Friday, November 21, 2014

2 Samuel, Day 5 Readings

David's Song of Praise and the Siting of the Temple  

Today's first reading preserves a second part of David's legacy.  In many ways, this man after God's heart was the ancient equivalent of a Renaissance man.  He was a mighty warrior and capable ruler, but he also was timeless singer/songwriter.  Many of his greatest songs are preserved in the Bible in Psalms, but this song of praise was so powerful that it was copied into the history book.

Read 2 Samuel 22:1-20  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second selection is the close of 2 Samuel.  God punishes David for arbitrarily ordering a census of the people, and David responds by building an altar and offering a sacrifice.  This ending, though, is also a beginning.  While this incident is better described in 1 Chronicles, it turns out that David builds the altar on the site of the Temple -- the magnificent House of God that Solomon will build.

Read 2 Samuel 24:10-25  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read 2 Samuel 21-24 today.