2 Samuel 13 ; Psalm 71:9-18 : Acts 4:23-5:11 "West End Chicken House" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Oil on Canvas In yesterday’s reading of 2 Samuel 12, we saw that, because of David’s compounding sins, God promised David that “the sword would never depart from his house …” (cf., 2 Samuel 12:10). We also saw that David confessed his sins (verse 13), but his confession could not undo the consequences of his actions. We indicated that the child’s death was only the

2 Samuel 11-12 ; Psalm 71:1-8 ; Acts 4:1-22 "Kandern, Germany" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Watercolor on Paper We come now to 2 Samuel 11-12, and we see David’s great sin. In the past, we have addressed the compounding nature of sin. Nowhere is this problem better illustrated than here in 2 Samuel 11, where we see that, “in the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and with the whole Israelite army … but David remained

2 Samuel 9-10; Psalm 70; Acts 3 "Still Life with Potted Plant" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Acrylic on Panel Yesterday, at the end of 2 Samuel 8, we saw that king David was “reigning over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people” (verse 15). What a wonderful evaluation! Today, we come to 2 Samuel 9-10 where – initially – we see the beauty of David’s character: “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’

2 Samuel 6:16-8:18 ; Proverbs 14:5-14 ; Acts 2:22-47 "Romanshorn am Bodensee" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Pencil Sketch on Paper In 2 Samuel 6:16-8:18, we see that, “as the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, David was leaping and dancing before the LORD, but Michal, the daughter of Saul despised him in her heart” (verse 16). In this section, we see that the ark is brought up in the manner prescribed by the law (cf., 1 Chronicles 15:1-16). We also note

2 Samuel 5:6-6:15 ; Psalm 69:29-36 ; Acts 1:23-2:21 "Dark and Light, II" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Ink Block Print on Paper In today’s readings, we see how fallen man easily and extremely misinterprets the beliefs, practices, and actions of others (i.e., David’s dancing; Michal’s criticism; the day of Pentecost; etc.). As a result, people frequently respond with accusations; judgment; false expectations; and attempts to hold others accountable to their own private

2 Samuel 3:22-5:5 ; Psalm 69:13-28 ; Acts 1:1-22 "Dark and Light, I" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Ink Block Print on Paper In 2 Samuel 3:22-5:5, we read about the ongoing feuds and bloodshed between the two houses of Saul and David. In reality, because David was Saul’s legal son-in-law, Saul’s “house and line” actually experienced God’s hidden blessing of continual rule simply by expansion through David’s line. Was that such a difficult concept for the Israelites – e

2 Samuel 2:8-3:21 ; Psalm 69:1-12 ; John 21 "The Christian's Walk" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Acrylic on Canvas In 2 Samuel 2:8-3:21, we see the unnecessary continuation of war and strife between the houses of Saul and David, as well as the many irrational decisions that resulted in the further and senseless loss of human life on both sides. For example, we cannot help but notice “the two groups of young men who sat down on the two sides of a pool, where Abner said