15 Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.”

*Read the rest of 1 Samuel Chapter 9. What does this chapter tell us about God’s ability to answer our call in unexpected ways?

Romans 7

22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

*Read the rest of Romans Chapter 7. What does this chapter reveal about our sinful nature and our dependence on God to help us navigate our worldly desires?

25 The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh. 26 I will give them into the hands of those who want to kill them—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Later, however, Egypt will be inhabited as in times past,” declares the LORD.

*Read the rest of Jeremiah Chapter 46. What does this chapter tell us about God’s ability to cast judgement on non-believers?

6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the LORD,” they say, ”let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

*Read the rest of Psalm 22. How does this still reflect the world that we live in today and teach us to keep faith in God?

23  “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”

Read the rest of 1 Samuel 12. Samuel promised to pray for the people. How can you become a consistent intercessor for others?

9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Read the rest of Romans chapter 10. Verses 9-10 say that confession and belief are necessary. Why are both important? Does confession guarantee true belief? How can we endure our confession is genuine?

    
9 If grape pickers came to you,
    would they not leave a few grapes?
If thieves came during the night,
    would they not steal only as much as they wanted?
10 But I will strip Esau bare;
    I will uncover his hiding places,
    so that he cannot conceal himself.
His armed men are destroyed,
    also his allies and neighbors,
    so there is no one to say,
11 ‘Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive.
    Your widows too can depend on me.’”

Read the rest of Jeremiah 49. What behaviors towards God and Israel are named in the prophecy against Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam?

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Psalm 26

‍ ‍4 I do not sit with the deceitful,
    nor do I associate with hypocrites.
5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers
    and refuse to sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
    and go about your altar, Lord,
7 proclaiming aloud your praise
    and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

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Psalm 27

‍ 2 When the wicked advance against me
    to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

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Read the rest of Psalm 26 and 27. How does the symbolic washing of hands in Psalm 26 shape the way you approach worship? How can Psalm 27 inspire courage and fearlessness in today’s world?

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9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. 11 When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

*Read the rest of 1 Samuel Chapter 10. How does this chapter point towards following God’s Will over our own desires? In what area of your life do you need to practice this?

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

*Read the rest of Romans Chapter 8. How does this chapter highlight the comfort we find in Christ and remind us that our suffering is temporary?  

“‘Alas, sword of the Lord,
    how long till you rest?
Return to your sheath;
    cease and be still.’
7 But how can it rest
    when the Lord has commanded it,
when he has ordered it
    to attack Ashkelon and the coast?”

*Read the rest of Jeremiah Chapter 47. How does this chapter show the finality of God’s judgment and humanity’s inability to change the outcome?

Psalm 23
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 24

5 They will receive blessing from the Lord
    and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek your face, God of Jacob.

 *Read Psalm 23 and Psalm 24. How do these Psalms show God’s faithfulness and protection towards those who seek Him?

 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.

Read the rest of 1 Samuel chapter 13. How does Saul’s decision to act without waiting for Samuel challenge your understanding of God’s timing?

17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Read the rest of Romans 11. What does it mean for Gentiles to be “grafted in” and Israel to be “grafted back”?

4 “In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“the people of Israel and the people of Judah together
    will go in tears to seek the Lord their God.
5 They will ask the way to Zion
    and turn their faces toward it.
They will come and bind themselves to the Lord
    in an everlasting covenant
    that will not be forgotten.

Read the rest of Jeremiah chapter 50. How does this chapter balance God’s justice with His mercy?

Psalm 28

6 Praise be to the Lord,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 29

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

Read the rest of Psalm 28 and 29. What does David mean by calling God “my rock” and how can this metaphor still apply to problems today (Psalm 28). How can recognizing God’s power in creation encourage deeper faith in His providence (Psalm 29)?

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.”

Read the rest of 1 Samuel 11. What does this chapter reveal about God’s righteous anger and His power to deliver us from situations that seem impossible to escape?

As He says also in Hosea:

25“I will call them My people, who were not My people,
And her beloved, who was not beloved.”
26 “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
‘You are not My people,’
There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

Read the rest of Romans 9. How does Romans 9 challenge us to deepen our trust in God’s sovereign plan, even when His purposes are beyond our understanding?

6 Flee! Run for your lives;
    become like a bush[e] in the desert.
7 Since you trust in your deeds and riches,
    you too will be taken captive,
and Chemosh will go into exile,
    together with his priests and officials.

Read the rest of Jeremiah chapter 48. How does this chapter remind us that relying on our own idols—whatever they may be—will ultimately lead to our downfall?

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

Read the rest of Psalm 25. Reflecting on today’s other three readings, how does this final passage remind us that God’s righteous anger and judgment flow from His love for us?