SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 10 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: So Hanun seized David’s men, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. [2 Samuel 10:4] Sent on a mission of peace and blessing, the ambassadors are seized and publicly ridiculed. This is of course what happens to Jesus as well:…
guess who’s coming for dinner?
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. [2 Samuel 9:11] Guess who’s coming for dinner! You may be surprised. It seems that David, unlike other leaders of his day, is not out to kill the former heirs to his throne, but welcomes them…
when God is with us
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went…. So David became very famous. [2 Samuel 8:6,13] God works within this sinful world. He directs the outcome of human affairs, using sinful humans – for better or worse – to restore His kingdom. Though David is uniquely God-focused, he is still a man of…
what I was trying to say
This morning I talked about 2 Samuel 7, and the theme that I attempted to unfold was: WHEN GOD SAYS NO, HE HAS SOMETHING BIGGER, BETTER IN MIND. Anyway, I just so happened to check out a Rob Bell dvd called ‘Kickball’, and I think he says it better. So if you missed the message this morning,…
when God says ‘no’
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 7 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, `I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. [2 Samuel 7:27] In today’s reading I am struck by the fact that God says ‘no’ to David’s request to honour Him…
luteran airways
Although I am not Lutheran, this is funny because it sounds somewhat familiar.
deepest, tenderest fear
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 6 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” [2 Samuel 6:9] The line from C.S. Lewis Narnia books, that Aslan (who represents God) is not a tame or safe lion but he is good, goes through my mind as I read…
stepping in
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 5 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him. [2 Samuel 5:10] The Lord does not show favouritism [Romans 2:11], yet He favours some, not others [Genesis 4:4-5]. David is favoured and he becomes more powerful, but Saul is not. Isn’t this favouritism? We see a similar observation about Jesus:…
when ‘normal’ isn’t right
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 4 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: How much more–when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed–should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!” [2 Samuel 4:11] David’s thinking was so different from the ‘normal’ thinking of the day. Other kings would thank whoever…
the view from above
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. [2 Samuel 3:1] In today’s reading, we see God’s purpose unfolding in the midst of the turbulent day-to-day grind. From a God perspective, David…