Jehosheba is a hero of the Bible who saves a toddler from the evil schemes of a power-hungry authority.  Consider how Moses was saved under Pharaoh’s reign, or Jesus during the time of King Herod.  Even with this heroic act, we know little about Jehosheba.  She was the daughter of King Jehoram and married the priest Jehoiada.  These are two historical figures most people know little about.  Her husband led a rebellion to instill the rightful heir of David to the throne in Jerusalem.  Her father was so evil the Bible says that when he died it was to no one’s regret (2 Chron. 21:20).

The test of adversity reveals the nature of the foundation. In normal times a poor foundation is indistinguishable from a good one. But, it becomes clearly evident in the aftermath of a hurricane, tornado, or flood as to the quality of the foundation.

2 Samuel begins with Saul’s death.  Chapter one tells of his death and David’s reaction.  Chapter two shows David seeking God’s advice and being anointed king over Judah, the northern kingdom.  Also, we see Abner anointing Ish-bosheth, Saul’s remaining son, king over Israel, the southern kingdom. 

As salt, we are to maintain our saltiness. In our culture salt is sodium chloride, which cannot be lost. In ancient times, salt was a composite of this essential compound and other impurities. Sodium chloride could be leeched out, leaving a residue of little worth or effectiveness. With the main purpose and use of salt being that of a preservative, the remaining impurities - minus sodium chloride - were truly worthless and good only for being trampled under foot.

Psalms are poems.  Songs are poems put to music.  They are often used to help the Israelites remember their content.  Only one of these Psalms is directly attributed to David.  We don’t know who wrote the others, but they are all titled A Song of Ascents and were sung by travelers, likely on their way to Jerusalem for one of the yearly feasts.  These musical poems prompted the Israelites to look at God from many perspectives.

Most of us likely skim over the list of names in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. We recognize that genealogy is important, but the names mean little to us. We understand that the lineage of Jesus is especially important because it is imperative that He be identified with Abraham, David, and Adam if He truly is the Son of God/Son of Man.

I’m guessing most of us don’t face literal enemies who are trying to kill us.  However, we do face the enemy every day.  Does that sound crazy to you?  Do you consider that Satan is attacking you on every front every day? 

We all think that what we want, the way we think something should be, is a just cause.  But is it, really?  Lots of things can sound like noble causes, but would they be in God’s eyes?

God’s timing is often mystifying. From the vantage point of our limited mortal lives, His ways sometimes seem agonizingly slow. Does He not hear our heartfelt cries and prayers? Is He indifferent to our difficulties? The answer is found in these words: “God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant … God saw … and God took notice.”

The first thing we learn about Abigail is in verse 3 where we are told she is discerning and beautiful.  We then see her in action in verse 18, “Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.”