I Samuel 17:55-19:24 Dear RTB’ers, Saul becomes deranged! In earlier chapters we saw Saul making mistake after mistake, particularly in reference to his relationship with Samuel. Now he has a new relationship, sadly adversarial, against David, the hero of the battle with Goliath. Instead of celebrating David’s victories over the Philistines, Saul becomes intensely jealous …
Category Archives: RTB 2025 – Search the Scriptures, Part 2
June 17 / I Samuel 17:1-54
I Samuel 17:1-54 Dear RTB’ers, I said yesterday that God choosing David over his seven brothers was a great Sunday School story. However, I don’t think there are any Old Testament stories that can beat today’s reading. When our son was just learning to read (well enough!) he was fidgeting badly in church one Sunday, …
June 16 / I Samuel 16
I Samuel 16 Dear RTB’ers, David anointed king, a great Sunday School story, with an oft-quoted memory verse: For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. (v. 7b) Saul brings a musician to court, not knowing that he is bringing the young man …
June 15 / I Samuel 15
I Samuel 15 Dear RTB’ers, Happy Father’s Day – to the few fathers on this list! Sorry about yesterday’s post; I was using my phone instead of my computer, with spotty signal all along our travel route. Today I’m home-based, a much better situation! Continuing with Saul (and Samuel)… Today we have Saul’s third misdeed. …
June 14 / I Samuel 14
I Samuel 14 Dear RTB’ers, Travel day, delayed post… Yes, travel, with very little signal along the way. Headed to Outer Banks, NC for some family time with our kids and grandkids. Not much to say today, the text is pretty straightforward: Saul makes a rash vow, his second major mistake. Did he not learn …
June 13 / I Samuel 13
I Samuel 13 Dear RTB’ers, It seems that a fair amount of time has passed since we first met Saul. A few chapters back he was tending his father’s livestock, even going off with a servant searching for some donkeys. Now he has a son, Jonathan, who is old enough to lead an army (vv. …
June 12 / I Samuel 12
I Samuel 12 Dear RTB’ers, Samuel spends five verses defending himself in today’s reading, then seven verses reflecting the Lord’s deliverance of His people – all of this leading up to his condemnation of the people in asking for a king. All is not lost, however: And now … behold, the LORD has set a …
June 11 / I Samuel 10:17-11:15
I Samuel 10:17-11:15 Dear RTB’ers, First, a couple of small items… Today we have the first mention of Saul being named “king”: And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen?…” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” (v. 10:24) Earlier the title had been only …
June 10 / I Samuel 9:1-10:16
I Samuel 9:1-10:16 Dear RTB’ers, Israel wanted a king and now they’ve got Saul – anointed, but not yet proclaimed. [NOTE: The word “king” does not appear until later. For now the word “prince” is used in the ESV (vv. 9:16, 10:1), with “ruler” and “leader” in the NASB.] Strangely the two translations are substantially …
June 9 / I Samuel 7:3-8:22
I Samuel 7:3-8:22 Dear RTB’ers, The ark is back, the Philistines are routed, Samuel is Israel’s judge (and prophet), and his sons are scoundrels! Sounds like a continuation of the book of Judges!! But it’s chapter 8 where we begin a really new period in Israel – the people ask for a king. The elders’ …