In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team), 

David is on the run. What does a running man need? Peace above all things. Because David is innocent, he navigates his time of desperation absent of bitterness, but rather with peace and wisdom.

The story reveals how God provides for David. Not one need goes unmet. David acquires what he needs physically. He acts with wisdom and integrity. He runs with peace. And now he has Goliath's sword...a bad-to-the-bone move!

Let’s dive into today’s reading!

©2023joelstrahan

In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team), 

David demonstrates how we must appropriate faith in the face of trial. He reminds us to agree with God that the nations must always be in focus. He also reminds us to sing through crisis--even if you are not a singer!

Let’s dive into today’s reading!

©2023joelstrahan

In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team), 

Saul experiences curses while David experiences blessings. We watch the truth of James 4:6 play out: 

James 4:6 (NLT)6 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Let’s dive into today’s reading!

©2023joelstrahan

In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team), 

Saul stumbles quickly. He believes his own press. He drinks his own cool-aid. He believes He is Israel's protector rather than a steward of God's provision. For this, God will establish his kingdom for only a time in order to show mercy to Israel. 

It is Saul's son, Jonathan--not Saul--who understands the role of Israel's king.

Let’s dive into today’s reading!

©2023joelstrahan

In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team), 

God tells Israel they may set a king over them...but they sin by asking for a king...yet, God appoints a king over them...but God was their king. What is going on?

It is important to make sense of today's reading using three key passages for context. I want you to see three primary truths this transition story reveals before you launch into the next several weeks of biblical contrast between Saul and David. I want you to see: 

• In the Law, God spoke future things to Israel permitting them set a king over them. 
• In the Judges Era, the people ignored God as King and failed to ask for a king. 
• In the beginning of the Kingdom Era, Israel desires a king for all the wrong reasons.

Let’s dive into today’s reading!

©2023joelstrahan

In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team), 

• When God's people struggle to recognize and submit to the authority of God's word, they are left to hope in mysticism. The absence of understanding in God's word always leads to mysticism. Mysticism always leads to idol worship. Idol worship always incurs the wrath of God. 
• Fathers are reminded by today's reading that their work among the crowds is always short-lived if their work at home fails.

Let’s dive into today’s reading!

©2023joelstrahan

In today's reading of Tyndale's OYCSB with featured content written by the CBT team:

• The prayer of an abused wife, ends the sin cycle Israel is caught in. Hannah actually begs the Lord for many children. She wants to participate in the promises God made to Israel.
• During Eli's tenure as priest before the Lord, revelation from the Lord was not widespread. Samuel, the answer to Hannah's prayer, is raised up to steward God's word for the people. None of Samuel's words fell to the ground.
• AND...the Lord's judgment on Eli and His sons cost Israel greatly. The vacuum of godly leadership resulted in a distorted view of God, His word, and the covenant. Israel has devolved into a mystical approach to get what they want from God.

Let's dive into today's reading!

In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team), 

Genealogies and more genealogies! Yet today's reading sets up the transition story from the Judges Era to the Kingdom Era. God administers the faith of an abused woman to usher in the onramp to Israel's rise to be the most powerful and wealthiest nation on the earth.

Let’s dive into today’s reading!

©2023joelstrahan

In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team), 

• Ruth's story teaches us that God administers the eras to accomplish His redemptive work by raising up stewards of His word to bring His salvation to the ends of the earth. If you were looking for a bright spot in the dark wilderness of the Judges era--you found it today!

Let’s dive into today’s reading!

©2023joelstrahan

In today’s reading of Tyndale’s OYCSB (with featured content written by the CBT team), 

• Well, there is no other way to say this: today's reading is discussing chaos. If you finished today's reading with the exclamation, "Good grief," you are not alone. In today's podcast, I simply want to provide you with a 50-thousand-foot context for today's reading. Rather than rehash the gory details of the story, let's dive into what this text reveals about what is going on underneath the surface of the story.

©2023joelstrahan