1 Samuel 7 & 8: Serve The LORD Only
Verse of the Day: (7:4) Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 

1. Serve (7:1-4)
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. (7:3)

We can only serve one Master who is none other than the living and true God. Time and again, Israel failed God, as they doubted and disobeyed Him, and thus face His judgment and condemnation. Finally, after 20 years, God’s ark returned to Israel. God’s first prophet and priest, Samuel, challenged them to turn away from their false gods and idols, and worship and serve the LORD only. Let us indeed serve God only! (Matthew 6:24-34)
   
2. Sin (7:5-17)
And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. (7:6)

Either we serve God only or we sin against Him. If we are God’s children we shall serve Him only. Indeed there are many Christians who seemingly serve God but are actually serving themselves. Samuel challenged Israel to confess and repent their sins, fast and pray, and offer a young lamb as burnt offering to God. God answered them with a great thunder destroying the Philistines. Indeed, let us repent our sins, and serve God only with our work of faith, labour of love and patience of hope in Him. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

3. Samuel (8:1-22)
And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. (8:7)

Israel asked for a king just like all the nations of the world, but Samuel rebuked them that they must look to God as their only King. However, Israel insisted on having a king, and Samuel explained to them that their king would not only take their sons as soldiers, and their daughters as cooks, but he will also take their fields as well as the tenth of all their livestock. However, Israel still insisted on having a king, and God then told Samuel that they shall surely reap the consequences of having a king. This was why subsequently God only spoke to Israel through His prophets and not kings. (Hosea 13:9-11) Indeed, let us be like Christ who was obedient to God, His Father, even in death, as He willingly left heaven to come to earth, and to live and die for the sins of the world. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to serve You only as You are my King and everything.
 

1 Samuel 5 & 6: The Hand Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (5:6) But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 

1. Hand (5:1-12)
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. (5:11)

The hand of the LORD can do anything and there is nothing that He cannot do. God can save every man made in His image yet He makes man to decide for himself his own destiny. If man chooses to believe in his Creator, then his soul shall live forever with Him in glorious heaven, however, if man rejects Him, then his soul shall be cast into fiery hell. God uses His believers to share His salvation plan so that all may come to know Him. God’s ark was now with the Philistines because Israel had rejected Him, and therefore He allowed the Philistines to overcome them and took His ark to their own city. There the Philistines set God’s ark beside their god, Dagon, thinking that Dagon was greater than God’s ark. However, the hand of the LORD not only destroyed Dagon leaving it a stump, but He also destroyed many Philistines, and inflicted the rest with tumours. (Luke 1:37)
   
2. Heal (6:1-18)
And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. (6:3)

The Philistines’ priests commanded the Philistines to return God’s ark to Israel, together with jewels of gold in a new cart pulled by 2 female cows when normally it was pulled by the male ones, so that they would be healed of their tumours. Subsequently, the hand of God miraculously moved His ark, pulled by the cows, toward Israel, and away from their own calves at home, and against their maternal instincts. When Israel saw God’s ark, they celebrated with great joy. Indeed, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)     

3. Holy (6:19-21)
And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us? (6:20)

Not only God destroyed the Philistines, He also took the lives of 50,070 men of Bethshemesh because they looked at His ark when only the High Priest could look at. (Leviticus 16). Though we can never fully understand why God slayed the multitude in one day, yet we believe that He is a holy God, and He shall judge the sins of man. Indeed, we are only saved by God’s grace when we believe in Him by faith. (Ephesians 2:8-10)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your hand protects me until the day You promote me.

1 Samuel 3 & 4: Ichabod
Verse of the Day: (4:21) And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. 

1. I (3:1-21)
That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. (3:4)

God calls those whose hearts are willing to serve Him, rather than those who are qualified in the eyes of the world. Hannah prayed to God that if He would give her a male child, she would dedicate to Him. God indeed answered her with a male child named Samuel, who became His first prophet of Israel. Samuel’s heart was responsive as 3 times he answered God, Here am I, although he thought that the voice was from Eli, the priest. Before the Bible, God’s Word, was written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit, He would directly speak to men or used His creation or creatures such as the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6) or even an ass (Numbers 22:21-35). Today, God only speaks to men through the Bible, and let us read, study and meditate it, as it is His holy Word. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)   
    
2. Israel (4:1-18)
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he judged Israel forty years. (4:18)

There will always be enemies or oppositions in our lives, and it is really how we overcome them with God’s glory and grace. Israel’s long time enemy was the Philistines, and they were the toughest, and this time, they managed not only to defeat Israel, but took their ark of God, which represented God’s glory and grace. God allowed the Philistines to punish Israel because of their rebellion, as even Eli, the priest, had failed to lead Israel in serving God. Eli, who judged Israel for 40 years, fell off his seat and died, when he heard that the Philistines had taken God’s ark. For whom God loves, He disciplines them, so that they repent of their sins, and turn to Him. (Hebrews 12:1-11) 

3. Ichabod (4:19-22)
And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken. (4:22)

The worst for Christians is that God’s glory is far from us, while the best for us is that God’s glory is with and in us. Ichabod means God’s glory is departed, and His glory was indeed departed from Israel as they had sinned against Him. Except for Prophet Samuel, the rest of Israel, including Eli, the priest, sinned against God. This was why God allowed the Philistines not only to defeat them, but even took God’s ark from them. Let us hence grieve not God and the Holy Spirit in us once we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, but repent our sins, and please God and the Holy Spirit in us. (Ephesians 4:30-32)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always have Your glory and grace with and in me.

1 Samuel 1 & 2: Is Your Soul Bitter?
Verse of the Day: (1:10) And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 

1. Soul (1:1-18)
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. (1:12)

Keep praying to God even when our souls are bitter toward life as we experience life stresses, such as the desire to have children, or the loss of our health, or loved ones. Hannah was in bitterness of soul because her husband, Elkanah, had another wife, Peninnah, and they had children, while she had none. Hannah prayed and vowed to God that if God would give her a male child, she would dedicate him to God, and that no razor shall be upon his head as he would be a Nazarite fully devoted to Him. She continued praying until one day, Eli, the high priest, told her that God remembered her and heard her prayers, and she shall have a male child. Indeed, life maybe unfair and cruel, yet let us keep praying, as God remembers us, and He shall answer our prayers. (Luke 11:1-13)
    
2. Samuel (1:19-20)
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. (1:20)

Indeed, God is good all the time, as He removed the bitterness of Hannah’s soul and granted her a son whom she named, Samuel, meaning, I have asked him from God. Samuel grew to be a man of God, and God used him greatly as he was the last of the mighty judges and the first of the faithful prophet who would anoint the first 2 kings of Israel, namely, kings Saul and David. God refused Israel to have their king, like the rest of the countries, because He was truly their one and only perfect King. However, due to the hardness of men, God relented, and knew that they would have to learn the painful lessons of the failure of most of their kings who would rule over them. (1 Samuel 8:1-22)

3. Salvation (2:1-36)
And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. (2:1)

Hannah prayed and thanked God for her salvation and for the birth of her son, Samuel, and she looked to God, the Giver, rather than her gift, as only God shall never fail her. Subsequently, God gave her 3 more sons and 2 daughters. While she rejoiced in God, Eli grieved in God, because a man of God had prophesied to him that God shall judge and slay his 2 wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Indeed, let us only seek God, and His righteousness, and all the things that we desire shall be granted to us. (Matthew 6:33-34) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please remove the bitterness of my soul as I pray and trust in You.

Ruth 3 & 4: I Will Redeem It
Verse of the Day: (4:4) And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 

1. Ruth (3:1-18)
And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. (3:9)

In order for Naomi to perpetuate the lineage of her husband, Elimelech, and also to redeem their land, she must have a kinsman to marry her daughter in law, Ruth. This was why Ruth upon Naomi’s advice went to Boaz, Naomi’s kinsman, and requested him to marry her. Boaz was delighted to marry Ruth as he knew that she was a virtuous woman. However he told Ruth that there was another kinsman who was the closest to Naomi, and he would have to find out whether he would marry her. Indeed, Ruth was an epitome of a virtuous widow who was willing to remain faithful and loyal to her mother in law. Like Ruth, let us always be faithful and loyal to our God as well as others. (Proverbs 31:10-31) 
    
2. Redeem (4:1-12)
And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. (4:6)

The closest kinsman of Naomi refused to marry Ruth and redeemed her land because he was fearful of marring his own inheritance, and thus allowed Boaz to redeem it. Boaz willingly redeemed the land and married Ruth because he loved Ruth. As a result of the redemption, Boaz perpetuated the lineage of Elimelech to the great joy of Naomi. Indeed, Boaz was the type of Christ, because Christ willingly and lovingly left the splendour of heaven to come to this earth to die on the cross, and shed His precious blood to redeem the sins of the world, including yours and mine. Whoever therefore believes in Christ shall never perish in hell, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. (Ephesians 1:7-12)

3. Restorer (4:13-22)
And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. (4:15)

Boaz married Ruth and they had a son named Obed who not only was a restorer of their lives to support them in their old age, but from his lineage came forth Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Saviour. Indeed, though Ruth was a Moabitess or a Gentile, as well as a widow, yet she was more precious than even if Naomi had 7 sons, because she was truly faithful and loyal to her, and above all, to the true God of Israel. (Matthew 1:1-5)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You redeem me from my sins by Your precious blood.

Ruth 1 & 2: A Full Reward
Verse of the Day: (2:12) The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

1. Rest (1:1-13)
The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. (1:9)

Naomi was gracious to her two daughters in law, as she told them to return to their mothers’ homes since her two sons or their husbands had died, so that they could find new husbands and settled down and rest in the God of Israel. During those days as it is today, we can only find true rest when we let God build our families, otherwise we build in vain. Indeed, except the Lord builds our family, we shall build in vain. (Psalms 127)
    
2. Ruth (1:14-22)
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. (1:14)

Unlike Orpah, Ruth refused to leave Naomi, but cleaved to her and promised her that she shall go where she would go, and shall stay where she would stay, and her God would be her God, and she shall die and bury where she would die and bury and until death do them part. This demonstrated the great faith and trust that Ruth had in the God of Naomi. Though Naomi was sad and sorrowful by the departure of her beloved husband and two precious sons, yet she was greatly comforted and encouraged by Ruth’s faithfulness and loyalty to her, and to her true and living God. In fact, Ruth’s promises had become the famous wedding vows throughout the centuries where couples commit themselves to one another. This is the prelude to Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love for the world, in particular, His church or bride, when He left heaven and came to earth to die for her. Jesus is the Husband and the church is His wife, and as He loves His wife and gave His life for her, so must the husband loves his wife and willing to give his life for her. (Ephesians 5:21-27)

3. Reward (2:1-23)
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. (2:20)

At the end of Ruth’s life, God not only reward her trust in Him with her new husband, Boaz, who loved her, and was her kinsman redeemer, but He also blessed her with spiritual blessings in glorious heaven. Indeed, Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer as He redeems all who believe in Him from fiery hell to pearly heaven. Let us therefore keep loving and serving God amid great trials knowing that He is with us and He shall bless us with a full reward which we shall humbly place at His feet. (Revelation 22:12-13)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for Your full reward which is awaiting me as I serve You.

Judges 21: One Tribe Lacking
Verse of the Day: (21:3) And said. O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?

1. One (21:1-4)
And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; (21:2)

The tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out after Israel defeated them for siding with the wicked people of Gibeah, and they swore never to have their women married to them. However, God must have spoken to them and pricked their conscience as they worshipped Him in His sanctuary. They became guilty and repented of their sins and wept before Him. They then thought of ways as to how they could preserve the tribe of their youngest brother from extinction. Let us therefore forgive and love one another as our God is forgiving and loving so that we shall be His one big family. (Ephesians 4:1-32)
    
2. Oath (21:5-24)
And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death. (21:5)

God led Israel in preserving the Benjamites by destroying the people of Jabesh-gilead who earlier failed to honour their oath when they did not show up at Mizpeh for the fight against the Benjamites who had sided with the wicked men of Gibeah. Israel fought and defeated the people of Jabesh-gilead and brought their women to the Benjamites so that they could marry them, and thus preserve themselves from extinction. Beside the women of Jabesh-gilead, God through Israel also commanded the Benjamites to capture and marry the women of Shiloh, and the tribe of Benjamin was preserved. Indeed, God never failed Israel even though they failed Him many times. Till today, God still keeps His oath, as He not only preserved the Benjamites, but the entire nation of Israel. Let us therefore believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and we shall never perish in fiery hell, but shall be preserved through all eternity with Him in glorious heaven. (Deuteronomy 7:7-10)

3. Own (21:25)
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 

Israel failed God time and again, because they did what was right in their own eyes, and there was no king to lead and guide them. However, they should have look to God as their King, and trusted and obeyed Him. Indeed, let us trust and obey God with our hearts, and acknowledge Him as our King, and never be wise in our own eyes. (Proverbs 3:5-7) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fully trust You, and be not wise in my own eyes.
 

Judges 19 & 20: I Will Deliver
Verse of the Day: (20:28) And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

1. Divide (19:1-30)
And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. (19:29)

Israel rebelled against God, that even a Levite had a concubine who left him for other men, and then returned to her own home. He went after her and persuaded her to return to him, and she finally agreed. They were on their way home passing by Gibeah when they stayed at an old man’s house for the night. Then there came a group of wicked men who demanded the old man to turn his male guest to them so that they would commit immorality with him. He refused, but instead offered his daughter and the Levite’s concubine to them. They took the concubine and abused her and eventually she died. The Levites was devastated with her death, that he divided her into 12 pieces and sent them with messages to all Israel, telling them that the people of Gibeah had violated and killed his concubine. Indeed, our hearts are desperately wicked without God. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)
    
2. Death (20:1-25)
Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel: (20:13)

Israel prayed to God, and He answered them, and commanded them to fight against the wicked people of Gibeah who were actually with the tribe of Benjamin. However the Benjamites refused to hand them over to Israel, and hence the civil war began. Israel lost to the mighty Benjamites, and they prayed to God, and He commanded them to fight again. Finally, God gave them victory over the Benjamites. Indeed, the wages of sins is death, but God’s gift is eternal life with Him when we trust and obey Him. (Romans 6:23)

3. Deliver (20:26-48)
And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword. (20:35)

Though Israel kept sinning against God, yet when they called upon Him, He delivered them. Indeed, our God shall always deliver us when we call upon Him. (Psalms 50:15)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for delivering me as I call upon You in the day of trouble.

Judges 17 & 18: No Magistrate In The Land
Verse of the Day: (18:7) Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and there were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. 

1. Mother (17:1-13)
And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son. (17:2)

Be careful of our hearts and tongues, as out of them, we bless and curse God and man. Micah’s mother cursed the one who had stolen her money, then blessed her son as she realised that he stole it. Micah and her mother lived in Israel during the time when everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Instead of worshipping the true God, they worshipped idols, and Micah even consecrated one of his sons to be the priest, when they were not even from the tribe of Levi. They had indeed forsaken God and His holy commandments which He had given them through His servant, Moses. (James 3:1-12)
    
2. Magistrate (18:1-29)
In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. (18:1)

Not only Micah forsook God, even the tribe of Dan forsook God when they stole the idols from Micah’s house to worship them, while they were on the way searching the land to possess their inheritance. This is the pride and depravity of man that we will rather worship idols that we make than the true God who creates us. The Danites then chose to possess the land where there was no king or magistrate so that they could do what they pleased including shameful and evil deeds. This was the state of affairs and it must have grieved God very much. Let us therefore repent of our sins, and worship God who is our King and Magistrate, and do what is pleasing and good before Him. (Titus 3:1)

3. Micah (18:30-31)
And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. (18:31)

Not only Micah and the tribe of Dan, but the whole of Israel worshipped idols for a long time until their captivity. Indeed, man is full of himself, and this is why he makes idols to worship his own inventions, and refuse to acknowledge God who creates him. Let us flee from idolatry, and worship only the true God and our Saviour. (1 Corinthians 10:12-14)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my King and Magistrate whom I worship.

Judges 15 & 16: Remember Me
Verse of the Day: (16:28) And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

1. Revive (15:1-20)
But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day. (15:19)

Though God chose Samson to be His judge of Israel yet he sinned against Him time and again because he walked in the lust of his flesh and eyes. Though Samson failed to acknowledge God who gave him great victory over the 1,000 Philistines, Israel’s enemy, when He helped him to destroy them with just a jawbone, yet God refreshed and revived him with water from the hollow place of the jawbone when he called upon Him out of great thirst. Indeed, great is God’s faithfulness to His people! (Lamentations 3:22-23)
    
2. Razor (16:1-20)
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. (16:17)

Though God gave Samson strength that no man ever had, yet he failed God many times as he fell into the sins of immorality which eventually destroyed him. After several requests, Samson gave in to Delilah, a woman whom he loved yet she betrayed him to the Philistines for money, and told her the secret was in his hair that once they were shaven he would lose his strength. Let us obey God, and flee from immorality. (Proverbs 6:20-35)

3. Remember (16:21-31)
And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. (16:30)

Delilah betrayed Samson to the Philistines who then blinded him and threw him in the prison, and subsequently made him a sport. While he was before the Philistines, he called upon God, and God remembered him, and strengthened him, and restored his strength back after his hairs grew while was in prison. He then pulled down the house where the Philistines were watching him, and destroyed all of them including himself. In his death, he destroyed more Philistines than when he was alive. Indeed, God truly remembers Samson as his name is even penned in the book of Hebrews of the Bible. (Hebrews 11:32)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please remember me as I fully trust and obey You and flee from sins.