1SAMUEL 30-31:The Philistines mustered their armies for full-scale war with Saul and the Israelites. Saul had already done a right thing in expelling all the mediums from Israel. But, since God had turned from him and would not answer him, he resorted to a medium during his darkest hour. It does not bother me too much to say that God spoke through that medium. It seems so by the evidence. But if so, it was an exception. God's word says to never consult a medium. In fact, mediums are to be stoned to death. David was preparing to go to war in support of Achish, or was he really?!

PSALM 106b:Psalm 106 is a companion to 105, as it again is a historical psalm. I see a very significant correspondence with the section of Romans we are now reading. Can you see it?

Re-reading ROMANS 10, plus 11:1-2a:Some of the most famous and often quoted words of the New Testament are in this chapter. Paul continues to compare and contrast God's way vs. the Jewish default way.

NLT Translation notes:Ps. 106:34 [And then] Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land,as the LORD had commanded them.====Rom. 10:6 But faith's way of getting right with God says, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up to heaven [for us]?' (to bring Christ down to earth).7 And don't say, 'Who will go down to the place of the dead [for us]?' (to bring Christ back to life again)." 8 In fact, it says,"The message is very close at hand;it is on your lips and in your heart."And that message is the very message about [fully believing which//faith that] we preach: 11 As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who [believes//trusts] in him will never be disgraced."[Here in rapid succession, NLT used three English words for one word in Greek. I continue to maintain that using one word will help us understand what Paul is saying. I think the NLT would be better if either 'trust' or 'believe' were used consistently. 'Faith' is too fuzzy and abstract in English, which can lead to strange, unbiblical interpretations.]17 So [people fully believe through//faith comes from] hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,"I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.I will provoke your anger through the foolish [non-Jews//Gentiles]."

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.