Bible

“Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him;” 1 Samuel 18:8a Not long after David killed Goliath, the women would greet Saul and the Army saying “Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands”. Today’s verse was his reaction! Solomon wrote “Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who […]

“for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47b These are the last words of David before he ran at Goliath. In them we have epitomized his view of the story; “the battle is the Lord’s”. When we hear this story rehearsed today in a movie, in

“So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” 1 Samuel 13:12b Samuel instructed Saul to wait until he arrived to offer the sacrifice. The Philistine Army had gathered at Michmash with 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and people as numerous as sand. Now his army was beginning to scatter. He wanted God’s help and blessing,

“that we also may be like all the nations,” 1 Samuel 8:20a Samuel’s sons have begun judging Israel, but, without his integrity. The People begin to clamor for a change; they want a King! They do have a legitimate reason with their Judges taking bribes, but that is not at the heart of their request.

“When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.”” 1 Samuel 4:3

“As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.” 1 Samuel 1:13 As 1st Samuel opens, we are introduced to Samuel’s parents. Here is his Mother, Hannah, at the Tabernacle, pouring out her heart in prayer. She is

“Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land.” Ruth 1:1a Today’s reading brings me to Ruth, and this is how it begins. It is truly an Amazing Story! From this famine, to Ruth’s encounter with Boaz, God Hand of Providence is seen all throughout.

“But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel.” Judges 20:13b This is the last story in Judges and one cannot read it without shaking the head in disbelief. An entire tribe refuses to turn over individuals guilty of gang rape and murder. Instead, they gather

“Now there was a man of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.” Judges 17:1 As mentioned before, Judges is a collection of very sad and sordid tales. Here we are introduced to Micah. In the next 2 Chapters we will learn that he stole money from his mother, and upon restoring it,

“Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines.” Judges 14:1 Today’s verse begins the sad and sorry tale of Samson, a man God chose to rule His People, but one of questionable character and virtue. What can we learn from this? God can use