Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of Second Samuel tomorrow, September 7. (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan)

Second Samuel is about King David’s reign, first over Judah (two tribes) and eventually over all of Israel. Even though he had been anointed to be King of Israel by Samuel several years earlier, it was not a simple transition. Even after Saul’s death, Saul’s son Ish-bosheth assumed the kingship over the northern 10 tribes of Israel, until he was murdered by two of his own men.

King David continued to be a powerful warrior defeating many of their enemies including the Philistines, Moab, Zobah and the Arameans. He wanted to build a beautiful temple for God, but because he had shed so much blood, God said David’s son would be the one to build the temple. David took in Jonathan’s crippled son, Mephibosheth, as he had pledged to do for Jonathan much earlier.

David was called a man after God’s heart, but he was not without sin. His most notorious sin was with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband as he tried to keep his sin hidden. He began having problems within his own family. His son Absalom killed his brother and was rejected by King David. Later Absalom plotted to become king by undermining David’s authority. The prophet Nathan told David that God said that one of his descendants would have a Kingdom that would last forever.

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