August 2019

Psalm 145: A Psalm of Praise. Of David

August 5, 2019 By Richard Cravy in Teaching & Study

David is one of the major characters of the Old Testament. His history covers half of I Samuel and essentially of II Samuel.Some have observed that we know more about the life of David than any other biblical person except Jesus. As we think about the things we remember about David, perhaps your list is something like mine – shepherd, giant killer, hiding from King Saul who was jealous of him, crowned king, sin with Bathsheba, death of infant child, musician and poet.

The Book of the Psalms has 75 Psalms attributed to David. Two more appear in II Samuel 22 & 23. What both David’s life and his literary legacy show us about him is his great devotion to the LORD. In fact, it would be hard to understand or explain David’s life without knowing that honoring, worshiping and obeying God was always his number one priority. A prime example of this is found in Psalm 145.

How To: David & Goliath, Part III – The Israelites

August 2, 2019 By Richard Cravy in David & Goliath, Series, Teaching & Study

“Saul and the men of Israel were gathered…”

I Samuel 17 is recording a war between the Philistine peoples of the southwestern coastal plain of Canaan and the Israelites who occupied the interior of Canaan between the coastal plain and the Jordan River valley. Conservative Biblical scholars use the approximate timeline below for Israel’s history in Canaan before I Samuel 17:

1446 BC – Exodus from Egypt by Israel led by Moses
1406 BC – Crossing of Jordan River and conquest of Canaan begins under Joshua
1396 BC – End of Book of Joshua
1396-1050 BC – Death of Joshua and Period of the Book of Judges
1050 BC – Saul crowned King of Israel by Samuel
1024 BC – 27th year of Saul’s reign; Israel’s army faces the Philistines at the Elah Valley

How To: David & Goliath, Part II – The Philistines

August 1, 2019 By Richard Cravy in David & Goliath, Series, Teaching & Study

“Now the Philistines gathered together their armies for battle…”

The writer of I Samuel carefully chose what to include and not include in his chronicle. He would have done this because of the limited amount of space he would have (limited by what would fit on one scroll). Even more importantly, he would have chosen based on the purposes and point he wants to make in his recorded history. Critics may claim that this would be “creating” or “editing” history. Not so. Every historian today does the same thing, choosing what is included in his account which best illustrates his emphasis.

So, who are the Philistines?