Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."
Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world.
Wisdom to chew on
Understanding to grow in
It's only too easy to resent hard times and give up on serving God; "Why should I" we might say, "when he's brought this on me?" Not so David. Since being anointed king by Samuel he has faced hostility from Saul and been roaming homeless. Now he has to take shelter amongst the despised Philistines, Israel's enemies. But even here he doesn't forget the Lord. He protects Israel by raiding the surrounding Canaanite peoples who should have previously been destroyed. One thinks of how Christ kept serving even when things were at their worst and calls us to be ready to lose everything for his sake. "The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" (Lk 9v58). By contrast, when Saul doesn't get what he wants he becomes like the nations in consulting and sitting down to eat (a sign of fellowship) with a medium, which was forbidden in the Mosaic law (Deut 18v10-12). Two comments on questions that might arise: First, it's not clear in marching with the Philistines that David would have attacked his own people. His actions throughout imply he wouldn't. The point may simply be that when he was sent back, God was protecting him from a difficult situation. Second, Samuel's appearance doesn't necessarily imply the dead can be summoned, but may have been a one off accommodation in order to rebuke Saul. As you read note the contrasting characters.
1 Samuel 27-29
1 Samuel 27-29
Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.
Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.