Archive for May 2024

2 Samuel 5-7,  Psalm 109,  Mark 14:12-31,  2 Corinthians 13  2 Samuel 5-7:  The height of David’s great achievements is reached and celebrated in these exciting chapters. First, Israel comes to anoint him king at Hebron (5:1-3). David is only thirty years old and he will reign until he is seventy (5:4-5). Then, he takes…

2 Samuel 3-4,  Psalm 108,  Mark 14:1-11,  2 Corinthians 12:11-21 2 Samuel 3-4: It is a long civil war, and bloody. David is growing stronger and stronger, the house of Saul weaker and weaker (3:1). But within that house of Saul, Abner is himself growing stronger in gaining power over the people and the army…

2 Samuel 1-2,  Psalm 107,  Mark 13:32-37,  2 Corinthians 2:1-12 2 Samuel 1-2: The story now, for obvious reasons, focuses on David. Saul is dead, and David is in camp after his victory over the Amalekites (1:1). Three days later he hears of Saul’s defeat and the death of Saul and Jonathan (1:2-4). The story…

1 Samuel 29-31,  Psalm 106:24-48,  Mark 13:14-31,  2 Corinthians 11:16-33 1 Samuel 29-31: It makes sad reading—but at least by contrast God’s king is being exemplified as the right man for the job. Meanwhile, as Saul is leading an army that is about to suffer a heavy defeat, David is dismissed from the army of…

1 Samuel 26-28,  Psalm 106:1-23,  Mark 13:1-13,  2 Corinthians 11:1-15  1 Samuel 26-28: The great denouement is coming—and it will not be a pretty sight. First, David again spares Saul’s life (26:5-12). When he has the chance to kill him, he does not, and Saul once more blesses David and says that David will be…

1 Samuel 24-25,  Psalm 105,  Mark 12:35-44,  2 Corinthians 10 1 Samuel 24-25: Saul, back from his pursuit of the Philistines (he has run them off from their raid we presume), starts out again in pursuit of David (24:1-2). It is exhausting work running from God’s purpose—first one way, then another, each equally futile. Saul,…

1 Samuel 21-23,  Psalm 104,  Mark 12:28-34,  2 Corinthians 9 1 Samuel 21-23: David is now on the run, and remarkable stories of God’s rescue of David are told. First of all, David takes the bread of the Presence, the special consecrated bread (21:3-6)—an event referenced by Jesus in support of his disciples (Mt. 12:1-8;…

1 Samuel 19-20,  Psalm 103,  Mark 12:13-27,  2 Corinthians 8 1 Samuel 19-20: Saul is determined to kill David (19:1)—jealous of him, and suspecting that God had called David to be king in his place. Jonathan, however, is best of friends with David, and has made a covenant of support for David. This situation set…

1 Samuel 17-18,  Psalm 102,  Mark 12:1-12,  2 Corinthians 7 1 Samuel 17-18: One of the most famous stories in the Bible—David and Goliath—is about to ensue (1 Samuel 17). The basics of the narrative are familiar enough to many: a young sheep boy stands up against the enemy of God’s people, a giant of…

1 Samuel 15-16,  Psalm 101,  Mark 11:27-33,  2 Corinthians 6 1 Samuel 15-16: Samuel gives Saul fresh instructions from God (15:1-3). Saul performs these instructions—to a point. But then he and the people keep back the best of the spoil along with Agag, the king (15:7-9). Was Agag spared because he cut some kind of…