2 Samuel 19:31-20:26, Psalm 7; 2 Samuel 21:1-22; 1 Chronicles 20:4-8 Life is filled with turmoil. We resolve one conflict and then suddenly something else surfaces. This is true with David's life as well. He has no sooner fought off the coup of his son Absalom, when he must deal with the rebellion of Sheba and Israel. Not only does he have to deal with Sheba, but Amasa fails to fulfill his respons...  Read More

2 Samuel 17:15-29; Psalm 3, 63; 2 Samuel 18:1-19:30 Where do you turn in times of trouble? David found himself fleeing from his son and an army that sought to destroy him. He fled across the Jordan River to create distance between himself and the army but ultimately, he runs into the arms of God. He knows that God is his place of refuge and his protector as he describes in Psalm 3 and 63. He descr...  Read More

2 Samuel 15:1-17:14 2 Samuel 15 is an account of Absalom's rebellion against his father. How sad to watch a son undermine his father and try to take his throne! He pretended to care more for the people than his father, he drew attention to himself rather than the king, and announced that he would be a superior ruler. These insidious plans soon led to him claiming the throne.In many ways when we si...  Read More

2 Samuel 12:26-31; 1 Chronicles 20:2-3; 2 Samuel 13:1-14:33 David is a courageous warrior but an extremely passive father. One of his sons rapes one of his daughters and, as far as we can determine, he did nothing about it. We are told that his initial response was anger, but there were no conversations, consequences, or justice that occurred. He simply allowed the act to happen, and the guilty pa...  Read More

1 Chronicles 20:1; 2 Samuel 11:1-12:14, Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 12:15-25, 5:14-16; 1 Chronicles 14:3-7, 3:5-9 David's promising beginning as king quickly takes a dark turn. Small steps soon lead to massive leaps away from God and into sin. He first remains at home "at the time when kings go off to war," then watches Bathsheba bathe, hunts down her identity, sleeps with her, attempts to cover it up, and...  Read More

2 Samuel 8:15-18; 1 Chronicles 18:14-17, 6:16-30, 6:50-53, 6:31-48; 2 Samuel 9:1-10:19; 1 Chronicles 19:1-19 “David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people” (2 Samuel 8:15, 1 Chronicles 18:14). Today’s Scripture reading begins with a big statement. David did “what was just and right”—and it was not for some of the people or even most of the people, but it was for ...  Read More

2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Chronicles 17:1-15; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Chronicles 17:16-27; 2 Samuel 8:1-14; 1 Chronicles 18:1-13; Psalm 60 Forever is a long time! In today's reading God makes a promise to David that his family would have a forever kingdom. Compare this forever kingdom to the longest earthly kingdoms. The Empire of Japan lasted less than 2000 years, Rome lasted less than a 1000 years, and Ame...  Read More

2 Samuel 6:12; 1 Chronicles 15:1-28; 2 Samuel 6:12-16; 1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6:17-19; 1 Chronicles 16:1-43; 2 Samuel 6:19-23 David left the ark of God with Obed-Edom until he realized that God's presence was a blessing. After the death of Uzzah in yesterday's reading, he was scared that God's presence might mean judgment for God's people instead of blessing. We see throughout the Bible that...  Read More

2 Samuel 5:1-3; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3, 12:23-40; 2 Samuel 5:17-25; 1 Chronicles 14:8-17; 2 Samuel 5:6-10; 1 Chronicles 11:4-9, 3:4; 2 Samuel 5:13, 5:4-5, 5:11-12; 1 Chronicles 14:1-2, 13:1-5; 2 Samuel 6:1-11; 1 Chronicles 13:6-14 We may be shocked by the sudden turn of events in today's reading. David is placed as king over Israel, the Israelites are united in their decisions and as a nation, and th...  Read More

2 Samuel 3:6-4:3, 4:5-4:12 Injustice! In a broken, sinful world injustice surrounds us. 2 Samuel 3-4 is filled with unjust killings. Abner is killed as an act of revenge by Joab. Then Ish-Bosheth is murdered by Rekab and Baanah. Much of the Bible describes events rather than approves of what occurs. We see this same thing when David mandates the return of his wife Michal, despite already having at...  Read More

2 Samuel 2:1-3:5; 1 Chronicles 3:1-4; 2 Samuel 23:8-17; 1 Chronicles 11:10-19; 2 Samuel 23:18-39; 1 Chronicles 11:20-47 David’s Mighty Men! Our eyes might glaze over the listed names, but a closer look reveals some interesting facts. 1 Chronicles 11 lists David’s warriors at the beginning of his reign, and 2 Samuel 23 lists them at the end of his reign. When we look at these lists, there is a glar...  Read More

1 Samuel 30:1-31; 1 Chronicles 12:20-22; 1 Samuel 31: 1-13; 1 Chronicles 10:1-14, 9:40-44; 2 Samuel 4:4, 1:1-27 The book of 2 Samuel begins with a lament. Lamenting was a common practice in ancient near eastern culture but is foreign to us. We think of grief as something to be hidden, ignored, or rushed through. We value the appearance of happiness above everything; thus, we are not good at dealin...  Read More