and action.
Now, Saul isn’t always a model
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character in the Bible.
His story gets complicated
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later.
But in this moment, he shows us
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something important.
Courage that’s God breathed
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looks different from human
bravado.
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It’s not reckless.
It’s not about proving yourself
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or showing off.
It’s about being so moved by
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what moves God that you act even
when it’s uncomfortable.
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Proverbs chapter 17, verses 15
and 16 warn about the opposite,
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justifying what’s wrong,
condemning what’s right, and
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having the tools for wisdom but
refusing to use them.
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That’s a person who knows better
but keeps choosing the path of
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least resistance.
And God calls that an
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abomination.
Strong word, but it shows how
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seriously he takes justice and
integrity for young people
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today.
This is real.
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It’s easy to laugh along at a
cruel joke so you don’t become
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the target.
It’s easy to scroll past
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injustice because engaging might
cost you something.
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It’s easy to say it’s not my
problem.
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But when the Spirit of God is in
you, you are equipped for more
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than that.
Courage doesn’t always look like
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a dramatic stand in front of a
crowd.
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Sometimes it looks like sending
a kind message to someone being
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mocked.
Sometimes it looks like speaking
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truth in a conversation that’s
going sideways.
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Sometimes it looks like simply
saying that’s not right, when it
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would have been easier to say
nothing.
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And here’s the best news.
You don’t have to do it in your
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own strength.
Like Saul.
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In this moment, the Spirit of
God can rush upon you too.
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You just have to be willing.
Let’s pray.
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Heavenly Father, thank you for
giving us courage through your
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spirit.
When we see injustice, when
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we’re tempted to stay silent,
when doing right feels risky,
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fill us with your boldness.
Help us to act with wisdom, to
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speak with love, and to trust
that you go before us when we
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stand up for what is right.
We can’t do this in our own
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strength, but with You we can.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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When a loved one’s marriage is
under strain, you may not know
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what to say, but you can still
know how to pray.
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The Marriage Intercessor series
gives tender, faith filled
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language for standing before God
when misunderstanding, distance,
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conflict, and wounded hearts
threaten a covenant.
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These prayer scripts help you
intercede with mercy, wisdom,
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been bruised, and restore peace
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Order now on Amazon or visit
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Now I invite you to spend time
with God in today’s three-year
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Bible reading plan.
Proverbs chapter 17 verses 15 to
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16 World English Bible He who
justifies the wicked and he who
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condemns the righteous, both of
them alike are an abomination to
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Yahweh.
Why is there money in the hand
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of a fool to buy wisdom, since
he has no understanding?
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First Samuel Chapter 11 World
English Bible Then Nahash the
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Ammonite came up and encamped
against Jay Bush.
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Gilead and all the men of Jay
Bush said to Nahash, make a
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covenant with us and we will
serve you.
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Nahash the Ammonite said to
them, on this condition, I will
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make it with you that all your
right eyes be gouged out.
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I will make this dishonor all
Israel.
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The elders of Jay Bush said to
him, Give us seven days that we
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may send messengers to all the
borders of Israel, and then if
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there is no one to save us, we
will come out to you.
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Then the messengers came to
Jiber of Saul and spoke these
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words in the ears of the people.
Then all the people lifted up
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their voice and wept.
Behold, Saul came following the
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oxen out of the field, and Saul
said, What ails the people, that
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they weep.
They told him the words of the
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men of Jabish.
God’s.
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Spirit came mightily on Saul
when he heard those words, and
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his anger burned hot.
He took a yoke of oxen and cut
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them in pieces, and sent them
throughout all the borders of
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Israel by the hand of
messengers, saying, Whoever
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doesn’t come out after Saul and
after Samuel, so shall it be
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done to his oxen.
The dread of Yahweh fell on the
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people, and they came out as one
man.
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He counted them in Bezeq, and
the children of Israel were
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300,000 and the men of Judah
30,000.
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They said to the messengers who
came, Tell the men of Jabish
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Gilead tomorrow by the time the
sun is hot, you will be rescued.
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The messengers came and told the
men of Jabish, and they were
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glad.
Therefore the men of Jabish
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said, tomorrow we will come out
to you, and you shall do with us
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all that seems good to you.
On the next day Saul put the
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people in three companies, and
they came into the middle of the
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camp in the morning watch and
struck the Ammonites until the
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heat of the day.
Those who remained were
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scattered so that no two of them
were left together.
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The people said to Samuel, Who
is he who said, Shall Saul reign
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over us?
Bring those men, that we may put
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them to death.
Saul said, No man shall be put
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to death today, for today Yahweh
has rescued Israel.
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Then Samuel said to the people,
Come, let’s go to Gilgal and
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renew the Kingdom there.
All the people went to Gilgal,
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and there they made Saul king
before Yahweh, and Gilgal there
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they offered sacrifices of
peace, offerings before Yahweh,
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and there’s Saul, and all the
men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
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Thanks for joining us on Bible
Chat, where Scripture meets
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everyday life.
If today’s devotional encouraged
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you, share it with a friend and
be sure to follow the podcast so
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you won’t miss the next
conversation.
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Until next time, stay rooted in
truth, anchored in hope, and
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walking daily with Jesus.

