II Samuel 6:1–6:23 Some days, no matter how carefully we plan and orchestrate events, things have a way of going
wrong. This the way it happened with King David when he decided to retrieve the Ark of the
Covenant from the home of Abinadab at Kiriath-jearim, where it had been stored for 20 years (vv … Read more
II Samuel 5:1–5:25 After the death of Ishbosheth, all of the tribes of Israel sent their leaders to David in Hebron. They
made a covenant with him. In a spiritual ceremony they anointed him king over all of Israel. This
chapter starts where David becomes king of all Israel and, at the same time, he … Read more
II Samuel 4:1–4:12 When Ishboseth heard that Abner was dead in Hebron he fell into complete despair. Instead of
causing him to reassert his own authority over Israel it only increased his instability and brought a
sense of panic to the nation (v. 1). Two Benjamite brothers, who were commanders in I … Read more
II Samuel 3:26–3:39 All this time Joab has not forgotten that Abner had slain his brother. Joab took things into his own
hands by having Abner return to Hebron (v. 26). Pretending to whisper something of importance to
Abner, Joab took him aside and stabbed him to death. Hebron was one of the c … Read more
II Samuel 3:1–3:25 Israel and Judah had lost sight of God’s plan for them to settle in the land (Gen. 12:7), to drive out
the Canaanites (Deut. 7:1-4), and to obey God’s laws (Deut. 8:1). Instead of uniting to accomplish
these goals they fought each other (v. 1). More and more people… Read more
II Samuel 2:12–2:32 With Israel divided there was constant tension between the north and the south. From the
beginning of David’s reign his real rival in the north was not Ishbosheth but Abner. In order to settle
the question of royal succession Abner, the general in the north and David’s military l … Read more
II Samuel 2:1–2:11 Now that Saul was dead there was a powerful vacuum in the land, particularly in Judah. Saul and
three of his sons by his wife Ahinoam were gone. (Saul had two other sons by his concubine
Rizpah,
2 Sam. 21:8, 11). David and most people including Israel’s enemies knew that David wo … Read more
II Samuel 1:1–1:16 When Saul died David and his men were still living in Ziklag where he had been hiding from Saul (v.
1). This was a dark day in the history of Israel. War and defeat had come to these people because
they were out of the will of God. Three days after Saul’s death an Amalikite arriv … Read more
II Samuel 1:17–1:27 In spite of all that Saul had done in trying to kill David for many years, David did not rejoice when he
learned of his death. He had every reason to hate Saul, but he chose not to. Instead, he chose to
look at all the good Saul had done and ignore the times when Saul had attacked … Read more
Ephesians 6:18–6:24 Prayer is the energy that enables Christians to engage in the battle of life. We can never fight this
battle in our own power, no matter how strong we may think we are. Remember that many men
greater than we have fallen before us. Paul tells us how to pray in order to defeat Satan … Read more
Ephesians 6:10–6:13 We are to be strong in the Lord because spiritual battles require spiritual strength (v. 10). Put on all
the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks (v. 11). The word
“wrestle” indicates hand to hand battle, not just being a&n … Read more
Ephesians 6:14–6:17 To “stand” implies urgency and in place (v. 14). The “girdle” holds the other parts of the armor together in the same way that truth is an integrating force of the victorious Christian’s life. The soldier’s “breastplate” protected h … Read more
Ephesians 6:1–6:4 Children are to obey (v. 1) and (Col. 3:20). There ia a difference between between obeying and
honoring. To obey means to obey means to do as one is told, to honor means to respect and love.
Paul gives three reasons children should oben their parents:1. Because it is the right th … Read more
Ephesians 6:5–6:9 Paul is this Ephesian passage is telling servants to be obedient because they are really serving Christ
and because doing a good job is the will of God (vv. 5-7). Slaves played a significant part in this
society. There were probably over 6 million slaves in the Roman Empire in th … Read more
Recent commentaries
The Ark is Brought to Jerusalem
II Samuel 6:1–6:23
Some days, no matter how carefully we plan and orchestrate events, things have a way of going wrong. This the way it happened with King David when he decided to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant from the home of Abinadab at Kiriath-jearim, where it had been stored for 20 years (vv … Read more
David Reigns Over All of Israel
II Samuel 5:1–5:25
After the death of Ishbosheth, all of the tribes of Israel sent their leaders to David in Hebron. They made a covenant with him. In a spiritual ceremony they anointed him king over all of Israel. This chapter starts where David becomes king of all Israel and, at the same time, he … Read more
Ishboseth is Murdered
II Samuel 4:1–4:12
When Ishboseth heard that Abner was dead in Hebron he fell into complete despair. Instead of causing him to reassert his own authority over Israel it only increased his instability and brought a sense of panic to the nation (v. 1). Two Benjamite brothers, who were commanders in I … Read more
Joab Murders Abner
II Samuel 3:26–3:39
All this time Joab has not forgotten that Abner had slain his brother. Joab took things into his own hands by having Abner return to Hebron (v. 26). Pretending to whisper something of importance to Abner, Joab took him aside and stabbed him to death. Hebron was one of the c … Read more
Abner Joins Forces With David
II Samuel 3:1–3:25
Israel and Judah had lost sight of God’s plan for them to settle in the land (Gen. 12:7), to drive out the Canaanites (Deut. 7:1-4), and to obey God’s laws (Deut. 8:1). Instead of uniting to accomplish these goals they fought each other (v. 1). More and more people… Read more
The Battle of Gibeon
II Samuel 2:12–2:32
With Israel divided there was constant tension between the north and the south. From the beginning of David’s reign his real rival in the north was not Ishbosheth but Abner. In order to settle the question of royal succession Abner, the general in the north and David’s military l … Read more
Division Between David And Ishbosheth
II Samuel 2:1–2:11
Now that Saul was dead there was a powerful vacuum in the land, particularly in Judah. Saul and three of his sons by his wife Ahinoam were gone. (Saul had two other sons by his concubine Rizpah, 2 Sam. 21:8, 11). David and most people including Israel’s enemies knew that David wo … Read more
The Report of Saul’s Death
II Samuel 1:1–1:16
When Saul died David and his men were still living in Ziklag where he had been hiding from Saul (v. 1). This was a dark day in the history of Israel. War and defeat had come to these people because they were out of the will of God. Three days after Saul’s death an Amalikite arriv … Read more
The Response of Saul’s Death
II Samuel 1:17–1:27
In spite of all that Saul had done in trying to kill David for many years, David did not rejoice when he learned of his death. He had every reason to hate Saul, but he chose not to. Instead, he chose to look at all the good Saul had done and ignore the times when Saul had attacked … Read more
The Warrior’s Resource
Ephesians 6:18–6:24
Prayer is the energy that enables Christians to engage in the battle of life. We can never fight this battle in our own power, no matter how strong we may think we are. Remember that many men greater than we have fallen before us. Paul tells us how to pray in order to defeat Satan … Read more
Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10–6:13
We are to be strong in the Lord because spiritual battles require spiritual strength (v. 10). Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks (v. 11). The word “wrestle” indicates hand to hand battle, not just being a&n … Read more
Stand Protected During Our Daily Battle
Ephesians 6:14–6:17
To “stand” implies urgency and in place (v. 14). The “girdle” holds the other parts of the armor together in the same way that truth is an integrating force of the victorious Christian’s life. The soldier’s “breastplate” protected h … Read more
Training Children to Obey
Ephesians 6:1–6:4
Children are to obey (v. 1) and (Col. 3:20). There ia a difference between between obeying and honoring. To obey means to obey means to do as one is told, to honor means to respect and love. Paul gives three reasons children should oben their parents:1. Because it is the right th … Read more
Living Under Authority
Ephesians 6:5–6:9
Paul is this Ephesian passage is telling servants to be obedient because they are really serving Christ and because doing a good job is the will of God (vv. 5-7). Slaves played a significant part in this society. There were probably over 6 million slaves in the Roman Empire in th … Read more