Tag: Bible

Reflections on II Samuel 1-5

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

With Saul dead, David becomes king of Judah, and then over all Israel.  Observe:

  • Attitude towards leaders – Saul has been hunting David for several years, but David doesn’t rejoice when he hears that Saul died. Instead he mourns.  Saul was God’s anointed leader, and even though he didn’t follow the Lord, his death was a tragedy.  What is your attitude towards your leaders?
  • Seeking direction – When the Philistines hear that David is king, they prepare for battle. David seeks the Lord’s direction and follows it, and wins the battle.  For what in your life do you need to seek God’s direction?  As you read his Word, are you seeking to follow his directions?

Reflections on I Samuel 19-21

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Saul in his continued jealousy pursues David, but Saul’s son Jonathan has a different heart.  Consider:

  • Saul’s jealousy – The jealousy that began in chapter 18 reigns throughout our passage today as Saul seeks David’s life. Is there jealousy in your heart?  Are you treating someone poorly out of jealousy or envy?
  • Jonathan’s loyalty – Saul’s son remains loyal to David in spite of his dad’s jealousy, and in spite of the fact that David’s life will keep Jonathan from ever being king. Jonathan accepts the lot God has given him and loves David as a brother.  Are you loyal to your friends?  To God’s people?  Even to your own hurt?  Even when others are against them (and may turn against you)?

Reflections on I Samuel 16-18

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

In our passage today, God chooses a new king.  Note:

  • Heart – God looks not on the outward appearance, but on the heart. God chooses David because David has a heart for God.  What does God see when he looks at your heart?
  • The battle is the Lord’s – David goes out to fight Goliath, but he doesn’t go alone. He goes in the name of the Lord for the glory of God.  What battles are you facing?  You need not fight the battle alone.  Look to the Lord for help and fight for his glory.

Reflections on I Samuel 13-15

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Saul, the new king, fails to follow the Lord.  Observe:

  • Heart for God – Saul offers a sacrifice that is not his to make, and so disobeys God. Samuel tells Saul that his kingdom will not continue, for God is seeking a man after his own heart.  In other words, Saul’s disobedience reveals his heart – and it is not after God.  Where is your heart?  Do your actions reveal a heart for God or not?
  • Obedience – As Saul disobeyed God in chapter 13, so he does it again in chapter 15 – apparently following the people instead of God. Are you following God or the crowd around you?  In what ways are you tempted to follow those around you?

Reflections on I Samuel 10-12

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Samuel anoints Saul to be the first King of Israel.

  • Heart for God – Again this theme comes up. God gives Saul a new heart (10:9).  Samuel instructs the people to serve God with all their hearts (12:20, 24).  Are you serving God with all your heart?  Or is your heart divided?
  • Empty things – Samuel warned the people not to “turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver” (12:21). What are some empty things that our world chases after?  What empty things do you chase after?
  • Prayer – Samuel pledges to continue praying for people (12:23). How is your prayer life?  Who have you pledged to pray for?  Who do you need to pray for today?

Reflections on I Samuel 7-9

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Samuel judges Israel, but as he grows old, Israel demands a king to rule over them.

  • Heart for God – Elkanah, Hannah, and Samuel have all shown a heart for God. Now Samuel tells the people: “direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only” (7:3).  Have you directed your heart to the Lord?  Is your heart still with the Lord or has it wandered after other things?  Is your heart for God leading you to serve him?
  • “Like all the nations” – Twice Israel gives the reason they want a king – so they can be like the other nations (8:5, 20). Rather than be distinct as God’s people, they want to be like those around them.  Why do you do what you do?  To live for God or to be like those around you?

Reflections on I Samuel 4-6

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Israel was fighting the Philistines, so they brought the ark to the battlefield thinking it would help them.  Instead they lose the battle…and the ark.

  • Good luck charm – Rather than seek the Lord’s help with the battle, they bring the ark to the battle. They treat it as a good luck charm.  Are there objects in your life that you treat as good luck charms?  Not only does Israel treat the ark like a good luck charm, but since the ark represents God’s presence, they also treat God that way.  They thought they could manipulate God.  If they brought the ark, God would have to perform for them.  Do you treat God that way?
  • God’s Sovereign Power – The Philistines take the ark, but they soon learn that God is not one to trifle with. They place the ark in their temple only to find their idol bowing down to the ark.  Then God sends a plague upon them.  They are so hard-pressed that they finally send it back to Israel.  What powers do you see in this world?  How does this reminder of God’s sovereign power encourage you?  Will you trust in God’s sovereign power?

Reflections on I Samuel 1-3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections1 Comment

Like Ruth, the beginning of I Samuel is set during the period of the Judges.  Again we see examples of faithfulness amidst the corruption.  Note:

  • Worship – Elkanah faithfully brings his family to worship and sacrifice before the Lord each year. Three times in chapter one, we find the word worship – an obvious theme of the chapter.  Is it an obvious theme of your life?
  • Prayer and Praise – Another theme in chapter one is prayer. Hannah pours out her heart to the Lord.  God wonderfully answers her prayer, and the first part of chapter two records Hannah’s praises.  About what do you need to pour out your heart to God?  What answered prayers do you need to praise God about?  Do you regularly respond to answered prayers with praise?
  • Judgment for Sin – Eli’s sons did not follow the Lord. They treated God’s offerings with contempt, and slept with the women who served at the tent of meeting.  God sent a man to warn Eli that judgment was coming.  God spoke to Samuel to warn Eli again that judgment was coming.  We may look at those around us doing wicked things and apparently prospering, but remember – God’s judgment is coming.

Reflections on Ruth 3-4

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God takes a story that begins with tragedy and death, and ends it with joy and new life.  Note:

  • Kinsman Redeemer – If a man in Israel died without a son, it was the responsibility of a relative to marry the man’s wife, and their first son would be counted as the deceased man’s child to continue the family line (Deuteronomy 25). Land sold or lost also had to be redeemed by a relative (Leviticus 25).  Boaz serves as a kinsman redeemer by marrying the deceased’s wife and buying the land.  Jesus took on flesh to become our kinsman, that he might redeem us from our spiritual poverty and make us his bride.
  • God’s Grace – In the Old Testament, God had called Israel to be his people, but even then God was extending his grace to outsiders. Ruth is a wonderful example of this: she left her people and gods for the people of Israel and the true God (1:16), she found refuge under God’s wings (2:12), and she was so incorporated into God’s people that she became an ancestor of David and ultimately of Jesus himself.  How did God bring you, an outsider, to himself?
  • God’s Providence – Naomi returned to Bethlehem bitter, but the story ends with joy. God is an expert at taking tragedies and bring good out of them.  What struggles are you facing?  Will you trust him?  Mourning comes for a time, but joy will follow.

Reflections on Ruth 1-2

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

After the depravity and apostasy of Judges, Ruth is a breath of fresh air and a reminder of how to live in dark times.  Observe:

  • Loyalty – Ruth demonstrates an incredible loyalty to Naomi. Ruth leaves everything she knows in order to stay with her mother-in-law.  She goes out to glean to help provide for not only herself but also Naomi.  How loyal are you to your family?  To your friends?  To your church family?  Do you stick with them?  Are you there to help in difficult times?
  • Care for the poor – Ruth gives us an example of one who needed the provision for the poor that God had set up in the Law. She goes to glean the leftovers from the field.  Boaz, who owns the field, shares God’s heart for the poor by encouraging her and helping her.  Do you have God’s heart for the poor?  How can you encourage and help those in need?
  • Godliness – After the depravity and apostasy of Judges, the book of Ruth gives us a simple reminder that some people still followed the Lord during this otherwise dark time. Boaz is a wonderful example of a godly man, and Ruth of a godly woman.  Yet references to the danger of other men assaulting Ruth makes clear that not all of Bethlehem is like them.  Boaz and Ruth live for God among many who do not.  In our world, where many do not follow God, will you follow the example of Boaz and Ruth?