2 Samuel 15-17:14 (New King James Version)

Good morning,

Well, I did the supreme no-no in cameraland the day after taking pictures of Mr and Mrs Mallard.  The day after those photos were taken, I was getting ready and looked inside (no NOOOOOOOOOO) the camera to see if the little picture card was there.  Supreme no NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  It was there, and, like in the old days of opening a camera with the film inside, the same thing happens to the little picture card.  Over to ebay.com to see if I can get a reasonably priced one.  Man, sometimes the stupid pills jump out of the bottle, huh.

Absalom’s Treason

David's kids.  Amnon rapes Tamar, Absalom is responsible for having him killed, now Absalom begins to usurp David's kingdom.  When we start to do what is right in our own eyes instead of keeping our eyes on God, leaves the door wide open for the wiles of the devil to help us on that very wide path to destruction.

David Escapes from Jerusalem

Mephibosheth’s Servant

Shimei Curses David

The Advice of Ahithophel

The Advice of Hushai

2 Samuel 12:26-31; 1 Chronicles 20:2-3; 2 Samuel 13-14:33 (New King James Version)

Good morning Jesus,
With all my heart, mind, soul, spirit, and strength, I choose to serve You.  May my words be seasoned with salt, and not tabasco.  Thank You, Jesus, for loving me, and saving me.

Rabbah Is Captured

Amnon and Tamar

Amnon lusted after Tamar and violated her virginity, then cast her out.  Absalom brought her to his house and hated Amnon.

Absalom Murders Amnon

Absalom Flees to Geshur

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

David Forgives Absalom

I don't understand much David's treatment of Absalom. 

Awake early, in prayer.

2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Chronicles 17:1-15; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Chronicles 17:16-27; 2 Samuel 8:1-14; 1 Chronicles 18:1-13; Psalm 60 (New King James Version)

Good morning,

Today I am up early, started at 2:15 am, stayed up because I am awake, alert, and the song written and sung by Nicole C. Mullen "Redeemer" is going through my mind, especially where she is singing "He lives, He lives, I spoke with Him this morning early."  Oh, hallelujah!  Usually when this happens, there is a desperate need for prayer, so I cry out to God in intercession now, in Jesus' name for that need, whoever and wherever it is, for protection, inspiration, salvation, wisdom, healing.....

God’s Covenant with David

David seeks to build a house for God because he lives in a house and the Ark of God dwells in a tent.  Nathan the prophet tells him to go ahead, that God is with him.  Then God comes to Nathan and tells him that David's seed will build the house for God, and the kingdom will always be with David's lineage, not taken from him like it was taken from Saul.

David’s Thanksgiving to God

1 Chr 17:¹⁶ Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: “Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

I pray that be my prayer forever.  God has done soooooo much in my life. 

My prayer is that I never forget from where I came, and what God has done for me.

And, I pray for Naomi Rice, a miracle of a uterus.  God, You are a miracle working God.  There is nothing you can't do, Oh Lord, my eyes are on You.

David’s Further Conquests

Psalm 60

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Lily of the Testimony.”^[a] A Michtam of David. For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

"Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless"  (WOW)

"Through our God we shall do valiantly, it is He who treads down our enemy"

2 Samuel 8:15-18; 1 Chronicles 18:14-17; 1 Chronicles 6:16-30; 1 Chronicles 6:50-53; 1 Chronicles 6:31-48; 2 Samuel 9-10:19; 1 Chronicles 19:1-19 (New King James Version)

David’s Administration

Musicians in the House of the LORD

Hallelujah!  Gotta have music in the House of the LORD!  God inhabits the praises of His people.

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

Mephibosheth is Jonathan's son.  David restores all of Saul's (his grandfather) land and since he is lame, he has Saul's former servant, Ziba and his household, work the property and give the money to Mephibosheth.  He also has Mephibosheth eat with him and his family for the rest of his life. 

What a wonderful restroration.

The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated

A king friend of David dies and David sends some men to bring condolences from him.  The king's son thinks they are spying on them so he has his men shave their heads and cut off their garments up to their buttocks.

That nation is toast.

1 Chronicles 20:1; 2 Samuel 11-12:14; Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 12:15-25; 2 Samuel 5:14-16; 1 Chronicles 14:3-7; 1 Chronicles 3:5-9 (New King James Version)

Rabbah Is Conquered

David, Bathsheba, and Uriah

David commits adultery with Bathsheba and she becomes pregnant. He causes her husband, Uriah, to get killed in battle.  Then, after a period of mourning, Bathsheba becomes his wife.  The LORD is displeased.

Nathan’s Parable and David’s Confession

"You are the man!"

The baby conceived in adultery shall die, and the sword shall never leave David's house, meaning there will always be strife and bloodshed.

Psalm 51

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,

The Death of David’s Son

Solomon Is Born

The tomb is empty! Happy Easter Morning!

2 Samuel 6:12; 1 Chronicles 15:1-28; 2 Samuel 6:12-16; 1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6:17-19; 1 Chronicles 16:1-43; 2 Samuel 6:19-23 (New King James Version)

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

David had the Levites sanctify themselves for service to the Lord to prepare to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem.  As it was carried by the Levites there was great celebration, music and singing, and David danced with great joy before the Lord.

Michal, Saul's daughter, his wife, looked at it and despised him for doing that. 

The Ark Placed in the Tabernacle

David’s Song of Thanksgiving

"Let the heavens rejoice" is in this Psalm, also, "His love endures forever."

Regular Worship Maintained

Ooooooooooh, David goes home and Michael blasts him for worshipping God!  Not good!  She confronts him for the way he has done it, claiming he did it for people and not God.  She is barren for the rest of her life.

Be careful how you observe others.

Moving the ark of God the LORD, cactus flower

2 Samuel 5:1-3; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3; 1 Chronicles 12:23-40; 2 Samuel 5:17-25; 1 Chronicles 14:8-17; 2 Samuel 5:6-10; 1 Chronicles 11:4-9; 1 Chronicles 3:4; 2 Samuel 5:13; 2 Samuel 5:4-5; 2 Samuel 5:11-12; 1 Chronicles 14:1-2; 1 Chronicles 13:1-5; 2 Samuel 6:1-11; 1 Chronicles 13:6-14 (New King James Version)

Wow, will ya look at that reading list!  I love reading the Bible chronologically.  It gives passages that are at the same time.  I used to read the Bible and think, "I've read this before," and go on, but never really thought much more on it.  Then when I started reading it this way, walla!  I really had read it before.  God's Word is written by man, at His inspiration, and He must have thought we needed to read it more than once, otherwise, it wouldn't be in there more than once.  Yah, I know none of us never need to hear things more than once to "get it" huh.  HAHA.  We are all a bunch of dumb sheep needing a Shepherd to lead us to safety because if we get away from the flock, we are in BIG trouble.

David Reigns over All Israel

David’s Army at Hebron

The Philistines Defeated

The Conquest of Jerusalem

The City of David

David Established at Jerusalem

The Ark Brought from Kirjath Jearim

The ark which is God the LORD is being moved to Jerusalem on a cart managed by Ahio and Uzza, from the house of Abinadab.  The oxen stumble and Uzza touches the ark (God had directed that the ark never be touched).  God kills him on the spot.  They leave the ark there at Obed-Edom's house.  God blesses Obed-Edom.  I guess they figured there that the ark was always to be carried with poles and not be on a cart.

Isn't this beautiful?

Blood and Guts in this one!

2 Samuel 3:6-4:3; 2 Samuel 4:5-12 (New King James Version)

Abner Joins Forces with David

Abner was accused by Isbosheth (Saul's son that had been appointed king of Israel) of "going in" to his fathers (Saul) concubine.  It never says it is true, but Abner got mad at him so much so that he was afraid for his life.  Abner then send a messenger to David that he would align himself and the kingdom of Israel with him and David said he should come, but to bring his wife Michal (Saul's daughter) with him.  Michal had been promised to David a long time ago, but Saul had given her to another man.  When Abner takes her away, he follows crying in grief until Abner tells him to go home. 

So, David took the kingdom and his wife too. 

Joab Murders Abner

Wow, Joab kills Abner because Abner had killed his brother Asahel in a different battle.  David said that his kingdom was guiltless of this and that in Joab's house forever there would be someone that was diseased because of what he had done.

David’s Mourning for Abner

Ishbosheth Is Murdered

Ewwwww.  Two men go murder Ishbosheth and cut off his head and take it to David.  David tells them that the man who reported Saul's death thought it was a good thing and expected a reward.  His men killed him.  Why would these two men think that they had done a good thing by murdering Ishbosheth, Saul's son?  He has his young men kill these two, cut off their hands and feet, and hang them up for all to see.

Our God reigns.  Our God judges sin.  Our God is an awesome God. 

We must fight, David's Mighty Men

2 Samuel 2-3:5; 1 Chronicles 3:1-4; 2 Samuel 23:8-17; 1 Chronicles 11:10-19; 2 Samuel 23:18-39; 1 Chronicles 11:20-47 (New King James Version)

David Anointed King of Judah

Ishbosheth Made King of Israel

Israel and Judah at War

Sons of David

David’s Mighty Men     2 Samuel 23:8-17

The accounts of these men are powerful.  Oh, that we would have that much loyalty to stand and fight instead of retreating to where we think is a safe and peaceful place!

Saul and sons are slain, Mephibosheth is lame

1 Samuel 30:1-31; 1 Chronicles 12:20-22; 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 1 Chronicles 10:1-14; 1 Chronicles 9:40-44; 2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 1:1-27 (New King James Version)

David’s Conflict with the Amalekites

The Amalekites burned David's city of Ziklag while him and his men were not there.  They took everyone and their possessions and burned the city. 

David's men saw what happened and they were going to kill him because of their grief.  David strengthened himself in the Lord.

He prayed to the Lord to ask if they should pursue the Amalekites and the Lord said yes.

He had around 600 men with him and 200 were so tired they could not go beyond the Brook Besor, so they stayed to take care of what was left there.

David and his men go recover everyone and everything that had been taken from them and brought it back.  At Brook Besor, the army with David said that these men will get their families but none of the plunder from the Amalekites because they did not go with them.  David said that they would share what the Lord had delivered into their hands.   When he got home, he shared plunder with many kingdoms, so many were blessed, hallelujah.

We hear the preaching all the time that we must live by faith and the Word of God.  Thank you Jesus that Your Word inspires us when we will listen for it.

The Tragic End of Saul and His Sons

The Philistines kill Saul's sons and wound him.  He asks his armorbearer to kill him so he will not be killed at the hand of the Philistines.  His armorbearer cannot do it, so Saul falls on his sword and kills himself.  His armorbearer does the same.

The Philistines took the bodies of Saul and his sons, and David and his men got the bodies back and gave them a proper burial.

¹³ So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. ¹⁴ But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

Wow, that pretty much sums up unfaithfulness, can you say amen!

Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth.  When news broke out about Saul and Jonathan in battle, his nurse was taking him to safety and accidentally dropped him.  He was lame in both his feet.

The Report of Saul’s Death

A man shows up in David's camp saying that he is an Amalekite and he has killed Saul because he was wounded unto death when he came up on him.  David had him executed because he dared to kill someone that the LORD had anointed!

Whether or not you're lying, you stil suffer the consequences.

The Song of the Bow

David Spares Saul Again, Readiness for God

1 Samuel 26-27:7; 1 Chronicles 12:1-7; 1 Samuel 27:8-29:11; 1 Chronicles 12:19; Psalm 56 (New King James Version)

David Spares Saul a Second Time

Saul pursues David into the woods.  As the Lord causes a deep sleep on Saul's camp, David and Abishai go to Saul's side. Abishai wants to kill Saul but once again David says to not strike the Lord's anointed, so they take his water and spear from near his head.

You would think Saul would get the message to leave David alone.  Sin is always in hot pursuit if we are not serving God and it doesn't matter what the outcome, it's the conquest.  Better watch out what your conquest is.  If it isn't God's purpose for your life, it won't be good.

Pastor Brazell preached two sermons yesterday, the first was "Remember Lot's Wife" and the other one was "Remember God" because God will redeem you and help you, HALLELUJAH!

David Allied with the Philistines

  David escapes to the Philistines and Saul pursues him no more.  He asks the king for some land so he doesn't have to live in the king's arena.  He gives him Ziklag.  They live there 1 year and 4 months.

Saul Consults a Medium

Oh, ohhhhh, here he goes after the witch at En Dor!!!!!  Samuel is not happy.  He tells Saul he will be handed over to the Philistines tomorrow, that the kingdom is no longer his but David's.

The Philistines Reject David

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.”^[a] A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

"God called unto him and he said, Here am I" Exodus 3:4 - Oswald Chambers' devotional titled "Readiness"

"Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready. Think of the time we waste trying to get ready when God has called! The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the ready soul, it is ablaze with the presence of God."

1 Samuel 22:1-2; Psalm 57; Psalm 142; 1 Chronicles 12:8-18; 1 Samuel 22:3-23; Psalm 52; 1 Samuel 23:1-12 (New King James Version)

Whew, it's times like this when I am glad I have the Bible online and the reading all on one page!

David’s Four Hundred Men

–To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.”^[a] A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.

Be exalted O God, above the heavens, let your glory be over all the earth - song we sing.  I love this song!

A Contemplation^[a] of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.

David takes his parents to Moab - for their protection.

Saul Murders the Priests

To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation^[a] of David when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul, and said to him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”

David Saves the City of Keilah

David is told the men of Keilah will deliver him into the hands of Saul.

1 Samuel 23:13-29; Psalm 54; 1 Samuel 24-25:44 (New King James Version)

So David and his men leave Keilah and go into the wilderness

David in Wilderness Strongholds

Jonathan finds David and they make a covenant that David will be king of Israel and Jonathan will be his right hand man.  Jonathan goes back to his house, David stays in the wilderness.

Saul pursues David and they are playing hide and seek around the mountain until someone tells Saul that the Philistines are attacking his kingdom, so he goes home to fight them.

God delivers David, hallelujah!

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments.^[a] A Contemplation^[b] of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?”

David Spares Saul

Saul goes to do business in a cave where David and his men are.  His men want him to kill Saul, but David says he will not touch one of God's anointed. 

Death of Samuel

David and the Wife of Nabal

Nabal's wife, Abigail redeems him after he rejects David.  Nabal dies and Abigail becomes his wife, along with Ahinoam. 

Saul had told David that Michal would be his wife, and then he gives her to another.

Jonathan and David

1 Samuel 20-21:15; Psalm 34 (New King James Version)

I told you I had more.  Isn't this beautiful?  I love God's creations.

Jonathan’s Loyalty to David

David and the Holy Bread

David Flees to Gath

Psalm 34

A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

Saul's falling away as King of Israel and envy of David

1 Chronicles 9:35-39; 1 Samuel 13:1-5; 1 Samuel 13:19-23; 1 Samuel 13:6-18; 1 Samuel 14:1-52 (New King James Version)

This is a rose from the path where I work.  Isn't it beautiful?  I have more!  I went to Urgent Care yesterday.  There was a huge chunk of ear wax that was festering the infection.  Ewwwwwwwwwwww!  Anyway, it was flushed and the doctor gave me some drops to help the healing along.  Feel much better today, Praise God!  It helps to be able to get some good sleep without pain cycling through the side of your head.

The Family of King Saul

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

Saul takes it upon himself to present a sacrifice to God because he thinks Samuel isn't going to show up.  Samuel tell him that his kingdom will not reign and that the LORD will be looking for a man after His own heart to reign.

No Weapons for the Army

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

Saul’s Rash Oath

Saul’s Continuing Wars

1 Samuel 15-17:31 (New King James Version)

Saul Spares King Agag

Saul Rejected as King

Saul keeps saying to Samuel - the LORD "your" God.  What's up with that?  When we don't say that God is "my" God, it doesn't have any power in it.  There's a song - Oh God, you are my God, and I will ever praise You. 

Samuel kills Agag (some like to give him the title Agag the fag) and hacks him into little pieces.  He said, "may your mother become childless this day" - well, that pretty much says it.

Now God has totally rejected Saul because he has only done parts of what God wants him to do. 

We must be sold out to God.

Samuel mourns for the king.

David Anointed King

God asks Samuel how long is he going to mourn for King Saul........  Samuel takes a red heifer to Bethlehem for a sacrifice.  God tells him one of Jesse's sons will be anointed king of Israel.  They all pass before him and none are selected.  He asks if there are anymore sons and David is brought in from keeping the sheep.  He is anointed king - scholars say he was probably around 16 years of age.

A Distressing Spirit Troubles Saul

¹⁴ But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.   Oh God, I pray that your Spirit never departs from me.  Life without You is so hopeless and empty.

David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17:32-19:17; Psalm 59; 1 Samuel 19:18-24 (New King James Version)

Saul Resents David

David does as God wants him to do, and Saul resents this because God's Spirit has departed him.  God blesses whatever David does.

David Marries Michal

Saul gives Michal to David to be his wife, that she would be a snare to him.  Wow, that's a great father-in-law wish!  That's ok, honey, just go get him killed.  You go girl!  What jealousy and envy will do to a relationship.

Saul Persecutes David

I started this yesterday and got to here. 

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.”^[a] A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him. Psalm 59

So David flees to see Samuel.  Samuel is with a group and they are prophesying.  Saul sends messengers to bring David back and they start prophesying, and another, and another.  Then Saul goes and he starts prophesying.  Must have been a powerful prayer group! 

I don't know what they were prophesying about, it doesn't say, but God gives us powerful inspirations, so it had to be good, hallelujah!

Saul anointed king

1 Samuel 9-12:25 (New King James Version)

I have an earache today and didn't go to work.  In between the pain cycling through, I feel great.  As soon as the Alka Seltzer takes over, I'm going back to bed, but I need to read the Word of God because it is the very food and breath of my life.

Saul Chosen to Be King

He was out looking for lost donkeys and got chosen to be a king.  I think I'll go out looking for some lost donkeys, can ya say amen!

Saul Anointed King

Saul Proclaimed King

So, Samuel is letting the people know that since they have rejected God as their King, Saul will be the king that they have requested.  So, Saul has disappeared, and they find him hiding in the equipment.  Guess he wasn't up to the title yet.  Anyway, many gifts were offered.  However, there were some who didn't think he should be king so they didn't offer gifts.  Saul knew it, but he kept his peace.  Well, isn't that just like human nature! 

Saul Saves Jabesh Gilead

Samuel’s Address at Saul’s Coronation

Even though the people sinned by asking for a king, God reminds them that He will not abandon them, but that they must not turn to sin or they will reap what they sew.

Dagon gets busted!

1 Samuel 4:12-8:22 (New King James Version)

Death of Eli

Eli heard that the ark of God had been stolen and his sons were dead.  He fell off the chair he was sitting on and broke his neck because he was old and heavy.

How would things have changed had he listened to the voice of God and repented and disciplined his sons and they repented?  Our day by day decisions are a direct result of our consequences or our blessings.

Ichabod

Phineas' wife was pregnant and when she heard he was dead, she immediately went into childbirth and died.  A woman who was with her at the time of the birth named the child Ichabod and said "The glory of God has departed from Israel!"

The Philistines and the Ark

Hahahaha, this is cool! 

The first place the Philistines put the ark of God is with their god, Dagon.  The first morning they find Dagon fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD.  They set it back up, and the next day they come in and find Dagon on the ground before the ark of the LORD with its head and hands on the threshhold, only the torso remained.

Then the people were afraid because God's wrath was on them so they sent the ark to Ashdod.  God caused tumors to break out on the men.  So, it went from Ashdod to Gath to Ekron.  God kept the tumor thing going and men were dying and they wanted the ark to go back to the Israelites because it was causing so much trouble for them.

The Ark Returned to Israel

The priests and diviners of the Philistines said to return the ark with a sacrifice of five golden tumors and five golden rats and if the cows pulling the cart go to Beth Shemesh then it was God's wrath.  If the cows go a different direction, the whole thing was just a miscellaneous occurrence. 

The cows went straight to Beth Shemesh.  Isn't it "something" how all that happens.  There are no coincidences with God.

The men of Beth Shemesh offered the cows as a burnt sacrifice and looked into the ark.  God smote them for opening the ark and 50,070 men lost their lives.

The Ark at Kirjath Jearim

So the remaining men at Beth Shemesh told the men at Kirjath Jearim to come get the ark.

Samuel Judges Israel

The ark remained at Kirjath Jearim for 20 years.  The Israelites repented and were gathered in at Mizpah so the Philistines decided to head for Israel and conquer it.  Well, God had other ideas for their plans and struck a huge bolt of thunder and they got all confused and stayed that way and the Israelites drove them out and recovered all their cities.  Samuel was their judge the rest of his life, and Israel was at peace.

Israel Demands a King

Samuel appointed his two sons as judges but they were not righteous, so the Israelites wanted a king.

God told Samuel they weren't rejecting him but they were rejecting God.

God needs to be the King of our lives.  We need to serve Him because He never changes and is always righteous and will help us through our issues.  Thank You.

Cold and raining in Phoenix! What?????

Ruth 1-4:12 (English Standard Version)

Naomi Widowed

Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi

Naomi and Ruth Return

Ruth Meets Boaz

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

Boaz Redeems Ruth

What a precious story of the Lord's grace and mercy and redemption.

Ruth 4:13-22; 1 Chronicles 2:9-55; 1 Chronicles 4:1-23; 1 Samuel 1:1-8 (New King James Version)

Descendants of Boaz and Ruth

Jabez is from the tribe of Judah and is only mentioned in 3 verses in the Bible - Jabez means born in pain.

1 Chr 4:10 - And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep [me] from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

The Family of Elkanah

Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah.  Hannah was not able to have children and Peninnah was and of course she threw it in Hannah's face all the time. 

Hannah’s Vow

Elkanah tried to make up for it by showing her special favor.  Not the same, nope, nope.

1 Samuel 1:9-4:11 (New King James Version)

Hannah is praying in the temple, silently and crying.  Eli thinks she is drunk.  Anyway, she tells him she is praying.  Eli says that the God of Israel will grant her prayer. 

When she heard that, she was no longer sad, hallelujah!

Samuel Is Born and Dedicated

Hannah took him to the temple after he was weaned - I heard from a sermon or something that it would have been around the age of 5. 

She gives him to Eli on loan to serve as long as he lives.

Hannah’s Prayer

The Wicked Sons of Eli

Samuel’s Childhood Ministry

Prophecy Against Eli’s Household

God tells Eli that both of his sons, Hophni and Phineas will die in the same day because they are doing wicked things in the doorway of His house.

Samuel’s First Prophecy

The Lord tells Samuel what he is going to do to Eli and his family because he has not restrained his sons for their wickedness.  The next morning he goes in to Eli and he doesn't want to tell him what the Lord has told him, but Eli says if he doesn't, what was prophesied against Eli will come against him.

So Samuel tells Eli what is going to happen to him.  Eli says, kind of - what will happen will happen.  What the heck is that?????????  Why not get your heart right - straighten out and follow the Lord's pathway?

Anyway, Samuel is now the leader because Eli won't be, so he is building credibility through the Word of God, hallelujah.

The Ark of God Captured

The Philistines fought and conquered the Israelites.  Hophni and Phineas died that day.

Judges 16-18:31 (New King James Version)

Samson's story started in the previous reading.  I'm a little behind, so will have to go back and find it to write on it.  I do remember from past readings that he had been a judge for 20 years before he gets going with Delilah, so he wasn't a stupid young man.  It's amazing when you let a person into your life who can beguile you and you allow it.

Samson and Delilah

Samson Dies with the Philistines

Micah’s Idolatry

The Danites Adopt Micah’s Idolatry

Danites Settle in Laish

Judges 19-21:25 (New King James Version

The Levite’s Concubine

Gibeah’s Crime

Israel’s War with the Benjamites

Wives Provided for the Benjamites

In those days there was no king in Israel, everyone did what was right in his own eyes.  Do you have a King?  or do you do what is right in your own eyes??????????????

Judges 11:29-15:20 (New King James Version)

Jephthah’s Vow and Victory

Jephthah vowed to the Lord that he would offer as a burnt offering the first thing that came out of his house if He gave him victory over the Ammonites.  He had victory of 20 cities!

Jephthah’s Daughter

The first "thing" that came out of his house when he got home was his only child, his daughter.  He was very sad because he had made this vow to the Lord.  She was not sad.  She believed in the Lord.

Judges 9:22-11:28 (New King James Version)

Downfall of Abimelech

People rise up against Abimelech and he came out with his army and pursued them until they came against a strong tower where people were seeking refuge from him and a woman threw down a millstone and injured him.  He asked his armorbearer to kill him so it would not be said that a woman killed him.

This was God's way of repaying the wickedness of Abimelech.

Tola

He judged Israel for 23 years.

Jair

He judged Israel for 22 years.

Israel Oppressed Again

Once again Israel does wickedness in the eyes of the Lord, worshiping the gods of other nations.

God sold them to the Philistines.  They finally cried out to the Lord and repented.

Jephthah

The people asked him to lead an army against the Ammonites.  They wanted their land back.  He told them that it wasn't theirs.  They took issue with that.

More to come!

Gideon and God's deliverance

Judges 7-9:21 (New Living Translation)

Gideon Defeats the Midianites

Gideon had 32,000 soldiers in his army. God said that was too many for Him to get the glory, so He had Gideon tell as many that were afraid or didn't want to fight to go home.  He was left with 10,000.  God said that was still too many and to have them go to the river to drink.  Those who drank by bowing their face into the river were sent home, leaving Gideon with 300!  God said he would deliver the Midianites into his hands with 300 and that everyone would know it was God who delivered them, and not Gideon's army.

Gideon Kills Zebah and Zalmunna

Gideon’s Sacred Ephod

Abimelech Rules over Shechem

Jotham’s Parable

April Fools Day - the Athiest Holiday, Deborah and Jael, Gideon

Judges 3:31-6:40 (New Living Translation)

Shamgar Becomes Israel’s Judge

 ³¹ After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.

  Ok, you think God wasn't in that picture???????  Wow.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Deborah Becomes Israel’s Judge

Deborah was also a prophet and she told Barak that he was going to war and that God would deliver the army of Sisera into his hand.  He said he wouldn't go without her.  She said she would go but there would be no glory in it for him, that the victory would go to a woman.

God throws the army of Sisera into a frenzy of terror and he escapes to the tent of Jael, an ancestor of Moses.  She comforts him with some milk and he goes to sleep.  Then she puts a tent peg through his head!  Then when Barak comes hunting for him, she shows him where the body is.

The Song of Deborah

Gideon Becomes Israel’s Judge

Gideon Asks for a Sign

It was the piece of wool sign, I love this!  God, if that's really you, let the wool be dry and dew on the ground.  The next morning, the wool is dry and there is dew on the ground.  Oh Lord, if that's really you, and I believe it is, in the morning, let the wool be wet and the ground dry.  The next morning, he wrings the wool out, and the ground is dry.

My prayer is, Lord, that I love You with all my heart, mind, and soul, always.

Oh yah, the athiest holiday - you are a fool if you don't believe in God, your creator, your real Father.  If you don't believe me, read Psalm 139.