Devotions from 1 Samuel

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 1-4 Meditation Verse: 4:3 Why were the Israelites defeated in battle? Because the Lord intended to kill Eli's sons and send the ark into captivity, to fulfill His promise to Eli. Eli did nothing more than warn his sons of danger…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 5-8 Meditation Verses: 6:19-20 How sad that when the Lord strikes the people for doing something they weren't supposed to do, their first response is to send Him away. They recognized that the Lord was a holy God, but instead of…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 9-12 Meditation Verse: 12:22 The Lord was pleased to make me His own, so He will not reject me. That promise should amaze me and fill me with gratitude and security, such that I am glad to do anything He asks.

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 13-16 Meditation Verse: 16:7 The Lord looks at the heart; men look on the outward appearance to determine who should lead, who to follow, who is worthy of honor. The Lord looks on the heart, for a man after His own…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 17-20 Meditation Verse: 18:8 Saul already had problems with the Lord and with humility before Him. He knew the Lord planned to hand the kingdom over to another, but he was determined to keep it. He should have known better, but…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 21-24 Meditation Verse: 24:15 The Lord preserved David time and again, in small ways vindicating him. It would be some time before he cleared David's name and exalted him for all his righteous choices, all his goodness to Saul, Israel and…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 25-28 Meditation Verse: 25:39 If I am faithful to walk in the Lord's ways, then I can be sure that I never need to take vengeance on those who insult me. The Lord will do it. I need to defend the…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 29 - 2 Samuel 1 Meditation Verse: 1 Samuel 30:8 This was a tragedy, especially before they knew they would recover everything. Their city was burned and all their people and goods were plundered. But the Lord promised they would overtake…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 1-4 Meditation Verse: 2:30 God makes promises to people, but they must honor Him in order to see those promises fulfilled. He will not bless men who treat Him with contempt, even though He has promised to them, to their family…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 5-8 Meditation Verse: 8:18 A formal government, a king and all he requires for ruling the people, judging them and fighting their battles, eventually becomes a heavy burden on the people. And invariably, the king becomes insensitive to the people and…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 9-12 Meditation Verse: 12:14 It is interesting that Samuel places responsibility for walking in God's ways in the hands of the people, not the king. They chose to have a king, and the king would walk with God if they walked…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 13-16 Meditation Verse: 15:24 God's appointed leader is expected to lead according to God's commands. He is not supposed to listen to his people, but to lead them. He should consider their needs and weaknesses, rather than make rash curses as…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 17-20 Meditation Verses: 17:26-28 Speaking what is true about the Lord and about how we can and should trust Him can make others jealous, especially when they don't have the same faith. David knew God would be with the man who…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 21-24 Meditation Verse: 22:8 Saul was speaking lies about David and later about the priests who helped David without knowing what was going on. Neither David nor the priests had a platform to defend themselves, though the priests tried. Yet it…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 25-28 Meditation Verse: 25:17 Nabal was impossible to deal with. He was known for being harsh and evil in his dealings. He knew exactly who David was and probably why he was fleeing from Saul. He was willing to feed his…

Passage Read: 1 Samuel 29 - 2 Samuel 1 Meditation Verses: 1 Samuel 30:1-6 This would be devastating, and was devastating to David and all his men. But there was also a shred of hope: no one had been killed, but all had been taken…