What do you do when one of your sons has raped his half-sister and then been murdered by another one of your sons? David finds himself in a difficult spot and Joab steps in to try and help him. Ultimately, the help Joab provides is unsuccessful. This chapter plays out in three acts. In the…
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Spy in the Sky – 2 Samuel 5
With the death of Ish-Bosheth and Abner the leaders of the northern tribes acknowledge the inevitable. Suddenly, they realize and declare God’s will that David be the king of all Israel. The elders gather and anoint David. David treats these rebellious elders honorably and makes a covenant with them. David’s wise action unifies the kingdom….
Love or Fear – 1 Samuel 19
While fear of God is the beginning of understanding, the fear of other people is often the beginning of foolishness. This chapter begins with an example of the foolishness that flows from fear. King Saul commands his son Jonathan to kill David. Fear of God leads people to respond in love and that is how…
October 2021 Family Photo Contest
Our October theme was LEAF or LEAVES. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night….
A Tale of Two Relationships – 1 Samuel 18
Powerful people tend to polarize the responses of the people around them. In this chapter the responses of two members of the same family illustrate how this reveals character. Jonathan After killing Goliath David becomes a commander in Saul’s army and leads the army to one victory after another. Jonathan, who is heir to the…
August 2021 Family Photo Contest
It has been a busy summer, so there are fewer entries than usual in our GREEN category. Please enter your choices for the top 3 pictures in the comment area below. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and…
Wait – 1 Samuel 13
One of the big themes running through the Bible is the need to wait. We have a God who could instantly meet every need of His people. We also have a God who desires for us to learn trust and obedience. This desire of God seems to present us with a God who is slow,…
Good News and Bad News – 1 Samuel 12
Last words communicate core values. Samuel served God and the people of Israel all his life. After a stern warning from Samuel to the people, Saul has just been named king and leads them to a great victory over the Ammonites. When the people gather to celebrate Samuel presents them with two challenges. First, he…
What Brings Us Together – 1 Samuel 11
Saul has been anointed king. Immediately, a few men follow him, but Saul returns to his farming. Something needs to happen to establish Saul’s reign and pull the people together under it. Nahosh, the Ammonite, obliges and threatens the town of Jabesh Gilead. Nahosh is so confidant of victory that he threatens to gouge out…
July 2021 Family Photo Contest
“However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50 Has not my hand made all these…
