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 …
In his twenty-eight-year reign, Jehu was unexcelled in his zeal to rid his people of Baal worship. Baal worship had thrived for many years under Ahab and his successors. The victory won through Elijah’s contest on Mount Carmel had been only temporary. As part of Jehu’s s …
Last time, Jesus told his disciples that they had seen the Father (v. 7). Philip responded, “Lord, if you would show us the Father, that would be enough for us!†(v. 8). Philip’s heart was in the right place, but he had missed the point. Jesus is God. Everything God wanted us to know about Him …
The passage begins with two things that were lacking in those days. There was no king in Israel, and there was no inheritance for the tribe of Dan (v. 1). In truth, Dan had been given an inheritance along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (Joshua 19:40-46), but they had failed to take it from the …
This chapter explains about the big hand of our heavenly Father when He says, “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (v.1). He does not mean that Christians do not suffer various consequences because of their sin, but they do not suffer condemnation. Paul points …
This is the story of the fall of mankind. There are four steps that Eve took on the path to sin and these are the same steps we find it happening today: (1) she saw the opportunity to sin, (2) she desired it, (3) she indulgence in it, & (4) she involved others (Adam) in it. We could also add …
Jotham was 25 years old when he became king of Judah and he ruled for 16 years (v. 1). Jotham also co-reigned with his son for four years so that the reference of 16 years does not include that period. He obeyed the Lord and was a faithful example of his father Uzziah, except he never burned …
Under heavy persecution from the Ammonites, the tribes of Israel began to pray for grace and confessing their wrong doings (v. 10). They put away all the foreign idols to serve the Lord. The Lord spoke sternly to His people (vv. 11-14). He reminded them of how He had granted them seven …
Most scholars attribute the authorship of this Psalm to David. An important feature of this Psalm is its messianic character. With the exception of Psalm 22, no portion of the Old Testament is more frequently quoted by the New Testament writers. Picture the psalmist in distress a …
This chapter records the experiences that David went through as he faced his sins, confessed them, and received God’s forgiveness (vv. 1-2). He was a very miserable man after he seduced the wife of his most loyal soldier, and arranged with Joab for the murder of this man. I …