THE DISMAYED AND TERRIFIED ISRAELITES

1 Samuel 17:1-16 / Keywords 17:11

On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

David and Goliath

17:1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.[a] 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels[b]; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.[c] His shield bearer went ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

 

1. When the Philistines invaded Israel, the Israelites drew up their battle line to meet them. A champion named Goliath came out of the Philistine camp. He was over 9 feet tall, strong, and a fierce warrior well-equipped with arms. He challenged the ranks of Israel to fight a duel to decide which side would be subject to the other. He came forward every day for forty days and mocked and defied the armies of Israel. Everyone was paralyzed by fear and lost their spirit. The armies of God became the slaves of fear though Goliath didn’t attack the Israelites but tried to plant fear in them with loud shouting. The Israelites lost the battle before fighting due to their fear. The real enemy of the Israelites was not Goliath, but fear in their hearts.

 

2. There are many kinds of Goliaths that try to plant fear in us. But we don’t need to fear them, for our God is greater than any kind of Goliath. The root of fear is unbelief. We must ask God to help us overcome the fears in us and fight a spiritual battle by trusting in our great and mighty God and his promise.

 

Prayer Lord, help me not to look at only Goliath, but look at you, the great God, and enable me to challenge my Goliath by faith in you.

One Word Don’t fear Goliath, but have faith in God

 

JESUS CAME TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH 

John 18:28-40 / Keywords 18:37

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

 

Jesus Before Pilate

18:28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

1. The Jewish leaders took Jesus to Pilate to execute him. The dialogue between Pilate and the Jewish leaders shows their strained relationship. The Jewish leaders seemed to hold the upper hand over Pilate, demanding him to do whatever they asked. When Pilate told them to judge him according to the Jewish law, they refused because the Jews didn’t have the right to execute him. They didn’t want a trial, just for Jesus to be put to death. This took place to fulfill Jesus’ prophecy about his death. People may plan and plot evil schemes, but the sovereign God is in control and his purpose will always be fulfilled.

 

2. Pilate questioned Jesus if he was the king of the Jews. Jesus answered that his kingdom was not of this world, but from another place. He came to the world to testify to the truth of his kingdom. Jesus told him that one who is on the side of truth listens to him. Jesus personally invited Pilate to his eternal kingdom, but Pilate didn’t stand on the side of truth. Consequently, he bowed down to compromise, man pleasing, and evil. When we don’t commit ourselves to truth, we are vulnerable to fall into sin and temptation.

 

Prayer Lord, without you, I am vulnerable. I hold on to you by listening to you.

One Word Truth sets us free

JESUS’ TRIALS AND PETER’S DENIALS

John 18:12-27 / Keywords 18:23

“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”

 

18:12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Peter’s First Denial

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

1. The soldiers bound Jesus and took him to Annas, a former high priest and the father-in-law to the high priest Caiaphas. Annas questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching to find a basis to charge him, not to seek the truth. When an official hit Jesus in the face, Jesus calmly demanded why he struck him. Jesus spoke the truth. Jesus was faithful even in the dark, lonely, and illegal trial at night. Jesus did not fail to be faithful witness to them. We are to trust Jesus who is faithful and never fails when we bear witness in the unbelieving world.

 

2. Although Peter loved Jesus, he disowned Jesus three times. Jesus had predicted his suffering, death, and resurrection many times, but Peter had not accepted Jesus’ words because of his misunderstanding. When Peter failed to understand God’s way of the cross, he insisted on his own way and became a prey of the devil. This is a temptation for us all. When Peter failed to know his own weakness, he trusted in himself, not in Jesus. When we know that we are weak, then we are strong for it is then that we trust in God and his power.

 

Prayer Lord, I am weak and vulnerable. Help me to depend on you and follow in your way.

One Word Trust in God and pray

SHALL I NOT DRINK THE CUP 

John 18:1-11 / Keywords 18:11

Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

 

Jesus Arrested

18:1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Footnotes

a. John 18:9 John 6:39

1. The soldiers and some religious leaders came to the Kidron Valley with Judas Iscariot the betrayer to arrest Jesus. Although Jesus knew about his painful trials ahead, he stepped forward with courage and calmness. Jesus asked them to let his disciples go. Jesus is the good shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. Jesus protects and cares for his people even when they fail him in their weakness.

 

2. Peter struck the high priest’s servant with a sword, cutting off his right ear. Peter, as brave as he was, did not help the situation. It was against God’s will. Jesus stopped Peter’s rescue plan because he had resolved to drink the cup that the Father had given him. The cup was his ultimate mission of offering himself as the sacrifice for our sins. Because Jesus drank the cup for us, we now enjoy the gift of his salvation. It is human nature to save ourselves, but God’s life-giving work can be done only as we drink the cup that God has given us. We are here to live a life of mission from God not by joining in the sword fight, but by drinking the cup. Peter drank the cup later, carried out his mission, and glorified God.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for taking the cup of death for us. Help me take up my cross and partake in your redemption work.

One Word Join in Jesus’ spiritual fight 

THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE 

John 17:20-26 / Keywords 17:22

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:

 

Jesus Prays for All Believers

17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Footnotes

e. John 17:26 Greek your name

1. Jesus prayed for his future disciples (us) to be one. This unity does not refer to social unity. It is the unity of believers whom Jesus has redeemed through his blood. Everyone needs unity with our Father God and the Son, submitting their self-centered desires to God’s will and having the same spirit, love, and purpose of Christ. When we are transformed in Christ from what we were, we will see the world from God’s perspective and live according to God’s words and will. We will be one as the Father and the Son are one. The unity of believers from all walks of life is a witness of Jesus Christ to others.

 

2. Jesus prayed also that we would be with him in the kingdom to come. He really wanted to share his glory with us. What a glorious day it will be as we shall see his glory and share in it.

 

3. Jesus also prayed for us to continue to know the Father. The goal in the Christian life is to grow in our relationship with God, for this is eternal life through Jesus Christ (3). Jesus promised that he would continue to make God known to us and that he himself would come to dwell in us.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to pursue Christian unity and come to know you ever more.

One Word Unity in Christ

SANTIFY THEM BY THE TRUTH 

John 17:6-19 / Keywords 17:17

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

 

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

17:6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Footnotes

a. John 17:6 Greek your name

b. John 17:11 Or Father, keep them faithful to

c. John 17:12 Or kept them faithful to

d. John 17:17 Or them to live in accordance with

1. Jesus prayed for his disciples. During his messianic ministry, Jesus revealed God to them—God’s love, righteousness, holiness, power, and hope through his teaching and life. Jesus discipled them in three ways.

 

2. He ministered the word of God to them and called them to a life of obedience. He showed them, by example, his perfect obedience to God’s word. Through God’s word, they knew that Jesus came from God and that his words were the very words of God.

 

3. He prayed that God might protect them. The world hates Jesus’ disciples just as it hated Jesus. The disciples needed God’s protection from the evil one so that they would be one.

 

4. Jesus sent them into the world to serve to advance His kingdom. Jesus was leaving his disciples who would remain in the world to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19-20). To serve this mission, they needed to be sanctified by the truth, the word of God. To sanctify means to be set apart and devoted in holiness for sacred use for God. True disciples are those who obey God’s words, pray for God’s protection, and have God’s mission as they are sanctified by the truth.

 

Prayer Sanctify me by your word so that I may serve you and advance your kingdom.

One Word Jesus sent us into the world 

FATHER, GLORIFY YOUR SON 

John 17:1-5 / Keywords 17:1

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

1. As the time of Jesus’ death was at hand, Jesus prayed for God to glorify the Son so that the Son might glorify the Father. Jesus was not seeking his own human glory. He asked to be glorified through his death and resurrection, so that the glory would go to the Father. Jesus’ primary purpose in life was to glorify the Father, and so he lived and died for God’s glory. Our life purpose and goal are to glorify God. We must pray to seek God’s glory through our life and even through our trials and sufferings.

 

2. Jesus glorified God by accomplishing God’s redemptive plan to give eternal life to his people by his death and resurrection. Eternal life is to know the eternal God and his Son Jesus. To know God implies to have a personal relationship with him. To know Jesus means to know him as the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

3. Jesus prayed for the Father to restore him to his place in heaven as before and to be in the Father’s presence eternally. This is the living hope for all believers. It is with this blessed hope that we fight the good fight during our life here on earth.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your sacrificial life to reveal God’s glory and to give eternal life to us. Help me to live for your glory.

One Word Seek God’s glory

AFTER A LITTLE WHILE

John 16:16-33 / Keywords 16:22

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

 

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy

16:16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1. Jesus’ words, “a little while” puzzled the disciples for they didn’t understand his resurrection. In a little while, they would not see Jesus who would be crucified, dead, and buried. The crucifixion would bring grief to them. Then after a little while, they would see the risen Lord and rejoice greatly. Their joy would be lifechanging because Jesus defeated the power of sin and death and opened the way to his kingdom. This shows a spiritual principle: joy and glory come after suffering and pain. Our joy and glory will last forever if indeed we share in his suffering (Rom 8:17). We will remember our pains no more when we see Jesus in his glory. What’s more, God will give us whatever we ask in Jesus’ name. Our joy is complete when we see how lovingly our Heavenly Father answers our prayers.

 

2. When the disciples finally believed that Jesus came from God, Jesus was pleased. He foretold that they would run away when he needed them the most. Yet God was with him and Jesus was victorious. In Jesus, our victory over sin and death is guaranteed. We will triumph in our life of faith in Jesus because our Lord Jesus has overcome the world.

 

Prayer Lord, may we press on as we share in Jesus’ suffering and enjoy his everlasting joy both here and in glory.

One Word Joy comes after a little while

WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES

John 16:1-15 / Keywords 16:13

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

16:1 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

 

1. In this Upper Room Discourse, Jesus gave his disciples both bad and good news. The bad news was that they would undergo fiery persecutions; the good news was that Jesus would send them the Advocate, the Holy spirit, to work in them. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father as well as the Spirit of the Son, Jesus (14:26). He has many different works and roles. First, he “convicts” (ESV) people of guilt regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment. The sin of the world is not to believe in Jesus but reject him. God’s righteousness comes through faith in Jesus who died, rose again, and ascended to the right hand of God. God’s judgment will come to the prince of this world, Satan, and those who belong to Satan.

 

2. The Holy Spirit guides his people into all the truth. He is the good shepherd who leads his people in the way of all truth. He reveals to us what is yet to come such as the end of the world, the second coming of Jesus, everlasting life, the believer’s mission on earth and so on. Through these works, the Holy Spirit finally brings glory to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the greatest gift of Jesus.

To live as his people and to serve his work, we need the work of the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit, the Advocate. Help us live as your people.

One Word Follow the Holy Spirit’s leading