HERE I RAISE MY EBENEZER! Samuel called the Israelites to Mizpah for an assembly of repentance and recommitment, but the Philistines heard about their gathering and attacked. God fought for Israel and they overcame the Philistines for the first time in a generation. There, Samuel set up a large stone to remind them of Gods

WHOSE APPROVAL DO YOU SEEK? Jesus contrasted His motives with that of the Jewish leaders who questioned His authority. He boldly told them that their approval meant nothing to Him (v.41). For He only sought the approval of His Father in whose name He had come. However, He accused them of only caring for the

HANNAH, A GODLY EXAMPLE OF MOTHERHOOD Hannah was barren. At her familys annual visit to the Tabernacle at Shiloh to worship and bring offerings, she was so stricken with grief that she could only mouth the words to her prayers. Her lips moved, but no sound came forth. She cried out from her heart that

THE FAMOUS ONE IS JESUS The little book of Ruth illustrates the use of the Levitical law (found in Lev. 25) which provided for a woman who had no male heir to retain her familys property. This provision in the law called for a close family member to become a gaal (גָּאַל), which is Hebrew

GO AND TELL THEM TO COME AND SEE The Samaritan woman that Jesus met at Jacobs well was ready to share Jesus with others after only one encounter. Jesus had given her the clearest statement concerning His identity that He had given anyone, simply saying, “I am He. The woman ran back to her village,

STOP TRYING TO MAKE YOURSELF FAMOUS When John the Baptists followers worried that more people were going to follow Jesus than their leader, John rebuked them. He recognized that God determined spiritual results. And he also understood that his ministry was to prepare the way for Christs ministry. As John said, He must increase, but

WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS MATTERS All of Adams children are condemned already because of sin and because of sins wage, which is death. Every member of the human race is born under the curse of sin. It was this curse, this condemnation that Jesus took upon His own body, so that the judgment that

HAVE YOU ATTEMPTED TO MOVE WITHOUT GOD? Samson took Gods presence and power for granted, but when Delilah shaved off his seven locks, the power of the LORD left him. Samson didnt even notice, until it was too late.   We shouldnt wonder at Samsons shortcomings. We can be just like him. When we step

JESUS NEVER DISAPPOINTS As one preacher described it, Samson was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. As chapter thirteen concludes, we have great hope in Samsons future. Announced by an angel, the only child of faithful and doting parents, and blessed by God, the writer of the Book of Judges has more to

THE WORD THAT WALKED John began his gospel as Moses began the Torah, with the words, In the beginning… This signaled the lofty aspect of Johns gospel that clearly proclaimed Jesus as Gods Son. Using the Greek λόγος (logos word), John proclaimed Jesus as not only equal to God in every way (essence, preexistence,