Commuter Bible

Throughout the Old Testament, we meet men of varying backgrounds who set out to obey the Lord and deliver God’s people. Time and again, God’s people rejoice and revel in their hero, but inevitably, these men fall and are shown to be sinful. There is none righteous, no not one. David is no exception, and his lust for another man’s wife begets more and more sin. Luxury and boredom turn into lust, which turns to an abuse of power, then adultery, then deception, then second-hand murder. Though he tries to hide his sin by sinning further, the Lord will not allow the sin of Israel’s king to go unpunished.

2 Samuel 9 - 1:12 . 

2 Samuel 10 - 4:06 . 

2 Samuel 11 - 9:26 . 

Psalm 79 - 15:17 . 

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

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Now that David has been recognized as king, it’s time for him to begin to establish his kingdom. David consults the Lord before he goes into battle, and prioritizes the worship of the Lord as a matter of great importance. With much fanfare, he moves the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, and worships in a very un-regal fashion. King David expresses his desire to make a house of worship for the Lord, rather than a tent. God, who has never needed a house, says that rather He will build a David’s house, establishing the kingdom of the Son of David forever.

2 Samuel 5 - 1:10 . 

2 Samuel 6 - 5:39 . 

2 Samuel 7 - 11:13 . 

2 Samuel 8 - 17:13 . 

Psalm 78 - 20:40 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

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After Saul’s death, an Amalekite man comes to David claiming that he is the one who killed Saul, thinking he will be rewarded for his deed since Saul pursued David for so long. To say that David is displeased with this report, however, is an understatement. After a period of mourning for the house of Saul, David is anointed king in Judah, but Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, has other plans. He crowns Saul’s son Ish-bosheth as king, accumulates power for himself, and fights against David’s soldiers. Eventually, Abner concedes, but not without gaining a few enemies within David’s camp.

2 Samuel 1 - 1:08 . 

2 Samuel 2 - 6:08 . 

2 Samuel 3 - 13:37 . 

2 Samuel 4 - 22:53 . 

Psalm 77 - 26:00 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

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Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi is full of love and instruction for the Lord’s church. He rejoices that the gospel is moving forward even while he is in prison, and encourages the church to endure suffering, to be united in love, and to serve one another sacrificially, looking to the King of Kings who humbled Himself even to death on a cross. Our boast is no longer in the flesh, but in the cross of Christ. Paul had much to boast about before surrendering to Christ but he says he now counts at all as loss in comparison to knowing Christ. Knowing that the Lord is near, we should be anxious for nothing, opting instead to pray and to consider the goodness of God.

Philippians 1 - 1:11 . 

Philippians 2 - 5:42 . 

Philippians 3 - 11:08 . 

Philippians 4 - 14:57 . 

Proverbs 31 - 19:01 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

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Today, Saul set his sights on David once more, bringing three thousand men with him, but David again has compassion on him. David and his men defect from Israel and escape to Philistine territory, where the king gives him the city of Ziklag. Later, as Saul faces the Philistine armies, he becomes fearful and tries to consult the Lord, but God does not respond. Being more concerned for himself than for God’s glory, Saul consults a medium, and in a totally backwards way, attempts to consult the man of God who had anointed him as Israel’s king so many years ago. In the end, the Philistines claim victory over Saul and his sons, and after being mortally wounded, Saul takes his own life.

1 Samuel 26 - 1:12 . 

1 Samuel 27 - 7:12 . 

1 Samuel 28 - 10:39 . 

1 Samuel 29 - 16:05 . 

1 Samuel 30 - 18:34 . 

1 Samuel 31 - 24:44 . 

Proverbs 30:18 - 27:19 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

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In a paranoid rage, Saul has slaughtered a city of priests and their families. One man has escaped from that raid and joined David’s ranks; his name is Abiathar and he has come with a priestly ephod in hand. At every turn, it seems that Saul is hot on David’s tail until, at long last, he unwittingly happens upon the cave where David is hiding. However, he doesn’t realize David and his men are there, and when he goes in to relieve himself, David takes advantage of the opportunity, but not in the way you might expect from someone who is being hunted down by the ruler of a kingdom.

1 Samuel 23 - 1:13 . 

1 Samuel 24 - 7:53 . 

1 Samuel 25 - 12:38 . 

Proverbs 30 - 23:48 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

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In our last episode, King Saul’s jealousy and hatred for David began to grow as David successfully conquered the Philistines in battle time after time. Saul began plotting David’s demise, but his plans to see him killed were all foiled. Today, Saul’s rage becomes clear to everyone, and David flees from the king’s presence. As he takes shelter in a distant cave, his family catches word and they join him, along with other men who seek escape from Saul’s reign. Later, Saul starts to crack under pressure and he begins to imagine that David could strike at any moment. In a rage, he puts a city of priests and their family to the sword.

1 Samuel 19 - 1:10 . 

1 Samuel 20 - 5:50 . 

1 Samuel 21 - 15:10 . 

1 Samuel 22 - 18:18 . 

Proverbs 29:15 - 24:43 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

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When the subject of a historical account like this one tells you the reason why he will be victorious before he achieves his victory, we should probably pay attention to that right? So often when someone references David & Goliath, they frame it as if it’s about a big guy versus small fry, and the underdog wins the day because of his ingenuity. Let’s just make this clear: you are not David and this account is not about facing your giants. If anything, we are the cowering Israelites who cannot face our foe; we need a champion, a savior, to step forward in the power of God and rescue us from sin and death.

1 Samuel 16 - 1:10 . 

1 Samuel 17 - 6:03 . 

1 Samuel 18 - 18:28 . 

Proverbs 29:1-14 - 24:20 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

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At the end of our last episode, Saul had just been appointed as king in Gilgal. Samuel gave him instructions to wait for him there, but when he feels like he is pressed for time he assumes that it will be best to make the burnt offering himself. Saul, however, is not a part of the priesthood, and while he is king, it doesn’t mean that he can do whatever he wishes, especially if it means going against the Lord’s statutes. As we’ll find out today, Saul’s tendency to pay little attention to God’s instructions has huge ramifications on his life and his reign as king.

1 Samuel 13 - 1:12 . 

1 Samuel 14 - 5:52 . 

1 Samuel 15 - 18:45 . 

Proverbs 28:15 - 26:10 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

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In our last episode, the nation of Israel asked an aging Samuel to appoint a king over them before his death. Samuel warned them about what a king would demand from them, but the people urged him all the more. Ultimately, the concern is not so much that they want a king, but that they were looking to have a human king as a source of strength, protection, and provision. All throughout their history, God had been their strength, their protection, and their provider, but they failed to trust in Him. As Samuel installs Saul as king in today’s reading, take note of Samuel’s longing for the good of his people and for the glory of God.

1 Samuel 9 - 1:10 . 

1 Samuel 10 - 7:27 . 

1 Samuel 11 - 13:02 . 

1 Samuel 12 - 17:15 . 

Proverbs 28 - 22:32 . 

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]