Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 10—Verse 4 and 6aSo Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away…the Ammonites saw that they became a stench to David…Even though David was acting in kindness, King Hanun’s advisors convinced him that David was actually acting in malice, which led to a pointless war where ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 9--Verse 1And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?”The Oxford dictionary defines kindness as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Paul said that kindness is one of the identifiers of a life filled with the Spirit.David could have shown ‘kindness’ just by letting Mephiboshe...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 8–Verse 14And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.David’s life is an interesting one. He experiences stellar highs and devastating lows. And it doesn’t get much better than what we find in our reading today. David’s on top of the world. But as you will soon discover in chapter 11, he hits rock bottom.The one thing we should all appreciate about David, how...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 7—Verse 25And now, O Lord God, …do as you have spoken.David had the idea of building a house for the Lord and told the prophet Nathan about it as his spiritual confidant. At first Nathan told him to do it for the Lord was with him. The Lord spoke to Nathan, telling him to speak His blessings on David, his house and his offspring (who would build His house).  David sa...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 6--Verses 13-14aAnd when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the LORD with all his might.David loved worshiping God. He didn’t care what he looked like. All he wanted was for those around him to join in worshipping Yahweh, the God above all. We see this in our reading today, and in ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 5--Verse 5And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.”  Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.I find it fascinating the significance of the names of people and places in the Bible. You see it all throughout scripture where either a child or a pla...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 4—Verse 8…and brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who soughtyour life. The Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring."Just like the young Amalekite who brought David news of Saul’s death, Rechab and Baanah thought they were bringing ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 3—Verses 26-27Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David was unaware of it. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the city gate, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother....  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 2—Verses 10-11Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.After Saul’s death, Ish-bosheth the son of Saul was made king over the northern tribes of Israel. (This makes sense because usually a king is replaced with his son.) But David was anointed King of Judah, the so...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 1--Verse 14David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”It always amazes me that David had so much respect for King Saul, in spite of the king’s many attempts on his life. In the verse above, we see a clue to David’s perspective. He respected Saul’s position as the Lord’s anointed.Sometimes we are required to ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 31—Verse 6Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.Wow. Talk about a massive defeat. Saul, the first king of Israel, has fallen on his own sword. The Philistines finally overtook him, and they are attacking and closing in on the Israelites. Their future looks bleak–there’s little hope. I read this chapter and...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 1 Samuel 30—Verse 6aAnd David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul…Recap: these men who gathered to David were “in distress, in debt, and bitter in soul” (22:2). And during the time they all lived in Ziklag, they’d raid the neighbors, murdering and plundering (27:8-9). So, now that they get a taste of their ow...  Read More