Steven Wales

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.”

BLOODSHED: Times of War and Times of Peace, 1 Chronicles 28:2-3.

Pictured: “The 2000-Yard Stare” by Thomas Calloway “Tom” Lea, III, oil on canvas (1944). In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons. –Herodotus. King David was the commander-in-chief of a kingdom at war. Saul’s kingdom had been one of drama, intrigue, and Saul’s obsessive quest to murder David. David had betterContinue reading “BLOODSHED: Times of War and Times of Peace, 1 Chronicles 28:2-3.”

Manly Exploits and the Manly Heart. 2 Samuel 23:8.

Pictured: Yellowfin tuna from this fishing guide’s website: https://alphonsefishingco.com/fly-fishing/species/yellowfin-tuna/ Once, after a day of deep-sea fishing, I joined my friend Doug at a stainless steel cleaning table. Ours was one of four tables, each surrounded by men cleaning fish and swapping stories. It was amazing to see the huge redfish and yellow-fin tuna and amberjackContinue reading “Manly Exploits and the Manly Heart. 2 Samuel 23:8.”

Burial or Cremation? 1 Samuel 31:12-13.

An unforgettable movie line comes from the OUTLAW JOSEY WALES. Wales is busy tracking down Captain Terrill, a man with a bad habit of slaughtering the unarmed. After Wales, played by Clint Eastwood, shoots a pair of Terrill’s killers, he refuses to stop and bury the dead. To make his disdain for the dead menContinue reading “Burial or Cremation? 1 Samuel 31:12-13.”

Trust God With Complicated Matters of International Diplomacy. 1 Samuel 29:3-4.

One day David finds himself trapped in a complicated matter of international diplomacy. Saul’s quest to murder David had driven him to live among the Philistines. A year later the Philistines begin assembling armies to attack Israel. This creates a sticky situation. David claims to be loyal to the Philistines, but he knows he willContinue reading “Trust God With Complicated Matters of International Diplomacy. 1 Samuel 29:3-4. “

They That Wait Upon the Lord. 1 Samuel 26:8-11.

David spent years running all over the wilderness of Israel evading Saul’s murderous armies. He had 600 men on the road, each depending on David for food. One day David and his men hid themselves deep in a cave and Saul came in alone to relieve himself. David’s men whispered, “Kill him, David. God broughtContinue reading “They That Wait Upon the Lord. 1 Samuel 26:8-11.”

SOMETIMES THE FUGITIVE MUST REMEMBER THAT HE IS ALSO THE FUTURE KING. OR Sometimes Prior Callings Take Priority Over Present Callings. 1 Samuel 23:4-5.

The Bible features reports of several fugitives forced to run for their lives. Jacob fled after he stole Esau’s birthright. Moses fled after he killed an Egyptian. Joseph fled to Egypt with Mary and the baby Jesus to escape the savage hand of Herod. But surely no fugitive faced greater peril than David. King SaulContinue reading “SOMETIMES THE FUGITIVE MUST REMEMBER THAT HE IS ALSO THE FUTURE KING. ~~OR~~ Sometimes Prior Callings Take Priority Over Present Callings. 1 Samuel 23:4-5.”