1 Samuel 31

Theme of chapter: End of the road for Saul. The Philistines win the war with Israel and kill Saul and his sons.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

Most prominent word: Gilboa (bubbling)

Teaching about Christ: Vengeance is of the Lord.

Command to obey: Seek the Lord for salvation, anything else is certain destruction.

Promise to claim: Judgement falls upon the unrepentant sinner.

New truth learned: God finally deals with Saul as he is slain. The people's choice for king was a miserable failure. His heart was never for God and he ultimately showed himself as a child of the devil, and in the end met with destruction.

1 Samuel 30

Theme of chapter: David returns home to find his city burned to the ground and all the wives and children gone. The Amalekites had invaded and done this, David prays about it and then catches up to them and kills almost all of them and returns everything they had taken.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Most prominent word: Amalekites (these were the terrorists and opportunists of that day)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord is an encourager.

Command to obey: Seek the Lord in times of trouble and tribulation.

Promise to claim: The Lord gives in abundance.

New truth learned: David had made a blunder and shows his human side here as he goes with the Philistines leaving his family unprotected. God intervenes and makes circumstances so he can save his family and his people's family.

1 Samuel 29

Theme of chapter: David rides with the Philistines to go fight Israel. The elders of the Philistines rebuke him thinking he might turn on them, and David and his group are sent packing back to the land in the Philistines that he was permitted to stay.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 29:5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

Most prominent word: Achish (the king gives)

Teaching about Christ: The Lords providence is sometimes exercised when a child of his falls out of the will of God.

Command to obey: Stay safely in the will of God.

Promise to claim: God intervenes on our behalf at times for us to avoid great sin or trouble.

New truth learned: David now going out to fight his own people, as he deems Saul and his men his enemy. God intervenes as the Philistines don't want him fighting with him and sends him home. The prevents David from committing a great sin of fighting his own people.

1 Samuel 28

Theme of chapter: The Phillistines gather a great army, and Saul is very afraid of them. God isn't talking to him, so he resorts to the devil and sorcery. This so called wizard doesn't tell Saul anything new. Same old stuff about David being king and you dying very soon.

Meanwhile, David is playing both sides, he is living with the Phillistines and is expected to fight against Israel, and he can't fight against his own people. He is in a real pickle here.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 28:18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

Most prominent word: Endor (spring of Dor)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord abhors fortune tellers, sorcerers and the like.

Command to obey: Seek the Lord for answers, not witchcraft.

Promise to claim: Judgement comes to the unrepentant sinner. Always has and always will.

New truth learned: Saul is scared out of his wit now. He resorts to demonic means to get answers to the future as God has forsaken him. He doesn't get any good news from the devil either. He's on the way out and there ain't much he can do about it.

1 Samuel 27

Theme of chapter: David has gotten weary of running and decides to go dwell with the Phillistines for a while.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 27:1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

Most prominent word: Gath (winepress)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord knows the weaknesses of man.

Command to obey: Trust in God's strength not your own.

Promise to claim: God can use weak men who have faith in him.

New truth learned: David is weary, he has given up hope that Saul will leave him alone. So he turns and flees to the Philistines to get away from him once and for all.

1 Samuel 26

Theme of chapter: Saul is still after David and follows after him into the forest. This is David's backyard, and David sneaks upon him in the night. David doesn't kill him again out of respect for his position and Saul returns home.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed.

Most prominent word: Abishai (father is Jesse or father exists)

Teaching about Christ: Vengeance is the Lord's.

Command to obey: Do not seek revenge for a wrong doing. God will avenge.

Promise to claim: The Lord will deliver you out of all tribulation.

New truth learned: Saul once again chasing David, finds himself in a position to be killed by David. He is spared and goes back home. We know by now he hasn't learned his lesson and will continue to pursue David as he knows God has anointed him to be his successor.

1 Samuel 25

Theme of chapter: Samuel dies. David and his men seek food and drink from a nearby wealthy but evil man Nabal who had a good wife in Abigail. Nabal refused them anything, and David would've killed all his people and him, had it not been for Abigail meeting David half way presenting him food and speaking to him.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 25:28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

Most prominent word: Nabal (fool)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord is the great judge and avenger.

Command to obey: Don't take revenge on a foe, the Lord will avenge.

Promise to claim: there is peace and protection in the will of God.

New truth learned: David had lived a clean life up to this point. He was tempted with anger to kill Nabal and all his family. Abigail intervened and kept this evil from David, who ended up marrying her.

1 Samuel 24

Theme of chapter: Saul catches up to David and his men at Engedi. Saul rests in a cave, where David lays in wait. God delivers Saul into David's hand be he doesn't kill him for respect of his office.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 24:6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

Most prominent word: Engedi (spring of young goat)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord sets the basest of men up to rule over us.

Command to obey: Respect the office if not the person who rules over you.

Promise to claim: Christ is the great deliverer as well as judge.

New truth learned: David had his chance to kill Saul once and for all, but he doesn't. Out of respect for the office of King, that God has anointed he refrains from killing him. He allows God to exact judgement on Saul.

1 Samuel 23

Theme of chapter: Saul continues to pursue David in attempt to destroy him. David and his men stay one step ahead of him.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 23:13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

Most prominent word: haunt (foot; by extension)

Teaching about Christ: Christ protects David from Saul and from the Philistines.

Command to obey: Seek the Lords counsel on all matters.

Promise to claim: In the will of God is a safe place to be.

New truth learned: Saul just keeps on and on, he is obsessed with killing David and continues to hunt him down like a dog.

1 Samuel 22

Theme of chapter: David flees from town to town. Doeg the Edomite, a type of Judas, tells Saul that Ahimelech the high priest helped David giving him food and a sword. Saul in more jealous rage has Doeg to kill Ahimelech and all his family.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 22:2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

Most prominent word: Doeg (anxious)

Teaching about Christ: As in the verse above talking about David. This is a picture of Christ drawing the oppressed, debtors in sin, and the discontented unto himself. Christ draws out a people for himself in this day, and is rejected by the world as David was in his day.

Command to obey: lay the problems and debts of this life on the blood of Jesus Christ.

Promise to claim: Christ calls out a people, it's up to us to answer the call.

New truth learned: David caused Ahimelech and his families death by lying to him about being on official business when in fact he was fleeing. This shows how are sin can affect other people not just ourselves.

1 Samuel 21

Theme of chapter: David flees to Nob in fear of Saul

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 21:6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

Most prominent word: hallowed(holy or sacred thing)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is holy.

Command to obey: Do what is right in God's eyes, not mans.

Promise to claim: The Lord protects his children.

New truth learned: David ate the show bread even though it was sacred bread dedicated to God. It was needed so it was used. The lesson is to be practical about giving and helping someone in need.

1 Samuel 20

Theme of chapter: Jonathan has a covenant with David to protect him against his father. Saul continues to try to kill David, and ultimately David has to flee.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 20:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

Most prominent word: confusion(shame; disgrace; humiliation)

Teaching about Christ: God shows kindness to us, not because there is any good in us, but because of what Christ did for us.

Command to obey: Seek the Lord today. Stay far from jealousy as it can ruin a man.

Promise to claim: Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, we are one step or one heartbeat away from eternity.

New truth learned: Saul knows that David is anointed to be king, and is doing everything he can to kill him. Jonathan's loyalty is to David, not to his father Saul, even though it means he will not succeed Saul to be king.

1 Samuel 19

Theme of chapter: Jonathan sticks up for David, and talks to Saul about him, getting him to agree to not kill him. David returns only to have Saul make another attempt on his life, whereby he flees to Samuel.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

Most prominent word: Michal (who is like God?)

Teaching about Christ: Christ protects David during this time against the attempts of Saul to slay him.

Command to obey: Seek refuge in the Lord, not man.

Promise to claim: There is always a price to pay when following the Lord.

New truth learned: Saul, filled with jealousy, just can't help himself trying to kill David. He's consumed by this and seems to try to kill him openly. He certainly is no king, and is what you usually get when man chooses a leader.

1 Samuel 18

Theme of chapter: Jonathan and David become best friends. David has become a might warrior and the people of Israel love him more than Saul. Saul becomes very jealous and tries to kill him. He can't so he gets David to marry his daughter to keep him close by.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

11And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

Most prominent word: tabrets (tamboriene)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord was with David, and thus he became very mighty and well known. He is anointed of Christ to be the king. Saul was the people's choice.

Command to obey: do not be jealous or envious, accept and appreciate your lot in life.

Promise to claim: The Lord protects his children.

New truth learned: Saul was very jealous of David and tried to kill him. He got David to marry one of his daughters. I guess that was the original adage, keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.

1 Samuel 17

Theme of chapter: David kills Goliath with a sling and a stone.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 17:49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

Most prominent word: stripling (boy; young man)

Teaching about Christ: If the Lord be with you, who can stand against you.

Command to obey: Don't keep your eye's on your problems, keep them on Christ.

Promise to claim: Christ came from the line of Jesse through David.

New truth learned: David had a lot of faith in God, and the power of God. He stepped out to fight this giant when no one else in Israel would. He didn't rely on his own abilities, but relied on God to give him the victory.

1 Samuel 16

Theme of chapter: God chooses David, the son of Jesse, to succeed Saul as king.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 16:12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

Most prominent word: David(beloved one)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord is concerned about our heart, not our outward appearance.

Command to obey: Don't judge yourself by your physical attributes, but by your heart.

Promise to claim: The Lords will is always done. He wants a people after his own heart.

New truth learned: Saul is on the way out now. Samuel goes and anoints David as king, and David is sent to Saul to play music for him and they become friends. David is a short man with red hair the opposite of the tall stature of Saul.

1 Samuel 15

Theme of chapter: Through Samuel God commands Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites, not leaving anything or anyone alive. Saul disobeys and leaves the king alive and the best animals. Samuel rebukes him and tells him that because of his disobedience he is finished as king.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

Most prominent word: Amalekites (a nation of idolators who were bitter foes of Israel)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord is holy. He can love you and still discipline you.

Command to obey: Do not rebel against the Lord or be stubborn in your ways.

Promise to claim: Judgement always comes to unrepentant sin.

New truth learned: Saul just can't help himself. He just keeps on and on disobeying God and making up all kinds of excuses and pious reasoning to try to cover his tracks. Unfortunately for him, Samuel is in direct communication with God and sees through all these politician-like maneuvers. Saul is finally given the boot.

1 Samuel 14

Theme of chapter: God is with Jonathon as he goes on his own to attack the Philistines. A great earthquake and commotion comes over the Philistines, in their confusion they are attacking themselves and fleeing. Saul grows more jealous of his son Jonathon and tries to kill him.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 14:15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

Most prominent word: Jonathan (gift of Yahweh)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord protects his children

Command to obey: Do not be jealous or proud. Be humble.

Promise to claim: God places the basest of men into power.

New truth learned: Saul really shows his character here. Trying to kill his own son out of jealousy. He is a real piece of work.

1 Samuel 13

Theme of chapter: Saul begins his reign as king. Jonathon his son wins a battle against the Philistines, which Saul takes the credit for. The Philistines now are angry and raise up a huge army to go against Israel.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 13:3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

4And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

Most prominent word: garrison (outpost)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord would've set Saul's kingdom up forever, but he would not obey the Lord, and he gives it to another.

Command to obey: Obey the commandments of the Lord

Promise to claim: Despite sinful man, God's plans are fulfilled.

New truth learned: At best, Saul was a sinful selfish worldly man who only cared about himself. At worst he was a child of the devil doing his work. Saul had a lot of false modesty and was just slimy acting at times. He would've made a great politician in our time.

1 Samuel 12

Theme of chapter: Samuel is getting old, he gives his swan song speech to Israel

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 12:20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

Most prominent word: sin (do wrong; miss the way)

Teaching about Christ: The Lord will not forsake his people.

Command to obey: Pray for each other. Fear the Lord and server him with all your heart.

Promise to claim: Unrepentant sin will be judged. The Lord is quick to forgive and slow to anger.

New truth learned: The people of Israel are told by Samuel to not let past sin affect their walk with the Lord. What is done, is done, move forward.

1 Samuel 11

Theme of chapter: The Ammonites come against Jabeshgilead and threaten them with poking their eyes out for Israel to see and to make them servants. God works thru Saul, and Saul comes up and defeats the Ammonites, destroying nearly all of them.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Most prominent word: Ammonite (my people)

Teaching about Christ: Christ uses one nation to judge another.

Command to obey: Seek the filling of the holy spirit daily through prayer and study of the Word.

Promise to claim: If God is with you, you are the majority.

New truth learned: Even though it was a great sin that these people of Israel chose to have a king, God uses Saul in mighty ways.

1 Samuel 10

Theme of chapter: Saul is anointed king by Samuel and presented to the people of Israel as the king that wanted as they turned their backs on God.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 10:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

Most prominent word: psaltery (water jar; jug; pot)

Teaching about Christ: Christ forgives all the sins of his children.

Command to obey: Don't let past sins affect how you live your life now, or what you can accomplish now.

Promise to claim: God can turn something meant for evil to something good.

New truth learned: Israel is getting their wish now, Saul is presented as their king.

1 Samuel 9

Theme of chapter: Saul is sent by God to Samuel to become king of Israel.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 9:17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

Most prominent word: Saul (asked, dedicated to God)

Teaching about Christ: Something meant for evil, Christ can make for good.

Command to obey: Trust in Christ, not on man.

Promise to claim: Watch what you pray for, you just might get it.

New truth learned: The people of Israel are going to get their first king, Saul. God speaks to Samuel informing him that Saul is the man for the job..

1 Samuel 8

Theme of chapter: Samuel was getting old, and he made his sons Judges over Israel. His sons were heathens and cheats. The people of Israel wanted a king like the other nations and demanded of Samuel to get them one. This was Israel's rejection of God as their king.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 8:7 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.

Most prominent word: king (royal ruler)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is king, high priest, and prophet.

Command to obey: Seek Christ to be the Lord over your everyday life.

Promise to claim: man's heart is infinitely wicked. God sometimes has to take his children to the woodshed for teaching.

New truth learned: The people of Israel now want a king, just because everybody around them has one. They have the one true God, but that isn't what they want, they want a man to rule over them. That is exactly what they are going to get, and that isn't a good thing, as they have rejected God.

1 Samuel 7

Theme of chapter: The Ark was back in Israel's hands 20 years, before they repented to the Lord for their idolatry. During this time the Philistines beat them repeatedly in battles and were set to destroy them. Only when they turn back to God, does God save them. He hears the prayers and sacrifice of Samuel and answers them.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 7:3 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.

Most prominent word: Ebenezer (stone of help)

Teaching about Christ: God is a jealous God.

Command to obey: do not trust in the things of this world, trust in Christ.

Promise to claim: There is safety in the will of God.

New truth learned: The people of Israel continue their vicious cycle of idolatry, judgement with defeat and destruction, and then finally coming back to God. They seem to repeat this all through the old testament.

1 Samuel 6

Theme of chapter: The Philistines hastily get the Ark back to Israel as it has brought nothing but pain and suffering to them. Levites receive it but sin against the Lord and look into the Ark. As a result 50,070 people of Israel are killed.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

Most prominent word: milch kine (nursing heifer; cow )

Teaching about Christ: Christ is holy.

Command to obey: Fear the Lord, and obey his word.

Promise to claim: Certain judgement comes to unrepentant sin.

New truth learned: The Philistines were glad to get rid of this once prized possession of Israel. It had given them hemorrhoids and killed off a bunch of them. The Levites receive the Ark, but they are obviously still in idolatry as they look into the Ark, I guess out of curiosity sake. This was a direct disobedience of his law, the result is thousands slaughtered. God is to be feared, and out of his will is a bad place to be.

1 Samuel 5

Theme of chapter: The Philistines had the Ark of the Covenant, but it was a curse to them causing great sickness and death, and they began to pass the Ark from city to city. Nobody wanted it.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 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.

Most prominent word: emerods (tumor; hemorrhoids)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is the one true God, all others are nothing but idols.

Command to obey: Fear the Lord. Do not worship idols.

Promise to claim: Judgement comes upon the wicked.

New truth learned: I think God shows his sense of humor here, as when the Ark is left in the room with an Idol of Dagon, the next few mornings the statue of Dagon is on the floor broken to pieces. A great plague is upon these people who possess the Ark, they pass it around like a hot potato.

1 Samuel 4

Theme of chapter: The Philistines defeat Israel handily. The people of Israel were out of the will of God and were idol worshipping thinking the Ark of the Covenant itself on the battle field would bring them victory. They were very wrong.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

Most prominent word: Philistines (a powerful sea people who settled in the coastal strip in SW Palestine)

Teaching about Christ: Christ cannot be put in a box, cannot be compartmentalized. He is the almighty.

Command to obey: Do not trust in idols. Money, power, etc. are all given by God and can be taken away.

Promise to claim: Out of the will of God was and is a dangerous place for a child of God.

New truth learned: The people of Israel were steeped in idolatry and God moves in and judges them by the hand of the Philistines. Samuel is a known prophet in the land, and no mention is given here that anyone consulted him before going into battle. The lesson here is, before you do anything make sure you are in the will of God. It's not, is God with you, it's more , are you with God.

1 Samuel 3

Theme of chapter: The Lord comes and speaks to Samuel

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Most prominent word: Shiloh (the site of Israel's early sanctuary)

Teaching about Christ: Christ calls for each one of us, it's up to us to answer him.

Command to obey: Answer the Lord's calling, be saved, and serve him. Discipline your children, bring them up rightly to fear God.

Promise to claim: Unrepentant sin is always judged.

New truth learned: Samuel has the same vision about Eli's sons being judged. It would've been a good idea to put a life insurance policy out on those two. It is now widely known all over that land that Samuel is a prophet of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2

Theme of chapter: Hannah begins with a prayer of praise to God and how mighty he is. Samuel grows up in the house of Eli, the high priest. His children are son's of the devil and do much evil, but Samuel isn't influenced. A prophet comes to tell Eli both of his sons will die on the same day.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 2:3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Most prominent word: fleshhook (meat fork)

Teaching about Christ: Christ would put down the proud, and raise up the meek.

Command to obey: Do not be arrogant or proud. What you have, God gave you.

Promise to claim: There is none holy or righteous except Jesus Christ. Nothing is done in secret, God sees/knows all things. Judgement comes to the unrepentant sinner.

New truth learned: This brought an end to the priest age and a beginning of the king age, as the high priests were replaced by prophets and the people formerly ruled by theocracy begin to be ruled by monarchy.

1 Samuel 1

Theme of chapter: Hannah, childless, prays to the Lord for a son, and vows if she receives one she would dedicate his life to the Lord's work.

Most important verse: 1 Samuel 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

Most prominent word: Samuel (heard of God)

Teaching about Christ: Animal sacrifices take place here, pointing to the Christ that was to come.

Command to obey: Pray for everything and often.

Promise to claim: The Lord answers the prayers of his children.

New truth learned: Hannah prayed to God with desperation and brokeness. This seems the way of the lost unto salvation.

Acts 28

Theme of chapter: Paul makes it to Rome, and ends up preaching the gospel there for two years.

Most important verse: Acts 28:24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

Most prominent word: waxed gross (become calloused of heart; unable to understand )

Teaching about Christ: Paul's prayer was answered as way back in this book he prayed that he would go to Rome, and he made it there by the grace of God.

Command to obey: Receive the good news of Christ with gladness, and accept this free gift.

Promise to claim: God's promises are dependable.

New truth learned: Paul possessed the sign gifts of the apostles. To heal and here in this chapter, he was bitten by a venomous snake and it had no ill effect on him. He made it to Rome where he preached the gospel for two years. As always is the case, some believed and some didn't.

Acts 27

Theme of chapter: Paul begins his sea journey to Rome to appear before Caesar. A great storm threatens to kill them all, but God intervenes and saves them all, to an island.

Most important verse: Acts 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Most prominent word: Euroclydon (southeast wind)

Teaching about Christ: Christ will bring his flock through to the end.

Command to obey: trust Christ no matter what your circumstance.

Promise to claim: God's way is unto salvation, man's way is to destruction

New truth learned: Paul warns them not to sail, but they did anyway, and a great storm came up that threatened to kill them all. They didn't listen to Paul then, but when all heck was breaking loose they warmed right up to him. He told the men that God told him that no one would perish, if they just stay on the boat. Some were tempted to go, but they all stayed and all were saved.

Acts 26

Theme of chapter: Paul gives his testimony of Christ to King Agrippa and his subjects.

Most important verse: Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Most prominent word: Agrippa (wild horse)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is the first to be and is the resurrection.

Command to obey: Accept Christ. Turn from darkness to light, and receive forgiveness of sins unto eternity.

Promise to claim: The gospel is foolishness to the carnal man. He runs from and reviles God.

New truth learned: Paul gives his testimony and Agrippa says that Paul almost convinces him to become a Christian. Well, almost doesn't get it. It's black and white. You either accept Christ as your savior or you don't. Paul is fulfilling Jesus' prophecy here by preaching to kings.

Acts 25

Theme of chapter: Festus becomes governor after Felix. The Jews still seek to kill Paul, but he appeals to Caesar. King Agrippa comes to town to greet the new governor, while there he asks for an audience to hear Paul.

Most important verse: Acts 25:11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

Most prominent word: superstition (religion)

Teaching about Christ: Jesus died on the cross, and was resurrected by the Father.

Command to obey: Respect the offices of the government that rule over you.

Promise to claim: God's promises are iron clad.

New truth learned: Jesus had told Paul he would present the gospel before kings, and he is now doing that. Given an audience with King Agrippa and his subjects, Paul is given a great platform to deliver the gospel message.

Acts 24

Theme of chapter: Paul is on trial before the governor of Rome. The religious rulers come down to accuse him of breaking the laws of Moses. Felix being a politician wants a bribe that Paul doesn't offer, and Paul is left in prison.

Most important verse: Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Most prominent word: Tertullus (prosecuting attorney for the religious leaders accusing Paul of heresy)

Teaching about Christ: We are acceptable to the Father only by the righteousness of the Son.

Command to obey: Accept the gift of salvation. Either your sins are on Christ or they are on your own head.

Promise to claim: Judgement will come to the unrepentant sinner.

New truth learned: Even in Paul's day there were people like Felix who waited for a so called 'convenient season' to accept Christ. They didn't and don't realize there isn't one. Tomorrow is promised to no one, and that 'urgent season' is today.

Acts 23

Theme of chapter: Paul appears before the religious rulers for questioning. They plot to kill him, so the Romans ban together an army to take Paul over to Felix the Roman governor for what to do with him.

Most important verse: Acts 23:3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

Most prominent word: Felix (fortunate; lucky)

Teaching about Christ: Christ protected Paul, although he was continually in great peril through these times, he was kept safe.

Command to obey: Lok to the Lord and his Word for guidance and protection

Promise to claim: God has a purpose and protects his children.

New truth learned: The Pharises believed in the resurrection and the Sadducees did not. Paul played one against the other to take the focus off of him. These religious people started going at each others throats and Paul was then sent out of their hands on to Felix a Roman governer.

The form of government a country has isn't all that important. What is important is that god fearing men are in authority. Without that, any form of government can and is perverted.

Acts 22

Theme of chapter: Paul, in Jerusalem, is grabbed and beaten by the Jews. A Roman guard intervenes, and allows Paul to address the mob. That didn't go over well with the blood thirsty Jewish leaders.

Most important verse: Acts 22:18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

Most prominent word: Just One (right; righteous; )

Teaching about Christ: Christ is the only just one there ever was.

Command to obey: believe on Christ and be baptized

Promise to claim: God has a plan and purpose for all his children.

New truth learned: Paul was bilingual. He could speak Greek to the Romans and Hebrew to the Jews. This astonished the chief captain that he could speak in his language. Paul gave his testimony of Christ to the Jews and they sought to kill him, just as they did Christ.

Acts 21

Theme of chapter: Paul continues his journey to Jerusalem where he knows he will be bound and mistreated. He stops a few times along the way to greet and check up on places he has had ministry work in.

Most important verse: Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Most prominent word: chief captain (military officer; commander)

Teaching about Christ: Christ directs the lives and leads those who follow him.

Command to obey: whether you circumcise or don't, eat something or don't, doesn't count you more worthy unto God, only faith in Jesus Christ.

Promise to claim: It will always cost you something to follow Christ.

New truth learned: Paul, through the Holy Spirit, knows what awaits him in Jerusalem, and yet him being obedient to Christ journeys on to Jerusalem. An angry mob who'd like to kill him awaits him there.

Acts 20

Theme of chapter: Paul continuing his journey through Greece and back to Ephesus, where he bid his brothers and sisters in Christ farewell, as he would not ever come back, as he would go to Jerusalem.

Most important verse: Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Most prominent word: repentance (changing of mind)

Teaching about Christ: The sign gifts of the Apostles is demonstrated here, as the power of bringing back the dead is given to Paul as he brings back this boy who fell and died.

Command to obey: give with a glad heart. it is much better to give than to receive.

Promise to claim: Christ is in heaven, but the Holy Spirit is here and dwells in the believer to comfort and help.

New truth learned: Paul knows he won't be returning back to Ephesus, making his journey to Jerusalem. He preaches all night and into the early morning to the church and bids them farewell.

Acts 19

Theme of chapter: Paul continues his missionary journey to the west. Many are saved and baptized, and he gains many more Jewish enemies.

Most important verse: Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Most prominent word: divers (someone; any; certain)

Teaching about Christ: John the Baptist had a baptism of repentance for the one coming. Jesus Christ's baptism is one of salvation that brings on the holy spirit.

Command to obey: do not believe on Gods made of hands(money, power, possessions, etc.), but on the true living God, Jesus Christ.

Promise to claim: Attack a mans person, religion or reputation, you might not get a response, but if you attack a mans wallet you'll get a retaliation.

New truth learned: The Jewish leaders dogged after Paul everywhere he went. Preaching about Christ and the gospel brought the ire out of them and they sought to destroy him and any others like him.

Acts 18

Theme of chapter: Pauls 2nd missionary journey comes to a close, and his 3rd missionary journey begins.

Most important verse: Acts 18:15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

Most prominent word: Corinth (decoration)

Teaching about Christ: Jesus is the Christ. The gospel came to the Jew first and then to the Gentile.

Command to obey: believe on Christ and be baptized into the body of Christ.

Promise to claim: missionaries help get the gospel out to the whole world

New truth learned: true separation of church and state are presented here. the state should have no business in the affairs, and make no judgements against anything that deals with religion and the church. if a school wants to have prayer or not to have prayer, or anything, the state should have no say or jurisdiction in the matter.

Acts 17

Theme of chapter: Paul goes through several cities on his way to Athens, preaching the gospel. And everywhere he went the Jews were right down behind them to stir up people against him.

Most important verse: Acts 17:4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

Most prominent word: Silas (dedicated to God)

Teaching about Christ: Christ calls out a people unto him. It is always a remnant that follows.

Command to obey: Don't worship false Gods, worship the one true God, Jesus Christ.

Promise to claim: The Gospel of Christ has turned the world upside down. He brings light to the darkest places.

New truth learned: The Gospel is being preached to the west as Paul moves through Athens. He spoke of the people there as being too religious as they worshiped every false God imaginable. Paul preaches to them the resurrection of Christ. Some believe and some don't, that is always the way.

Acts 16

Theme of chapter: Paul wanted to go through Asia and the East, but the Holy Spirit directs Paul to spread the gospel to the West.

Most important verse: Acts 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Most prominent word: purple (dealer in purple cloth; )

Teaching about Christ: The power to remove demons from people is given to Paul who had all the sign gifts of the Apostles.

Command to obey: pray in all matters

Promise to claim: there is always a price to pay when following Christ.

New truth learned: Sinful man is moved to action mostly out of greed. Paul exorcised the demon out of the girl who could see the future, and that these men were making money off of. They losing their cash cow had Paul and Silas arrested, beaten and thrown in prison. But what they meant for evil God made for good as the guard and his whole family were saved as a result of the ordeal.

Acts 15

Theme of chapter: The first riff in the church, as saved Pharises tell the church that Gentiles need to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. The Apostles object and after long arguing, Peter speaks up to say that Christ died for all, and only faith is needed. No one can keep the law and it is just a burden to place this on the saved.

Most important verse: Acts 15:10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Most prominent word: consolation (encouragement; comfort)

Teaching about Christ: Faith in Christ is all you need for salvation. works of any kind won't do.

Command to obey: trust in Christ for salvation, not in man or in works.

Promise to claim: Christ lived, died for our sins, and was resurrected by the Father. He will come back to build his kingdom.

New truth learned: The Jews that were saved were still Jews. Old habits die hard, as the now converted Pharises attempted to enact works and the law on the backs of the converted Gentiles. But this is the era of grace, as Christ fulfilled all aspects of the law. Peter and the other Apostles had to step in to set them straight, that we don't live under the law anymore, and that no one can keep the law, it's just a mirror to show us our sins.

Acts 14

Theme of chapter: Paul continues his first missionary journey to Iconium, Lystra and others. In Lystra, Paul heals a man who was crippled at birth. The crowd is amazed and worships Paul and Barnabas as Gods. They quickly denounce them saying they are but men. The crowd eventually turns on them and stones Paul unto death. God raised him up and they went on.

Most important verse: Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Most prominent word: Gentiles (foreign nation; heathen; pagan)

Teaching about Christ: there was no gospel written yet back in those days. For the apostles to get the word through to the people, Christ gave them the sign gifts of healing and other miracles to get the peoples attention.

Command to obey: do not follow any man, as men are fallible. follow Christ.

Promise to claim: you reap what you sow.

New truth learned: A great example of reaping what you sow here. Paul, then Saul, was there when Stephen was stoned to death and oversaw the whole thing. Now here, he is the one that is being stoned. What goes around comes around.

Acts 13

Theme of chapter: The Apostle Paul begins his missionary journey.

Most important verse: Acts 13:30But God raised him from the dead:

13:39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Most prominent word: Bar-Jesus (son of jesus [joshua])

Teaching about Christ: The Word of God was sent to the Jew first and then the Gentile. Christ fulfilled the law and the prophecies of the old testament concerning him. and yet, many Jews still didn't believe.

Command to obey: believe in Christ to receive forgiveness of sins and justification before the Father. Christians are to help to spread the Word of God to the ends of the Earth.

Promise to claim: Salvation is of both Jew and Gentile.

New truth learned: Paul starts his missionaries always first from the Jewish synagogues and then to the people. In those days, after the reading of law of Moses in the synagogues they allowed a guest to give an exhortation concerning the old testament. Paul took this as an opportunity to preach the gospel.

Acts 12

Theme of chapter: King Herod begins to persecute the church. He kills James the brother of John an imprisons Peter. An angel of the Lord breaks his chains and lets him out. His people can't believe it is him.

Most important verse: Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Most prominent word: quaternions (squad of four soldiers)

Teaching about Christ: God answers prayer

Command to obey: Pray without ceasing.

Promise to claim: for what is impossible for man, is possible for God.

New truth learned: Even though the people prayed without ceasing, their faith was still not enough that God would actually answer their prayers. They couldn't believe it was Peter knocking at the gate. They thought it was his spirit.

Acts 11

Theme of chapter: Peter returns to Jerusalem where he explains his vision and salvation to the Gentiles.

Most important verse: Acts 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Most prominent word: Joppa (beautiful)

Teaching about Christ: Reiterates that salvation through Jesus Christ is for both the Jew and Gentile

Command to obey: pray often with praise and thanksgiving.

Promise to claim: this is God's universe and he is in control, even when it doesn't look like he is.

New truth learned: The Jews back in Jerusalem were giving Peter a hard time about him going and staying and eating with uncircumcised. Peter told them about his vision, and the people zipped their lip and praised God for granting salvation to the Gentiles.

Acts 10

Theme of chapter: Cornelius is converted by the work of the Holy Spirit through Peter. Peter is also shown by God, that salvation is for both the Jew and the Gentile.

Most important verse: Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Most prominent word: Cornelius (of a horn)

Teaching about Christ: Christ died for everyones sin, bot Jew and Gentile.

Command to obey: pray to the Lord daily in Jesus Christs' name. Christ is our intercessor to the Father.

Promise to claim: God is not a respecter of person.

New truth learned: Peter, being a Jew, had the mindset that Gentiles were unclean. God showed him in a vision that Christ opened the door for all to be saved, and he has no respecter of person, and neither should Peter.

Acts 9

Theme of chapter: Saul meets Jesus on the Damascus road and is converted. He no longer persecutes Christians, but has become one.

Most important verse: Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Most prominent word: Saul (asked of God; dedicated to God)

Teaching about Christ: There's no sin too big for God, Christ died for all our sins, everyone of them.

Command to obey: Come to Christ for salvation, and then be baptized.

Promise to claim: The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, revealing the things of Christ.

New truth learned: Saul, being the main persecuter of the Church, meets Christ face to face and is converted immediately. Shows that you don't choose Christ, but he chooses you. It's up to you how you respond to his invitations.

Acts 8

Theme of chapter: Saul consented to Stephen's death and begins to persecute the church having believers arrested. Philip is now the outreach, taking Stephen's place preaching and healing, showing great miracles and wonders. Simon the sorcerer represents evil entering the church(can't beat'em from the outside, beat'em from the inside), and finally an Ethiopian is converted.

Most important verse: Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Most prominent word: bewitched (to amaze; astound; confuse)

Teaching about Christ: The Holy Spirit in the world reveals the things of Christ.

Command to obey: heed the leading of the Holy Spirit, and believe on Christ.

Promise to claim: Salvation is not of works, but of belief in Christ.

New truth learned: Simon the sorcerer was the first religious racketeer in the church. He wasn't truly saved, and even wanted to pay for the spiritual gifts that the Apostles possessed for his own profit. Much like the so called faith-healers of today. Evil from the outside never hurt the church, in fact, it scattered it out of Jerusalem to go throughout the world, but once evil gets in the church that's how the church is hurt.

Acts 7

Theme of chapter: Stephen is falsely accused of many things by false witnesses accusing him with lies and half-truths. Stephen's response is an old testament history lesson from Abraham on up to Jesus Christ. The religious leaders become furious, throw him out of the city and stone him.

Most important verse: Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Most prominent word: Stephen (victor's wreath)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is the head of the church.

Command to obey: have faith in Christ for salvation. there is but one way.

Promise to claim: following Christ will cost you something.

New truth learned: Stephen becomes the first martyr of the church.

Acts 6

Theme of chapter: Needs arose, so deacons are appointed to handle day-to-day operations of the church, so the Apostles could concentrate on praying and giving the word out.

Most important verse: Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Most prominent word: Grecians (Grecian Jew; Hellenist)

Teaching about Christ: Organization in Christs' church is shown, with preachers concentrating on getting the word out, and deacons appointed to take care of day to day operations to free the preachers time up.

Command to obey: pray and meditate on the word; be filled with the Holy Spirit as he has great power and wisdom.

Promise to claim: doing God's work will surely bring persecution in some manner. ask not for it to be removed, but to have the strength to endure.

New truth learned: the church was growing by leaps and bounds and needed workers to handle the daily operations. Stephen and Philip are two prominent ones appointed. Stephen worked many wonders and miracles amongst the people, and was immediately brought unto the religious leaders, as they seeked to destroy him.

Acts 5

Theme of chapter: Ananias and Sapphira sell a possession and give to the church. But they kept a portion of the proceeds for themselves lying about how much they gave. God strikes them both down. The Apostles continue to preach the gospel and are persecuted by the Sadducees.

Most important verse: Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Most prominent word: life (physical or spiritual; eternal life)

Teaching about Christ: the early church had great power and was to be pure, that's why the lying was punished by death.

Command to obey: help get the word of God out to all the world

Promise to claim: followers of Christ and doers of the Word (not just hearers) will be persecuted at some level.

New truth learned: The Apostles didn't whine and plea for God to remove them from their situation, but instead prayed for strength and even rejoiced for being counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ.

Acts 4

Theme of chapter: The apostles are arrested by the Sadducees after preaching and healing a man. Upon asking the apostles by what power did they heal the man, they replied by the power of Jesus Christ that they had crucified. Sadducees hearts were hardened and they warned them to not preach anymore.

Most important verse: Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Most prominent word: salvation (rescue; deliverance; safe from the righteous wrath of God)

Teaching about Christ: Jesus Christ is the one name by which we must be saved.

Command to obey: seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily in prayer and study of the bible(chew the cud)

Promise to claim: Christ died on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected by the Father and is our only hope of salvation.

New truth learned: The Sadducees didn't believe in the resurrection and are now public enemy #1 against the church. The Pharises have faded from the scene as they had wanted him killed, and that was over with.

Acts 3

Theme of chapter: Peter and John perform a miracle healing a lame man. The people are in wonder, and Peter gives them a history lesson of the prophets.

Most important verse: Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Most prominent word: alms (charitable gift)

Teaching about Christ: Christs healing power was given to the Apostles (the church at this time)

Command to obey: repent of your sins and become converted

Promise to claim: this is the church age until the day Christ comes back.

New truth learned: The very Jewish people who should know scripture had to be given a history lesson about the prophets, for them to understand the healing power of Christ through the Apostles. As they looked upon the Apostles as the source of power.

Acts 2

Theme of chapter: The day of Pentecost is come. The holy spirit comes out of heaven to Earth. The Apostles filled with the Holy Spirit speak in the various people's native tongue, the word of God. They are amazed and some don't believe and mock them as being drunks. Peter gets through to many of them and 3,000 were saved that day.

Most important verse: Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Most prominent word: Pentecost (fiftieth day after Passover)

Teaching about Christ: As Jesus said before he ascended, he would send the Holy Spirit unto the world. He did and gave birth to the church on that day.

Command to obey: repent of your sins. repent doesn't mean to say you're sorry, although that is part of it. it is to turn away from your sins, as to not do them anymore.

Promise to claim: Jesus is the risen Lord and Christ.

New truth learned: The church began in Jerusalem with only Jews. It then spread out to nearby towns, and on and on, engulfing the world.

Acts 1

Theme of chapter: Before ascending Jesus gives the apostles some final instructions about the Holy Ghost who was to come. After Jesus' ascends, Peter pipes up about getting a new 12th apostle, not being led by the Holy Spirit. They throw lots and Matthias wins out and becomes the 12th apostle. It could be argued that Paul is the real 12th apostle chosen by the Holy Spirit.

Most important verse: Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Most prominent word: bishoprick (office of responsibility; place of leadership)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is risen and at the right hand of the Father. He sent the Holy Spirit into the world to draw people unto him.

Command to obey: be cleansed and renewed by the Holy Spirit daily by prayer and study of the bible.

Promise to claim: there is no power in the new nature, but there is power in the indwelling Holy Spirit.

New truth learned: The verse mentioned above deals with the great commission for believers. To take the word of God to; "Jerusalem" meaning your home town. "Judaea" meaning your neighborhood. "Samaria" meaning the wrong side of town, places you wouldn't go to. "uttermost part of the Earth" meaning ultimately taking the gospel to the whole world.

Ruth 4

Theme of chapter: Boaz calls a quick meeting between the elders and the closer kinsman. Once the other kinsman discovers he has to marry Ruth he backs out, to Boaz's joy. He redeems her and marries her.

Most important verse: Ruth 4:15 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.

Most prominent word: redeem (avenger; deliverer)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is our redeemer bought by his blood shed on the cross

Command to obey: cling to the only hope you have of salvation, that hope is Christ

Promise to claim: works nor the law will get you to heaven.

New truth learned: Boaz's and Ruth's offspring was Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.

Ruth 3

Theme of chapter: Naomi instructs Ruth to go to Boaz and tell him that he is a kinsman and should redeem her. She does, and Boaz who is in love with her agrees, only there is a closer kinsman who gets first dibs that must allow it.

Most important verse: Ruth 3:3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

Most prominent word: kinsman (redeem; deliver; provides justice on behalf of a relative)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is our kinsman and redeemer.

Command to obey: come to Christ for redemption today.

Promise to claim: Jesus Christ is our salvation; but one route to the Father and that's through the Son.

New truth learned: the above verse is a description of salvation. 'Wash thyself' points to Christ washing our sins away. 'Anoint thee' points to the anointing of the holy spirit upon the believer to direct him. 'put thy raiment upon thee' points to the believer being clothed in the righteousness of Christ to be made acceptable to the Father. 'Go down to the floor' Points to baptism and declaration of salvation

Ruth 2

Theme of chapter: Ruth, staying with Naomi and being poor, had to go and glean the corners of the fields at harvest time, as that is what is left to the poor. He caught the owner of the fields eye, Boaz, who then gave her special treatment as he was fond of her.

Most important verse: Ruth 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.

Most prominent word: glean (to gather; to pickup; )

Teaching about Christ: Christ rewards faithfulness

Command to obey: be faithful in all you do; in your job, family, everything.

Promise to claim: work is good in God's eyes, from the rich all the way down to the poor.

New truth learned: God has a welfare program. The workers of the harvest were to leave the edges of the field untouched, so the poor could come and gather those. This required even the poor to work for their keep, a check wasn't just mailed to them requiring nothing on their part, the way it is today. there was no entitlement, you had to get off your duff and get it.

Ruth 1

Theme of chapter: Naomi has a husband and two sons. They go out of the promised land to Moab to live with the idol worshipers. Naomi's husband dies and so does her two sons. Only Naomi and the two daughter's in law are left, Ruth and Orpah. Orpah goes back to Moab, but Ruth wants to stay with Naomi and go back to Judah with her.

Most important verse: Ruth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Most prominent word: Naomi (my joy), Mara(bitter)

Teaching about Christ: Being out of the will of God is a dangerous place.

Command to obey: do not worship any other Gods.

Promise to claim: a child of God is always taken out behind the woodshed in the far country and forgiven/comforted at home.

New truth learned: Ruth had a great love for her mother-in-law and didn't want to leave her, even though her husband had died. She went on with Ruth back to Judah. This shows Naomi had gone out of the will of God. Her family gone up out of the promised land to a land where they practice idol worship. Many sorrows fell upon her, and she packed her stuff up and went back to God.

Judges 21

Theme of chapter: The aftermath of the war leaves Israel sorrowful for Benjamin, that there be a tribe cutoff. They swore they wouldn't give Benjamin any of their daughters to marry. This leads to more treachery as Benjamin is encouraged to take the women of Shiloh.

Most important verse: Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Most prominent word: Benjamin (son of the right hand)

Teaching about Christ: Without Christ, there is wickedness

Command to obey: seek the Lord, and avoid the coming judgement

Promise to claim: unrepentant sin will be dealt with

New truth learned: The people of Israel were in a bad state at the close of this book of the bible. They have sinned, compromised, and everything else. It is a very low point, and shows how bad it can get when God is removed the scene.

Judges 20

Theme of chapter: And now we visit the third stage of a country's decline. Political Anarchy as the people of Israel go up against their own tribe Benjamin for the awful thing they did to th e Levite's concubine.

Most important verse: Judges 20:13 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.

Most prominent word: hearken (to hear; listen; obey)

Teaching about Christ: Christ hears the cries of the repentant sinner

Command to obey: obey the law of the land; government is to punish lawlessness

Promise to claim: unrepentant sin will be judged; the wages of sin is death

New truth learned: Israel is thrown into chaos as the tribe of Benjamin will no longer adhere to moral law and come up against the rest of Israel. This all began with religious apostasy. It starts in the church, spreads to the home, and then ultimately dismantles government.

Judges 19

Theme of chapter: Religious apostasy was visited in the last chapter, and moral awfulness is visited here.

Most important verse: Judges 19:29 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.

Most prominent word: concubine (a female consort generally with lower status and fewer rights than a wife, with the function of giving social status or pleasure to the husband)

Teaching about Christ: Without Christ, man is desperately wicked.

Command to obey: seek God and flee from the temptations of the flesh.

Promise to claim: man left alone, there is no depth to the wickedness of his heart.

New truth learned: A Levite having a concubine, and then chopping her up into pieces. I think they've hit rock bottom in moral awfulness here.

Judges 18

Theme of chapter: The tribe of Dan now joins the idol worship act, goes down to Micah to spy out some land. Takes Micah's idols and goes to war conquering some land and setting up these idols.

Most important verse: Judges 18:30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

Most prominent word: ephod (garment of a priest)

Teaching about Christ: there is only one true God, Jesus Christ

Command to obey: Don't worship idols (people, money, possessions)

Promise to claim: unrepentant sin will be judged.

New truth learned: 3 descriptions of apostasy in the church.

1. compromise

2. confusion

3. corruption

Jonathon, the grandson of Moses, of all people became a priest for these idols of Dan, until they went into captivity. Spells out, just because your parents or kin folks are Christians that doesn't make you a Christian

Judges 17

Theme of chapter: Story of Micah a little rich kid momma's boy of the bible. He wasn't disciplined after stealing from his mom. His mom congratulated him instead for bringing the money back. Micah goes on to make idol's from the money that was stolen, that his mom gave him to do. I don't think she will win mother of the year. Micah still goes on to hire a preacher thinking that will bring him salvation.

Chapter illustrates a nation in decline perhaps near where our country is today.

Most important verse: Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Most prominent word: sojourn (to dwell as a stranger)

Teaching about Christ: there is no salvation in works, just the blood of Christ

Command to obey: discipline your children, that is love.

Promise to claim: there is only one right and one wrong, and that is God's right and wrong not mans.

New truth learned: there are 3 stages of the destruction of a country

1. religious apostacy

2. moral awfulness

3. political anarchy

Judges 16

Theme of chapter: Samson is done in by a woman, Delilah. She gets him to tell her the source of his strength, his hair. She gets his hair cut-off, and the Philistines come in a pop his eyeballs out and is imprisoned. He spends much time in repentance imprisoned, he asks God for one more time of strength, whereby he pushes the pillars of the place they were in, the place comes down and thousands of Philistines and him are killed.

Most important verse: Judges 16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

Most prominent word: Delilah (tease)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is our power and strength

Command to obey: resist the temptations of the flesh. they'll do you in. the flesh is weak but God is strong. meditate on, and read the word daily (chew the cud)

Promise to claim: a mans strength is not in himself or material things, it is in Christ

New truth learned: Samson's hair really wasn't his strength. He was strong when God was with him, and was very weak when God was not with him. When his hair was cut off God departed from him. That was disobedience as God said that his hair would not be cut, and that would be a badge that he was a Nazarite unto God.

Judges 15

Theme of chapter: Samson comes home to find that his wife had been given to another by her father. In anger he burns their fields. In retaliation the Philistines kill his wife and her father and go after Samson. Tribe of Judah tie him up and deliver him to the Philistines. Samson breaks the chords that bind him, and kills a thousand of them using the jaw bone of an ass.

Most important verse: Judges 15:15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

Most prominent word: Shocks(stacks of corn) Ramathlehi(hill of Lehi)

Teaching about Christ: If Christ be with you, who can stand against you.

Command to obey: don't fret over your obstacles, but have faith in the deliverer

Promise to claim: what is impossible to men, is possible with God.

New truth learned: Samson, with the Lord power upon him, does an amazing thing. He kills a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey. I'm curious of how that went down. After he kills the first 500 or so, I would've been out of there. Samsons wife, who earlier try to avoid being burned alive and her house burned betrayed her husband by telling the Philistines his riddle. Now her sin has come back to roost and she is burned alive by the Philistines anyway as payback for Samson burning their fields.

Judges 14

Theme of chapter: Samson gets a wife. He's very childlike and presents a riddle to 30 men and wagers clothes on it. They couldn't guess it but get his wife to spill the beans about it. He loses and goes out and kills 30 men to pay off his debt.

Most important verse: Judges 14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.

Most prominent word: Timnath (lot; portion)

Teaching about Christ: the Lord is all the power any man needs.

Command to obey: do not be led by your eyes. don't go after every whim of your fancy.

Promise to claim: your parents have wisdom and should be seeked.

New truth learned: Samson is very childlike and immature. He gets his parents to talk to the girl he likes for him, he gives riddles, and in a tantrum slaughters 30 people after losing. When the Lord is with him though, he is invincible.

Judges 13

Theme of chapter: Manoah's wife was barren. The Lord came to her and told her should would bear a son. She couldn't drink wine or eat any unclean thing. She was to give birth to Samson who would be dedicated to God until he died. He would begin to free the people of Israel from their current oppression.

Most important verse: Judges 13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.

Most prominent word: Samson (strong; little one of Shemesh)

Teaching about Christ: Christ can use anyone who has faith.

Command to obey: your body is the Lords temple, treat it that way.

Promise to claim: the Lord uses the meek.

New truth learned: Samson's birth was miraculous as his mother was barren. He was predestined to be dedicated to the Lord's service.

Judges 12

Theme of chapter: Jephthah defeats Ammon. The tribe of Ephraim was jealous and put to shame that Jephthah hadn't included them in on the battle. They threaten him, and Jephthah wars with Ephraim and defeats them.

Most important verse: Judges 12:3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

Most prominent word: shibboleth (head of grain; branches; channel) a word the Ephraimites could now pronounce correctly. Jephthah used it as a test and killed the people when they couldn't pronounce it correctly.

Teaching about Christ: Christ uses the weak to confound the world.

Command to obey: do not be jealous or covet.

Promise to claim: God can use you.

New truth learned: The people of Israel are fighting amongst themselves now, showing further weakness in the tribes. The Judges are full of faults, but God continues to raise them up and use them for his purposes.

Judges 11

Theme of chapter: Jephthah the bastard son of Gilead is raised up here to fight for Israel. He defeats the enemy, but makes a hasty promise to the Lord and sticks to it. His daughter, his only child will not marry and will be dedicated to the Lord.

Most important verse: Judges 11:30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

31Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

Most prominent word: harlot (to be sexually immoral; )

Teaching about Christ: The Lord can use anyone, despite their background or upbringing.

Command to obey: don't make hasty promises to God. he expects you to keep them.

Promise to claim: God's promises are rock solid.

New truth learned: Judges shows that God can use anyone for his purposes, no matter how lowly or cowardly they may be. Faith in God is all that it took for these men of Judges.

Judges 10

Theme of chapter: The cycle continues of the people of Israel turning to idols, God judging them, and them crying out to God for deliverance.

Most important verse: Judges 10:16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

Most prominent word: tribulation (trouble; distress; calamity)

Teaching about Christ: Christ forgives the repentant sinner.

Command to obey: do not worship false Gods and idols.

Promise to claim: the flesh is weak. left unto itself will sin to great depths.

New truth learned: the people of Israel just can't seem to learn their lesson. Over and over they cycle through this rebellion, judgement, repentance, salvation. The Judges that are raised up are the basest of men with no real upstanding qualities, but God uses them anyway. Much like our rulers today, the very basest of men.

Judges 9

Theme of chapter: Abimelech, one of the many sons of Gideon, kills all but one of his 70 brothers and becomes king. Eventually, the people turn against him and he is killed.

Most important verse: Judges 9:5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

Most prominent word: Jotham(God will sow)

Teaching about Christ: Christ is our king and savior.

Command to obey: Do not covet.

Promise to claim: All unrepentant sin will be judged.

New truth learned: Gideon's sin of having multiple wives and children with these wives comes back to haunt Israel. Abimelech kills all of Gideon's sons except one to gain power, causes a civil war, and ultimately kills Abimelech. Judgement came to him and his followers.

Judges 8

Theme of chapter: Gideon and his army defeat the Midianite kings after chasing them down. The people of Israel now want him to be their king, he refuses. After Gideon dies, Israel goes right back into idol worship.

Most important verse: Judges 8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

Most prominent word: ephod (garment of a priest used for adornment and as an aid in priestly service)

Teaching about Christ: Christ did not want Israel to have a king, he was their king.

Command to obey: Repent of your sins daily.

Promise to claim: You can't hide from God, and you definitely can't hide from judgement.

New truth learned: In each of these cycles of rebellion against God, as soon as the Judge dies, the people of Israel go right back to sinning. Also, Gideon was a weak coward, and God used him, he also fathered some 70 children with many wives. It shows there's hope for all of us that God can use us, if he can use the likes of Gideon.

Judges 7

Theme of chapter: God gives Gideon and the people of Israel victory over the Midianites.

Most important verse: Judges 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

Most prominent word: victuals (food; provisions; supplies)

Teaching about Christ: Power comes from Christ, not material things or people.

Command to obey: Trust in Christ not in people or possessions.

Promise to claim: God gets the victory not man.

New truth learned: The original number of the army with Gideon was 30,000. They widdled it down to 300 as God said that he couldn't give them the victory with 30,000 because they would think they won of their own might. The 300 with Gideon take trumpets and lamps in the middle of the night upon the hill. They shown the lamps below and sounded the trumpets. The Midianites were sent in a panic in the dark killing each other off and fleeing, as they thought a great army was upon them. The armies of Israel gathered after this and routed them. It is by God's hand there is victory not by mans.

Joshua 6

Theme of chapter: Israel falls again into sin and idolatry, resulting in judgement and oppression. They cry out to God, and God raises up Gideon a very meek and somewhat cowardly man.

Most important verse: Joshua 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Most prominent word: Jehovahshalom (Lord is peace)

Teaching about Christ: Christ shows he has a sense of humor as he talks with Gideon. Gideon was hiding from the Midianites and Christ calls him 'mighty man of valour'.

Command to obey: do not worship idols and false Gods

Promise to claim: if the Lord is with you, nothing can stand against you.

New truth learned: God uses the least of people to confound the wise of this world. You can't get much meeker than Gideon. A poor farmer who is hiding from the enemy when God finds him and uses him. Gideon has little faith and asks for signs to prove to himself that he is speaking to the one true God.

Joshua 5

Theme of chapter: Deborah the judge and Barak rejoice in their victory.

Most important verse: Joshua 5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

Most prominent word: Barak (lightning)

Teaching about Christ: the preincarnate Christ curses the person or family that wouldn't help out when Israel fought against their enemy. I wouldn't want to live anywhere near these folks.

Command to obey: stand up and fight for your country when it is being attacked. don't be cowardly or go about your business' as if nothing is going on.

Promise to claim: evil and unrepentant sin will be judged

New truth learned: many of the tribes would not help out when Israel was fighting a common enemy. they were just going about their business or too cowardly to participate. Shows how weak the tribes became after Joshua died.

Judges 4

Theme of chapter: In this round, a female judge rises up, Deborah

Most important verse: Judges 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. (not your bravest general in Barak)

Most prominent word: Deborah (hornet; wasp)

Teaching about Christ: Christ's hand is in every victory and every defeat

Command to obey: repent of sins against God.

Promise to claim: sometimes it takes a while, but unrepentant sin will be judged.

New truth learned: Did seem like there were any strong men around at this time, Barak certainly wasn't. A woman had to step in here and get the job done.

Judges 3

Theme of chapter: Several cycles here of falling away, crying out, and judges being raised. The judges raised in 3 such cycles were Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar.

Most important verse: Judges 3:31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

Most prominent word: ox goad (cattle prod; metal tipped poker used to guide animals;)

Teaching about Christ: Christ can use ordinary men for his purposes.

Command to obey: don't see if God is on your side, make sure you are on God's side.

Promise to claim: man can't do very much, but man plus God can accomplish anything.

New truth learned: God used ordinary men to perform extraordinary feats for him. One man was risen up as a judge with the only redeeming characteristic mentioned, is that he was left handed.

Judges 2

Theme of chapter: And thus begins the cycle of Israel forsaking God and going after idols and rebelling, then God enslaves the people and brings great distress among them. They cry out, turn to God and repent. God then raises a judge to deliver them. This repeats throughout Judges.

Most important verse: Judges 2:18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

Most prominent word: judges (leaders; defenders; avenged; vindicate)

Teaching about Christ: the angel of the Lord is the preincarnate Christ who came to ask of the people of Israel why they are sinning against him, and telling them of their judgement.

Command to obey: do not stray from the will and word of God. that is a dangerous place.

Promise to claim: judgement comes always, to the unrepentant sinner.

New truth learned: people left unto themselves without God, will quickly fall into great sin. God and his Word are needed for instruction for the daily life of the pilgrim.

Judges 1

Theme of chapter: The weakness of the tribes is revealed after Joshua's death.

Most important verse: Joshua 1:2And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

3And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

Most prominent word: Kirjatharba (original name of Hebron; city of four)

Teaching about Christ: Christ's promises stand the test of time.

Command to obey: take the free gift the Lord has given.

Promise to claim: Compromising God's will leads to suffering.

New truth learned: The tribes of Israel are weak. They don't lay hold of God's promises and begin to compromise and then defeated in instances.