Tamar sees the lust in her half-brother Amnon’s eyes, and she feels his tight grip around her. She is scared and as we learned in the previous post, Tamar makes a desperate plea for marriage. Does it work? In 2 Samuel 13, verse 14, we read “But he refused to listen to her, and since heContinue reading “When drama erupts in David’s family – 2 Samuel 9, 13, 14, 15, Part 4”
Tag Archives: murder
A shocking reason for famine in Israel (and an equally shocking solution) – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Part 4
Famine is awful. I’m from the northeastern USA, so I know nothing of famine. In fact, weather reporters in my region regularly report on how much rain we’ve gotten in a given month or year, and many times they will say we are in a drought when our rainfall total is simply below average. InContinue reading “A shocking reason for famine in Israel (and an equally shocking solution) – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Part 4”
Human approaches to justice are often convoluted, but what about God’s approach? – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Preview
I am an adjunct professor, and in class recently I did something that the students were not prepared for. I raised my hand. Let me explain. I am teaching the Gospels, and one of the projects the students do is a group presentation on a section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Each week aContinue reading “Human approaches to justice are often convoluted, but what about God’s approach? – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Preview”
Are you a typical human who doesn’t see the truth about yourself? – 2 Samuel 11—12, Part 4
Editor’s Note: This week we welcome guest blogger, Emily Marks. Emily is an adult and community educator. She and her husband Sean live in Lancaster, PA, with their dog Corvus. I learned so much from her sermon on 2 Samuel 11-12! I’m excited for you to read these blog posts. David has a big responsibilityContinue reading “Are you a typical human who doesn’t see the truth about yourself? – 2 Samuel 11—12, Part 4”
Can we learn anything from the story of David letting a murderer go free? – 2 Samuel 2:9—3:39, Part 4
Civil war has torn Israel apart. David is king of the tribe of Judah. Ish-Bosheth is king of the other eleven tribes of Israel. It is one versus eleven. Though David’s side is only one tribe, they are beating the other eleven. To make matters worse for the eleven tribes, their king, Ish-Bosheth, makes aContinue reading “Can we learn anything from the story of David letting a murderer go free? – 2 Samuel 2:9—3:39, Part 4”
How could David slaughter men and women…and lie about it? – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 4
In the previous post, we read something very dark about David, who was supposed to be a man after God’s own heart. In 1st Samuel 27, we learned that David and his men go out on raids, slaughtering people. Men and women. Also, David clearly didn’t want his new king, the Philistine, Achish, to knowContinue reading “How could David slaughter men and women…and lie about it? – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 4”
A dark evil day during David’s fugitive years – 1st Samuel 21 & 22, Part 4
David has been experiencing some good news while on the run as a fugitive, which we learned in the previous post. Just like that, though, things turn very dark. In 1st Samuel 22, verse 6, the narrative switches focus on David’s pursuer, King Saul. We learn that Saul is raving made that David has notContinue reading “A dark evil day during David’s fugitive years – 1st Samuel 21 & 22, Part 4”
The perfect cover-up for sin? – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 2
David is in a terrible spot of his own making. He has slept with one of his soldier’s wives, and now she is pregnant. How will this king who is known as “the man after God’s own heart” react? In 2 Samuel 11, verses 6-9, David concocts a plan: “So David sent this word toContinue reading “The perfect cover-up for sin? – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 2”
One time Christians are commanded to kill? – Colossians 3:5-11, Part 2
In the previous post, I said that we will be studying Paul’s comments about laundry for a few weeks. This week is part one, Colossians 3:5-11, all about taking off our dirty clothes. Next week will be part two, Colossians 3:12-17, all about putting on clean clothes. In today’s post, we start studying part one.Continue reading “One time Christians are commanded to kill? – Colossians 3:5-11, Part 2”
How the godly fall – Characters: Samson, Part 2
A fall from grace. Maybe you’ve experienced it. Or maybe another’s fall has affected you. There have been a number of high profile such failures, and countless more lower profile examples that don’t get reported in the news. No matter the situation, they impact people deeply, leaving us wonder, “How did that happen?” Parents splitContinue reading “How the godly fall – Characters: Samson, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 