Today I offer a prayer of blessing for those who find themselves in difficult circumstances. Father God, our Lord and King, thank you for being our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. You Lord are good, a stronghold in days of trouble, protecting those who take refuge in You. You deliver us…
Month: July 2020
1 Samuel 10
In this chapter Saul is anointed King, the Spirit of God comes upon Him, and he is proclaimed king before all of Israel. “Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. And he said to the people of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “I brought up Israel out…
1 Samuel 9
This chapter introduces Saul and describes his initial calling to be king. “Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, ‘Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.’ …but they did not find them… But [Saul’s servant] said to…
1 Samuel 8
This chapter contains Israel’s request (demand, really) for a king, and Samuel’s (God’s) warning against it. “But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, ‘No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and…
1 Samuel 7
This chapter focuses on Samuel’s early “judging” of Israel. Like in the book of Judges, Samuel leads Israel by declaring the ways of the Lord, and they (thankfully) obey Samuel’s (God’s) leadership. “And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, ‘If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away…
A Prayer for Freedom from Oppression
Throughout the Internet I keep seeing the hashtag #blacklivesmatter. Every time I see it, I am reminded that all lives matter, and those who have been culturally marginalized / oppressed deserve a special place of honor because of the wrongs they have suffered. It breaks God’s heart to see people, who are created in His…
1 Samuel 6
This fascinating chapter details how the Philistines returned the Ark to Israel. “[The Philistine diviners] said, ‘If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his…
1 Samuel 5
This chapter gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Philistines after they capture the Ark in battle. “When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it… into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the…
1 Samuel 4
It is a dark day for Israel – they are defeated twice in battle against the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant is captured, and roughly 34000 Israelites perish including Eli and his two sons. “And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, ‘Why has the Lord defeated us today…
1 Samuel 3
This chapter details God calling Samuel to be His prophet. We’re not told exactly how old Samuel is at this point, though the text indicates he is still growing, so he is likely under 18. “Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am,…