Month: April 2026

Posted on

April 3

 

I Samuel 17-20

We are in the Nation Stream today as we experience that classic story of David & Goliath. We are reading from the World English Bible.

 

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, thank you for David’s example here.  We can shine with you and walk with you no matter who is against us, or how fierce the attitude is against us or how bleak the odds seem against us.  You will always give us the human and spiritual comfort that we need.  Amen.

David and Goliath – the battle seems to be a preview or a “trailer” of world history.  We’ve heard of this reference in so many contests.  Well the original story comes from here;

I Samuel 17.  It is intriguing that historians of all stripes and creeds will confess that monotheism hung upon the outcome of this battle. Theologically, God is bigger than our perspectives, but for that assessment [the fate of montheism] to be attached to this David/Goliath showdown is impressive.  David’s courage and confidence and skill; to be assured that he could drop this behemoth pagan goon in a single pop testifies to the fact that David was in touch with more than his dismissive brothers were aware of.  Saul tried to dress David in Saul’s armor so that any victory would be associated with Saul.  David doesn’t need it.  If David can take on a several hundred pound lion and a several hundred pound bear, then he can take on a several hundred pound man who lacks claws and teeth. Pastor Chuck Swindoll once called Goliath a “cross-eyed discus thrower” – he didn’t have much talent or break many records, but he sure kept the spectators awake!   We know the story of the five smooth stones. Goliath did have four other brothers so if the Philistines wanted to break contract and charge them in, David was ready to drop them too. Analyze this fascinating story from any angle and the discussion of it remains endless

 
18 – Saul’s character and paranoia are only further revealed in this string of stories. He treats David as an enemy AND has to hide that fact that he loathes him, is jealous, and scared of David.  David becomes all the more entwined in the Kingdom as Jonathan [Saul’s son] and David become “friends for life”. The chanting about David’s prowess is making Saul crazy.  Still, Saul wants him close (like Mafia thinking that is determined to keep enemies close-by). He throws spears at him after using music to make David vulnerable  He mocks David in offering his daughter then revoking the deal. He sends David on a fool’s mission to kill Philistines … time and again Saul shows his vapid character and David shows his faithfulness.
 
19 – things only get worse for Saul as it turns out his own home is committed to David over Saul.  Jonathan is caught in a duplicitous position in his sonship to the king and his friendship to the future king who is hated by the present king; his father.  Jonathan becomes vital informant to David and is strangely yet secretly protected by Jonathan. Michal, Saul’s daughter is Davids’ wife and she is eventually protecting David against the king; her father.  Saul might do well to read into the obvious but the LORD had left him and he is too crazed to see reality anymore.  In his effort to apprehend David, the LORD God of Israel intercepts again and “slays” all Saul’s messengers through using them to prophecy.  It’s certainly an odd scene.  It seems to only prove the mangled hilarity of trying to fight God or anyone who is indeed on God’s side.
 
20 – Then there’s the dinner, and David’s failure to appear for saying he was going to meet his family in Bethlehem, [remember I Sam. 18:2; Saul had forbidden this]. Jonathan’s attempting to cover for David threw Saul into a manic rage and now he is throwing spears at Jonathan; his own son!  The scene with Jonathan and David meeting, the part of the little boy present as a decoy and informant during the “arrows routine” – of which the young boy is oblivious – all this is nothing short of clever.  It shows more of the same mind of David that would win him numerous other battles and verify why Jonathan and he are such dear friends.  This would seem to be the benediction put upon their friendship as Jonathan is now starkly aware of his father’s hatred of David. Jonathan was a true hearted fellow and in his right mind, but he wasn’t going to trigger an open rebellion against his own father; the King.  So Jonathan and David part company and it is a sad day for the both of them.  Their final encounter is in ch. 23, but this one here in ch. 20 feels like they are both bracing themselves emotionally to part company. The friendship between them had become so costly.  And this made it all the more dear.
 
Posted on

April 2

 

Genesis 49:29-Exodus 3:22

We are in the World Stream today and will compete the book of Genesis and start the book of Exodus. We are reading from the World English Bible this week.

 

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Dear Lord Jesus, seasons come and go as the reading today encompasses a 400 year period. Let us take this calling of Moses very seriously for you call us to lead enslaved people into freedom. You’ve told us to receive nations into your Kingdom. We are to live for our Deliverer too;  Assure us also as you assured Moses – that you will be with us.  Amen.

Jacob’s departure is upon us. I like his determination to not be buried in Egypt. They were a culture obsessed with the process and their definition of the afterlife. For Egyptian royalty, death was what one’s entire life was spent preparing for. It’s one of the matters Jesus is hinting about when he declared he was the God of the Living / not the Dead. Jacob wants to be sure that he is buried back on the other side of the Nile with his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham near Hebron. He finished his speech and … he was gone.

 
Gen. 50 – the funeral for Jacob is ornate, and as soon as this is overwith, Joseph shows his good ethics yet again to assure his brothers that they were family and not enemies.  Jump to the end of Joseph’s life and what does he insist? that his bones be carried out of Egypt when the Israelites leave.  Fascinating reference to an Exodus that would take place 400 years later!  Joseph soon breathes his last after being in Egypt 93 years.  Interesting “book-ends” in Genesis: the warning in Genesis 2, “do not eat this fruit or you will surely die.”  At the end of the book, Jacob dies – and Joseph dies just a chapter later.  Genesis seems to end with “I told you that this is where your disobedience would take you.”  At any rate the 4,000 year march from leaving Eden to the Calvary event is well on it’s way.  Chronologically, we are 2200 years into it with 1800 years to go.
 
Exodus 1 – As time goes by, the Israelites multiply being in very fertile ground in the Nile delta region. The new Pharaoh was the one that took command following the Hyksos Invasion of 1700 B.C. The Hyksos were in charge of north Egypt until Egypt pulled together again after it’s own civil wars and were able to defeat the Hyksos after 108 years of them being there.  Egypt re established and the “New Kingdon” was upon them.  Thus there was a new Pharaoh who “knew nothing about Joseph” as it reads in Ex.1:8.
The Israelites are enslaved to keep them under wraps.  The boys are sentenced to die at birth to keep numbers down and to keep a rebellion at bay.
 
2 – This is the chaos that Moses is born into. Moses is the most important figure of the Ancient World. From Eden to Jesus, no more important man than Moses comes along. He is hid from Pharaoh and his murderous edict – and then found by Pharaoh’s daughter! He could not have come closer to death!  [We see the same developments around Jesus’ birth in Matthew when Herod tries to kill the threat to his rule.]  Note that from vv. 1:10-12 –> 40 years went by; Moses spent 40 years in Pharaoh’s Palace – learning the ways of the Egyptians, [Ex. 2:5-11a] 40 years in the desert – learning that place and learning to be with God. during his 40 years in the desert [Ex. 2:11-22].  He starts a family there and come that time, the slavery back in Egypt is becoming unbearable under a different Pharaoh.
 
3 –  God calls Moses to lead the delivery of His people from bondage.  It’s one of the most vital and miraculous passages in the Bible.  So much hinges upon this incident.  Moses is in near disbelief at what is happening.  He gives four huge reasons that prove his personal inadequacy to lead this endeavor.  God flushes all Moses excuses.  God tells him that they will come and worship on “this mountain” – OUT of Egypt. God will take them to a good and rich land, He will show them miracles and there will be provision, they will leave Egypt with great riches.
Posted on

April 1



Acts 27:27-28:30

We are in the Church Stream today as we finish the book of Acts. We are reading from the God’s Word Translation this week.

 

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Dear Lord, we bid farewell to Paul for now. Thank you for his inspiring life.  Let us be encouraged to make our days count for you and for your Kingdom.  Amen.

apostle-paul-fourth-missionary-journey-map

If you look on the map in the back of your Bible or the map we provide in these show notes, take note the route of Paul’s final missionary journey listed in Acts.  The story picks up today between his departing from Myra; the south point of Asia Minor and the wreck in Malta.  Paul took one ship from Caesarea to Myra, another from Myra to Malta, and a third from Malta to Puteoli/ Italy.  This month of Paul’s life, he had the greatest challenges relating to natural calamity.  The dramatic events seem like a cruise gone bad with storms, a damaged vessel, near death at every turn, a fear of starvation, prisoners escaping, painful dilemmas and decisions, people finally swimming to shore or getting there by clinging to a chunk of wood from the broken ship.  Paul ministers to these men even in this setting and they are all encouraged by his gracious deeds and dining with them (if we can use that word).  Paul uses his status even as a prisoner to defend the incarcerated so that they are treated properly. Paul promised that all would reach shore and no one would be harmed and that is what happened.

28 – they discover that they are on Malta from the locals and voila, the locals are friendly.  The snake in the fire incident merely verifies that God is up to something and Paul is soon revered. Paul is then given access to Publius (the leader and his family) and Paul is used to heal his father.  Soon others who are sick come and are healed.  It is fascinating the way Paul makes the most of every opportunity for the gospel and advancing the Kingdom.  The final leg of the journey [from Malta to Rome] is on an Alexandrian ship.  There is excitement to meet and be with Paul as Believers were in many places throughout the Roman Empire by now.  It was 61 A.D. An entire second generation of Christians were growing up and Paul was a celebrated and very honored man to the new Believers.  His teaching was priceless to them.  His letters were prized more than gold by the early church.  His writings became what we follow as most of the New Testament.  Luke finishes the Book of Acts at about this time.  Paul did have impressive audiences to speak to in Rome.  Most were encouraged, some Jews converted through his teaching, other Jews were only made more stubborn thereby.  While he was in Rome, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and his book to Philemon.  Paul was later acquitted of his charges later in AD 61 or early the next year.  There is some information telling that Paul made a trip to Spain.  We know he planned one; Romans 15:28.  There is some evidence that there was another missionary journey Paul took to Greece and Asia Minor (and Spain as mentioned).  He wrote his letters to Timothy and Titus during these years between 63-67 A.D.

His influence cannot be overstated in Christian History.  Some have clearly stated that Apostle Paul is the most influential person that ever lived for his explanations of Christ clearly changed the way the world thought.  This affect seeped into the dealings of religion, commerce/business, education, administration, hospitality, social structures, civility, ad infinitum.  Even honest secular scholars admit Paul’s colossal affect on the world.

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