Archive | April 2024

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 109

Apr18

    Day 109 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 109 – 1 Samuel 28 – 31, Psalm 18 (Ending 1 Samuel, King Saul, and David’s persecution. David’s song)

 1 Samuel 28 tells of the Philistines gathering to war against Israel and Saul in a panic. Since his failure to kill the Amalekite king and God “tearing” the kingdom from him (and no repentance) Saul has been like King Ludwig – mad.  Now, faced with a huge attack, he tries everything he can to learn what he should do.  But God is silent.

Compounding sin on sin, Saul meets with a Medium (witch) at Endor. (Israel was supposed to have killed all of them, but again, they didn’t complete that order.) He tells her to call up Samuel so he can get “some word from the LORD.”  She obeys, but instead of the regular evil spirit she is used to, Samuel actually does appear and she screams in terror.

Saul asks what he should do. Samuel basically tells the king that it is too late. He and all his sons are to die that very day, and Israel will go into the hands of the Philistines.  He is terrified and later goes away into the night.

1 Samuel 29 tells of King Achish preparing to battle Israel and enlisting his “favorite Israelite bodyguard,” David, to help him in battle. But his commanders refuse to take a “spy” with them, so David and his 600 men are set back to Ziklag.

1 Samuel 30 tells of David’s shock when he and his men arrive “home” to find that the Amalekites (whom Saul was supposed to have killed) had come, burned the city, looted, and taken all their wives and kids captive. His men are about to mutiny, but David “strengthens himself in the LORD his God.” He goes to the priest to inquire what he should do and is told to pursue and overtake the marauders.  Two hundred of his men are too exhausted to fight, so they stay “with the baggage.” 

David finds an Egyptian lying by the roadside who had served the Amalekites, but been left behind. He promises to lead David to him if he spares his life.  And so David and his 400 men defeat the Amalekites, take back their families, their own things, and lots of other loot.  There is a squabble about the “baggage men” also getting loot, but David quashes that and says everyone shares in the spoils of war. 

1 Samuel 31, the last chapter, tells about Saul going to battle, taking heavy losses from the Philistines, and how all three of his sons – including Jonathan – are killed. King Saul is cornered and an arrow badly wounds him.  He begs his armor bearer to finish him off, but the fellow refuses, so Saul kills himself. Then the armor bearer, no doubt fearing he will be blamed for killing the king, also kills himself. 

Later, the Philistines find their bodies and take them as trophies of the battle, putting Saul’s head in the temple of Dagon, their god, and hanging all the bodies on the wall. But some valiant Israelite men came at night, took down the bodies, burned them, and buried the bones.

What a sad ending to Israel’s first king, and the nation as a whole. 

Psalm 18 is a psalm of praise for God’s love, care, protection, and reward.

 

Verse 1-3: 
I love you, O LORD, my strength. 
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised.
And I am saved from my enemies. 

Verse 6:
In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry to Him reached his ears.

Verse 17: 
He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.

Verse 28: 
For it is you who light my lamp;
the LORD my God lightens my darkness.

Verse 30: 
This God - His way is perfect:
The word of the LORD proves true;
He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.

Verse 46: 
The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 108

Apr17

    Day 108 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 108 – Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63. (More psalms by David when being persecuted by Saul)

In Psalm 17, David petitions the LORD as many as SEVENTEEN times for protection. It’s a harrowing time for him, with Saul and his army always after him, and spies tattle-telling where he is hiding. 

“He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!” Verse 12-13a 

“Keep me as the apple of your eye, hid me in the shadow of your wings.”  Verse 8

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Psalm 35 calls for justice against David’s enemy and alludes to other foreign powers and even to all of God’s enemies.

Verse 17-18: “How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng, I will praise you. “

Verse 19: “Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those “wink the eye” who hate me without a cause.”

Verse 17: “Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, ‘Great is the LORD who delights in the welfare of his servant!'” 

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In Psalm 54, again, the Ziphites went to Saul and told him of David’s whereabouts.  “O God, save me by your name and vindicate me by our might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Behold, God is my helper, the Lord is the upholder of my life.” Verses 1-4.

..

Psalm 64 is wonderful. Be sure to read all the verses. It’s almost entirely praise God.

See him in the wilderness – “O God, you are my God earnestly I seek you, MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU; AS IN A DRY AND WEARY LAND WHERE THERE IS NO WATER.” Verse 1

“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name, I will lift up my hands.” Verses 3-4

“…and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when i remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Verses 5b-8

 

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 107

Apr16

    Day 107 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself?

Day 107 – 1 Samuel 25 – 27 (Samuel dies, Nabal/Abigail, David/Saul, David/Philistines)

Away from those lovely Psalms and back to history.

The first thing we read in Chapter 25, is that the prophet, Samuel dies and is mourned.  It’s another end of an era, where Israel will have kings alone to lead them. (Yes, there will be prophets, but not a prophet/priest like Samuel.)

David is still running from Saul, hiding wherever he and his 600 men can find. In this story, they protect a very wealthy man’s livestock for a season. No animal or human predator had harmed a single one of them. So when the thousand sheep are brought in to be sheered, David sends men to Nabal to collect food for his men as payment for their service.

But the “foolish” Nabal, holds tight to his pennies and refuses to give a single fig. Angered by his refusal to compensate, David gathers 400 of his men to pay back the ingrate. (Kill every last one of them.) But Abigail, Nabal’s wise wife, hears and immediately remedies the situation by loading multiple donkeys with enough food to feed David and his army. Plus, she runs ahead and bows before the kingly commander and begs his forgiveness.  David admires her for her peacemaking, accepts the loot, and praises God for using her to keep him from sin.  And… after her husband, the fool, dies, David takes Abigail as his wife. Whoa! Fairy tale story!

A short note at the end of the chapter tells us that David took a third wife, Ahinoam.  and that his first wife, Saul’s daughter, Michal, had been taken from him (while he was on the run) and given to another man.

Chapter 26 shows David again running from the mad King Saul (and 3,000 of his men) after the people of Ziph tattle about his whereabouts. David again spares Saul’s life when he could easily have taken it. While the king and his soldiers slept a “deep sleep from the LORD,” David crept down to within a foot of where Saul snored.  He took his spear and water bottle and left.

Then, on a hill with a “great deal of space” between him and Saul, David calls out and chides Abner, his captain for not protecting his lord. When Abner and the groggy king see David waving the spear and water bottle, they recognize that God kept David from killing him. Saul apologizes, packs up, and goes home, with even a blessing for David.

Chapter 27 shows that Saul’s change of heart doesn’t last and that he soon pursues David again. And David AGAIN escapes to the land of the Philistines. Achish, the king of Gath, allows him to stay, believing wrongly that David and his men are warring against their own people. In reality, David is attacking smaller Gershurites, Girzites, and Amalekites towns, killing all so there are no witnesses, and bringing the loot back to Achish.

While God commanded Israel to do this when they first conquered the land, David’s deception was wrong.  However, the king of Gath was happy and even gave David and his men the town of Ziklag, which became David’s official “fort.”

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 105 & 106

Apr15

    Day 105 & 106 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself? (Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

Day 105 – Psalms 7, 27, 31, 34, & 52 (Psalms of David as he flees and hides from Saul)

These are wonderful Psalms in themselves, but they are even more understandable in the context of David’s life. As you read these portions, think of yesterday’s reading of King Saul relentlessly pursuing David, David hiding in caves and strongholds, and David sinning but confessing.

Psalm 7:1, 3-5: “O, LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me…” “O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it…”

Psalm 27:1-3 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yea I will be confident.”

Psalm 31:3-4, 14-15, 21 “For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; and you take me out of the net they have hidden for me; for you are my refuge.” “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say,’ You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors?” “Blessed be the LORD, for He has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city.”

Psalm 34 (Read all of it!) This psalm is about when David changed his behavior (acted insane) before the Philistine king, Abimelech, so he drove David off and he went away.

Psalm 52:2-5 This Psalm is about Doeg, the Edomite when he told Saul about David & the priest Ahimelech. (bread and the sword) “Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever, He will snatch and tear you from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living.”

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Day 106 – Psalms 56, 120, 140-142 (Psalms of David as he )

Psalm 56 is written after David is seized by the Philistines in Gath. He laments, then affirms his faith in God with these words in verses 9a-11. “This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God, I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

In Psalm 120:2, David again calls to the LORD in his distress. “Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”

Psalm 140:4 says, “Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip my feet.

Psalm 141: 3-5 shows David also praying for himself. “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds;” And he ends with a very practical prayer — “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.” Vs. 9.

Psalm 142 was written when David was hiding in a cave. In verses 6-7, he pleads: “Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of (this) prison, that I may give thanks to your name.”

In these lamenting prayers, it’s good to remember that David is God’s next chosen King. He is the ancestor of the Messiah, Jesus. He is a “man after God’s own heart.” Severe trials and testing do NOT prove that God has forgotten or is angry with us. Often, they are training grounds for what He has planned for us.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 104

Apr13

    Day 104 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for over a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 104 – 1 Samuel 21 – 24 (Saul, David, hunt & flee)

These chapters give the accounts of David on the run from Saul, and how Saul’s actions are thwarted again and again while David miraculously escapes. Some incidents are grin-worthy, while others are deadly serious.

In Chapter 21, David and his rag-tag group of men, on the run from Saul, are hungry. They approach Nob where evidently the Tabernacle resides now. Ahimelech, the priest meets David and wonders what he’s doing away from Saul’s army. David LIES and says he’s on a special mission for the king, but he and his men are hungry and out of weapons. Ahimelech hesitantly gives David the five loaves on the Table of Shewbread in the Tent, asking first if David and his men are “clean.” David also asks for and receives Goliath’s sword which has been kept there.

Nearby was a man who overheard David and the priest’s conversation and saw the exchange. He was Saul’s chief herdsman, an Edomite named Doeg, and he kept this scene “in his pocket” for later.

Meanwhile, David flees to Philistine territory. What?? The people there remind the king that it was David who killed so many of them. Afraid of what would happen to him in this vulnerable time, David pretends to be out of his mind, drawing weird things on the gate and drooling into his beard. They shoo him away.

Chapter 22 tells of David in the cave of Adullam, his refuge in the foothills of Judah. David’s parents and brothers leave Bethlehem and join him there.  Also, about 400 destitute, disillusioned, distressed men. He becomes their captain. With this motley group, he journeys across the Jordan River and asks the king of Moab to look after his father and mother. (Remember, David’s great-grandmother was Ruth, the Moabite.) David then heads south to “the stronghold” which might have been Masada. However, the prophet Gad told him NOT to stay there, so David and his 400 go into the forest of Hereth.

Meanwhile, Saul comes to Benjamin and “boo hoos” his problems. “My own son and this son of Jesse conspire against me.” “None of you is sorry for me.” “My own son has stirred him up kill me.”  And while Saul is talking, Doeg sees his moment and tells Saul what happened when David came to Ahimelech the priest.  Saul is insanely angry and orders his men to kill ALL the priests, but they rightly refuse out of fear, so Doeg does the deed. Then Saul orders that all the people and animals of a nearby town of Nob be killed.

However…. one priest, the son of Ahimelech escapes to David and tells him all. David immediately recognizes that it is HIS fault and is distraught. He tells the young priest, Abiathar, to stay safely with him.

In Chapter 24, David hears of the Philistines raiding the town of Keilah. He inquires of the LORD (Abiathar had brought the Ephod with the Urim and Thummim), and God tells him to go. He saves the town and takes the livestock (no doubt for food). But Saul is told that David has come close and musters an army to attack the town. David again inquires of the LORD and escapes before Saul can arrive.

And “Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.” Jonathan comes to David and encourages him, telling David that both he and his father KNOW that God will make David the king.

While in the wilderness, the people of Ziph tell Saul that David is hiding there, and Saul rushes to kill him. But David stays one step ahead of Saul, moving from place to place, all the time the king gets closer. Then God sends a message to Saul that the Philistines are attacking, so he has to take his army back to fight them. David lives in the strongholds of Engedi.

Chapter 25 tells a humorous account of when Saul is again chasing David through Engedi. David and his men hide in a deep cave when Saul’s army comes near and camps just below.  Saul needs to “have a bowel movement,” so he enters the mouth of the cave for privacy. David’s men urge him to take advantage and kill his arch-enemy while he has a chance, but David refuses, sneaks up, and cuts a corner of Saul’s robe off while he is “doing his business.”

Afterward, David is remorseful, having done this to “the LORD’s anointed leader.”  But when he later waves the piece of robe before Saul, the king recognizes David’s mercy and retreats. It’s possible that it was also brought to Saul’s mind when HE ripped a piece of Samuel’s robe and was told the kingdom would be torn from his hands.

So Saul went home, and David, with his men, lived in the strongholds and caves of Engedi.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 103

Apr12

    Day 103 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for over a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 103 – 1 Samuel 18 – 20, Psalms 11 & 59 (Saul, David & Jonathan)

In Chapter 18, David meets Saul’s son, Prince Jonathan, and they immediately feel a strong and godly kindship and love. Perhaps Jonathan recognized the man who would be Israel’s future king instead of himself, giving David his royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt. 

David was successful in every campaign and task Saul sent him on, garnering the praises of all the women. Saul’s jealousy was enflamed when he heard them sing “Saul has struck down thousands, and David ten thousands.” And when the harmful spirit came on him, they called David with his lyre. Saul sat with his spear in his hand, brooding, but when he threw it at David, the future king evaded it…twice!

Then Saul promised David his first daughter if he was valiant enough to fight the Philistines, but later reneged and gave her to another man. Saul’s second daughter, Michal, loved David, so Saul thought she was a perfect incentive for David to go to battle… and perhaps die. Saul promised him Michal if he would kill 100 Philistines. David killed 200, and Saul was forced to give his daughter. But he became even more afraid of David. “So Saul was David’s enemy continually.”

In Chapters 19 and 20, Saul repeatedly tries to kill David, who always miraculously escapes out of his hand.  Jonathan doesn’t want to believe his father wants to kill his BFF, but it’s finally revealed and Jonathan sees for himself.  He sadly bids David to leave. They pledge their total support and allegiance to each other and David begins his flight from the mad king. 

Psalm 11 beautifully tells David’s song of fleeing from the one who desires his life and trusting in his God as the refuge for all the righteous. 

Psalm 59 is a prayer of David for God to deliver him from his enemies who try to kill him, specifically Saul and the men he sends to hunt for David. But David trusts in God, and sings His praises, brave enough to fight the Philistines, but later reneged and gave her to another man. Saul’s second daughter, Michal, loved David, so Saul thought she was a perfect incentive for David to go to battle… and perhaps die. Saul promised him Michal if he would kill 100 Philistines. David killed 200,

But I will sing of your strength; 
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been a fortress and refuge to me in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, 
For You, O God, are my fortress, 
the God who shows me steadfast love.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 102

Apr11

    Day 102 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for over a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 102 – 1 Samuel 15 – 17 (Saul, sin, & Samuel)

In Chapter 15, Samuel gives King Saul some very clear instructions. He is to strike the nation of Amalek and destroy all of them, and everything living thing they have.

(The Amalekites were the people who attacked Israel as they came out of Egypt, when they were a bunch of slaves and could not fight. God at that time foretold their doom. Let none be left alive.

So, Saul musters an army of 200K men of Judah. They go to Amalek and defeat them, killed all the people except King Agag (a trophy?) and all but the very best of the sheep, oxen, fatted calves and lambs. Did he obey the instructions of the LORD?  It seems “partial” obedience is not obedience, and when Samuel comes, he is furious with Saul.

“I saved the best animals for sacrifice!” Saul says. (Yeah, right.).

“Obedience is better than sacrifice,” Samuel says. “And because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.” Then Samuel hacks King Agag to pieces. (!!!)

“I’ve sinned,” says Saul. I was afraid of the people, so I obeyed their voice. Please pardon my sin. Please go back with me.”

When Samuel says no, Saul grabs his robe and it tears. (Oops!) Samuel whirls around, “As you’ve torn this, God has torn the kingdom of Israel from you.  He has in mind, a man “after His own heart, who is better than you.”

Samuel sees Saul no more after this incident, but he grieves for the “would-be” king. The LORD also grieved that He had made Saul king over Israel.

In Chapter 16, God shakes Samuel out of his grief for Saul and sends him to anoint that “man after His own heart.”  God tells him to anoint a son of Jesse whom he will point out. (Jesse is the grandson of Ruth & Boaz.) Samuel obey and immediately thinks it must be Jesse’s firstborn son, Eliab, another tall, strong man. But God tells him NOT to look on appearance or height, but on the heart. Jesse brings all six of his sons who are present before Samuel. Samuel looks to God who shakes His head.  “Don’t you have another son?” Samuel asks Jesse, thinking that maybe he didn’t hear God’s words accurately.

“Only the youngest, a shepherd boy out with the sheep,” was the dismissive comment.

But God, through Samuel, calls for the boy, and when he arrives, God says, “THAT one!” Samuel anoints David and the Spirit of the LORD “rushed” upon him.

However, the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. (Reminds me a little of the “thorn in the flesh” that God sent to keep another Saul (the Apostle Paul) humble.

No, “it just so happens” that Saul’s servants said that maybe, if a harpist were to come and play for Saul, he would get well. Saul thought it a good idea and inquired of them. They recommended none other than David, the shepherd boy who composed psalms to the LORD with his lyre as he watched his sheep.”  And so, David was brought into the court of King Saul now and then when the evil spirit tormented him. And Saul was “refreshed and well.” (Our Sovereign God orchestrates things so beautifully.)

Chapter 17 tells the well-known story of David and Goliath.  The young man came one day to Israel’s camp with some food for his brothers. While there, he heard the boastful words of the giant Philistine, Goliath of Gath, defying the army of Israel.

“Why doesn’t someone shut that guy up?” he basically says.  His brothers deride him, so he goes to King Saul and volunteers to fight the giant.  “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

The cowardly King Saul (who is head and shoulders – at least 18 inches – taller than any other Israelite) sends a boy to fight a giant. But that boy is on the side of the LORD God.

“Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?” Goliath roars. “I curse you in the name of Dagon!”

“I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied,” answers David, “that all the earth may KNOW that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may KNOW that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle IS THE LORD’S and He will give you into our hand.”

And with a single stone from a sling, the LORD-empowered shepherd boy kills the 9.5-foot champion of Gath. Then he runs to him, draws out that huge sword, and cuts off his head. So there!

King Saul, duly impressed, asks his commander, Abner, who that boy is.   Abner doesn’t know but says he will inquire. When David comes back, swinging the head of Goliath, Abner grabs him and brings him to Saul. David tells him he’s the son of Jesse, from Bethlehem.  (Did Saul not remember how David sometimes plays the lyre for him? But, maybe Saul is out of his mind at those times.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 101

Apr10

    Day 101 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for over a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 101 – 1 Samuel 13 – 14 (Saul, Samuel, Jonathon)

Chapter 13  reveals the first years of Saul’s reign and “leading Israel into battle” (as they wanted of a king). Both the king and his son Jonathan were successful against the Philistines. But the mighty Philistines refused to take that for very long and mustered a hoard against Israel, including 30K iron chariots.

Freaking out at the sight, the men of Israel ran for cover, into caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. Some fled across the Jordan River. Saul waited seven days for Samuel to come (which he had said), but then panicked. The king called for the burnt offering and did it himself. (A big no-no in God’s law.)  It was his big, history-altering mistake, for it caused the end of his dynasty. When Samuel arrived, the smoke of the offering was still in the air, and he told Saul that his kingdom was doomed and that the LORD had chosen another, a “man after His own heart,” to be a prince.

Saul still led the armies, but that proclamation would dwell on his mind until he was crazy.

Meanwhile, in Chapter 14, Prince Jonathan and his armor-bearer took on a pack of Philistines themselves, after asking God for a sign. His victory and bravery inspired Israel and they followed suit. “And the LORD saved Israel that day.”

However, unbeknownst to Jonathan, Saul foolishly vowed that no man should eat until the battle was done. Stupid, for they would have been stronger if they’d eaten, and they also would not have slaughtered the spoil right there on the battlefield out of desperate hunger, and eaten raw meat with the blood.  A really big breach of God’s law. (Leviticus 17:10-14) Also, Jonathan found a bit of honey and ate it, which invigorated him immediately.

When Jonathan heard of his father’s vow, he was ready to die, but the people resisted and ransomed him.

There continued to be hard fighting against the Philistines throughout Saul’s reign, and Saul found and gathered any strong or valiant men into his personal force. (David would become one of these.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 100

Apr9

    Day 100 —  YAY! ONE HUNDRED days! We have been reading the Bible daily for over a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 100 – 1 Samuel 9 – 12 (a king for Israel, Saul)

So, a tall, dark, and handsome Benjaminite is chosen as Israel’s King.  We see in Chapter 9 how God orchestrates it all, from the loss of a few donkeys to the search and finding of a holy man to having a silver shekel available to give him as a gift, to the event of a sacrifice and feast, in which a special portion of meat had been reserved for a special guest, to God’s specific indication that the man, Saul, was to be anointed “prince over Israel.”

In Chapter 10, Samuel privately anoints Saul to be Israel’s prince, telling him that he will reign over them and save them from their surrounding enemies.  He then tells Saul of a few things that will happen to confirm this fact. Two men will meet him who will do certain things, plus a group of prophets who will also preclude the coming of God’s Spirit upon Saul. Then Saul was to go to Gilgal and wait there for Samuel for seven days.

Of course, all this comes to pass, and when the people are all gathered together, Samuel proclaims Saul King of Israel, reminding them that they have rejected the LORD as their King, and telling them again all the “bad” things about having a human king. Nevertheless, the people rejoice, shouting, “Long live the king!”

Chapter 11 tells of Saul’s first victory over their enemies, the Ammonites, who have been causing terror and submission by gouging out the eyes of the men of Israel. Saul summons 30,000 men from all of Israel and attacks, gaining victory.  At this point, Samuel calls Saul and all the people for a sacrifice and to “officially” make Saul their king before the LORD.

Chapter 12 tells of Samuel’s farewell as their leader, reminds them of the king they now have and what that will mean, and then challenges them to always “obey the voice of the LORD.” “Do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve him with all your heart, for you are God’s chosen people.” He promises to always pray for them and to instruct them in the good and right way.

It’s a good start. And Saul will do well for…. half a chapter.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 98 & 99

Apr8

    Day 98 & 99 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year, and today, we begin the tenth book. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?  (Note: SUNDAY’s readings are combined with MONDAY’s)

   Day 98 – 1 Samuel 1 – 3 (Hannah, Samuel’s birth & call)

In Chapters 1 & 2, Hannah, the much-loved but barren wife of a Levite named Elkanah, prays for a son, promising to give him back to God all the days of his life. God hears and answers her prayer and Samuel is born. Like Samson, he is born under the Nazarite vow. But that is the only similarity.

After Hannah weans him, she takes the very young Samuel to the Tabernacle and gives him under the care of Eli, the priest. Every year, she visits him to bring new clothes. After fulfilling her promise, God gives Hannah five more children.

Samuel grew and ministered before the LORD in the presence of the old, fat, lazy priest, Eli, and his worthless, wicked sons. Hophni and Phinehas treated the offerings of the LORD with contempt and were very great sinners in His eyes. Eli mildly scolded them, but they continued in their sin, so God rejected the house of Eli.

In Chapter 3, the LORD calls Samuel. It seemed like Eli was calling the boy, so in obedience, he went to the old man three times. Finally, Eli realized God was calling him and told Samuel to answer, “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.” And indeed, the LORD speaks to Samuel, prophesying the judgment on the house of Eli for his sons’ blasphemous behavior and his not correcting them.  Samuel is afraid to tell Eli the word of the LORD, but the old man insists, and after hearing the judgement, acquiesces.

After that, Samuel grew, and all the words God spoke to/through him came to pass. Everyone – from Dan to Beersheba – knew he was established as a prophet of the LORD.

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Day 99 – 1 Samuel 4 – 8 (Philistines, the ARK, Eli, Samuel,)

In Chapter 4, Israel goes to battle against the Philistines and they lose. The elders ask why, but before God can answer, they bring out “the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim” from Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was set up. When the people see it, all of Israel gives a thunderous shout so loud the Philistines are afraid.  They think the ARK is a god, like their carved images, instead of the earthly “throne” or dwelling place of Almighty God. They pump themselves up with “Take courage and be men and fight!”

They do, Israel loses, and the Ark of God is captured. Eli’s two sons are killed in battle. When Eli hears the news, he faints backward, breaks his neck, and dies. Phinehas’s wife goes into labor and also dies. The baby is named Ichabod, meaning, “The Glory has departed” from Israel.

In Chapter 5, the Philistines discover that having the Ark of the God of Israel is not such a great thing.  First, the statue of their god, Dagon, falls before the Ark in a pose of worship. Then it is completely decapitated. Then, the men of the five cities of Philistia begin dying of a weird, horrendous disease as they pass the Ark from one town to another. Eek! Get rid of the thing, they cry.

In Chapter 6, they devise a plan to send it back to Israel, making it a test to see if “God” really is causing all their problems. They load it on a cart pulled by two milk cows who have young calves. No mama cow will leave her crying babies and pull a cart miles away, but they do, so Philistia knows that it is Israel’s God who is afflicting them. They also send some golden tumors and mice (???) to appease Israel’s God.

Chapter 7 describes how the Ark is kept in Abinadab’s house. His son Eleazar is consecrated (as a priest) to be in charge of it. And it remains there—twenty years!!  NOTE: The Ark of the Covenant is there until King David brings it to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6. 

Samuel chastises them and tells them to put away foreign gods, return to the LORD, and serve only Him. Samuel prays for them as they begin to repent. Suddenly, the Philistines come up against them, and they panic. But Samuel goes before the Lord and intercedes, and the LORD roars against the Philistines, who fled away. In memorial to this miracle, Samuel sets up a stone named Ebenezer, which means “Till now the LORD has helped us.” Peace comes to Israel, and Samuel judges them for all the days of his life.

Chapter 8 tells how Samuel gets old (60) and makes his sons, Joel and Abijah Judges over Israel.  But they, like Eli’s sons, do not walk in the ways of the LORD but begin to take bribes and pervert justice.  The elders see this and cry out for a king to judge them.  Feeling rejected, Samuel prays to God, who tells him that Israel hasn’t rejected Samuel but they have rejected the LORD Himself.  God tells Samuel to give them what they want…but to warn them how a king will reign over them.

Samuel warns them with a long list of how an earthly king will not be the same as their righteous King of Kings has been.  He will conscript their sons for his army and take their daughters for his cooks and bakers. He will take the best of their crops, servants, and animals. And they will become his “slaves,”

Israel does not heed Samuel’s warnings but cries out, “No, there SHALL be a king over us that we may be like all the nations. Our king will judge us, go before us, and fight out battles.”

And God says, “Give them a king.”