The Forever King, Covenant Kindness, and the Altar of Mercy
2 Samuel records the reign of David, God’s chosen king, and continues the story begun in 1 Samuel (see our overview of 1 Samuel). Under David’s rule, Israel is united, Jerusalem becomes the nation’s capital, and God establishes His covenant with David, promising that his throne and kingdom would endure forever. Though David proves to be a faithful king in many ways, his grievous sin with Bathsheba reminds us that even Israel’s greatest king cannot perfectly fulfill God’s purposes. Yet God’s covenant stands, pointing beyond David to Jesus Christ, the greater Son of David, whose Kingdom truly will never end.
These readings have been carefully chosen. You’ll see the Forever King in David’s reign (chs. 1, 5-8) and especially in God’s covenant promse (ch. 7), which ultimately finds its fulfillment in Jesus. You’ll see Covenant Kindness in David’s gracious welcome of Mephibosheth (ch. 9), a beautiful picture of mercy extended because of a covenant. Finally, you’ll see the Altar of Mercy in the closing chapter (ch. 24), where judgment is stopped through sacrifice on Araunah’s threshing floor — the very place the temple would later stand. Together, these readings show that while David was a great king, he was only a shadow of the greater King to come. Jesus Christ is the true Son of David, whose everlasting Kingdom, perfect covenant faithfulness, and once-for-all faithfulness accomplish forever what David’s reign could only foreshadow.
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in 2 Samuel!
August 1 — ch. 1 David mourns Saul and Jonathan, showing honor even in grief as the kingdom begins to pass to the LORD’s anointed.
August 2 — ch. 5 David is anointed king over all Israel and establishes Jerusalem, as the LORD exalts him and gives His people victory through him.
August 3 — ch. 6 David brings the ark to Jerusalem with exuberant joy, rejoicing before the LORD as God’s presence comes near His people.
August 4 — ch. 7 God promises David a lasting kingdom and a Son whose throne will be established forever, pointing to Jesus, the forever King from David’s line.
August 5 — ch. 8 The LORD gives David victory over his enemies and establishes his reign, showing the strength and justice of the kingdom God promised.
August 6 — ch. 9 David shows covenant kindness to Mephibosheth, welcoming the helpless son of Jonathan to his table like one of his own sons.
August 7 — ch. 11 David’s sin against Bathsheba and Uriah exposes the failure even of Israel’s greatest king and the need for a righteous Son of David.
August 8 — ch. 12 God confronts David’s sin through Nathan, showing both the seriousness of sin and the mercy of God toward the repentant.
August 9 — ch. 15 Absolam steals the hearts of Israel and drives David from Jerusalem, showing the sorrow and division brought by sin within the king’s house.
August 10 — ch. 22 David praises the LORD as his rock, refuge, and deliverer, looking to the God who saves His king and shows steadfast love to His anointed.
August 11 — 23:1-7 David’s final words look ahead to a righteous ruler whose reign will be like morning light, pointing to Jesus, the true King from David’s line.
August 12 — ch. 24 David’s sin brings judgment on Israel, but God shows mercy at the altar, pointing to the need for sacrifice where wrath is turned away.
Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we the books of 1-2 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles!
The Promised Anointed, the Rejected King, and the Champion Who Saves
1 Samuel records Israel’s transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy. God raises Samuel up as prophet, priest, and judge to lead His people during a time of spiritual decline. When Israel demands a king “like all the nations”, they reject the LORD as their true King. God grants their request by giving them Saul, but Saul’s repeated disobedience reveals that Israel’s greatest need is not merely a human king but one who will faithfully submit to God’s Word. Throughout the book, God sovereignly directs ordinary events and extraordinary moments alike to accomplish His purposes and prepare the way for His chosen king.
1 Samuel repeatedly points us to Jesus Christ. Hannah’s song anticipates the LORD’s anointed before David takes the throne (1 Samuel 2:10). Samuel anoints David, the man after God’s own heart, while Saul — the rejected king — demonstrates the tragic consequences of refusing God’s commands. David’s victory over Goliath is more than a story of courage; as Israel’s representative champion, he wins a victory the people could not achieve for themselves, foreshadowing Jesus defeating sin and death on behalf of His people. David’s patient refusal to seize Saul’s throne also reminds us that God’s Kingdom advances according to God’s timing and ways.
While not every chapter of 1 Samuel is included, these readings have been carefully chosen to highlight the Promised Anointed, the Rejected King, and the Champion Who Saves. You’ll follow Samuel’s miraculous birth and faithful ministry (chs. 1-7), Israels’ demand for a king (ch. 8), Saul’s rise and rejection (chs. 13, 15), David’s anointing and victory over Goliath (chs. 16-17), his covenant friendship with Jonathan (ch. 20), his years as a faithful fugitive (chs. 22, 24, 30), and the death of Saul (ch. 31). As 1 Samuel closes, David has been anointed but has not yet taken the throne. God has made His choice, and the stage is set for the reign of His chosen king. Even so, David is only a shadow of the greater Anointed One to come — Jesus Christ, the perfect King and Champion who saves His people and whose Kingdom will never end.
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in 1 Samuel!
July 14 — ch. 1 God hears Hannah’s prayer and gives her Samuel, preparing to raise up a prophet who will lead Israel during a time of spiritual need.
July 15 — ch. 2 Hannah praises the LORD who brings down the proud and raises up the humble, looking ahead to His anointed King.
July 16 — ch. 3 God calls Samuel as His prophet, raising up a faithful voice in a time when His Word was rare.
July 17 — ch. 4 Israel treats the ark like a weapon instead of trusting the LORD, and God allows their defeat to show His presence cannot be manipulated.
July 18 — ch. 5 God humbles Dagon and afflicts the Philistines, showing that He alone is the living God and no idol can stand before Him.
July 19 — ch. 6 The Philistines return the ark with guilt offerings, confessing the LORD’s power even as Israel must learn to honor Him as holy.
July 20 — ch. 7 God delivers Israel from the Philistines as Samuel leads them in repentance and prayer, showing that victory comes by returning to the LORD.
July 21 — ch. 8 Israel rejects the LORD as King by demanding a king like the nations, revealing their need for a better King than the one they ask for.
July 22 — ch. 13 Saul disobeys the LORD and loses his dynasty before it began, showing that Israel needs a king whose heart fully belongs to God.
July 23 — ch. 15 Saul’s rebellion exposes his rejected kingship, showing that outward obedience cannot replace a heart submitted to the LORD.
July 24 — ch. 16 God chooses David and anoints him as king, showing that the LORD looks on the heart and provides the ruler His people truly need.
July 25 — ch. 17 David defeats Goliath as Israel’s champion, pointing to Jesus, the greater Champion who saves His people from the enemy they could not defeat.
July 26 — ch. 18 David rises in favor with the people while Saul grows jealous and fearful, showing the conflict between the LORD’s anointed and the rejected king.
July 27 — ch. 20 Jonathan shows covenant loyalty to David, protecting the LORD’s anointed even at great cost to himself.
July 28 — ch. 22 Saul’s violence against the priests exposes the corruption of his kingship, while David begins to gather the distressed and needy around him.
July 29 — ch. 24 David spares Saul’s life, trusting the LORD to judge between them rather than taking the kingdom into his own hand.
July 30 — ch. 30 God strengthens David in distress and uses him to recover what was lost, showing the LORD’s faithfulness to preserve His anointed.
July 31 — ch. 31 Saul dies in defeat, bring his rejected kingship to a tragic end and preparing the way for the king God had chosen.
Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we read the book of 2 Samuel!
1 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. 2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. 3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His son’s name? Surely you know!
5 Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.[1]
Proverbs 30:1-5
Greetings Sojourners,
What a joy it is to get to write to you today and share a bit of testimony with you. I must admit that I find myself joyful today – as joyful as I am tired, which, as you will see, is quite a lot.
Let me begin by saying, “GOD is good!” He is good because that’s who He is (Psalm 34:8, Psalm 100:5, James 1:17), and His goodness is not contingent on whether or not I feel like He’s been particularly good to me in a given moment; He’s good – all the time! These past few weeks have given me the opportunity to reflect and look at God’s goodness as well as His consistency and character and how I have seen Him work and move in my life, and as I’m not particularly special, I can say with confidence that He can and will work in your life as well.
The passage we open with is one that always tickles me as much as it humbles me. So, before we hit the musings I have prepared, let’s meditate on the Word to set us off.
Firstly, we don’t really know who Agur son of Jakeh is, to whom Proverbs 30 is attributed. But as neither he nor the Lord saw fit to tell us much about him, we will look instead to the Lord he introduces us to.
Secondly, it’s okay if the way Proverbs 30 begins makes you chuckle a bit. Lord willing, we will all grow up enough to be able to laugh at our own mistakes and ignorance. I’ve surely been weary, and I’ve definitely been “weary” and “worn out” because of my own stupidity. So, when Agur declares both his weariness and that he is surely “too stupid to be a man” and that he has “not the understanding of a man,” that is actually a good place to begin in wisdom. Sometimes people begin with their résumé, trying to prove why they are wise and why their wisdom should be heeded. Agur’s résumé is that he learned wisdom the hard way – through lessons bought rather than merely taught.
If you don’t think Proverbs 30 is particularly humorous, I would wager that you might be a young or thick-headed man or a woman who is having to deal with one or the other. I’m kidding – mostly. What I want you to see here is the basis for what comes next, namely, the way Agur’s words in the Old Testament point us to Christ.
He admits his ignorance and the weariness that comes from it. And he does so in order to show that what he knows of God, “the Holy One”, does not come from himself but that it has been revealed to him by God Himself. That’s an important distinction, and that leads us to our third point from Proverbs 30: God reveals Himself to man through His Word (Psalm 19:7-11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 1:1-2).
Look at the series of rhetorical questions that Agur asks and see how they build on the magnificent power of God, the mighty Creator who has graciously made Himself known to lowly folks like me and you and Agur. The beauty to me is how each of these rhetorical questions can, and ultimately should, be answered with a clear “the Lord JESUS”.
Who has ascended to heaven and come down? The Lord Jesus. Jesus Himself told Nicodemus in John 3:13 that “No one has ascended into heaven except He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man”, and He gave that information as part of the invitation to see Him lifted up, “that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:15).
Who has gathered the wind in His fists? The Lord Jesus – God Himself – is the only One with such power. The very same God who can measure “the waters in the hollow of His hand” (Isaiah 40:12) is He who “was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5).
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? The Lord Jesus – the God who invented water – is the only one who can make it do what He commands (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:3). This is seen in Job’s reply to Bildad when he speaks of the might of God, who binds up the waters in His clouds and controls the boundaries of sea and sky (Job 26:8).
What is His name, and what is His son’s name?Surely you know! JESUS!
His name is Jesus, and that’s the beauty of making Himself known to us and offering salvation to all who trust in Him. It’s seen clearly in Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” Every promise He makes is kept. Every prophecy He gives is fulfilled. He is who the Bible says He is, and we can trust Him, take refuge in Him, and know full well that He will take care of His own (John 10:27-30, Romans 8:38-39, 1 Peter 5:6-7).
That’s why Agur’s words are such a fitting place for me to begin. Weariness has a way of exposing how little we understand, but the Word of God lifts our eyes from our limits to the Lord who makes Himself known. That’s exactly what I’ve needed this past year: for the Word of God to lift my eyes from what I couldn’t understand to the God who has made Himself known and proved Himself faithful.
Ultimately, that’s what I want to talk about today – a testimony of the trustworthy God, not because my experiences prove Him trustworthy, but because He has told us who He is in His Word. What I share today does not add to the Word, but it does my heart good to look back and be able to say, “Look! Here is where Jesus shielded me! Here is where He proved Himself to be true and loved me!” If you don’t listen to a single word past here, you’ve lost nothing because His Word in Proverbs 30:1-5 is more than sufficient to point you to Him. What comes next is likely more for me than you anyway.
To segue into these musings, I’m going to, as my father-in-law says from time to time, “put a little English on it”. What I mean is that I want to set out with a clear thesis to keep me on track and, hopefully, help me muse more than ramble as I share about how God has cared for me over this past year (and ultimately over the course of my life).
So, let me begin where the Lord has so often shown me His goodness most clearly: my marriage.
Musing on Marriage
This may sound weird coming from a man, but I like romance. I enjoyed – and still do enjoy – pursuing and wooing Candice like I did when we were dating. I liked learning about her while we were dating and found it kind of exciting to get to chase after the woman whom I thought then was the most magnificent person I’d ever met. After 22+ years of pursuing her, I have found that she is indeed more than my 19-year-old brain could have fathomed at the time.
Over the years, the pursuit waned as, well, I got lazy and convinced myself that once I had married her, I had caught her. That’s true in a sense, but a lasting marriage doesn’t quite work like that. We were grown when we started out, true. But we’ve been growing and changing, individually and together. Sometimes these changes are for the better; other times, well, let’s just say they are changes.
Thankfully, God has let me realize, like Agur, that I’m too stupid to be a man. The wisdom I have doesn’t come from some sage source of me just being smart; it comes from the Lord being gracious enough to let me outlive my ignorance. I joke often when I preach or teach and marriage comes up that Candice had a stupid and lazy husband the first ten years she was married, and she has had a better husband for the second ten years – and she’s had the same husband the whole time. God convicted me of my ignorance and has allowed me to see the error of my ways, with Candice loving me enough to hold me accountable to the man she knew I was supposed to be. She paused long enough for me to catch up, and the pursuit is on. Lord willing, it will continue until death parts us.
This time last year, Candice had her hands full. She had been waiting on me hand and foot for about a week before I ever made it to the hospital last June. It was scary for me to find myself unable to walk or even feed myself, but it was probably scarier for her as every added thing she took on to do for me that I couldn’t do for myself likely looked like something she’d have to do for the long haul. The first post that I wrote on the subject, “Reflections on the Goodness of God from My Hospital Bed”, was actually our first collaboration – Candice typing and me looking over her shoulder to try and say what we were writing. I felt humiliated and emasculated at the time, but looking back, it was such a beautiful picture of the love Christ has for His bride, the Church, in that He is strong where we are weak and cares for His own selflessly because He loves her (Ephesians 5:25-32, 1 John 3:16-18).
Once I finally got home, I thought everything would magically fall back into the way things were, but that’s not how life works. Sometimes the way things were is simply in the past. I still needed help, and she was adamant that I would take the help whether I was smart enough to realize it or not. This is honestly the first time that I’ve thought about it, but as tired and scared as she was, I can’t remember a time when she complained about it. The strength I needed, she had, and that added strength came from the Lord – given to my wife, my helper, to love me and help me when I could not help myself (Genesis 2:18, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
Rather than focus solely on the past, I think it’s helpful for us to move forward to more recent times. Yes, there were new firsts – walking hand in hand without me needing to be guided, dancing without me having to hold on to her for support. Little by little, all those firsts became regular. The most recent memorable moment to muse on was actually a second rather than a first, though.
We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary on June 17. We already knew it wasn’t going to be our typical “go somewhere to eat and do date-stuff” kind of anniversary in Oxford or Jackson or Memphis. For our 10th anniversary, we flew out to Colorado, and it just wasn’t going to work out to do something like that this year. We snuck in some time while I worked in Jackson for a week, and we were planning on getting in a date when we went to Hattiesburg to see Keri at the end of drum major camp. But, as far as the actual anniversary went, it was going to be us and Xander – not because we couldn’t get someone to watch him but because I’d been away for a week and we were glad to spend that time with him.
The morning of our anniversary, I had an appointment and Candice had summer school. We had planned on the three of us going out to eat for lunch and then going to church later that evening since it was Wednesday. I had quite a surprise when I picked them up for lunch. For weeks, Candice had been secretly working on her wedding dress, and she was wearing it – the very same wedding dress from 20 years earlier – when I picked them up. One of my core memories is seeing her in that dress when the doors opened during our wedding, and I was transported back there. Rather than being trapped in the past, though, I was transfixed by the timeline in between – the tears, the laughter, the pain, the pleasure, the kids, the houses, the jobs, the life. Most surprisingly, she was worried I’d be embarrassed. Never. She’s my bride. We went to eat and then to the church for an impromptu vow renewal – no pomp or party, but a genuine renewal of the covenant we had made with each other. The difference was that we know now what we didn’t know then, and we still responded with “I do” – (special thanks to John and Sara Goldwater, Michael Curry, Sammy Carollo, and my best man and wingman, Xander, for helping us make that happen).
I understand more of Ephesians 5:32 than I did at 19 years old: “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” I understand the love Jesus has for His bride more because I’ve begun learning what it is to live for your bride rather than merely being willing to die for her. Candice’s care for me showed me love received, and this season has pressed me to consider more deeply what Christ-like love requires of me as her husband. I know what it is to be willing and eager to hold fast to your wife. And, in my weakness, I have also learned more of what it is to be the church: loved, served, held, and helped by Christ when I cannot help myself. I’ve learned the depths of love that I couldn’t know without relationship with Christ and without relationship with Candice.
I’ve found a good and excellent wife and obtained favor from the Lord (Proverbs 18:22, 31:10-12). I rejoice in the wife of my youth more today than I did 20 years ago (Proverbs 5:18-19). And I understand love more deeply than I ever could from romance alone because what the Lord can build and show in relationship is deeper than what we can manufacture on our own.
Marriage is deeper than romance, but that does not make romance less beautiful. It gives romance roots. It turns affection into faithfulness. It turns vows into a life. And, by the grace of God, it lets a husband look at his wife after twenty years and say with assurance, “The Lord has been good to me.”
And just as the Lord used marriage to remind me that love is deeper than romance, He used missions to remind me His work is bigger than my strength.
Musing on Missions
One of the things that bothered me the most about having to go into the hospital last summer is that I was missing a mission trip with our Christ Community youth to go to New Mexico and help a church with their VBS. When the swelling first started in my feet and joints, I was convinced that I would go to the doctor, get some medicine, and essentially walk it off in time for the mission trip. Actually, that’s the only thing that convinced me to go to the doctor in the first place, as I had a little over a week from the onset of symptoms to when we would leave on the trip. Needless to say, once I got admitted into the hospital, I was starting to think I wasn’t going to get to go – as I said, I’m too stupid to be a man, or in this case, just stupid enough.
The plan had been for the four of us to go, but no amount of convincing was going to make Candice go. She was determined to stay with me. So, we sent Keri with our church family to go farther away than she’d ever been from us. We watched Life360 doggedly – not because we didn’t trust the chaperones, whom we know love her as if she were their own, but because we simply weren’t there (although the amount of pictures Shonna and Sara sent of Keri made us feel like we were). Even those pictures were part of God’s gift of the church to us. We could send our daughter farther away than she’d ever been because we knew she wasn’t going alone. She was with family – not by our blood, but by the blood of Jesus (Mark 3:34-35, Ephesians 2:19, 1 John 3:14-18). Shonna and Sara sharing pictures with us did more than help us feel included; it reminded us that the Lord has given our kiddos spiritual aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters who love them because they love Him.
The first night they called during their worship time slayed me. Sara Goldwater FaceTimed, and I got to see all of my church kiddos and Keri one by one, and they had picked songs to sing that night for worship that they thought would minister to me. They were right. “Battle Belongs” reminded me that God is my fortress and mighty to save; “Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” reminded me that Jesus is my rock and foundation who will never fail; and “Because He Lives” reminded me who holds the future. I wept as I worshiped.
That night was one of the clearest reminders I’ve ever had that the church is a gift. I already knew that doctrinally. I had preached and taught that the church is the body of Christ, the family of God, brothers and sisters joined together in Jesus. But that night, it was clear. I wasn’t in the room (or even the same state) with them. I wasn’t useful to them in any way. I wasn’t leading or serving them. I was a thousand miles away in a hospital bed, weak and weeping, and the Lord used His people to carry me. Their voices became a mercy to me. Their love became a reminder that Candice and I weren’t alone. Jesus was with us, and one of the ways He made that plain was through His church (Galatians 6:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24-25). But as grateful as I was for that gift, I was still hurting.
The next night I was in my feelings – which honestly was understandable – and I asked to talk to John after their worship time. I laid out my struggles, and he gave me some tough, pastoral love by telling me that while I wasn’t on the mission I had planned to be on, I was still on mission. He also told me I needed to ask God to help me figure out how to join in with His mission where I was.
Praying with nurses and phlebotomists, preaching Sunday worship in the cafeteria of the rehab, and looking for ways to minister from a walker or wheelchair was definitely not the mission I had signed up for, but it was where God had me – and where He hadn’t sent anyone but me.
That was last summer’s mission field. This summer, by God’s grace, the mission field looked very different.
The past eight days have been spent with some of our Christ Community kiddos and adults on mission in South Dakota. And this year, by God’s grace, I got to go. We drove over 1,200 miles there over two days. We partnered with Redemption Church in Piedmont, South Dakota to do VBS/backyard Bible club in the mornings and soccer camp in the afternoons at a park near the church. It was beautiful to get to see our people serve the Lord.
Now, don’t get the illusion that I’m about to say that I was some vital part of this; I wasn’t. This past year has shown me clearly that I am not necessary for ministry or missions to happen; Jesus is. He equips those He sends for the mission they have. When I started in pastoral work at Christ Community, one of my goals was for me not to be in a position to be indispensable. I didn’t want there to be anything that couldn’t be done if I were to fall off the end of the earth. Well, for all intents and purposes, I might as well have last summer. No area where God has called me to serve at CCC went without. People stepped up and did the work by God’s grace and power. Just as the mission trip went on without me, so did our weekly worship gatherings, and what a beautiful thing to behold because Jesus is better than anything I’ve got to offer. That’s part of why the church is such a gift: the work doesn’t rise and fall on any one person, because Jesus Himself is the Head, and He gives gifts to His people for the building up of the body (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11-16).
I even got to see a beautiful picture of love in the midst of the mission. I got to be the one to do the Bible teaching at the backyard Bible club, and during the second day, a chicken showed up. Now, that might not seem like a big deal to you, but let me tell you, it’s hard to be more interesting to kids than a chicken randomly walking up in the middle of town. The third day was the gospel emphasis where we wanted to make sure we were very clear with the kiddos about who Jesus is, what He has done, and how to be saved. I had semi-jokingly told the other adults that, if that chicken showed back up, I was going to take the kiddos over to a shade tree and teach the lesson Sermon-on-the-Mount-style and that I didn’t care which one of them got rid of it, but that they were to relocate it somehow if it showed back up.
And show up it did!
I led the children over to the tree, and my bride took a poster we had made for soccer camp with the Lord’s Prayer written on it and fought that chicken back the whole time I was teaching God’s Word to the kiddos. If you had told me 20 years ago that part of God’s mission or my wife’s love for me or for the Lord would involve beating a chicken back with the Lord’s Prayer, I would’ve lacked the scope or imagination to understand. But now I know!
One of the evenings of the mission trip, this became real to me in a powerful way. I got to come home from the hospital on June 25, 2025, after having been in there 18 days and 19 hours. Candice videoed me going from the car into the house that day, legs emaciated and wobbly with her afraid I was going to topple over and me afraid I wouldn’t make it up the steps and in the door. On June 25, 2026, I was walking up and down a trail in the shadow of Mt. Rushmore, tears filling my eyes at the goodness of God and a testimony of what He can do (“Hope in Jesus Does Not Put Us to Shame”).
That’s getting at the heart of missions anyway. It’s not about having the strongest people in the right places; it’s about a strong Savior sending weak people to tell other weak people where life, forgiveness, hope, and rescue can be found (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
No, I’m not necessary for any bit of God’s mission to be carried out. He is essential, and I’m an accessory. But praise be to God, He lets me participate. He doesn’t need me, but He wants me. And if He can use me in a hospital bed, a rehab cafeteria, a backyard Bible club, a soccer field, or even under a shade tree while my wife battles poultry with the Lord’s Prayer, then surely He can use whatever weakness, circumstance, or opportunity He places in front of any of us to point people to Jesus!
And that brings me to the thread running underneath all of these musings: my walk with Christ. Marriage and missions have both reminded me that Jesus is faithful, and this past year has helped me see anew that He has never left me, never forsaken me, and never wasted a step.
Wrapping Up by Musing on My Walk with Christ
When I was a kid, there were certain things that were always around my great-grandmother Grandma Simmons’s house. One of them was the “Footprints in the Sand” poem, which hung in several places. I’m not going to quote it here, but you probably know the gist. A person looks back over the course of their life and sees footprints in the sand. Sometimes there are two sets. Other times, there is only one set. When looking back, they cry out to God feeling as if those times with one set of footprints were Him abandoning them, but they find out that the Lord had never left them – those were the times He was carrying them.
I think about that poem differently the older I get. Part of that is because I remember Grandma Simmons’s testimony. She had lived long enough, struggled enough, prayed enough, and seen enough of the Lord’s kindness to consistently counsel her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that God had sustained her, cared for her, and taken care of her all the days of her life.
I don’t care if the footprints were side-by-side, if there was only one set because He was carrying me, or if, as John Goldwater says, there were drag marks where the Lord just took me and put me where He would have me. I am thankful that I can look back and see His footprints throughout my life. I am thankful that He cares for me. I am thankful that He has a plan for my life. And I am thankful that one day, when this life is over, the same feet I have followed will be the feet where I bow in worship (Deuteronomy 31:8, Psalm 37:23-24, Hebrews 13:5, Revelation 5:9-14).
That’s where I find myself right now in my walk with Christ. I’m trying to make sure I’m where He would have me to be, doing what He would have me to do, and pursuing Him above everything else – or at least striving to pursue Him above all else (“Thankful: Learning to Number Our Days”).
Back in 2015, I burned out and quit ministry because I let my identity get wrapped up in what I did – in being “Pastor Keith”. I don’t want to do that again. I don’t want to confuse calling with identity. I don’t want to confuse serving Jesus with being seen serving Jesus. I don’t want to wrap my identity up in ministry, writing, preaching, teaching, leading worship, or any other good thing Jesus lets me do.
Now, that does not make those callings unimportant. God has clearly called me to be a husband, father, brother, uncle, son, teacher, pastor, worship leader, and writer. I want to be faithful in all of those things. I want to be the husband God has called me to be for Candice and the daddy Keri and Xander need. I want to be a pastor among the flock God has called me to serve. I want to disciple well. I want to work at my job in a way that honors Him. I want to write and teach and sing and serve in ways that point people consistently to Jesus.
There’s a quote often attributed to William Carey that hits me hard: “I’m not afraid of failure; I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” I don’t want to build a busy life, or even a visibly fruitful ministry life, only to realize that I succeeded at things Jesus wasn’t calling me to chase. I don’t want to succeed at the wrong things. I don’t want to gain attention and lose faithfulness. I don’t want to be impressive; I want to be faithful to my Lord.
So, I find myself at a crossroads of sorts. Is God calling me somewhere else? Is He calling me to dig in where I am? I don’t know. And, honestly, it’s okay that I don’t know yet.
I know Him.
I know His Word is true. I know He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
I know He is good when I am weak. I know marriage is deeper than romance. I know His mission is bigger than my strength.
I know the church is a gift — not a building, not a program, not a place for religious spectators, but a blood-bought family where burdens are borne, prayers are lifted, children are loved, the gospel is preached, and weak saints are carried by God’s grace (“Light Momentary Afflictions, Eternal Weight of Glory”).
I know hope in Jesus doesn’t fail, even while I’m still learning to walk forward.
Right now, I’m leaning into Him. I’m digging into His Word, not merely to study to preach or teach, but to spend time with Him. I’m seeking His strength to be faithful in the life He has given me, even while I’m still learning what that looks like.
And because this is not merely my story, maybe that is the challenge for you, too, dear Sojourner.
Are you pursuing Christ, or only the life you hope He will bless? Are you seeking His Kingdom, or asking Him to strengthen your own? Are you resting in your identity in Jesus, or trying to build one out of your roles, productivity, ministry, family, reputation, or success?
Are you where He would have you to be? Are you doing what He would have you to do?
I don’t know what the next year holds. A year ago, I couldn’t have imagined much of what this year would bring. But I know the One who holds it. I know His name. I know His Son’s name. Surely you know….
His name is Jesus!
He has carried me, corrected me, humbled me, strengthened me, and loved me. He has shown me His goodness in hospital rooms, in my marriage, through His church, carrying out His mission, in weakness, in recovery, and in all the steps in between. And if He has taught me anything through this past year, it is this: He is worthy, He is faithful, and He is enough.
The Redeemer, the Restored Inheritance, and the Coming King
The book of Ruth takes place during the dark days of the judges, yet it tells a remarkably hopeful story of God’s providence and covenant kindness. After famine, loss, and tragedy leave Naomi and Ruth seemingly without hope, God quietly works through ordinary people and ordinary events to accomplish His purposes. Unlike many books of the Old Testament, Ruth contains no dramatic miracles or prophetic visions. Instead, it reveals how God’s sovereign hand is often at work behind the scenes, guiding the lives of His people and showing His steadfast love through their faithfulness to one another.
At the heart of the story is redemption. Ruth, a Moabite widow, finds refuge among God’s people and is redeemed by Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer. His willingness to act on behalf of Ruth and Naomi restores what had been lost and secures a future they could not provide for themselves. In this way, Boaz points beyond himself to Jesus, the greater Redeemer, who rescues His people and brings them into the family of God. Throughout the book, the covenant kindness (Hebrew – chesed) shown by Ruth and Boaz reflects the steadfast love and mercy of God Himself, a love ultimately displayed in its fullness through Jesus.
Because we will be reading the whole book, you will follow the story from beginning to end. You’ll see the Redeemer in Boaz’s gracious work on behalf of Ruth and Naomi, the Restored Inheritance in God’s reversal of their loss and emptiness, and the Coming King in the genealogy that concludes the book. Set immediately after Judges, Ruth provides a hopeful answer to the chaos of those days, tracing the line that leads to King David — and ultimately to JESUS, the Son of David, through whom God’s promise to bless all nations is fulfilled. Ruth herself, like Rahab before her, stands in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5), reminding us that God’s redeeming grace extends to people from every nation who trust and have faith in Him.
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Ruth!
July 10 — ch. 1 Naomi returns to Bethlehem in grief and emptiness, while Ruth clings to her and takes refuge among the people of the LORD.
July 11 — ch. 2 God provides for Ruth and Naomi through Boaz, a worthy man whose kindness gives them hope in their time of need.
July 12 — ch. 3 Ruth seeks refuge through Boaz as her redeemer, trusting him to act with covenant faithfulness on her behalf.
July 13 — ch. 4 Boaz redeems Ruth and restores Naomi’s inheritance, carrying forward the family line that will lead to David and ultimately to Jesus.
Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we read the book of 1 Samuel!
The Flawed Deliverers, the Ruin of Sin, and the Need for a King
The book of Judges covers one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history. After the victories and covenant renewal of Joshua, Israel failed to fully obey the LORD and gradually turned to the gods/practices of the surrounding nations. The book follows a tragic pattern often referenced as the Judges Cycle: God’s people rebel against Him and fall into idolatry; God allows foreign nations to oppress them and bring them back to Him; the people cry out for help; God raises up a judge to deliver them; the people enjoy a season of peace; and then, after the judge dies, they quickly return to sin and the cycle begins again (and again). Each repetition reveals a deeper spiritual decline, showing the devastating consequences of covenant unfaithfulness and life lived apart from God’s rule.
The judges themselves point beyond themselves to Jesus. Though God uses Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, and others to deliver His people, each of them is deeply flawed. Some begin well and end poorly; others display serious moral and spiritual failures even while being used by God. Yet several of these judges are later commended for their faith in Hebrews 11. Their inclusion reminds us that God’s saving purposes are accomplished by His grace rather than human perfection. As we have recently seen in Hebrews, these men and women are part of the great cloud of witnesses who ultimately direct our attention beyond themselves to Jesus, the perfect Deliverer and the true Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).
While not every chapter of Judges is included, these readings have been carefully chosen to highlight the Flawed Delivers, the Ruin of Sin, and the Need for a King. You’ll see Israel’s repeated failures (chs. 1-2), the faith of Deborah (ch. 4), the rise and decline of Gideon (chs. 6-8), the tragic account of Jephthah (ch. 11), the strength and weakness of Samson (chs. 13-16), and the shocking collapse of Israel’s spiritual and moral life (chs. 17-21). The books repeated refrain — In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes — reveals the heart of the problem. Judges leaves us longing for a righteous King who can truly save His people. That longing finds its fulfillment in JESUS, who perfectly rules, perfectly delivers, and perfectly obeys where every judge failed.
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Judges!
June 25 — ch. 1 Israel begins to possess the land, but their incomplete obedience leaves enemies among them and sets the stage for future compromise.
June 26 — ch. 2 Israel turns from the LORD after Joshua’s generation, beginning a cycle of rebellion, judgment, crying out, and deliverance through flawed judges.
June 27 — ch. 4 God delivers Israel through Deborah, Barak, and Jael, showing His power to save His people through unexpected and unlikely means.
June 28 — ch. 6 God calls Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian, showing mercy to His fearful people even when their suffering is tied to their own sin.
June 29 — ch. 7 God saves Israel through Gideon’s small and weakened army, making it clear that deliverance comes by His power.
June 30 — ch. 8 Gideon refuses kingship but leads Israel into idolatry, showing the need for a better deliverer who can give God’s people lasting rest.
July 1 — ch. 11 God uses Jephthah to deliver Israel, but his tragic vow reveals how deeply Israel’s faith has been distorted by the nations around them.
July 2 — ch. 13 God announces the birth of Samson, raising up a deliverer set apart from the womb to begin saving Israel from the Philistines.
July 3 — ch. 14 Samson’s sinful desires and conflict with the Philistines show God working through a deeply flawed deliverer to begin rescuing His people.
July 4 — ch. 16 Samson falls through his own sin, yet God grants him final victory over the Philistines, showing his weakness and Israel’s need for a greater Savior.
July 5 — ch. 17 Micah makes his own shrine and priesthood, showing the spiritual confusion of a people who do what is right in their own eyes.
July 6 — ch. 18 The tribe of Dan steals Micah’s idols and priest, revealing how far Israel has fallen when worship is shaped by convenience instead of God’s Word.
July 7 — ch. 19 Israel’s moral collapse is exposed through shocking violence, showing the ruin that comes when everyone does what is right in his own eyes.
July 8 — ch. 20 Israel responds to evil with civil war, revealing a nation broken by sin and in desperate need of righteous leadership.
July 9 — ch. 21 Judges ends with grief, confusion, and compromise, leaving Israel longing for a true King who will lead God’s people in righteousness.
Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin the book of Ruth!
The Greater Yeshua, the Scarlet Cord, and the Promised Inheritance
Joshua begins a new chapter in God’s Story as Israel finally enters the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Under Joshua’s leadership, God brings HIs people across the Jordan River, defeats their enemies, and gives them rest in the land He had sword to give them (chs. 1:1-9, 21:43-45). The book highlights God’s faithfulness to keep His promises and His presence with His people as He leads them into their inheritance. yet Joshua is not merely a story of military conquest but about covenant faithfulness, calling God’s people to trust Him, obey His Word, and worship Him alone.
Joshua also points forward to Jesus. Joshua’s name (Hebrew: Yehoshua, often shortened to Yeshua) means “The LORD saves”, the same name ultimately given to Jesus. As Joshua succeeds Moses and leads God’s people into the promised land, he foreshadows Jesus, the greater Yeshua, who brings His people into a greater inheritance and a better rest (Hebrews 4:8-11). The salvation of Rahab through the sign of the scarlet cord (ch. 2) displays God’s mercy toward those who trust Him, even outsiders, and reminds us that God’s saving purposes extend beyond Israel to all who come to Him by grace through faith. Throughout the book, God proves Himself both faithful to His promises and mighty to save.
While not every chapter of Joshua is included, these readings have been carefully selected to highlight the Greater Yeshua, the Scarlet Cord, and the Promised Inheritance. You’ll follow Joshua’s commissioning (ch. 1), Rahab’s rescue through faith (ch. 2), Israel’s crossing of the Jordan (chs. 3-4), covenant renewal and preparation for conquest (ch. 5), the fall of Jericho (ch. 6), God’s mercy to the Gibeonites (ch. 9), His victory over Israel’s enemies (ch. 10), the fulfillment of HIs promises in giving the land (ch. 21), and Joshua’s final call to covenant faithfulness (ch. 24). These passages show that God keeps every promise He makes, provides salvation for those who put their trust/faith in Him, and points beyond Joshua to JESUS, who leads His people into their eternal inheritance.
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Joshua!
June 15 — ch. 1 God commissions Joshua to lead His people into the land He promised, calling Him to courage, obedience, and confidence in God’s presence.
June 16 — ch. 2 God shows mercy to Rahab and preserves her household through the scarlet cord, giving a glimpse of salvation by grace through faith in Him.
June 17 — ch. 3 God leads His people across the Jordan on dry ground through the ark of His presence, showing that He Himself goes before them.
June 18 — ch. 4 God commands His people to set up memorials after crossing the Jordan so future generations would remember His mighty hand and worship Him.
June 19 — ch. 5 God prepares His people to enter the land through circumcision, the Passover, and the end of manna, marking them as His covenant people.
June 20 — ch. 6 God brings down Jericho by His power, judging the city while sparing Rahab and her household according to His promise to her.
June 21 — ch. 9 God’s people are deceived by the Gibeonites because they do not seek His counsel, yet they keep their oath and preserve them alive.
June 22 — ch. 10 God fights for His people, giving them victory over their enemies and showing that the promised inheritance comes by His power, not theirs.
June 23 — ch. 21 God gives His people the land He swore to their fathers, showing that not one word of His good promises failed.
June 24 — ch. 24 Joshua calls Israel to remember the LORD’s saving work and serve Him alone, warning them against idolatry as they renew the covenant.
Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin the book of Judges!
The Greater Prophet, the Curse Removed, and the Promise of Redemption
Deuteronomy records Moses’s final sermons to Israel as they stand on the edge of the Promised Land. Looking back over their history, Moses repeatedly reminds them of God’s faithfulness despite their sin and many failures and calls them to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength (ch. 6:4-5). This book serves as both the conclusion of the Pentateuch (refers to first five books of the Bible, literally means “five scrolls”) and the bridge to the books that follow, urging the new generation not to repeat the unbelief of their forefathers. Yet Deuteronomy also recognizes a deeper issue: God’s people need more than laws written on stone — they need new hearts, transformed by God’s grace.
This longing finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Moses promises that God will raise up a Prophet, one whom the people must hear and obey (ch. 18:15-19). The NT identifies Jesus as that greater Prophet (Acts 3:22-23). Deuteronomy also points forward to the cross when it declares that a man hung on a tree is under God’s curse (ch. 21:22-23), a passage the apostle Paul applies directly to Jesus, who became a curse for us so that we might be redeemed (Galatians 3:13). Finally, Deuteronomy anticipates a day when God will circumcise the hearts of His people (ch. 30:6), a promise fulfilled through the new covenant established by Jesus and applied by His Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:24-28).
While only selected chapters are included, these readings have been carefully chosen to highlight the greater Prophet, the curse removed, and the promise of redemption. You’ll see God’s call to wholehearted love and obedience (ch. 6-11), the promise of the coming Prophet (ch. 18:15-22), the shadow of the curse that Jesus would bear (ch. 21:22-23), and the hope of redeption through a heart transformed by Jesus (ch. 30). The book concludes with Moses’s death (ch. 34), reminding us that even Israel’s greatest leader could not ultimately save God’s people himself. Deuteronomy leaves us looking for One greater than Moses — and in Jesus, the long-awaited Prophet, Redeemer, and Savior, we’ve found Him.
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Deuteronomy!
June 7 — ch. 6 God commands His people to love Him with all their heart, soul, and might, revealing their need for a transformed heart.
June 8 — ch. 7 God sets His love on His people and chooses them, not because of them but out of His steadfast covenantal love, best demonstrated in Christ.
June 9 — ch. 8 God humbles and provides for His people, revealing their need for the heart change He must provide.
June 10 — ch. 10 God calls His people to circumcise their hearts, revealing the need for the curse of sin to be removed.
June 11 — ch. 11 God sets before His people both blessing and curse, revealing the need for the curse to be removed.
June 12 — ch. 18:15-22, 21:22-23 God promises a greater Prophet and reveals the curse, pointing to Jesus who is the Word of God and bears the curse for our sin.
June 13 — ch. 30 God promises to restore His people and change their hearts so that they may truly love and obey Him.
June 14 — ch. 34 God buries Moses, and His people are left waiting for a prophet like Him. There’s good news: Jesus is greater than Moses!
The Faithful Guide, Salvation Lifted, and the Promised King
Numbers follows Israel’s journey from Mt. Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land, revealing both God’s faithfulness and His people’s repeated unbelief. Though God visibly guides Israel by His present and remains faithful to His covenant promises, the people continually grumble, rebel, and refuse to trust Him (ch. 9:15-23; 13-14). Their unbelief delays their entrance into the land and brings God’s judgment upon an entire generation. Yet even in the wilderness, God doesn’t abandon them. He instead preserves them, provides for them, and continues leading them to the inheritance promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
This book points to Jesus in several remarkable ways. The LORD’s faithful guidance of Israel anticipates Jesus, the Good Shepherd who leads HIs people through the wilderness of this world (John 10:11-18). When God instructs Moses to lift up the bronze serpent so that those who look upon it may live (ch. 21:4-9), Jesus declares that this event forshadowed His own crucifixion: “As Moses lifted up the servant in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (John 3:14-15). Numbers also contains one of the clearest messianic promises in the Law when Balaam foretells that “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (ch. 24:17), pointing forward to the coming King who will reign over God’s people.
While not every chapter of Numbers is included, these readings have been carefully selected to highlight the faithful guide, salvation lifted, and the promised King. You’ll see God’s presence leading His people (ch. 9), Israel’s tragic unbelief at the border of Canaan (ch. 13-14), God’s provision of salvation through the bronze serpent (ch. 21), His sovereign blessing through Balaam’s prophecies despite his attempts to curse Israel (ch. 22-24), and the commissioning of Joshua as Israel prepares to enter the land (ch. 27:12-23). Together, these passages remind us that God remains faithful even when His people fail, that salvation comes through looking in faith to His provision, and that all of God’s promises ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the greater Joshua and the promised King!
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Numbers!
May 29 — ch. 9 God calls His people to keep the Passover and faithfully guides them by His presence, pointing to Jesus, our Passover Lamb and Savior.
May 30 — ch. 13 God’s people see the promised land but doubt God’s promise, responding in fear instead of faith.
May 31 — ch. 14 God’s people rebel against Him, but through Moses’s intercession God shows mercy even as He brings judgment.
June 1 — ch. 21 God provides salvation from judgment through the lifted serpent, pointing to Jesus who was lifted so that whoever believes may have eternal life.
June 2 — ch. 22 God shows that His Word stands and His people cannot be cursed because He alone determines blessing and judgment.
June 3 — ch. 23 God declares His unchanging Word, showing that He does not lie and His blessing cannot be revoked.
June 4 — ch. 24 God reveals the coming King from Jacob, a star and scepter who will rule and reign over all.
June 5 — ch. 25 God judges His people’s sin, but atonement through a faithful priest turns away His wrath, pointing to Jesus, the high priest of a greater atonement.
June 6 — ch. 27:12-23 God appoints Joshua to lead His people after Moses so they are not without a shepherd, pointing to Jesus who is greater than Moses or Joshua.
The Sacrifice for Sin, the Call to Holiness, and the Hope of Atonement
Leviticus picks up right where Exodus leaves off, with God’s glory dwelling among His people in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35, ch. 1:1). This raises a crucial question: how can a sinful people live in the presence of holy God? Leviticus answers by giving instructions for sacrifice, worship, and daily life, showing that sin must be dealt with and that God’s people are called to be holy as He is holy (ch. 17:11, 19:2). Through these laws, God graciously provides a way for Israel to approach Him, remain in fellowship with Him, and live as His set-apart people.
These sacrifices and rituals point beyond themselves to Jesus Christ. The offerings in Leviticus show that atonement requires the shedding of blood (ch. 17:11), but they had to be repeated again and again. Jesus fulfills this as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:11-14, 10:1-14), making a way for full and final forgiveness. He is both the perfect sacrifice and the true High Priest, and through Him we are made clean and brought near to God. The call to holiness in Leviticus is also fulfilled in Jesus, who makes His people holy and calls them to live in that holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16).
While only a few chapters are selected, these readings have been carefully chosen to reflect the heart of Leviticus as we see it point to Jesus. You’ll see the necessity of sacrifice (ch. 1), the depth of atonement and the role of blood (ch. 16, 17:11), the call to live as God’s holy people (ch. 19), and the rhythms of worship that shape life around God’s presence (ch. 23). Together, they trace the way to holiness and the hope of atonement, showing both the problem of sin and God’s gracious provision. These passages not only prepare us to understand the work of Jesus but also call us to live as a people made holy through Him.
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Leviticus!
May 25 — ch. 1 God provides the burnt offering to atone for sin through a spotless substitute, pointing to Jesus, the Lamb of God without blemish or sin.
May 26 — ch. 16, 17:11 God introduces the Day of Atonement, where a sin-bearing substitute and the life blood deal with sin, pointing to Jesus whose blood cleanses all sin.
May 27 — ch. 19 God calls His people to be holy as He is holy and to love their neighbor as themselves, pointing to Jesus who is holy, holy, holy.
May 28 — ch. 23 God appoints feasts for His people to remember His saving works and worship Him, pointing to their fulfillment in Jesus.
Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin Numbers!
The Promised Seed, the Covenant, and the Substitute
Genesis begins God’s Story by showing Him as Creator of all things, making a world that was “very good” (ch. 1:31), yet sin quickly enters through Adam and Eve’s disobedience (ch. 3:1-7). Sin’s effects spread through every part of life — violence, corruption, and rebellion against God (ch. 6:5, 11:1-9). Even in judgment, though, God shows mercy and grace, preserving Noah through the flood and making a covenant with him (ch. 9:8-17). As Genesis unfolds, the focus narrows from all humanity to one family, as God calls Abraham and promises to bless all nations through him (ch. 12:1-3). This shift reveals that God is not abandoning His world but is working out His plan to redeem it.
From the beginning, Genesis points forward to Jesus. God promises that the seed of woman will defeat the serpent (ch. 3:15), a promise ultimately fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16, 1 John 3:8). Through Abraham, God establishes a covenant of blessing for all nations (ch. 12:1-3, 15:1-6, 17:1-8), which finds its fulfillment in Jesus and the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20, Galatians 3:8). When Abraham is called to offer Isaac, God provides a substitute in his place (ch. 22:13), pointing to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, Romans 8:32). Even as the Story progresses, the promise of a coming King emerges through Judah’s line (ch. 49:10), ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of Abraham and and Son of David (Matthew 1:1).
While not every chapter of Genesis is included, these readings have been carefully suggested to help trace this gospel thread clearly for Christ Community and The Foundry. You’ll move from creation to the fall to the flood and God’s covenant with Noah, then to Abraham and the promises that shape the rest of Scripture. Key moments — like God’s covenant in Genesis 15 and 17, the substitute in Genesis 22, the reaffirmation of God’s promise in Genesis 28, God’s providential saving work through Joseph in Genesis 50, and the promise of the coming King in Genesis 49 — highlight The Promised Seed, the Covenant, and the Substitute. Some passages point directly to Jesus, while others build the foundation we need to understand Him and to understand later chapters in later books of the Old Testament, too. By the end of Genesis, God’s people are in Egypt, waiting for deliverance, and setting the stage for what comes next.
Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Genesis!
April 18 — ch. 1:1-23 God creates a good and ordered world by His Word, pointing to Jesus, the Word of God through whom all things were made and hold together.
April 19 — ch. 2:4-25 God forms man from the dust and establishes marriage, pointing to Jesus, the Bridegroom of the Church who gives life and restores the lost.
April 20 — ch. 3 Sin enters the world through Adam, but God promises the coming Seed who will crush the serpent and atone for sin.
April 21 — ch. 4 Sin spreads through Cain, but God preserves the promised offspring through whom people call on His name.
April 22 — ch. 5 Death reigns through Adam’s line, yet God preserves the promised offspring.
April 23 — ch. 6:1-8 Humanity’s sin grows great and fills the earth, yet Noah find favor by God’s grace.
April 24 — ch. 6:9-7:24 God judges sin through the flood but provides the ark, pointing to Jesus as the only way to be saved from the wrath of God.
April 25 — ch. 8:1-9:17 God delivers Noah through the flood and establishes His covenant, pointing to mercy after judgment.
April 26 — ch. 9:18-10:32 The nations are birthed and spread from Noah’s sons, with God preserving the promised line through Shem.
April 27 — ch. 11:1-26 God scatters the nations at Babel yet preserves the promised line through Shem to Abram (Abraham).
April 28 — ch. 11:27-12:9 God calls Abram and promises to bless all nations through his offspring — which, according to Galatians 3:16 is a reference to Jesus.
April 29 — ch. 15 God confirms His covenant with Abram, promising offspring and counting his faith as righteousness.
April 30 — ch. 17:1-22 God establishes His covenant with Abraham through Isaac, pointing to Jesus, the promised Offspring.
May 1 — ch. 22 God provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac, pointing to Jesus, the Lamb of God who would die as our Substitute.
May 2 — ch. 28:10-22 God confirms His promise to Jacob and reveals a ladder to heaven, pointing to Jesus as the only Way to the Father.
May 3 — ch. 37 Joseph is rejected and sold by his brothers, yet God already has a plan to raise him up.
May 4 — ch. 40 God gifts Joseph with the ability to interpret dreams, bringing life to one and judgment to another.
May 5 — ch. 41 God raises Joseph from the pit to rule and provide bread in a time of famine, preparing the way to preserve His people.
May 6 — ch. 44 Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin, showing a heart of sacrifice and responsibility.
May 7 — ch. 45 Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, showing God preserving His people and the promised line despite their sin.
May 8 — ch. 46 God brings Jacob and his family to Egypt, not only preserving the promised line but fulfilling His promise that they would become a nation.
May 9 — ch. 49:1-2, 8-12 Jacob blesses his sons before his death, prophesying a coming King from Judah — Jesus — to whom all nations will bow.
Just Keith Harris 