Atonement for the Gibeonites: How to deal with sin
2 Sam 21:1-4 The story of the Gibeonites is one that we find hard to make sense of. For one thing, why did God bring disaster during David’s reign, when it was his predecessor who sinned? Secondly, and most importantly,…
Lessons from the Gibeonite crisis: The effects of sin and the king we await
2 Sam 21:1-14 After David’s restoration, we are suddenly plunged into an event about the effects of Saul’s sin during David’s reign though we cannot be sure when this happened. More importantly, how the king resolves the issue is alien…
Sheba’s revolt and Joab: Dealing with the ongoing effects of sin
2 Sam 20:1-26 A week or so ago, I heard on the radio about the death of Marianne Faithfull, a singer associated with the Rolling Stones in the sixties who sang the song ‘As tears go by’. Although I have…
David’s further encounters: Dealing with hurt and the cure for rivalry
2 Sam 19:24-43 One of the sad realities of a leadership crisis in a church is the damage it does to relationships within the congregation. When there is tension or conflict over a leader’s behaviour, a congregation may split along…
David meets Shimei: The secret to letting go of vindictiveness
2 Sam 19:16-23 A friend had a colleague who was hard-working and focused but had little sense of humour and was rather rigid in her interactions with others. Lacking in social skills, she was often left out of spontaneous social…
The king returns: The fruit of a generous spirit
2 Sam 19:8-15 I once overheard a travel agent deal with a disgruntled customer who missed her flight through no fault of her own. The woman was outraged at how she had been treated and poured onto the agent a…
Joab’s rebuke: How to hear unwelcome truths
2 Sam 19:1-8 During an outreach in my twenties, I was in a team with a young Christian who was a bit of a know-it-all. He was forever correcting others on their theological views and generally giving the impression that…
Healing the tension between our public and private lives
2 Sam 18:19-33 Some years ago, the mayor of a New Zealand city had an extramarital affair, which got into the media. The distraught family members asked for privacy, and one can readily understand their concerns. However, they behaved as…
Absalom hangs in a tree: The root cause of destruction
2 Sam 18:1-18 A Christian leader I know about grew up in a faithful Christian family and became a gifted interpreter of the Bible, which was a great blessing for many. As the years went by, however, things began to…
David crosses the Jordan: The surprising nature of God’s support
2 Sam 17:15-29 During my long years of theological study, I often did not know where the next year’s funds would come from. I received some grants or scholarships along the way and was supported by church or friends for…