Luke 4:22-44. Jesus was rejected as a prophet in his own hometown. Going forward, Jesus cast out an Unclean Spirit and healed many.
1 Samuel 30. David defeated the Amalekites but his two wives were taken hostage and had to be rescued.
1 Samuel 31 tells of the death of Saul’s sons, and how Saul himself fell on his own sword.
Psalm 40, of David. It speaks of the servant that comes to do God’s will. David attributed this to himself, but it is spiritually a messianic Psalm.
Luke 4:1-21, Jesus ministry started with his Temptation in the wilderness, from which we get the 40 days of Lent. At every temptation initiated by Satan Jesus quoted scripture to show his total reliance on God and His word. Satan also used scripture, so watch out! Going to his hometown of Nazareth Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 61. We are still in the acceptable year of the Lord but before the day of the Lord’s vengeance.
In 1 Samuel 28 David was among the Philistines and Saul consulted a woman with a familiar spirit, the witch at En Dor. The medium did bring up Samuel!
1 Samuel 29. The Philistine rulers rejected David.
In Luke 3 John the Baptist prepared the way and performed the baptism of repentance. Jesus’ was also baptized by John, after which “the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” The chapter then lists the genealogy of Mary, from the human side of Jesus. (Matthew listed the genealogy of Joseph from the Kingly side, and since Joseph adopted Jesus as his own, it shows Jesus became the rightful heir to the throne of David.)
In 1 Samuel 26 David Spared Saul’s Life a second time.
1 Samuel 27. David allied himself with the Philistines.
Luke 2:21-52 is telling of when Jesus was brought to the Temple, Simeon’s and Anna’s testimonies, and Jesus at age 12, also in the Temple. Read it and marvel.
In 1 Samuel 24, David Spared Saul’s life, staying true to God.
1 Samuel 25 records Samuel’s death. It also tells the vivid story of David and Abigail, the wife of Nabal.
Luke 2:1-20. The birth of Jesus is so well known that even Charles Schulz’ Peanuts tell of the Birth of Jesus, and the Shepherds and the Angels. Beginning in 2015 many school districts banned the play because of the biblical quotes. Some replaced it with Frosty the Snowman, something we all can believe in.
1 Samuel 20, . Jonathan and David vowed an oath of loyalty, saying: “The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.”
In 1 Samuel 21 David and his men ate from the Holy Showbread. After that David fled to the Philistine city-state of Gath and pretended to be insane to stay alive.
1 Samuel 22. David gathered four hundred men and went back into Judah. Because the LORD’s priests had helped David, Saul had Doeg the Edomite murder the priests, eighty-five in all.
1 Samuel 23. David Saved the City of Keilah, was pursued by Saul, spending most of the time in strongholds of the wilderness.
Luke 1:57-80, tells of the birth of John the Baptist and Zechariah’s song.
1 Samuel 17 gives a vivid rendition of how David defeated Goliath. Just read it, it is great reading.
1 Samuel 18. Saul began to resent David, and no wonder, women started chanting “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Saul’s daughter Michal fell in love with David, and Saul let them marry after a rather unusual dowry, but he became more and more suspicious and afraid of David.
In 1 Samuel 19 Saul’s paranoia was fully developed, and he persecuted David, trying to kill him over and over again.
Luke 1:1-56, to Theophilus. The birth of John the Baptist was foretold to Zacharias by an Angel, then the angel Gabriel made an announcement to Mary. Mary met Elizabeth, Zacharias’ wife, and stayed with her. In this chapter is recorded Mary’s song; called the Magnificat.
1 Samuel 15 is the chapter where Saul is rejected by God as King.
1 Samuel 16. Samuel anointed David as King after rejecting all of David’s older brothers and David entered into Saul’s service while Saul was still the titular King. Whenever Saul’s spirit troubled him David played for him and that soothed Saul.
Mark 16. On the first day of the week Jesus did rise from the dead and Mary Magdalene saw the Risen Lord. The oldest manuscripts end there. The majority script completes the Gospel with Jesus proclaiming the Great Commission, was taken up to heaven and is now sitting down at the Right Hand of God.
In 1 Samuel 11 King Saul rescued Jabesh Gilead. Then the people reaffirmed Saul as King.
1 Samuel 12 contains Samuel’s speech at Saul’s coronation.
In 1 Samuel 13 the real trouble began, Saul offered an unlawful sacrifice, so God would no longer fight for them, Saul’s kingship would be taken away and God would choose a king after his own heart. The weapons for the army were taken away from the Israelites and the Philistines took control of the iron trade.
1 Samuel 14. Jonathan Defeated the Philistines. King Saul made an oath that no one was allowed to eat until nightfall. Jonathan didn’t know that, so he ate, and Saul wanted to put Jonathan to death, but his men refused the King’s order, and thus Jonathan’s life was spared.
Mark 15:21-47. The Crucifixion of Jesus the King took place. Read it carefully. Jesus Died, spiked on the cross, and at the same time the Temple veil was rent in two, from top to bottom, opening up for us full access to God himself. Jesus died, and Joseph of Arimathea asked for his body and buried him in a tomb cut out in a rock.
1 Samuel 9. Saul was a tall and handsome man, his father had lost some donkeys, so he sent Saul and his servant to look for them. Not finding them for three days they went to the prophet Samuel, God told Samuel to meet them, and so they met up, and thus Saul was chosen to be King.
In 1 Samuel 10. Saul was Anointed King and proclaimed King over all Israel.
Mark 15:1-20, Early in the morning Jesus was brought before Pilate since only the Romans could execute capital punishment. Pilate, trying to get out of the situation offered to release Barabbas, a known murderer and insurrectionist, or Jesus, and the crowd chose Barabbas. Pilate gave in to the crowd, the Soldiers mocked Jesus, and the verdict was that Jesus the King was to be Crucified.
1 Samuel 5. The Ark of the LORD brought nothing but trouble to the Philistines.
So in 1 Samuel 6 the Ark was returned to Israel together with a guilt offering of five gold tumors and five golden rats.The Ark was brought back as far as to Kiriath Jearim.
1 Samuel 7. Samuel grew up and became Judge over Israel. He subdued the Philistines at Mizpah, and there he raised his Ebenezer (stone of help). He judged Israel all the remaining days of his life.
1 Samuel 8. Samuel’s sons were not following the Lord, so Israel demanded a King. Samuel complained to the LORD, but He answered : “Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.”
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 