Book: 2 Samuel
2 Samuel 1
- 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 baubles. We quickly discover that the…
- 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, and so many of Israel’s army,…
2 Samuel 2
- 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, but today bigger is better. Incremental…
- 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 by God was publicly known, Abner…
2 Samuel 3
- 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 David grew stronger and Abner became…
- 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 trampling over the reputations of others.…
2 Samuel 4
- 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 death for the sake of Christ…
2 Samuel 5
- 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 than we like, but God fulfils…
2 Samuel 6
- 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 has made it clear – showing…
- 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 be so caught up on outward…
2 Samuel 7
- 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 was not God’s will. The two…
- 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 and His People. It helps fill…
- 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 God had plans for his “servant’s…
2 Samuel 8
- 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 preliminary way, the promises that God…
2 Samuel 9
- 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 made a covenant with Jonathan, and…
2 Samuel 10
- 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 do not learn from the past…
2 Samuel 11
- 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 strength, and God working through David…
2 Samuel 12
- 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. Boy was he wrong. God saw.…
- 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 this life, as we trudge our…
2 Samuel 13
- 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 affair with Bathsheba was one of…
- 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 perfect son, who was also “like…
2 Samuel 14
- 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 of our conscience. David came into…
- 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 son, Absalom. Except it seems to…
2 Samuel 15
- 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 personally thought about his son murdering…
- 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 by many who flocked to his…
2 Samuel 16
- 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 downfall. While these examples certainly point…
- 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 thing God promised would fall upon…
2 Samuel 17
- 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 (v.3). Absalom and the elders of…
- 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 you look, there are signs of…
- 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 a supporter of Absalom desert his…
2 Samuel 18
- 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 hearts, erects monuments to ourselves in…
- 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, pointing forward to an even greater…
2 Samuel 19
- 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 to stabilise his reign, the whole…
2 Samuel 20
- 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 to Jerusalem. David thought he had…
2 Samuel 21
- 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 terrible price. The sacrifice of animals…
- 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 name is otherwise unknown was dragged…
2 Samuel 22
- 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 who seek after righteousness, “a shield…
- 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 who establishes the kingdom, God who…
2 Samuel 23
- Sermon 2 Samuel 23:1-7: Everlasting Covenant
But for those of us who look forward to Christ’s reign, the certainty and the promise are things to embrace not reject. We live in societies where rulers sinfully pursue…
- 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 and devotion, just like those men…
2 Samuel 24
- 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 against them. Yet the reason is…
- 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 that came upon Israel for offending…
- 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 by sending the prophet Gad to…
Other passages
- Devotional 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22: Responsibilities towards God
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 Parents spend a lot of time explaining how children should behave, especially towards other people. Towards their friends and classmates. Towards siblings and wider family. Towards…
- 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 God as in response to when…