In today's audio, you will hear 1 Samuel 28-31 and 1 Chronicles 10.  In 1 Samuel 28-31 and 1 Chronicles 10, we read about the death of Saul. Saul committed suicide in the battle with the Philistines. Saul reigned as king for 40 years.  In the final narrative of Saul’s life. Saul desperately needs the direction of God, but God was silent. Therefore, Saul seeks God’s guidance in an unwise way.

In today's reading, you will hear Psalm 35, Psalm 54, Psalm 63, and Psalm 18.  

In this episode, day 3, you will hear 1 Samuel 25-27, Psalm 17, and Psalm 73.  

1 Samuel 25 picks up with the death of Samuel. Samuel’s death draws little notice in chapter 25 because of the unfolding drama between David and Saul. In 1 Samuel 25-27, David encounters that ill-tempered Nabal and his gracious wife, Abigail. Abigail saved her then-husband Nabal’s life when she took food to David after Nabal insulted David’s servants.

Furthermore, during this time of being on the run from Saul, David accumulated 600 followers. David always found himself being pursued by Saul, but he was always able to escape. At En-gedi, David had Saul trapped, but David refused to raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed. David shows in his resistance to raising his hand against Saul that God alone is the one who has the right to promote and demote. Vengeance belongs to God and it is His prerogative to do what He will with those who call Him Lord.

Psalm 17 is a lament Psalm. A lament Psalm is a Psalm that expresses grief before the Lord, and it asks the Lord for help. In Psalm 17, David asserts his innocence as a prerequisite to his prayer for deliverance. However, David did not claim to be sinless, nor did he deny the sinfulness of humanity. Instead, in this Psalm, David sets his heart on the Lord.

Psalm 73 is a wisdom Psalm. A wisdom Psalm is a Psalm that praises the merits of wisdom and the wise life. Psalm 73 is on the Psalm that Asaph wrote. Asaph was David’s song leader.

In this podcast, day 2, you will hear Psalm 56, 120, 140, 141, and 142.  

Psalm 56

Psalm 56 is a lament Psalm. A lament Psalm is a Psalm that expresses grief before the Lord, and it asks the Lord for help. David wrote Psalm 56 to God, asking for protection and deliverance from the Philistines. 1 Samuel 21:10-15 provides the backdrop for Psalm 56.

Psalm 120 

The actual author of Psalm 120 is not known for sure. Some scholars think that it was King David who wrote this Psalm. Psalm 120 is a lament Psalm written by and an individual who is being persecuted by enemies. A lament Psalm is a Psalm that expresses grief before the Lord, and it asks the Lord for help. The writer of Psalm 120, instead of focusing on his persecutors, the psalmist pens a prayer for protection to God. The psalmist is confident that God would protect and save him from his distress.

Psalm 140

Psalm 140 is a lament Psalm written by David. A lament Psalm is a Psalm that expresses grief before the Lord, and it asks the Lord for help. David had many enemies who wanted to do him harm. The threats that David faced drove him closer to God. David’s enemies used many tactics to try and harm him. One of their most-used tactics was slander. In Psalm 140, David appeals to God to listen and rescue him from his distress of false accusations.

Psalm 141

Psalm 141 is a lament Psalm written by David. A lament Psalm is a Psalm that expresses grief before the Lord, and it asks the Lord for help. In Psalm 141, David prays for protection against being driven to sin. David intensely prays for God to protect him from dishonesty, compromise, and foolish talk. In this Psalm, David shows that he is motivated to integrity and love for God rather than by selfishness and personal fame.

Psalm 142

Psalm 142 is a lament Psalm written by David. A lament Psalm is a Psalm that expresses grief before the Lord, and it asks the Lord for help. 1 Samuel 22:1 and 24:3 gives the context for Psalm 142. David wrote this Psalm early in his life while he was hiding in a cave from Saul.

In this new series, The Bible, I am picking up in the Old Testament when David is on the run from Saul.  You can catch up by reading 1 Samuel 21 and 22.  In today's episode, you will hear the background and the reading of Psalms 7; 27; 31; 34; 52.  I will be reading from the English Standard Version of the Bible.  

Statement 6 - “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30, ESV)  Statement 7 - “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46, ESV)

Statement 4 - "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”” (Matthew 27:46, ESV)

Statement 5 - “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”” (John 19:28, ESV)

Statement #2 - “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”” (Luke 23:43, ESV)

Statement #3 - “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (John 19:26–27, ESV)

The last seven sayings of Jesus are the recorded words of Jesus between the time he was crucified and the the time that he died.

Starting a study on the Book of Numbers...here are some thoughts on Numbers 1 and 2.