Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 4:1-11.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

1 Samuel 4:1 (NIV)
1 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 

On verse 1: Here’s some background for you.  The Philistines were Israel’s most prominent adversaries during the time of Judges and 1 Samuel.  During this time, there was ongoing conflict between the Philistines and Israel, including a period of 40 years when the Philistines occupied Israel and subjected the Israelites to oppression and servitude (Judges 13:1).   

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 2:27-36.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

1 Samuel 2:27-29 (NIV)
27  Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh?
28  I chose your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your father’s house all the offerings made with fire by the Israelites.
29  Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

On verses 27-29:  Eli had warned and rebuked his sons for their wicked behaviour, including how they kept taking for themselves the fat parts of the offerings that were meant for the Lord (v. 16-17).  Yet beyond giving them a warning and a rebuke (v 22-25), Eli did nothing to stop his sons.  Given his sons’ corrupt and unrepentant behaviour (sleeping with the servant girls, stealing offerings, and as verse 28 says taking for granted the honour and benefits of being priests in God’s house), Eli should have removed his sons from office. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 2:1-11.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

1 Samuel 2:1-2 (NIV)
1  Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.
2  “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

On verses 1-2:  As Hannah surrenders her son Samuel to the Lord, it must have been a difficult and complicated moment for her.  Yet instead of worrying, she worships.  She says, “My heart rejoices in the Lord…There is no rock like our God”.  And while she worships, Hannah prays a prayer that contains so much insight into who God is and what He does.

Praise God that in our most difficult and complicated moments, we have the Lord — His presence, His promises and His faithfulness — to rejoice in and worship.  Hannah’s example shows us that when we choose to worship instead of worry, God gives us a peace that sustains us, a joy that will overflow, and deeper insight into who He is.

Hi GAMErs,

Today we begin the book of 1 Samuel.  I’ve got some powerful lessons to share with you from 1 Samuel 1:1-18.  But before we do that, here is some background on 1 Samuel for those of you who are curious.

Some Background on 1 Samuel

– Together 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel tell the story of how Israel came to be ruled by kings.  1 Samuel and 2 Samuel focus on the lives of three of the most significant rulers in Israel’s history who, one after another, led Israel during this “early monarchy” period: first, the prophet and judge Samuel; second, Israel’s first king Saul; and third, Saul’s successor David who would become Israel’s most celebrated king and against whom all other kings of Israel would be measured.

– 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel together cover a period of approximately 150 years, beginning with Samuel’s birth in about 1120 B.C. and ending in approximately 971 B.C. with an aging David preparing to hand the throne to his son Solomon in approximately 971 B.C.

– While many scholars believe Samuel played an important role in recording some of the material in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, exactly who wrote 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel remains a mystery. Nevertheless, 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel play a vital role in the Bible and are filled with powerful life lessons for all of us today.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 28:1-16.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 
 
Acts 28:1-10 (NIV)
1  Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.
2  The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.
3  Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
4  When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

On verses 1-10:  Has anyone ever judged you and jumped to conclusions about you because of your circumstances?  In Acts 28:34, Paul is bitten by a snake and based on these unfortunate circumstances the residents of Malta assume he is guilty of murder.  But when Paul shows no ill effects from the snake bite, those same people change their minds and call him a god (v6)!  That’s how fickle public opinion can be.