June 25 – David and Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11-12

David was called a man after God’s heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), and yet in 2 Samuel 11 we see a series of serious moral failures that ultimately lead to murder. How do we square these realities? Clearly having a ‘heart for God’ does not mean one will not ever...

June 24 – David and Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11-12

If you know the American comedian Flip Wilson you will also know his most famous punch line: “the devil made me do it!” It was his character’s way of avoiding personal responsibility for all manner of misdeeds. I don’t know that it was a particularly funny line, but I...

June 23 – David and Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11-12

Do you ever pay attention to a movie’s soundtrack? Soundtracks are used to shape our emotions and prepare us for what is to come. Do you “listen” as you read your bible? The writers of scripture cannot rely upon soundtracks, but they often prepare us to understand the...

Reading Plan – Week 34

Remember, in His Word, God has: Something to see – what does the text saySomething to understand – what does it meanSomething to apply – what does it mean to meSomething to praise – for what are you thankful? (1) Through the Bible Day 1: 2...

June 18 – The Davidic Covenant: 2 Samuel 7

Two aspects of God’s covenant with David stand out: its endurance and its basis. Throughout history, human empires have risen…and fallen, without fail. A few centuries is considered a good run. No doubt God’s last promise to David in 2 Samuel 7 was no less surprising...

June 17 – The Davidic Covenant: 2 Samuel 7

David’s plan to build God a house doesn’t even survive one night’s sleep, as God reveals to Nathan that his plan is actually to build David’s house. The word “house” appears fifteen times in 2 Samuel 7, with three different meanings: i) David’s palace (vv 1,2); ii)...