What do we gain from another long list of difficult names? How does it answer the problems faced by the community of returned exiles trying to rebuild under Ezra and Nehemiah? Join us as we see the way the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1–9) shapes this record of names and places, pointing to both the past and the future to remind them of God’s faithful keeping of his promises. And consider how we do the same week by week in the Apostles’ Creed!

1 Samuel 27–28 In 1 Samuel 27–28, we witness the… read more

What does repentance look like in the life of a community? What will happen among the returned exiles after they have heard and understood God’s word (ch. 8) and prayed a penitential prayer (ch. 9)? Here in chapter 10 the community gathers once more to renew their covenant commitment. We see in the chapter that 1) a renewed community is the aggregate of individuals waking in repentance; 2) true repentance manifests in a sincere resolve to new obedience; and 3) new obedience, as a fruit of repentance, targets specific areas of struggle.

In 1 Samuel 26, the passage tells the story of how David chose to spare rather than spear King Saul. In a critical moment, David refrains from harming his enemy, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty not to Saul but to the Lord who anointed them both. This passage underscores David’s reliance on God, and the heartache he faces at the prospect of leaving the Lord’s presence because there is clearly no safe place for him within Israel’s’ boundaries.

Join in as we discuss Genesis 32, where we find Jacob at a crossroads. He is returning to Canaan after twenty years away, but he knows that his brother Esau is still angry with him for stealing their father’s blessing. Jacob is afraid but not paralyzed; prayerful and yet proactive!
It is also a story about Jacob’s wrestling match with God. In the end, Jacob is given a new name, Israel, meaning “he who struggles with God.” He and we are powerfully reminded that God is always with us, even in the midst of the struggle.

How does the history of God’s mercy free us to confess our sin and give us hope for the future? Join us as we walk through the next chapter of Nehemiah and see a people poised to hear God’s word, worship for a wondrous creator and redeemer, sweeping cycles of sin and salvation, and a penitential prayer that is finally resolved in salvation in Christ.

Join us in exploring 1 Samuel 25, where David encounters Abigail, likened to a Proverbs 31 woman, and her husband Nabal, a fool.
Abigail, described as beautiful and discerning, demonstrates wisdom by preventing David from taking matters into his own hands.
In contrast, Nabal embodies the fool, marked by his harsh, rude, and selfish behavior. Despite David’s protection of Nabal’s flocks, Nabal refuses assistance, provoking David’s initial intent for revenge.
Abigail’s intervention, providing food and asking David to remember her when Nabal faces his rightful end, can certainly be seen as the Lord’s intervention through her.

What might our community look like if we have ourselves over to reading God’s word? In Nehemiah 8 we see a community do just this. The Lord’s people eagerly pursue his word. The Lord’s people take comfort in his word. The Lord’s people seek to obey his word. And the Lord’s people rejoice in his word. May these things be true of us!

As we delve into Genesis 31, we are prompted to reflect on Genesis 12 and the elements of the covenant the Lord made with Abraham, which encompassed people, place, and divine presence. We ponder the importance of the fresh covenant forming between Jacob and Laban, harkening back the events of Genesis 15. We question the irony of Laban’s attempt to rescue his household gods, exposing their helplessness to even manifest themselves in the process of his search.