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.”
Tag Archives: David
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.”
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.”
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. “
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.”
KEEP SERVING GOD WHILE YOU’RE WAITING. 1 Samuel 27.
It’s easy to think that when THIS THING finally happens, or when I reach THAT MILESTONE, I’ll start really doing things for God. But life often comes down to what you do while you’re WAITING on that next thing. We need to serve God during the delays; not just after reaching some perfect destination, butContinue reading “KEEP SERVING GOD WHILE YOU’RE WAITING. 1 Samuel 27.”
Athletic Gifts and Fitness Come From God. 2 Samuel 22:8-18, 30-40.
Pictured: Marshall Wales, NCAA Division 1 playoffs, spring of 2023. Sam Houston vs. Oregon State. God is the first and greatest athlete. Don’t think so? What weight can He not lift? What speed can He not travel? What target will He fail to hit? Surely the best-known athlete in the Bible is David. And DavidContinue reading “Athletic Gifts and Fitness Come From God. 2 Samuel 22:8-18, 30-40.”
Horoscopes, Palm Readers, Fortune Tellers. 1 Samuel 28:11-20.
These things seem like harmless fun. But there’s a reason the Bible forbids them. The answers they provide can be convincing because your enemy (1) knows you and (2) has some knowledge of the future. With that combination, a psychic or a fortune teller can be so persuasive. But these people get their “answers” fromContinue reading “Horoscopes, Palm Readers, Fortune Tellers. 1 Samuel 28:11-20.”
Layers.
Childhood emotions come in single syllables: mad, sad, glad. You laugh, cry, pout, fume. Adulthood is complicated. You feel pensive, ambivalent, bittersweet. Adult emotions have more layers than a wedding cake. David understood. This poet who killed giants, this warrior who was a music therapist, this military tactician who cuddled lambs—David understood complex emotions. ForContinue reading “Layers.”
Household Words: 