Morning Musing: 2 Samuel 10:3

“But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?””  (ESV – Read the chapter)

What do you expect from people? We live in a day in which there is a growing deficit of public trust. People are generally suspicious of one another and expect the worst out of them. The thing is, this blanket distrust doesn’t come naturally to us. It is a learned skill. But once it has been learned, it’s hard to unlearn. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: 2 Chronicles 14:2-4

“And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment.”  (ESV – Read the chapter) ‬‬

Here at the beginning of the description of the reign of King Asa of Judah, as is the usual custom, we get a kind of summary statement. In the following verses and chapters we get more details as to what exactly this looks like. I’d like to walk through those with you if you’ll let me. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: 2 Samuel 9:1

“And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?””  (ESV – Read the chapter) ‬‬

It is episodes like this one that garnered David the title “man after God’s own heart.” What David does here is perfectly in line with the way God operates toward us. We would do well to follow in his footsteps, if not in detail, then at least in intent. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: 1 Samuel 30:6

“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)‬‬

Nobody likes pain. Even fewer tragedy. They can strip us of our sense of control and leave us feeling totally vulnerable and helpless. We naturally seek to avoid these by almost any means we can. But, pain is a teacher. Tragedy an instructor. And for the soul that is lost and wandering aimlessly through this world, they can be a guide. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: 2 Samuel 6:14

“And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Have you ever gotten so wrapped up in a moment that you forgot about yourself and were totally and purely enjoying it? Have you ever gotten so excited about something that you forget about all the masks and behavior filters you usually wear that you let yourself show all of the excitement you actually felt? It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does it is unfailingly an interesting experience. Read the rest…