University Baptist Church-Houston

Where is the line between godly, personal responsibility and idolatrous self-sufficiency? The transition Saul begins to experience in 1 Sam. 13 might help illustrate the difference. In previous narratives, Saul is presented as patient, obedient, and...

Samuel’s speech provides one last vindication of his leadership, and one last note of disappointment in the Israelites’ request for a king. His reasoning was that, in the past, Israel’s problems had arisen because they had turned away from God, and...

Samuel’s speech provides one last vindication of his leadership, and one last note of disappointment in the Israelites’ request for a king. His reasoning was that, in the past, Israel’s problems had arisen because they had turned away from God, and...

Three episodes comprise the anointing of Saul as King of Israel, the last two of which are included in this text: a public anointing, and then a military victory that confirms Saul’s leadership. Two key events make this possible: God changes Saul’s...

Three episodes comprise the anointing of Saul as King of Israel, the last two of which are included in this text: a public anointing, and then a military victory that confirms Saul’s leadership. Two key events make this possible: God changes Saul’s...

The biblical introduction to Saul reveals, in many ways, a picture of us all. Pathways and experiences that we understand to be serving one purpose turn out to be used by God to exact a different, divine purpose. God is gradually, but intentionally...

The biblical introduction to Saul reveals, in many ways, a picture of us all. Pathways and experiences that we understand to be serving one purpose turn out to be used by God to exact a different, divine purpose. God is gradually, but intentionally...

A constant declaration found in Scripture is that God is King. In fact, he is King of kings, Ruler of all. So what does life look like for the people of God—seeking to follow the King of kings in a world where they sometimes find themselves leading...

A constant declaration found in Scripture is that God is King. In fact, he is King of kings, Ruler of all. So what does life look like for the people of God—seeking to follow the King of kings in a world where they sometimes find themselves leading...

God’s glory was gone. The Israelites had been defeated. The people had turned to idols. Samuel—the priest, the leader of the people—stepped up to address the situation. Boldly, he confronted the people with their sinfulness and urged repentance. That...