The purpose of 1 Samuel is to
record the life of Samuel, Israel’s
last judge; the decline of Saul
the first king; and the preparation
of David, Israel’s greatest king.
And that of 2 Samuel is to depict
David as an ideal leader of an
imperfect Kingdom and to fore-
shadow Christ who will be the
ideal leader of a perfect kingdom.
This week we understand God
better thru His revelation of Himself
of various names, mostly related to
His ability to meet needs of people.
On Monday, we learn from 1Sam 7
that God Is Our Mighty Helper.
On Tuesday, we learn from
1 Samuel 10 the Spirit of God.
On Wednesday we learn from
1 Sam 17 about the Lord of Hosts.
On Thursday, we learn from
2 Sam 22 God of My Strength.
On Friday, we learn from
2 Sam 22 about God My Rock.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.
Samuel 21-24 covers six topics
though out of strict chronological
order, form an appendix to the
main body of the historical book:
(1) a famine sent in judgment for
Saul’s treatment of the Gibeonites;
(2) a series of wars with Philistines;
(3) a psalm of deliverance & praise;
(4) a list of David’s mighty men
of value; (5) a sinful sensus; and
(6) the punishment that followed.
The closing paragraph of the
book portrays David in his natural
pose: worshiping God in humility.
All Praise be to El Sali:
The Lord lives! Blessed be
my Rock; Let God be exalted,
The Rock (El Sali) of my salvation!
It is God who avenges me…
He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above
those who rise against me;
You have delivered me…
Therefore, I will give thanks
to You, O Lord among the
Gentiles and sing praises to
Your name (2 Sam 22:47-50).
Lord El Sali, we bless Your name
for You reign over all. Upon the
strength of who You are, we find
a firm foundation to build our life.
Thank You for Your power and
strength which is available to us.
Thank You for providing stability
in this fallen and unstable world.
Thank You for being our rock,
the God of our salvation. Amen.
Lord El Sali, I enter each day
with the intention to trust
in You as Your names remind
me of Your great power.
Yet when the winds blow
and the waves rise, I may
just forget to look at You.
Forgive me each time I have
not sought refuge in You.
In Jesus’ gracious name, Amen.
Lord El Sali, as my rock and
my salvation, be my stability
when things are not stable.
Whisper to me in those times
when I’m unable to see You there.
Help me focus on Your eternal
throne and never-ending kingdom
for they are unshakable because
You are El Sali, my solid rock.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Samuel 21-24 covers six topics
though out of strict chronological
order, form an appendix to the
main body of the historical book:
(1) a famine sent in judgment for
Saul’s treatment of the Gibeonites;
(2) a series of wars with Philistines;
(3) a psalm of deliverance & praise;
(4) a list of David’s mighty men
of value; (5) a sinful sensus; and
(6) the punishment that followed.
The closing paragraph of the
book portrays David in his natural
pose: worshiping God in humility.
Praise be to Elohei Ma’uzzi:
For who is God except the Lord?
And who is a rock except our God?
God (Elohei) is my strong (Ma’uzzi)
fortress; and He sets the blameless
in His way. He makes my feet
like the feet of deer, and sets me
on high places… You have given
me the shield of Your salvation;
Your gentleness has made me
great (2 Samuel 22:32-34, 36).
Lord, You are my strong fortress
and You’re the God of my strength.
In You are all power and might.
In You I find all that I need; and
In You I can find my strength.
Elohei Ma’uzzi, You are worthy
to be held in the highest esteem.
And I praise and thank You for
being strong and for being strong
for Your people. In Jesus’ name.
Lord Elohei Na’uzzi, forgive me
for doubting Your strength
and failing to access it in my
own life on a regular basis.
As a child of the almighty king,
I have access to Your strength,
and yet I often try to walk in my
own limited power. You must
have wonder why I don’t rely
on Your strength. Forgive me
for neglecting such a gift. Amen
Lord Elohei Ma’uzzi, gird me with
Your great strength; make my
heart strong and my mind wise.
Strengthen my hands to do all
You have assigned me to do.
Strengthen my mind to think
big because I serve a big God.
Strengthen my resolve when
life seems unfair or a struggle.
Elohei Ma’uzzi be my strength. Amen
The rejection of a king after the
people’s heart (Saul) sets the
stage for the choice of a king
after God’s own heart (David).
A young shepherd with a disposition
more suited to pasture than palace,
David possesses few claims to fame.
He is a good marksman with a sling,
an excellent lyre player and the
youngest of eight sons from an
insignificant family in Bethlehem.
But his heart attitude is one of
undivided devotion – a quality readily
visible in the way David dispatches
the Philistine giant Goliath.
Praise be to Jehovah Tsaba:
David said to the Philistine:
You come to me with a sword,
a spear and a javelin, but I come
to you in the name of the Lord
of Hosts (Jehovah Tsaba),
whom you have taunted. This day
the Lord will deliver you into my
hand, and I will strike you and
take your head from you… that all
the earth may know that there is a
God in Israel. Then all this assembly
shall know that the Lord does not
save with sword and spear; for the
battle is the Lord’s and He will give
you into our hands(1Sam 17:45-47)
Jehovah Tsaba, Your name
alone was able to give David the
confidence to approach a trained
warrior twice his size. You have
the power to defeat the greatest
opponent as you’re Lord of Hosts.
Thank You for the power of Your
name, which gives us courage
to stand in the face of what
will normally frighten us. Amen
Jehovah Tsaba, it is so easy to be
frightened by the size of enemy;
just as the Israelite soldiers refused
to go out and face the Philistine.
Lord, I admit sometimes for
shrinking back from opposition
that seems to loom large over me.
Forgive my cowardice in the face
of trouble, for it is an affront to
Your sovereign power. Amen.
Jehovah Tsaba, just as You taught
David to trust You when he killed
the bear and the lion, prepare me
for the battles I will one day face.
When I reach those battles, remind
me that I have already overcome
in other situations and that as You
were with me then, You’ll be with me.
Give me Lord the courage of David,
for in that power,we can overcome
anything in Jesus’ name. Amen.
From all outward appearances,
Saul’s selection as the first king
of Israel is an outstanding choice.
His kingly demeanour & imposing
presence make him a promising
candidate from a human perspective.
But while man looks on the outward
appearance, the Lord looks on the
heart. Saul is anointed by Samuel,
installed as king at Mizpah, proven
in battle against the Ammonites
and confirmed as king at Gilgal.
But the fact remains (as pointed
out by Samuel in his final address
to the nation) that God not Saul
should be king over Israel.
Praise be to the Spirit of God:
Then Samuel took a flask of olive
oil and poured it over Saul’s head.
He kissed Saul on the cheek and
said: I am doing this because
the Lord has appointed you to be
the leader of His people Israel…
When you arrive at Gibeah of God,
where the garrison of Philistines
is located, you will meet a band
of prophets… and they will be
prophesying. At that time the
Spirit of the Lord will come upon
you with power, and you will
prophesy with them. You will be
changed into a different person…
When they came to the hill there,
behold a group of prophets
met Saul; and the Spirit of God
(Ruach Elohim) came upon him
mightily, so that he prophesied
among them (1 Sam 10:1, 5-6, 10)
Lord Ruach Elohim, in You we
put our hope and trust for You
are the Spirit of the living God. Because of You we can experience
the fullness of God in our lives.
Thank You for imparting the
wisdom of Your Word in our heart
and as You direct our thoughts.
Help us pray with words we don’t
even know we need to pray. Amen
Lord Ruach Elohim, forgive me
for the sins I harbour in my heart.
Forgive me for envy and becoming
ungrateful for all You’ve done for me.
Forgive me Lord when I am jealous,
comparing Your path for me with
the favour You have given to others.
Grant me the strength and help
to keep me from mortal sins in
the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord Ruach Elohim, I ask You to be
ever present in my spirit; and may
Your Holy Spirit dominate my own.
I don’t want to wrestle with fear
or doubt. Instead I want the trust
and rest that come from Your
presence to be evident in my life.
I seek You and Your closeness;
for I need Your presence in all I do.
And help me to know You and love
You as I ought to. In Jesus’ name.
When faith in God wavers, faith
in man-made objects increases.
The people of Israel carry the
ark of the covenant into battle,
confident that its presence will
ensure victory over the Philistines.
Instead they suffer a shattering
defeat in which 30,000 lives were
lost the ark of covenant captured. Upon hearing the news prophet
Eli falls back and breaks his neck.
It remains for Samuel to assume
the reins of leadership and guide
the people back to repentance.
Lord, You Are Our Mighty Helper:
(Samuel) pleaded with the Lord
to help Israel & the Lord answered.
Just as Samuel was sacrificing
the burnt offering, the Philistines
arrived for battle. But the Lord
spoke with a mighty voice of
thunder from heaven, and the
Philistines were thrown into
such confusion that the Israelites
defeated them (1 Sam 7:9-10).
Then Samuel took a stone and
set it up between Mizpah & Shen,
and called its name Ebenezer,
saying: Thus far the Lord has
helped us. So the Philistines
were subdued, and they did not
come anymore into the territory
of Israel. And the hand of the Lord
was against the Philistines all
the days of Samuel (v12-13).
Lord, You tell us to pray and give
us Your Word to guide our prayers.
And when Your people pray, You
show up. That’s why at the site
of the Israelite victory, Samuel in
thanksgiving erected a monument
with the name Ebenezer, meaning
the stone of help. It reminds us
to ask God for the help we need
each day and also not to forget to
thank You for the answers. Amen.
Lord, I praise You because You
are a God who hears and answers.
Just as You answered and moved
on behalf of Israel as they battled
their enemies, You move and work
these days on behalf of Your people.
Thank You for calling all of Your
people – young and old, to pray
and seek Your help in these days.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Lord, Thou fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing Thy grace.
Streams of mercy never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wondering from the fold of God.
He, to rescue me from danger,
interposed His precious blood…
Lord, I raise my Ebenezer;
hither by Thy help I come.
Let Thy goodness like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander Lord I feel it;
prone to leave the God I love.
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above. Amen.
Gideon, Israel’s fifth judge, receives
God’s call while hiding in a winepress.
Midian’s oppression is indeed severe
and Gideon is God’s man to lead
the people in throwing off that
yoke of bondage – an assignment
Gideon is not keen to accept!
But once convinced of his calling
thru two miraculous signs, Gideon
leads a humble army of 300 men,
equipped only with pitches, touches
and trumpets, in a stunning victory
against the mighty Midianite forces!
Israel’s unconventional weapons and
unusual battle plan leave no room
for doubt: The victory is the Lord’s!
Praise be to Jehovah Shalom:
Then the angel of the Lord touched
the meat and bread with the staff
in his hand, and fire flamed up from
the rock and consumed all he had
brought . When Gideon realized that
it was the angel of the Lord, he cried
out: Sovereign Lord, I have seen
the angel of the Lord face to face!
Then the Lord said to him:
Peace be with you; do not fear;
you shall not die. So, Gideon
built an altar there to the Lord
and named it The Lord Is Peace
Jehovah Shalom (Jdgs 6:21-24)
Lord Jehovah Shalom, in You
is fullness of peace and You
bring us peace in Your name.
For You still the storm within us
when we call on Your name. And
You bring peace to our heart & soul
when we abide in Your presence.
Thank You for making Your peace
available to us. And Thank You for
You Are My Peace and hope. Amen.
Lord Jehovah Shalom, peace escapes
many of us; and it also escapes
me more often than it should.
I realize that with faith comes
peace; with trust comes peace;
and with rest comes peace.
Forgive me for lacking in all three
and give me the grace of Your peace
so that I can truly live abundant life.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Lord Jehovah Shalom, I speak
shalom into my body and health.
I speak shalom into my mind,
my thoughts and my heart.
Let there be shalom in my plans,
in my future and in my relationships.
Lord, reveal to me the choices
I need to make to enter into an
even greater level of Your Peace.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Christ’s claim draw the attention
of more than the hungry and sick.
The religious leaders concerned
about maintaining the status quo,
respond with angry resistance.
But how do you refute a Man who
preaches that He is the Light of
the World, then proves it by giving
sight to the blind? … who claims
He is the resurrection and the life,
then validates that claim by raising
a man from the dead. The choice
is clear: Either believe Him or seek
to silence Him once and for all.
Dear Lord, we learn from Jn 9-12
that the message that You Jesus
are the Son of God received mixed
reaction. Some worshiped You,
some shrank back while some
moved to silence You. Although
times have changed, people’s
hearts remain generally hard.
Grant Lord that our response to
Your Word be appropriate and
that is to obey and worship You.
Help us to Hear and Follow You;
help us to Pray In Faith; and
help us to Live for Your Glory. Amen
Lord, help us Hear & Follow You:
A Shepherd enters thru the gate…
and the sheep hear his voice and
come to him. He calls his own
sheep by name and leads them out.
After he has gathered His own
flock, he walks ahead of them,
and they Follow him because they
recognise his voice (John 10:2-4)
Lord Jesus, thank You for being
the good shepherd and making
me one of Your sheep. What
a privilege to belong to You!
Thank You for providing for me,
guiding me and protecting me.
You call me by name & speak to me.
With all the voices around, quieten
my heart, so that I will recognise
Your voice & follow only You. Amen
Lord, Help us to Pray In Faith:
Jesus said to Martha: If you would
believe you would see the glory
of God. Then Jesus looked up
and said: Father, I thank You that
U have heard me. I knew that You always hear me, but I said this for
the benefit of the people standing
here, that they may believe
that You sent me (Jn 11:41-42).
Father God, I thank You that I am
Your child and I can trust that
You always hear my prayers.
Help me to maintain ongoing
communication with You, just
like Jesus did, so that I may have
an abiding walk with You and You
will be glorified in my life. Amen.
Lord, help us Live for Your Glory:
Jesus said: All those who want to
be my disciples must come and
follow me, because my servants
must be where I am. And if they
follow me, the Father will honour
them. Now my soul is deeply
troubled. Should I pray: Father,
save me from what lies ahead?
But that is the very reason why
I came! Father, bring glory to
Your name (John 12:26-28).
Lord, may Your name be glorified
in every situation we go through.
Keep our mind and heart focused
on Jesus’ example and committed
to what You want to accomplish
in our lives. Holy Spirit, give us
the grace to live wholeheartedly
for the glory of God’s name. Amen.
Early in His ministry, Christ issues
a challenge: Search the Scriptures,
for in them…they testify of Me (5:39)
Now His public declarations and
miraculous demonstrations serve
to confirm what the OT said would
be true of Him. Using the Jewish
feast days as public forums, Jesus
declares Himself to be the Bread
of Life (6:35), the Sent One of God
(7:28), the Forgiver of Sins (8:11)
and the Light of the World (8:12).
Dear Lord Jesus, we learnt from
Jn 6-8 Your claims as the bread
of life, the water of life & the light
of the world, pointing to Your deity.
Grateful that You are not only our
Saviour but also meet our needs.
Help us constantly Come to You
for You are the Bread of Life;
for You are the Source of Joy; and
for You are the Light of Life.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Lord, You are the Bread of Life:
They said to Him: Lord give us
this bread always. Jesus replied:
I am the Bread of Life. No one
who comes to me will ever be
hungry again. Those who believe
in Me will never thirst (Jn 6:34-35)
Lord Jesus, You are Bread of Life.
You alone can truly satisfy the
hunger of the soul. Forgive me for
seeking after things that will not
satisfy or fulfil deep longings.
Forgive me Lord for focusing on
what You can do for me materially
instead of seeking the rich and
true life that comes from You.
Cause me to hunger and thirst
for You Lord and Your life. Amen.
Lord, You are the Source of Joy:
On the last day, the climax of the
festival, Jesus stood and shouted
to the crowds: If you are thirsty,
come and drink! For the Scriptures
declare the rivers of living
water will flow out from within.
When He said living water
He was speaking of the Spirit,
who would be given to everyone
believing in Him (John 7:37-39).
Lord, we receive not only Your
great salvation but also promise
of Your Spirit poured upon us.
Jesus, You are indeed our spiritual
thirst quencher, offering not just
a one-off drink but a never-ending
spring which is able to meet our
deepest needs & greatest longings
Even as we believe in You, we
will never thirst again. And even
as Your life flow through us, let
it fill us with deepest joy. Amen.
Lord, You are the Light of Life:
Jesus said: Woman where are
those accusers of yours? Has
no one condemned you? She said:
No one Lord. And Jesus said:
Neither do I condemn you;
Go and sin no more. Then Jesus
spoke to the people again saying:
I am the Light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not
walk in darkness, but have
the light of life (John 8:10-12).
Lord, Thank You for sending
Your light in Jesus to us, for
lighting up our own dark places
& every difficult situation we face.
Grant that we will be bearers
of Your light and so bring hope
and encouragement to someone
who needs You each day. Amen.
The purpose of Judges is to show
that God’s judgment against sin is
certain and His forgiveness of sin
and restoration to relationship are
just as certain for those who repent.
And that of Ruth is to show how
3 people remained true to God even
when the society was collapsing.
This week we understand God
better thru His revelation of Himself
of various names, mostly related to
His ability to meet needs of people.
On Monday, we learn from
Jdgs 6 that the Lord Is With You.
On Tuesday, we learn from
Judges 6 that the Lord Is Peace.
On Wed we learn from Judges 11
that the Lord is the Judge.
On Thursday, we learn from
Ruth 1-2 that He is the Faithful God.
On Friday, we learn from Ruth 4
that He is the Kinsman Redeemer.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.
