1 Samuel 9-17

• Saul in the good times: Chosen as king, and revealed through signs.  1 Samuel 9.  Saul is anointed as king – pouring of oil over the head.  The Hebrew word Messiah is from this word meaning “to anoint.”  God uses the choosing of lots to show that this is His choice for king.  Saul hides.  Why? There is opposition to His kingship.  Why?  He is gracious in response to this opposition (1 Samuel 10:27, 11:12-15).  There is victory over the Ammonites.
• Samuel: Samuel gives his farewell address, 1 Samuel 12.  We will read plenty more about Samuel in chapters to come.  Do you think retirement is biblical?  Samuel also leaves them with some warnings concerning the king, and likely reminds them of Deuteronomy 17:14-20.
• Saul in the bad times: Saul is impatient and offers and unlawful sacrifice, 1 Samuel 13:8-15.  We meet Jonathan and his armor-bearer mighty in battle and in faith, 1 Samuel 14.  Saul makes a rash vow, and the people do not let him keep it, 1 Samuel 14:24-46.  Finally Saul is rejected as king, 1 Samuel 15.  Notice the progression of the word regret, 1 Samuel 15:11, 29, 35.  (JB)
• David: David is chosen as king, and we begin to see in him many promising attributes.  Notice his work in spiritual warfare, 1 Samuel 16:14-23.  Then we have a great champion in David who slays the giant Goliath, 1 Samuel 17.  This is a picture of Christ.  WE ARE NOT DAVID.  The giant is the wrath of God that we deserve for our sins – as the Israelites failed to clean out the promised land as commanded.  Jesus Christ is the one who took our place in the battle for us – David.  We are the cowering sinner unable to solve our problem on our own – the Israelite army.    Note David’s attitude in 1 Samuel 17:36-37, 45-47.  “He is trusting in the Lord to give him victory so that the name of the Lord will be exalted among the nations and so that Israel will see that it is not human effort or will that is anything, but it is the will and work of God.”  — Justin Bessinger

1 Chronicles 1-2 genealogies:

• 1:12 the Philistines are Hamite of Egypt by way of Casluhim
• 1:1-34: Adam > Seth > Enosh > Kenan > Mahalalel > Jared > Enoch > Methuselah > Lamech > Noah > Shem > Arpachshad > Shelah > Eber > Beleg > Reu > Serum > Nahor > Terah > Abram/Abraham > Isaac > Israel (Jacob)
• 2:1-15 Israel (Jacob) > Judah > Perez > Hezron > Ram > Amminadab > Nahshon > Salmon > Boaz > Obed > Jesse > David

Acts 8-12

• Persecution: See Acts 1:8 for the outline of the book – and indeed, church history.  Persecution seems to be how the church was spread.  Notice that the same signs accompany those who spread the gospel like Philip, but the Holy Spirit came upon the Samaritans only after apostles came.  This is the Holy Spirit deliberately endorsing the source of truth – not that Philip taught anything wrong, but rather that the foundation of the church would be upon the apostles.  See Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14.
• The Ethiopian Eunuch: Notice that he was coming from worshiping in Jerusalem, but was not yet a Christian.  Who would the right hand of a Queen be hanging out with in Jerusalem?  Notice that Philip used the very scripture he was reading – Isaiah 53 of all things!  The Holy Spirit is often arranging these divine appointments, and we must be ready.  Just for fun, see Jeremiah 38:7-13, 39:15-18.
• Saul (later Paul): Who was Saul really persecuting?  Read Acts 9:16.  Despite Paul’s faithfulness in response to this call, he does indeed suffer.  What does that do to the view of those who suppose that the Christian life is all about temporal blessings?  Saul gets off to a fast start and begins his pattern of confounding people and having to flee town.
• Peter: Peter responds to a vision by preaching the gospel to some Gentiles – in their own house!  The Holy Spirit comes upon them in a way that convinces Peter and the others that this is from God.  See Acts 10:44-48, 11:15, 15:8.
• Conflict: Despite Peter’s answer in Acts 11:4-18 about the Gentiles, Paul later has a public confrontation with Peter over his separation from the Gentiles at meals (Galatians 2:11-14). Paul confronted Peter publicly over the matter because Peter’s sin in the matter was so public.  Normally, it would be addressed privately first like in Matthew 18:15-20.  Church discipline has historically been an important part of church practice.  It is described in Matthew 18:15-20 and 1 Corinthians 5.  From these passages, we can formulate a very workable plan for church discipline.

Psalms

• Psalm 38: Take note of the physical impact of sin, vv3, 7.  Sin damages every part of the person. It needs to come around to confession and repentance, v18, and a cry for help, vv21-22.  Cry out to the Lord when you have sinned.
• Psalm 134:  Bless and be blessed!