November 7, 2009 SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 14 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: There are aspects to this story that do not sit well. Saul’s oath, God not answering Saul because of Jonathan’s eating honey, God using the lot to expose Jonathan, Saul’s intent to kill Saul. Does this passage suggest that God is party to these kinds of actions? I am…
Author: Norm
this is a test!
November 6, 2009 SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 13 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favour.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” “You acted foolishly,’ Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had,…
forgiving, but firm!
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”[1 Samuel 12:24-25] Having a king was not the problem; God’s eventual plan was to…
righteous anger?
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger. [1 Samuel 11:6] Anger is a burning fire, to be handled with care. In this messed up world, anger is unavoidable, there are many things that ought to make us angry. I’ve experienced times when,…
a response to consumer religion
Remember the post with the cartoon two weeks ago entitled “consumer religion”. And remember the great discussion it provoked? Well one person spent some time reflecting on how better to frame the picture, how to pain Jesus community as He would desire it to be. Linda Wielinga adapted an image used by the CRWRC (Christian…
power to heal?
quenching the Spirit
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 10 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. [1 Samuel 10:9] Yesterday I said God doesn’t change peoples’ character, or force them to act contrary to their desire. What about this verse, where God changes Saul’s heart? Not sure that I can explain this,…
hard passages!?
You are building a relationship with a non-christian, one that is genuinely reading the bible to understand better what you believe. Things have been going well, they are getting a positive sense of God’s love and Jesus’ mission. But then they happen along 1 Samuel 15, and crash into the opening words: Samuel said to Saul, “I…
God’s part, and ours
November 2, 2009 SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel: ‘About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked…
I vote for Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Samuel said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. [1 Samuel 8:11] The people are doing what God said they would do [Deuteronomy 17:14-20]. But be careful…