But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king. Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king.” So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

Sometimes, like the Israelites, I need a taste of the LORD's displeasure because of my rebellion. He wiped out the wheat harvest in minutes, a very serious blow to the food supply. Sometimes, it might be a comparatively minor slap on the hand, but it can be something that is a serious impediment to my freedom or my health. I've limped for about 50 years due to an incident of drunken stupidity. No need to go into details or other examples.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 118

Mid-day: 119:65-72

Evening: Psalm 44

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"Voices Together" is available as an annual daily devotional and can be purchased at theFellowship Of Ailbe bookstore.  A weekly edition, formatted as a bi-fold insert and suitable for distribution can be downloaded at https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/52-general-downloads. The next edition is available by Thursday of the prior week.