Day 22 - 50 day journey to Christ

Daily Reading:

1 Samuel 17

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

17 The Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. ² Saul and the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah; then they lined up in battle formation to face the Philistines.

³ The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them. ⁴ Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall ⁵ and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed 125 pounds. ⁶ There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze sword was slung between his shoulders. ⁷ His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed 15 pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him.

⁸ He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations: “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. ⁹ If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.” ¹⁰ Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other!” ¹¹ When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.

¹² Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons and during Saul’s reign was already an old man. ¹³ Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third, ¹⁴ and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,¹⁵ but David kept going back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock in Bethlehem.

¹⁶ Every morning and evening for 40 days the Philistine came forward and took his stand.¹⁷ One day Jesse had told his son David: “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these 10 loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. ¹⁸ Also take these 10 portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them. ¹⁹ They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.”

²⁰ So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him.

He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry. ²¹ Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other. ²² David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were. ²³ While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard. ²⁴ When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified.

²⁵ Previously, an Israelite man had declared: “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the household of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.”

²⁶ David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

²⁷ The people told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

²⁸ David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him.“Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”

²⁹ “What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.” ³⁰ Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before.

³¹ What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him.³² David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”

³³ But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”

³⁴ David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” ³⁷ Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”

³⁸ Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor. ³⁹ David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. ⁴⁰ Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.

⁴¹ The Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him.⁴² When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. ⁴³ He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!”

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel’s armies—you have defied Him. ⁴⁶ Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, ⁴⁷ and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.”

⁴⁸ When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. ⁴⁹ David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. ⁵⁰ David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Even though David had no sword, he struck down the Philistine and killed him. ⁵¹ David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword, pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they ran. ⁵² The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

⁵³ When the Israelites returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps. ⁵⁴ David took Goliath’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.

⁵⁵  When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, “Whose son is this youth, Abner?”

“My king, as surely as you live, I don’t know,” Abner replied.

⁵⁶ The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is!”

⁵⁷ When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. ⁵⁸ Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?”

“The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David answered.

Key: Bold text - Verse of the Day

Reflection:  So many times in my life I would imagine myself as David, as I mature in Christ, I realize I am not David at all.  I am a cowering Israelite, hiding behind the front lines, tired of hearing Goliaths challenge, yet too scared to do something about it.  What I have to remind myself is that Jesus has already defeated the giant, and now its time to surge forward in agression towards the sin that remains.  Vs 51 when they saw that their hero was dead, they ran.  Sin is on the run, and its time we realize that in our own lives and advance forward.  

Bonus Footage: - Facing the Giants - Death Crawl 

Discussion Topic:  Jesus dealt the final blow in the battle against satan when He surrendered His life, in exchange for ours.  How can we remind ourselves that the fight has been won and we need to engage in follow up battle against our retreating enemy.

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Prayer:  Father in Heaven, let us hear your war cry in our hearts. Not as thos who exercises our power in ourselves, but as those who know that you have defeated the enemy, and that the rest of the enemies on running and hiding when we show up, powered by the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

Acknowledgements:  Scripture - BibleGateway.com, Image - Artist Unknown, Image Website - bibleprophecyupdate.com  

50 day journey to Christ - Day 21

Daily Reading:
Psalm 23
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

A Davidic psalm.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
² He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
³ He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
⁴ Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger,
for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Key: Bold - Verse of the Day

Reflection: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I will lack.  Think about the implication of this opening sentence. The writer, King David, identifies the Lord of everything, Creator of the Universe our shepherd, and that we will have no needs.  Never be in lack.  Amazing responsibility, enourmous freedom.  

Discussion Topic:  How is the Lord your Shepherd?

Bonus Teaching:  Learn about the 7 names of God and more about his character.  


Prayer:  Father in Heaven, thank you for being my Shepherd, for your provisions, your leadership, your care and your service.  You set us up for success, teach us to keep our eyes on you.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen. 

Acknowledgements: Text - BibleGateway.com  Image Artist- Unkown, Image Website - http://www.the-covenant-kingdom.com/good-shepherd.html

50 day journey to Christ - Day 20

Daily Reading:

1 Samuel 16

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons.”

² Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”

The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate to you.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

⁵ “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before Him.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

⁸ Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. ⁹ Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” ¹⁰ After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” ¹¹ Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” ¹² So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance.

Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.” ¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and an evil spirit sent from the Lord began to torment him, ¹⁵ so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶ Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God troubles you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”

¹⁷ Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

¹⁸ One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is also a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the Lord is with him.”

¹⁹ Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” ²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul. ²¹ When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer. ²² Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” ²³ Whenever the spirit from God troubled Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Key:  Purple - Words of God, Bold - Verse of the Day

Daily Reflection:  Todays reading leads us through 2 stories.  The first story, one of a young man, annointed as the future king of Israel, the other of a the beginning of the end of the current king.  David was the youngest of the house of Jesse, a great grandson on Boaz and Ruth.  Annoited with oil, sealed with the Spirit of the Lord.  When the spirit of the Lord was with David it left King Saul and he was tourmented.  Saul sought relief from his agony, through the playings of the lyre, the stringings of the will be king David.   

Discussion Topic: Saul used music to ease his nerves during times of spiritual torment.  Can you identify a time when you sought music out to help ease your mind or relax you?  Is it possible to be that music in someone elses life?  

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Prayer:  Father in Heaven, you are Holy, Holy, Holy.  We enter your gates with thanksgiving in my heart, and into your courts with praise.  Better is one day of service to you, than a thousand elsewhere.  Lord reveal in us opportunities to serve those around us who may be turning to things to ease there torment.  Forgive us for judging the sins of others, as we also learn to forgive those who sin against us.  Lead us away from evil and protect us as we confront torment. for Your Kingdom, in Your Power and because of Your Glory, Amen.  

Acknowledgments:  Text - BibleGateway.com HSCB, Image - Artist Unknown, Image Website - http://www.finaltrump.com/2009/03/the-three-anointings-of-david/

50 day journey to Christ - Day 19

Daily Reading:

1 Samuel 14

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

14 ¹ That same day Saul’s son Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” However, he did not tell his father.

² Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. The troops with him numbered about 600. ³ Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod, was also there. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas, son of Eli the Lord’s priest at Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

⁴ There were sharp columns of rock on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine garrison. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh; ⁵ one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba. ⁶ Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

⁷ His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. You choose. I’m right here with you whatever you decide.”

⁸ “All right,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us. ⁹ If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. ¹⁰ But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the Lord has handed them over to us—that will be our sign.”

¹¹ They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!” ¹² The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said.

“Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.”¹³ Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. ¹⁴ In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about 20 men in a half-acre field.

¹⁵ Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops. Even the garrison and the raiding parties were terrified. The earth shook, and terror spread from God.¹⁶ When Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, they saw the panicking troops scattering in every direction. ¹⁷ So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

¹⁸ Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” for it was with the Israelites at that time. ¹⁹ While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you’re doing.”

²⁰ Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and there, the Philistines were fighting against each other in great confusion! ²¹ There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² When all the Israelite men who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle. ²³ So the Lord saved Israel that day.

The battle extended beyond Beth-aven, ²⁴ and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath: “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So none of the troops tasted any food.

²⁵ Everyone went into the forest, and there was honey on the ground. ²⁶ When the troops entered the forest, they saw the flow of honey, but none of them ate any of it because they feared the oath. ²⁷ However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath. He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it into the honeycomb. When he ate the honey, he had renewed energy. ²⁸ Then, one of the troops said, “Your father made the troops solemnly swear, ‘The man who eats food today is cursed,’ and the troops are exhausted.”

²⁹ Jonathan replied, “My father has brought trouble to the land. Just look at how I have renewed energy because I tasted a little honey. ³⁰ How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater.”

³¹ The Israelites struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash all the way to Aijalon.Since the Israelites were completely exhausted, ³² they rushed to the plunder, took sheep, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it.³³ Some reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.”

Saul said, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once.” ³⁴ He then said, “Go among the troops and say to them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don’t sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.’” So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.³⁵ Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had built an altar to the Lord.

³⁶ Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don’t let even one remain!”

“Do whatever you want,” the troops replied.

But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”

³⁷ So Saul inquired of God, “Should I go after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.

³⁸ Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let us investigate how this sin has occurred today. ³⁹ As surely as the Lord lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!” Not one of the troops answered him.

⁴⁰ So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.”

And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.”

⁴¹ So Saul said to the Lord, “God of Israel, give us the right decision.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.

⁴² Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected. ⁴³ Saul commanded him, “Tell me what you did.”

Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff I was carrying. I am ready to die!”

⁴⁴ Saul declared to him, “May God punish me and do so severely if you do not die, Jonathan!”

⁴⁵ But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God’s help today.” So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die. ⁴⁶ Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

⁴⁷ When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc. ⁴⁸ He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hand of those who plundered them.

⁴⁹ Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were: Merab, his firstborn, and Michal, the younger. ⁵⁰ The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul’s uncle Ner. ⁵¹ Saul’s father was Kish. Abner’s father was Ner son of Abiel.

⁵² The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul’s days, so whenever Saul noticed any strong or brave man, he enlisted him.

Key: Bold text - Verse of the Day.

Daily Reflection:  1 Samuel 14 is a story we can pull so much from.  This is a story of faith, honor, courage, commitment, of action and adventure, religion and its negative effects, blessings, curses, poor military decisions.  A story of a kingdom whose king hides under a pomegranite tree, while his son charges into an almost unwinable battle only to defeat many, and cause a terror throughout the camp.  Think about how these principles can be applied in our own country on a spiritual level.  

Discussion Topic:  In what way can we exhibit the same faith that Jonathan and his armor exhibit in spiritual battles we have have to fight?  

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Prayer:  Holy Father of Heaven and Earth, your name is YHWH, and worthy to be praised.  Lord, empower us to carry out the tasks of your Kingdom, give us the faith the climb the gorges of our life, and to attack the garrisons that come against us.  Lead us and guide us through Your Word so that we will have the spiritual food we need to reenergize and continue our fight.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities of darkness.  Forgive us our sins of complaciancy, and deliver us from the evil that could distract us.  Your Kingdom, Your Power, Your Glory, forever.  Amen. 

Acknowledgements:  Text - BibleGateway.com, Photo - Photographer unknown, Website - http://www.lifeintheholyland.com/49_matson_american_colony_8_volumes.htm