Old Testament reading: 1 Samuel 17-18

Of all the events in the life of David, no account is more well known, even among unbelievers, than David’s encounter with Goliath of Gath. Sports announcers freely use the expression of “David vs Goliath” despite the fact that most Americans do not read their Bibles or attend worship with any degree of regularity. As much as I love this great story that I’ve known since childhood, I find chapter 18 more intriguing.  I love the repetition of “David behaved wisely” (cf v 5, 14-15, 30) with the resulting, “Saul was afraid of him” (v 12, 15) and “Saul was afraid of him” (v 15, 29). When we earnestly desire to do right, those who are evil are made afraid. That fear manifests itself in a variety of ways, including avoidance, mockery or persecution (cf v 11). Our Lord said as much in John 3:19-20, when he said that those who practice evil hate the light. On the other hand, when we do right, we attract those who appreciate light. If you want to surround yourself with good people, be a good person!

New Testament reading: Mark 7-8

“You’ve got it all backwards.” In Mark 7, Jesus shows us how the true source of defilement comes from within and not from without. Like the whitewashed tombs that were beautiful on the outside but were filled with the defilement of death, the Jews concerned themselves with the outward appearance of piety and devotion while giving no thought to pursuing purity within. So long as what was outside was clean, everything was fine. Jesus’ illustration not only rebuked that attitude, it served to set aside on the specific laws of Moses, namely, the food laws forbidding some types of meat. Jesus used this same truth to illustrate to Peter the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Gospel or Church Age (Acts 10:9-16). Paul later reaffirmed this same principle in 1 Timothy 4:5. And THAT’S why I get to eat catfish and pulled pork Bar-B-Q! Getting back to the primary intent of the text, our words and deeds are first rooted in our hearts before they are made manifest to the world. Nothing comes out of my mouth that wasn’t first in my heart. Take care to fill your hearts with good things (cf Phil 4:8)!

 Old Testament reading: 1 Samuel 15-16

“And that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Having already been told that the kingdom will not continue through him, Saul further alienates himself from God in his sin with the Amalekites. What I find particularly tragic in the fact that Saul was specifically called by God as His personal instrument of punishment against the Amalekites (15:1-3). One would think that specific orders via Divine call would incite a man to obey to the Nth degree. Not so with Saul. Worse still, the first words from Saul’s mouth upon his return was the claim, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord” (15:13). In condemning Saul, Samuel utters some great words that still serve us today: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice as in obeying His voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” In the same manner of his transgression in chapter 13, Saul’s good intentions are not a substitute for unauthorized activity. Most would do well to consider whether what they call worship is in harmony with God’s word than in making them feel good. We are not at liberty to do as we please and afterward attach God’s name to it.

New Testament reading: Mark 5-6

Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” So pleaded Peter after His miraculous encounter with Jesus in Luke 5:8. After healing the demon possessed man known as Legion, those who witnessed the swine rushing off the cliff into the sea and seeing the man “clothed and in his right mind” pleaded with Jesus to depart from their region. This probably wasn’t the response for which Jesus was looking. Commentators are divided between two primary interpretations of this reaction. Some believe the residents were put off by their financial losses and feared more of the same. Others equate their response to that of Peter as the situations were similar. Regardless, I wonder — If Jesus manifested himself to us in the same way as he did to them, would we embrace him or encourage him to leave? Some do not embrace Jesus today because they do not understand Him, others because of the required sacrifice. Perhaps more lost souls would understand if they could see the real Jesus living in His professed disciples.

Old Testament reading: 1 Samuel 13-14

Lack of personal discipline characterized Saul’s reign as king. What began with great success and promise (chapter 11, cf vv 12-13) quickly crumbled as Saul did not restrain himself or confine himself to the authority of God’s word. Good intentions (13:12) are no excuse for acting outside Divine authority (v 13). This problem became the signature of Saul’s reign. Saul’s inability to control himself led Samuel to identify the one who would succeed him. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be his son Jonathan, a great man and Saul’s greatest earthly asset. Rather, Samuel said that God would take the kingdom and give it to one “after His own heart” (v 14). Moreover, Saul’s lack of discipline and foresight placed his son Jonathan in the crosshairs of consequence regarding his rash decisions and vows. Lesson to be learned? Others are adversely affected by our personal lack of discipline. Moderation is key to protecting ourselves and our loved ones from unintended consequences.

New Testament reading: Mark 3-4

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches” (Prov 22:1). In introducing the apostles, all three synoptic authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke) tag Judas Iscariot as the one who betrayed Christ. Though “all the disciples forsook Him and fled” (Matt 26:56) and Peter denied the Lord three times (Matt 26:69-75), this was something they never got over, even though these accounts were written some years after the fact. Judas besmirched what would have been a perfectly good Bible name. To this day, the other eleven apostles and Matthias have countless namesakes. You can go to most non-Muslim places in the world and find  a multitude of males with the names Peter, James or John, but we don’t hear of many named Judas. Also of interest is the statement of Jesus’ own people concerning him, saying, “he is out of his mind” ( This corresponds to John’s statement in John 7 that Jesus’ own brethren did not believe in him. How sad that their savior, their own flesh and blood, lived among them in sinless perfection and they failed to recognize him! Sometimes overlooked in this is the account at the end of chapter 3 where Jesus separates Himself from His earthly kin (vvv 31-35).

Old Testament reading: 1 Samuel 10-12

“I’ll just take my ball and go home.” Many of us are old enough to know that saying. In the days when kids didn’t have everything they wanted (and still played outside), the boy with the ball held sway over all the others. If he didn’t get his way, he could bring the game to an abrupt conclusion. 1 Samuel 10 marks the beginning of Saul’s reign as Israel’s first Divinely recognized king. While Saul is an intriguing character, I want to think about Samuel, one of God’s greatest servants. At Saul’s coronation in chapter 12, Samuel gave a farewell address of sorts. Though his tenure with Israel had been long, he was still able to acquit himself of any personal wrongdoing throughout the entire course of his leadership going all the way back to the days of his youth. Standing before the multitude of Israel, Samuel called on any man to come and level a charge of misconduct. None were brought and the people all gave witness to the same before God. Then, at the conclusion of his address, Samuel promised to continue his service to the people. What character! While many might “take their ball and go home,” Samuel recognized the people still needed his instruction and spiritual guidance. Moreover, he said it would be a sin against God were he to stop praying earnestly for the people! I love this man Samuel! In these respects, he deserves our admiration and emulation.

New Testament reading: Mark 1-2

Mark gives emphasis to the work of John as “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (1:1). Of particular interest is Mark’s repeated emphasis of Jesus’ power over unclean spirits and sickness, which continues in the chapters following. Mark’s audience was primarily Gentile, with perhaps an eye toward the Roman citizenry. Prior to the ascension and assumptions of the Caesars, Rome had been blessed with reasonably capable and good men to rule over them, men who generally cared about the welfare of the people and of the state. A powerful, yet beneficent leader would have appealed to those familiar with the Roman government as originally constituted. Mark presents Jesus in just this fashion – a powerful, beneficent king who readily identified with the lives and needs of the people.

Old Testament reading: 1 Samuel 7-9

1 Samuel 8 marks a sad day in Israel’s history.  Not satisfied to be led by God’s judges, and forgetting it was the Lord who had given so many great military victories to them, Israel clamors for a king, “that we might be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”  Through Samuel, God warned them that they would pay a severe family and financial burden should they pursue this route. Six times in verses 11-17 we find their king “will take” from the people for himself. Two problems – they already had a king (God), and it is never God’s will for his people to be like everyone else.  Unwilling to heed the wisdom of God, they persisted in their childish lust and demanded a king. In so doing, they traded a King who gave for one who would take. They traded a righteous Judge for an infallible one. They traded a military commander Who required no army yet had never lost a battle for one subject to failure. O the things we sacrifice when we trade God’s way and wisdom for that of man!

New Testament reading: Matthew 27-28

Judas Iscariot illustrates for us the short-sightedness of sin.  Judas could not see past his immediate gain that he might consider the long term consequences of his actions. Having seen Jesus escape the hands of His enemies on several previous occasions (Luke 4:30; John 8:59), perhaps he thought Jesus would “perform His magic” and get out of this situation as well. Seeing Jesus condemned (27:3), Judas committed another tragically impulsive deed as he went out and hanged himself. Had he repented as did Peter, he could’ve been restored to the Lord. Unfortunately, Judas wasn’t cut from that same bolt of cloth. His covetousness, combined with his incontinence and lack of moderation, led to his dreadful end. He would have done well to hear the wise man, “Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky” (Prov 23:4-5). Judas brought to life the words of Paul, who wrote, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Tim 6:9).