Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 15:29 Mary had returned from her doctor’s appointment. While sitting at her kitchen table, she was rehearsing and thinking through all that he said to her that morning. He explained her illness in language she understood quite well. Yet, she knew he did not reveal every detail and aspect of the diagnosis because those words could not describe the full depth of the disease. The doctor’s explanation gave her enough to understand the issues and the treatment, but did not overwhelm her with words she could not truly understand. His diagnosis was somewhat shocking, yet…
Sunday Morning Calls to Worship
Call to Worship July 18 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 15:9-23 October 3 rd , 2003 is not particularly memorable for most people. Yet it was a day Mr. Roy Horn will never forget because he was almost killed. A tiger he had trained for years attacked him and left him with life threatening injuries. He worked with large wild cats for decades and knew the danger, but had become somewhat over confident in his work. One of his professional animal handlers thought “Horn was spending too little time with the tigers before shows, eroding the bond between animal and performer. ‘Many of the handlers thought…
Order of Worship July 11 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 15:1-9 They had it coming! This was probably one of the most common thoughts of many people after the deaths of Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong. They were responsible for the deaths of millions of people. While most scholars are reluctant to estimate a total number of “unnatural deaths” in China under Mao…One government document…says that 80 million died unnatural deaths…In comparison, Hitler is blamed for 12 million concentration camp deaths and at least 30 million other deaths associated with World War II, while Stalin is believed responsible for between 30 million and…
Call to Worship July 4 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 14:47-52 Human perception alone always clouds the overall perspective on life and happiness. These verses summarize an earthly view of Saul’s reign with mostly positive commentary. “This catches us by surprise,” according to D.R. Davis. “We’ve just heard an extended story depicting Saul in negative tones…and now we hear such a positive assessment! Whom to believe? If we want the truth, we must believe both.”[1] Saul was used by God to conquer the enemies of the Israelites and to prove to Israel God was always the greatest King. Saul fought many of the “ites” and…
Call to Worship June 27 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 14:24-46 Decreeing faulty commands often results in sinful behavior in other areas. Israel had just been delivered by God from the Philistines, yet Saul did not stop in thanksgiving and praise. He decided to burden the consciences of the people with a command not given by the LORD. He commanded them to stamp out the enemy, but with no physical sustenance to aid them in their task. The complete defeat of the Philistines was not the problem. It was the additional command of eating no food, “until I have avenged myself on my enemies,” which…
Call to Worship June 20 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 14:1-23 Wallowing in sin, shame, and sadness never creates thoughtful or godly decisions. So it was with King Saul after he had unlawfully and unwisely made offering before the Lord. He was confronted with his sin by Samuel and told of the consequences of his actions. Then, after the people continued to scatter in fear, Saul wallowed in shame and sadness. He indecisively loitered under a pomegranate tree while the Philistines amassed their army throughout the region. They camped in the valley below Gibeah and on the hillsides of Michmash. Saul sat with 600 hundred…
Call to Worship June 13 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 13 Waiting…Waiting…Waiting… Our electronic devices often use this message when downloading an update or maybe a video. The message is often irritating. We want to read that post, article, or have that app update right now! Following the commands of the Lord and praying according to His commands often has the same message. We wait to see how a prayer is answered. We wait to see the outcome of His providence. If we are honest, most of the time waiting for some understanding of His purpose or for some trial to be over is frustrating….
Call to Worship May 30 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 11 “But certain worthless men said, ‘How can this one deliver us?’” (1 Sam. 10:27). When these unnamed men spoke this question, they spoke directly against God. The LORD had chosen Saul (10:24). Therefore even though Israel rejected God’s authority over them, Saul was His chosen vassal to serve His purpose in the Kingdom. God did not and does not take questioning His authority, His kingdom, and His protection of His people lightly. Chapter eleven reveals these truths in a pointed and plain manner. Soon after Saul’s kingship was publically recognized at Mizpah, and everyone…
Call to Worship May 23 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 10:17-27 Remember that previous times of deliverance by God are important in the Christian life. Israel was retold of their deliverance from the enslavement by the Egyptians. God reminded them of His kindness as he had Samuel call forth their king (vs. 18). This introduction was part of God’s purpose to recall His mercy and grace to them and their rejection of His authority over them (vs. 19). If we forget and rebel against God’s authority over us, then often it is due to overlooking God’s previous deliverances of His people. Saul’s introduction before the…
Call to Worship May 16, 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 9 thru 10:16 Divine providence is the driving undercurrent of ordinary life. Chapter nine is an outworking of divine providence in the context of everyday living. These ordinary happenings are the planned means that God uses to bring about His purposes and works. So the unfolding of this chapter reminds us of the awe of God’s order in saving His people. Furthermore, it encourages us to remember God’s mercy and grace even when His people are unfaithful. The problem of missing donkeys seems irrelevant to many modern readers of the bible. Yet this was a concern…