Pastor’s Blog

JUNE 1- TODAY’S READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT- 2 SAMUEL 18:1-19:10 Absalom, you will recall, took the misleading counsel of Hushai, rather than Ahithophel. Instead of striking David down immediately, Absalom fell for the suggestion that he gather a larger army of men...

TODAY’S READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT- - 2 SAMUEL 17:1-29 Ahithophel gives his counsel to Absalom. He advises Absalom to pursue David with 12000 men and attack him immediately while David is weary and weak. Absalom thinks it is good counsel, but then asks Hushai the...

TODAY’S READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT- 2 SAMUEL 15:23-16:23 David is forced to leave ‘the city of David’. As he crosses the Kidron, the brook that marks Jerusalem’s eastern edge, the whole countryside weeps. The Kidron Valley is just outside the Eastern Gate of the...

The theme of betrayal features in both the Old and New Testament readings today. Both King David and King Jesus will be wounded in the house of their friends. They are betrayed by those they held dear. Absalom will betray his father, David. Judas will betray his...

TODAY’S READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT- 2 SAMUEL 13:1-39 In the introduction of today’s story of Ammon’s lustful rape of his half-sister Tamar, Absalom’s name is mentioned (2 Samuel 13:1). This is because the next section of 2 Samuel, Chapters 13 to 19, tells the...

TODAY’S READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT- 2 SAMUEL 12:1-31 In today’s readings, in both the Old and New Testament we are shown the importance of recognizing, acknowledging, and repenting of our sin. Jesus makes it clear that without the Holy Spirit we cannot recognize...

TODAY’S READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT- 2 SAMUEL 9:1-11:27 David inquires of Ziba, a servant of the deceased King Saul’s household, whether there is any survivor of the former King’s household to whom he can show God’s kindness. Ziba informs him that Jonathan’s son,...

TODAY’S READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT- 2 SAM 7:1-8:18 Even Nathan the prophet sometimes gets it wrong. He speaks what he thinks best based upon what he knows. When David tells him that he wants to build a house for the Lord (a permanent fixture for the Ark of the...

TODAY’S READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT- 2 SAMUEL 4:1-6:23 Saul and his eldest three sons were killed in battle at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:2; 2 Samuel 1:5-6). Ishbosheth, Saul’s fourth son, and oldest surviving son, had been proclaimed Saul’s successor, King of...

The Civil War Within; The House of Saul vs. the House of David; Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples “David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually” (2 Samuel 3:1). The Book of I Samuel described the transition from the rule of the...