Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 10 and Psalm 56 The calling of God on Saul’s life was confirmed for him by numerous signs, by an amazing and powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit, and by the gift of prophecy. One would think that after such powerful confirmation and anointing, Saul would be full of confidence and…

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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 9 and Psalm 55. Think for a moment about the day before 1 Samuel 9. Saul and his companion were riding through the hill country, searching for lost donkeys. Samuel, on the other hand, received an unexpected prophetic word from the LORD: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a…

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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 8 and Psalm 55 When God’s people came to Samuel demanding a king, God diagnosed the situation and told Samuel: “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” This demand for a human king was really a demand to be allowed to be just…

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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 7 and Psalm 54 “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” (v.12) Once before, in 1 Samuel 4, the Israelites had the ark with them when they went into battle. That time, they were utterly…

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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 5-6 and Psalm 53 After witnessing how powerfully God’s holy presence (represented by the ark) affected the communities to which the ark was taken, the men of Beth Shemesh asked “‘Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?’” (1 Samuel 6:20). Correctly, they had realised the foundational truth…

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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 4 and Psalm 52 On a tragic day for the people of Israel, the evil of their spiritual leaders (Hophni and Phinehas) caught up to them. God set incredibly high standards for the holiness of those who bore the ark, and even for the ways they transported the Ark. As we…

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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 3 and Psalm 51 “The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” (v.10) What a wonderful posture it would be to adopt each day – “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening”. In every situation of fear: Speak Lord,…

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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 2 and Psalm 50 ‘Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance,for the Lord is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed.” (1 Samuel 2:3) As we read this chapter, the truth of this part of Hannah’s prayer unfold before us. The righteous and gracious priest, Eli,…

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Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 1 and Psalm 49 Hannah’s passionate prayers are deeply moving. She was so desperate for God to grant her plea that Eli had the impression she was drunk as she poured out her heart to the Lord. ‘Not so, my lord,’ Hannah replied, ‘I am a woman who is deeply troubled.…

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Daily Readings: Ruth 4 and Psalm 48 Clearly Boaz had fallen in love with Ruth, and wanted to redeem her through marriage. But a dark cloud loomed over their future. There was, in fact, an even closer relative – one who had the first right to redeem Naomi and Ruth. As I read this account,…

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