Psalms 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 24, 2019 “LOWER THAN A SNAKE’S BELLY” These psalms repeatedly take us from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat, sometimes in the same psalm, as is the case in Psalm 44. The song begins with “O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days…Keep Reading

1 Chronicles 1-2 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 23, 2019 “GOD HAS NO GRANDCHILDREN” “Name after unpronounceable name” might have been your reaction if you read all 109 verses of today’s reading. These genealogies don’t mean much to us, except when we stumble across the name of one of the heroes of faith. These genealogies meant a lot to the Jews for at least two reasons. First, they needed to confirm…Keep Reading

Psalms 6, 8-10, 14, 16,19, 21 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 22, 2019 “WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH” The eight psalms in today’s reading may be divided according to theme, with five on one side of Psalm 16 and two on the other. The first five revolve around pain and suffering: David is greatly troubled (6:3). David wonders why God even takes note of man (8:4). He implores God to look…Keep Reading

2 Samuel 1-4 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 21, 2019 “HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN” The news came to David that Saul and Jonathan had died in a battle against the Philistines and he composed an elegy lamenting their death (2 Samuel 1:17-27). Saul, of course, had made himself David’s enemy, while his son Jonathan was David’s best friend. However, David did not lament only Jonathan’s death, but that of Saul…Keep Reading

Psalms 121, 123-125, 128-130 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 20, 2019 “SING ON O JOYFUL PILGRIMS” Psalms 120-134 are called Songs of Ascents and are often referred to as pilgrim songs. Ten of them are anonymous, but four are attributed to David (122, 124, 131, 133). They were selected as a hymnal to be used by the worshipers as they journeyed to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts—Passover in the spring,…Keep Reading

1 Samuel 28-31; Psalm 18 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 19, 2019 “SOME GAVE ALL – ALL GAVE SOME” After the resurrection, Jesus was giving the disciples last-minute instructions before his departure. He told Peter that he would be martyred (John 21:18-19). Peter asked, “Lord, what about this man?” meaning John. Jesus replied, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow…Keep Reading

Psalms 17, 35, 54, 64 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 18, 2019 “BE CAREFUL OUT THERE”

1 Samuel 25-27 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 17, 2019 “THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MAN” David and his men had provided protection for Nabal, a wealthy owner three thousand sheep and goats. David sent a message to Nabal requesting a few animals with which they could celebrate an upcoming feast day. When David heard of Nabal’s refusal and railing against him as a rogue servant, he and 400 of his men…Keep Reading

Psalm 56, 120, 140-142 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 16, 2019 “THE WATCHWORD IS ‘BEWARE’” “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” Each week, these words introduced the “Shadow,” a radio series about a mysterious crime-fighting hero. David had gained a good insight into the evil that lurks in the hearts of men because he had been on the receiving end of much of that…Keep Reading

Psalm 7, 27, 31, 34, 52 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 15, 2019 “FIGHTINGS WITHOUT AND FEARS WITHIN” First Samuel gives a history of David’s life as it was intertwined with that of Saul. The psalms in today’s readings give us a look into David’s faith and fears during those times. We will look atPsalm 27 as representative of the others, as space does not permit an exhaustive study of each…Keep Reading

1 Samuel 21-24 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 14, 2019 “LETTING GOD SETTLE ACCOUNTS” The dye is cast; God has chosen a man after his own heart to succeed the Saul. David was willing to patiently wait for God’s plan to take its course, but Saul was not. The battle between Saul and David took on Robin-Hood-like qualities, as David and his men seem always one step ahead of Saul. Anyone…Keep Reading

1 Samuel 18-20; Psalm 11, 59 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 13, 2019 “WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH, REMEMBER WHO IS ON OUR SIDE” Saul was his own worst enemy. His paranoid jealousy of David whom he tried to kill several times comes to a head in his hurling his spear at his own son, Jonathan, after vilely casting reproach upon the legitimacy of his birth. I have chosen the New Living…Keep Reading