Monday, September 6 Romans 8:1-4 “No condemnation” There are many benefits to belong to Christ Jesus, but surely none is more important than receiving our pardon from sin. All of us have sinned, which means that all of us are guilty of breaking God’s law. That guilt leads to the condemnation of being separated… Read more about The Holy Spirit Living in Us
The Holy Spirit is Promised
Monday, August 30 John 14:1-7 “I am the way, the truth, and the life” Jesus’ disciples were troubled. They needed to be reassured by Jesus whom they loved, but often could not understand. He had told them that he would be leaving them, going where they could not come. They were gripped by the… Read more about The Holy Spirit is Promised
David, King of Israel
Monday, August 23 2 Samuel 19:1-43 “David’s return” Though David’s men have won the battle and Absalom is dead, the conflict is not yet settled. Absalom’s rebellion tapped into legitimate complaints against David, especially in southern Judah where the rebellion started. With the demise of Absalom, the pro-David voices return. He is, after all,… Read more about David, King of Israel
David’s Flight and Absalom’s Defeat
Monday, August 16 2 Samuel 16:1-14 “Encounters with Ziba and Shimei” Ziba was the steward of Saul’s house and the person responsible for Mephibosheth’s welfare (9:9-11). The motives for his support of David are unclear, but he may have seen Absalom’s insurrection as an opportunity to ingratiate himself to David at Mephibosheth’s expense. Mephibosheth… Read more about David’s Flight and Absalom’s Defeat
David and Absalom
Monday, August 9 2 Samuel 13:1-22 “Amnon Rapes Tamar” Nothing will be the same after David’s sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. Amnon’s rape of Tamar is but the beginning of a downward spiral for David who is reaping publicly, through his family, the consequences of his sin. Amnon, Tamar and Absalom… Read more about David and Absalom
David and Bathsheba
Monday, August 2 2 Samuel 11:1-5 “David sends for Bathsheba” The books of Samuel have so far illustrated by means of both negative and positive examples the nature of genuine Israelite kingship. Saul was a negative example of how the monarch should appear; David has been exemplary as the ideal king. But the shocking… Read more about David and Bathsheba
David and Mephibosheth
Monday, July 26 2 Samuel 9:1-5 “Show kindness for Jonathan’s sake” In the ancient Near East, the family of a king replaced by someone not from their family did not generally expect to receive kindness. In fact, new dynasties were routinely accompanied by bloodletting among the family of the old order as the new… Read more about David and Mephibosheth
David and the Ark
Monday, July 19 2 Samuel 6:1-15 “Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem” David has captured Jerusalem, driven the Philistines back to their traditional borders, and unified the tribes of Israel with Jerusalem as their new capital city. The entrance of the Ark of the Covenant into the city is the culmination of a long and… Read more about David and the Ark