Posts that reference the book of 1 Samuel

1 Sam

STT: The Biographical Timeline Method

STT Biographical Timeline method title graphic

When Luke wrote about Paul’s conversion in Acts 9, he didn’t present it as an isolated event but as part of Paul’s larger life story. “And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened” (Acts 9:18-19). Understanding the sequence of events helps us grasp the significance of each moment.

The Biographical Timeline Method helps you organize biblical events chronologically, revealing patterns, cause-and-effect relationships, and spiritual development that might otherwise remain hidden.

1. Select a Biblical Character

Choose someone whose life is documented across multiple passages:

Major figures like Abraham, Moses, David, or Paul
Characters whose stories span significant time periods
People who experience notable spiritual transformation

For example, Peter’s journey from fisherman to apostle spans all four Gospels and into Acts, showing remarkable growth and change.

2. Gather Chronological Data

Collect all references to your character in chronological order:

List every passage where they appear
Note significant events, conversations, and decisions
Include approximate dates or time markers when available
Pay attention to age references or life stages

For David, you’d start with his anointing as a young shepherd (1 Samuel 16), continue through his years fleeing from Saul, his kingship, his sin with Bathsheba, and end with his final days (1 Kings 2).

3. Create a Visual Biographical Timeline

Organize events sequentially:

Draw a horizontal line representing the span of their life. This is your beginning biographical timeline
Mark key events along the timeline
Note God’s interventions and the character’s responses
Identify turning points or moments of significant change

4. Analyze Patterns and Growth

Look for developmental themes:

How did their relationship with God evolve over time?
What lessons did they learn through successive experiences?
How did earlier events prepare them for later challenges?
What character qualities developed or diminished over time?

For your next study session: Create a timeline of Joseph’s life from Genesis 37-50. Mark key events: his dreams, being sold into slavery, his time in Potiphar’s house, prison, interpreting dreams, and his reunion with his family. Notice how God used each circumstance—even the painful ones—to prepare Joseph for his ultimate purpose. Consider how this pattern might apply to your own life journey.

How might seeing the chronological progression of a biblical character’s life give you fresh perspective on God’s work in your own timeline?

Hearing the Word

By Paula Wiseman

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

In Jesus’ memorable conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount, He presents us with one of His most vivid analogies: two builders, two foundations, and two very different outcomes. The difference between the wise and foolish builders wasn’t in their construction skills or the materials they used—it was in their choice of foundation. And that choice began with something seemingly simple yet profoundly important: hearing the words of Jesus.

Before we can put God’s truth into practice, we must first receive it. This initial step of hearing might seem obvious or passive, but Jesus highlights it as the essential starting point for building a life that withstands life’s inevitable storms. In the ancient world, hearing was the primary way most people received God’s Word. Few owned written scrolls, and many couldn’t read. Their faith literally came “by hearing” (Romans 10:17). While we have unprecedented access to Scripture today, the fundamental importance of truly hearing God’s Word remains unchanged.

What does it mean to truly “hear” in the biblical sense?

The Greek word Jesus uses (akouō) implies more than just auditory reception—it suggests attentiveness, comprehension, and receptivity. It’s the difference between sound waves hitting our eardrums and truth penetrating our hearts. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly calls His people to this deeper kind of hearing: “Hear, O Israel” (Deuteronomy 6:4); “Listen to me, my people” (Isaiah 51:4); “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).

True hearing involves several dimensions.
First, it requires attention—focusing our minds on God’s Word rather than allowing it to become background noise in our busy lives.
Second, it involves comprehension—seeking to understand not just the words but their meaning and implications.
Third, it demands receptivity—approaching Scripture with an open heart, willing to be challenged, corrected, and changed.
Finally, it includes retention—allowing God’s Word to dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16) rather than quickly forgetting what we’ve heard.

In our information-saturated age, genuine hearing has become increasingly difficult. We’re constantly bombarded with messages competing for our attention—news alerts, social media notifications, advertising, entertainment, and the endless stream of opinions and ideas flowing through our devices. In this noisy environment, creating space to truly hear God’s Word requires intentional effort and discipline.

How can we develop the habit of truly hearing God’s Word? Here are some practical steps:

Create sacred space. Designate specific times and places for engaging with Scripture without distractions. This might mean turning off notifications, finding a quiet corner, or waking up before the household stirs. The environment we create can significantly impact our ability to hear.
Prepare your heart. Begin your time in God’s Word with a simple prayer for receptivity: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). Acknowledge any resistance or preoccupations and ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear with fresh ears.
Slow down. Our culture trains us to skim and scan for information, but Scripture deserves a different approach. Try reading smaller portions more slowly, perhaps even aloud.

The quality of our hearing directly affects the strength of our foundation. When we rush through Scripture reading as a religious duty or listen to sermons with half-attention, we’re like builders who glance briefly at the building site before starting construction. But when we truly hear—with attention, comprehension, receptivity, and retention—we’re carefully examining the ground, testing its stability, and ensuring our life is built on the solid rock of Christ’s teachings.

As we begin this series on building a life that lasts, let’s commit to becoming better hearers of God’s Word. It’s only when we truly hear that we can move to the next crucial step: putting what we hear into practice. Next week, we’ll explore this second aspect of Jesus’ teaching—how we bridge the gap between knowing and doing, between hearing God’s Word and living it out in our daily lives.

STT: The Observation Method

By Paula Wiseman

STT Observation Method title graphic featuring a magnifying glass

Study Tip: The Observation Method

When Jesus walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He didn’t immediately reveal Himself. Instead, “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). He taught them to see what was already there.

Before we can interpret Scripture, we must first see what’s actually in the text. Many Bible study mistakes happen because we jump to conclusions before carefully observing what the passage actually says. The Observation Method helps us slow down and notice details we might otherwise miss.

1. Read Without Assumptions

First, approach the text with fresh eyes:

Read the passage several times slowly
Pretend you’ve never seen it before
Notice words, phrases, and details that stand out
Resist the urge to immediately interpret or apply

For example, in the familiar story of David and Goliath, have you noticed that David picked up five stones (1 Samuel 17:40), not just one? This detail might lead to interesting questions about David’s confidence or preparation.

2. Mark Key Elements

Use a simple marking system to highlight:

Repeated words or phrases (they often signal important themes)
Contrasts and comparisons (“but,” “like,” “as”)
Commands and promises
Time references and sequence markers
Lists or series of items

In Psalm 23, marking every reference to “He” (the Lord) and “I/me” (the psalmist) reveals a beautiful pattern of God’s actions and the writer’s response.

3. Ask Factual Questions

Based on your observations, ask questions that can be answered directly from the text:

Who is speaking/acting?
What specific actions are described?
What words are unusual or significant?
What connections exist between sentences?

4. Record Your Observations

Before moving to interpretation, write down everything you’ve noticed without adding meaning. This creates a solid foundation for the next steps of study.

For your next study session: Choose a familiar passage like the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and spend 15 minutes just observing. Count how many blessings are promised. Notice the pattern of “Blessed are… for they shall…” Write down every detail you see without interpreting. You might be surprised at what you’ve previously overlooked!

What familiar passage might you re-examine using this careful observation method?

STT: Sacrifices: Themes

By Paula Wiseman

In our previous study tips, we explored how to analyze individual sacrifices and compare different types of sacrifices. Today, we’ll learn how to trace sacrificial themes through the entire biblical narrative, seeing how they develop and find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5:2

The Power of Progressive Revelation

Sacrifice in Scripture isn’t static—it develops and deepens through progressive revelation. By tracing sacrificial themes from Genesis to Revelation, we discover:

How early sacrificial concepts laid foundations for later understanding
How the prophets reinterpreted and critiqued sacrificial practices
How Christ fulfilled and transformed sacrificial imagery
How the New Testament church applied sacrificial language to Christian living

Four Key Stages in Sacrificial Development

When tracing sacrificial themes, look for these four major developmental stages:

1. Patriarchal Sacrifices (Genesis)

The earliest sacrifices appear before the Mosaic Law was given:

Abel’s acceptable offering (Genesis 4:4)
Noah’s post-flood sacrifice (Genesis 8:20-21)
Abraham’s various altars and offerings (Genesis 12:7, 13:18, 22:1-19)
Jacob’s sacrifices at Bethel (Genesis 35:1-7)

Key observations at this stage:

Sacrifices mark significant encounters with God
They often establish or renew covenant relationships
They’re relatively simple, without elaborate regulations
They frequently connect to promises of blessing

2. Levitical Sacrificial System (Exodus through Deuteronomy)

The Mosaic Law established a comprehensive sacrificial system:

Five main offerings (burnt, grain, peace, sin, guilt)
Annual festivals with prescribed sacrifices
Detailed regulations for priests and offerings
The tabernacle/temple as the central location for sacrifice

Key observations at this stage:

Sacrifice becomes systematized and regulated
Different offerings address different spiritual needs
Blood becomes explicitly connected to atonement (Leviticus 17:11)
Sacrifice is integrated into Israel’s covenant identity

3. Prophetic Critique and Reinterpretation (Prophets)

The prophets addressed misunderstandings and abuses of sacrifice:

Samuel: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22)
Isaiah: “I have had enough of burnt offerings” (Isaiah 1:11-17)
Hosea: “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6)
Micah: “What does the LORD require of you?” (Micah 6:6-8)
Psalm 51: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” (Psalm 51:16-17)

Key observations at this stage:

Prophets challenge ritualism without moral obedience
Internal heart attitudes are emphasized over external ritual
Sacrifice is placed within broader covenant faithfulness
Spiritual sacrifice begins to complement physical sacrifice

4. Fulfillment and Transformation in Christ (New Testament)

Christ and the apostles reframe sacrifice around Jesus’ work:

John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29)
Jesus: “This is my blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28)
Hebrews: Christ as both priest and sacrifice (Hebrews 9-10)
Paul: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Peter: “You yourselves… are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5)

Key observations at this stage:

Christ fulfills and supersedes the entire sacrificial system
His once-for-all sacrifice ends the need for repeated offerings
Believers now offer “spiritual sacrifices” rather than animal sacrifices
Sacrificial language is applied to Christian living (Romans 12:1)

Example: Tracing the Passover Theme

Let’s briefly trace one sacrificial theme—the Passover—through Scripture:

Patriarchal Period:

No direct Passover, but the concept of substitutionary protection appears in Abraham’s ram (Genesis 22)

Mosaic Period:

Established in Exodus 12 as a memorial of deliverance from Egypt
Codified in Leviticus 23:5-8 as an annual festival
Centralized at the temple in Deuteronomy 16:1-8

Prophetic Period:

Ezekiel envisions a restored Passover in the future temple (Ezekiel 45:21-24)
Passover observance marks spiritual renewal under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30) and Josiah (2 Kings 23:21-23)

New Testament Fulfillment:

Jesus celebrates Passover with disciples and reinterprets its elements (Luke 22:14-20)
Paul identifies Christ as “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Revelation depicts the “Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12)

This progression reveals how a single sacrificial theme develops from historical event to prophetic hope to ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Study Method: Creating a Sacrificial Timeline

A helpful way to trace sacrificial themes is to create a timeline:

Choose a specific sacrifice or sacrificial theme (e.g., lamb imagery, blood, altar)
Identify key passages where this theme appears throughout Scripture
Arrange these chronologically on a timeline
Note how the theme develops, expands, or transforms at each stage
Look for the culmination of this theme in Christ and the New Testament

Moving from Timeline to Theology

After creating your sacrificial timeline, ask these interpretive questions:

What remains consistent about this sacrificial theme throughout Scripture?
How does understanding the early stages help illuminate later developments?
What new dimensions are added at each stage of revelation?
How does Christ fulfill and transform this sacrificial concept?
How might this theme apply to Christian living today?

Study Application

To apply this method in your own study:

Choose one sacrificial theme that interests you (lamb, blood, altar, etc.)
Use a concordance or Bible software to find key passages
Create a simple timeline showing how the theme develops
Note significant transformations or reinterpretations
Consider how Christ represents the culmination of this theme

This approach transforms scattered sacrificial references into a coherent story of God’s unfolding redemptive plan.

For practice: Trace the theme of “lamb” from Abel’s offering through Abraham’s ram, the Passover lamb, Isaiah’s suffering servant, to John’s declaration of Jesus as “the Lamb of God” and Revelation’s “Lamb who was slain.” How does this progression deepen your understanding of Christ’s sacrifice?

4 Keys to Peace

By Paula Wiseman

We’ve been digging into the keys to some important aspects of our spiritual life. We started with prayer. Last week, we explored 4 Keys to faith. This week, let’s turn our attention to peace. Ah, peace … The dictionary might define it as a state of inner calm and tranquility, and we would probably agree that it often seems elusive in our hectic lives. Here are 4 keys to peace that can help make it our regular state.

Peace begins with trust in God’s sovereignty

Peace begins with trusting in God’s sovereignty—His supreme power and authority over everything. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Trusting in God’s sovereignty means believing that He is in control, even when our circumstances are chaotic. Joseph’s story in Genesis 37-50 is a powerful example. Despite being sold into slavery and wrongfully imprisoned, Joseph trusted in God’s plan. His peace came from knowing that God was sovereign over his life.

Really, I could write a whole other post on trusting God’s sovereignty. If we believe He’s good (and He is), that He loves us (and He does), He will work everything out. That’s the first of the keys to peace. Whenever you feel anxious, remind yourself of God’s sovereignty. Reflect on His control over every situation and surrender your worries to Him.

Embrace Prayer and Supplication

We hit on prayer in our first post in this series, so small wonder that a robust prayer life is one of our keys to peace. Prayer is a direct line to God, where we can cast all our anxieties and burdens. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When we bring our worries to God in prayer, we exchange our anxiety for His peace. Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1-2 shows us this beautifully. Her heartfelt prayers and trust in God’s timing brought her peace, even before her prayers were answered.

Make it a habit to pray daily, bringing your concerns to God. Use a prayer journal to track your prayers and His answers.

Meditate on God’s Word

We saw this last week as a key to faith and here it is again as a key to peace. God’s Word is a powerful source of peace. Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”

Meditating on Scripture renews our minds and aligns our thoughts with God’s truth. We shift our perspective and begin to gain the mind of Christ that the Apostle Paul talked about (1 Corinthians 2:16). Jesus used Scripture to combat temptation, showing us the importance of knowing and relying on God’s Word.

Set aside time each day to read and meditate on Scripture. Choose verses that speak to God’s peace and memorize them to recall in times of stress.

Gratitude Leads to Peace

Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, fostering peace in our hearts. Colossians 3:15 instructs us, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Paul’s letters often begin with expressions of gratitude, even when he was in prison. His grateful heart kept him anchored in peace despite his circumstances.

Start a gratitude journal or track this in your planner. Each day, write down three things you are thankful for. This practice helps to develop a mindset of thankfulness and peace.

Someone said peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God. Use these keys to peace — trusting in His sovereignty, embracing prayer, meditating on His Word, and cultivating gratitude — to experience His peace in every circumstance.

As For Me

By Paula Wiseman

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. 1 Samuel 12:23

Samuel was called by God during a critical time in Israel’s history.
They had lived for years under judges descending further and further into apostasy.
In spite of recognizing Samuel as a true prophet, they rejected his leadership and God’s and asked for a king.

Samuel knew the request was rooted in rebellion in the hearts of the people.
He knew it would end in tragedy.
But he knew God’s sovereign plan was not in jeopardy.
He affirmed his commitment to pray and to uphold God’s principles.

As for me, he said, far be it from me that I should sin in ceasing to pray for you.

We have been called out by God during a critical time in history.
We have seen our culture, our world descending further and further into apostasy.
We have seen society reject God leadership and embrace a host of other philosophies.

We know the rejection is rooted in rebellion in the hearts of the people.
We also know that rebellion inevitably ends in tragedy.
In spite of it all, God’s sovereign plan is not in jeopardy.

Let us affirm our commitment to pray and to uphold God’s principles. As for me. As for you.