Category: Through the Bible Devotions

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

God’s Perspective: The Heart Over Appearance

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Randy Jacob on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 16.

I watched him walk into the church during the first hymn and sit in the back. He looked nervous and uncomfortable. He made me nervous and uncomfortable. I got the attention of an usher and said, “Make sure that guy has a worship folder.” In other words, “Keep an eye on him.”

Do you know what happened? Nothing. We had nothing to worry about. He was visiting family in town, stopped by for worship, and we never saw him again. But I’ve been taught, “See something, say something.”

In the aftermath, I remembered that while we look at appearances, God looks at someone’s heart. I am so shallow.

Having said that, I am also confused. First, when Samuel thinks he’ll anoint Jesse’s oldest son to be the next king, God says, “Nope. That’s not the one. Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

When they finally bring David in from tending the sheep, the author describes him as “glowing with health and…a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; this is the one'” (16:12).

I would have written something about David’s “heart.” I would have mentioned something about David’s character, his personality, or his faith. All of this will come out later. But why not sooner?

A few chapters ago, Samuel told a foolish and disobedient Saul, “the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart” (13:14). Well guess what? David’s that guy. Not perfect. But on the same page. Makes mistakes. But runs to grace. Fights hard. Prays hard.

So what’s God want from me (you)? Pray hard. Pursue grace. Be on the same page (scripture).

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Sounds like disobedience to me

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 15.

On a recent early-morning walk through the neighborhood, I thought I heard a rooster. This isn’t farm country. This is suburbia. But I heard it again. I didn’t think we were allowed to have chickens in our yards. The rooster’s crow not only announces the sunrise (I’ll bet the neighbors love that), but also someone who ignores the city’s rules.

Saul’s task is to destroy Amalek and everything he has. God’s command is clear. Bring nothing home. Sounds simple.

After the campaign, Saul is feeling good about his efforts. “Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, ‘Blessed are you of the Lord! I have carried out the command of the Lord.’ But Samuel said, ‘What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the bellowing of the oxen which I hear?'” (1 Samuel 15:13,14)

Barnyard sounds reveal Saul’s disobedience. He said he brought them home to sacrifice to the Lord. We can always find a way to justify disobedience, can’t we?

But that’s not what God wanted him to do, and “to obey is better than sacrifice” (15:22).

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Waiting just a little longer

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Dima Solomin on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 13.

What if I had waited just a few more hours?

We had no power because of the most recent hurricane. The electric company estimated our service wouldn’t be restored for another five days. Great. Life-threatening? No. Inconvenient? Very much so.

I headed out in the morning and filled up six two-gallon gas cans for the generator. I bought two more long extension cords to bring a little power into different parts of the house.

About 3:00 in the afternoon, the lights in the house lit up and the AC turned on.

What if I had waited just a few more hours?

King Saul found himself in a tight spot. The huge Philistine army is bearing down on him. His own army has dwindled to six hundred as more and more went home. It’s been seven days and Samuel hasn’t show up. Saul has to do something. He’s king. He’s the leader. Everyone is looking to him for direction.

So Saul offers up the pre-battle burnt offering himself. As soon as he does, Samuel shows up and asks, “What are you doing?”

Saul said, “The people were scattering, you didn’t come, the Philistines were on their way, so I did what I had to do” (1 Samuel 13:12).

Samuel says, “That was foolish and disobedient. Say goodbye to your kingdom. God is going to find someone else to rule his people” (13:13,14). God is going to find someone who trusts him.

I am much more like Saul than I like to admit. I’m patient, but I’m not that patient. I trust God, but I’m on a schedule. My souls waits for the Lord, but you’ll often catch me glancing at my watch.

Ultimately, the only one who can really take care of God’s people is Jesus, who is God himself. Ultimately, he’s the only one I can trust. Not me. Not my judgment. Not my capability. Only him.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

What a rush!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Devin Lyster on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 10.

Suddenly, I couldn’t get the next word out. A wave of emotion washed over me and I felt overwhelmed. I had to pause, take a deep breath, collect myself, and then continue preaching.

I cannot tell you what triggered those moments. They didn’t happen often, and they always caught me off guard. I would be flooded with an awareness of God’s power and presence when I mentioned certain memories, people, or situations.

The best way to describe it: a spiritual rush.

I think that’s what happens to Saul after Samuel anoints him king of Israel. Samuel describes what’s going to happen next. He tells Saul, “You’re going to come across a group of prophets playing instruments and prophesying. The Spirit of God will rush upon you and you’ll join them” (1 Samuel 10:5,6). It all happens exactly as Samuel describes.

Suddenly, it’s real. Saul suddenly “gets religion.” There’s no denying that the Lord is at work here. Saul can’t help but join in with those praising God and proclaiming his power and presence. At the end of the day, Saul could say, “What a rush!”

These moments don’t happen very often. That kind of excitement only comes along once in a while. And you can’t manufacture it. But you can thank God for those special moments that fill you to overflowing with a rush of praise, song, tears, or laughter.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Making the rounds: Samuel judges Israel

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 7.

Pastoral ministry was my second career. With a math degree in hand, I programmed computers for a few years before I went to seminary.

Once parishioners got wind of my background, they assumed I’d be able to give them technical advice when their devices malfunctioned. While they wanted me to have solid theological credentials, they also wanted me to diagnose a printer that wouldn’t print, wifi that wouldn’t connect, or some malware that paralyzed a laptop.

Eventually, when someone asked, “Can I ask you about something?” I’d reply, “I hope it’s a bible question.” They would chuckle and ask me how to find a downloaded document on their computer.

I never did it, but I’m convinced that if I taught a Sunday School class on how to use your smart phone I would fill the room.

Everyone knew that the Lord spoke to Samuel and established him as a prophet. So Samuel “went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all those places,” as well as his hometown of Ramah (1 Samuel 7:16,17).

I would have gone to see Samuel when he was in my town. I love hearing from people who have spent time with the Lord. You can tell when someone spends time with God in the word and in prayer. Those folks see the world differently. They see God at work in both joy and heartbreak. Their gentle faith, contagious hope, and genuine love fill any room they’re in. Their conversation isn’t about them. It’s either about you or Him.

I’m thankful for folks like that. I hope you get to know some, too!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

It’s not a weapon

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 4.

In a classic Seinfeld clip Elaine asks her boyfriend Puddy, “So is it a problem that I’m not really religious?”

Puddy answers, “Not for me.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not the one going to hell.”

And just like that, faith is weaponized. I’m right and you’re wrong. I’m in; you’re out. I’m on the winning side; you lose. Heaven or hell.

Israel tries to weaponize their faith and lose big (1 Samuel 4:10,11). They assume that if they take the ark of the covenant into battle, they will win. Sorry, guys. The ark is an object of worship, not war. The presence of God is effective in spiritual warfare. But if you’re goal is to use God to hurt someone, think again.

Israel tries to use God and they lose. They lose big. They lose the battle and they lose the ark.

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but …against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).

If you are using your faith, your God, or your salvation against other people, you’ve bought into a lie. The fight isn’t physical. It’s spiritual.

Stop attacking and start loving.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

A familiar voice

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jelena Kostic on Unsplash

I didn’t recognize the phone number, but I answered the call anyway. After a tentative, “Hello?” The voice on the other end launched into conversation.

“O, good, you’re there. I wanted to ask you a question…”

They went on to explain the reason behind their question until I interrupted, “I’m sorry, who is this?” Some voices are familiar. Not this one.

I wonder if I would recognize God’s voice. When Samuel hears a voice at night, he assumes it’s his mentor, the high priest Eli. Who else would it be?

But it was God. We’re told the word of God was rare in those days. Hardly any visions. But after three calls in the night, Eli knows it’s the Lord. He instructs Samuel to reply, “Speak, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10).

I’m not expecting to hear God’s voice in the night (or on the phone) since we’re told that, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 12:1,2).

The voice of Jesus? Saul didn’t recognize his voice (Acts 9:5).

So what’s left?

We’ve got eyewitnesses, like Peter who wrote, “We were there and we heard his voice” (2 Peter 1:17,18). Or John who also saw him and heard him (1 John 1:3). Or even Paul (aka Saul) whose question was answered with a definitety, “I am Jesus” (Acts 9:5).

Thanks to their testimony, the word of God is not rare. I’ve heard it, I’ve repeated it, I’ve sung it, and it is familiar and welcome in a world full of voices. And I’m listening!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Life-changing prayer

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Hannah’s prayer is life-changing. Yes, it is life-changing because God does give her a son. But a change occurs before that.

Hannah is deeply distressed and pours out her soul before the Lord, bitter tears running down her face (1 Samuel 1:10, 15). After she prays, she “went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad (1:18). She leaves Shiloh a changed woman.

So what just happened to Hannah? She opened her heart and emptied it of all its sadness, despair, concern, and provocation. (The provocation came from Peninnah, the other wife, who could have children when Hannah could not.) Once she had unloaded all that to the Lord, everything was different.

Maybe our hearts weren’t designed to carry all the sorrow, anxiety, jealousy, and bitterness our lives absorb each day. Thankfully God has designed a relief valve: prayer.

  • “Cast your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
  • “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
  • “Pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8).

So it’s okay to do that. It’s okay to open the floodgates and let all that pent up worry, grief, regret, and shame rush out. Our Lord is happy to clean up the mess.

That’s an interesting and profound way to picture grace, isn’t it? And then once you let it all out, you’ve got room for all God wants to pour into your life!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Gleaning and redeeming

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Mihály Köles on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Ruth.

Twice a week, pickup trucks slowly crawl through my neighborhood at dawn. They pull over and pick up things my neighbors have put out in the trash. They stop to take lamps and chairs, vacuum cleaners and computer monitors, plastic totes and old appliances. I assume that they repair and sell the small appliances, refinish the furniture, and sell the scrap metal.

That’s the closest contemporary comparison I have for Ruth as she gleans Boaz’s fields. God’s law stipulates that you leave a few grapes, a couple of olives, and a little wheat in the field as you are harvesting. Those in need can then come and collect what is left over. It is a way of providing for others. It is their way of surviving with dignity.

If anything, most of us have lots of “extra.” Extra stuff that fills up closets, shelves, garages, and storage units. We have extra stuff because we think we need it, it looks fun, and other people have it. So we buy it, too.

Or maybe we have extra stuff to supply what others need. God can redeem my greed, covetousness, and materialism. I can use it to help someone else.

To be hones, I don’t miss any of the stuff I’ve given away. I don’t miss the books, clothes, toys, dishes, tools, or furniture I’ve donated or left on the curb. That says a whole lot right there. I didn’t need it to begin with.

Boaz didn’t lose anything by leaving grain behind in his fields for others to glean. But he gained a wife (Ruth), a place in Jesus’s ancestry, and a mention in the bible. Just for being obedient, generous, and gracious.

Leave something out on the curb. Donate the things you aren’t using. Leave a little of your money unbudgeted. Empty all that stuff you don’t need out of your shopping cart. Let God redeem your “extra.”