May 21, 2024
“Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep” (1 Samuel 30:4 ESV). In the time when David was on the run from King Saul, he allied himself with King Achish of the Philistines. Yet, on the eve before they went into
May 10, 2024
‘And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them”‘ (1 Samuel 8:7 ESV). Samuel had led Israel well his whole life, but now he was old and his sons
May 7, 2024
‘But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord”‘ (1 Samuel 1:15 ESV). Hannah was childless. At her family’s annual visit to the Tabernacle at Shiloh to worship and bring offerings, she
May 21, 2023
“But David found strength in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6 NLT). When David and his 600 men returned to their hometown of Ziklag, they found it burning and their families taken captive by the Amalekites. David and his troops wept loudly until they were without strength. His men were so distraught that they
May 14, 2023
“And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away” (1 Samuel 16:23 NLT). After the Lord had rejected Saul as king, His Spirit departed from Saul. And Saul became troubled, going through great bouts of distress. His servants
May 9, 2023
‘Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!”’ (1 Samuel 7:12 NLT). Samuel called the Israelites to Mizpah for an assembly of repentance and recommitment,
May 19, 2022
SAMUEL, A FORERUNNER OF CHRIST JESUS Samuel was the last of the judges and with his passing, Israel completely transitioned from the time of the judges to the time of the kings. Samuel was the greatest Israelite leader since Moses. He was a forerunner of the Messiah, bearing the threefold titles of prophet, priest and
May 18, 2022
GOD’S PROVISION AND PREPARATION IN THE WILDERNESS David fled from King Saul to live in the Judean wilderness of En Gedi, which provided both caves to live in and springs from which to drink. God provided for David in the wilderness. And although it was a very difficult time, it was also a time of
May 16, 2022
THE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES SEEN IN DAVID AND SAUL David was an obedient and enthusiastic servant of King Saul. And God gave David success. At first, his success led to the king’s favor, but as his victories grew, Saul’s favor turned to jealousy. In all of this, God was at work, moving Saul out and David
May 15, 2022
THE NAME THAT IS GREATER THAN THE GIANT YOU FACE What David said to Goliath as they closed for battle revealed his heart and passion for God’s great name. Surely the giant was both impressive and terrifying to behold. He was a giant of a man, nine feet tall, dressed in the finest armor and