For The Kingdom And The King

1st Kings 4-7

Solomon completes the building of the temple. Something his father wanted to do very badly but God wouldn't allow him to because of the blood on his hands, and the warfare he participated in. The kingdom work is never done, and I hope one day you children continue building the kingdom when I'm good and gone. 

1st Kings 1-3

1st and 2nd Kings is the story of the kings of Israel's united kingdom, and divided kingdom. This takes place just as King David is about to die, and David's oldest, Adonijah believes he is the next king and starts acting as such. King David is alerted to this from Bathsheba and David makes sure the entire kingdom knows his heir is Solomon. I love you all very much. 

2nd Samuel 23-24

Today we read King David's final words to Israel. Final words can sometimes be profound. I had the privilege to watch both of my parents die in front of me and was there for their final words. In the line of work that I do, clients share with me what their recently deceased loved ones have said on their death beds. It's a fascinating topic, but the only words you should truly concentrate on, is the words of God, found in the Bible. God bless. 

2nd Samuel 21-22

Most of this episode is me just talking as I'm driving around our town running errands. Chapter 21 and 22 reveal God giving King David a choice in punishments, 3 years of famine, 3 months of being chased by enemies, or 3 days of plague. David chose the plague. The bottom line is, our sin will curse us, and God is still merciful. 

2nd Samuel 17-20

My father always said that the first person a child rebels against is his own parents. I'm glad he told me this growing up, not because I was rebellious, I wasn't. Because you children are starting to test the waters of standing up to me and your mom. It's only natural to see how far you can get with whatever boundaries we set for you. Sometimes we will set a boundary and one of you will immediately confront us on how unfair these are. We do not take these personally the way children do. I actually get amused when children confront me and your mom about decisions we have made. 

 

Here, Absalom is about to go to war with David, his father. This is most likely because of David's sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. David's legacy as a king and a father is in jeopardy of being forever tarnished by his sin, and by the curse that came upon him because of it. I hope my legacy is a that I loved you all, and that I'd do anything for you. 

2nd Samuel 13-16

The next few chapters are disturbing, incest, rape, and revenge. It's like a weird independent film that I would never watch. I especially wouldn't let you watch it. I do want you three sons of mine to realize though that as future men, I expect you to be protective of your sister, even if she is older than you. I am not sanctioning murder by the way. I'm just requesting that as men, you will be men. And sometimes men need to protect, sometimes they need to fight, and I truly pray you are never confronted with this, but sometimes we are asked to lay our lives down for others. 

2nd Samuel 7-12

Listen in as King David seeks out the family of his fallen best friend and once prince of Israel, Jonathan. The kindness is so extreme, and so honoring of his best friend. Then in an about face, King David does one of the most despicable acts a man can do, and is called to account for it. When you are confronted with sin you are committing, love the people who confront you, repent from your sin, and love God for putting these brave people in your life. 

2nd Samuel 1-6

David hears about the death of King Saul and his best friend Jonathan. His reaction to the news is heartbreak not elation. You'd expect David to feel some joy knowing the man who had been trying to kill him was himself dead, but David saw it differently. David mourned the death of his king, and God's anointed. This is David living out Jesus' future command to turn the other cheek and to pray for your enemies, when Jesus spoke of this, it appeared to be radical, but one of the greatest kings of Israel, David, lived this out, far into the open for his future kingdom to see. 

1st Samuel 27-31

Listen as we conclude the book of 1st Samuel, and also read about the conclusion of the lives of King Saul and his sons, including Jonathan. A lot happens in these chapters, King Saul continues to show why God has rejected him in these final chapters. David continues to show us why God accepts him, and blesses him. The bottom line is actions and intent speak louder than words. 

1st Samuel 23-26

Listen while we read about David continuing to be pursued by King Saul. Multiple times David could have killed King Saul but refuses. He will not kill the Lord's anointed, and actually feels a lot of guilt for cutting a piece of cloth off of Saul's robe while he is in a cave, uhhh indisposed. The bottom line is, you are going to have people dislike you, and wish your destruction for no reason, and my advice is to be like David. Let God deal with these people.