Is Our Suffering Tied to Our Family History?

Is Our Suffering Tied to Our Family History?

[The first son of David,] Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, “Please let my half-sister Tamar come and cook my favorite dish. Then I can eat it from her own hands.” So David agreed and sent Tamar to Amnon’s...
How Can We Find Purpose in Our Suffering?

How Can We Find Purpose in Our Suffering?

[After David got up from his grief for the child, he worshipped God,] Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child and sent word through Nathan the...
How Do We Rise from the Depths of Suffering?

How Do We Rise from the Depths of Suffering?

[After Nathan confronting David,] Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD by...
What Does It Mean to Truly Repent?

What Does It Mean to Truly Repent?

[Bathsheba mourned for the death of Uriah,] when the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the LORD was displeased with what David had done. So the LORD sent...
How Do Powerful, Godly Leaders Go Astray?

How Do Powerful, Godly Leaders Go Astray?

[Trying to normalize Bathsheba’s pregnancy,] David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David. When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. Then he told Uriah, “Go on...