~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
2 Samuel 12:1-31 ~ John 16:1-33
Psalm 119:65-80 ~ Proverbs 16:4-5
Quick post today... back in full swing tomorrow... :) Hope everyone is ready for Memorial Day weekend! (well, those in the U.S. that is) I'll be blogging through the weekend of course. No days off! :)
Old Testament - Bible.org's commentary on our Second Samuel readings today titled "David and God (Nathan)" is at this link and "Real Repentance" is at this link and "The Death of David's Son" is at this link.
New Testament - Bible.org's commentary on our John readings today titled "The Ministry of the Holy Spirit" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 119 verse 71 has an interesting take on suffering - "The suffering you sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your principles." Suffering. Not something we like to think about - much less experience... Do you believe suffering can be good for you? Can it teach you to pay attention to God?
Christianity Today magazine had a great article on Suffering in last December's issue, which you can read at this link. Also, I did find some reflections on Suffering & Grief on ChristianityToday.com that are worth reading at this link.
What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings? Please post up in the Comments section below!
Grace,
Mike
Something I hadn't seen before in 2 Samuel is the significance of Solomon. David sins by sleeping with Bathsheba, repents, and now sleeps with her 'properly'. God honours this, by giving the blessing of a child who lives, by sending a positive message through Nathan (who had delivered the negative message before), and by choosing Solomon over David's other sons to be the next king.
And yet... one of Solomon's weaknesses, like his father's, was women. How much did the circumstances of his birth have to do with this?
Posted by: Colin Bell | May 27, 2005 at 04:45 AM