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NL-Day148 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 101; Romans 6 May 24, 2026

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1SAMUEL 17:God told Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the next king of Israel. Anointing another king while one is still ruling is rather dangerous. So God told Samuel how to do that without making it public. That story included this memorable quote: "The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

PSALM 101:This psalm tells the aspirations of a great king.

Re-reading ROMANS 6:Pay attention! Paul is telling us the keys to how the process of transformation takes place whereby we are released from the 'power of sin' and 'death' to live a new life!

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

NL-Day147 1 Samuel 16; Psalm 100; Romans 6 May 24, 2026

Show notes

1SAMUEL 16:Yesterday's reading told the story of Saul's incomplete obedience and the rejection of Saul as king— by both God and Samuel. In the process Samuel said some of the most important statements in Scripture, which I will underline here:

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.

A second quote:

He who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!"

PSALM 100:This psalm probably ranks second in the most-memorized psalms, next to Psalm 23.

ROMANS 6:Mankind can at best only hope for the kind of partial obedience we have seen in Saul. We can't just 'try harder' to please God. We always 'fall short' of 'God's glorious standard'— as we have heard before in Romans chapter 3. The only hope for us is for God to recreate us. This is done through our understanding and applying spiritual realities which we cannot see, and one of crucial importance is found in chapter 6.

We have a short reading today. I encourage you to take time to think about the spiritual concepts Paul has been talking about in these last chapters— particularly Romans 5-6. The way to apply unseen spiritual realities in your life is to ask God to help you fully understand and believe them.

NL-Day146 1 Samuel 15; Psalm 99; Romans 5:1-6:4 May 24, 2026

Show notes

1SAMUEL 15:Jonathan saved the day! He and his faithful armor bearer kind of took a leaf out of Gideon's play book and agreed on a sign that would show what God wanted them to do— although they didn't ask for confirmation like Gideon did. They took the adventure God set before them and won an amazing victory, and God worked with them by causing panic among the Philistines. After lapses and dithering at the beginning, Saul went on to be a great military leader. Note that Ahijah, the priest, is Eli's grandson.

PSALM 99:Take off your sandals, because this ground is holy! Enjoy this psalm proclaiming God's majesty and holiness.

ROMANS 5—6:4:God's ways are always counter-intuitive for humans. One would think that if one is right with God and at peace with him, that everything would be smooth sailing from then on, with health, wealth, and prosperity. God shows his love for us by treating us like sons and heirs— meaning, He gives us problems and trials to cause us to grow and better reflect his glory. There is a wonderful side to Christ's dying for us and being resurrected: He lives now and is deeply involved in continuing to help us. At the end of the chapter Paul draws important comparisons and contrasts between Adam and Christ.

NLT Translation notes:1Sam. 15:27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of [Samuel's//his] robe.====Rom. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by [believing//faith], we have peace with God because of what [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ] our Lord has done for us.2 Because of our [believing//faith], Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.3 We can [even] rejoice[ 0//, too,] when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.7 [PET: Now it is very difficult for someone to sacrifice himself to save someone else— even if that person is good and honest. But a person might sacrifice himself and die to save his close friend.//Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.]9 And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation [at the final judgment].10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved [because God's Son now lives and watches over us!//through the life of his Son [now that we are his friends].]13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin [(as such)] because there was not yet any law to break.17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ].18 Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone [who believes].19 Because one [man/person]* disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other [Man/person] obeyed God, many will be made righteous.[*This is gender sensitivity taken to the extreme in the NLT! And it is inconsistent, since previously in verse 15 they used 'man' to translate 'anthropos'.]20 God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they [are/were]. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant.21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ] our Lord.

NL-Day145 1 Samuel 14; Psalm 98; Romans 5 May 24, 2026

Show notes

1SAMUEL 14:Hostilities with the Philistines heated up to full war, and Israel was badly outnumbered. The Israelites had been kept down so much that they were basically unarmed for war. Saul and his son's army dwindled down from 3,000 men to only 600, and Samuel doesn't show up for the important before-war sacrifice.

PSALM 98:Another favorite psalm! I love psalms where things like oceans, rivers, or trees clap their hands. I recommend this psalm for anyone who feels that we can only worship God with the good old hymns.

ROMANS 5:Every little detail in the story of Abraham is important. Note in yesterday's reading that Abraham "figured his body was as good as _dead_," and "Abraham believed in the God who _brings the dead back to life_." Then we read that we must "believe in [God]— the one who _raised Jesus our Lord from the dead_." And we will find a new concept related to this theme about death and resurrection later.

NLT Translation notes:Rom. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by [believing//faith], we have peace with God because of what [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ] our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our [believing//faith], Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.3 We can [even] rejoice[ 0//, too,] when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.7 [PET: Now it is very difficult for someone to sacrifice himself to save someone else— even if that person is good and honest. But a person might sacrifice himself and die to save his close friend.//Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.]9 And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation [at the final judgment]. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved [because God's Son now lives and watches over us!//through the life of his Son [now that we are his friends].] 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin [(as such)] because there was not yet any law to break.17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ].18 Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone [who believes]. 19 Because one [man/person]* disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other [Man/person] obeyed God, many will be made righteous.[*This is gender sensitivity taken to the extreme in the NLT! And it is inconsistent, since previously in verse 15 they used 'man' to translate 'anthropos'.]20 God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they [are/were]. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant.21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through [Christ Jesus//Jesus Christ] our Lord.

NL-Day144 1 Samuel 13; Psalm 97; Romans 4 May 17, 2026

Show notes

1SAMUEL 13:In yesterday's story, God's Spirit came powerfully upon the new king Saul, and he succeeded in mobilizing all of Israel's fighting men. They won a stunning victory over king Nahash and the Ammonites. Afterwards, Samuel led the people in renewing Israel's call to Saul to be king and then Samuel confronted them all about staying true to the Lord.

PSALM 97:Even though the psalms (and our translations) may cast a verse in the present tense, the intent of the writer may be about future things. Hebrew is very fuzzy as to verb tense. But also we may consider that all times are present to the Lord, and the psalmist may see things as happening or already happening in his vision that refer to future events. We see an example of this in today's psalm.

ROMANS 4b:The new way of being made right with God by means of fully believing which Paul has been talking about, is it a new religion, or is it based on the past? It is based on the past. We follow Abraham's example of believing, and this also fulfills the prophetic promises given to Abraham. Not only that, but we become heirs to the same promises. And note: Paul uses questions to propel his logical arguments all the way through Romans— just like I did at the start of this paragraph.

NLT Translation notes:Rom. 4:3 For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his [fully believing//faith]."4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their [believing//faith] in God who forgives sinners. 9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised [non-Jews//Gentiles]? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his [fully believing//faith].11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had [believed//faith] and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have [believed//faith] but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their [fully believing//faith]. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they [believe the same way Abraham did//have the same kind of faith Abraham had] before he was circumcised.13 Clearly, God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God's law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by [fully believing//faith].14 If God's promise is only for those who obey the law, then [believing//faith] is not necessary and the promise is pointless.16 So the promise is received by [believing//faith]. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we [believe like Abraham did//have faith like Abraham's]. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. [Here is my new attempt at rendering the meaning of this verse:] So the promise is received by [believing//faith]. It is given as a free gift. And if we become Abraham's spiritual children by believing like Abraham did, we are certain to receive it— whether or not we live by the Law of Moses. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.]19 And [Abraham did not weaken in his belief//Abraham's faith did not weaken], even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah's womb.20 Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his [believing//faith] grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of [Abraham fully believing God's promise//Abraham's faith], God counted him as righteous.25 [Jesus/He] was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

NL-Day143 1 Samuel 11-12; Psalm 96; Romans 4:1-17 May 17, 2026

Show notes

1SAMUEL 11-12:Yesterday we heard of the way God arranged for Saul to meet Samuel, and how God revealed amazing details to Samuel about what would happen to Saul in the short term. Saul became king. It is such a shame that Saul fulfilled the earlier prophecy given by Samuel a few chapters back, rather than continuing to be humble like he was at the start of his reign.

PSALM 96:EC Olsen's chapter on this psalm is entitled, "A Psalm which ought to give every living person a thrill!!" He's right. This psalm is like vitamins for the soul. This is one of the most loved of all psalms.

ROMANS 4a:Yesterday Paul arrived at the first explanation of his main point in 3:23-31. This happens to be a difficult passage to translate. GNT and NLT do a great job making many difficult concepts clear. You might particularly compare verses 23 and 26 with a literal translation.

NL-Day142 1 Samuel 9-10; Psalm 95; Romans 3:9-31 May 17, 2026

Show notes

1SAMUEL 9-10:In yesterday's reading, Samuel was formally made a judge, and then he led the people of Israel into victory over the Philistines. But when Samuel was old and after the appointment of his two sons as judges in his place, his sons perverted justice for bribes. So the people asked to have a king. God had already long ago said this would happen, in fact, this idea was in Hannah's prayer. Samuel was displeased, not for the sake of his sons, but because the people were rejecting God as their king.

PSALM 95:This is a gem among the psalms. Note the exuberance of worship in this psalm! And this is balanced by reverence to God. The last half of this psalm is quoted in full in Hebrews and is an important topic in that New Testament book.

ROMANS 3b:In Romans chapter 3 Paul refutes important misunderstanding and wrong teaching in the process of resoundingly proving that Jews cannot save themselves by their own power by means of fulfilling the Law. (In his use of the term 'the Law', Paul was following the custom of including other Old Testament books.) In the verses he quoted, he made it very that not even one person can claim to be righteous in God's sight. So God has provided another way to become right in His sight, which is actually foretold in the Law and Biblical prophetic writings.

NLT Translation notes:Rom. 3:21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him[, and this way is not based on// without keeping] the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Mosesi and the prophets long ago. [The Greek says "apart from the Law," so NLT's translation is technically possible, but I think it is saying something Paul is NOT saying and is doctrinally defective. In most of my suggested changes to the NLT text, I am concerned with clear communication, here however I am concerned with avoiding misunderstanding that would lead to wrong teaching.]22 We are made right with God by [fully believing//placing our faith] in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.[Here is an excellent example of the point I keep harping on. Note that using the verb form 'believe' instead of the abstract noun form makes it clear that the same word is used later in the verse. Cohesion of ideas makes better understanding. Secondly, it is easier for people to 'do' a verb than it is to 'do' an abstract noun. It is easier to 'practice' something than it is to 'make a practice of' something. It is easier to 'eat' apples than it is to 'practice the consumption of' apples.]27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on [fully believing//faith]. [Notice again the cohesion of the verb 'believe' in 26-31.]28 So we are made right with God [by our fully believing//through faith] and not by obeying the law.]29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn't he also the God of the [non-Jews//Gentiles]? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by [believing in that message (the Good News)//fully believing//faith], whether they are Jews or [non-Jews//Gentiles].31 Well then, if we emphasize [fully believing//faith], does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have [fully believe//faith] do we truly fulfill the law.

NL-Day141 1 Samuel 7-8; Psalm 94; Romans 2:25-3:20 May 17, 2026

Show notes

1SAMUEL 7-8:Having won the war with Israel, the Philistines thought their idol Dagon had given them victory. The ark of God was put in Dagon's temple. Then God not only proved that He is greater than Dagon by what happened in the temple, but He also struck the Philistines in all five of their territories with plagues of death, tumors, and rats ravaging the land. The Philistine fortune tellers and priests devised a creative plan to test if these disasters had happened on their own, or because of God's hand was against them. In the story it is clear that the Philistine people knew about the plagues God used against the Egyptians. Once again, God proved that He is God. For any any agnostic or atheist in the audience, this seems to me to be the kind of story that no one would have just made up, especially if you compare this with literature of the same age.

PSALM 94:This is a psalm of trust in the face of injustice. The psalmist asks for God's vengeance on arrogant and evil leaders. Those who take advantage of others are called 'stupid fools'. There is a parable that forms an interesting parallel: Luke 12:20, where God says to the rich man, "You fool, this very night your soul will be required of you."

ROMANS 2:25—3:In chapter 2 of Romans, Paul warned of a coming judgment of God, where God will judge everyone's secret life. The trouble is, however, that we all will be judged guilty of sin. Paul has shown us that it doesn't matter if you are Jew or non-Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, we all need a radical transformation. We need to become a 'true Jew', which is "one whose heart is right with God]." What each one of us needs is "a change of heart produced by God's Spirit." Paul calls this "circumcision of the heart."

NLT Translation notes:Rom 3:21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him[, and this way is not based on// without keeping] the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Mosesi and the prophets long ago.

[The Greek says "apart from the Law," so NLT's translation is technically possible, but I think it is saying something Paul is NOT saying and is doctrinally defective. In most of my suggested changes to the NLT text, I am concerned with clear communication, here however I am concerned with avoiding misunderstanding that would lead to wrong teaching.]22 We are made right with God by [fully believing//placing our faith] in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.[Here is an excellent example of the point I keep harping on. Note that using the verb form 'believe' instead of the abstract noun form makes it clear that the same word is used later in the verse. Cohesion of ideas makes better understanding. Secondly, it is easier for people to 'do' a verb than it is to 'do' an abstract noun. It is easier to 'practice' something than it is to 'make a practice of' something. It is easier to 'eat' apples than it is to 'practice the consumption of' apples.]27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on [fully believing//faith].[Notice again the cohesion of the verb 'believe' in 26-31.]28 So we are made right with God [by our fully believing//through faith] and not by obeying the law.]29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn't he also the God of the [non-Jews//Gentiles]? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by [believing in that message (the Good News)//fully believing//faith], whether they are Jews or [non-Jews//Gentiles].31 Well then, if we emphasize [fully believing//faith], does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have [fully believe//faith] do we truly fulfill the law.

NL-Day140 1 Samuel 5-6; Psalm 93; Romans 2:13-29 May 17, 2026

Show notes

1SAMUEL 5-6:Yesterday we saw the touching way that God revealed to Samuel how to listen for God's voice, and at the same time how He again warned Eli of impending disaster. Eli was incredibly able to recognize the way the Lord works, but at the same time was unconcerned about how God's words applied to him. Let us not be like him! Observe this link to Romans: God's judgment will come to us just as surely as it did to Eli's sons.

PSALM 93:Like the Gettysburg Address, sometimes the noblest thoughts are best expressed with brevity.

ROMANS 2b:In yesterday's reading, Paul continued to prove that man is not "basically good" (which one keeps hearing in Hollywood films and on the television). Not only are we sinful, but we tend to be self-righteous— which in itself is sinful. The 'bad news' is compounded in these additional points: "A day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. … There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil— especially for the Jews, but also for the non-Jews."

Verse 12 is difficult so I suggest reading verse 12 from the PET before picking up reading at verse 13.Rom. 2:12 PET So people who already know the Law and break it are just the same as those who've never heard about the law and commit sin. Sinners who don't know the Law will be destroyed. Similarly, people who already know the Law and commit sin will be judged according to the law.

NLT Translation notes:Ps. 93:5 NLT Your royal laws cannot be changed. [Holiness, O Lord, aptly adorns your house forever.//Your reign, O LORD, is holy forever and ever.][Using NLT's version, the listener will likely misunderstand 'holy' as 'wholy'.][NET] Holiness aptly adorns your house, O Lord, forever.//[HCSB] holiness is what makes your house beautiful for days without end.//[GW] holiness is the beauty of Your house for all the days to come.]====Rom. 2:9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—[especially for the Jews, but also for the non-Jews//for the Jew first and also for the Gentile].10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—[especially for the Jews, but also for the non-Jews//for the Jew first and also for the Gentile].12 [CEV [Non-Jewish people//Those people} who don't know about God's Law will still be punished {and destroyed} for {the wrong they have done//what they do wrong}. And the Law will be used to judge everyone who knows what it says.//PET So people who already know the Law and break it are just the same as those who've never heard about the law and commit sin. Sinners who don't know the Law will be destroyed. Similarly, people who already know the Law and commit sin will be judged according to the law.//When the [non-Jews//Gentiles] sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God's written law. And the Jews, who do have God's law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.][The NLT starting with a 'When' phrase makes this sound like sudden destruction from God would come on non-Jews during their lives on earth. The original does not start with a 'When' phrase but with a 'therefore/so'. The PET starts with a sentence of implicit information based on the grammatical parallelism of the Greek.]14 Even [non-Jews//Gentiles], who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, "The [non-Jews//Gentiles] blaspheme the name of God because of you."25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey God's law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised [non-Jews//Gentile]. 26 And if the [non-Jews//Gentiles] obey God's law, won't God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised [non-Jews//Gentiles] who keep God's law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God's law but don't obey it.

NL-Day139 1 Samuel 3-4; Psalm 92; Romans 1:28-2:16 May 17, 2026

Show notes

1SAMUEL 3-4:Yesterday we heard Hannah's poetic and prophetic prayer of praise. R Then we heard of the contrast between the boy Samuel serving the Lord, while Eli's sons were scoundrels. Finally a "man of God" (a prophet or perhaps even an angel) gave a long prophetic warning to Eli. Today we will see that prophecy come true.

PSALM 92:This is another favorite psalm of praise!

ROMANS 2:Yesterday we heard the first part of some bad news which makes the Good News 'good'. This reminds me of the movie Second Hand Lions. In the movie a main character has a lecture on 'how to be a man' that he frequently has given in his career. It starts out, "Understand this: All people are basically good." However in the movie, all we see in that character's past life and in the current way he lives is that mankind can't be trusted and you gotta' build high fences around your property, and have your gun and fists ready. According to Scripture and what we will read in Romans, mankind hasn't been 'basically good' since the Garden of Eden.

NLT Translation notes:Rom. 2:9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—[especially for the Jews, but also for the non-Jews//for the Jew first and also for the Gentile].10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—[especially for the Jews, but also for the non-Jews//for the Jew first and also for the Gentile].12 When the [non-Jews//Gentiles] sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God's written law. And the Jews, who do have God's law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.14 Even [non-Jews//Gentiles], who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.

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