1 Samuel 2.11-36 | I will raise up a faithful priest
Pastor Jim Fikkert
The story of Eli’s sons comes as a contrast to the faithfulness of Hannah (and her son Samuel). As the high priest, Eli appointed his sons, Hophni and Phineas, as priests. They inherited their positions and thus got the job even through they didn’t meet the qualifications. Instead of upholding their duties as mediators between […]
1 Samuel 2:1-10 | I rejoice in your salvation
Pastor Jim Fikkert
Many pastors choose to lump Hannah’s prayer in with her story, as her prayer does not move the narrative along. It does, however, get us into the heart of this woman, showing us what an appreciation for God and His work does to the perspective of His people. While God has answered her prayer, her […]
1 Samuel 1 | He is lent to the Lord.
Pastor Jim Fikkert
The book of 1 Samuel opens up with a problem we see repeated in the Bible: a barren woman who shares a husband with a fertile wife. As Hannah suffers under the torment of the situation, as well as a loud-mouthed rival, she finds solace in her prayers. She pleads passionately with God to take […]
Introduction | How God leads
Pastor Jim Fikkert
Whenever we read the Old Testament, but especially when we delve into its narrative portions, it begs the question: why is this important? Why did God feel the need to leave 5,000 year old historical details about a rather insignificant nation? The NT Gentiles had the same questions and the answer that they got was: […]
PEACE: Angel’s song
Pastor Jim Fikkert
The STORY | Luke 2:1-13; 15-21 A Caesar decrees a census to determine how he can better take taxes from his people while God is preparing the greatest gift He can give His people, Himself. Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem, royal city of long past King David. The town filled with travelers has no […]
HOPE: Zechariah’s song
Pastor Jim Fikkert
The STORY | Luke 1:5-26, 57-66 Christmas is often remembered by a miraculous birth, yet before the “silent night” when baby Jesus was born to a virgin outside an inn and laid in a manger there was another birth as unlikely as it was necessary. Before the arrival of the Savior King, God tells the […]
Being Blessed | Obadiah 1.15-21
Pastor Jim Fikkert
After declaring Edom guilty, God lays out the punishment that is coming. This payment is more than revenge…it is justice. It is the right requirement to make things right again. Our God is a God of redemption. This means that He isn’t just here to repair broken things, but His plan is one of making […]
Being a Brother | Obadiah 1.10-14
Pastor Jim Fikkert
God builds a case against Edom, citing their mistreatment of Judah. He rebukes them for mistreating their ‘brother.’ There are a lot of nations attacking Israel, but Edom’s problem is that they are suppose to have a different relationship. As brothers, they are supposed to see their welfare as overlapping; they are supposed to be […]
Being Minor | Obadiah 1.1-9
Pastor Jim Fikkert
The irony of this book is that it is written by what we assume is a somewhat unimportant person on behalf of a defeated nation to a nation that stands over it mocking its losses. It is the weak threatening the strong. Obadiah tells the powerful Edomites that they will get what is coming to […]
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