by Jen | May 19, 2026 | 1-19, DISO studies, Genesis 22, Introduction, Jen
Hello! Thank you for joining me for this new eight-week study! This time, we’re looking at YHWH Yir·’eh-, The LORD will provide through a study of Genesis 22:1-19. This is my third God Who? study, in which I’m looking to learn as much as I can about the many names of God found in Scripture. I can’t wait to see what the Holy Spirit will reveal over the next eight weeks!
Let’s Study Genesis 22:1-19!
This week, I’ll begin by praying and surveying Genesis 22:1-19. If you want to study on your own with me, here’s what I recommend you have ready:
- A copy of Genesis 22:1-19.
I like to refer often to the text I’m studying and sometimes make notes on it, so I copy the passage from blueletterbible.org, paste it into a word processing program like Google Docs or MS Word, change the formatting to suit my preferences, and print it out. If you want to use the ESV translation, here’s a pdf of my Scripture study sheet with lots of room for doodles and notes.
- A study journal.
We’ll spend the next seven weeks immersed in and learning about Genesis 22:1-19. Since the work we’ll do each week builds on what came before, plan to record at least some highlights from your work over the coming weeks. I’m old-school and like the pen-and-paper method for journaling my studies, but it’s okay if that doesn’t work for you. If you don’t have time to write out or type your notes, consider dictating them into a notes app or recording audio files instead.
Or, you may decide to just try a few of the steps on your own as you feel led and/or read my notes posted here. That’s great, too. You’ll get familiar with the process and see how the Spirit speaks to my situation. Either way, I appreciate you checking in with me, even if you can’t dig into Genesis 22:1-19 yourself right now.
Dig-In Challenges
So, here’s how I’ll be studying this week:
- PRAY: I’ll be creating a prayer with which I’ll start each of my weekly study sessions. Full disclosure: I usually just adapt a previous prayer. Though I’ve pretty much memorized it, I still write my prayer in my study journal as a reminder to pray each time I study this text this way.
- SURVEY: Then I’ll read Genesis 22:1-19, noting anything that makes me say, “huh?” (as in, “I wonder what that means?”) or “wow” (as in, “that is so awesome!”). I’ll record these and later ask the Spirit to direct me to the one I should dig into right now.
If you’d like more information about Steps 1-5, check out this printable summary of the process I’ll be using. Or, you can always reach out to me with your questions through my contact page or at [email protected]. I’m looking forward to sharing what I discover in this process with you. I hope you’ll make a habit of checking in with me each week!
by Jen | May 12, 2026 | 1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath, DISO studies
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Wow! It feels like the last eight weeks have flown by! We’re already at Step 5, poised to begin a plan to live the truth we learned about YHWH Tsaba, the LORD of hosts, from David in 1 Samuel 17. I’m really excited about this, because I admit I’ve allowed fear to creep into my life in the past few years. But that’s not how God wants me to live.
Last Week’s Work
LESSON(S) LEARNED
The key lesson I’m taking away from this study is how knowing and trusting the LORD of Hosts takes away fear. I can’t really describe it, but as I’ve reviewed this study over the last few days, I feel my faith in God growing stronger, resisting the fear our enemy and his minions have used to sap my energy and immobilize me—not unlike Israel’s army at the thought of fighting Goliath.
CONVICTION
I’m convicted that I must stand up to the fear. I’ve got to use the weapon in my hand—the DISO Bible study process—to knock down my ”giant” enemies… who aren’t so giant in the face of the LORD of hosts. I hope as you’ve been studying with me that you also feel empowered to stand against our enemies, wrapped in the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness given freely to all believers, standing strong on the gospel of peace, protected by the shield of faith and the helmet of our salvation, and equipped to skillfully wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God!
CORRECTION
Verse 47 is the inspiration for my correction statement: “…the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give [our true enemies] into our hands!” It’s not about beating human “enemies;” it’s about defeating the fear and other tactics of enemies we can’t see. God can see them, though, and through our faith, He mobilizes His heavenly hosts for His battle. I’m already feeling the effects of stronger faith and praising God!
ACTION PLAN
Faith and courage are like muscles: they only become stronger when they are tested. While I’m not ready to charge hell with a water pistol, I am putting some plans in place to step out of my comfort zone with DISO. Please pray for my faith to be like David’s, that I will stand firm in the face of any resistance or games (especially head games!) the enemy may bring.
Our Next Study
This time let’s continue our quest to know God through His names by studying Genesis 22:1-19. If you’ve been in church for a while, you’ll probably recognize this story about Abraham and Isaac, from which we have God’s name YHWH Raah. By the way, if that looks vaguely familiar, it’s similar to the Hebrew name from our first study in this series, Psalm 23.
I hope you’ll join me beginning next week. I can’t wait to dig into another piece of Scripture with you!
by Jen | May 5, 2026 | 1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath, DISO studies
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Welcome back! It’s hard for me to believe we’ve already spent seven weeks studying 1 Samuel 17. I hope you’ve been able to dig into the rich treasure here, and the Holy Spirit has helped you better understand what you’ve discovered.
As I reviewed my work in this study, the Spirit reminded me about other battles all Christians face. Paul alluded to them in his letter to the Ephesians, and he also identified our true enemies. As I studied this week, I found some interesting parallels between them and the villains of our study text, and I was amazed anew that a giant and a whole host of Philistines would succumb to the previously demoralized army of the Living God led by a youth with nothing but a staff, a sling, and five stones. Oh, and colossal faith in the LORD of hosts.
Last Week’s Work
CROSS-REFERENCES
This past week has been a little crazy schedule-wise, so I limited my research to focus on God’s two names mentioned in vv26, 36, and 45: the living God and the LORD of hosts. Interestingly, I found the former term used throughout the Bible. For example, in the Old Testament, it’s associated with military victory (2 Kings 19, Isaiah 37:4, Jeremiah 23:36) and divine rescue. In the New Testament, it helps define Jesus’s identity, and the Apostle Paul equates Him to the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
I also noticed a few of David’s references to God as LORD of hosts. For example, he used that name when he and 30,000 men brought the ark of the covenant back (from the Philistines, no less!) into the city of Jerusalem. And, in a prayer of gratitude, he later reaffirms the LORD of hosts is God over Israel.
OTHER TRANSLATIONS
When I compared verses 21, 36, and 45 from the English Standard Version, the Amplified Bible, the New American Standard Bible (2020), the New Living Translation, and the Good News Translation, I discovered they were all remarkably similar except for v45, where I found these descriptions of God as LORD of armies (NASB20), LORD of Heaven’s Armies (NLT), and the more expansive LORD Almighty (GNT).
COMMENTARY
I reviewed bibleref.com, where the Spirit called my attention to the comparison of Goliath’s armor to the scales of the serpent from Genesis 3. I saw how both characters challenged the authority of God: the former as he defied the armies of the living God and the latter by manipulating Eve to disobey.
Moreover, the Spirit pointed out that the result in both scenarios was fear. But in our current study, I see how the Living God, the LORD of hosts is key to overcoming fear and spiritual enemies. No matter how much bigger or better equipped they appear to be, I’m assured the LORD determines the battle’s outcome.
But how do we know the LORD of hosts is with us? David received the Spirit of the LORD when he was anointed king. I believe that Spirit inspired David to tell Goliath he and his comrades were about to die. The good news is we don’t have to be afraid of our “giants,” either! If we’ve received the Holy Spirit, we have access to the same courage through faith in the same God!
Wow! I’m so grateful for this chance to become better acquainted with the God who saved my life. And, who better to teach me than King David? So far in this series, I appreciated David’s beautiful poem about God as Shepherd, our omnipotent caretaker and protector in Psalm 23. And here in 1 Samuel 17, David himself took on the protector role. He is the faithful, courageous warrior who seemed unaffected by the fear—the weapon of our eternal enemy—that so gripped his countrymen and king!
Dig-In Challenges
Let’s wrap up this study of 1 Samuel 17 and align with what we’ve discovered:
- PRAY: Use my prayer from week 2 or your own.
- ALIGN: Review your study notes (or what I’ve posted since week 2) and consider what you’ve learned in this study.
- ALIGN: Then, think about how the Spirit has convicted you through this study. In other words, where has He shown you misalignment between what we’ve discovered and how you practice your faith?
- ALIGN: Next, look to God’s Word for guidance to correct that misalignment. For me, this is often a verse from the study text or from one of the cross-references.
- ALIGN: And finally, reflect on how you can practice thoughts or actions that align more closely with what you’ve discovered here.
To make this stick, I commit to changing my thoughts* and/or actions** for at least three weeks.
*by focusing daily on my correction verse(s), above.
**by stopping or starting an activity as the Spirit leads.
by Jen | Apr 28, 2026 | 1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath, DISO studies
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Greetings! This week’s blog is a little late… I was plugging in some last-minute details here when our internet service provider went down for the better part of last night. Not only was I unable to finish and publish this post, but I also couldn’t find a recipe for dinner nor watch anything on television. Even my new cell phone couldn’t entertain me beyond reading the novel I’d downloaded for a trip earlier this month. Obviously, our service has been restored, but what a lesson in electronic dependency!
Last Week’s Work
LITERAL CONTEXT/WRITING TYPE
The most prevalent writing type I observed in 1 Samuel 17 and its literal context is narrative writing about Saul and David, the first two kings of Israel.
In Chapter 15, I discovered the disobedience that led God to reject Saul as king over Israel. In the next chapter, Samuel told Saul he’d lose the throne but did not divulge to Saul the full identity of his successor. I wonder if this news explains why Saul hadn’t addressed Goliath’s challenge in the 40 days prior to David’s visit: was he so distraught or remorseful for the disobedience that he couldn’t muster the strength to stand against the giant?
Moreover, when David approached Saul with intent to fight Goliath, Saul may not have realized that the youth before him was destined to take his place as king and commander of Israel’s army! I found one other verse that caught my attention in chapter 16: my ESV reads the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David when Samuel anointed him king. I’m no monarch, but I believe I know what that feels like, and it’s awesome!
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
We don’t know for sure who wrote 1 Samuel, but it’s possible the prophet himself wrote at least some of it, and it was written soon after David’s reign ended in 971 BC. According to the ESV Global Study Bible introduction, its purpose is to recount the establishment of a kingdom in Israel and the rise of David to replace Saul. I believe it’s an accurate, first-person account of what took place in Israel at that time.
INTERLINEAR RESEARCH
This time, I concentrated on just two areas: unpacking the frequent use of army/armies in vv21, 26, 36, and 45; and the names of God in vv26, 36, and 45.
On Bible Hub, I noticed there was no number attribute (singular or plural) assigned to H4634, maarakah, translated army (v21 only) and armies (vv26, 36, and 45). In v21, it’s singular and describes the Philistine and Israeli militias. In vv26, 36, and 45, however, the word is rendered plural, and I can’t see anything in the words or their immediate context that might explain why. What I did notice, though, is that the statements in 26, 36, and 45 are all David’s, and each time, he indicates the armies are of God, either identified as the Living God (H2416 H430) or the LORD of Hosts (H3068 H6635). I think that’s significant: it speaks to me of Israel’s army plus at least one other army—maybe of angels or other supernatural beings? Of course, with God, who needs anything more than a shepherd boy with a sling and a stone? Finally, I appreciated the detail I discovered for YHWH Tsaba (Lord of Hosts) on biblehub.org, especially in the section called Topical Lexicon. There I discovered the first use of tsaba appears in Exodus 12:41, describing the redeemed nation of Israel as the hosts [plural!] of the LORD. Others (like our text) speak to the nation’s military endeavors and to protection by unseen fighters.
Dig-In Challenges
I’ve learned a lot, but I still want to dig deeper! If you want to, also, here’s a plan:
- PRAY, of course.
- REFINE: Consult a concordance or online cross-reference study tool [I’ll be starting here] to find and read through the available cross-references for your focus verse(s) and log what the Spirit shows you.
NOTE: For your study, follow the above link, then use the Prev or Next buttons below the verse text to go to your focus verse(s).
- REFINE: Next, compare at least a few other translations of your focus verse(s) and write about what you find in your study journal. I’ll be comparing ESV, AMP, NIV, NLT, and GNT starting with this biblehub.com page. After following this link, you can navigate to your verse(s) by entering the reference in the Enter Reference or Keyword box at the top of the page and clicking the spyglass icon there.
- REFINE: Last, I plan to check a few commentaries on my focus verses from 1 Samuel 17. If you already have a favorite study Bible or commentary, feel free to review it, too. If you don’t, I recommend bibleref.com if you’re new to the Bible or Bible study: it’s easy to follow, and you can find information about the whole book and certain passages.
If you’re looking for something with more detail, try checking the commentary section of StudyLight.org. There, you can access verse-by-verse commentaries on 1 Samuel 17 by clicking the box for your focus verse, then clicking the name of the commentary listed immediately under the text of the verse you chose. I recommend you review more than one commentary and listen to the Spirit’s guidance on them.
I encourage you to do what you can this week to dig deeper into God’s Word. I know you’ll find immense treasure there. And I hope you’ll check in with me again next week!
GO TO WEEK 7 >
by Jen | Apr 21, 2026 | 1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath, DISO studies
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Wow! I have so much to share with you this week—let’s get right to it.
Last Week’s Work
CONTRASTS
As I prayed about comparisons in this text, I felt the Spirit guiding me to look deeper than the obvious contrast between David (the boy) and Goliath (the giant). I began with the language He drew me to a few weeks ago: specifically, references to Israel’s army/armies and to God.
I noticed the narrator of this story referred to Israel’s army [singular], but he also recorded David’s reference to the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies [plural] of Israel (emphasis added). Moreover, armies appears two other times in the text, both also from David’s words. First, he describes Goliath as an uncircumcised Philistine who was defying the armies of the living God (emphasis added). Then, David repeats this language to Saul while explaining his desire to fight the Philistine: because Goliath had defied the armies of the living God (emphasis added). He may have physically been a youth, but spiritually, David was clearly a colossus!
Verse 45 contains another contrast spoken by David that the Spirit highlighted for me. I think it lays out a key difference between the two fighters: a fully armored Goliath placed his confidence in his sword, spear, and javelin, while David was unprotected and only carried a staff, a sling, and some rocks, trusting in the name of the LORD of hosts. How exceedingly powerful that name was… and still is today!
It’s clear David’s faith in the LORD bested Goliath’s physical advantage and prowess, but there was also another, less obvious contrast: David’s faith/Saul’s faith. I first noticed it at the end of verse 37. It’s only after David explained why he believed Goliath would be defeated that Saul gave David his blessing… but then he tried to induce David to wear Saul’s ill-fitting armor! We can’t know Saul’s true motivation for this: was he hoping to be credited for the defeat if David prevailed? Or at least be honored as fallen in battle if Goliath won? Did he truly want to protect David, and was that the only armor available? Who knows? What I think this does show is Saul’s lack of faith (even as he invoked the LORD to bless David!) that God would really defeat this huge, battle-tested Philistine using a shepherd/delivery boy.
CAUSES/MOTIVATION
Though there were many more, my focus was trained on four connectors from this passage, all spoken by David. I mentioned the first, why Goliath would be killed like the predators he faced as a shepherd, in the contrast discussion above.
The other three connectors tell us the following:
- The LORD would defeat Goliath and the whole Philistine army…
[so] that
all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and
- [so] that
all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear.
- He also said they would know those two things
for [or because]
the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.
This convicted me: I heard the Spirit ask, “What fierce enemies are you trying to defeat in your own power? If God shows up in your battle, will all the earth know about Him?”
CONDITIONS/METHODS
Again, the Spirit directed me to just one described condition: the stalemate between the armies in the valley of Elah. Goliath had been taunting Israel’s army for forty days before David’s dad sent him to deliver his brothers’ care package. Israel’s whole army was much afraid of that one man! King Saul had even resorted to bribery, and still, no one would stand up to Goliath. Then came a youth who’d been victorious in some dangerous situations, but he didn’t attribute that success to his own methods: David knew—and acknowledged—the LORD delivered him, and he trusted He would do it again. God did!
Dig-In Challenges
This coming week, I’m planning to:
- PRAY. Of course!
- REFINE my understanding of this text by making a note of all the types of writing (instruction, law, letter, narrative, poetry, and/or prophecy) I discover in 1 Samuel 17.
- REFINE: Next, I’ll research the book’s historical context by referencing an introduction to the book of 1 Samuel, starting here. If you’re working along with me, note any relevant or interesting facts you uncover in your review of these materials. Based on the writing type (from step 2, above) and what you discover in the introduction, should 1 Samuel 17 be interpreted literally?
- REFINE: Last, I’ll be looking up the meaning of a few words and phrases from my focus verses using an interlinear Bible tool. I like Biblehub.com’s Hebrew tool for this research. To use it, follow the link above. You can quickly access a verse by selecting it from the dropdown box showing 17:1 at the top of your screen, or you can scroll to it by clicking the right-pointing arrow (to the right of the verse citation, 1 Samuel 17:1) for higher numbered verses. Once you locate the verse, click the number in the Strong’s column that corresponds to the English word or phrase you’re researching. Note anything the Spirit highlights for you in the information provided.
I encourage you to use these tools and dig as much as you can this week. I pray the Spirit will bless your efforts, my friend!
GO TO WEEK 6 >
by Jen | Apr 14, 2026 | 1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath, DISO studies
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello again: thanks for joining me here! This week, the Spirit worked with me to focus on three key repeated concepts, a handful of special statements, and three lists. Let’s look at them now.
Last Week’s Work
REPETITION
The first repeated concept I noticed was the conflict between Israel and the Philistines. It’s the backdrop of all the action involving David and his brothers. I discovered four synonyms: fighting (v19), battle (vv20-21, 47-48), war (vv20, 33), and fight (vv32-33). I didn’t learn how the conflict began, but the Spirit pointed out David talked to King Saul about his plan to fight Goliath, and Saul quickly tried to dissuade him (vv32-33)… but Saul changed his mind when David asserted that the LORD would deliver him (v37).
Next, the word host got my attention. In vv20 and 46 it seems to refer first to Israel’s army (v20), and then the Philistine army. The author also used army/armies (v21/vv26, 36), and ranks (vv22-23) to denote these two fighting forces. In addition, David invoked the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel in v45. This verse led me to the connection between army and host, and made me wonder if one of those armies of Israel is heavenly? I’m not sure I’ll be able to confirm that, but I’m sure it will be interesting to dig into!
Finally, I saw some repetition with deliver/delivered (vv35, 37, 46). As I considered those verbs, the Spirit helped me see that God, in His goodness, chose a boy making a delivery for his earthly father to be the conduit through which our Heavenly Father delivered his sons, Israel, from the Philistines. That gave me goosebumps!!
SPECIAL STATEMENTS
I noted four promises:
- Goliath’s “promise” to Israel’s army: If [your warrior] is able to fight … and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if [he dies], then you shall be our servants…” (v9).
- King Saul’s three promises to Goliath’s killer:
(1) great riches,
(2) [the king’s] daughter [in marriage], and
(3) [the champion’s] father’s house would be free (v25).
- David’s promise to King Saul:
(1) [I] will go and fight with this Philistine (v32),
(2) … this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of [the predators I’ve struck down] (v36),
(3) The LORD … will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (v37).
- David’s “promise” to Goliath:
(1) This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand,
(2) I will strike you down and cut off your head,
(3) I will give the [Philistine army’s] dead bodies … this day to the birds … and … beasts of the earth (v46).
NOTE: vv9 and 46 could probably also be considered warnings.
LISTS
In addition to the enumerated lists under the last three promises above, the Spirit showed me David’s battle equipment (v40):
(1) his staff,
(2) five stones, and
(3) his sling.
These present an interesting contrast (more on that next week) to Goliath’s arms (v45):
(1) a sword,
(2) a spear, and
(3) a javelin.
Dig-In Challenges
This week, let’s wrap up Step 3 by:
- PRAYING the prayer we wrote for Step 1.
- MINING comparisons by reading through the passage again looking for certain statements in or related to your focus verses. These may be statements of similarity featuring key words such as like, as, so, is, are, or of; qualitative comparisons indicating how one item is more or less than another; and/or contrasts that highlight or discuss how one concept differs from another.
- MINING: Next, look for causes or motives by focusing on key words or phrases I call cause connectors. In the ESV translation of this study text, look for the connectors because, for (meaning because), that (meaning so that), and to (meaning in order to). Then check the text surrounding the connector for an action and the reason or explanation for that action. For example: in the sentence,
I went to the store, for I was out of milk:
the action = I went to the store for [because] the reason = I was out of milk.
NOTE: the words for, to, and that don’t always connect actions and reasons. To determine if they do here, read the sentences containing them while substituting the word because in place of for, or the phrases in order to (in place of to) and so that (in place of that). If the sentence(s) created from this exercise make(s) sense and mean(s) the same as the original, look for the action statement before the for, to, or that and the stated reason after the for, to, or that.
- MINING: Finally, see if you can find any conditions for action in this narrative, and/or descriptions of how action happens or should happen.
– For example, does the text say if or when a certain condition exists, some action takes place?
And/or
– Does the author describe a method or process (for example, specific steps) taken to achieve something?
Or
– Does he indicate how action is accomplished more generally by or through attributes or actions (e.g., saved by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8))?
Finally,
– Does the text include any adverbs (typically words ending in –ly) that describe how action happens?
These exercises are a bit more involved, but I’m confident you can do this with the Holy Spirit! Don’t forget to check your How to Dig Into Scripture Ourselves guide, and you can always reach out to me at [email protected] if you have questions.
GO TO WEEK 5 >
