(First of all, I hope you’ll excuse the brevity of this posting. I had a computer misfire (really a human error — but I digress), and had to write this all a second time.)
Many of you may know that I like archaeology. It’s probably an offshoot of my more general interest in Christian evidences. Over the last 30 years in the world of archaeology there has been a school of thought known as biblical minimalism. It’s central claim is that much of the biblical story is myth and legend, and one of the great targets of their accusations has been the reigns of David and Solomon. If archaeology and Christian evidences are of interest to you, I would encourage you to catch an article that just came out in Biblical Archaeology Review (May/June 2011 • Vol 37, No 3, p 46) entitled “The End of Biblical Minimalism” by Yosef Garfinkel. It is a well-explained article, complete with some great photographs, on how archaeology continues to verify the historical truths of the Bible. The Bible is not mythology from Genesis through Revelation. And the things that you’re reading right now in our tour through the Scriptures really happened.
Although sometimes we sometimes wish that they hadn’t to David.
Joab: a loyal, mostly well-intentioned loose-cannon — Joab had a lot of good points, but he was also the source of trouble and tragedy. Have you ever known someone like that at church? Have you ever been someone like that at church? Joab’s great problem was his inability to hold his ego in check and follow orders. Leaders in David’s time and our own need the loyalty and good intentions of Joab without the insubordination and ego.
Take heed, lest you fall — The great David fell fast and far. A long glance led to lust, lust led to adultery, adultery let to a failed cover-up, and the failed cover-up led to a murder of a loyal colleague. How did it get so far out of control? A lot of good brothers and sisters have had to ask themselves this same painful question. The answer boils down to a false feeling of security. The truth is that as long as we are still human, we’ll remain vulnerable to Satan’s never-ending attempts to bring us down.
The strength and spirit to take a rebuke well — Despite David’s position and motivations for keeping things secret, to his great credit he took the rebuke of Nathan very well indeed. We’d all do well to follow his example. Would to God that we were all less inclined to justify and deny and more inclined to confess, repent, and change.
See you tomorrow, Lord willing.
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About parklinscomb
I'm a minister for the Rock Hill church of Christ in Frisco TX (rhcoc.org) where I've worked since 2020. I'm a big fan of my family, archaeology, the Bible, and the Lord's church.
parklinscomb
Even David could stumble — 2 Samuel 10-12
(First of all, I hope you’ll excuse the brevity of this posting. I had a computer misfire (really a human error — but I digress), and had to write this all a second time.)
Many of you may know that I like archaeology. It’s probably an offshoot of my more general interest in Christian evidences. Over the last 30 years in the world of archaeology there has been a school of thought known as biblical minimalism. It’s central claim is that much of the biblical story is myth and legend, and one of the great targets of their accusations has been the reigns of David and Solomon. If archaeology and Christian evidences are of interest to you, I would encourage you to catch an article that just came out in Biblical Archaeology Review (May/June 2011 • Vol 37, No 3, p 46) entitled “The End of Biblical Minimalism” by Yosef Garfinkel. It is a well-explained article, complete with some great photographs, on how archaeology continues to verify the historical truths of the Bible. The Bible is not mythology from Genesis through Revelation. And the things that you’re reading right now in our tour through the Scriptures really happened.
Although sometimes we sometimes wish that they hadn’t to David.
Joab: a loyal, mostly well-intentioned loose-cannon — Joab had a lot of good points, but he was also the source of trouble and tragedy. Have you ever known someone like that at church? Have you ever been someone like that at church? Joab’s great problem was his inability to hold his ego in check and follow orders. Leaders in David’s time and our own need the loyalty and good intentions of Joab without the insubordination and ego.
Take heed, lest you fall — The great David fell fast and far. A long glance led to lust, lust led to adultery, adultery let to a failed cover-up, and the failed cover-up led to a murder of a loyal colleague. How did it get so far out of control? A lot of good brothers and sisters have had to ask themselves this same painful question. The answer boils down to a false feeling of security. The truth is that as long as we are still human, we’ll remain vulnerable to Satan’s never-ending attempts to bring us down.
The strength and spirit to take a rebuke well — Despite David’s position and motivations for keeping things secret, to his great credit he took the rebuke of Nathan very well indeed. We’d all do well to follow his example. Would to God that we were all less inclined to justify and deny and more inclined to confess, repent, and change.
See you tomorrow, Lord willing.
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About parklinscomb
I'm a minister for the Rock Hill church of Christ in Frisco TX (rhcoc.org) where I've worked since 2020. I'm a big fan of my family, archaeology, the Bible, and the Lord's church.