Devotional
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 12 and Psalm 58 As Samuel’s ministry and life was coming to an end, he still had the grace to say to God’s people, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” Samuel had been a great leader, a righteous…
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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 11 and Psalm 57 He may have been a reluctant king, but as the classic saying goes, “Cometh the hour cometh the man”. The people of Jabesh Gilead were under great threat from a powerful enemy and they sent for help. As Saul received the call, the Spirit of God came…
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