2 Samuel 14
All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

2 Samuel 13

Amnon, son of David, was in love with his sister Tamar and one day forced her to come to bed with him. After he disgraced her, he sent her away. She was devastated and went away weeping and mourning until her brother Absalom found her and comforted her and took her to live in his house. Later, Absalom ordered his men to "strike Amnon down" and kill him. Absalon fled and went away to live in Geshur as David mourned for Amnon. Although David was upset about what had happened, he soon longed for Absalom, since "he was consoled now concerning Amnon's death".

2 Samuel 12
The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to rebuke David for his wicked behavior ( adultery and murder). Nathan told David a story about an evil rich man who stole from a poor man. When David became upset and suggested that the rich man should be put to death, Nathan told David that he had behaved just like the rich man in the story when he took the wife of Uriah to be his own and murdered Uriah. Then Nathan told David that the Lord has taken away his sin, but " because by doing this David has made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to David will die." David pleaded with God for the child's life, but on the seventh day his son died just as the Lord had said. Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, who later had another son and they named him Solomon.

2 Samuel 11
King David became aware of a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. Though she was married, David sent messengers to bring her to his palace. He slept with her and she became pregnant. When David learned that she was pregnant, he ordered her husband , Uriah, to return from the battle field and to "go home and relax" with his wife. Later, David discovered that Uriah had not gone home since he wanted to return to the battlefield. David then planned to have Uriah killed by sending him to the front lines of the war, where the battle was the fiercest. He instructed his army commander, Joab, of his plans and later learned that Uriah had indeed been killed. After Bethsheba had mourned for her husband, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one his wives. Bethsheba gave birth to David's son, but "the Lord was displeased with what David had done".

2 Samuel 10
David learned that the king of the Ammonites, Nahash, had died and he decided to show kindness to Nahash's son, Hanun, Nahash had been kind to David, so David sent a delegation of his men to express his sympathy to Hanun. However, the Ammonite nobles convinced Hanun that David was secretly sending his men to instead spy out the land so that he could overthrow them. Hanun seized David's men and humiliated them by shaving off half their beards and cut their garments, sending them back to David. The Ammonites hired twenty thousand soldiers from Beth Rehob and Zoba, twelve thousand from Tob, and a thousand men from Maacah, in order to defend themselves against David. When David learned about all this, he sent his commander Joab with his entire army. Joab said, let us "be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of God. The Lord will do what is good in His sight." After killing forty thousand of their men, all the armies against David made peace with David and became subject to him.

2 Samuel 9
King David inquires of whether there were any remaining relatives of Saul, so that he could show kindness towards them for the sake of his dear friend Jonathan, son of Saul. David discovers that a son of Jonathan , Mephiboseth, is the only survivor left from the house of Saul. David called for Mephiboseth and told him , "for I will surely show you kindness.. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather (Saul) and you will always eat at my table.... like one of the king's sons".

2 Samuel 8
David fought and defeated the Philistines, the Moabites, and the Arameans, and "God gave victory to David wherever he marched". David plundered silver, gold, and bronze from his enemies and built a victory monument on his return. David ruled over all Israel, ruling "fair and even-handed in all his duties and relationships".

2 Samuel 7
King David regretfully realizes, "Here I am, living in a palace ... while the ark of God remains in a tent". But God says to him, "Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?' ... I have been with you wherever you have gone.. I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth.. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own.. The Lord himself will establish a house for you. " It seems that God is making at least one thing clear here-- He reminds David that He is the source of protection and safety and is the provider and establisher of his home. David embraces God's message humbly, "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever." This seems to be a prayer that we also can embrace and offer to our God in thanksgiving and praise for His faithfulness in providing for us each day.

2 Samuel 6
David and his men brought the ark of God from Judah with the whole house of Israel celebrating with songs, harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. They were taking it to Jerusalem, but on the way a man named Uzzah took hold of the ark and God struck him down and he died because of his irreverent act. After what had happened, David was afraid to now take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. So the ark was taken to the house of Obed-Edom for three months. When David saw that the Lord had blessed the household of Obed-Edom, he brought up the ark to the City of David with rejoicing and dancing. But David's wife "despised him (David) in her heart", disapproving of his manor of celebrating. David told her, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone... I will become even more undignified..." David was held in honor by his slaves and servants because of his humility before God.

2 Samuel 5
The elders of all the Israelite tribes gathered to anoint David as their king, remembering that the Lord had said of David, "You will shepherd my people and will become their ruler". David and his men conquered and took up residence in the fortress of Zion (the City of David). David "became more and more powerful because the Lord God Almighty was with him... and (God) established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people, Israel". When the Philistines heard that Dvid had been anointed king over all Israel, they gathered their full forces after him. David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?". The Lord answered, instructing David to proceed and that he would defeat them. "So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the PHhilistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer".

2 Samuel 4
Saul's son, Ishbosheth was murdered by two captains in his own army. They proudly brought news of what they had done to David, but David was angered and ordered that they should be executed for wickedly murdering an innocent man. David wanted to unite Israel, not divide him from Ishbosheth's supporters.

2 Samuel 3
After a long ongoing war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner sent a message to David asking for an agreement. Abner knew that the Lord had promised David the kingdom and David's throne would be over all Israel. When Joab and David's men returned from the battle, they found Abner and Joab killed him. David was very disturbed when he learned of what had happened, saying, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner... May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family!". David sang a lament and wept with his people over Abner's death. David said to his men, " Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak..."

2 Samuel 2
David was anointed king over the tribe of Judah, while Saul's son ( Ish-Bosheth) was made king over Gilead, Ashuri, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. Abner, the commander of Saul's army lead his men against David's men at the pool of Gibeon. "The battle was very fierce.. and the Israelites were defeated by David's men" David lost nineteen men, while three hundred and sixty of Abner's men had been killed. Abner cried, "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?"

1 Samuel 31 and 2 Samuel 1
The Philistines were fighting fiercely against Israel, killing Saul's sons and finally wounding him critically also. Saul asked his armor-bearer to finish him with his sword, but he was scared and did not comply. Saul then fell on his own sword and died. The Israelites fled and abandoned their towns in defeat. When David and his men learned of the death of Saul and Jonathan, they mourned and wept and fasted. David wrote a lament and ordered that the people of Judah learn his lament: "... Saul and Jonathan--in life they were loved and admired.. how the mighty have fallen in battle... I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother, you were very dear to me..."

1 Samuel 29-30
The Philistine commanders insisted that David and his men leave the battlefield and return home to the land of the Philistines. They were worried that he would turn against them and support the Israelites as he did when he was one of King Saul's officers.
When David and his men returned, they learned that the Amalekites had raided their homes, burning everything and taking captive their wives. David was greatly distressed, but "found strength in the Lord his God." David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" Upon God's direction, David and his men fought and recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including their wives and all the plunder.

1 Samuel 28
Now David and his men accompanied the Philistines in battle against Israel and Saul was afraid with terror in his heart. Saul "inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him", so he instead called for a medium for a "spiritual" consultation. Saul instructed the woman who was a medium to "bring up" the spirit of Samuel. Saul asked Samuel for guidance, since the Lord had departed from him, but Samuel just reminded him that "the Lord has done what was predicted through me... torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to David... because you did not obey the Lord". Upon hearing these things from Samuel, Saul was greatly shaken and was further filled with fear.

1 Samuel 27
David knew Saul was still planning to get him, so he escaped to the Philistines where Saul would not pursue him. "Word soon reached Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped hunting for him". David and his men spent their time raiding the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites--"he did not leave one person alive in the villages ... taking sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, and clothing before returning home." The Philistine king of Gath said, "By now the people of Israel must hate him bitterly and he will have to stay here and serve me forever!".

1 Samuel 26
David was in the wilderness of Ziph when he learned that Saul and 3,000 soldiers had come to hunt him down. After sending spies to verify Saul's arrival, David slipped into Saul's camp one night and found the commander of Saul's army, Abner, and Saul both asleep before him. David said, "The Lord forbid that I should kill the one He has anointed (Saul), but take his spear and jug of water beside his head." Then from a hillside at a safe distance away, David shouted down to Abner and Saul, taunting Abner about failing to protect his master, the Lord's anointed. Saul replied, "Is that you, my son David? ... Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong... Blessings on you, my son David."

1 Samuel 25
David and his men were traveling down into the Desert of Paran and heard that a wealthy man named Nabal lived nearby. David sent a few of his men to greet Nabal and ask for some provisions, but Nabal was "surly and mean in his dealings" and refused to share anything with David. When Nabal's wife, Abigail, heard about this, she took a large supply of bread, wine, grain, fruit, etc. and brought them to David personally in order to prevent any harm to her husband and their household from David. David was pleased and said to Abigail, "Praise be to the Lord who has sent you today to meet me.. may you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from avenging myself... otherwise, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." A few days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.

1 Samuel 23-24
Saul continued to persue David from Keilah to Horesh to Ziph and finally to the wilderness of Engedi. Saul went into a cave and was in a vulnerable situation where David had the opportunity to kill him, but David restrained his men and spared Saul's life saying, "The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the Lord's annointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him." Saul then began to cry and said, "you are a better man that I am, for you have repaid me good for evil... you have been amazingly kind to me today... may the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me and now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule".

1 Samuel 22
After David escaped Saul and fled from Gath, he was told by the prophet Gad to return to Judah. When Saul heard of his arrival, he accused his officers of conspiring against him. Doeg was among Saul's men and told him that Ahimelech the priest had provided David with food and the sword of Goliath. Saul ordered the death of Ahimelech and all the priests with him and their families. Saul's men refused, but "Doeg the edomite turned on them and killed them, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments.. and killed the priests' families--men, women, children, babies, and cattle, donkey, sheep, and goats." Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech escaped and told David what had happened.

1 Samuel 21
David was still on the run from Saul when he came to Nob, where he met Ahimelech the priest. When confronted by Ahimelech about traveling alone, it seems that David panicked and lied about his "mission" so as not to alarm anyone. He explains that he was secretly sent by the King. David asks for food and a weapon, which didn't really go well with his story that he was to meet soon with his men. When he was discovered by the servants of Achish, they said "Can this be the famous Daivd?... the one they sing 'Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!'" David feared the worst and pretended to go crazy and so Achish sent him away.

1 Samuel 20
In this chapter, David asks Jonathan for help in verifying whether Saul was planning to kill David. Jonathan and David were very good friends and Jonathan remained loyal to David, agreeing to help find out Saul's intentions. When Jonathan learned that Saul wanted to kill David, he asked Saul " why should he be put to death.. what has he done?" Saul said to Jonathan, " As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you'll never be king." Jonathan was crushed by his father's shameful behavior toward David. Jonathan secretly warned David, sending him off " go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord's name.. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us."

1 Samuel 19
Saul ordered David's death, but Jonathan warned David that he should be on guard and hide himself. Jonathan spoke with Saul, "Do not sin against your servant David... since his deeds have been very beneficial to you...he struck down the Philistine and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel". Then Saul vowed not to harm David, but later he tried unsuccessfully to spear David. David escaped and fled to meet with Samuel in Ramah. Saul sent men several times to capture him there, but each time the Spirit of God came upon the men and they instead prophesied. Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah to capture David, but he also went along prophesying after the Spirit of God came upon him.

1 Samuel 18
The Lord was with David and he continued in his success in all that Saul asked of him. "Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul's oficers." David became famous and people sang, " Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!" and this made Saul very angry and he "kept a jealous eye on David". All Israel loved David because he was so successful, but Saul became afraid of David when he continually saw that the Lord was with him.

1 Samuel 17
On opposite sides of the vally of Elah, the Philistine and the Israilite armies gathered and prepared battle lines. A standout champion warrior in the Philistine camp, Goliath, shouted words of defiance against the army of Israel, which caused the Israelites to be "terrified and deeply shaken". For forty days, Goliath continued his defiance and offered a challenge to fight anyone from the Israelite army, but each time "as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright". One day, David was visiting his older brothers on the Israelite battle line and observed Goliath's threats. David asked, "Who is this pagan Philistine, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the Living God?" Later, David reported to King Saul, "Don't worry about a thing. I'll go fight this Philistine.. the Lord who has saved me from the claws of lions and bears will save me from this Philistine". Goliath sneered at David in comtempt and cursed him by the names of his pagan Gods, but David replied, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty... Today, the Lord with conquer you...and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel .. and that He does not need weapons to rescue His people. It is His battle, not ours." Using a simple stone hurled at his forehead, David killed Goliath.

1 Samuel 16
Saul had been rejected as king over Israel and "the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him". A tormenting spirit was sent by the Lord, filling Saul with depression and fear. Next, the Lord selected one of the son's of Jesse of Bethlehem, David, to be His new King of Israel and asked Samuel to anoint him. "From that day on, the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David".

1 Samuel 15
Saul was instructed by the Lord to go and completely destroy the wicked Amalekites, wiping them out entirely, even all their livestock. But Saul and his army spared the Amalekite king and the best of their sheep and catttle-- "these they were unwilling to destroy". Samuel was angry when he learned that Saul had violated the Lord's instructions. Samuel rebuked Saul for his rebellion and arrogance. Samuel told Saul that the Lord has now "torn the kingdom of Israel from you and has given it to one of your neighbors--to one better than you".

1 Sam 14
Saul's son, Jonathan, left the Israelite camp to meet the Philistine army. He had only his armor bearer along with him, yet he was full of faith in God's provision, saying " nothing can hinder the Lord, for He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few". With God's help, Jonathan bravely fought the Philistines and their army began to panic with fear and it was reported to Saul that the Philistine army was melting away in every direction. Saul's men joined the battle and found the Philistines in confusion and killing each other. They recognized that the Lord had delivered Israel that day. But, the Israelites were faint and weary since Saul had directed them to take an oath not to eat anything all day. The Israelite army consequently was so hungry that evening that they broke God's command not to eat meat that still contained blood. Also, since Jonathan didn't know about Saul's oath, he had eaten during the day and therefore Saul ordered his execution. The Israelite people rescued Jonathan from Saul, saying " he was used of God to do a mighty miracle today", saving Israel from defeat by the Philisitines.

1 Samuel 13
Saul and Jonathan were leading the Israelites against the Philistines in battle, but the Israelite army began "quaking with fear" when they became hard pressed and "hid in caves and thickets among the rocks and in pits and cisterns". Saul was waiting for Samuel to come offer up the burnt offering and the fellowship offering in order to seek the Lord's favor in the battle, but Samuel was late. When Samuel didn't arrive at the arranged time to perform the offerings unto the Lord, Saul disobeyed the Lord's command and he offered up the offerings himself. When Samuel finally arrived, he said to Saul "you have done a foolish thing and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command".

1 Samuel 12
Samuel addressed the people of Israel once more, reminding them of the Lord's grace and goodness and faithfulness to His people. He tells them to "be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you....But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against His commands, His hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors."

1 Samuel 11
The Ammonites were going to war with the Israelite town of Jabesh, but the citizens of Jabesh asked for 7 days before they invaded. The King of Ammon agreed, so they sent word to Saul. "The Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry". Saul mobilized 300,000 men from Israel and sent word to Jabesh that he would be there to rescue them soon. The ammonites were wiped out by Saul's army, but Saul gave God the glory, saying "today the Lord has rescued Israel". Then Samuel addressed the people again and before the Lord they affirmed Saul as their king and "all the Israelites were filled with joy".

1 Samuel 10
Samuel anointed Saul as King over Israel, pouring oil over his head, saying " I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you ruler over His special possession". The "Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul" , he was "changed into a different person", and the Lord "gave him a new heart". Samuel then gathered all the people of Israel and said, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!" All the people shouted, "Long live the king".

1 Samuel 9
God spoke to Samuel, " ..Tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin... Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines... I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me". The next day a Benjamite man named Saul arrived in search of some assistance in finding his family's lost donkeys. The Lord spoke to Samuel again, "This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people". Samuel said to Saul, "Today you are to eat with me and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. As for your donkeys you lost, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your family line?" Samuel then brought Saul to the dinning area and seated him at the head of all those who were invited, and Saul was treated with much honor. Before Samuel sent him on his way at daybreak, he told Saul that he had a message for him from God.

! Samuel 4-8
The Philistines captured the Ark of God and defeated the Israelites on the battlefield, and Eli's son were both killed. Then Eli heard what had happened, he fell off his chair and died. His daughter-in-law gave birth to a son, naming him Ichabod, which means "The Glory has departed from Israel", since the ark of God was captured and taken. The Philistines took the ark of God into their temple, setting it beside their idol, Dagon. Over the next few days, they noticed each morning that the Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of the Lord. The Lord brought devastation on the Philistines and afflicted them with disease until they finally decided to send the ark of God back to the Israelites. The Israelites received the ark and consecrated Eleazer to guard it and all the people turned back to the Lord and got rid of all their idols and foreign gods. When the Phillistines later came up to attack them again, Samuel cried out to the Lord on Israel's behalf and He answered, thundering against the Phillistines and the Israelites defeated and subdued them so that they stopped invading Israel's territory. Throughout the rest of Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines and Samuel continued leading Israel as their judge. When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to serve as leaders of Israel, but they perverted justice and turned aside after dishonest gain. The people and elders of Israel asked Samuel to appoint a King, since his sons had not followed his ways and they wanted to be like the other nations. When Samuel prayed to the Lord for guidance, He told Samuel that the people had rejected Him as their king. The Lord told Samuel to listen to them, but warn them solemnly that their new king will make claims over them and enslave them for his own gain. Samuel warned them that they will cry out to the Lord for relief from their king, but the Lord will not answer. The people refused to listen and persisted in demanding a king to rule over them and to lead them. The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to them and give them a king."

1 Samuel 3
The Lord spoke to Samuel, saying "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house. I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them." All Israel knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear to Samuel and to give him messages and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.

1 Samuel 2 records a prayer from Hannah, which boasts in the Lord's provision, faithfulness, and complete sovereignty. She lifts Him up, acknowledging the Lord as the source of all good, rebuking the proud and arrogant. Hannah declares, "it is not by strength that one prevails... for the foundations of the earth are the Lord's and on them He has set the world... the Lord is a God who knows.. He sees the sins of men.. those who oppose the Lord will be broken...the Lord will judge the ends of the earth... but He will guard the feet of His faithful servants." Hannah's son Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli and "continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people". Eli's sons, however, were doing wicked things and disgracing their family. Eli received a prophesy from the Lord, " Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence... I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever, but now far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age... I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always."

1 Samuel 1
A man named Elkanah and his household went up from his town for their annual time of worship and sacrifice to the Lord at Shiloh. Elkanah's wife, Hannah, prayed and weeped bitterly in anguish about her closed womb, and she made a vow, "LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." Eli, the priest in Shiloh, blessed Hannah saying, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him. " After returning to their home town, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel. Later, after Samuel was weaned, Hannah took her boy and returned to the the house of the Lord at Shiloh where Eli was priest. She said to Eli, "Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD."