2 Samuel 3: First Stronger and Then Weaker

More from Chapter by Chapter All episodes →

1. 

   E276 · 2 Oct 2026 · 7 min

   2 Samuel 8: Train with Iron and Then Throw Wood

   2 Samuel 8 shows how David’s years of difficult battles and wilderness preparation equipped him for the victories God gave him as king, reminding us that what may feel like delay or hardship can actually be God’s training for what lies ahead.

2. 

   E275 · 1 Oct 2026 · 9 min

   2 Samuel 7: If You Want to Know What’s in a Person’s Heart, Just Say “No” to Them

   2 Samuel 7 reveals David’s humble response when God says no to his desire to build the temple, showing that our response to God’s “no” can reveal whether our hearts are marked by gratitude for His faithfulness or frustration over our own plans.

3. 

   E274 · 30 Sep 2026 · 10 min

   2 Samuel 6: You Should Have Let It Hit the Dirt

   2 Samuel 6 reveals the danger of treating God’s presence as ordinary and reminds us that when God is moving, our role is not to control or improve what He is doing but to obey, keep our hands off His glory, and let Him receive the honor.

4. 

   E273 · 29 Sep 2026 · 9 min

   2 Samuel 5: Oil Means Battles and Oil Means Direction

   2 Samuel 5 shows that God’s anointing prepared David through years of battles and kept him dependent on God for fresh direction, reminding us that greater anointing brings greater responsibility, spiritual warfare, and the need to continually seek God for how to fight each battle.

5. 

   E272 · 28 Sep 2026 · 7 min

   2 Samuel 4: Don’t Let Your Friends Kill Your Enemies

   2 Samuel 4 reveals David’s refusal to celebrate the deaths of his enemies, showing how praying for those who have hurt us can cleanse our hearts from bitterness and revenge and even change the way we speak about them.

6. 

   E270 · 26 Sep 2026 · 7 min

   2 Samuel 2: Are You for Israel?

   2 Samuel 2 contrasts David, who sought God’s direction before taking the throne, with Ish-bosheth, who was made king by Abner for political purposes. Their story raises the question of whether we are pursuing God’s purposes for His people or simply protecting our own position, power, and prominence. Like the question asked by a six-year-old survivor in Sderot, “Are you with Israel?” challenges us to consider whether we are living for a bigger purpose than our own advancement.

7. 

   E269 · 25 Sep 2026 · 9 min

   2 Samuel 1: A Killer on the Couch

   2 Samuel 1 revisits Saul’s death through the account of an Amalekite who claims to have helped him die, revealing the danger of holding onto what God has commanded us to surrender. Like Saul sparing the Amalekites, we can keep people, relationships, opportunities, or desires we have labeled as “good,” only to discover later that the unsurrendered thing becomes destructive. The chapter challenges us to let God—not our own judgment—determine what belongs in our lives.

8. 

   E268 · 24 Sep 2026 · 11 min

   1 Samuel 31: Suicide

   1 Samuel 31 tells the tragic story of Saul’s final battle and death, revealing how years of discouragement, disobedience, and spiritual collapse culminated in a devastating end while reminding us that God’s abundant life remains the answer to despair.

9. 

   E267 · 23 Sep 2026 · 10 min

   1 Samuel 30: Finding Home

   Welcome to a special on-site detour from Jerusalem! In 1 Samuel 30, David reaches rock bottom in Ziklag, but as he strengthens himself in the Lord, God begins leading the weary fugitive back toward the home and destiny he had nearly forgotten.

10. 

    E266 · 22 Sep 2026 · 8 min

    1 Samuel 29: Thank God for the Philistines, or David Would Have Had Two Citizenships

    In 1 Samuel 29, David’s divided loyalties collide when Philistine commanders refuse to let him fight against Israel, turning what looks like betrayal into God’s providential rescue and redirecting David toward his calling.