Daily Bible Reading
Day 97
Today's reading: 1 Samuel 7-8
Look for the promises in God’s word. As you read and find them, write them in your journal along with the scripture reference.
1 Samuel 7
1. Then the people of Kiriath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord; they brought it to the house of Abinadab located on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord.
Further Conflict with the Philistines
2. It was quite a long time – some twenty years in all – that the ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim. All the people of Israel longed for the Lord.
3. Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really turning to the Lord with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. Give your hearts to the Lord and serve only him. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
4. So the Israelites removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the Lord.
5. Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf.”
6. After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted on that day, and they confessed there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” So Samuel led the people of Israel at Mizpah.
7. When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8. The Israelites said to Samuel, “Keep crying out to the Lord our God so that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines!”
9. So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Samuel cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.
10. As Samuel was offering burnt offerings, the Philistines approached to do battle with Israel. But on that day the Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines. He caused them to panic, and they were defeated by Israel.
11. Then the men of Israel left Mizpah and chased the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth Car.
12. Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Up to here the Lord has helped us.”
13. So the Philistines were defeated; they did not invade Israel again. The hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14. The cities that the Philistines had captured from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath. Israel also delivered their territory from the control of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15. So Samuel led Israel all the days of his life.
16. Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all of these places.
17. Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged Israel there and built an altar to the Lord there.
1 Samuel 8
Israel Seeks a King
1. In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.
3. But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.
4. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.
5. They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.”
6. But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7. The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king.
8. Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you.
9. So now do as they say. But seriously warn them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.”
10. So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.
11. He said, “Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot.
12. He will appoint for himself leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties, as well as those who plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment.
13. He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers.
14. He will take your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants.
15. He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators and his servants.
16. He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use.
17. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.
18. In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won’t answer you in that day.”
19. But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us!
20. We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”
21. So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord.
22. The Lord said to Samuel, “Do as they say and install a king over them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go back to his own city.”