Sat.’s Devo - The Clash of Kingdoms

Read: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24; John 8:31-59; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 15:12-14 David became so successful in his battles with the Philistines that Saul set him over all his men of war. David was very popular with his troops and the people. *** One day after coming in from a battle Saul hear the women singing about Saul killing his thousands, and David his ten thousands. He was very jealous that the women were giving David more honor than him. His jealousy led to a mental breakdown where he tried to kill David while he was playing his lyre for him. David evaded his attempts twice. *** This only made Saul more afraid of David because he knew that the Lord was with him. David had success in everything he did and all Israel loved him. *** Saul promised to give David his daughter, Merab to him in marriage, but gave her to another man instead. Then, Saul learned that his other daughter, Michal loved David. He told David he could marry her if he brought him 100 foreskins from the Philistines. He hoped that David would die in the hands of the Philistines but instead, David brought him 200. David and Michal were married. *** Jonathan went to his father to defend David. He reminded Saul of all David had done for Israel and for him. Saul promised not to kill David. *** War broke out again against the Philistines and David went out and fought valiantly. The Philistines fled. When David returned, Saul tried to kill him again as he played his lyre. David escaped. He went home, but his wife told him to escape because her father wanted to kill him. David ran to Ramah where Samuel was. *** Saul sent men to get David out of his bed only to find that Michal had replaced him with a stature and a wig. *** Saul learned that David was in Ramah and sent soldiers to take David but the Spirit of God fell on them and all they could do was prophecy. This happened with three different groups of soldiers till finally, Saul went himself. He stripped off his clothes and prophesied all day and night. *** In John, Jesus told the Jews that if they would abide him his words, they would be his disciples and his truth would set them free. They claimed to be offspring of Abraham and said they had never been enslaved to anyone. (Obviously, they didn’t remember too much about their own history.) They didn’t think they needed to be free. *** Jesus explained that they were slaves to sin and a slave doesn’t remain in the house forever, only the son. So, if the Son sets his slave free, he is totally free. He told them that he knew they were offspring of Abraham, yet they wanted to kill him because his words were not welcome with them. His father was God and their father was the devil. *** They claimed that Abraham was their father. Jesus told them that if they were Abraham’s children then they would do what Abraham did, but they were doing what Satan did. They claimed that God was their Father, but Jesus told them that if God was their father then they would love him because he came from God. *** Jesus told them again that their father was the devil and they loved his deeds. He was a murderer from the beginning and only speaks lies. *** They accused Jesus of being a demon-filled Samaritan. Jesus told him he didn’t have a demon but honored the Lord and anyone who keeps his word would not see death. Now they really thought he was full of demons. When Jesus told them that he lived before Abraham, they picked up stones to stone him. Jesus hid himself and left the Temple. *** Lord, thank you that you alone have the words of eternal life. Thank you that we have been given eyes to see and a heart to accept your words of truth.

Fri.’s Devo - God is the Victor!

Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11 The Philistines were camped in Socoh which was in Judah, about 14 miles southwest of Jerusalem. It was situated on a mountain and Saul and his men were on another mountain with the valley of Elah between them. The Philistines sent out a champion to represent their whole army. He challenged Israel to send out their champion to fight him. Whoever won, their nation would rule over the other nation. They sent out Goliath who was 9 feet tall and covered in metal armor and equipped with a spear, a sword and a javelin. The only people on Israel’s side that had a spear was Saul and Jonathan. Neither of them volunteered to go. *** David had been sent to the battlefield by his dad to bring food to his three brothers and find out how the fighting was going. He got there just in time to hear Goliath come out, as in times before, and threaten the army of Israel. David learned that whoever killed this Philistine would be given great riches and the king’s daughter in marriage. Also, his family would be exempt from paying taxes. *** David kept asking about Goliath and who this uncircumcised Philistine was that should defy the armies of the living God. He stirred up so much attention that Saul heard about him and had him brought to him. *** David told Saul that they should not be afraid of Goliath because he would go out and defeat him. Saul asked David who he thought he could take down Goliath. David explained that he had had to fight both lions and bears in defending his sheep, and this would be just like that. *** Saul had to admire David’s confidence and finally agreed to let him go. He first wanted to dress David in his own armor. When it only served to weigh David down, David insisted on going with what he had. He took his staff and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his pouch. With his sling in his hand he went out to meet Goliath. *** When Goliath realized what Israel had sent out to fight him he was so disappointed. He tried to intimidate David by cursing him and his gods. He told David that he was going to give his flesh over to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. *** David told Goliath that Goliath may have a sword, a spear and a javelin, but he had the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel who Goliath had defied. This was a battle between Goliath and his God, and his God would win. Then he proceeded to tell Goliath what he was going to do to him. He was going to strike him down, then cut off his head. He would give the armies of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts. Then all the earth would know that there is a God in Israel. *** David ran to meet Goliath and drew a stone from his bag and put it in his sling. He slung it and hit Goliath between his eyes. Goliath fell face down. David ran and took Goliath’s own sword and killed him and cut off his head, just as he had described to Goliath he would do. *** When the Philistines saw that their champion was killed, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah gave a shout and pursued them as far as Gath and Ekron. David took the head of Goliath and brought it back to Jerusalem along with Goliath’s armor. *** David was brought before Saul and was introduced to Jonathan who loved David immediately. Jonathan made a covenant with David and loved him as his own soul. He gave David his robe, his armor and even his sword, bow and belt. This was a prophetic act giving David his place as the next king. *** The biggest takeaway I get from this historic story is that like David told Goliath exactly what he expected to happen, we need to tell the devil just what is going to happen in our lives. We can declare our destiny when we know what God’s destiny is for our lives. David knew that the Philistines were not to rule over them. We know that Satan is not to rule over our lives, also. *** In John, Jesus did the same thing to his enemies. He told them that he was leaving and they would not be able to find him but they would die in their sin. They thought that Jesus was thinking of killing himself and go to hell but he told them that they were the ones from hell and he was from heaven. Unless they believed that he is, they will die in their sins. *** They didn’t understand what he was saying, so he told them that when they lift him up, they will know that he came from his Father and spoke for him, and did his will. Many did believe in him. *** Lord, may we declare our victory over sin and death. May we speak truth over our lives, our family and our nation. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Thurs.’s Devo - David is Anointed by Samuel -

Read: 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23; John 7:53-8:20; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 15:8-10 God sent Samuel to tell Saul to annihilate the Amalekites because they had opposed Israel when they came out of Egypt. He was to kill everyone, along with their animals. *** Saul mustered 210,000 men to war against the Amelekites. Saul first sent a message to all the Kenites to get out of the city so they would not be killed. The Kenites had made a covenant with Israel of peace with Israel years before. *** Saul and his army attacked the Amelekites and saved their king, Agag and the best of the animals. Samuel heard of the outcome and came to confront Saul. Saul met Samuel boasting that he had done all the Lord told him to do. Samuel told him he had not. He had allowed the king to live, and took the best of the animals for himself. Saul defended his actions and said the animals were to sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel answered with his profound and much repeated answer: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” *** Saul was sorry he had done this and begged Samuel to return with him to worship the Lord. Samuel told him that he would not return with him and because he had rejected the Word of the Lord, so God had rejected him as king and was raising up his own man to be king. This man was better than Saul and would follow the Lord. *** Saul was sick with remorse and begged Samuel to return with him to worship the Lord. He wanted the people to see that him and Samuel were still tight. Samuel had Agag brought to him and hacked him into pieces before the Lord. Samuel left and went home to Ramah and Samuel did not see Saul again until the day he was dying. God regretted making Saul king over Israel. *** Samuel grieved over Saul until God told him to go to Bethlehem and anoint the new king. He had to do it secretly or Saul would have killed him. He went to the house of Jesse and invited him and his sons to a sacrifice. *** Saul went through all of Jessie’s sons from the oldest to the youngest and none of them were the Lord’s choice. He asked if Jesse had anymore sons and they brought in David, his youngest from watching the sheep. God said he was the one he had chosen. Samuel poured a whole flask of oil over his head and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. He then left but the Spirit of God fell on David from that time on. *** Meanwhile, a bad spirit fell upon Saul and the only way he could find peace was to listen to music. They found that David could play the lyre and brought him to Saul to play for him. David found so much favor in Saul’s eyes that he hired him to stay with him. *** When the Lord has a mission for us, he knows how to put us in the place we need to be. David was anointed king and yet he waited for God to put him in that position. It took years for God to get him there, but David let the Lord do it. *** In John, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray and spend the night. The next day, he went to the Temple to teach. The scribes and Pharisees brought them a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery and asked him what they should do to her. The law of Moses said to stone her. They were trying to trap Jesus. *** Jesus began writing in the dust with his finger. He finally stood and told them that the one who was without sin should cast the first stone. Then he bend down and continued to write. The oldest men left first, then the rest until the only ones standing were the woman and Jesus. Jesus asked her where her accusers were and who was condemning her. She answered, “No one,” so he told her to go and sin no more. *** Jesus taught that he was the light of the world and whoever followed him would not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. The Pharisees argued that his testimony about himself was the only testimony. It would not stand in a court of law. Jesus said his testimony was true because he knew where he was from and where he was going but they didn’t. They judged according to the flesh. He didn’t judge anyone, but if he did, his judgement was not alone, it was also the judgment of God’s. He and God were two witnesses. *** Then asked him where his Father was and he told them that they didn’t know him or his Father. If they knew him, they would know his Father. *** Many teach that all who worship God will be saved, but God makes it very clear that there is one way to him and it is through his son, Jesus. *** Lord, may we worship you in Spirit and in truth. Thank you that you don’t look on the outward appearance but on our hearts. May our hearts be pure and acceptable in your sight.

Wed.’s Devo - Israel is Saved

Read: 1 Samuel 13:23-14:52; John 7:30-52; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7 The Philistines had a garrison at Michmash and Jonathan took his armor-bearer to the Philistine garrison. He believed that God could save with a few the same as he could save with a whole army. It was the Lord who was going to give them the victory. His armor-bearer was willing to do anything Jonathan told him. *** Jonathan came up with a sign. The garrison was staying up on a rocky crag and if they saw him and his armor-bearer and wanted them to come up, then Jonathan would know that the Lord had given them the victory. *** They showed themselves to the Philistines who told them to come up, so Jonathan and his armor-bearer knew they were going to win. They climbed up the cliff and killed 20 Philistines. God shook the earth and it quaked so loud it threw the rest of the garrison into a great panic. *** Saul’s spies saw this and reported it back to Saul. Saul did a roll call and discovered Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing. He called for the ark to be brought, but the noise in the Philistine camp became so loud, he called his men to battle. There were Hebrew defectors who changed their allegiance back to fight for Israel. When the people of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing they came out of hiding and fought for Israel and it was saved. *** Saul was so determined to win, he put a curse on anyone in the army who ate anything before Israel was delivered. Jonathan hadn’t heard the rule and he ate some honey and was refreshed. When the battle was over and the men could finally eat. They were so famished they started eating the animals of the Philistines before they were dead. This was reported to Saul and he rebuked the people. He had a huge stone rolled over where they could kill their animals on it. He set up an altar to cook the meat and sacrifice to the Lord. *** Saul inquired of the Lord to know if they should pursue the Philistines, but he got no answer. He then asked the Lord who had sinned that he was not answering. Was it him or Jonathan or was it someone among the people? The Lord said it was him or Jonathan, not the people. Then the priest drew lots to find out it was Jonathan who had sinned. Saul asked Jonathan what he had done and he told him he had eaten the honey. Saul was going to have Jonathan killed, but the people stood up for Jonathan and saved him. *** This is a very good example of the power of our words. Saul’s curse, no matter how foolish or unfair, almost killed Jonathan. Our words are life or death. We need to wield the sword of our mouth very carefully and purposefully. *** In John, the Jews were trying to find the perfect time to arrest Jesus, but God’s hand would not allow them to do it till he said it was time. *** The Pharisees heard the people wondering if Jesus was the Messiah because of the wonderful miracles he did. They had had enough, so the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. Jesus told them he wasn’t going to be with them much longer. He was going somewhere they wouldn’t be able to come. They would look for him, but not be able to find him. *** They wondered if he was going to go and teach the Greeks. They didn’t arrest him. *** On the last day of the feast, the priests were doing the water libation where the priests bring water in a pitcher up from the Siloam Springs (the springs of living water) and pour it on the altar. Jesus stood and said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Then out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. *** The people heard this and some thought he was The Prophet who had been prophesied would come and some thought he was the Messiah. Some argued he couldn’t be either because the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem and all they knew about Jesus was that he was from Nazareth and no prophet was said to come out of Nazareth. Some wanted him arrested, but no one wanted to be the one to do it. *** The chief priests who had sent their officers to arrest Jesus asked them why they didn’t do it. They told him that no one spoke like him. Nicodemus declared that they needed to give Jesus a hearing before they judged him. *** Lord, may our words bring life as your words did. May we speak truth and not be afraid of the outcome. You are our defender. You alone have the words of life.

Tues.’ Devo - Saul’s First Big Test -

Read: 1 Samuel 12:1-13:22; John 7:1-29; Psalm 108:1-13; Proverbs 15:4 Samuel gave a condemning speech testifying to his own righteousness, but pointing out the continual sins of their nation. He reminded them of all the Lord had done for them and yet, how they had treated the Lord in return. And, now they had asked for a king, and he had granted their request. *** God warned them that if they will fear him and serve and obey him and not rebel, then all will go well for them, but if they return to wickedness, they will be swept away. Samuel begged them not to get distracted and go after empty things that cannot profit or deliver. *** Samuel told them that God would thunder and rain that day to let them know how upset he was that they asked for a king. Samuel prayed and it did thunder and rain even though it was not the rainy season. The people were afraid of God. *** One year later, Saul became the king. When he had reigned for two years, he built up an army of 3,000 men who were with him in Michmash, and 1,000 who were with his son, Jonathan in Gibeah. Jonathan went out and defeated the Phillistine garrison in Geba. Saul blew the trumpet and declared war on the Philistines. He called for the men to come to Gilgal and fight with them. *** The Philistines came with 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen plus troops on foot that were enumerable. They came and set up their camp at Michmash. The Israelites near there to ran to hide in the caves. Saul led his fearful troops from Gilgal to Michmash. He had been told by Samuel that he would come in seven days and offer sacrifices to the Lord and ask for his help. When Samuel didn’t arrive on time and his troops were going AWOL he decided to offer the sacrifice himself. As soon as he had finished, Samuel arrived. When Samuel heard Saul’s excuse to why he had not waited, he told him he had acted foolishly. He had not done what the Lord said so his kingdom will not stand forever. God has found a man who will have his heart and obey him. Samuel left and went home. Saul took what was left of his army and went to Gibeah. *** Saul had about 600 men who camped with Johnathan at Geba. The Philistines were still at Michmash. The Philistines divided their army into three groups and sent some to Ophrah, another to Beth-horon and another to the Valley of Zeboim. The Philistines had gotten rid of all the blacksmiths in Israel so the only ones who had a sword were Saul and Jonathan. *** The odds were stacked against Israel and only God could deliver them. *** In John, the odds were stacked against Jesus also. He could no longer walk freely in Judea because they were trying to kill him. Jesus stayed in Galilee. The Feast of Tabernacles was nearing and all Jewish men were to go to Jerusalem. Jesus never missed a feast. He sent his disciples ahead of him to Jerusalem. They encouraged him to go openly and make a name for himself. Jesus explained that it was not his time yet. The people wanted to kill him because he exposed their evil works. *** After he sent his disciples ahead of him, Jesus went privately, Everyone was looking for him and giving their opinion about what they thought of him. The feast lasted for 7 days and in the middle of those days, Jesus went into the temple and began teaching. The Jews marveled that he spoke so well, yet they had not educated him. Jesus explained that his teacher was the one who sent him - God. God is truth. *** Jesus explained that they had Moses’ law, yet they didn’t even keep it. Then he asked them why they were wanting to kill him. One of the people answered that he must have a demon because no one was wanting to kill him. *** Jesus was not the one with the demon. He exposed their hypocrisy in circumcising on the Sabbath and yet not wanting him to heal on the Sabbath. *** Those listening saw that the authorities were allowing Jesus to preach and were not arresting him. It made them wonder if they really knew that he was the Christ. Then they reasoned that they knew where Jesus came from and the scriptures said that when the Messiah came, no one would know where he came from. Jesus perceived they were thinking this and answered their question. He had come from God, but since they didn’t know God, they didn’t know where he came from. *** Lord, may we not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver. May we remember that you alone have the words of life.

Mon.’s Devo - Saul Made King

Read: 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15; John 6:43-71; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 15:1-3 Samuel spoke privately to Saul. He poured a flask of oil on his head and kissed him. He told him that he would be the leader over his people and save them from their enemies. He then gave him three signs that would happen to him on his way home. When he got to Rachel’s tomb he would be met by two men who will tell them that they found the two donkeys and his father is worried about him. Then at the oak of Tabor, he will meet three men going up to Bethel. They will be carrying three young goats, three loaves of bread, and a skin of wine. They will give Saul two of their loaves and he was to accept them. Thirdly, he would come to Gibeath-elohim and meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with musical instruments. The Spirit of the Lord will come upon Saul and he would begin prophesying like a prophet. After all that happened he was to meet Samuel at Gilgal. *** All the signs happened just as Samuel had said they would. When all the people met with Samuel at Gilgal, he reminded the people of how the Lord had brought them out of Egypt, but today they have rejected the Lord and asked for a king to rule over them. He told them to stand with their tribe. The tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. Then the clan of Matrite, then Saul’s lot was drawn, but Saul couldn’t be found. He was found hiding and was brought before the people. He stood a head taller than anyone. *** The people shouted, “Long live the king!” and Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship. He wrote them in a book and laid them before the Lord. Everyone then went home. Some were happy about the choice and others despised Saul. *** Nahash the Ammorite came up against Jabesh-gilead to take it. The people tried to make a peace treaty with them. THe Ammorites said they would make a treaty with them if they agreed to let them gouge out the right eye of all the men. The elders of Jabesh asked for 7 days to see if they could ask the other tribes to help them. If they wouldn’t, then they would agree to their treaty. *** When Saul found out about the threat, he was so mad he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces. He sent the pieces throughout Israel saying that whoever didn’t come with Saul and Samuel to fight the Ammorites, this was what would be done to them. Three hundred and thirty thousand people came from Israel and Judah to fight. *** On the day that Jabesh was to surrender to the Ammorites, Saul divided the army into three groups and they attacked the Ammorite camp and defeated them. Those who survived were scattered. *** The people wanted to put to death the men who had despised Saul, but Saul wouldn’t let them. Samuel led everyone to Gilgal to renew the kingdom. There they made Saul king and sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord. The men of Israel rejoiced. *** In John, everything Jesus talked about that Passover was explaining what the bread stood for. He was the bread of life - the living bread that came down from heaven. The manna that came down from heaven in the wilderness was a picture of him. He is the bread that gives life to the world. The bread is his flesh. *** They couldn’t understand that. Jesus told them that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life and be raised up on the last day. Even the disciples had a hard time understanding what Jesus was telling them. He explained to him that he was talking spiritually. The flesh couldn’t do anything, but his Spirit can give eternal life. To understand what he was saying, a person had to be able to see spiritually. Jesus lost many followers this day. He asked the twelve if they would leave him as well. Peter answered that they had no where else to go. Who else has the worlds of eternal life. Jesus explained that he chose them but even one of them was going to betray him. *** Lord, may we continue to believe, even when we do not comprehend what you are doing. May we faithfully follow you.

Sun.’s Devo - They Want a King

Read: 1 Samuel 8:1-9:27; John 6:22-42; Psalm 106:43-48; Proverbs 14:34-35 Samuel made his sons judges over Israel, but they were not like him. They took bribes and distorted justice. The elders came to Samuel and told him that they did not want his sons to rule over them when he died. They wanted Samuel to anoint a king to rule them. *** Samuel was sad to hear this, but the Lord encouraged Samuel. He reminded him that they treated him the same way, and they weren’t rejecting Samuel, they were rejecting the Lord. *** Samuel warned the people of all a king would do to them and how they and their families would be made to serve him, but they still wanted a king like other nations had. *** Kish was a Benjaminite with a son named Saul. Kish sent Saul along with his servant to find his three donkeys that had run away. Saul searched all through the land of Benjamin and then went into the land of Ephraim. They were getting far from home and Saul was afraid his father would begin to worry more about him than the donkeys. His servant realized that they were in the vicinity of Samuel, the prophet. He suggested they go ask him which way to go. He scrounged up some silver to pay the prophet. *** In the meantime, God told Samuel that he would meet a man from Benjamin at a certain time and he was the one who would rule Israel. At that appointed time, Saul met Samuel on the road and asked him where the seer was. Samuel told him he was the seer and invited Saul and his servant to eat with him and be the guest of honor. Saul was taken aback but agreed when he told him his three donkeys had been found. *** At the feast there were only 30 men present. Saul was given the best piece of meat to eat. Then Saul was given a place to sleep. Early the next morning, Samuel woke Saul up to send him on his way. He asked to speak privately to Saul. Cliff-hanger…we will find out what he said tomorrow. *** In John, Jesus had sent his disciples across the sea and then walked to them on the water. The next day, the people were on the other side of the sea looking for Jesus. They knew that he hadn’t been with the disciples in their boat. *** When they found him on the other side of the sea they questioned how he got there. Jesus told them that they followed him because he fed them, not because they were spiritually hungry. They should seek the things of God that lead to eternal life. When they asked him what the works of God were that they should be doing, he told them to believe in the one God sent to earth. Then they asked for a sign to help them believe. Jesus explained that Moses had given the people manna from heaven to eat, but now God was giving the true bread from heaven. They asked him to give them this bread continually. Jesus replied that he was the bread of life. Whoever came to him and put their trust in him would not hunger or thirst again. He will preserve them and raise them up on the last day. *** The people reasoned among themselves that Jesus came from Joseph, not from heaven. *** Lord, help us in our unbelief. May we hunger for the things of God, not of this earth.