A Kingly Devotion Text: 1 Samuel 15 Rev. John Downs All of us have had high hopes that were never realized, and that is very disappointing. We see in today’s narrative that a presumptuous King Saul is in conflict with …
A Kingly Devotion Text: 1 Samuel 15 Rev. John Downs All of us have had high hopes that were never realized, and that is very disappointing. We see in today’s narrative that a presumptuous King Saul is in conflict with …
The Audacity of Faith and Ignorance Text: 1 Samuel 14 Rev. John Downs Context often determines the meaning of words. The narrative in today’s passage displays two types of audacity. Jonathan manifests a positive audacious confidence in God’s faithfulness, in …
Hope For The Helpless Text: 1 Samuel 13 Rev. John Downs Our text today shows the beginning of the end of the reign of King Saul and leaves us with a cliffhanger concerning the welfare of Israel, facing enemies “like …
Covenant Confrontation Text: 1 Samuel 12 Rev. John Downs Today’s text chronicles a ceremony of covenant renewal of God with his people. It comes at an inflection point in the history of Israel as they transition from the era of …
Salvation Out Of Shame Text: 1 Samuel 11 Rev. John Downs In the history of Israel, place carried a sense of significance, whether Gibeah, Jabesh-gilead or Gilgal. So, too, in the life of faith in Christ, we are reminded of …
Divine Clarity Text: 1 Samuel 10:17-27 Rev. John Downs The remaining vestiges of sin cloud our vision and judgment, like swimming in murky water. But our God brings his people clarity and vision. Like the people of Israel, we are …
Directing and Equipping Text: 1 Samuel 9:1-10:16 Rev. John Downs We often fail to look at the big picture of life, instead being gripped by the vortex of the immediate. That can lead to disillusionment, despair or bitterness. Today’s text …
Rejection Redeemed Text: 1 Samuel 8 Rev. John Downs Just as Israel rejected God’s kingship over them, so we too are prone to reject his rule and his wisdom in our lives. We prefer to have things our way, in …
Revival Through Repentance Text: 1 Samuel 7:2-17 Rev. John Downs How does revival take place when there are no signs of life? After the return of the ark from the Philistines, Israel languished in syncretistic idol worship for twenty years, …
The Heavy Hand of a Holy God Text: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:2 Rev. John Downs In the story of the capture of the ark of the covenant by the Philistines, we come to understand that the whole earth belongs to God …