33 – David and Goliath

1 Samuel 16:1 – 18:16

Saul was the first king of Israel, but David is the king who unites north and south.  He is the great king.  He is a courageous warrior, a diplomat, a musician, a forceful leader, and also a great friend and an enthusiastic lover. 

First Saul is rejected by the Lord for disobedience.   The Lord sends Samuel to see Jesse the Bethlehemite, one of whose sons will be named as king.  David was the youngest son of Jesse, but “he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome.”  Samuel anoints him and “the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward.”

David with the head of Goliath

His first test is to combat the Philistine champion Goliath.  After a round of biblical trash talking, David brings him down with a single stone, then uses the giant’s own sword to kill him and remove his head, as promised.  Saul, still the king, puts David over the army, but is jealous of the acclaim that comes to David.

18¹² Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. ¹³ So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. ¹⁴ David had success in all his undertakings; for the LORD was with him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.

The end is near for Saul.

32 – King Saul

1 Samuel 8:1 – 10:27

To this point Israel has had judges to interpret and apply the law, and to lead the people against their enemies.  Bu the people demand a king, like the other nations have.  As Samuel realizes the time has come to appoint his successor, the leaders of the tribes come to him and demand a king.  Samuel takes the question to God, who says: 

8:7 "…Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. 9 Now then, listen to their voice; only — you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

Samuel warns them that a king will be an oppressor of the people, but they say:  

8:19… "No! but we are determined to have a king over us, 20 so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles."

Samuel blesses Saul

So Saul, who stands “head and shoulders” above all the others is found and anointed as the first king of Israel.  He has an auspicious start, but is he the right king for Israel?

31 - Samuel Listens to God

1 Samuel 1:1 – 3:21

Now begins the tales of Samuel and Saul and David, into which is woven many interesting characters and stories.

We start with three stories involving prayer.

In the first, Hannah, one of the wives of Elkanah, prays that she may have a son, whom she promises to dedicate to the Lord.  She "pours her heart out" to the Lord.

When she is rewarded with a child, Samuel, she keeps her vow and presents him to the priest, Eli.  Her prayer of thanksgiving,  in chapter 2, reminds us of Mary's Magnificat, and also includes a prophecy about David, that God "will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed."

Eli and Samuel

Finally, Samuel is called by the Lord, in a manner similar to other prophets and leaders.  In sleep, Samuel believes it is Eli is calling him, and three times responds:  "Here I am, for you called me."  Finally, as instructed by Eli, Samuel responds with a wonderful prayer response:  "Speak, for your servant is listening."


What do you learn about prayer from these examples?

30 - The Story of Ruth

Ruth 1:1 - 2:20
Ruth 2:21 - 4:22

This delightful tale of wandering, marriage, commitment and fertility gives us an insight into the culture and mores of the Israelites.  What is it that bound them together?  What makes a person an Israelite?  Ruth prefers to return with her mother-in-law Naomi to Naomi's native land, promising in words that are often heard in marriage ceremonies:

1¹⁶ ...Where you go, I will go;
   where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
   and your God my God. 
¹⁷ Where you die, I will die—
   there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
   and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’ 

Ruth and Naomi

What do you learn about the relationship of the people with their God from this story?

29 - Samson Defeats the Philistines

Judges 13:1 – 16:31

Yet again:  "The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and theLord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years."

Michelangelo - Samson kills two Philistines.

Samson was one of the last of the judges - the non-hereditary officials chosen to rescue Israel from its periods of apostasy, which occurred in regular cycles.  During those times Israel was overcome by its neighbors.

He was also dedicated to God as a Nazarite, described in Numbers 6:1-21.  As part of his vows, his hair has not been cut.  And he was immensely strong.  Unlike Deborah/Barak or Gideon, he does not lead an army against the Philistines.  In fact he is very involved with them, especially their women.  Much of the conflict he is involved with seems personal, not national.

In his last act, he brings down the temple as an act of revenge for the Philistines blinding him.  He asks God for the strength he had previously had when he had all his hair.  God gives him the strength.

28 - Gideon Defeats the Midianites

Judges 6:1 – 7:25

Gideon is another human being whom God chooses and empowers to serve his people.  The engaging adventure features Gideon, who with his countrymen are suffering at the hands of the Midianites.  "6¹⁴Then the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.’¹⁵He responded, ‘But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ ¹⁶The Lord said to him, ‘But I will be with you..."  

After various proofs, and a slimming down of Gideon's army so all will know that it is the Lord who prevails, Gideon leads his 300 troops against the Midianite camp:  7:²⁰So the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’ ²¹Every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the men in camp ran; they cried out and fled."

27 - Deborah Leads Israel

Judges 4:1 – 5:31

God has liberated his people from slavery in Egypt, and has led them to the promised land.  Surely now they will live the kind of life God has in mind for them, worshiping only YHWH, dealing justly with each other, keeping the covenant and laws of God.

Not quite.

Instead, as the book of Judges tells us over and over, the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (Judges 2:11-15), worshiping other gods, being unfaithful to YHWH.  God is angered, and hands his people over to non-Israelite oppressors.  When the people cry out, he appoints "judges" who deliver them from their enemies.  After the death of a judge however, the cycle repeats itself, and the book of Judges tells of many such cycles.  Deborah is one of the early judges.

Led by the judge Deborah, the military leader Barak, and the cunning Jael, the Israelites achieve victory over the Canaanites, the oppressors of this period. Deborah is the only named woman judge, and she speaks as one who speaks with God.  But the text tells us that it was God who "subdued King Jabin of Canaan".

Deborah under palm tree

The Israelites believed their special relationship with God gave them a special destiny, but they let immediate desires overcome their long-term covenant.  Are there any parallels in human history?

26 - Israel's Disobedience

Worshiping Idols

Judges 2:6 – 3:6

The tribes of Israel are now in the land promised them by God.  But, like us, they can easily be distracted by idols that are more visible than the generous but not always in-your-face God.

Judges recounts how the people of God tried, not very successfully, to organize themselves to keep up their end of the covenant.  It lays the groundwork for the rise of the monarchy in later books.  And it raises the issue for me of instant gratification versus remaining constant in our promises to follow God.

How can we remain faithful all the time?

25 - The Fall of Jericho

Joshua 5:13 – 6:27

We think we remember this story from Sunday School.  The priests and armed troops circle Jericho for six days, and on the seventh, the whole host of people circle Jericho seven times.  The horns are blown, the people shout, and the walls come tumblin' down.

And then "...the people charged straight ahead into the city and captured it.²¹Then they devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys."


How do you deal with the massive killing in some of the books of Hebrew scripture?

Walls of Jericho falling down

24 - Crossing the Jordan

Joshua 3:1 – 4:24

In a repeat of the crossing of the Red Sea, the waters of the Jordan are held back so the people can cross into the promised land, as was promised to Abraham.  The priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant stand on the Jordan's dry river bed.  God is faithful to his people.

J James Tissot - The Ark of the Covenant Crossing the Jordan

23 - Joshua Succeeds Moses

Joshua 1:1 – 1:18

Moses dies before entering the Promised Land.  Joshua succeeds to the leadership.  God confirms the passing of the leadership, and the people follow his instructions.  God gives his charge with one of my favorite lines in the Bible:

 ⁹I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’

Joshua talking with God

Have you felt the presence of God as you started out on a difficult task?

22 - The Golden Calf

Exodus 32:1 – 34:35

God has made a covenant with the people of Israel in chapter 19 and in chapter 24.  Despite their promises, the people get antsy while waiting for Moses, and ask Aaron to make a god.  He gathers up the gold that had been plundered from the Egyptians, and creates a golden calf.  God and Moses are talking, and when God observes what is happening, he threatens to wipe out these "stiffnecked people."  God invites Moses to convince him not to destroy the people he has just led out of Egypt.  Moses delivers a powerful and persuasive prayer (32:11-13), after which the Lord renounced the punishment he was going to bring on his people.

What golden calves do we have?  Wealth, power, celebrities, the Redskins (some years), American exceptionalism?

21 - The Ten Commandments

Exodus 19:1 – 20:21

There is something very powerful about re-reading the Ten Commandments in the context of the story of the exodus, and God's covenant with his people.  As I read them again, I'm concerned about how many I've either broken, or come close to the line.  Or perhaps I'm complicit in some I haven't committed, like murder, through unjust war, or the death penalty.

Larson - The Ten Commandments

20 - Crossing the Red Sea

Exodus 13:17 – 14:31

Who doesn't remember Charlton Heston as Moses, stretching his arms out to part the Red Sea, to allow the Israelites to escape?

But scripture is clear that it is God who is in charge of the fate of his people, and of the Egyptians.  "As the Egyptians fled before it [the sea], the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea."  And before they even get across, the Hebrew people are already starting their "murmuring" against Moses.  Moses, despite his sense of inadequacy, trusts in God to protect and lead the people.  

19 - Passover and Exodus

Exodus 12:1 – 12:42

The central event defining the Hebrew people's knowledge of themselves as God's people begins with detailed instructions on how the people should protect themselves against God's vengeance being inflicted on the people of Egypt.  "This day shall be a day of remembrance for you," says God.  Detailed ritual instructions follow.  Thus all the people gathered up their livestock and the riches they had plundered from the Egyptians, and left Egypt.

Why is it so important for both Jews and Christians to re-enact the defining acts of our historical story?

18 - The Ten Plagues

Exodus 6:28 – 11:10

This section might be labeled - God gives Moses and Aaron a plan, and they work the plan.  Or, God vs. Pharaoh's hard heart.  The goals are to convince the Egyptians that the God of the Israelites is truly Lord, and to liberate God's people.  Signs and wonders repeatedly show God's power, but Pharaoh returns to a hardened heart.  God has a role, but ultimately isn't Pharaoh responsible for his relationship with God and the Israelites?

17 - The Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1 – 4:17

Can you imagine what it would be like to hear a call from God?  How would you respond?

Moses has many objections to his call, but God promises to be with him (3:12).

Most of us are not called to lead a people across the Red Sea, but we are called to serve God.

What is your call?  Where have you encountered God?  How has it changed you?

16 - Birth of Moses

Exodus 1:1 – 2:25

 "The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, ‘When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.’ But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, ‘Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?’ The midwives said to Pharaoh, ‘Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.’ So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong."  Exodus 1:15-20.


In the patriarchal world of Hebrew scripture, women were frequently not named and do not play key roles. When they do act, they often act by deceit and guile.  


Here two low ranking midwives, "one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah", defy the Pharaoh, and save the lives of young boys.  Other women - Moses' mother, his sister,  and Pharaoh's daughter are key to his survival.  It is women who take the first step in the liberation of the Israelites from Pharaoh's rule.  

Shiphrah and Puah save the Hebrew babies

Who are the women who have made a critical difference in your life, in the life of the nation, in the life of the church?

15 - Joseph Reveals His Identity

Genesis 45:1- 46:7

Finally, the climax:  " Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.  And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay." 

Joseph reveals himself to his brothers

Have you experienced such a family reconciliation?

14 - The Brothers Return

Genesis 43:1-44:34

The family drama builds towards a climax, as the continuing famine forces the brothers to return to Egypt, this time with young Benjamin.  Joseph's joy at seeing his brother brings overwhelming emotion.  He asks after their father.  As he uses similar trickery as before, this time to keep Benjamin with him, Judah steps up to start telling the truth about the family, which in turn will start the process of reconciliaton.

Joseph's brothers return

Have you found that truth telling can lead to reconciliation?

13 - Ten Brothers Go to Egypt

Genesis 42:1-38

All of Josephs' brother except Benjamin go to Egypt to procure grain.  While there, some of Joseph's original  dream is fulfilled as the brothers bow down to him.  We see some "what goes around comes around" as a result of the brothers selling the brother into slavery.  The brothers begin to think their difficulties are a result of that action toward Joseph.  Joseph has his own desire, to see Benjamin again.  So he holds Simeon, and sends the rest back to return with Benjamin.

Blake - Joseph Orders Simeon Bound

Have you been tempted to pay back prior insults?

12 - Prison and a Promotion

Genesis 39:1-41:57

Four times in chapter 39 we are told that "the Lord was with Joseph."  There is no subtlety here.  The author wants us to know that God is in charge.  Joseph tells us that God, not magicians or other humans, interprets dreams.

Isabella Collette - Joseph Governor of Egypt

How do you know that your life is consistent with God's plans?

11 - Joseph sold into slavery

Genesis 37:1-36

Raphael - Joseph sold into slavery

The story of Joseph - a novella - takes up most of the rest of Genesis.  It starts with Jacob/Israel's favorite son making himself unpopular with his brothers.  He dreams (vv. 5-9) that he will exercise power over them.

The brothers know what to do with an uppity youngster - they sell him to passing traders, who in turn sell him to an Egyptian official.  Of course they cover up their crime with a tale for their father.

Can dreams be a way God communicates to us?  Have you had that experience?

10 - Jacob and Esau Reconcile

Genesis 43:1-44:34

Despite having received his father's blessing (by trickery), Jacob knows he must reconcile with his twin Esau.  He plans to do this with gifts from the great riches he has accumulated, and he sends them on to his brother.  But before he goes to meet Esau, he wrestles with "a man".  Jacob ultimately recognizes he has been wrestling with God, and names the place Peniel, "...for I have seen God face to face."

Then he went to meet Esau, who, amazingly, runs to meet him, embraces him, and kisses him. Jacob rejoices, "...for truly, to see your face is like seeing the face of God...."

Macha Chmakoff - Fight of Jacob and the angel

Do you have broken relationships that could be mended by seeing the face of God in the other?

9 - Jacob and Esau Compete

Genesis 27:1 – 28:22

At the end of the Eucharist, the celebrant pronounces God's blessing on the communicants.  It may be seasonally appropriate, but the blessing goes to all.

By contrast, in this story Jacob tricks his father into giving a very specific and personal blessing, which Isaac believes is being given to his older, and favorite, son.

Although Jacob obtained his blessing by trickery, it accords with God's plan, and Jacob encounters God in a dream, and dreams the same blessing his ancestor Abraham has received.

Govert Flink - Isaac Blessing Jacob

How do you understand the blessings you have received, directly or indirectly?

8 - Isaac's Birth and "Sacrifice"

Genesis 21:1-22:19

The story of Abraham and Isaac is one of the most difficult in all of scripture.  How could God give the son who was necessary to ensure the descendants as numerous as the stars, and then require that Abraham sacrifice that same son on an altar?

Who is this God be both the tester (22:1) and the provider (22:14)?

Rembrandt - The Sacrifice of Abraham

What is the nature of Abraham's faith?  He answers God and the angel, "Here I am."  He trusts completely in God.  Can I say I would do the same?

7 - God's Covenant with Abram

Genesis 15:1-21

Carolsfeld - God Shows Abram the Stars

God has previously promised Abram descendants, but there are none.  Abram challenges God:  "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir."  But God again commits:  "He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness."


This is one of the most powerful statements of faith, ever.  Paul uses it in constructing "justification by faith" spelled out in Romans 4.


When has your faith survived when all the evidence is to the contrary?

6 - The Call of Abram

Genesis 12:1-20

God calls Abram to go where he is directed, to the land of Canaan, where God will give Abram land, descendants and blessings.  "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him...."

What does it mean to go where God directs us?  Have you ever felt you were hearing a call from God?  How did you respond?

Jozef Molnar - Abram's Journey

5 - Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1 -9

Pieter Breugel the Elder - Tower of Babel

Why do human beings speak hundreds and thousands of languages.  Why are we separated by culture?  


What caused God to want to confuse human language?


Is there a relationship between this story and "The Fall?"  


What is the relationship with the reading we hear at Pentecost in Acts 2:1-21?

4 - God's Covenant with Noah

Marc Chagall - Noah and Rainbow

Genesis 8:1 – 9:17

God makes the first of many covenants with humankind.  God promises not to destroy the earth again,  despite God's knowledge of human sinfulness.

What does this story suggest about God's relationship with humankind?