Consider this

             The Bible does not say much about the prophet Nathan, but I know one thing:   I want a friend like him!             After King David’s affair with Bathsheba (if you are not familiar with this story, you can read about it in 2 Samuel 11), Nathan is given the job of confronting the king.   Now, this is a scary thing because, if he makes the king mad (and telling him that he is wrong is a good way to do that) it could cost him his life.   Not only does Nathan go, but he is able to present the truth in such a way that David not only admits his sin, but commits to changing his ways.             Everyone needs a “Nathan”!                The truth is that it is easy for me to rationalize my behaviour and to make excuses for...

           In the Old Testament, the “ark of the covenant” was the most important symbol that God’s people possessed.   When this rectangular, gold covered box with the two angels on top was nearby, God’s presence was with them in a special way.   It is easy, then, to understand why, when David became king, he wanted the ark brought to his new capital, Jerusalem.            As the ark entered the city, a great celebration broke out.   In fact, we are told that David “danced with all his might” and that the people “brought up the ark with shouts” (2 Samuel 6:15).   They offered sacrifices.   They had a feast.   The Lord’s blessing was given.   Everyone was rejoicing.             Well, not quite everyone.   “As the ark was entering the city, Michal (David’s wife)… watched from a window.  ...

            What is God like?   How does he see you?   Sometimes we need a reminder.    Here is a good one:   Psalm 103.             “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.             “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; He does not treat us ...

           For 40 days the Philistine giant Goliath challenged the people of God and no one did anything.   In fact, the Bible says that, as the people looked at Goliath, they became “dismayed and terrified” (verse 11).               Then David came along.   He ran out onto the battlefield and with the help of God, a sling and a few smooth stones, he knocked the giant out and killed him with his own sword.   Then something amazing happened.             1 Samuel 17:51-52 says, “When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines”.             Did you get that?             The ...

              We all know how the story of David and Goliath ended, but do we remember how it started?            1 Samuel 17 says that God’s people drew up battle lines against the Philistines in the Valley of Elah (verse 2).   However, instead of fighting one another, the Philistines sent out a giant of a man – a man that was more than 9 feet tall – a man named Goliath and he challenged the people of God with these words: “Choose a man and have him come down to me.   If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us”.   Not surprisingly, no one wanted to fight him.            For 40 days, every morning and every evening Goliath went out on the battlefield and every morning and every evening the people of God b...