When parents make problems worse
Last week I shifted the focus of my reflections to David’s family, looking at the destruction of the sibling relationship when David’s son, Amnon, raped his half-sister Tamar. But King David also...
Faith & Family Business
Breaking sibling relationships
September 5, 2022
After Solomon’s blessed birth to David and Bathsheba, life in David’s family takes another dark turn — just as God, through Nathan, said it would. The text says one of David’s other sons, Amnon, was...
What happens after a dark chapter in the family business?
August 29, 2022
After King David admits he sinned in his actions with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, God tells David he will lose the son born from the affair. Indeed, David’s son becomes sick and dies. But God is...
Admitting Our Sin (Remembering Frederick Buechner, 1926-2022)
August 21, 2022
Recall from my prior posts that God, through Nathan, told King David how disappointed he was with David’s behavior toward others, and that David would face consequences for his actions. Here is how...
Called Out! (Part 3)
August 14, 2022
This is the last reflection in my three-part series on how God, through Nathan, confronts King David about his behavior. In the first part, God reminds David of all the blessings he’s received. In...
Called out! (Part 2)
August 7, 2022
King David’s behavior toward Bathsheba and her husband Uriah is terrible, and God’s conviction of David can be seen in several parts. Last week we looked at the first part: how God sent Nathan to...
Called out! (Part 1)
July 31, 2022
Recall from earlier posts that God sends Nathan to confront King David about his behavior with Bathsheba and Uriah. Nathan begins by using a parable about about a rich man who took the one valuable...
Finding our moral center
July 24, 2022
My last reflection focused on how God used one of King David’s advisors, Nathan, to communicate his disappointment with David’s behavior. Instead of immediately calling out David’s bad conduct,...
The power of a parable
July 18, 2022
In his treatment of Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, King David has displeased God. So God sends the prophet and advisor Nathan to talk with David. And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him...
Treating others with dignity
July 11, 2022
The last few reflections have focused on David’s poor choices. He sleeps with Bathsheba, a married woman, and she becomes pregnant. He then attempts to conceal his actions by bringing her husband,...