David’s reflections: The hidden source of strength
2 Sam 22:29-51 Recently, my husband and I went on a hike to a waterfall, then further on to the ridge line of some hills and, following a loop track, descended back into the valley. We did this route first…
With the faithful You show yourself faithful: Undeserved grace or merit?
2 Sam 22:21-28 Before I came to faith, studying at school felt easy for me. I did not have to think about it but just got on with the tasks at hand. However, when I became a Christian in my…
David reflects on his life: The path to trusting God
2 Sam 22:1-20 Reflections at funerals can be uplifting as we gain a deeper insight into the inner life and character of the person who died, what motivated them and what they cared most deeply about. A recent funeral I…
A weary king: The secret to true effectiveness in God’s service
2 Sam 21:15-22 Tim Keller was a well-known American pastor and preacher who started Redeemer Presbyterian Church, an inner-city congregation in New York that experienced exponential growth leading to several other ministries. Keller was a gifted teacher, who understood and…
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…