Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 103, 2 Samuel 1
Before reading 2 Samuel 1, I took some time to review and reflect on 1 Samuel – the life and death of the prophet-priest-judge Samuel and the life and death of the first king of Israel, Saul. I was reminded again of how fleeting life is and how brief both the joys and the trials of life really are. When I find myself smack in the middle of the latest disaster, it’s hard to remember that this too shall pass, but today I’m reminded that it will. Someday every one of my tears will be wiped away. Someday all my questions will be answered and my faith will be as sight. Someday I will sit at the feet of Jesus and everything will be made right. Someday there will be no more goodbyes.
As we enter the holiday season, take some time both to reflect back on the previous year and to look forward to what the new year has in store. In this looking back and looking forward, I want to remind myself (and you) of all that is unchanging – God’s Word, His love for His people, and man’s need for forgiveness. I pray that in the new year my heart would stay focused on these truths, so that my life would reflect the eternal wisdom of God rather than the temporal wisdom of man. He is enough. His grace is enough. Whatever He has prepared for me, it is enough and it is good.
Heavenly Father, Turn my eyes upon Jesus. Help me to look fully in His wonderful face, so that the things of this earth will grow dim in the light of His glory and grace. Help me to remember that Your grace is sufficient for me, that the things of earth are all passing away, that in Christ I have been granted life eternal and abundant. Help me to fix my eyes on You, on Your love, on Your mercy and power and wisdom. I pray for love to cover a multitude of sins – sins of my own and sins of others. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Come Unto Jesus – Keith, Kristyn Getty, Laura Story
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 102, 1 Samuel 29-31
1 Samuel 29-31 meets 1 Corinthians 12-13.
Heavenly Father, help us to love one another and to recognize that everything that we have is a gift from You. Make us active members of the body of Christ here on earth, willingly sharing our time, talents, treasures, and testimonies, with all who need them. You are the only all-powerful One and You alone are worthy. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 101, 1 Samuel 28
A fall 2024 Pew Research Center survey found “that 30% of U.S. adults say they consult astrology (or a horoscope), tarot cards or a fortune teller at least once a year, but most do so just for fun, and few Americans say they make major decisions based on what they learn along the way.”
Friends, listen to me, astrology, horoscopes, tarot cards, and fortune tellers are not fun. They’re dangerous and demonic. Stay away from them! Listen to the Lord’s words to His people as they’re preparing to enter the promised land.
“There shall not be found among you … anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.
Deuteronomy 18:10-14 ESV
Maybe you’d never dream of going to a fortune teller or necromancer. Are there other cultural norms that you have made part of your life? Gluttony? Cussing? Sex outside marriage? Pornography? Drug use? What about wasting countless hours of your brief life playing video games, watching TV, or scrolling through social media?
Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the many ways we have gone the way of the world, following the pagan culture of entertainment and selfishness. We want to worship You in Spirit and Truth. Help us to put to death what is earthly in us and to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, forgiving and loving others, and following You with all our hearts for all our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 100, 1 Samuel 27
Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.”
1 Samuel 27:1 ESV
Be careful what you allow yourself to say to your heart, those things that are too dreadful or foolish to speak out loud, things you’d never utter to your husband or sister or parent or pastor because you know they’re not true and not right.
Some of us are prone to saying discouraging words in our own hearts. We need to remember what the Lord said in Deuteronomy,
“If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?’ you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the LORD your God brought you out.”
Deuteronomy 7:17-19a ESV
Some of us are prone to saying boastful words in our own hearts. Again, we need to remember what the Lord said in Deuteronomy,
Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘Mypower and the might of myhand have gotten me this wealth.’ (Deuteronomy 8:17 ESV)
Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, “It is because of myrighteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,” whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you. (Deuteronomy 9:4 ESV)
Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, “I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.” This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. (Deuteronomy 29:18b-19 ESV)
Remember the warnings of Psalm 10. The wicked man says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity,” renouncing God and saying inhis heart, “You will not call to account”? while the helpless man says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
Rather, let us say to our hearts these words of David’s son, Solomon, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding,” and “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.”(Proverbs 3:5, 29:25 ESV)
Heavenly Father, help me to be careful what words I say aloud, but also what words I say to my own heart, those things that no human being will ever hear. You know them, and I know them. You know my thoughts before I speak them. Help me to guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life. Help me to think about what is good and excellent and true and praiseworthy. Help me to take sinful thoughts captive and make my thoughts obey you. I recognize that I am unable to do this on my own. I need Your strength. Please help me do it for Your glory and for my good. In the name of Jesus Christ who saved me and redeemed me and rules over me, I pray. Amen
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 99, 1 Samuel 26
Imagine for a moment being in David’s shoes. Your very life is in danger, as you’re being hunted down by the father of your best friend, a man who had once been your advocate, and was now your king.
I’ve been in some tough spots before, but never anything like that! Talk about fighting against the wicked.
But David handles this battle with patients, faith, humility and kindness. Once again David overcomes evil with good – like he had earlier against Saul and like Abigail had in the previous chapter.
Next time you find yourself locked in a battle with an enemy, whether with or without a spear, try killing them with kindness, try showing them grace, and see what happens.
Today’s reading in 1 Samuel really reminded me of Psalm 37. Hope this reading blesses you – or better yet, go read it for yourself!
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 98, 1 Samuel 25
Nabal is described as a rich man. David Guzik writes, “There are four kinds of riches. There are riches in what you have, riches in what you do, riches in what you know, and riches in what you are — riches of character. Nabal was a very rich man, but only rich in what he had. He had the lowest kind of riches.”
Abigail, on the other hand, was both “discerning and beautiful.” She was rich outwardly and inwardly. She was a wise woman married to a foolish man.
Many women find themselves in that position. Sometimes that happens because you came to faith in Christ after you’re married, but sometimes it happens simply because you were naive and chose a foolish man unwittingly. Either way, now you’re married. What are you going to do?
Humble yourself. Rather than focusing on that splinter in your husband’s eye, remind yourself of the log in your own. Matthew 5-7 is a great place to look.
Seek his good and not his harm. Leave vengeance up to God. Choose to overcome evil with good. Choose kindness. Choose to bless rather than curse. Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 13 are good passages to study on this.
Trust God. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” The foolish woman tears down her own house with her hands. Be wise and put your trust in God – not in yourself, not in your husband, not in your wealth or position or family name. Trust in God.
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
Psalm 37:1-5 ESV, a Psalm of David
Heavenly Father, I pray for my sisters all across my nation and around the world who are married to foolish men. Give them strength when they are weak. Give them discernment when they don’t know what to do next. Give them patience to wait upon Your deliverance and justice. Increase their faith. Help them trust in You and You alone. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 96, 1 Samuel 21-22
Samuel 21 begins with David running to Ahimelech, the priest. That’s a great place to start, but it goes downhill quickly as David tells one lie after another. Before fleeing to the Philistine city of Gath, Goliath’s hometown, David asked the priest for a spear or a sword because he’d “brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required taste” (1 Samuel 21:8). More lies.
What has happened to David’s faith?
What happened to the David who said, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with the javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts the god of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Samuel 17:45)?!
What happened to David wanting all the earth to know that there is a God in Israel and all the Israelites to know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord’s?! (1 Samuel 17:46-47)
Friends, our flesh is so weak. Now is the time to prepare for that day when persecution comes, when someone is pursuing us. Are you prepared to stand?
Who do you fear more? God … Or man?
Today, November 2, 2025, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), is a great day to consider these questions.
Let me recommend the video series, PREPARE TO STAND, with Andrew Brunson who was imprisoned in Turkey for two years for his faith.
Heavenly Father, we lift up our persecuted brothers and sisters to You. Give them strength when they are weak. Protect them from the enemy’s schemes. Grow our faith, Father. Help us when our faith is weak. Help us to remember Your power and faithfulness. Let us not trust in any earthly weapon – not weapons of human intellect or power or violence – but let us trust in the sword of Your Spirit, Your Word, which is mightier than the mightiest human sword. Help us to hide it in our hearts and meditate on it night and day. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 95, 1 Samuel 18-20
Have you ever been envious of someone? Have you ever been upset when someone else got something that you didn’t? Someone else got a real Cabbage Patch doll, but you didn’t. Someone else had a new pair of Jordans, but you didn’t. How about when someone else got a promotion at work or an award at school, while you were passed by? Or maybe that guy you liked asked out your best friend instead of you? Envy rears its nasty head in all kinds of places and all kinds of ways.
As 1 Samuel 17 ends and 1 Samuel 18 begins, Saul asks David to lead his army, and yet Saul is very angry when he hears the women celebrating and singing David’s conquests. Even though the women sang of Saul defeating thousands, that’s not good enough when compared to David’s ten thousands, “and Saul eyed David from that day on” (1 Samuel 18:9 ESV).
Unfortunately, I have witnessed similar animosity and envy between Christian individuals, ministries, and churches. Rather than seeing one another as God’s fellow workers, linking arms together, all too many Christians are jockeying for position – judging their own success by getting more members, more followers, or more likes. Their concern isn’t for the purity and spread of the gospel. Their concern is for the popularity of their own personal ministry.
Let us not be like Cain, “who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12 ESV). Rather, let’s be like Paul, who wrote, “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:8-9 ESV). Remember that love is patient and kind, not envying or boasting, nor being arrogant or rude (1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV). Let’s “rejoice with those who rejoice” and “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15 ESV) instead of being mad at those who rejoice and rejoicing at those who weep.
Envy is the way of the Pharisees (Mark 15:10), the way of the world, but not the way of Christ and His followers.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the body of Christ here on earth. We pray for each and every member, each and every pastor, teacher, ministry leader, church planter, every one bearing the name of Christ around the world. We pray that You will unite them to Your Word, to the gospel, and to one another. Protect us from the enemy, our adversary, the devil who wants to bring division and confusion and darkness. Keep us from envy and backbiting. Keep us on the straight and narrow path. Keep us close to the cross. For Your glory and our good, we pray. Amen.
Alas Did My Savior Bleed at the Cross – Justin Hill – Ed Sullivan
Before closing out, I want to give a “shout out” to some national ministries that have been great blessings to me.
David Guzik’s Enduring Word – I’ve used many of his resources when I’m studying for teaching at Community Bible Study. I love that I can choose to read, watch, or listen since his site includes written material as well as videos and audio downloads. You can even find links to his teachings on the Blue Letter Bible website and app by clicking on “commentaries.”
Truth for Life with Alistair Begg – I love how Mr. Begg teaches expositionally through the Bible verse by verse with passion and application.
Got Questions – A great resource when you’re researching something. For example, their article called, “What does the Bible have up say about envy?” ends with this paragraph. “The root of envy is a dissatisfied heart. We experience envy when we cannot have what our heart desires. We have not yet learned the secret of contentment (Philippians 4:10–13), of delighting ourselves in the Lord. The most effective way to avoid envy is to trust in the Lord and delight in Him: ‘Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun” (Psalm 37:3–6).'” Amen!
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 94, 1 Samuel 17
Goliath was big. God is bigger.
Goliath’s armor was strong. God’s armor is stronger.
Goliath’s spear was mighty. God’s sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is mightier.
Just like we shouldn’t judge little David by external appearances, we shouldn’t judge our circumstances by external appearances. Put on your armor, take up your sword, and get in the battle! Quit standing on the sidelines. Remember what David said to Goliath, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel 17:45 ESV
Heavenly Father, help me to look at life through the lens of Scripture and truth, to remember that You are on my side. Thank you for that mighty sword that I hold in my heart and in my right hand. Remind me to use it. Thank you for that armor that is mine and fits me like a glove. Remind me to put it on. Hide me behind the cross. Shelter me under Your wings. You are my mighty fortress. I have nothing to fear.
A Mighty Fortress is our God – Desert Hills Bible Church
Teach What is Good 
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