1 Samuel 19

"Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”  So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped.  And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, put a cover of goats’ hairfor his head, and covered it with clothes...Then Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped?”

And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’” vv.11-14,17

Read chapter 19

This chapter has many attempts at Saul trying to kill David.  In the two of the attempts we see Saul's own son and daughter help David escape; Jonathan, who is like David's best friend, and Michal, who is David's wife.  How horrible it would be to have your own father-in-law hate you or your best friend's dad want you dead (not just out of his life)?!  Interestingly in these verses where we see Michal help David to escape by having him slip out the window and she make a dummy out of an image and goats hair to deceive her father's messengers.  What does David, this righteous man after God's heart, have an image in his house?  The Hebrew word here for image is teraphim which were tablets showing their genealogy which was super important for Israel as that showed your inheritance among their own nation.  Yet it also led a lot to ancestry worship.  We also see Michal lie to her father when asked why she deceived him.  It was Michal's idea for David to escape and her idea to make the dummy.  Caught in the lie she lies again to save herself. Was she now trying to save herself and cause David to continue to be stench in her father's eyes?  Or was this to truly save her life as if she could have been killed by Saul for her deceit to the king?  

Do you think it's ok to lie at times?  What items in your life have become an image of worship that's not necessarily an image of Buddha or something like that?  

1 Samuel 18

"But David said to Saul, 'Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?'" v.18

Read chapter 18
With all the fame David was receiving from the people for being mightier than Saul he still kept a humble spirit and didn't let pride get to him.  David still honored Saul as king and revered him.  He doesn't forget the family he came from- not being one of nobility and referring to the life he was born in to and accustomed to.  To marry the kings daughter seemed out of his league and not what he had known even though his best friend seemed to be Jonathan, Saul's son.   Sad that Saul was offering his own daughter as a snare. We also see  wisdom of David in his response in discovering so deep a sense of his own meanness, that Saul might see how far he was from aspiring at the kingdom.  How uncommon is such prudence and discretion, especially under insults and provocations! Let us inquire if we imitate this part of the exemplary character before us. Are we behaving wisely in all our ways? Is there no sinful omission, no rashness of spirit, nothing wrong in our conduct?

1 Samuel 17

"So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off." v.38-39

Read chapter 17

David comes to the battle after shepherding that same day, robed in his light attire.  That he was able to wear Saul's armor shows that he was probably a full grown man by this time.  David tries on this armor for battle and not having every dressed like so he tells Saul that he cannot wear it in battle.  His quickness and agility would be more hindering than helpful facing the heavy weight giant Goliath.  How often do our leaders put on too heavy a burden on us that we are not ready to carry or don't recognize our ability in who we are knowing our own strengths?  But David was not afraid to tell Saul that he couldn't wear the armor and his reason why (not just out of pride that he knew himself better).  We do see that after David has killed Goliath that he pulls out his sword and cuts off Goliath's head showing that he did have more than just his slingshot and stones yet that was all he need to kill him.  What armor has been placed on you that you are not ready to fight with?  

1 Samuel 16

"Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." v.1

Read chapter 16
Notice God is providing for Himself a king.  It's not David's character that he was choosing but making him a man after God's heart.  Too easy we get caught up in certain personalities are the ones that become Christian or Catholic or Buddhist or atheist   Let us never stereotype which people should become which religion.  We don't choose a god that can conform to who we are but we choose God who we conform to.  David wasn't some acquaintance or apprentice of Samuel but was a "nobody," yet that nobody was great in God's eyes and usable for God's will. 

1 Samuel 14

"Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground.  And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened. Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’” And the people were faint. But Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey...And Saul said, “Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me.” So Jonathan was taken. Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, and said, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!” Saul answered, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.” vv.25-29,42-44

Read chapter 14.
What was wrong with Jonathan eating the honey?  He ate the honey out of ignorance, not knowing his father's command.  When he did hear of it he told the men it would've been better to have the energy it provided.  They could've killed even more Philistines.  Yet alter when lots are cast to find out why God didn't answer Saul it showed Jonathan at fault.  I thought Saul would've been the one at fault for building an altar (v.35) and making a religion of fasting of his men and therefore curing them to eat meat with blood, which was a sin.  Yet the Lord spoke through the Urim and the Thummim and showed Jonathan at fault.  Although eating honey seems like a small harmless sin to us, it was still disobedience and missing the mark- worthy of death.  Yet the men of Israel argued with Saul not to kill Jonathan since the Philistines were delivered into his hand that day and saved Israel.  So Saul didn't put him to death.  Confusing a bit God's will in all this.  Does He change His mind?  Does Saul even ask the Lord or just make his own reasoning judgment?  Verse 37 says God didn't answer Saul "that day" so was all this the same day?
How have you broken a rule that seemed innocent, not doing anything to hear anyone, yet was still breaking a rule?  Do you justify this or felt guilty?

1 Samuel 13

"And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever." v.13

Read chapter 13
It seems like not that big of deal thing that Saul sacrificed an offering because he was impatient for Samuel to arrive, Samuel being late.  Yet it involved the principle, law and insubordination.  "On the one hand it shewed a distrust of God, as though God after choosing him for this work could forsake him in the hour of need: on the other hand it shewed a spirit of self-assertion, as though he could make war by himself without the assistance and counsel of God communicated through His prophet" (Cambridge Bible).  This is the first we see of Saul disobeying and thinking he was helping God out or doing fine yet then leads to more of this thinking and actions as we'll see in the next chapters. 

1 Samuel 12

"And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.”  Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart...Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you." vv.20-21, 24

Read chapter 12 

So as Saul is now becoming king Samuel is giving his final judging as judge and prophet over Israel.  He reminds them of their wickedness in asking for a king but that they should continue after the Lord still and not continue in their wickedness.  That definitely shows the Lord's mercy and forgiveness of not a "one and done" kind of way towards His people.  How easy it is for us to think that once we've messed up it's over with so we only have the option to sit in it.  Because of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross we have forgiveness for all our sins even before we commit them if we believe and worship Him as God.  So let us not continue in them just because we're forgiven or because we don't think we can be forgiven.   Samuel tells them an amazing command that we should still live by today: "Fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart."  To fear the Lord is to revere Him, to stand in awe of Him.  And to serve Him in truth is to do it according to His word and not our own.  To know His truth you need to know Him.  So how will you dig deeper in His truth to serve Him with all your heart?  One of my favorite verses in scripture is 3 John 4 "I have no greater joy than to hear my children walk in truth."

1 Samuel 11

"Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”

And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.” vv.1-2

Read chapter 11

How quickly after Saul is said to be king that threat is made against Israel.  Other nations saw a newbie as an easy target and even their own nation of Israel had men that doubted Saul as king over them (v.12). So their quick response (the Israelites of Jabesh Gilead) is that they make a covenant with another nation so that they don't get killed.  It seems like a weird covenant to put out the right eyes off all of them to bring reproach on Israel, but in battle the shield covered the left eye so the right eye was needed for seeing, without the right eye they wouldn't be able to prevail in battle.  Interestingly enough the men of Jabesh Gilead debate this for a week; what's their to debate about as I'd think that's an obvious "No way."  Praise the Lord that Saul's response through the Holy Spirit of righteous anger and command of the other Israelites go to battle against Nahash and save their brethren in Jabesh Gilead.  When have you felt threatened by others and willing to give in to bondage or give up a part of who you are to not be in battle or "picked on"?  How have you seen your friends, family, brothers and sisters in the faith fight for you in these moments?

1 Samuel 10

"And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. " vv.5-6

Read chapter 10

We read about this school of prophets that was most likely set up by Samuel for the training of young men. Weird to think that one can be "trained" to prophesy as it is speaking God's words without having studied or memorized what God has said nor what man thinks He'll say. "It is a grave mistake to conclude that all, or even the greater part, of these young men trained in the “schools of the prophets” were inspired in the usual sense of the word. The aim of these institutions, beside high mental culture, seems to have been to train the youth of Israel to love, and then live, noble pure lives" (Ellicott's Commentary).  These possibly would be those who were trained and qualified to instruct the people; who, though they had not the gift of foretelling future events or of the vision of prophecy, yet had gifts qualifying for the edification of the people.  Yet Saul wasn't just going to school to learn how to prophesy but was immediately, without having study, given the gift of prophesy by the Holy Spirit coming upon him.  This turning into another man is to say that another spirit will be acting through him and that not of himself but of God.  How do you understand the gift of prophesy then and today?

1 Samuel 9

"There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people." vv.1-2

Read chapter 9

Here we meet Saul, Israel's soon to be first king.  Just as we saw in chapter 8 of Israel desiring to be like the other nations so we see in the physical description of Saul an "ideal" one to become king.  He was not a man of riches or of authority for his family was least of the families of the tribe of Benjamin, 1 Samuel 9:21, yet was a man in the prime of manhood, distinguished among others by his great stature, and for his grace and manly beauty, a man of great strength, an able bodied man.  The name Saul means "asked for" and we see that this type of person is what was asked for by man/Israel for what they wanted in a king.  Saul now seems like a humble man with great qualities.  So we see learn a little of what Saul was like before he became king and we'll see how his character changes with the power and responsibility he gets.  

1 Samuel 8

"But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, 'Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.'” vv.3-5

Read chapter 8
How sad it is when Godly parents have ungodly children.  Samuel was an amazing Godly man, prophet of the Lord, yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned said for dishonest gain because of bribes and other lusts of the flesh.  Just as it says in 1 Timothy that the love of money is the root off all kinds of evil.  Was there something more Samuel could have done or done differently?  It's easy to be the parent and think it's your fault that your children turned out a certain way but even the most amazing parents have kids that go astray due to free will and the deception of this fallen world.  The people could obviously see that Samuel's sons were not fit to judge Israel as he did so worried they ask for a king.  They are unsure of what will happen once Samuel is gone and so take matters into their own hands and think that they should become like the nations around them by having a king.  God did promise them a king in Genesis 17:6, but they were impatient for the one God was talking about.  Even after Samuel describes what this king will be like of hardships and burdens they still desire to be like the nations.  They'd rather "fit in" and do what appears to be better than what God had planned.  How do you relate to Samuel and his rebellious sons?  How have you asked for or done something to "fit in" with nonbelievers?

1 Samuel 7

"Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel...Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer,[c] saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” vv.10,12

Read chapter 7

Samuel must have been a priest as we see him offering the burnt offering.  "Samuel's sacrifice, without his prayer, had been an empty shadow. God gave a gracious answer. And Samuel erected a memorial of this victory, to the glory of God, and to encourage Israel. Through successive generations, the church of God has had cause to set up Eben-ezers for renewed deliverances; neither outward persecutions nor inward corruptions have prevailed against her, because hitherto the Lord hath helped her: and he will help, even to the end of the world" (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary).  We sing about it often in the line "Here I raise my Ebenezer hither by thy help I come," but do we know what we're singing? We're not singing to Ebenezer Scrooge from the Christmas Carol.  An Ebenezer is a "stone of help."  It was a tangible reminder to the Israelites of His protection and help from the Philistines.  The “stone of help” marked the spot where the enemy had been routed and God’s promise to bless His repentant people had been honored. The Lord had helped them, all the way to Ebenezer.  What's your Ebenezer?

1 Samuel 6

"Then they said, “What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?”

They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords." v.4

Read chapter 6

Golden tumors always seems so random and weird to me for an offering.  How does one know what a tumor even looks like?  I always pictured some random blob of gold for this offering.  I read in various commentaries that the tumor was like figures of that part of the body which had the disease, which by its swelling, or some other way, represented also the disease itself.   "They offered not in contempt of God, for they sought to gain his favor hereby; but in testimony of their humiliation, that by leaving this monument of their own shame and misery they might obtain pity from God, and freedom from their disease" (Matthew Poole's Commentary).  

And then we have rats.  Another random and gross (to me at least) offering to be made.  Well just as the idea of golden tumors because of the disease inflicted on them, so the idea for rats that plagued the land.  Something that was horrible given in offering to be taken away as pity.

One thing I wonder is that we don't see them ask the Lord God what offering they shall give or refer to the law for what must be done.  They told them this in ignorance of God's requirements and what they thought God would want.  There's a difference.  

1 Samuel 5

"But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained." v.5

Read chapter 5
So the ark of the Lord was captured by the Philistines and the put it in their temple with their god whose name is Dagon.  The ark was where the Lord dwelt among the Israelites so  while He was no longer with them He was enraged and caused turmoil on the people who took the ark.  As the ark is in Dagon's temple next to the idol Dagon an amazing thing happens and not only once but twice.  Dagon, an immovable statue idol thing, is fallen prostrate on the ground before the ark of the Lord.  The first time he's just fallen prostrate but when the people put him back up they find him the next morning prostrate again with his head and hands broken off and his body only remaining.  Even shows like Philippians 2:10, "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."  Whether it's a person or an idol all will bow before the Lord.  Will you bow freely now before Him or are you waiting to be forced down by Him?

1 Samuel 4

"When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years." v.18

Read chapter 4

Why do you think it mention Eli was fat?  We may know why this detail is in here from the previous chapters more than just to describe what his physical condition was.  In chapter two we learned the wickedness of Eli's sons as priests stealing the sacrifices offered by the people for themselves to eat the fat and parts that were to be to the Lord.  We then read in 2:29, "Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?"  So we see Eli being called out for partaking in his sons wickedness and eating the robbed sacrifices too.  Because they ate all this extra food as gluttons they became fat.   So Eli falling backwards on his chair here in chapter 4 and dying isn't something that normally happens when someone falls off a chair but breaking his neck was because he was so fat as he fell over and his fat consumed him.  How have you seen wickedness of ones sons or daughters in-turn cause the parent to sin as well?

1 Samuel 3

"Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealedto him.  A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.'" vv.7-8

Read chapter 3
Samuel is about 12 years old at this point in time when the Lord first calls him.  Even though he'd been ministering in the temple alongside Eli scripture says that "Samuel did not yet know the Lord."  How true is this of children today that grow up in Christian homes yet don't know the Lord till later?  They may know the name of Jesus as Samuel knew the name Jehovah but knowing who He is is a whole other aspect.  The Hebrew word for know here is yada and is described in Strong's Concordance as "to know from experience," "to perceive" or "to recognize."  So this wasn't just never heard of but more didn't have experiences with the Lord to recognize His voice.  Do you know (yada) when God is revealing Himself to you?  
Samuel was the last judge and the first one to be called a prophet of the Lord (Acts 3:24). What do you think it'd be like to be the first prophet at age 12?

1 Samuel 2

"Now it was the practiceof the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled 14 and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”

16 If the person said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.” vv.14-16

Read chapter 2

Eli's sons were corrupt priests. In the law there were specific instructions of offerings that were for the Lord and portions that were for the priests yet Hophni and Phinehas extorted the law and even shows that the people knew better of what was for the priests and what was for the Lord only.  We read of these specific laws in Leviticus:

"Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which a food offering may be[c] presented to the Lord must be cut off from their people." Lev. 7:25.

"The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. 32 You are to give the right thigh of your fellowship offerings to the priest as a contribution. 33 The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the fellowship offering shall have the right thigh as his share. 34 From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their perpetual share from the Israelites.’”  This is the portion of the food offerings presented to the Lord that were allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day they were presented to serve the Lord as priests." Lev. 7:31-35

This corruption of Hophni and Phinehas led the people to abhorred the offering of the Lord.  Oh how sad when wicked leaders cause others to sin and go astray.  Also to see that Eli their father knew of their sin but didn't seem to discipline till it was too late.

1 Samuel 1

"Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat." vv.6-7

Read chapter 1
Hannah means grace in Hebrew and we see such grace given to her both by her husband and the Lord.  How hard would it be to be Hannah or Penninah having to share one husband.  Notice the bitterness, anger, jealousy, malice is between the two wives rather than at the husband who was the one treating each wife differently and the cause for these feelings.  So sad to see how evil women can be to each other, differently than men that would physically fight, woman go at the feelings and heart to hurt someone.  Bullying to the point of Hannah hurting herself by not eating. Penninah who had children and provision but not love from her husband uses where she knows she has power in and hides what she truly desires.  Whereas Hannah is loved by her husband but desires children.  Neither seem to be "winning."  They're focused on what they don't have rather than what they do.  Who can you relate to Hannah or Penninah both by how you either feel loved or not, have blessings or not, bully or bullied?  

Job 42

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
6 Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.” vv.5-6

Read chapter 42
I believe this is the lesson of this whole book.  We see James say, "Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (5:11).  The end that was intended by the Lord when Job finally realized a humbleness in himself he needed and how the Lord appearing to him and speaking directly to him brought that on.  It wasn't by a whip that God had to beat him in to it, but by telling Job of who HE IS, the great I AM. This is what brought Job to his knees.  He abhorred himself and called himself "vile" or "unworthy" in 40:4, realizing his undeserving of God's mercy and compassion.
Even when you haven't done "anything wrong" are you able to humble yourself and say you're a sinner?  That the Lord's righteousness is greater than our own and that we are all deserving of death but because of His compassion and mercy we are saved?  What would be the end intended by the Lord if it were you in Job's shoes?

Job 41

"His sneezings flash forth light,
And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lights;
Sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils,
As from a boiling pot and burning rushes." vv.18-20

Read chapter 41

Dragons?  In these verses we read of fire and smoke coming out of this creature's nose.  Kind of sounds like a description of a dragon here in this chapter.  Yet did you know the word dinosaur didn't come into the English language until scientist Sir Richard Owen introduced it in the mid-1800s. Before then, large reptiles were called dragons. So really the word dinosaur and dragon mean the same thing, though each dinosaur/dragon is different in appearance and ability.  The Hebrew word tannin is defined by The Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon as “serpent, dragon, sea-monster.” Dragons today have been embellished as mythical made up creatures, yet we see dragons in many cultures today and in their past. "To name a few, there’s an Aboriginal depiction of a water monster that resembles a plesiosaur, an ancient historical account of serpents in Egypt with bat-like wings, the epic poem Beowulf with its account of a fiery flying serpent, and Native American petroglyphs (etchings in stone) that resemble dragons. Dragons are depicted on flags, emblems, tapestries, maps, pottery, pictographs, and more.  Although from disconnected cultures, the descriptions are remarkably similar—perhaps because dragons were real?" (answersingenesis.org).

Job 40

“Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his hips,
And his power is in his stomach muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are like beams of bronze,
His ribs like bars of iron."  vv.15-18

Read chapter 40
DINOSAURS!  Ah I love them and love that they're in scripture (this isn't the only place).  This shows not only that dinosaurs are real (yes some people actually think that the fossils are fake), but also that man lived along side them and not billions of years before man.  There weren't fossils being dug up back then so how else would Job be able to describe this creature.  Try drawing the dinosaur that Job describes in verses 15 through 24.  It's not just a elephant like some bible notes may have.  Last I checked elephants had skinny short tails and no more than a couple feet long.  Here the tail of this creature is described like a cedar tree; with something that big makes me think of the long-neck dinosaur with the huge long tail. 

   

Job 39

“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s?...Because God deprived her of wisdom, And did not endow her with understanding." vv.13,17

Read chapter 39
Ostriches instead run crazy fast up to the rate of 50-60 miles an hour.  The ostriches wings are valuable to man but they cannot fly like the stork's.  They may have many similarities to other birds externally but their demeanor would suggest otherwise.  
One of my biggest fears are birds and it all started when I was living in the mountains at a camp right outside of Georgia one summer.  I swear that an ostrich chased me in the woods one day as I was going back to my cabin.  Everyone says there are no ostriches in Georgia but I don't know what else this giant thing on stilts, a long neck and huge beak ready peck me to pieces could have been.  So at 19 years old this started my fear for birds and now reading these verses about the ostrich reminds me of that day.  She doesn't have wisdom and is mean and beat her children because she's dumb.
Who would not rather have the voice of the nightingale, than the tail of the peacock; the eye of the eagle and her soaring wing, and the natural affection of the stork, than the beautiful feathers of the ostrich, which can never rise above the earth, and is without natural affection?

Job 38

“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,
Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth[a] in its season?
Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?" vv.31-33

Read chapter 38
I always think it's cool that some constellations are in the Bible.  The stars tell stories, the give warnings, they guide.  The Pleiades for example would rise about the time of the vernal equinox and would bring in the spring. Orion was know for binding up the air and earth, rising in November, and bringing in the winter, attended with storms of rain and hail, or frost and snow.  "The questions addressed to Job, throughout the chapter Is it he that effects what is observed to be done? not, Can he undo what is done, or do what is not done? Hence the questions here imply that the Pleiades are bound and that Orion is loosed, and Job is asked whether it be he that binds in the one case and looses in the other" (Cambridge Bible).
What about you?  How do you think of God's first words spoken to Job in this chapter?