1 Samuel Chapters 17 and 18

by Linda Claassen Mitchell 1 Samuel 17 & 18 Day 1 When faced with a giant... 1 Samuel 17:1-11 (IEB): "The Philistines gathered their armies for a battle (this happened about 27 years after their defeat at Michmash) (1 Samuel 13-14). They met at Socoh (about 15 miles west of Bethlehem) in the territory of Judah. Their camp was at Ephes-Dammim (about 4 miles northeast of Socoh) between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites gathered in the Valley of Elah (between Socoh and Azekah, along the Es-Sunt Wadi) and they camped there. They drew up their battle-lines…

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1 Samuel Chapters 15 and 16

by Linda Claassen Mitchell When enough is enough: Day 1 I Samuel 15:2 (IEB) Samuel says to Saul: "This is what Yahweh of the armies of heaven says: When the Israelites came up out of Egypt, the Amalekites (b) tried to block their way to Canaan.(c) I will punish the Amalekites for what they did." Following the footnotes: (b) They were Bedouin nomads who had descended from Esau and lived mostly in the Negev. See Genesis 36:12,16. Genesis 36:12,16 (IEB): "12) Eliphaz (Esau's son) also had a concubine - Timna. She gave birth to Amalek for Eliphaz. These…

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Christ Fulfilled Prophesies Of Messiah

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Isaiah 49:1-6 - How Christ fulfilled the Prophesies of the Messiah - Day 1 Isaiah 49:1-6 (IEB): "1) The Messiah says: 'All of you people in distant places, listen to me. Listen carefully, all you ethnic groups from afar. (i) Before I was born, Yahweh called me to serve Him. Yahweh named me while I was still inside my mother's body. (j) 2) Yahweh made my tongue to be like a sharp sword. (k) He hid me in the shadow of His hand. (l) Yahweh made me to be like a sharp arrow. (m)…

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Old Testament Prophesies About Christ

by Linda Claassen Mitchell How Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Prophesies about God's plan - Day 1 The virgin birth: Isaiah 7:14 (IEB): "Nevertheless, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Look, the virgin (i) will become pregnant. She will give birth to a son, and she will name him 'Immanuel' (j)" Following the footnotes: (i) Hebrew: 'almah, from a verb root meaning "to conceal", because virgins were kept under close watch in their parents' custody until their time for marriage (like Rebekah (Gen. 24:16, 43). Compare Isa. 8:3 the soon-to-be, second wife of Isaiah. And, Isaiah…

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1 Samuel Chapter 14

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Trust in God: Day 1 Jonathan trusts God and God is faithful. Jonathan, Saul's son, trusted that God would give them the victory over the Philistines. 1 Samuel 14:1 (IEB): "Then the day came when Jonathan, Saul's son, spoke to the young man who carried his weapons. Jonathan said, 'Come on, let's go over to the Philistine outpost that is on the other side.' (However, Jonathan did not tell his father.)" 1 Samuel 14:6-10 (IEB): "Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, 'Come on, let's cross over to the outpost of…

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1 Samuel Chapters 11, 12 and 13

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Trusting God: Day 1 The Spirit of God comes over Saul. 1 Samuel 11:1-3 (IEB): "About one month later (after Saul was made king), Nahash the Ammonite and his army surrounded the city of Jabesh in Gilead. All of the people of Jabesh said to Nahash, 'Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you!' But he answered them, 'I will make a pact with you...on one condition; that I can gouge out the right eye of each one of you! I want to humiliate all Israel!' The elders of Jabesh said to…

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1 Samuel Chapters 8, 9 and10

by Linda Claassen Mitchell The people demand a king: Day 1 They have rejected God. 1 Samuel 8:1-7 (IEB): "When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. His oldest son's name was Joel, and his next son's name was Abijah. They were acting as judges in Beer-Sheba. However, Samuel's sons did not live the same way he did. Instead, they tried to get money dishonestly. They took bribes. They twisted justice to obtain money. Therefore, all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, 'Look,…

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1 Samuel Chapters 5, 6 and 7

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Yahweh is the One True God: Day 1 The Philistine god Dagon is a dud. The Philistines had defeated the Israelites and captured the Holy Chest of the one true God and took it to Ashdad. 1 Samuel 5:2 (IEB): "They took it and brought it into Dagon's temple and put it next to Dagon."(d) Following the footnotes: (d) a false god or idol; sometimes depicted as half-man and half-fish. Samson had already destroyed Dagon's temple at Gaza (Judg. 16:21-30). Treating the sacred objects of Israel as captured trophies, the Philistines probably did this…

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1 Samuel Chapters 3 and 4

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Eli and Samuel — Day 1 Today I am reading in 1 Samuel Chapter 3 where God Calls Samuel. I'll be following the footnotes as I go. 1 Samuel 3:1 (IEB): "The boy Samuel (i) was serving Yahweh under the supervision of Eli. (j) In those days, Yahweh did not speak directly to the people very often. (k) There were very few visions coming from God." Following the footnotes for 1 Samuel 3:1: (i) Josephus thought that Samuel was about 12 years of age at this time. (j) Samuel performed both prophetic (1 Samuel…

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1 Samuel Chapters 1 and 2

by Linda Claassen Mitchell 1 Samuel: 1 & 2 Hannah prays to have a son - Day 1 For the past week I have been studying the scriptures about prayer. One thing that keeps coming up is the need to keep a right relationship with God, keeping His commands. Today I am reading in 1 Samuel using the IEB and following the footnotes as I go. The IEB introduction to 1 Samuel indicates that 1st and 2nd Samuel with 1st and 2nd Kings form one continuous story about total dedication toward God. "Samuel (which means 'heard by God')…

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How To Pray

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Seeking God's Approval in Prayer - Day 1 Today I am looking at the topic of prayer. I'm starting in Matthew Chapter 6, where Jesus is teaching his disciples about seeking God's approval, and how to pray. Matthew 6:1-4 (IEB): Jesus talks about doing good works. He says not to draw attention to what you are doing, because the attention you get will be your only reward. (1)... "If you do that, then you will not receive a reward from your Father who is in heaven." Instead do your good works in secret. (4)..."Your…

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A Worthy Woman

by Linda Claassen Mitchell A Worthy Woman - Proverbs 31:10-31 - Day 1 There are so many worldly influences telling women how to act, what to wear, who to be seen with, where to be seen, etc. I thought it would be a good idea to spend my Bible study time today looking at what God's word says. I'll be using the International English Bible and following up on the footnotes and scripture references provided there. Proverbs 31:10 (IEB): "It is hard to find an excellent wife. (f) She is worth far more that rubies (g)." Following the…

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