Last week, we learned that David had become king and had made a wise political move to unite the tribes of Israel. He sent a winsome invitation to some of Saul’s loyal men, inviting them to serve him. Our passage today, however, doesn’t involve David at all. Rather, it follows the story of Abner and […]
David had been waiting patiently to receive the kingdom and the day had finally come. This is a crucial moment in the story of the Bible. Three times we read here that David was now king over the house of Judah. However, as we might expect, not all Israel was happy to receive their king. […]
In this sermon, pastor Matt reminds us that lament is good and right in a world under death’s dark shadow. We mourn the curse of sin. We weep over the reign of death. But because of the gospel, we need not grieve as those who have no hope.
In this sermon, pastor Matt reminds that, just like the beginning of 1 Samuel (with barren Hannah), even when all hope seems lost, death does not get the final word. The good news is that our God is in the resurrection business, and in his time and his way, his exalted king will deliver his […]
In this sermon on the death of King Saul and his sons, pastor Joel reminds us that we need a faithful king who will honor the Lord in life and death. And unlike the “good news” of Saul’s death, proclaimed by the Philistines, the good news of Jesus Christ that we proclaim is that the […]
In this sermon, pastor Matt reminds of our blessed assurance: that God’s king has won the battle that we might get the blessing. David shows us the kind of king that we need, one who is merciful and mighty, who takes the lead in faithfulness and generosity, who works salvation and reigns in grace.
Here at the end of 1 Samuel, the Philistines were once again gathering for war against Israel. In chapter 28 we learned that Yahweh would give Israel into their hands and that king Saul would die. Now, we knew this day was coming for Saul sooner or later. But there was another problem: David had […]
In this sermon, as we consider Saul’s climactic fall with the medium at En-dor, pastor Mitch reminds us that the most miserable and hopeless life is the one spent apart from God’s all-sufficient word. As Christians, we must heed the warnings of this passage, see the dangers and consequences of Saul’s misguided desperation, and fix […]
1 Samuel 27 sets up the final section of the book, where the reign of king Saul comes to an abysmal end. But the story here about David and the Philistines seems rather odd. It can be a difficult chapter to interpret, understand, and apply. But one thing is abundantly clear here (and in the […]
