The book of first Kings does not follow one fluid story like the books of Joshua or Ruth rather we follow a timeline of the kings of Israel with great detail given about specific moments in peoples lives while other people only have general highlights given. Why is the book written in this manner? It is consistently repeated throughout the book of 1 Kings, “are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?” What does this statement tell us about 1 Kings? The book gives us a summary of what happened to Israel as various kings took control and also the nation of Israel dividing into Israel and Judah. When details are omitted in 1 Kings it is referencing 2 Chronicles where greater detail of the actions of each king is given. Continue Reading…
Kingdoms come to ruin without God as King: 1 Kings Summary
Choices show the quality of relationship with God: 1 Samuel Summary
The book 1 Samuel in its most simplistic form is the fulfillment of the words spoken by Moses and Joseph to the Israelites encouraging everyone to cling to God and to love Him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. The continued lack of regard for God that was evident in the book of Judges is continuing in the book of 1 Samuel with people choosing to whatever they want to the point of rejecting God as king over Israel. The blessing that was bestowed upon Israel has been removed and they are under the curse that God promised would follow if they did not follow all of His statutes. The Philistine occupation of Israel is a direct result of the Israelites inability and lack of desire to drive out the nations from within the promised land. It is critical to remember that 1 Samuel directly ties into the story that is present through out scripture of God working to redeem humanity. Continue Reading…
Saul remembered in death by Jabesh-Gilead: 1 Samuel 31
The day of the battle between Israel and the Philistines arrives in 1 Samuel 31. How did Saul behave the morning of the battle. After Saul had the spirit of Samuel called from beyond the grave he knew that this was the day that he and his sons would die. How would you behave if you awoke in the morning and knew that your life would come to an end by the end of the day? I suppose that I wouldn’t have slept at all during the night. Were these the feelings of Saul? In 1 Samuel 31:1 it states that the men of Israel fled from the Philistines. Did the fear come from the lack of leadership from Saul because he knew it was the end? Continue Reading…
In complete despair David finds strength in God: 1 Samuel 29 and 30
The fact that God had blessed David while he dwelt with the Philistines becomes apparent when he and his men follow Achish with the Philistine army. When the lords of the Philistines noticed David and his men traveling with Achish they instantly did not trust them. Did God soften Achish’s heart to give favor to David, his men, and their families allowing them to dwell in Ziklag for over a year? The lords of the Philistines gave orders to Achish to send David and his men back to their homes. The renown of David was known to the lords of the Philistines and they didn’t want such a skilled man with them who may turn against them to fight for Israel in the thick of battle. Continue Reading…
At the end of your life who is your advocate: 1 Samuel 27 and 28
Is it true that the enemy of your enemy is a friend? When David seeks out refuge and shelter from Saul in the land of the Philistines why did Achish, the king of Gath, trust David? In 1 Samuel chapter 27 and 28 David, his men, and all their families take refuge in the land of the Philistines. David was the one who killed Goliath the champion of the Philistines so why are they now are willing to let him dwell in their land? Why do the Philistines allow David safe harbor? What was the catlyst of this unusual alliance of enemies? Continue Reading…
Abigail’s insightfulness secures her legacy: 1 Samuel 25 and 26
What extent would you seek to correct a wrong deed that you committed? Would you be willing to work to the same extent if the deed was committed by someone else such as a close friend, child, or spouse? How would you react if you are wronged and you did nothing but good to help the offender? Could you forgive and forget? Could you forgive if someone else made amends? 1 Samuel chapter tells the story of David, Nabal, and Abigail where help is rendered, offense is given, peace is restored, and God displays His faithfulness. Continue Reading…
Waiting for deliverance from God refines character: 1 Samuel 23 and 24
How often do you want to take revenge into your own hands because of the wrongs that you have faced? Do you ever feel that when you seek to do what is true and good you only find yourself in moretrials, tribulation, and problems? Does life teeter on a scale of equality and fairness that always need to be balanced out if situations do not seem fair? In 1 Samuel 23 and 24 David seeks to honor God in his choices and actions as he faces problems by seeking out what God would want him to do even if it was contrary to the natural inclination of men. Continue Reading…
Calamity ensues and God’s sovereignty endures: 1 Samuel 21 and 22
How do you live with the actions and choices made throughout your life? Are we to live in constant fear of what we do in life? How can we have confidence to press on in difficult times? Did these thoughts of doubt and fear go through David’s mind after the wicked deeds of Saul in 1 Samuel 22? In 1 Samuel 21 David has departed from Jonathan after he learned with certainty that Saul was desiring to kill him. David’s flight from Saul leads him to Nob where Ahimelech the priest lived and served the Lord. Continue Reading…
Faith, purpose, trust, and friendship: 1 Samuel 19 and 20
What would you do if you knew that God was calling you to do a great work but the time was not right because there was an insurmountable barrier that God needed to move before you could do anything? This is the situation that faces David in 1 Samuel because he has been anointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel but he cannot take possession of the throne because Saul was still king. Could David have done anything through his own strength to resolve the problem of his not inheriting the throne immediately? David did the most daring thing he could by resting in God’s promise and providence as he awaited for his rule of Israel to begin. There are moments in my life that I wait just as David did for God to fulfill his promise and the temptation to fulfill my needs of through my own strength is ever present. Resting in God is difficult because we are giving up authority to God trusting that He knows exactly what we need. Continue Reading…
David fights Goliath as a jealous Saul looks on in 1 Samuel 17 and 18
Is it easy to become too familiar with stories in the Bible causing us to not reread them to discover the truths they hold. In 1 Samuel 17 the story of David fighting Goliath is retold but it was easy for me to want to read the story with less attention to detail because I know the story? The story of God using a small shepherd by to kill the champion of the Philistines exemplifies God using strength found in weakness to bring down the powerful but what else is conveyed in the story of David and Goliath? What were the thoughts and feelings of the men in the army of Israel as they were facing Goliath? What changes are evident in Saul’s leadership of the people? Did Saul’s lack of dependance upon God transfer into the men he led causing them to become fearful? Continue Reading…
