Bible Book Club

In 2 Samuel 22, we are going to read David’s song and final words. Recall that 1 and 2 Samuel were really one long book. 1 Samuel begins with Hannah’s song, and 2 Samuel ends with David’s song. The two songs are bookends to the story of Samuel, Saul, and David. Hannah’s song celebrates what God has done, how he reverses situations, and looks forward to what He will do in the future. David’s song c...

In 2 Samuel 20, we pick up in the middle of the new rebellion led by Sheba, the Benjaminite. David has a new commander, Amasa, who is the former commander of Absalom and tried to kill David. When David appointed Amasa as his commander, back in Chapter 19, we were never given any insight into how Joab felt about being replaced. Was Joab totally fired or just demoted and ordered to report to Amasa?...

In 2 Samuel 18, David, the king with such a big heart, is bereft. With this deathof his son, Absalom, our story comes full circle. David began in 2 Samuel mourning the death of Saul. A man he loved. A man who was trying to kill him. The man he had to take the kingdom from. David is back where he started, mourning the death of Absalom. A man he loved. A man who was trying to kill him. The man he ha...

Note the author's focus on relationships in these last few chapters. David’s sin is in his relationships with Bathsheba and with his children And therefore, his consequences are relational. In the 2 Samuel 15:        Joab interfered in David’s relationships by bringing back Absalom Absalom rebelled first against Joab and then against David The Kerethites, Pelethites and Gittites all foreigner...

 In 2 Samuel 13, we learned that David has sons who are following in his ways. Like father, like son, Amnon is distracted by women. And in particular, women whom he cannot and should not desire. In this case, it is his half-sister Tamar that he wants. Amnon uses David to get what he wants. He rapes Tamar and throws her out in humiliation. David is furious but does nothing, while Absalom, Tamar’s b...

There are a lot of scenes in 2 Samuel 13. Each scene has a different combination of 5 characters. They include David and 3 of his children, Amnon, Absalom, and Tamar and Jonadab, a no-good advisor. Amnon is David’s firstborn, the son of his second wife, Ahinoam. David never had a child with his first wife, Saul’s daughter, Michal. Absalom is David’s 3rd son, he was born to Maakah, his 4th. Tamar w...

We ended the last episode with the information from 2 Samuel chapter 11, “ that the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”  Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. And he loves David too much to let him go any further in his sin. In 2 Samuel 12, it is God’s turn to send. God sends Nathan. God sends a message. And God sends a consequence. Thank you for being a part of the club. Show Notes Blog Sava...

When we left our hero in the last episode, he was all Israel had hoped for.  He was the king whom Israel needed to make God’s name known to the world. God was with David and because of that, his power grew. Our author made clear to us who holds the power by his repetitious use of the word send.  In the preceding chapter, Chapter 10, the one that began with the phrase “in the course of time” and th...

David is a man of action. So much so, that one gets the impression that he thrives in motion and cannot be still. From herding sheep and delivering food to his brothers on the front lines as a boy to hiding in caves to escape Saul and protecting the Philistines for pay while secretly sabotaging Israel’s enemies. The man is clever and makes good use of his time. But all of that is over.  David is k...

There are 55 chapters in 1 and 2 Samuel and, without a doubt, 2 Samuel chapter 7 is the most important. In fact, this chapter ranks as one of the most important chapters in the entire Bible because, in this chapter, God will make a covenant with David. It will be the 4th and last Covenant made in the Old Testament. There is just one covenant in the New Testament making 5 total. A covenant is a bin...

So much happened in our last episode: Joab killed Abner, David cursed Joab, Baanah and Rekab killed Ish-Bosheth, and David killed Baanah and Rekab. Despite all of the killing, David managed to unite the two kingdoms. And Israel finally became one nation under David, a king after God’s heart. This event fulfilled prophecy from the past and pointed Israel toward the future prophecy of Jesus. In 2 Sa...

In 2 Samuel 2-3, David listens to God's plan for his nation but not everyone is on board. Joab and Abner start a civil war over their disagreement. After some bloodshed, Abner wants to switch teams and asks to join team David. David makes peace with him, hoping to reunite Israel as one nation. But, Joab is not on board with David’s plan.  And so, 2 Samuel 3 brings us justice, conspiracy, and...

 2 Samuel 2 begins well on David’s part, but for Israel, it’s what we have come to expect—messy. For the next 5 chapters, Israel will fight through the transition from Saul to David.  Welcome to Season 10! Thank you for being a part of the club. Show Notes Blog The Tribal Allotments of Israel Map The Old Testament Books The New Testament Books Bible Timeline Contact Bible Book Club! Social : Insta...

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel are the story of Israel’s leadership transition from judges to the first 2 kings: Saul, who failed due to pride and disobedience, and David, a man after God’s heart.  The 2 books were originally one book and are named after Samuel, the prophet God used to establish Israel’s monarchy. Most of 1 Samuel was a contrast between Saul and David. Saul was the king the people wa...

David is playing a dangerous game with a lot of moving parts. He is a mercenary soldier deceiving his employer, Achish who just happens to be in league with 4 other powerful Philistine leaders.  At this time, Achish and their friends are attacking David’s people the Israelites.  Achish believes David has been raiding the Israelites, when in fact, he was raiding the Geshurites, Girzites and Amaleki...

For over a year, David bides his time with the Philistines. Living in Ziklag and raiding Canaanites instead of Israelites. Until a huge contingency of Philistines begins to form for a battle against the Israelites, Achish calls up David and his men to take part.  Thank you for being a part of the club. Show Notes Blog David's Flight from Saul The Path to Good or Evil The Old Testament Books T...

In this episode, David will face his 3rd and final test in the wilderness. This last test is a temptation, like the first, to avoid suffering. Specifically another temptation to kill Saul and end his torturous time in the wilderness. Thank you for being a part of the club. Show Notes Blog David's Flight from Saul The Path to Good or Evil The Old Testament Books The New Testament Books Bible T...

In this episode, two stories are going to take place: Samuel is going to die and David will have his second test in the wilderness. ( The second test is the temptation to avenge himself.) David was anointed but not appointed king.  As a threat to the current king, David was treated as a defector, an outlaw, resulting in disrespect and ill-treatment by many. It was a difficult position to be in and...

In the next 3 episodes, while David is in the wilderness, he is going to have 3 tests. The first test is the temptation to avoid suffering. The second test is the temptation to avenge himself. The last test is a temptation, like the first, to avoid suffering. Will he pass all three? Thank you for being a part of the club. Show Notes Blog David's Flight from Saul The Path to Good or Evil The O...

In 1 Samuel 22 and 23, David flees Saul, picking up 400 followers and his family along the way. King Saul searches for a mole and pursues David. Thank you for being a part of the club. Show Notes Blog The Path to Good or Evil The Old Testament Books The New Testament Books Bible Timeline Contact Bible Book Club! Social : Instagram or Facebook Website : Bible Book Club Review Us : Apple Podcast or...

 In 1 Samuel 20 and 21, David is on the run from Saul a man who should love him. Saul is his wife’s father, his best friend Jonathan’s father, and his king, the king whom David loyally served and even risked his life for. And as you would expect, David is frustrated. Every military action he has taken has been to serve Israel. Why is Saul doing this? What is he supposed to do? Fight back or dodge...

In 1 Samuel 18 and 19, David has been transformed overnight from a pesky inquisitive baby brother to a celebrated hero, honored court member, and soon-to-be royal family member. His resume will continue to grow as we read through the 1st and 2nd Samuel.  But as David’s story builds, a contrasting subplot is being developed. The demise of Saul, the king the people wanted, compared to the rise of Da...

When we left Saul and David,  Saul was suffering mentally from an evil spirit. David was summoned to soothe Saul’s nerves on the recommendation of a servant who said he played the lyre well and the Lord was with him. It worked; the music was soothing to Saul. Saul liked David and made him an armor bearer. And in 1 Samuel 17, walks Goliath. Thank you for being a part of the club. Show Notes Blog Th...

 In 1 Samuel 16 and 17, the reign of Saul as king of Israel does not end overnight. It was a gradual process; much happened in between, with several lessons for us.  Thank you for being a part of the club. Show Notes Blog The Path to Good or Evil The Old Testament Books The New Testament Books Bible Timeline Contact Bible Book Club! Social : Instagram or Facebook Website : Bible Book Club Review U...

Even though Saul has been told that his descendants will not be king and that God has chosen another man to replace him, that person has not been revealed, and Saul is still the king.  1 Samuel 15 shows the door still open for Saul to redeem himself in some way in whatever days he has left. An opportunity to find favor with the Lord arrives in the form of an order from Samuel to destroy the Amalek...