First Fifteen

Israel was unique in the ancient world, but they often struggled with their God who made them unique, and that power struggle is a feature of every person's story. The central question is: Who will be king? 1 Samuel 8 is more than a story about how Israel gets a king. It's about how they displace the King they already had. 

Season five is focused on listening to and praying Bible narratives.  In our podcast we take time to listen to God's word and turn it into prayer.

We started season five in 1 Samuel 1-3 before going back to the beginning of the story in Genesis 1. Today's episode catches up with where we started this season and continues Israel's story and Samuel's life in a fascinating clash of power dynamics.

Samuel has risen to the place of leadership in Israel as  Judge, the name for Israel's rulers in that day. In 1 Samuel 7 he leads Israel is a definitive victory over their enemies. It's somewhat surprising, then, in 1 Samuel 8 that the people of Israel are so eager to reject his leadership and ask for a king.

We learn there's more at play. In fact, it's a spiritual struggle on a national level: Who will be the true king of Israel? Yahweh or a human king who leads an army?

The question of who will be king is relevant for today. Will we choose to acknowledge God as King, or will we go after a leader who inspires our confidence in the daily challenges of our culture? 

Go ahead and get started listening and follow or subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.

We have a Youtube video based on this scripture that you can watch here.

The four step process demonstrated in this episode is available here.

Angela Oltmanns has written a series of family devotions based on 1 Samuel.  Get a copy of the book 1 Samuel: How to Be a Child After God's Heart on Amazon (or the ebook).

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

The eyes are a window to the heart. Unless we're striving to do what is right in God's eyes, things are not going to go well for us! That's the message in the book of Judges as part of our series on praying Bible stories.

Season five is focused on listening to and praying Bible narratives.  In our podcast we take time to listen to God's word and turn it into prayer.

We listen to part of Judges 2 in today's episode. It reveals a pattern that repeats over and over in Israel's early history of living in the land God promised them.

What is that pattern? Israel forgets God's works and miracles and the terms of the covenant relationship they have made with him. They go after other gods. Hostile people in and around the land of Canaan come against Israel. They suffer and fall prey to them before crying out for relief and rescue. God raises us a leader (called a Judge) who will lead Israel in victory. God's blessing is with the people...until they repeat the pattern all over again by forgetting God and disobeying him.

In the book of Judges there is a lot of dark and wicked things recorded, things that violate God's law and show the depths to which his own people have sunk when they do what is "right in their own eyes" (Judges 21:25). They clearly need a King to rule over them and show them what is right. So do we.

When we see the patterns of sin and addiction, disobedience and living for ourselves, there's hope for rescue. It requires repentance and turning back to God. We weren't created to just do what we think is right in our own eyes. We needs God's eyes on us and showing us what's truly good.

Connect with us on one of our social channels:
Twitter  @WordofPrayer15
Instagram @WordofPrayer15 
Facebook Page at Word of Prayer 15.

Support our show with your purchase of one of our products:
Etsy store WordofPrayer
Amazon Ron Oltmanns and Angela S Oltmanns

We use a four step process for reading/hearing, meditating, praying and then living out scripture from Psalm 1 demonstrated here.

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

What is the secret to standing strong in faith? We see a specific truth about that in the book of Joshua.

Season five is focused on listening to and praying Bible stories or narratives.  In our podcast we take time to listen to God's word and turn it into prayer.

We look at four readings from the book of Joshua that tell the story of Israel entering into the land God promised them.

First there is a new leader before Israel. With Moses' death, Joshua and chosen to lead the people into the new land. Joshua 1:1-11 gives the charge to Joshua for how he is to lead.

In the book of Joshua the people of Israel end their wanderings in the wilderness. Their first victory comes in capturing the ancient city of Jericho.  Just as God delivered them from Egypt by crossing the Sea of Reeds, they now enter Canaan by crossing the Jordan River. Victory is turned to defeat when sin among the ranks takes hold. Joshua 7:1-13 reveals Achan's sin and shows how it must be dealt with before there can be any more conquests. 

As the victories continue, Israel takes over a number of Canaanite cities and the land must be divided among the tribes. Joshua 18:1, 8-10 shows how this happened at the place of the holy tent, the tabernacle at Shiloh.

In the final chapter (Joshua 24:14-15, 23-28 ), Joshua gives his charge to Israel to purify themselves, choose God and throw away the idols they have been carrying for generations. The challenge is to continue strengthening our faith and take courageous steps to rely on God alone.  After reading these passages, we pray them and practice seeing God powerfully at work delivering us from our enemies, calling out sin, giving us our inheritance and binding us to him in a covenant of love.

Connect with us on one of our social channels:
Twitter  @WordofPrayer15
Instagram @WordofPrayer15 
Facebook Page at Word of Prayer 15.

Support our show with your purchase of one of our products:
Etsy store WordofPrayer
Amazon Ron Oltmanns and Angela S Oltmanns

We use a four step process for reading/hearing, meditating, praying and then living out scripture from Psalm 1 demonstrated here.

Additional resources at https://word-of-prayer.com

The Psalms lead us in prayer and teach us to pray. Listen to Psalm 2 and pray along with it.

Want a fuller devotional based on Psalm 2? Listen to it here in season 3 episode 3 of our podcast.

In our regular podcast you can listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  It's a perfect way to get started! Enjoy listening to God's word and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more.

Season Three features many of the psalms and has a companion book. I encourage you to get a copy  God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com  

The Psalms lead us in prayer and teach us to pray. Listen to Psalm 1 and pray along with it.

Want a fuller devotional based on Psalm 1? Listen to it here in the pilot episode of our podcast.

In our regular podcast you can listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  It's a perfect way to get started! Enjoy listening to God's word and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more.

Season Three features many of the psalms and has a companion book. I encourage you to get a copy  God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com