Daily Devotions · April 24
Reading for April 24
Read the whole Bible in a year, a few chapters a day.
1 Samuel 28–29 · Psalm 109 · Matthew 11
1 Samuel 28–29 · Psalm 109 · Matthew 11, Berean Standard Bible
1 Samuel 28
Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.” 2 David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.” 3 Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. 4 The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently. 6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. 8 So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.” 9 But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?” 10 Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.” 11 “Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied. 12 But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 13 “Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered. 14 “What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence. 15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” 16 “Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17 He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today. 19 Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” 20 Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night. 21 When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.” 23 Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. 24 The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. 25 She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left.
1 Samuel 29
Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine leaders marched out with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. 3 Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men? 5 Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 6 So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders. 7 Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.” 8 “But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’ 10 Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.” 11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Psalm 109
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent. 2 For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues. 3 They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause. 4 In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. 5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love. 6 Set over him a wicked man; let an accuser stand at his right hand. 7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayer be regarded as sin. 8 May his days be few; may another take his position. 9 May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. 10 May his children wander as beggars, seeking sustenance far from their ruined homes. 11 May the creditor seize all he owns, and strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. 12 May there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to favor his fatherless children. 13 May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation. 14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and the sin of his mother never be blotted out. 15 May their sins always remain before the LORD, that He may cut off their memory from the earth. 16 For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death. 17 The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him. 18 The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil. 19 May it be like a robe wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him. 20 May this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers, to those who speak evil against me. 21 But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name; deliver me by the goodness of Your loving devotion. 22 For I am poor and needy; my heart is wounded within me. 23 I am fading away like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust. 24 My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt. 25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. 26 Help me, O LORD my God; save me according to Your loving devotion. 27 Let them know that this is Your hand, that You, O LORD, have done it. 28 Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice. 29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe. 30 With my mouth I will thank the LORD profusely; I will praise Him in the presence of many. 31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul.
Matthew 11
After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples 3 to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.” 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8 Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear. 16 To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.” 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain.
How to SOAP
Grab a journal and a pen. Read the chapters above and watch for the verse that stops you. Then take it through four steps.
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Scripture
Write out the verse that stood out to you.
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Observation
What is it saying? Who is speaking, and to whom?
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Application
What does it mean for your life today? Be specific.
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Prayer
Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you live it.
Your SOAP journal
Write your SOAP here. Tap any verse in the reading to add it to Scripture. Your journal saves on this device only, so no one else sees it.
Added to your journal. Go to journal
Why daily devotions?
Devotions are time set aside each day to read God's Word and let Him speak. The point isn't checking off chapters. It's meeting with Him.
Ten or fifteen minutes is enough to start. Pick a time and a place and keep the appointment. Mornings work well for a lot of us, before the phone and the day start talking.
Missed a day? Don't start over. Read today's chapters and keep going.