Month: July 2015

2 Samuel 4 Although Saul persecuted David for many years David was gracious in his dealings with him and 2 Samuel 4 showcases this. Considering David’s ill treatment we may wonder why. I believe in part it was because David respected the office of king that Saul had held and that respect was extended to Saul’s children. … Read More

“They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept… now all the people took note of it, and it pleased him.” 2 Samuel 3: 31-36 David wasn’t playing the hypocrite. His enemy Abner had been brutally killed by one of … Read More

2 Samuel 2 Whenever there is a change of leadership, it is not uncommon for power struggles and conflict to follow. Abner sets Ish-bosheth as king over Israel while David becomes king over Judah. When we are in a season of transition, there are a few ways we can let faith in Christ become a … Read More

“They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan …” (2 Samuel 1:12a) Life … circumstances & people we encountered on a daily basis influencing our thoughts & beliefs shaping us on the journey. In today’s reading, David receives news of Saul’s death. Saul, the man consumed by jealousy who … Read More

1 Samuel 31 These days I read many fairy tales about Princes to my daughters. I think their favorite is Cinderella. A poor girl living in terrible circumstances, marginalized by her evil step-mother and sisters. It seemed that nothing good would ever come her way. When she finally gets the chance to meet a wonderful … Read More

In I Samuel 28-31 we find that David is still on the run. In fact, Saul’s pursuit was so relentless that David moved his family and men to the land of the Philistines, Israel’s arch enemy. Then, David, having been sent away from an approaching battle between Israel and the Philistines, returns home to Ziklag … Read More

David and his men escaped a terrible situation. They had no way to escape. If they backed off, then the Philistines would immediately sense David’s scheme and destroy them. If they went forward, David and his men would be fighting the Lord and his people.  God intervened into this difficult situation and solved the unsolvable. … Read More

1 Samuel 28 Perhaps no other chapter in 1 Samuel shows the dangers of living out a lifestyle of evil filled with fear. EVIL FEAR F– Saul fell away from God. Beginning in 1 Samuel 13:9, Saul feared the demands of his soldiers and became unrepentant. E– Saul exalts himself. Saul had already expelled the … Read More

“But David thought to himself, ‘One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is escape to the land of the Philistines.’” (1 Samuel 27:1a) Bone tired? I imagine David was when we find him seeking refuge in Philistine lands. Promised to become king yet … Read More

1 Samuel 26:1-6 Saul was after David. He was literally chasing him down. David had done absolutely nothing wrong. Saul was just jealous and paranoid. But David was in trouble. That is what makes this story so surprising – David finally had Saul in a place where David could end his own troubles by ending … Read More