Saul Reads the Bible

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 18:1-18:30
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 29:1-29:20
New Testament: John 17:1-17:26

In 1 Samuel, Saul begins scheming about how to get rid of David as a threat to him. He encourages David to go out into battle in exchange for the hand of his daughter, hoping that David would be killed at the hand of the Philistines. [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 17:32-17:58
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 28:1-28:17
New Testament: John 16:1-16:33

In 1 Samuel, David slays Goliath with a stone from a slingshot (!!). Saul is now determined to find out more about who David really is.

In Jeremiah, we read about a disagreement or rivalry between Hananiah, a prophet who has a rosy message to preach, and Jeremiah, [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 17:1-17:31
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 27:1-27:22
New Testament: John 15:1-15:27

In 1 Samuel, the Israelite and Philistine armies are locked in a stalemate, with the Philistine champion Goliath challenging some Israelite to come out and settle it one-on-one. David, who is visiting the front lines on an errand, hears this challenge and is incensed by Goliath’s arrogance [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1-16:23
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 26:1-26:24
New Testament: John 14:8-14:31

In 1 Samuel, God directs Samuel to the one he has chosen to replace Saul as king: David, the youngest son of Jesse.

Jeremiah is on trial for his life because of the harshness of his prophecy. However, the people’s ardor for vengeance seems to fade away for [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 15:1-15:35
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 25:1-25:38
New Testament: John 14:1-14:7

In 1 Samuel, Saul’s disobedience during a raid against the Amalekites leads to the promise that he will surely lose the kingship.

In Jeremiah, there will be wrath and judgment for all. Judah will suffer at the hand of Babylon, but then Babylon and indeed all the earth [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 14:1-14:52
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 24:1-24:10
New Testament: John 13:21-13:38

In 1 Samuel, Saul’s son Jonathan takes the initiative and leads a successful attack against the Philistines. However, he runs afoul of one of his father’s proclamations made in his absence.

In Jeremiah, the story has fast-forwarded, and we are told that there are two groups of exiles [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 13:1-13:23
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 23:1-23:40
New Testament: John 13:1-13:20

In 1 Samuel, Samuel is late to show up and offer a sacrifice on behalf of the Israelite army before they charge into battle with the Philistines, so Saul takes matters into his own hands. This is evidently a bad choice on Saul’s part, as Samuel tells [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 11:1-12:25
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 22:24-22:30
New Testament: John 12:37-12:50

In 1 Samuel, King Saul leads an ad-hoc army of 300,000 strong against King Nahash of the Ammonites. After the Ammonites are defeated, Samuel reminds the people that, while a king was not God’s first choice for a form of government, He would still bless the king [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 9:15-10:27
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 22:1-22:23
New Testament: John 12:20-12:36

In 1 Samuel, we read about Saul’s reaction to the amazing news that he is to be made king. We also see God’s mixed reaction: pleasure at the potential for Saul to deliver His people, but sadness that the people no longer see God as their true [...]

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 8:1-9:14
Poetry/Prophecy: Jeremiah 21:1-21:14
New Testament: John 12:1-12:19

Today in 1 Samuel, the Israelites ask for a king – even though Samuel warns them that he may be a tyrant. And we meet Saul, who is wandering around the countryside looking for his donkey.

In Jeremiah, the Babylonians are laying siege to Jerusalem, and the leaders [...]