Year: 2024
December 2024
- Devotional Psalm 65: Another Year of Salvation
As we reflect, and look forward, let’s remember to also thank God for another year of salvation, and look forward to another year of…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 24:18-25: Atonement for God’s Anger
David cried out to God, interceding on Israel’s behalf, asking that he and his house would be punished, not Israel. God answered David’s cries…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 24:10-17: The Wonder of Mercy
David’s silly census brought about judgement on Israel, itself because of the way Israel had in some way acted. But despite the terrible punishment…
November 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 24:1-9: Sinful Census
David’s census was sinful, yet the reason is unclear to us. Do we need to know? Israel had clearly sinned and provoked God’s anger…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 23:8-39: Honour Roll
Just as David had his warriors in his day, Christ has his now. We too are called to serve our covenant king with faithfulness…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 22:32-51: His Kingdom is Forever
King David’s song in 2 Samuel 22 concludes by pointing us back to the supremacy of God’s Kingdom over all others. It is God…
October 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 22:21-31: Seeking After Righteousness
God’s ways are perfect, and he keeps his promises (v.31). In him, David sang, his servants can put their trust. God is, for those…
- Devotional 1 Samuel 22:1-20: The Mighty Intervener
The mighty and dramatic nature of God’s intervention in David’s life is indicated by the very first verse, where David’s song is addressed to…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 21:15-22: Against All Enemies
But the Philistines kept rolling out their giants, so once again the same theme was replayed. A six finger and six toed giant whose…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 21:1-14: Covenant Curses Come Calling
While we may turn off the news, we should not turn away from these grisly passages. They remind us that covenant breaking brings a…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 20: Rebellion Encore
The end of chapter 19 ended with a face-off and fierce words between Judah and the northern tribes over who would lead David home…
September 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 19:9-43: Restoration and Bickering
Absalom was dead and the rebellion all but over, but David still needed to heal over the wounds. While he could paper over cracks…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 18:19-19:8 Good News, Tough News
David as king was more than a father, he was a symbol. The Davidic king demonstrated God’s provision of godly leadership to his people,…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 18:1-18: Absalom’s Demise
This is the ultimate end of all those who seek to overturn God’s Anointed One. The self-appointment which seizes the throne of our own…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 17:23-29: Deserters and Supporters
In the closing verses of 2 Samuel 17, we read of Supporters who stuck by David in his hour of need. We also see…
August 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 17:15-22: Signs of God’s Providence
While the big picture parts are clear, the broad sweep of God’s sovereignty and his working out of events is often unclear. But if…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 17:1-14: Duelling Counsel, One Decider
With David gone, David’s supporters would no longer have a focus or a purpose in resisting Absalom’s reign, and the conflict would be over…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 16:15-23: The Betrayer Doing God’s Bidding
Ahithophel was a betrayer of God’s Anointed King, King David. But he was also at the same time doing God’ bidding, fulfilling the very…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 16:1-15: Manipulation and Cursing
David’s exodus from Jerusalem brought him encouragement from faithful servants, but also encounters with manipulators and a man who took delight in David’s apparent…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 15:13-37: Faith Under Fire
When Absalom rebelled, David took the wise course and left Jerusalem. But his faith in God shone through in his actions, and was encouraged…
July 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 15:1-12: Absalom Rebels
In chapter 14 we saw the return of Absalom from exile, and the return of Absalom into official public approval (whatever David may have…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 14:25-33: The Putting Right That Wrongs
In the second half of chapter 14 of 2 Samuel we see the continued “putting right” of relations between King David and his brother-murderer…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 14:1-24: Worldly Wisdom
There is nothing new about being swayed by worldly wisdom. Often it calls to us with its call on our feelings over the call…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 13:22-39: Like Father, Like Son
Sin begets sin, because we are all “like father, like son” as this passage shows. Thank God that we are forgiven through Jesus, his…
June 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 13:1-22: Sickening Acts
There are some parts of Scripture that when you read it, it reminds you that this is not written as a feel-good manual. David’s…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 12:15-31: Hope Beyond the Grave
But for believers in Christ, God’s People, there is hope beyond the grave. A hope that comes from grace. A comfort for us in…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 12:1-15 Judgement and Forgiveness
David thought he had got away with his sin. Swept it under the rug. Tidied things up nicely. No public harm, no public foul.…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 11: Secret Deeds Seen
The story of 2 Samuel plays a little like that piano with a broken key. We have seen things largely go from strength to…
May 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 10: Unwise Unbelievers
There are lots of sayings and idioms which are wise to live by. Do to others as you wish done to you. Those who…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 9: The Depths of Covenant Loyalty
David’s house may have triumphed over Saul’s, but that didn’t mean that every descendant of Saul had to be erased from history. David also…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 8: Judgement, Justice, and Equity
After God’s promises to David described in chapter 7, Second Samuel describes the advance of David’s kingdom as God started to fulfil, in a…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 7:17-29: Overcome by Generosity
Yet despite all the good God had done, he was not done yet. All of God’s goodness to date was a “small thing” and…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 7:12-16: Everlasting Kingdom
Our passage this week brings us to the Davidic Covenant. This covenant proclaims God’s goodness and mercy to David and his House. To David…
April 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 7:1-11: House before the House
God’s response to David’s desire may seem odd. After all, what David wanted for God seemed reasonable and right; Nathan thought so. But it…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 6:12-23: Blessed Holiness
Our worship of God must be reverent and follow the instructions God has given us. It should also not be joyless. It should not…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 6:1-11: Lethal Holiness
We must respect God’s commands. We must act as God requires us to act, especially when it comes to serving him. Especially when God…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 5: The Promises Fulfilled (Kinda)
Opposition from the great powers of this world cannot stop God. Time is no barrier to God fulfilling his promises. It may take longer…
March 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 4: Justice for All
Injustice also occurs in our day. Christ's church faces oppression and injustice the world over. We might face prejudice for our beliefs. Some face…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 3:12-39: Blameless King
Success in a sinful world can often come at a brutal cost. Financial gain through ruining another financially. Promotions and power through destroying or…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 3:1-11: Bowing by Necessity
After Saul’s death, Abner attempted to seize power through conquering King David’s kingdom by force. He failed. A period of Civil War followed, where…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 2:12-32: The Failure of Force
Chapter 2 of 2 Samuel shows an example of the failure of force to prevent God’s Plan advancing through David’s kingship. While David’s anointing…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 2:1-11: Small Beginnings
Our society likes big things and big bangs. One hundred day plans. Transformational change. Slow and steady might win the race in the past,…
February 2024
- Devotional 2 Samuel 1:17-27: Expressing Grief
David knew grief well, and knew that it sometimes needs expressing. While he and his men had emotionally grieved the death of Saul, Jonathan,…
- Devotional 2 Samuel 1:1-16: Mourning, Fear, and Judgement
The first scene of 2 Samuel introduces us to David’s learning of King Saul’s death through the arrival of a grifter, bearing Saul’s kingly…