Sunday (6/12)

This week we will continue reading the book of 1 Samuel. Samuel was a prophet and the last judge of the people of Israel before the twelve tribes became unified as a monarchy. Samuel was chosen by God to anoint the first two kings of Israel. The book tells the stories of the prophet Samuel, King Saul, and King David.

 

If you did not read the previous books of Genesis through Ruth, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the Old Testament. The video is a summary of the Hebrew scriptures. It is available on YouTube.

TaNaK/Old Testament by the Bible Project:

 

Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read scripture this week:

1. Approach scripture with humility. Seek to receive what the Bible reveals without trying to make it say what you want it to say.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak a message to you through the verses you read.

3. What do these verses reveal about God?

4. What do these verses reveal about humanity?

5. What do these verses teach me about myself?

6. How do you see yourself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

7. Read, study, and discuss scripture with a small group or another person.

8. Are you using a Study Bible?

A Study Bible is a very helpful tool for understanding each book of the Bible. They include information shared by scholars about historical and cultural realities during the time depicted or the era of the document, the author, when the book might have been written, the intended audience of the document, themes and messages within a book or letter, and more.

The NIV, NRSV, ESV, and NLT Study Bibles are worth considering if you do not own one. There are a few available from the AUMC Library in the back of the Chapel. You can also purchase a Study Bible from ChristianBook.com, Cokesbury.com, or Amazon.com.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

 

 

Monday (6/13)

Read the verse from Hannah’s prayer recorded in 1 Samuel 2 to begin your devotional time with God:

“There is none holy like the LORD:

for there is none besides you;

there is no rock like our God.” – 1 Samuel 2:2 ESV

 

As we continue reading the book of 1 Samuel, if you haven’t seen it already, you are encouraged to watch the Overview: 1 Samuel video by the Bible Project that is available on Youtube:

Overview: 1 Samuel by the Bible Project

 

Read 1 Samuel 2:18-26. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal a word, phrase, or verse from the biblical text that is specifically for you for today.

 

Pray however the Spirit of the Lord and Bible verses prompt and guide you to pray.

 

 

Tuesday (6/14)

Read 1 Samuel 2:2 to remind you of the holiness of our God.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to spend a few minutes or more alone with God silently listening for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. What do you hear? What sounds are being made around you? How is the Holy Spirit using those noises to remind you of God? If you struggle to listen, focus your mind on the holiness of God, the Lord’s flawlessness.

 

Read 1 Samuel 3:1-4:1 Has God spoken to you at some point during your life? If so, what did the Lord say? How did God share his message with you?

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)
• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

 

Wednesday (6/15)

Read 1 Samuel 2:2 to begin your devotional time. Think about what the verse reveals about the Lord.

 

Read 1 Samuel 7:3-17. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray through your day, including for the people you will be with, or have been with, as well as what you will do, or what you have done.

 

 

Thursday (6/16)

Read 1 Samuel 2:2 and praise God using the words of Hannah’s prayer.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to spend a few minutes or more alone with God silently listening. What do you hear? What sounds are being made around you? How is the Holy Spirit using those noises to remind you of God? If you struggle to listen, focus your mind on God as our “rock.”

 

Read 1 Samuel 8. If you haven’t yet, choose a question or two from the Sunday list of this devotional to wrestle with as part of your study time.

 

Pray in response to God using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Friday (6/17)

Read part of Hannah’s prayer from 1 Samuel 2:2 to begin your time with the Lord. Which word(s) or phrase stands out the most to you?

 

Read 1 Samuel 9:1-26. Invite the Lord to speak to you through the words of scripture.

 

Pray that God guides and empowers you and the people of AUMC to live the virtues revealed in Christ, which includes humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love (Philippians 2:3-11 and Luke 6:27-40).

 

 

Saturday (6/18)

How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this weekend? The sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to worship God, rest, and enjoy life-giving recreation to experience restoration. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday to develop a new habit of observing the Sabbath. It might be helpful for you to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each weekend until you are eventually able to worship, rest, and engage in living-giving recreation for an entire day each week.

 

Read Psalm 2. Although Saul became the first king of the kingdom of the Israelites, Jesus is the king of the Kingdom of God. Read this psalm thinking about Christ as our king.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten, twenty, or up to thirty minutes. During your time of solitude and silence with the Lord you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do-lists, plans for the day, etc. Simply be with God as you let your mind meditate on Christ, our King. Afterwards, read the Bible verses listed below.

 

Read 1 Samuel 9:27-10:27. Consider choosing some questions or suggestions from the list on the Sunday portion of this devotional to wrestle with as part of your study time.

 

Spend some time pondering about what God revealed to you this past week. How did the Lord speak to you? Did God do it through scripture, a book, during a prayer time, in a song, through a person, via nature, or in some other way? What did God say or reveal?

Write your answers in a journal or spend some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend to share what God revealed to you.

 

Pray in response to our Lord and King. You may find it helpful to use some of the words of the psalm as a guide for your time of prayer.