Juggling Fire

Have you ever loved the bad guy? David’s predicament isn’t uncommon. From my own experience, I know it’s sometimes easy to love the one who does you wrong and abandon those who want the best for you. I think it’s human nature. Jesus even gives us examples in the New Testament when he talks about… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 19

No matter how horrible our kids can be sometimes, we always want what’s best for them. David is in a precarious position. He’s being persecuted by his son, who no doubt would murder his own father in a heartbeat, and yet he continues to harbor a great love for him - a painful love. This… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 18

All the names of helpers and hinderers in this chapter make it quite confusing. Sometimes when we (I) get bogged down in details that don’t quite make sense, I have to summarize the events in what I call “plain English.” Basically, David is on the run from his son, Absalom, who thinks he has the… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 17

I love this chapter for so many reasons. For one, it’s full of adventure and plotting, but it also is stuffed with hidden messages, particularly concerning God’s actions and the fact that we don’t always know or need to know what He’s up to in different circles. David was well aware of this. That’s how… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 16

We knew by the foreshadowing in the last verse of Chapter 14 that there was more than likely a reconciliation about to take place, but oh, did we anticipate the betrayal of King David by Absalom? I had forgotten about it, tbh. And I was taken aback by Absalom’s actions. But I probably shouldn’t have… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 15

Absalom! Absalom! That’s actually a reference to a book title by William Faulkner, but we could say the same here. Desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose. But why did Absalom have to go and burn Joab’s field??? Again, we can see the reasons for his misdeed, but I can’t help to think, wasn’t… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 14

I blew right past this chapter and got all caught up in Bathsheba’s lineage because verse 37 says Absalom fled to his grandfather’s house, and his grandfather was the king of Geshur. Now, I couldn’t remember David’s dad’s name, which is Jesse, and I felt dumb after reading it because I’ve heard it a thousand… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 13

Of all the chapters in the Bible, it is this one I think of most. Partly because of its message but mostly because of the line, “You are that man!” In some versions of the Bible, the line is written, “You are the man!” And I think of it because when my son was in… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 12

Well, well, well … King David finally flubbed up. To this point, we’re thinking David is pretty perfect, but he does have a weakness … women. We learned in past chapters that he was married to several women and had children by most of them. And we see in this chapter that David sees what… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 11

No matter what David does, he still is not trusted by his enemies. Some time has passed from the last chapter to this one. We don’t know how long exactly David has been king at this point. All we know is that King Nahash died “some time after (v. 1)” David had been ruling a… Continue reading Bible studies for writers | 2 Samuel 10