Posts with the tag “week-16”

2 Samuel 7:1-8:14; 1 Chronicles 17:1-18:13; Psalm 60.  “Turtle Syndrome” “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12).In writing Psalm 60, David is crying out to the Lord for help again...  Read More

2 Samuel 6:12-23; 1 Chronicles 15-16.  “Quick Judgments” The theme for this week is sin. I know it is not very glamorous and not so fun to think about, but it is a reality that we all live with.  This week’s readings have us right in the heart of David’s kingship. We will see him at his highest point and his lowest point during this week.  Some of the topics we will think about are judging, deprav...  Read More

2 Samuel 5:1-13,17-25; 6:1-11; 1 Chronicles 3:4b; 11:1-9; 12:23-40; 13:1-14; 14:1-2,8-17.  “Resolute Leader” Four hundred years earlier the Israelites had been told to absolutely subjugate the Promised Land, yet it was never completely accomplished.  David has been working to remedy that fault.David knew God had a reason for asking the Israelites to carry out this task and he had seen the results ...  Read More

2 Samuel 3:6-4:12.  “Vindicate Vindictiveness” Instead of David being able to rely on Joab to pave the way to a unified kingdom he has to prevent a civil war due to Joab’s actions.King David had found himself in a unique position.  Multiple times now he has had men—in the name of loyalty—murder the innocent.  Had loyalty merely become an excuse for revenge and murder?David was dealing with some st...  Read More

2 Samuel 2:1-3:5; 23:8-39; 1 Chronicles 3:1-4a; 11:10-47. “Mighty Men “ Young Billy earned his blue belt in judo.  One day Billy gave the class bully a bloody nose.  When asked which judo technique Billy had used, he replied, “I stuck out my foot and tripped him.”  That’s probably more my style, and it would most definitely NOT earn me a spot with “David’s 30 mighty men.”  The weakest of these gu...  Read More

1 Samuel 30-31; 2 Samuel 1:1-27; 4:4; 1 Chronicles 9:40-44; 10:1-14; 12:20-22. “Painful Experiences” Years have passed since David was anointed king by Samuel.  Those years have been spent running from King Saul, the very one he would succeed.  So, when David gets the news Saul has died, is his response joy, excitement and relief?  No.  Quite the contrary.David mourned Saul’s death.  His sorrow w...  Read More

1 Samuel 26-29; 1 Chronicles 12:1-7,19; Psalm 56.  “Battle Lines” The Philistines, David, and Saul, had all geared up for war.  David was fighting guerrilla warfare style with the brutal tribes of Geshurites, Girzites and Amalekites.  The Philistines entered battle fiercely with enormous numbers (28:5).  Saul seemed uncertain and consulted a medium from Endor to offer consultation concerning the w...  Read More

1 Samuel 23:13-25:44; Psalm 54.  “Providential Conclusions” The passage today describes three unfortunate encounters that had providential conclusions.  In the first situation the men of Ziph turned David and his men’s location over to Saul, yet God providentially sent Saul on another urgent task, which provided the opportunity for David and his men to escape.In the second incident, Saul and an ar...  Read More

1 Samuel 22:1-23:12; 1 Chronicles 12:8-18; Psalm 52, 57, 142. “Rough Start” The passages this week deal with David’s introduction as king.  Although David had been anointed by Samuel sometime earlier to be Israel’s next king, he never rushed God’s timing.  From David’s youth he knew God had a plan and purpose for everything.  David respected and protected God’s anointed—King Saul (although some h...  Read More