Joy in God’s King and place (2 Sam 3-5; 1 Chr 12; Ps 122; Acts 22)
Finally David is recognised as king, it looks so promising! Here is a king who will bring justice and defeat their enemies and bring peace and prosperity to Israel. No wonder first Chronicles 12 tells us that there was joy in Israel. Psalm 122 seems a fitting song of celebration, here are God’s people finally…
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Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD? (2 Sam 1-2; 1 Chr 11; Ps 96, 106; Acts 21)
God is amazing! Psalm 106 begins and ends with praise. Everyone should praise God for He is truly amazing, and yet the psalmist asks the question, “who can declare all his praise?” The answer is in v3 – only those who do righteousness at all times. Who is that? The rest of the Psalm shows…
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Finishing well (1 Sam 30-31; 1 Chr 10; Acts 20)
What do you want to be remembered for? In today’s readings we see how two Sauls end their lives. The first Saul was the first king of Israel. His death notice reads: So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted…
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The tragedy of ignoring God’s Word (1 Sam 28-29; 1 Chr 9; Acts 19)
How tragic to see the king desperately seeking out someone to speak to the dead for him (1 Sam 28). Before you feel sorry for him, he’s brought this tragedy on himself by refusing to listen to (and obey) God’s Word (ch 15). He’s also got rid of the priests who spoke God’s word (ch…
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Suffering in the wilderness (1 Sam 26-27; 1 Chr 8; Acts 18)
David is still on the run. God has rejected Saul as king (ch15), David had been anointed as king (ch16), but Saul is still reigning as king, and does not want the kingdom to pass to David. He fears David and seeks to destroy him. David acts with the utmost integrity as twice he refuses…
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How do you keep going? (1 Samuel 25, 1 Chronicles 7, Acts 17)
Paul and Silas had just had trouble in Philippi, so when they get to Thessalonica, they take a nice well earned break, No! You might expect that, but instead they carry on with the same thing that got them in trouble – preaching about Jesus (Acts 17). They last 3 Sabbaths, and then have to…
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How can you sing to God when that happens…(1 Samuel 23-24, 1 Chronicles 6, Psalm 54, Acts 16)
I’m often struck that when Paul and Silas are beaten with many blows and thrown in prison that they sing hymns to God. How can they sing when they have been through so much, especially since it’s because they are followers of Jesus that they have faced such suffering? How can they view their present…
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Sticks and stones…but words (1 Samuel 21-22, 1 Chronicles 5, Psalm 52, Acts 15)
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” So goes the old rhyme, but I’m sure you’ll know words can and do hurt. Words can be powerful and can be used to destroy someone. In 1 Samuel 22 we hear of Doeg’s awful betrayal of the priests who stood by…
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Trampled and oppressed (1 Samuel 20, 1 Chronicles 4, Psalms 56, 57, 142, Acts 14)
David felt trampled on and oppressed all day long. He must have been in a bad place – the heading of Psalm 56 tells us he had fled to Gath. Where is Gath? It’s Goliath’s hometown! David is not going to receive a warm welcome there! He’s fled from Saul and ended up in Gath…
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A fortress for when afraid (1 Samuel 18-19, 1 Chronicles 3, Psalm 59, Acts 13)
To feel unsafe in your own home is a terrible thing. To feel that there are people lurking around, waiting to harm you. This was the experience of King David before he was made king. King Saul was continually trying to trap David, and even sent men to his house to kill him! 1 Samuel…
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Light and Momentary Troubles 