The Grip of Offense

2 Samuel 14:24 “However the king said, ‘Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face.’ So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.” Matthew 24:10 “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.”...

Honoring Authority

2 Samuel 12:26–28 “Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and captured the royal city. And Joab sent messengers to David and said, ‘I have fought against Rabbah, I have even captured the city of waters. Now therefore, gather the rest of the people...

The Fruit of Good Mentoring

2 Samuel 10:12 “May the Lord do what is good in His sight.” Observation: Joab, leader of David’s army, was preparing to fight both the Ammonites and the Arameans. He had prepared and strategized as best he could, then he made this statement, “and may the Lord do what...

Keeping Covenant

2 Samuel 9:1 “Is there yet anyone left in the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Observation: David deeply valued and honored the covenant he shared with Jonathan. In 1 Samuel 20:42, Jonathan said, “The Lord will be between me and you,...

Perfect Trust

2 Samuel 7:27–29 “For You, O Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation to Your servant, saying ‘I will build Your house’; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You. And now O Lord God, You are God and Your words are truth, and...

Grace for Fullness

Matthew 19:29–30 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.”...

I’d Rather Have Relationship

2 Samuel 5:19, 23 “Then David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?’ … When David inquired of the Lord, He said, ‘You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them in front of the balsam trees.’ ”...

Understanding the Times

Matthew 15:9 “But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 “The sons of Issachar, men who understand the times with knowledge of what Israel should do … ” Observation: In Matthew, Jesus quoted from the prophet Isaiah...

Properly Placed Identity

Matthew 14:13 “Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.” Observation: If ever a man had reason to mourn, it was Jesus. John the...

The Consequences of Offense

Matthew 13:57–58 “And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.’ And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” Observation: The people in Jesus’s hometown took...