Sam’s 1st Epic 15 – That’s Torn It

Why did you not obey the Lord ? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord ?” (1 Samuel 15:19 NIV) This episode in the life of Saul and the initial run of human monarchy in Israel is among the most tragic. It’s not as though Saul […]

Sam’s 1st Epic 14 – In Disarray

One reading of the 14th chapter of 1 Samuel is a king in disarray. His son goes off with his armour-bearer without anyone noticing and duly starts the routing of the enemy. Meanwhile Saul afflicts his already beleaguered troops with a charge that they are not to eat anything until he gets revenge on the […]

Sam’s 1st Epic 13 – Forgetting Your Place

“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him […]

Resources at Hand

I love resourceful people. The ability to make the most of what is at hand to produce something of function and excellence in that function always makes me applaud to their credit. My wife and my brother are two remarkably resourceful people. It’s in hanging around them over recent years that I have really grown […]

Sam’s 1st Epic 12 – Samuel’s Warning

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.” (1 Samuel 12:24‭-‬25 NIV) It must have been a very emotional occasion. Samuel wasn’t dying. One of the […]

Sam’s 1st Epic 11 – Saul to the Rescue

In many ways, for King Saul, it was the best of times. Newly acknowledged as King over Israel, he faced his first crisis and this would be crucial in deciding what kind of king he would be. His people under siege to the Ammonite under a threat of great humiliation. Saul’s response to the siege […]

Sam’s 1st Epic 10 – The Appointment of Saul

Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!” (1 Samuel 10:24 NIV) Chapters 9-11 form a neat trilogy of the rise of the king. Chapter 10 is the truly transformative […]

Escape from Work and Escape for Work

One of the things I appreciate about good friends is how they refresh my perspective on a matter. For example, one good friend of mine asked me recently what do I do for a job. I said nothing. He looked at me quizzically and asked me to list the things I did in a day. […]

Sam’s 1st Epic 09 – When Samuel Met Saul

When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” (1 Samuel 9:17) “We want a king, just like our neighbours!” the people demanded, so God let them have it. In letting them have it, that was not to […]

Sam’s 1st Epic 08 – Rejecting the King

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19‭-‬20 NIV) Samuel took it personally. After years of his wise […]