1 SAMUEL 16:1–13 He was ruddy, With a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one” (1 Samuel 16:12). David is one of the most remarkable characters in the Bible. Because we are so familiar with him, we often fail to realize how remarkable he was. … Continue reading “DAVID THE MODEL MAN”
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THE INSANITY OF SAUL
1 SAMUEL 16:14–23 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him (1 Samuel 16:14). After Saul’s third rebellion against the Lord, God told Samuel to anoint someone else king. Leading him to the house of Jesse, the Lord commanded Samuel to anoint David as … Continue reading “THE INSANITY OF SAUL”
A KING FOR ISRAEL
1 SAMUEL 8 And the Lord told him [Samuel]: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected as their king, but they have rejected Me as their king” (1 Samuel 8:7). After the victory over Philistia at Mizpah, Samuel judged Israel for a number of years. … Continue reading “A KING FOR ISRAEL”
ISRAEL’S FIRST KING
1 SAMUEL 10 A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Samuel 10:12). Judges 9 says the first king in Israel was Abimelech. He reigned over only a small area. The honor, therefore, of being the first human king over … Continue reading “ISRAEL’S FIRST KING”
THE FALLS OF KING SAUL
1 SAMUEL 15 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king (1 Samuel 15:23). We have a tendency to look at Bible characters statically, as if they never change. We think of Saul … Continue reading “THE FALLS OF KING SAUL”
THE CAPTURE OF THE ARK
1 SAMUEL 4 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured” (1 Samuel 4:17). Eli named his sons Hophni (“Strong”) and Phinehas (“Oracle”). Doubtless when they were … Continue reading “THE CAPTURE OF THE ARK”
A NEW EXODUS
1 SAMUEL 5 The Lord’s hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; He brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors (1 Samuel 5:6). By allowing the ark to be captured and all the adult high priestly family to be killed, God was judging Israel. At the same time, God … Continue reading “A NEW EXODUS”
A NEW MOUNT SINAI
1 SAMUEL 7 So the men Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord (1 Samuel 7:1). When Israel came out of Egypt, God led them to Mount Sinai and appeared … Continue reading “A NEW MOUNT SINAI”
ORDINARY FAITHFULNESS
RUTH 1–2 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” (Ruth 2:10). The story of Ruth opens with the historical narrative of Elimelech leading his wife and two sons to the land of Moab, a journey … Continue reading “ORDINARY FAITHFULNESS”
REDEMPTION IN RUTH
RUTH 3–4 So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal (Ruth 4:8). As we in the late twentieth century read the last half of the book of Ruth, we are made acutely aware of the immense cultural and temporal gap that separates us from that day and its practices. … Continue reading “REDEMPTION IN RUTH”