Kingdoms of Dust - 1 Samuel 18:6-15When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.  This was their song:  “Saul has killed his thousands,and David his ten thousands!”This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit Dav...  Read More

Kingdoms of Compromise  - 1 Samuel 13:5-11The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns.  Some of ...  Read More

Kingdoms of Celebrity - 1 Samuel 9:1-2; 10:24 There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the LORD has chosen as y...  Read More

Rejecting the King of Kings - 1 Samuel 8:4-9Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the LORD for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the LORD replied, “for they are ...  Read More

The Kingdoms of Man - 1 Samuel 8:4-5, 9-18 … all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”… the LORD replied… Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”So Samuel passed on the LORD’s warning to the p...  Read More

1 Samuel 8:19-20“We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”Every sibling remembers wanting what their brother or sister had. It was a Christmas gift, a bigger piece of cake, the front seat in the car, or a pair of shoes. Honestly, it might not have been any better than what you already had. But they had...  Read More