1 Samuel 17

“For the battle is the Lord’s” (v47). David had been added to Saul’s entourage as a mere musician, but confronting Goliath was his announcement for the office of king. While King Saul and his army “were dismayed and greatly afraid” (v1), David was confident that “the Lord saves not with sword and spear” (v47). The battle was won even though “there was no sword” in David’s hand (v50).

The future king trusted in the “Lord of hosts, the God of the armies”, rather than politica

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1 Samuel 16

“And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward” (v13). As the Spirit “departed from Saul” (v14), God began to replace King Saul with David (v1). Saul’s instability created a chaotic environment where Samuel feared Saul (v2), and the elders feared the prophet (v4). King Saul became a disturbed man in need of a calming presence (v17). Ironically, David was the right man for that job and for the job of king (v18).

When the first king of Israel failed, it w

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Luke 20:20-47

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (v25). The religious leaders tried to trap Jesus in an unanswerable question that would get him trouble (v20), but Jesus’ answer silenced his questioners (v26). The image on the coin belonged to Caesar, but the image stamped on our souls belongs to God alone (Gen 1:26-27). 

We have earthly responsibilities as part of families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and nations. However, our deepest lo

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Luke 20:1-19

“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’” (v17). The religious leaders challenged Jesus: “By what authority do you do these things?” (v2). They attempted to build their case against Him (v20), but Jesus turned the interrogation on its head, silencing them (7) and warning them with a parable of the tenants (v9-ff). The heirs of the kingdom are those who accept the Son, not simply the religiously pious (v16).

The “owner of the vineyard” has sent His

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Psalm 45

“My heart overflows with a pleasing theme” (v1). The psalmist paints a picture of God’s relationship to Israel as a royal wedding procession filled with “joy and gladness” (v15). The kingly groom “rides out” for “truth, meekness and righteousness” (4). The princess bride is adorned in “many colored robes” (v14). The celebration is of the marriage, but more profoundly, of a kingdom that is ruled by a “scepter of uprightness” (v6) that “loves righteousness” (v7).

This royal s

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I Samuel 14,15

These chapters are lessons in receiving mercy. We determine our own judgement by how we treat other people. In 1 Samuel 14, Saul’s son Jonathan, with his armor bearer, acted heroically and turned the tide of battle (14:1-23). To push his men, Saul foolishly ordered that none were to eat until evening at penalty of death.   Jonathan innocently tasted some honey, was discovered, and Saul would have killed his own son mercilessly if not restrained (v43-46).

Chapter 15 records

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1 Samuel 13

Samuel said, “What have you done?”  Saul said,  “Because… you did not come,… I forced myself and offered the burnt offering” (vs11,12). An enemy army was close; Samuel had indicated he would be there but was late coming, so Saul, newly appointed king, presumed  the right of the prophet to offer the sacrifice. Saul thought his office of king gave him rights to function, with impunity, as he saw fit. He was  blinded to the difference between the sacred and the profane. In ad

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1 Samuel 12

After serving as a prophet of God for over fifty years (secular source timeline), in essence, Samuel was “fired,” not by God, but by the Israelites. They wanted a king, not a prophet. God brought Saul to Samuel, and at God’s direction, Samuel anointed Saul and presented him to the people. Then, to demonstrate that Samuel’s anointing had not lifted, God had him call down thunder and rain. Samuel left the office heavy hearted,  but assuring them that he would always continue

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Samuel 11

“The Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily… and he became very angry” (v6). Anger is often a mix of feelings of disrespect and disdain.  It may become justification for violence and other ungodly acts. However, Saul was rightly angry at the diabolical threat of the Ammonites to gouge out the right eye of every male (v2) in a city that was surrendering. His anger reflected the anger of God. Perhaps that is the standard of godly anger.

God gave us a capacity for anger to move

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Luke 19:28-48

“The Lord has need of it” (v34). One of the themes we see in Luke’s writing is his awareness of the difference between what we could  describe as “givers and takers”. We see it in parables and even salvation narratives. Here, Jesus is preparing to go into Jerusalem to fulfill prophecy and die for the sins of the world. But a prophecy joined to that was that He would ride into Jerusalem on "the foal of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9). It did not seem like much, but “the Lord had need

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Luke 19:1-27

Two wealthy men sought Jesus; both encountered him (Lk 18:18-24; Lk 19:1-10), a rich young ruler and a high-ranking tax collector. The ruler was not immoral, but loved his money more than Jesus. Zaccheus, working in a system that promoted dishonesty, graft and thievery, responded to Jesus’ inviting himself to stay at his home. When he heard the gossip, “This man has gone to be a guest at the home of a sinner,” he immediately stopped and said to Jesus, “Half of my possessi

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Psalm 44

This psalm begins with a recounting of God’s past faithfulness, “We have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us the work you did in their days, the days of old” (v1). The writer’s problem is Israel seems to be under judgement, and the writer knows no reason. It is written as a “Maskil,” a contemplative piece that often is introspective. 

Most of us have at some point asked “Why?” God gives us the privilege of asking “Why,” if we are ready to accept His answer when he

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1 Samuel 10

Few men or women have been put in leadership with less experience than Saul, yet his promotion was clearly endorsed by God. He was anointed with oil and carefully prepared by Samuel. A prophetic word, a  promise, was given and soon fulfilled of a powerful experience with the Holy Spirit. In addition, God gave Saul a new heart (10:1-9). Saul quickly adapted to his new position of power but never accepted its boundaries. 

Sometimes the test of success is more difficult than t

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1 Samuel 9

If God answers my prayer, does that mean he approves of the prayer?  Chapters 8-10 show that this is not necessarily true. The people cried to God for a king, but He had already said their desire for a king was a rejection of Him. Yet He answered their prayer and chose the best that He knew they would accept – tall, handsome, from a good family that had produced some mighty men (9:1). Initially, the new leadership seemed to be a great step forward, but as time passed, the

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1 Samuel 8

1 Samuel 8 addresses a time of political upheaval in Israel. Crises usually have a multiplicity of components. Samuel, who had been a wonderful prophet-leader, was growing old. His judgement, no doubt affected by family relationships, led to his making poor appointments of judges. His chosen judges brought out the worst in the people, and rather than asking for better judges, they demanded a king, a radical change in their form of government. They “wanted to be like other

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