Reflect with us through the 50 Days of Easter this 2026 with this set of Scripture readings. In this new fifth cycle of our Easter readings, we will read First and Second Samuel, as a testimony to the call and life David, and to his offspring and heir, our Lord Jesus Christ. The readings for Sundays follow the Lectionary readings for those days.
Week One
In this first week of Easter, we witness the miracle of the empty tomb and the rise of Samuel, who prepares Israel to hear the voice of the Lord.
Sunday, 04/05 (Easter Sunday) — John 20:1–9
This is John’s opening narrative of the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene is the first to discover the empty tomb. She tells Peter and John and they race to the empty tomb, and we are told that John sees and believes that Jesus has been raised from the dead.
Monday, 04/06 — 1 Samuel 1
The stage is set: Hannah prays for a child, which the Lord grants. Hannah then weans the child (Samuel) and ‘lends him to the Lord as promised.
Tuesday, 04/07 — 1 Samuel 2
Hannah’s famous prayer and Samuel’s virtue contrasted with the sins of Eli’s sons and his failure to correct them.
Wednesday, 04/08 — 1 Samuel 3
The Lord speaks to Samuel (“Speak, Lord, your servant is listening”), teaching him how to hear the Lord—and none of his words ‘falls to the ground’.
Thursday, 04/09 — 1 Samuel 4-5
Israel is defeated by the Philistines in battle: they capture the ark of the covenant but it brings them woe. Eli dies and his family line is ended as prophesied.
Friday, 04/10 — 1 Samuel 6-7
The ark is returned and lodges at Kiriath-Jearim in Israel, and Samuel takes up the role of ‘judging Israel’ for the course of his life.
Saturday, 04/11 — 1 Samuel 8-9
Israel asks for a king, which Samuel advises against, but the request is granted by the Lord. Saul the Benjaminite is selected to be the king of Israel.
Week Two
The second week follows the early reign of Saul and the inevitable friction between earthly kingship and divine obedience.
Sunday, 04/12 — John 20:19–31
Jesus visits the apostles on Easter Day, giving them authority and breathing on them the Holy Spirit; Thomas doubts and is met by Jesus the following Sunday.
Monday, 04/13 — 1 Samuel 10
Samuel anoints Saul as king; Saul then prophesies and is taken by lot to be king among the people, and they accept him.
Tuesday, 04/14 — 1 Samuel 11-12
Saul defeats the Ammonites, while Samuel gives his farewell address as their judge, defending his honor and chastising the people for seeking a king over them.
Wednesday, 04/15 — 1 Samuel 13
Saul refuses to wait and offers an illicit sacrifice; Samuel predicts the end of Saul’s reign and his rejection as king because of his disobedience.
Thursday, 04/16 — 1 Samuel 14
Jonathan attacks the Philistine garrison and against great odds he achieves triumph over them. Saul makes a rash oath, but the people ransom Jonathon and save his life.
Friday, 04/17 — 1 Samuel 15
God’s judgment against the Amalekites and Saul’s refusal to carry out the command to sacrifice all to the Lord. The rejection of Saul is confirmed: ‘To obey is better than sacrifice’.
Saturday, 04/18 — 1 Samuel 16
The Lord sends Samuel to the family of Jesse, and David the youngest is chosen to be the next king. Samuel anoints David and the Spirit comes upon David.
Week Three
We see the emergence of David as a man after God’s heart, facing persecution yet finding strength in the Lord and loyal friendship.
Sunday, 04/19 — Luke 24:13–35
This is Luke’s narrative of the two disciples meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus. He walks with them, showing who he is, and opens their minds.
Monday, 04/20 — 1 Samuel 17
The great contest between David and Goliath, illustrating in a powerful way the power of God working through weak human vessels for his glory.
Tuesday, 04/21 — 1 Samuel 18-19
A series of events involving David, Jonathan and Michal: the context is Saul’s persecution and David’s flight.
Wednesday, 04/22 — 1 Samuel 20
While Saul unjustly sought David’s life, Jonathan proved to be a true friend and servant of the call of God in David’s life.
Thursday, 04/23 — 1 Samuel 21
David and his men eat the bread of the presence, and David flees from Saul to the city of Gath.
Friday, 04/24 — 1 Samuel 22
David departs from Gath and hides while Saul exacts vengeance on Ahimelech the priest and his family for helping David.
Saturday, 04/25 — 1 Samuel 23
David flees from Saul, moving from city to the wilderness. We can see here a foreshadowing of Jesus fleeing his opponents until the time of his passion.
Week Four
David’s character is tested in the wilderness as he repeatedly spares his enemy, contrasting with Saul’s descent into desperation.
Sunday, 04/26 — John 10:1–10
Jesus is the true Shepherd of the sheep, and also the Door by which the sheep enter for good pasture that leads to life.
Monday, 04/27 — 1 Samuel 24
David refuses to take Saul’s life when he has him in his power, showing his humility by leaving the judgment of Saul to the Lord who first called him.
Tuesday, 04/28 — 1 Samuel 25
David, Nabal and Abigail: Abigail interceded for her husband and deflects the anger of David; at the death of Nabal Abigail becomes David’s wife.
Wednesday, 04/29 — 1 Samuel 26
David once again spares Saul’s life, showing himself to be in the right (which even Saul admits).
Thursday, 04/30 — 1 Samuel 27-28
David once again flees to the Philistines in Gath, feigning to serve the purposes of Achish. Saul wickedly consults the medium at Endor and hears of his own demise.
Friday, 05/01 — 1 Samuel 29-30
The Philistines reject the military help of David; meanwhile David redeems the sack of the city of Ziklag by pursuing and conquering the Amalekites.
Saturday, 05/02 — 1 Samuel 31
In battle with the Philistines, Saul and his sons are killed, bringing tragedy upon Israel and the fulfillment of God’s word against Saul.
Week Five
The transition from the House of Saul to the House of David begins, culminating in the establishment of Jerusalem and the Messianic promise.
Sunday, 05/03 — John 14:1–12
Jesus as the full revelation of the Father: the one who sees Jesus has seen the Father, since they live within one another.
Monday, 05/04 — 2 Samuel 1
David shows his loyalty and his righteousness as he mourns and laments the tragic deaths of Saul, Jonathan, and those who fell in battle.
Tuesday, 05/05 — 2 Samuel 2
With Saul’s death, David is anointed king over the tribe of Judah, and Ish-Bosheth is anointed king over the other tribes of Israel. A long period of war breaks out between the ‘house of David’ and ‘the house of Saul’.
Wednesday, 05/06 — 2 Samuel 3
Abner, the leader of Saul’s army, defects to David and brings many with him, but Joab, the leader of David’s army, secretly plots to kill Abner.
Thursday, 05/07 — 2 Samuel 4-5
Ish-Bosheth is assassinated and David is made king over all Israel. David sets up his kingdom in the conquered city of Jerusalem.
Friday, 05/08 — 2 Samuel 6
David brings the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem in two stages, and he dances before the Lord with joy as the ark enters into his city.
Saturday, 05/09 — 2 Samuel 7
The Lord’s great promise to David that he will build him a house (dynasty): this is the founding prophecy of the Messianic king.
Week Six
David’s reign reaches its height of power but also its lowest point of moral failure, leading to a fractured family and kingdom.
Sunday, 05/10 — John 14:15–21
Jesus promises the gift of the Spirit, the other Paraclete, who will be given in such a way that Jesus and the Father will make their home in the disciples.
Monday, 05/11 — 2 Samuel 8-10
These chapters largely concern David’s many wars by which he conquered territory and increased his kingdom. David shows special kindness to Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth.
Tuesday, 05/12 — 2 Samuel 11-12
David and Bathsheba: David sins, he arranges for Uriah’s murder, and God sends the prophet Nathan to confront David with his sin.
Wednesday, 05/13 — 2 Samuel 13-14
David and Absalom: the rape of Tamar, Absalom’s sister; Absalom takes revenge and kills Amnon; Absalom is banished but David finally brings him home.
Thursday, 05/14 — 2 Samuel 15
Absalom rises against David and usurps his father’s throne; David flees across the Jordan and escapes from Absalom.
Friday, 05/15 — 2 Samuel 16-17
Through devious counsel, David is spared and Absalom fails to take advantage and capture him.
Saturday, 05/16 — 2 Samuel 18
The armies of Absalom and David meet in battle, and Absalom is killed. On hearing the news, David mourns his son.
Week Seven
As the cycle concludes, David’s legacy is secured through songs of praise and final acts of justice before the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.
Sunday, 05/17 — John 17:1–11
Jesus’ prayer to the Father for the sake of his disciples: that they may know the Father, that they may be kept from harm, and that they may be one.
Monday, 05/18 — 2 Samuel 19
The return of David as king over Israel but an aftermath with complicated rivalries and wrongdoings to avenge.
Tuesday, 05/19 — 2 Samuel 20
The story of the failed rebellion of Sheba: Joab uses this revolt to murder his rival Amasa.
Wednesday, 05/20 — 2 Samuel 21
David gives justice to the Gibeonites and carries on with wars against the Philistines.
Thursday, 05/21 — 2 Samuel 22
David sings a psalm of praise to the Lord for all his victories—here we find nearly the whole of Psalm 18 sung by David in thanksgiving.
Friday, 05/22 — 2 Samuel 23
The last words of David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, and a summary presentation of David’s mighty men who served in his personal guard.
Saturday, 05/23 — 2 Samuel 24
David is ‘incited’ to take a census; in punishment for this sin he is given three options and he chooses to fall into the hands of the living God. The book closes with an account of David setting up an altar on the ground where the temple will be built.
Sunday, 05/24 (Pentecost Sunday) — John 7:37–39
Jesus promises the gift of the Spirit, that it will come to live in the disciples and act like an ever-flowing stream of divine life within them.
