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For studying and sharing God's Word
Bi-weekly Devotionals auf Deutsch and English to encourage you.
Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.
1 Samuel 25:6
This greeting – without the following story – is a wonderful form of address and a blessing for the receiver. Wishing “peace” is more than simply saying something nice for salutation because giving and sustaining peace is a divine action. Therefore, whoever wishes peace to someone else puts him / her under the blessing of God.
This greeting – with the following story – is a means to an end because it introduces a plea. These are David’s words by which he commissions his messengers to induce the rich farmer Nabal to providing food for David’s men. However, over the course of the story we see that David is not as much interested in Nabal’s peace as he is in the fulfillment of his own desire and consequently in the confirmation of his authority.
Nabal’s “no” hurts David’s pride and reveals the real value of his peaceful greeting. It might have been a common way to greet but the author of Psalm 19 should have known that before God every single word counts (verse 14!).
And because “peace” is a divine gift, such a peaceful greeting contains also responsibility toward the receiver: Be genuine in your blessings, don’t use them as “door openers” for your goals! Don’t forget, God is listening in on your words but is pleased with people loving even their enemies!
Friede sei mit dir und deinem Hause und mit allem, was du hast! 1 Samuel 25,6
Dieser Gruß – ohne die nachfolgende Geschichte – ist eine wunderbare Anrede und segnet den Empfänger. „Frieden“ zu wünschen ist viel mehr als nur ein netter Spruch zur Begrüßung, denn Frieden zu geben und zu erhalten, ist göttliches Handeln. Wer also einem anderen Frieden wünscht, stellt ihn / sie unter den Segen Gottes.
Dieser Gruß – mit der nachfolgenden Geschichte – ist ein Mittel zum Zweck, denn er leitet eine Bitte ein. Es sind Davids Worte, mit denen er seine Boten beauftragt, den reichen Bauern Nabal zur Versorgung von Davids Männern zu bewegen. Allerdings zeigt der Verlauf der Geschichte, dass David gar nicht so sehr am Frieden für Nabal interessiert ist, sondern viel mehr an der Erfüllung seines Wunsches, und damit auch an der Bestätigung seiner Autorität.
Nabals „nein“ verletzt Davids Stolz und offenbart den wirklichen Wert seines Friedensgrußes. Es mag ein allgemein üblicher Gruß gewesen sein, aber der Autor von Psalm 19 sollte wissen, dass jedes einzelne Wort vor Gott zählt (Vers 15!).
Und weil „Frieden“ ein göttliches Geschenk ist, birgt ein solcher Friedensgruß auch Verantwortung gegenüber dem Empfänger: Sei aufrichtig in deinen Segenswünschen, benutze sie nicht als „Türöffner“ für deine Ziele! Vergiss nicht, dass Gott mithört, sich aber über Menschen freut, die sogar ihre Feinde lieben!
Join us as we read through the Bible in 2025. You can join at any time!
By reading from four separate places in the Scriptures every day, you will get a better grasp of the unity of the Scriptures. And you can begin at any point of the year. (This plan used to be named the Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan).
Recommendations for daily encouragement.
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This encouraging book by author Paul David Tripp offers 366 readings, adapted to help teenagers trust God and rely on his grace each and every day.
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Please find here commentaries we would recommend for daily study.
For 300 years, Matthew Henry’s Commentary has been a favorite of teachers, preachers, and laypeople. His rich exposition and useful applications are perfect for devotional reading and sermon help. This edition features modern, easy-to-read print and J. B. Williams’s extensive 1828 account of Henry’s life and writings.
From Genesis to Revelation, Matthew Henry successfully combines practical application, devotional insight, and scholarship on the entire Bible. Henry has profound insights on the content, message, and nature of God’s divine revelation.
For decades, the New Bible Commentary has set the standard for works of its kind. Now in this up-to-date fourth edition, the New Bible Commentary is positioned to maintain its standing as the leading one-volume commentary on the whole Bible well into the 21st century.
Unlock the profound wisdom of Scripture with Charles H. Spurgeon’s Whole Bible Commentary: A Comprehensive Guide to Scripture with Insights from the Prince of Preachers (Grapevine Edition). This timeless work brings together Spurgeon’s unparalleled depth of knowledge, illuminating the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
A Masterpiece of Biblical Exposition
Widely regarded as one of history’s greatest preachers, Charles H. Spurgeon offers a thorough exploration of Scripture, blending theological insight with practical application. Each passage is thoughtfully explained, bringing the Word of God to life for readers of all backgrounds.
Recommendations for study and sharing the gospel.
Logos is a software developed for studying the Bible. They have different plans that give you access to extensive digital resources for study. Plans start at 100 Euro for a year.
We have access to an extensive digital library with over 20,000 discipleship videos for kids, youth, and adults! This is available to every member and regular attender at CrossWay for free. Set up your profile today!
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