2 Samuel 11: 1-15 With the story of Goliath, David, the young untried warrior, is victorious; in the story of Bathsheba, David goes down to defeat. King and master of all Israel, he leaves the battlefront for the leisure of Jerusalem; his frontline leadership is no longer necessary. Bathsheba’s pregnancy is a surprise, so David
2 Samuel 7: 1-14a King David has now reached the pinnacle of leadership in Zion; there is quiet in the land and he looks for the next major action in Israel’s life. He lives in a fine house, but the Ark of God resides in a tent; that’s not right, he thinks. So he announces
2 Samuel 6: 1 – 5,12b – 19 The Ark of God was a central symbol of God’s sovereign presence among the tribes of the Israelite people. It had been in the sanctuary at Shiloh, but during the continuous wars in the time of Saul, it was hidden in an obscure village, in the house of Abinadab. Now
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 With Saul’s death the fortunes of Israel now center around David. At the Lord’s command he establishes his power in Hebron, south of Jerusalem. But a new problem arose when Abner, Saul’s army chief, installs Saul’s son, Ishbaal as king of all Israel. A battle ensues between Abner’s people and those