Calls to Worship

“As Jesus grew he became increasingly conscious of God’s timetable for his life. He referred to his ministry as a ‘time’ that had been set out in the divine plan. Hence such comments as, ‘My time has not yet come’…even more precisely…his ‘hour’. In John’s Gospel this refers to his passion and crucifixion, which, along with his resurrection, are seen as the foreordained climactic events of his life…There was a definite plan for Jesus. His life was foreordained for him by his heavenly Father. ‘Foreordination’ and ‘predestination’ are sometimes seen by Christians as controversial terms. Certainly we need to handle…

Read More

“In a day not dissimilar to our own the prophet Isaiah announced that Immanuel will come:  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).  It is easy for us to lose sight of the fact that ‘Immanuel’, ‘God with us’, was one of the most familiar and important convictions of the Old Testament. It lay at the heart of the promise God gave to Jacob (Gen. 28:15); and was a key to help Moses to understand the significance of God’s name Yahweh – he would be God-with-him (Ex. 3:12). Think of…

Read More

“When I was a child, Christmas seemed to die every year by bedtime on December 25th. The anticipation seemed long; the realization all too brief. I even tried wrapping up my presents again and opening them the following day. But my childhood disappointment could not be relieved. It was gone for another whole year.  I know now why that was true for me, as it is for every child. It was because the true meaning of Christmas eluded me. In that sense Christmas never did really ‘happen.’ I was looking in the wrong direction for the wrong things instead of…

Read More

Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 31 While David had been rescued by God from joining the Philistines against his people and from the wiles of the Amalekites (Ch. 29&30), Saul was in a battle for his livelihood and life (31:1). When the Philistines were fighting against Israel, they killed Saul’s sons and eventually the king himself. Just as Samuel foretold, Saul’s reign as King of Israel came to an awful end. After the archer’s arrows mortally wounded him, he chose to fall on his sword. His armor bearer had been unable to end what Saul finished for himself. His head…

Read More

Expository Thoughts 1 Samuel 30:21-31 After the reckoning with the Amalekites, the reclaiming of goods, and reconnection with their families, much joy returned to the people. David was no longer under scrutiny and they praised him as their king once again. While traveling home many said the spoil taken from the Amalekites was David’s, but some “wicked men” were plotting amongst themselves to have their way with the valuables. So David was confronted with trouble from within his regiment (17-22).  Some of the men tried to take advantage of those who were completely exhausted from the first return to Ziklag…

Read More

Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 30:1-20 There must have been some relief for David and his men as they traveled back to Ziklag. God spared David the difficulty of defending Achish at the upcoming Philistine battle against Israel. He and his men got to go home and see their families. Nevertheless, when David and his men arrived at Ziklag another frowning providence was evident. Ziklag was burned to the ground, all their possessions stolen, and their families kidnapped. All thought of rest after their journey evaporated and rational thought failed to resonate in their minds. They were immediately and literally…

Read More

Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 29 The anointed King of Israel lived in the land of Israel’s arch enemy, Goliath’s people, the Philistines. David voluntarily resided there – not by kidnapping or under protest. He deceptively raided pagan tribes from his base at Ziklag (27:6-12). Furthermore, he was Achish’s side-kick and bodyguard (28:1-2). Seemingly, he was ready to defend Achish even against the Israelites, his own people (29:2). David’s predicament proceeded from his hasty anxiousness, which resulted in his departure from Judah to Philistia (27:1-2). How would he escape this quandary?  The possibility of leading his Israelite warriors against their…

Read More

Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 28 Remember, Samuel was dead and Saul had decreed the removal of any spiritists from Israel (3). Now, the Philistines and Saul gathered for war. The site of their army brought fear to the heart of Saul. He recognized their military movement threatened the economic life of Israel.[1] His heart was so troubled by the camp of the Philistines he did something somewhat unusual since the time of his rebellious act. Scripture tells that Samuel had parted ways with Saul after Saul’s disobedience regarding God’s command to destroy Amalek. Samuel would not go to “see…

Read More

Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 27 Life is often more complex and confusing, than calm and comforting. People are much the same, especially since they make up so much of daily life. David is no different. His thoughts and actions were sometimes encouraging and even heralding, but other times perplexing and disconcerting. The LORD protected him from the moody wiles of Saul. David, by God’s grace, withstood several tempting situations to permanently end Saul’s reign. Saul even recognized at the end of the last chapter God’s blessing upon David. However, David took off to the Philistines (27:1). The land and…

Read More

Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 26:12-25 David stood on a hill top in the distance across from Saul’s camp with Saul’s spear and canteen. First, he called out to Abner and all of Saul’s men. He ruffled their rousing minds and made them aware of their failure to protect the king. David put all of them on notice that they were in danger and not him. David had been led and protected by the LORD. Saul was powerless and defenseless against God’s judgment.[1] Saul had hoped for David’s demise, only this time God planned a final call of repentance to…

Read More