Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.” -1 Samuel 26:25 After David had spared Saul’s life a second time, Saul made a strange but important announcement, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.” Saul [Read More…]
1 Samuel 12: The Value of Integrity
December 11, 2012 by
“You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.” -1 Samuel 12:4 Samuel had led Israel for years. At the end of his life, he said that if he had cheated anyone or taken from them, to let him know so he could make it right. How [Read More…]
1 Samuel 11: The Testing of a Leader
December 10, 2012 by
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration. -1 Samuel 11:14-15 [Read More…]
1 Samuel 9: The Seer
December 6, 2012 by
Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. -1 Samuel 9:19 Samuel called himself a seer. A seer was an ancient word [Read More…]
1 Samuel 7: Serving for the Long Haul
December 4, 2012 by
15 Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an [Read More…]
1 Samuel 1: I Asked the Lord for Him
November 26, 2012 by
So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” -1 Samuel 1:20 Infertility is tough to talk about. It’s tougher to live with. When you or someone you know desires to have a child and cannot, there [Read More…]
Judges 20: The Voice of the Lord
November 16, 2012 by
26 Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. 27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, 28 with [Read More…]
Deuteronomy 6: The Shema
August 8, 2012 by
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at [Read More…]
Numbers 36: Rules Serve a Purpose
July 31, 2012 by
“These are the commands and regulations the Lord gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.” -Numbers 36:13 Rules serve a purpose. God gave Israel guidelines to protect and provide for his people for forty years in the wilderness. Moses did not choose them of his [Read More…]
Leviticus 6: Most Holy
May 14, 2012 by
“Say to Aaron and his sons: ‘These are the regulations for the sin offering: The sin offering is to be slaughtered before the Lord in the place the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is most holy.’” -Leviticus 6:25 One thing is clear in Leviticus: holiness is important to God. Each offering includes steps for proper [Read More…]
