Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 7 After disobedience, chastisement, and frowning providence, “Israel lamented after the LORD” (1 Samuel 7:2). They lost the Ark, which represented the loss of God’s presence. They lost favor with YAHWEH in defeat to the Philistines according to their sin. They lost recognition of their singular reliance in all of heaven and earth. So many years were spent in idolatry and all its sinful practices that God did not allow His people to find rest. Sadly this reminder would be needed again, but God brought Israel to a recognition of the folly of self-reliance and…
Sunday Morning Calls to Worship
Call to Worship April 25 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 6:13-7:1 The Israelites were frightened because the glory of God had departed from Israel (4:13). Yet they had not fully understood the awfulness of their sin against God. They walked in thoughtless opposition to the LORD’s commandments and precepts (6:19). When the Ark of God was returned they did offer a sacrifice unto the LORD, but they did not carefully consider all of their actions before the Ark. Israel had forgotten God’s complete holiness in being head of and over His people. As the Ark was being handled near Beth-shemesh, the LORD killed 70 men.[1] These…
Call to Worship April 18, 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 5 & 6:1-12 After the Israelites lost their battle to the Philistines in Ch. 4, and those Gentiles captured the Ark of God, it would be natural to think that the next chapter will consider the plan of the Israelites to retrieve the Ark of God. Yet, the scripture reveals that God made known His presence, power, and dominion over all situations, nations, and people. God Himself would punish the Philistine cities. The Philistines thought the Israelite God was similar to their god Dagon. So they took the Ark of God and placed it subserviently…
Call to Worship April 11 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 4:1b-22 The time for battle was fast approaching as Israel camped near Ebenezer. The Philistines were camped near Aphek and they were prepared for the encounter. As they attacked and moved forward, Israel was defeated. The leaders of Israel could not understand the defeat and asked why the LORD had done it. Instead of thinking about the Lord’s word, they invoked His presence, without consideration of their disobedience to His commands. So they called for the Ark of the Covenant to be transported to the frontlines. When the Ark arrived, Hophni and Phinehas accompanied it…
Call to Worship April 4, 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 3 thru 4:1a The people of Israel lived in difficult times and not just economically or politically. The word of the LORD was rare in the days of Eli. Israel spent time worshipping false gods with little consideration of their idolatry and hypocrisy. Samuel would be the one to call them to repentance (1 Samuel 7:3-4). Before Samuel would rise to this task it was the Lord who would call upon him to deliver more immediate news of judgement. What God had previously pronounced, He made more personal through his servant Samuel. Calamity was coming…
Call to Worship March 28 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 2:11-36 These passages reveal the justice and faithfulness of God amid all the circumstances of life. Also, they contrast the ideas of trust, obedience, and blessing with unbelief, disobedience, and judgement. Furthermore these verses tell of the consequences of sin in an immediate and future context. Eli’s sons were thoughtless unbelieving men (vs. 12), and even worse, they sowed their seeds of evil as priests on behalf of Israel before the one living holy God. Hophni and Phinehas took advantage of their office and its blessings (13-16). They were not only irreverent as priests, but…
Call to Worship March 21 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 1:20-2:10 Hannah gave birth to a son and this gift from God reminds us of His power and grace. After Hannah weaned her son she returned to Shiloh to offer sacrificial worship unto the LORD. Her son’s name was in reference to Hannah’s prayer. Samuel refers to the idea of asking, or a petition (Davis, pg. 21). She dedicated Samuel to the LORD and prayed unto Him in thanksgiving. Hannah’s prayer recognized three important concepts of worship and practice in life. God is worthy of our spiritual and physical worship (2:1-3). She speaks of exalting…
Call to Worship March 14, 2021
Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel 1:1-18 1 Samuel opens with an introduction of a man with a fair amount of financial means and a lineage from the line of Levi. Elkanah was a devoted man to the Lord in sacrifice and worship, including leading his family to take part in the yearly sacrifice at Shiloh. Yet, his family life is far from perfect. Although he has two wives only one of them has been able to bare children. Peninnah bore him several children, but devoted some of her time to the harsh harassment of her fellow wife Hannah. Hannah had…
Call to Worship March 7 2021
In preparation for worship please read the scriptures in the Order of Worship. Also read Matthew 5-7 referred to as The Sermon on the Mount, it takes ten minutes or less to read through it, depending on how many times you pause to think. After you read it, you may note some verses and phrases that you desire to consider with more thought. Hopefully, the preaching over time will help you understand some of those verses. Also, if you decide to read more extensively on Matthew 5-7 then there are some good books available. Lord willing next week Sinclair Ferguson’s book, The Sermon…
Call to Worship February 28 2021
MATTHEW 28:1-10 “The principal subject of these verses is the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. It is one of those truths which lie at the very foundation of Christianity, and has therefore received special attention in the four Gospels. All four evangelists describe minutely how our Lord was crucified. All four relate with no less clearness, that He rose again. We need not wonder that so much importance is attached to our Lord’s resurrection. It is the seal and headstone of the great work of redemption, which He came to do. It is the crowning proof…