And Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.” (2 Samuel 15:21) When times were good, King David had plenty of friends. Everyone wanted…
Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and…
And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king’s face. Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come. So he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is…
I believe in . . . the life everlasting. Amen. There are many things – perhaps too many things – that Christians disagree on. But there are also many things that Christians do, or at least should, agree on. One of the most basic statements of faith found in Christian history is known as The…
For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him. (2 Samuel 14:14) This is one of the best gospel texts of the Old…
I believe in . . . the resurrection of the body. The Apostles’ Creed deals with the highest themes regarding the nature and work of God. It discusses each member of the Trinity one by one, and at the end it states several other important subjects of Christian belief. Here – almost at the end…
I believe in . . . the forgiveness of sins. In an old Clint Eastwood movie, he played a retired gunfighter who returned to kill for a large reward. A young man who claimed to have killed many men joined the old gunfighter, but as the young man pulled the trigger to end the life…
I believe in . . . the communion of the saints. This line, towards the end of the great and ancient statement of faith known as the Apostles’ Creed, sounds pretty spiritual. A phrase like the communion of the saints doesn’t come from the street, the office, or the shopping mall. It’s the kind of…
I believe . . . in the holy Christian Church. I imagine there are some who read the Apostles’ Creed, this ancient and great statement of essential Christian belief, and have an easy time up to this point. It isn’t hard to picture someone having a hard time saying the words I believe . ….
I believe in the Holy Spirit. The Apostles’ Creed is an ancient and honored statement of faith, with a basic creed that is common to all Christians. It begins by acknowledging God the Father, and then has an extended section on God the Son. Now, we see in the Creed a reference to God the…
So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it. Then he took their king’s crown from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance….
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. Most of us know more about judges and courtrooms from television and movies than by personal experience. Most of us would like to keep distance from courts, trials, and judges – these are serious people and places. We realize that in some way…