Author Archives: Plymothian

Each of us should have a Spiritual Director according to Albert Haase and others who write abour Spiritual Formation.  Saul had Samuel.  When Saul became king, Samuel annointed him.  Samuel gave him directions on how he should rule.  Samuel told … Continue reading →

How does your behaviour change when you are under pressure?  Do you turn to faith or do you try and control the situation yourself?  Is God the last resort or the first person you turn to?  For Saul, in the … Continue reading →

When Samuel officially said ‘Good bye’ and transitioned the leadership from himself to Saul he laid out a gracious plan.  If you see how he started his speech, the people were told how faithful God had been and were encouraged to realise … Continue reading →

The Holy Spirit comes upon Saul in a way that is quite similar to the way that the Spirit of God descends upon the judges in the book of Judges.  There is a war that Israelites face and they need … Continue reading →

In the NIV Application Commentary, Arnold says: We should take from this passage (1 Samuel 10) the means by which God leads his people.  The anointing of Saul is parallel to another passage familiar to Christians because of its use … Continue reading →

I have ben struggling with the idea that God may ‘love’ but not ‘like’ people.  I have frequently been around people who have excused their cold-hearted behavior to others with the excuse, “I have to love them, but that doesn’t … Continue reading →

Israel asked for a king and it was wrong.  That should seem strange on two accounts – first God allows them to have a king.  Secondly, God outlines in Deuteronomy (written years before) the qualities that a king should have.  … Continue reading →

The Ebenezer is The Stone of Help.  It is a stone erected to remind people of a time when God has helped them.  In class one of my students asked how we could be constantly reminded that we are in … Continue reading →

The people of Israel endured terrible consequences for their religious complacency at the beginning of 1 Samuel.  Many of them died in battle and more died when they took the ark of the covenant as a common object.  Finally the … Continue reading →

Arnold writes: The Philistines were not unlike other nations of the ancient Near East, for whom polytheism was a fundamental assumption that lay at the heart of their worldview.  Though some people only served one god or a few gods … Continue reading →