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If you had met him, you would be impressed.

For one thing, he was tall, head and shoulders above the average person. Then the fact was that he was good-looking.

But he had other attributes as well. He was a hard worker. There are some indications that he was humble as well. And then there is no doubt that the hand of God was upon him. This is a fella that had great potential. He had everything going for him physically and apparently spiritually as well. But he did not live up to his potential. It's tragic. With all these possibilities, he just didn't live up to what he could have been.

I'm talking, of course, about someone we have already met. I'm talking about King Saul in the Old Testament. He had the potential to be a leader, a great leader. But unfortunately, he never realized his full potential.

So, what happened? What went wrong in his life? Well, we're told that in this chapter.

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In this episode we explore one of the most tender and truthful moments in all of Scripture—Samuel’s farewell address to Israel in 1 Samuel 12.

Samuel reminds God’s people of three great truths:

1. He has been faithful—a servant of integrity from youth to old age.

2. God has been faithful, delivering His people time and again, even when they strayed.

3. Now they must be faithful—to fear the Lord and serve Him with all their hearts.

But what about those who have failed? Those who’ve sinned deeply? Through Samuel’s words, and through the stories of David and Peter, we discover the gospel heartbeat of the Old and New Testaments:

There is hope after failure — not because we are strong, but because God is gracious. Even when we’ve sinned, the Lord invites us to return, to confess, and to serve Him again.

David taught. Peter preached. Both failed. Both were forgiven. Both were restored.

Join me as I explores how grace restores the fallen, how faithfulness flows from forgiveness, and how the Lord still says to us today that if we come to Him, He will say to you what He said to Peter: Feed my sheep. Serve Me again with all your heart.”

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In this episode, we explore the moment Saul is confirmed as Israel’s first king — a turning point in the nation’s history. We trace how fear turned to faith, and how obedience led to joy. Through Saul’s story, we discover what it means for God to establish His kingdom not by human power, but through divine purpose.

Key Themes:

God confirms His calling through faithful action

The difference between weeping in fear and rejoicing in faith

The importance of planning with the Lord, not apart from Him

Understanding 1 Samuel in its larger biblical and theological context

Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 11:1–15

Takeaway:

When you include the Lord in your plans, your fears turn into faith and your weeping into joy.

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In this episode, we explore the dramatic public unveiling of Saul as Israel’s first king — and what happens when obedience meets opposition.

Samuel calls the nation together, rebukes their rejection of God, and presents Saul — a man humble, capable, and chosen by God for a season. Yet not everyone celebrates. Some despise him. Others mock. And in that tension, we find a timeless truth about rejection, faithfulness, and peace.

Join us as we uncover three powerful lessons from Saul’s story:

1. Consider the Source – Rejection often says more about others than about you.
2. Hold Your Peace – Don’t let anyone steal what God has given you.
3. Let the Lord Be Your Judge – His verdict is the only one that matters.

“I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts.” – Psalm 119:141

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What this episode covers:

· How 1 Samuel bridges the eras of the Judges and the Kings

· The key literary structure built around Samuel, Saul, and David

· Why Samuel is the “hinge” of Israel’s history — last judge, first prophet

· How Israel’s demand for a king reveals the tension between human desire and divine will

· The spiritual themes of leadership, calling, obedience, and kingdom identity

· What 1 Samuel teaches us about God’s way of ruling through imperfect people

Key takeaway:

Before Israel had a king, they had a calling. God’s kingdom is never built on human strength, but on His covenant faithfulness — then and now.

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In this episode, we explore one of the most pivotal turning points in Israel’s history — the moment they demanded a king. What looked like a political request was actually a spiritual crisis: impatience, fear, conformity, and a refusal to wait on God. We trace Israel's request, God’s warning, and the consequences that followed, and we draw out six core lessons for believers today — especially the call to wait on the Lord rather than force His hand.

Key Themes:

• Wanting the right thing at the wrong time
• The danger of looking at circumstances instead of Scripture
• What happens when God lets us have our own way
• The spiritual cost of impatience: "He gave them their request, but sent leanness to their souls" (Ps 106:15)
• The blessing and strength found in waiting on the Lord

Questions for Reflection:

Where am I tempted to demand rather than discern?

What is one area of life where I need to slow down and wait on God’s timing?

Am I seeking to be like the world — or to be set apart for God?

This channel does a deep dive into the scriptures so as to teach what it means to be...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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To listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

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In this episode, we watch Israel return to the Lord under the leadership of Samuel — and witness how repentance, prayer, and wholehearted devotion bring supernatural deliverance and lasting peace.

After twenty years of spiritual drifting, God’s people finally respond to Samuel’s call: “Return to the Lord with all your hearts.” What follows is a model for spiritual renewal that still speaks to us today:

1. Return to the Lord
2. Put away the idols
3. Prepare your heart
4. Serve Him alone

What happens next is one of the most dramatic scenes in the Old Testament:

A pagan army gathers for battle, Israel panics, Samuel prays — and God answers with thunder from heaven.

The result?

A victory Israel did not win by force… but by faith.

A memorial stone is then raised and named Ebenezer — “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

And forty years of peace that came not through a king, not through strategy, but through returning to God.

This episode explores:

Why spiritual renewal must come before spiritual action

The danger of using God rather than trusting God

How prayer leads to deliverance even when fear remains

What it means to say “The Lord has helped us — thus far”

If your life feels like a battlefield — or if you’re trying to serve God without first giving Him your heart — this passage is a needed reset.

This channel does a deep dive into the scriptures so as to teach what it means to be...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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To listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

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In this episode, we follow the remarkable story of the Ark of the Covenant’s return from Philistine captivity — a moment that revealed both the foolishness of human superstition and the sovereignty of God. Through this ancient account, we discover a simple truth: God will not be mocked, and what is holy must be treated as holy.

But the lesson doesn’t stop in 1 Samuel. We can also trace a parallel to the New Testament church at Corinth, where Paul warns believers not to dishonour the Lord’s Table. What connects these two moments — separated by a thousand years — is the same call to reverence, humility, and love in the presence of a holy God.

Join us as we explore:

Why the Philistines’ “experiment” revealed their ignorance of true worship.

How Israel’s curiosity led to disaster — and what it teaches us about reverence.

The striking parallel between the Ark and the Lord’s Supper.

What it means today to honor Christ in our worship and relationships.

This is a call to remember that holiness is not a relic of the past — it is the heartbeat of a life lived with God.

Key Scriptures:

1 Samuel 6:1–21; & 1 Corinthians 11:17–34

This channel does a deep dive into the scriptures so as to teach what it means to be...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

To listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com