In this devotional series, Ash Clarkson walks us through 1 Samuel.
1 Samuel 1:1-20: Comfort for the Hurt
Sometimes life is not fair. You have many things that people think should make you happy, but not the one thing you desire. The harsh words bear down on you, but the support you receive is not comfort. Where do
1 Samuel 1:21-28: Giving Back
Hannah’s despair led her to prayer, and led her to offer back the child she asked from God were he to grant her wish. God graciously gave her the child she sought, but would Hannah keep her vow or attempt
1 Samuel 2:1-10: Hannah’s Song of God’s Kingdom
In chapter 2 of 1 Samuel we encounter Hannah’s song of thanks. Hannah’s song is not centred entirely on self, but rather centred on God. Hannah’s song starts with her experience of God’s goodness in her life. It then expands
1 Samuel 2:11-36: Faithful and Unfaithful Servants
Contrasts are effective because they are so clear. While we are tempted to view life in shades of grey, obedience to God does not fit so easily. You are either faithful to God, or unfaithful. We either obey God, or
1 Samuel 3:1-4:1: The Call of Samuel
God calls us to repentance and faith, and some to particular lives of ministry for his people. While we may not receive a vision or hear a voice, the call changes our lives as we experience God’s goodness and the
1 Samuel 4:1-11: The Peril of Trying to Trap God
Lots of people in life, whether they admit it or not, are practical atheists. But when bad times come, they are quick to pick up religion like a lucky charm in the hopes that God will put them right. Some
1 Samuel 4:12-21: God’s Glory Departed
In the beginning verses of chapter 4, God’s People took the Ark into battle with the Philistines as a talisman to trap God into helping them against their foes. The Ark was lost, and Eli’s two sons fell in the
1 Samuel 5: Putting Idols In Their Place
It seems like the Church of Christ is on the back foot in the West today. Many treat the Church, Christians, and God’s standard of holiness and morality as a joke. Even many professing Christians casually and easily bow to
1 Samuel 6:1-7:2: Offending A Holy God
In 1 Samuel 6 we see examples of the unbelieving world and God’s covenant people both offending God. The Philistines, suffering God’s judgement, sent the Ark back to Israel with their own ideas of what sacrifices might avert God’s wrath.
1 Samuel 7:2-17: Our Rock of Help
It is a terrible thing to experience God’s displeasure and judgement. And yet, despite our sinfulness and our deserving of punishment, God graciously shows his love and affection for us. Through repentance of sin and faithfully seeking God, we enjoy
1 Samuel 8:1-9: Leadership Crisis
In 1 Samuel 8, a leadership crisis arose as Samuel grew old and his sons showed themselves unsuitable. So Israel sought a king, as the nations around them desired. Ultimately, this was a rejection of God’s leadership. It serves as
1 Samuel 8:10-22: The Problem with Kings
The reality of kingship, and of government in general, is the focus of 1 Samuel 8. Israel sinfully wanted a king just like the nations around them, because they lacked trust in God to lead them and to fill the
1 Samuel 9:1-10:16: The People’s Prince
Israel in Samuel’s day were also looking for their own type of king, not the divine leadership which God provided. They wanted a king like the nations, and God granted them their request to teach them a lesson. But it
1 Samuel 10:17-27: Long Live The King!
Samuel had rebuked Israel for seeking a king previously, and once again took up the opportunity. Samuel reminded Israel that it was God who had freed them from captivity in Egypt, and brought them to the land they lived in.
1 Samuel 11:1-15: Salvation for God’s People
Saul had been proclaimed king, but everyone went back home to their day jobs and carried on as if nothing had changed. In this passage, Israel enjoys salvation from their enemies, led by a king empowered by God. This act
1 Samuel 12: Samuel Steps Down
God’s goodness and his graciousness are presented to us in the Bible, which shows us how God has been faithful to his people, even when they have not been faithful to him. God is someone we can rely on, but
1 Samuel 13: Failing the Kingly Grade
In this passage, Saul demonstrated his unsuitability as King over Israel. While Saul started out in tentative obedience to God’s commands, his unlawful sacrifice showed he was unable to obey God even in trying times, and another would have to
1 Samuel 14:1-23: Faith and Folly
Jonathan’s example demonstrates to us that we do not need to have all the answers before we step out in faith. Perhaps like me you like to plan and prepare, and that is good sometimes, but not when it paralyses
1 Samuel 14:24-46: Foolish Vows
In the previous verses we saw how God saved Israel through the faith of Saul’s son, Jonathan, who trusted God to use him if God wished. While verse 23 ended on a high note, verse 24 begins with a low
1 Samuel 14:47-52: Right Side of History, Wrong Side of God
1 Samuel 14 ends with an interesting verdict on Saul’s reign. Despite Saul’s blatant folly and his lack of faithfulness to God and God’s commands, the text issues a positive verdict from history. Yet there is only one verdict which
1 Samuel 15:1-23: Obedience Better Than Sacrifice
There seems a popular idea today, if people acknowledge God’s existence, that God will weigh our good and bad deeds on a scale and let us in the pearly gates if the good outweighs the bad. Perhaps from vague memories
1 Samuel 15:24-35: False Repentance and Judgement
This passage shows us that true repentance for sin is not based on words or formulae, but sorrow and a move of the heart. It does not excuse itself by blaming others, and the focus is on the offence caused
1 Samuel 16:1-13: Looking on the Heart
David’s anointing shows that the leadership qualities we look to when choosing leaders, whether in politics or business, or even sometimes the Church, are not the qualities God looks for. Everyone’s ideas, even Samuel’s, were wrong. What set David apart
1 Samuel 16:14-23: On His Majesty’s Service
Sometimes it is hard to see in the moment why certain events happen in life. Certain doors open, others seemingly slam shut in our face unexpectedly. While we usually throw the phrase “everything happens for a reason” around, or perhaps
1 Samuel 17:1-30: The Real Spiritual Battle
The David and Goliath story is not about us defeating our enemies. It is about God defeating his enemies, looking forward to Jesus defeating sin at the Cross. In the first section of this story, we are introduced to David
1 Samuel 17:31-40: God Will Deliver
There is a clear contrast here between the secular, worldly way of Saul, and the way of David. Saul sought to mould David into a champion after his ideals, David rested in God’s moulding of him in the fields looking
1 Samuel 17:41-54: The Battle Belongs to God
The emphasis on David’s weakness, and the lack of emphasis on the actual battle, shows the emphasis should go on God, not David. Not us. God gave the victory, the battle belonged to him. Israel could not save themselves. Israel
1 Samuel 17:55-18:5: What a Friend to Have!
After God’s victory of Goliath, through the hands of his faithful servant David, David’s star rose to shine brightly in Israel’s skies. His feat certainly caught the attention of the calculating King Saul, but it also caught the attention of
1 Samuel 18:6-30: Saul’s Envy and God’s Goodness
We often think that God’s goodness must mean miraculous intervention, as sometimes happened in the Old Testament or the Gospels. Yet just as often, God’s goodness is demonstrated by a quiet working away. How is he protecting us today? One
1 Samuel 19:1-24: God’s Protection of God’s Anointed
In 1 Samuel 19, Saul’s envy came to a head. Multiple times, he sought to kill David, or have him killed. But in all these times God protected his anointed one from harm, showing that Saul’s efforts would come to
1 Samuel 20: Trusting in the Covenant
In 1 Samuel 20, David faced the prospect that he was an enemy of Israel’s king. At the same time, while driven by fear, he was comforted by the covenant between himself and Jonathan. Jonathan’s actions show the faithfulness of
1 Samuel 21: Desperation and Provision
In Chapter 20, David knew that his time in Saul’s presence had come to an end. Saul wanted David dead. He recognised a rival to his throne, to his dynasty, and wanted it dispatched. God had protected David in the
1 Samuel 22:1-5: The Long Hand of Providence
With Saul’s murderous intent clear, David had desperately fled Saul’s immediate reach. He had acquired food and weapons, and fled outside of King Saul’s realm looking for sanctuary. Unfortunately there he was recognised and had to pretend madness to escape
1 Samuel 22:7-23: Antichrists, Persecution, and Preservation
Just as the Devil seeks to destroy the Church today, so too in the past he has sought to try and snuff out God’s People. Here, the Devil worked through the hand of Saul and Doeg the Edomite to attack
1 Samuel 23:1-14: Following God’s Leading
Life offers up difficult situations where we are unsure of what to do. We may struggle with questions of relationships, jobs, where to live, and wonder how to glorify God. When these situations arise, as believers one of our natural
1 Samuel 14:14-18: Faithful Friendship
While God was clearly protecting David, David was aware that Saul was actively seeking his life. As David hid in the wilderness of Ziph, he would have dealt with the same fears, worries, and doubts that we all deal with
1 Samuel 23:19-29: Rock of Escape
Sometimes God sends encouragement just at the right time. A shot in the arm, so to speak, before we face another trouble. Words of encouragement that build us up, when doubts have started creeping in. Timed so well, because they
1 Samuel 24: Waiting on God’s Timing
We must wait on God’s timing for taking on responsibilities, or seeing injustices answered. In 1 Samuel 24, David understood that fact. Leaving aside an opportunity to seize the throne by killing Saul in his moment of weakness, David demonstrated
1 Samuel 25: Learning Restraint
Our passage begins with momentous news that passes as a footnote: the death of Samuel (v.1). The prominent character of the early part of 1 Samuel has passed from view, and now from death to life. All Israel mourned his
1 Samuel 26: Spear the King’s Life
David’s act, or inaction, to spare King Saul’s life rather than spear Saul, was a great act of faith. David had been hounded and chased from pillar to post, yet had learnt in his struggles to trust in God and
1 Samuel 27:1-28:2: When David Followed His Heart
Even the best of us follow our heart. David certainly did. Despite all the external evidence of God’s provision for David, the internal strain became too much. He did not listen to God. He followed his heart. He ultimately landed
1 Samuel 28:3-25: Divine Despair
For some, this “Dark Night of the Soul” or “Divine Despair” is the road by which unbelievers come to Christ. For many unbelievers though, hardened by many years of rejecting Christ and suppressing the truth of God’s existence in unrighteousness,
1 Samuel 29: Surprise Saviour
The author of Samuel appeared to be setting up a final grudge match between David and Saul, lined up against each other. David, forced onto the Philistine side by his recent choices. Saul, about to face the hour of his
1 Samuel 30: Tragedy to Triumph
But unlike recent situations which had led to a ransacked Ziklag, “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (v.6). How is not exactly stated, but given David’s next steps, it likely involved prayer and meditation on God’s promises to
1 Samuel 31: Saul’s Downfall
While David had successfully rescued his wives and children from captivity, and even spread the bounty of victory around, the Philistines and Israel under Saul entered into battle. For Saul, the battle did not go as it did for David,
2 Samuel 1:1-16: Mourning, Fear, and Judgement
The first scene of 2 Samuel introduces us to David’s learning of King Saul’s death through the arrival of a grifter, bearing Saul’s kingly baubles. We quickly discover that the man is less concerned with the situation than with his
2 Samuel 1:17-27: Expressing Grief
David knew grief well, and knew that it sometimes needs expressing. While he and his men had emotionally grieved the death of Saul, Jonathan, and so many of Israel’s army, that was not enough. David composed a lament, or written
2 Samuel 2:1-11: Small Beginnings
Our society likes big things and big bangs. One hundred day plans. Transformational change. Slow and steady might win the race in the past, but today bigger is better. Incremental growth and change is insufficient for the supposed fast pace
2 Samuel 2:12-32: The Failure of Force
Chapter 2 of 2 Samuel shows an example of the failure of force to prevent God’s Plan advancing through David’s kingship. While David’s anointing by God was publicly known, Abner had conspired to place Saul’s remaining son on the throne
2 Samuel 3:1-11: Bowing by Necessity
After Saul’s death, Abner attempted to seize power through conquering King David’s kingdom by force. He failed. A period of Civil War followed, where David grew stronger and Abner became weaker. When finally Abner pushed his puppet-king too far, he
2 Samuel 3:12-39: Blameless King
Success in a sinful world can often come at a brutal cost. Financial gain through ruining another financially. Promotions and power through destroying or trampling over the reputations of others. This is not the way of God’s Kingdom. Those who
2 Samuel 4: Justice for All
Injustice also occurs in our day. Christ’s church faces oppression and injustice the world over. We might face prejudice for our beliefs. Some face death for the sake of Christ in various lands. One day, King Jesus will render justice
2 Samuel 5: The Promises Fulfilled (Kinda)
Opposition from the great powers of this world cannot stop God. Time is no barrier to God fulfilling his promises. It may take longer than we like, but God fulfils in his good time. God protects his people. God levels
2 Samuel 6:1-11: Lethal Holiness
We must respect God’s commands. We must act as God requires us to act, especially when it comes to serving him. Especially when God has made it clear – showing his kindness to us by making clear his requirements.
2 Samuel 6:12-23: Blessed Holiness
Our worship of God must be reverent and follow the instructions God has given us. It should also not be joyless. It should not be so caught up on outward appearance, that there is no inward reality.
2 Samuel 7:1-11: House before the House
God’s response to David’s desire may seem odd. After all, what David wanted for God seemed reasonable and right; Nathan thought so. But it was not God’s will. The two are not the same. While generally when we do things
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