When my father, Ernest, was about five, some older cousins came to visit. They were unruly, wildly undisciplined. One day the boys ran out of the house, little Ernest bringing up the rear. Just as he leapt from the porch, an older cousin pushed a wheelbarrow in front of him, knowing he would be unableContinue reading “The Oak Tree in the House. 1 Kings 1:6.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
NO SMALL PARTS: David Served God’s Purpose in His Generation. 1 Chronicles chapters 23 – 27.
God had a purpose for the life of David—I’m sure we can all agree on that. But what about you and me? Does God have a purpose for folks living seemingly ordinary lives in which nothing much ever happens? After all, David was a king—he made the headlines every day. Most of us will neverContinue reading “NO SMALL PARTS: David Served God’s Purpose in His Generation. 1 Chronicles chapters 23 – 27.”
David’s Second Great Sin. 1 Chronicles 21:13.
Everyone remembers the story of young King David’s tragic failure with Bathsheba: giant killer grows fat and arrogant and stumbles headlong into adultery and murder. But do you know David’s second great failure, his “second-worst sin” the one committed by old King David? The census. Old King David told Joab to use his troops toContinue reading “David’s Second Great Sin. 1 Chronicles 21:13.”
WHAT IS MY ROLE?: God Uses Different People. 2 Samuel 20:16-21.
Picture generated by A.I. Imagine: you live in the town of Abel, a small city in Israel. One day the walls of Abel are surrounded on all sides by the army of Israel, the soldiers carrying bows and arrows, spears and shields, and more shovels than you have ever seen. The battle-scarred soldiers quickly beginContinue reading “WHAT IS MY ROLE?: God Uses Different People. 2 Samuel 20:16-21.”
You Reap WHERE You Sow: David’s Sin Turned His Home into a Battleground. 2 Samuel 19:2.
Picture generated by A.I. Relationships around a throne are treacherous because of deceit, violence, and murder. Diplomats and courtiers may taste the delicacies of kings and queens, but the metallic smell of blood is never far away. Everyone is watching everyone else, looking for weaknesses, creating alliances, destroying the careers and lives of enemies andContinue reading “You Reap WHERE You Sow: David’s Sin Turned His Home into a Battleground. 2 Samuel 19:2.”
Prophets and Parables: the Indirect Approach. 2 Samuel 14:1-13.
Following King David’s great sin, the prophet Nathan came to him with a story about a rich man with flocks of sheep who took from a poor family its lone, pet sheep and ate it. David was outraged and Nathan famously said to him: “Thou art the man” 2 Samuel 12:7. Why did Nathan createContinue reading “Prophets and Parables: the Indirect Approach. 2 Samuel 14:1-13.”
ARE YOU ENTITLED? Busy David and Lazy David. 2 Samuel 11:1.
David on the Balcony. Picture generated by A.I. One morning during a series of wars, two military men had an interesting conversation: “Haven’t you been on a long journey? Last night you finally arrived in town. Why didn’t you go home and see your wife?” “The ark, and Israel, and Judah are living in tents.Continue reading “ARE YOU ENTITLED? Busy David and Lazy David. 2 Samuel 11:1.”
“The King is Dead; Long Live the King!” The Restoration of Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 9:6-8
Pictured: David restores Mephibosheth, artist unknown. A king may have a long and peaceful rule. But when the king dies, the Problem of Succession asks who will be the new king? Who will succeed to the throne? To address this problem, the French and English began announcing one king’s death with the next king’s successionContinue reading ““The King is Dead; Long Live the King!” The Restoration of Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 9:6-8”
DAVID AT WAR: Four Truths. Psalm 60:8-12.
When God made David king, he told him he would use David’s reign to bring peace to the nation, 2 Samuel 7:10-11. But David could only secure the peace by waging war. David was destined to be the “man of war” God described in 1 Chronicles 28:3. Sometimes war is unavoidable. In David’s case, itContinue reading “DAVID AT WAR: Four Truths. Psalm 60:8-12.”
“In Spirit and in Truth”–Worship With Enthusiasm and the Fear of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 13:7-12.
The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object of the Hebrew faith. It was a national treasure to be kept in the tabernacle or the temple. But when David became king, the ark had been sitting in the home of Abinadab for twenty years (and God had blessed Abinadab greatly as a result).Continue reading ““In Spirit and in Truth”–Worship With Enthusiasm and the Fear of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 13:7-12.”
Household Words: 