in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 24: David spares Saul
Outline A misread providence A true vengeance A false repentance Introduction A heading we can write over the next three chapters is, ‘The Restraining Grace of God.’ In the next three chapters David doesn’t kill...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 23: The Poor Man’s Provisions
Outline Prayer People Providence Introduction James gives the following advice to the people of God when they are undergoing trials, ‘Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation.’ James is trying to help the man...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 22: When the wicked prosper
Outline The provision of the cave The killing of the priests The praise of the persecuted Introduction Why do the wicked prosper? This is a question that has confounded the people of God since the...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 21: Backsliding
Outline The paths of backsliding The lessons of faith Introduction The Christian faces two dangers, one of ease and one of difficulty. We face both trials and temptations. This being the case we face two...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 20: David and Jonathan
Outline David’s anxiety Jonathan’s friendship Introduction ‘We can be surrounded by the evidences of God’s love towards us; we can be exhilarated in our hearts by a sense of His presence, His mercy, His forgiveness...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 18-19: The Rise and Fall of Israel’s Monarch
Outline David’s 9 lives Saul’s envy God’s protection Introduction The next two chapters read like an action sequence from a movie. We have the star and the villain, both are contending for the throne of...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 17: David and Goliath
Outline The fear of Israel The faith of David The fear of Saul The faith of David Introduction David and Goliath is one of the best known stories in the bible, but what is it...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 16: God’s ways are not our ways
Outline Samuel’s mourning David’s anointing Saul’s demon Introduction The overarching truth that we can write over this next chapter is, ‘God’s ways are not our ways.’ At several points we find ourselves confronted with a...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 15:29: The Impassibility of God
Outline Definition of impassibility Apparatus of impassibility Application of impassibility Introduction As a Christian I have had to undergo some continental shifts in my thinking about God. From an absence of belief in God to...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 15: Saul rejected
Outline Saul’s obedience Saul’s rejection Saul’s repentance Introduction Let me begin with a question. Why does chapter 14 end with a summary of Saul’s reign and then the story of Saul continue? If you were...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 14: The Faith of Saul and Jonathan
Outline Genuine faith Religious faith Introduction These last few chapters have been summarising the reign of Saul. If we merely read the last verses of this chapter v47-52, you could imagine an historian speaking of...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 13: Saul Sins Away the Kingdom
Outline Jonathan Saul Samuel Introduction Which is worse to lose all your earthly possessions, lose your health, your reputation and all things earthly, or to sin against God? One of the repetitive features of the...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 12: Addressing Sin
Outline The remembrance of sin The exposure of sin The forgiveness of sin Introduction We all know what a party-pooper is, a kill joy, a wet-blanket. In the portion that we have before us Saul...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 11: Saul Established as King
Outline Kingdom threatened Kingdom delivered Kingdom renewed Introduction As we begin chapter 11 we need to appreciate that Saul was in a very similar position to Donald Trump today. Donald Trump has only been the...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 10: King Saul
Outline Saul is given three signs Saul is given the Spirit Saul is given the Kingdom Introduction Don’t judge a book by its cover is the key lesson of Saul’s life. His good looks, His...
in 1 & 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 9: The Providence of God
Outline A handsome man A sovereign God Introduction Living by sight and not by faith is the perennial challenge for the Christian. We often live as if God as revealed in the Scriptures is not...