• The Cave of Refuge

    Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 22 and Psalm 68 How David must have longed to be able to find refuge in a palace or the tabernacle, but he fled to the cave of Adullam for refuge and a hiding place from Saul. In fact, the name “Adullam” means “refuge” and it was likely named after (and…

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  • Trusting God

    Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 21 and Psalm 67 It is easy to miss the spiritual significance of this encounter between David and Ahimelech at the tabernacle. We fully understand the strain and anxiety David was labouring under. We do not stand in judgment of him, because we know that we might have done the same…

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  • Faithful Friendship

    Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 20 and Psalm 66 The loyal friendship between David and Jonathan somehow survived Saul’s murderous hatred. Both of them were so committed to their brotherly love that they maintained the covenant bond of friendship despite the fact that David clearly needed to flee for his life; and despite the fact that…

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  • Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 19 and Psalm 65 After Jonathan convinced his father, Saul, not to seek David’s death, evil envy eventually reared its ugly head again. Having survived yet another attempt by Saul to assassinate him, David fled to the prophet Samuel in Ramah. One can imagine the many questions David must have had…

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  • A different way

    Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 18 and Psalm 64 Saul knew that he had already been rejected by God as Israel’s king because of his refusal to submit and obey; and Samuel had also told him that God had selected the next king – a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). While Saul did…

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  • Past victories

    Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 17 and Psalm 63 “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (v. 37) As we seek to live in ways that honour the Lord, we will come across many challenges, obstacles and potential pitfalls.…

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  • Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 16 and Psalm 62 It is inspiring to read the story of David and the way God chose him and then sent Samuel to find him and anoint him as the successor to Saul’s throne. It’s a feel-good account of the unexpected “laat-lammetjie” son of Jesse being chosen as king, despite…

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  • God is God

    Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 15 and Psalm 61 Although some of what happens in 1 Samuel 15 can feel out of step with what we have learned about God through the perfect revelation of Jesus, I invite you to marvel at the eternal truths about God that are revealed in this chapter. In it we…

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  • Faith-fuelled action

    Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 14 and Psalm 60 1 Samuel 14 provides a stark contrast between Saul, sitting under a pomegranate tree, and Jonathan, trusting God and bravely taking on the Philistine camp. Saul seemed paralysed by the need to consult the priest and make lots of sacrifices before doing anything practical. Jonathan seemed to…

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  • Failures

    Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 13 and Psalm 59 In 1 Samuel 13 a few more warning signs begin to emerge regarding Saul’s character. Verse 3 tells us that Jonathan (Saul’s son) attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, but by v4 Saul is sending news throughout the land, blowing his own trumpet (quite literally), proclaiming that…

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