SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 18 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. 2 Samuel 18:5] The final battle between David’s army and Absalom’s. Absalom has every intention of killing his father, yet here…
Author: Norm
God’s hand and ours
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 17 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom. [2 Samuel 17:14] David is on the run. Absalom is determined to kill him. His…
confession and invitation
By Shane Claiborne, published in Esquire. Tell me what you think…. To all my nonbelieving, sort-of-believing, and used-to-be-believing friends: I feel like I should begin with a confession. I am sorry that so often the biggest obstacle to God has been Christians. Christians who have had so much to say with our mouths and so…
Chuck’s story (Part 2)
The story of Chuck, the homeless man who collects treasures in his shopping cart, continues. Here is the next part of the story. Each week I will add a new chapter to the story, with the hope that we can become treasure-seekers like him. Please note, this is told as if it is a true…
enduring the cross
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 16 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. [2 Samuel 16:13] David is going down, and Shimei (related to the former king Saul) is letting him know it. Though he…
whether it means life or death
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 15 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.” [2 Samuel 15:21] This kind of loyalty when things are going well (like when David was winning…
reconciliation
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 14 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him. [2 Samuel 14:14] In describing the character of God, this woman gives voice to the good news, the…
Chuck’s story (Part 1)
Last Sunday I began the story of Chuck, the homeless man who collects treasures in his shopping cart. Below is part 1 of this story. Each week I will add a new chapter to the story, with the hope that we can become treasure-seekers like him. I saw him downtown pushing a grocery cart loaded with…
overcoming evil with good
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 13 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Don’t, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing. [2 Samuel 13:12] there’s no doubt about it, we live in a pretty messed up world. Things are not as God intended them to be. Here we see how selfishness…
an ‘ouch’ moment
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! [2 Samuel 12:5] Nathan works David into a corner, and gets him to face his own sin head on, and to realize the judgment he deserves. This is normally…