HEARTS THAT WERE TOUCHED -- Monday:
"And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched." KJV (1 Samuel 10:26)
Saul had just been made king, and had been presented to the people. The occasion is marked by these words from Samuel, "See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king" (10:24). Samuel then told the people "the manner of the kingdom" – i.e., how royalty should behave. He then "wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD." The aging judge then sent the people away, "every man to his own house" (10:24-25). A noble beginning, indeed!
At this point, Saul returned to his home in Gibeah. However, he did not return alone. There went with him "a band of men, whose heart God had touched." These were "valiant men" (NKJV), strong, valorous, and able to make effective war. They also were able to perceive Saul was chosen by God, and thus aligned themselves with him. They apparently went with him as body guards, offering themselves in service to their new king.
This circumstance was not just something that happened by the will of man. God had touched the hearts of these men, making them considerate of and obedient to the king. Our text says He had "touched" their hearts.
A touch from God! What a thought! Jeremiah experienced such a thing when the Lord "touched" his mouth and told him, "Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth" (Jer 1:9). Daniel experienced the same kind of touch from a heavenly messenger (Dan 10:16). Another time, when Daniel was in a "deep sleep" with his face toward the ground, a heavenly touch set him upon his knees and the of his hands (Dan 10:10). It is the desire of every godly man to experience a touch from heaven. Nothing is the same after that.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for your blessed touch.