Category: 1 Samuel

An unusual amount of time has passed since I last added to this blog. The topic of this chapter challenges me at several levels. Many years ago, my brother committed suicide, so the topic is personal. Then, the text tells us what happened but provides no clarity on the eternal impact of suicide. Probably because…

King Achish’s generals reject the offer of help from David and his men. Achish sends them home and when they arrive, they discover a disaster. Their hometown of Ziklag has been burned to the ground and their wives and children taken away along with all their possessions. In spite of the distress David and his…

The word providence appears one time in the New International Version. You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. Job 10:12 NIV I think of providence as the place where the goodness of God and the power of God come together to ensure that God’s purpose is…

Desperation leads us to do things we normally would not do. Confronted by the Philistine army Saul becomes very afraid. He seeks God and gets no response. Then desperation sets in. What happens next is almost humorous. Saul, in keeping with the law, has expelled all the mediums and spiritists from Israel. Yet, when he…

I find this a troubling period in David’s life. Yet it illustrates well our human nature in our relationship with God when we are threatened. David has just escaped from Saul’s pursuit one more time, and this time with supernatural aid from God. It would be logical to think that David would relax knowing that…

There are many similarities between the events in this chapter and those in chapter 24. David remains in hiding in the wilderness and the people in the region betray David to Saul. Saul comes out with his army in pursuit of David. His army camps close by to where David and his men are hiding….

In the previous chapter David has the opportunity to avenge the wrongs that King Saul has done to him, but he trusts God to avenge and lets Saul go free. May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not…

Saul has David on the run and when he hears where David is hiding, he gathers 3000 men to pursue and destroy David. Boys love this story because at the center of it we find Saul entering a cave to relieve himself. Very likely his men would have taken care of their business behind whatever…

While running from King Saul, David continues to protect Israel. He hears that the city of Keilah is under attack from the Philistines and David takes his men to rescue the city. David and his men save the people of the city and it would be logical to think that they had found a place…

Why does God make us wait? While we are waiting how should we wait? This chapter describes a period of waiting. Fear of King Saul sends David into the wilderness where he begins to gather an army of outcasts. His brothers, who once considered him a nuisance, bring David’s parents with them and gather with…