Do you remember the television series “Extreme Makeover Home Edition?” The show aired its first episode in 2003 and by the second season over 15 million viewers tuned in each Sunday night to watch. The basic premise was taking the home of a family who had gone through difficulty or hard times, and totally remodeling it. Led by…

2 Samuel 22 starts like this, “David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.” (NLT) As I came to this chapter this past week, I took time to read, reflect, and take a glimpse inside the life of King David. We are familiar…

Last time, we looked at the danger of success as it happened in David’s life. The context was the scene where he justified adultery with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11. David tried to cover up his sin and when that failed, he planned the death of Urriah, Bathsheba’s husband. In chapter 12, Nathan the prophet confronted him about…

Church family, I am taking a brief break from sharing devotional reflections in 1 & 2 Samuel with you.  I feel there is something much more urgent before us. Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. Last week I shared with you that the local chapter is having their prayer breakfast on WLMB this Thursday at…

Judah and Israel were no longer separated. David was no longer on the run. Enemies were defeated. God was blessing. Life was good! This would seem like a time of continued devotion to the Lord. A time of continued praise and resting in the goodness of God. Times were good for David the king. Why is it that when there appears…

2 Samuel 8 gives a summary of David’s military victories. As verses 7 & 14 tell us, “and the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.” Verse 15 says, “So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.” David uses his power as king to do good for the…

Your obedience is never to be done in the hope that you will get something, but rather in recognition of what you have already been given.  (Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies)   As I was reading in a devotional and my Bible, I found, as often happens, the Lord bringing truths to my attention.…

Since last Monday, I finished reading 1 Samuel and began the first few chapters of 2 Samuel. I am reminded that if I ever hear anyone say again that the Bible is boring, I’ll assume they haven’t read it! If you like suspense and action books, the Bible has its share. As I preached on Easter, in…

Perhaps you have heard it said, “Life is not fair.” Often life does not go as we would like it to. People do not respond and behave like we’d like them to. Sometimes the reward of doing “the right thing” isn’t immediate and embraced by those around us. Life can be hard. We look again at 1…