Oct2019
Allowing the children to mature
So they ran and brought Saul out to the people, and they could see that he was a head taller than anyone else. Samuel said to the people, ‘Here is the man the LORD has chosen! There is no one else among us like him.’ All the people shouted, ‘Long live the king!’ Samuel explained… Read more
Oct2019
Only God can make a new heart
When Saul turned to leave Samuel, God gave Saul a new nature. And everything Samuel had told him happened that day. When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Suddenly the spirit of God took control of him, and he joined in their ecstatic dancing and shouting. People who… Read more
Oct2019
Little people for big jobs
Now on the previous day the LORD had told Samuel, ‘Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the tribe of Benjamin; anoint him as ruler of my people Israel, and he will rescue them from the Philistines. I have seen the suffering of my people and have heard their cries for… Read more
Oct2019
Choosing grace
There was a wealthy and influential man named Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin; he was the son of Abiel and grandson of Zeror, and belonged to the family of Becorath, a part of the clan of Aphiah. He had a son named Saul, a handsome man in the prime of life. Saul was a… Read more
Sep2019
The self-management trap
Samuel was displeased with their request for a king; so he prayed to the LORD, and the LORD said, ‘Listen to everything the people say to you. You are not the one they have rejected; I am the one they have rejected as their king. Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have… Read more
Sep2019
Follow the map
‘Abraham said, “Your brothers have Moses and the prophets to warn them; your brothers should listen to what they say.” The rich man answered, “That is not enough, father Abraham! But if someone were to rise from death and go to them, then they would turn from their sins.” But Abraham said, “If they will… Read more
Sep2019
Help of the helpless
The LORD sets prisoners free and gives sight to the blind. He lifts those who have fallen; he loves his righteous people. He protects the strangers who live in our land; he helps widows and orphans, but takes the wicked to their ruin. (verses 7b-9) Read Psalm 146 The Lord God is the only lasting… Read more
Sep2019
All or nothing
The Covenant Box of the LORD stayed in Kiriath Jearim a long time, some twenty years. During this time all the Israelites cried to the LORD for help. Samuel said to the people of Israel, ‘If you are going to turn to the LORD with all your hearts, you must get rid of all the… Read more
Sep2019
Dark days in his presence
As she was dying, the women helping her said to her, ‘Be brave! You have a son!’ But she paid no attention and did not answer. She named the boy Ichabod, explaining, ‘God’s glory has left Israel’—referring to the capture of the Covenant Box and the death of her father-in-law and her husband. ‘God’s glory… Read more
Sep2019
The team star
When the survivors came back to camp, the leaders of Israel said, ‘Why did the Lord let the Philistines defeat us today? Let’s go and bring the LORD’S Covenant Box from Shiloh, so that he will go with us and save us from our enemies.’ So they sent messengers to Shiloh and got the Covenant… Read more
