A Chapter a Day w/ Connie St. John

Interesting chapter! The Amalekites came and plundered David's camp while they were away. Took their wives, children, livestock, everything they owned. David had two wives at the time - Ahinoam and Abigail (Nabal's widow). They got taken, as well.  Verse 4 says, "So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep." -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-ba...

In this short chapter, the Philistines don't trust David to go into battle with them. So they send him and his men back.  It's interesting. David was not actually on the side of the Philistines. But he'd been with them for over a year and had gained their trust. Will he use it to his advantage? Or will he make peace with them once he becomes King? -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net...

In chapter 28, Saul decides he needs to consult a witch to bring up the spirit of Samuel. It worked, but Samuel was smoking hot mad!! -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/ ...

In chapter 27, David goes to the land of the Philistines and hangs out with them so that Saul will stop pursuing him. His strategy works. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.co...

In chapter 26, Saul once again finds himself in David's crosshairs, but David does the right thing - yet again - and doesn't kill him. Instead, he steals Saul's spear and his water jug as Saul slept.  David spares Saul's life even though Saul would not have done the same. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-mu...

Chapter 25 of 1 Samuel is one of my favorites. It's about David, Abigail and her fool husband Nabal.  Abigail saves Nabal from certain death after he disrespects David. Gotta love smart women! -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3....

In chapter 24, David has an opportunity to harm Saul but he chooses not to. I'm learning more and more about David's character.  He chose not to take vengeance on his enemy - the man who was pursuing him to kill him. How many of us would do the same? -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Com...

In chapter 23, Saul continues his pursuit of David, intending to kill him. All because of jealousy! Wow! -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/  Music promoted by https://www...

In chapter 22, Saul is off the rails! He finds out that the priests of Nob helped David by giving him food and a weapon (Goliath's spear). They also inquired of the Lord on his behalf. This enrages Saul, so he has one of his men (Doeg) kill 85 of them!  David is distraught when he hears this news and takes full responsibility for the death of the men.  I wonder if this is why he was a man after Go...

During David's time of exile and flight away from Saul, he stopped in Nob and Gath. At Nob, he was given the sword of Goliath. In Gath, he acted like a madman so that the ruler of Gath wouldn't treat him badly or try to kill him. Hmmm... Interesting strategy! -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Cre...

Have you ever had a friend like Jonathan was to David? Someone you'd entrust with your life? I have. It's a miraculous, wonderful thing. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com...

In chapter 19, Saul just keeps on trying to kill David.  In an interesting turn of events, at the end of the chapter, Saul sends his men to the town where Samuel and David are prophesying. But each time he sends his troops, the Spirit of the Lord falls on them and they start prophesying, too! Finally, after the third set of men don't return, Saul himself goes. But the Spirit of the Lord falls on h...

In chapter 18, Saul becomes insanely jealous of David. He tries to hurl his spear at him (twice!). Then he gives David his daughter Michal in marriage in hopes that she will be a snare to him. His hope is that David will be killed by the Philistines. But it doesn't work. It is interesting that Saul's attempt to send David out to be killed in battle is similar to what happens to Uriah the Hittite a...

The very familiar story of David and Goliath is told in chapter 17 of 1 Samuel. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/al...

In chapter 16, Samuel anoints Jesse's youngest son, David, as king to replace Saul. It's unclear whether or not they knew that's what was happening. What is interesting, though, is that David immediately went to serve Saul, first as a harpist, then as an armor-bearer. He served him before the whole Goliath situation - which happens tomorrow! (Chapter 17) -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://le...

Saul disobeys God in chapter 15. He's commanded to kill all of the Amalekites and leave nothing living. Instead, Saul lets the King Agag leave and has the men take the fatted calves and other livestock.  Immediately God tells Samuel that He regrets making Saul king.  Samuel confronts Saul who initially tries to deny what he's done. Then he says he only did it because the people were pressuring him...

In chapter 14, Jonathan (Saul's son) leads Israel on a victorious battle against the Philistines. However, he disobeys his father's directive not to eat anything until the end of the day. He sticks the edge of his spear into some delicious honey and eats it. Granted, the directive was foolish but he should have led by example. Instead, it served to undermine Saul's authority. They cast lots to det...

When Saul's patience is tested, he fails the test. How many of us have tired of waiting for God and taken matters into our own hands? Never a good plan.  Saul ruled for 42 years before he failed the test. On the one hand you could say he should have known God would fulfill His Word because he had 42 years of experience that said He would. On the other hand, you could say this was, perhaps, the fir...

In chapter 12, Samuel says farewell to the people of Israel. He's frustrated and if it were left up to him, the people would not be blessed! But God! -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://in...

In chapter 11, Saul wins his first battle and earns the respect of the people. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all...

In chapter 10, Samuel lets Saul know he is to be king. When Samuel brings all the tribes together to make the big announcement, Saul is nowhere to be found. God lets Samuel know he's hiding in the baggage! What in the world?! Samuel anoints Saul as the new king and most of the people rejoice, but there are some naysayers. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music...

In chapter 9, the people of Israel demand a king. Samuel is disappointed but God talks to him and tells him it's about a rejection of Him, not of Samuel. He tells Samuel to appoint a King and gives him signs about who the new king will be - Saul. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons...

In Chapter 8 of 1 Samuel, we read that Samuel has grown old and his two sons who he appointed to follow in his footsteps are not good leaders. They accept bribes and pervert justice. So the people ask for a king to lead them "like other nations." At that time, God was their king. They rejected Him so that they could have a human, earthly king. What a shame. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https:/...

Finally, with the Ark of God back in their possession, and once they got rid of their other fake idols, the Israelites were able to defeat the Philistines. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | http...

In this chapter, the Philistines return the stolen Ark of God (Ark of the Covenant) because everyone has been afflicted with tumors and their cities have been overrun by rats! They send it back with a "guilt offering" - golden tumors and golden rats! What in the world?!! -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-mus...