The story of David's victory over the giant Goliath is well known to every Sunday school student. What is not so widely known is that, in addition to his spiritual advantage, David also had the tactical advantage.

In describing the stone tablets delivered by Moses as a ministry of condemnation, Paul is not speaking of their content but rather of the medium. God's word was and is intended to be written on hearts of flesh. Having those words engraved in stone is a metaphor for hearts of stone.

When God encountered Moses at the burning bush, He told him that he was to return to Egypt and free the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. Moses, not wanting to go, responded with two questions: "Who am I?" and then "Who are you?" Each of those questions has multiple possible meanings and both are still relevant for the believer today.

When Saul was sent by God to exterminate the Amalekites. While he defeated them in battle, he took their king as prisoner and the best of their livestock and goods as plunder. He further raised a monument to himself at Carmel. When confronted by Samuel, he deflected the blame to his troops. This disobedience and lack of character caused God to reject Saul as king and choose David as his replacement.

It appears that someone had come to Corinth after Paul had left and called his apostleship into question. This first part of the letter addresses Paul's afflictions during the course of his ministry and the fact that he was comforted by God and sustained by the prayers of believers within the churches he had planted.

Joseph weeps seven times. In every case his tears are in response to his relationship with his family. Even though he has available all of the power and resources of Egypt, he cannot make his brothers accept him. Similarly, God has all of the power and resources in the universe, yet He does not coerce us into having a relationship with Him. This Biblical concept is the origin of the American belief that government requires the consent of the governed. Inspired by Rabbi Sacks.

This section begins with Jonathan destroying a Philistine garrison in the Saddle of Benjamin. That action caused the Philistines to send a large punitive expedition into central Israel. All Israel was clearly intimidated. In a second move Jonathan again destroyed a Philistine garrison which sowed confusion among the Philistines. Saul took advantage of that confusion to attack. In his zeal, he ordered that none of his army should eat until the battle was over. This was both rash and foolish because his men became exhausted and were unable to fully exploit their victory.

Paul addresses the importance and nature of the resurrection. Although he had preached about the resurrection when he planted the church in Corinth, someone had subsequently cast doubt on the entire concept. In chapter 15, Paul affirms the fact that there were hundreds of witnesses to Christ's resurrection. He then explained why that was important. Finally, he discussed the nature of the resurrection body that believers were to receive.

When Joseph finally has all eleven of his brothers kneeling before him, he has a choice to make. He can move them to Goshen without acknowledging his identity or he can forgive them. His choice to forgive is made possible because he was able to reframe being sold into slavery as being part of God's larger plan. In so doing, he freed himself from bitterness and resentment.

Although neither God nor Samuel was pleased with Israel's request for a king, in choosing Saul God gave the project its best chance of success. Saul was from the buffer tribe of Benjamin; he was tall, handsome and brave; he was modest in that he didn't want the job.