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How is Your Heart? (1 Chronicles 15-16)

November 3, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

When is the last time you did a heart check?  I'm not talking about your physical heart; I'm talking about your spiritual one.  The problem with David's wife, Michal, is that her heart was sick.  She despised David because of his commitment to the Lord and for his perhaps somewhat reckless worshipping of God.  David had nothing to hide ... [Continue Reading]

November 3, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

Misunderstanding God (2 Samuel 5:11-6:23; 1 Chronicles 13-14)

November 2, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

God has been misunderstood by many over the years, and no doubt the passage from today's reading doesn't help the confusion.  Even David, in the moment, did not fully understand God because the experience with the Ark of the Covenant and Uzzah left him with a new level of fear.  To us, it seems unreasonable that God might strike Uzzah dead for what ... [Continue Reading]

November 2, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

God’s Guiding Presence (2 Samuel 5:1-10; 1 Chronicles 10, 11:1-9)

November 1, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

A stark contrast certainly existed between King David and King Saul as it came to God's presence in their leadership.  The difference between the two men was that David sought to bring glory to the Lord and Saul sought to bring glory to himself.  Since David's efforts were directed at the Lord, his work prospered under God's hand.  No verse ... [Continue Reading]

November 1, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

A Strange Mourning (2 Samuel 1-4)

October 31, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

Aside from the extreme bloodbath that took place in these first chapters of 2 Samuel, we get some key insights into David's view of God's anointed.  On two separate occasions, men approached David with the "good news" that Saul and members of Saul's family were dead.  Now if I was in David's shoes, I would be jumping for joy at the ... [Continue Reading]

October 31, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

A Real Tragedy (1 Samuel 30-31)

October 30, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

The story of Saul is an unbelievable tragedy to me.  He was a man who had so much potential, but he decided to go down a path that was full of pain and difficulty when he decided that his glory was more important that the Lord's.  Really, any time we choose a path that's different than what the Lord has set out for our lives, then we also choose the ... [Continue Reading]

October 30, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

Great Lengths (1 Samuel 27-29)

October 29, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

Some people will go to great lengths to manipulate outcomes when they've turned their backs on the Lord.  This was true of Saul as he broke the law of the Lord to consult a witch in the middle of the night.  This incredibly strange encounter shouldn't be misconstrued as an actual medium because the witch was quite surprised when Samuel actually ... [Continue Reading]

October 29, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

He Who Holds the Future (1 Samuel 24-26)

October 28, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

David's overarching trust in God's plans is nothing short of incredible.  On two separate occasions, David had the opportunity to end Saul's life, but he chose not to do so.  Honestly, no one would have blamed David if he had followed through with this.  In fact, his men were a little ticked off that he didn't do what any other person ... [Continue Reading]

October 28, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

A True Friend (1 Samuel 21-23)

October 27, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

One of the things that strikes me about Jonathan's friendship with David is how incredibly selfless it was.  Jonathan had every right to loathe David since he was the one who would be stealing the kingship from him.  But Jonathan understood God's higher purposes, and he knew that the leadership of the nation was being passed on to someone else. ... [Continue Reading]

October 27, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

The True Defender (1 Samuel 19-21)

October 26, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

In the case of David, he had a raving lunatic trying to take his life.  Saul, being possessed at times by an evil spirit, made it his purpose to bring an end to David.  I think one of the character qualities that strikes me most about David is his trust that the Lord would be his defender.  If you think about his story, David had every right to believe ... [Continue Reading]

October 26, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

Dealing With Critics (1 Samuel 15-17)

October 25, 2011 By Seth Leave a Comment

If the Muppets didn't teach us anything else, the show at least taught us that there's always a critic who is ready to pounce on your every move regardless of what it is.  The challenge of following God's direction and leading is that critics get in the way.  David was not exempt from this as he had to deal with even those closest to him (his ... [Continue Reading]

October 25, 2011 6:00 am Seth Leave a Comment

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Seth is a pastor, author, and speaker who lives in Batesville, Indiana. He is married to Kari, and they have a daughter, Madelyn.

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