2 Samuel 1
2 Samuel marks the transition from Saul to David as Israel’s king. Chapter 1 begins immediately after “David returned from defeating the Amalekites“. Remember, they had recovered all that the Amalekites had stolen including their wives and children. The mood in the camp must have been exuberant. Next we read, “On the third day a
2 Samuel 2
2 Samuel chapter 2 describes the civil war that developed in Israel after the death of Saul. Although David had been anointed as king almost 20 years earlier, changing from the familiar is hard. Saul and his three sons were dead, but Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, still had military control. The chapter begins
2 Samuel 3
2 Samuel chapter 3 reminds me of the challenges and cost of reconciliation. When two people are divided after a bond has been broken, it requires great effort to rebuild that bond. The chapter begins, “The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and
2 Samuel 5
2 Samuel chapter 5 illustrates the difficulty we all face honoring God in our whole life. Even as David experienced personal triumph and failure, God remained always faithful. The chapter begins, “All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood’… the king made a compact
2 Samuel 6
2 Samuel chapter 6 reminds us of God’s nature and the reaction people have toward Him. God is perfectly righteous and He is perfectly merciful. We must never lose our reverence for Him even as we rejoice in His blessings. The chapter begins, “David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in
2 Samuel 8
2 Samuel chapter 8 describes the nation of Israel under King David, but in reality it describes a man under God. It reminds us that individually we experience the greatest victories in our life when we submit to God. The steady and sure success over Israel’s enemies through King David’s leadership is unmatched. Unlike King Saul,
2 Samuel 10
2 Samuel chapter 10 reminds me how easily simple misunderstandings can escalate into conflict in our relationships, particularly in our marriage. When we know someone’s heart, we better understand their actions. The chapter begins, “the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king” David decided, “I will show kindness to
2 Samuel 11
2 Samuel chapter 11 warns us about the dangers of idleness. When David was doing battle with the giant or hiding from the king’s army in a cave or even leading Israel in battle, God sustained him. In this season of his life, David has resources and power and leisure time. This combination can frequently
2 Samuel 12
2 Samuel chapter 12 describes the reaction of a man when he is confronted with his own sin. Every one of us will stumble; every one of us will fall short of perfection and in some cases, rebel completely from honoring God. The key to peace with God is our reaction at the moment of
2 Samuel 13
2 Samuel chapter 13 reveals some of the skeletons in the closet of King David’s family. I believe ultimately God holds the father responsible for providing the guidance in his home. 1 Timothy chapter 3 includes the following qualification for a man that is to hold a position of responsibility in the church: “one who