II Samuel 23:16–17 “Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate. They carried it and brought it to David, but he would not drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord and said, ‘Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?’ Therefore, he would not drink it.” Before David was a king, he was an exile. Hunted by Saul, he hid in the cave of Adullam—thirteen rugged miles southwest of Bethlehem. From the mouth of that cave, David could not see the city of his youth, but he could see the plain where it rested. And with that view came pleasant memories. He remembered a well near Bethlehem’s gate. In David’s mind its waters were cool, ... Read More about Too Precious to Drink: What Gives a Gift Its True Value

“I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” —II Samuel 22:4 II Samuel 21:15–22 gives us a rapid but sobering account of four brutal battles between David and the Philistines. These were not routine skirmishes. They were desperate, exhausting wars—and each one marked by the presence of a giant. The enemy was relentless, and the cost was high. In the first battle, David himself faced Ishbi-benob, a massive warrior armed with a heavy bronze spear and a new type of sword. This was not the young shepherd who once ran toward Goliath without fear. David was older now. The years of war had taken their toll, and in the heat of battle he grew weary. For the first time, David was vulnerable. Ishbi-benob pressed his advantage and nearly killed David. He ... Read More about When God Uses Giants to Draw Us Closer To Him

II Samuel 6:21–23 captures one of Scripture’s most striking confrontations. After David’s enthusiastic worship before the Lord, Michal confronts him with cold disdain. David replies: “It was before the Lord—who chose me above your father and all his house—that I danced. And I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in your eyes. But those very servant women you mentioned—they will hold me in honor.” And Scripture adds a sobering footnote: “Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.” In my previous post, I walked through the moment when David first attempted to bring the ark of God into Jerusalem—an attempt that ended with Uzzah struck dead for touching the ark. The celebration screeched to a halt. ... Read More about Worship That Moves God: The Lesson of David and Michal

II Samuel 6:6–7 records one of the most jarring moments in all of Scripture: “When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.” For nearly a century the Ark of the Covenant had rested in the home of Abinadab—ever since the Philistines captured it, were cursed by it, and sent it back to Israel in terror. Now David, newly enthroned in Jerusalem, longs to restore the ark to the center of national worship. His intentions are noble. His excitement is real. But in their zeal, they commit a subtle yet devastating error: they transport the ark on an ox cart, the same ... Read More about When Good Intentions Meet a Holy God

I Samuel 18:1 "...the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David." Like many of you, I have several favorite figures in Scripture, and one of them is Jonathan—the eldest son of King Saul and the beloved friend of David. Though he was the crown prince of Israel and lived a life surrounded by privilege, Jonathan never used his position to elevate himself. Instead, he lived with humility, courage, and a deep, unshakable faith in God. Jonathan’s trust in the Lord made him extraordinarily brave. On one occasion, he attacked an entire Philistine garrison with nothing but his armor bearer behind him. When he sought God’s direction, his only question was simple: “Should we wait here and let them come to us, or shall we attack?” There was no hesitation, no insecurity—just confidence in ... Read More about A Warrior’s Heart, a Servant’s Soul: The Life of Jonathan