Baldhead Bible Podcast

We are nearing the end of the life of David. In many ways, his story is coming to an end. The writer of 2 Samuel now pulls some exciting moments from David's life and places them in conjunction with a beautiful Psalm written by David. One of those moments that the writer picks is David and his men fighting giants named Goliath and Ishbi Benob. And one unusual giant who could probably type this summary a lot faster than me. Turn to 2 Samuel 21 - 22 to follow along.

David won and defeated Absalom. He is now KIng, for a second time. Great. But now what? How will David retake the throne? Will Israel accept him back with open arms? Is there another usurper around the corner waiting to try to stab David in the back? Listen on to this week's episode to find out.

David has to fight. Absalom has amassed his army of 12,000 soldiers and is ready to take on David's army of only 2 - 4,000 men. Vastly outnumbered, David will surely lose this battle. Or will he? David is considered a military genius, and he has a plan. Plus, he has Yahweh on his side; could he ever lose? Listen on to find out what happens.

Hope. This week's episode is all about two perspectives on hope: one man in the depths of despair that still has some, and the other, at the top of the power structure, next to the King, who has none. How can this be? And who are they? Listen to this week's episode to find out.

David and Absalom are finally reconciled . . . or are they? Absalom is working behind David's back, building a coalition of the discontented. And now is the time to spring the trap. WIll Absalom be successful? Will David lose his throne to his son? Listen on to find out.

It looks like Amnon, the Crown Prince of Israel, got away with a heinous crime committed against his half-sister Tamar. It was a travesty that his father, King David, did nothing to enact some sense of justice in the situation. Amnon got off scot-free . . . or did he? There was someone watching; it was Tamar's brother Absalom. And he knew what happened. And like a patient hunter stalking his prey, he was waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Here what happened next on this week's episode.

WARNING: THIS EPISODE HAS ADULT LEVEL CONTENT. Sadly, I have to use that disclaimer at the front, but it also reminds me once again of how scripture does not pull any punches. It tells the best and the worst of the people that inhabit its pages, and here is an example of the worst of humanity. This is one of the saddest stories in the Bible and one that I wish had never occurred. But it is also a story that we, as a culture, need to heed. It is a story that we, as parents, need to listen to, and it is a story that any young man or young woman today, needs to learn from.

David has just had committed adultery with Bathsheba, had Uriah the Hittite murdered, and now has a new beautiful wife and bouncing baby boy to boot. All looks great in the David household. But then, God comes to Nathan the prophet and tells him a story that he wants told to David. What is that story? Turn to 2 Samuel 12, and then listen to this podcast to find out.

This week's episode marks a turning point for the story of David. At this point, before he goes on the roof of his house before he makes bad choice after bad choice, things are going great for David. God has just promised that from him would come a kingdom that would last forever, he was at rest from his enemies on all sides, and he had acquired so much territory for Israel that it was the largest it would ever be. Things are awesome. But in a moment, with just one immoral choice, David begins a downward spiral for his house and family that he will never recover from. And that slide downwards begins here, at this moment, and it has so much application for today and the sins that we struggle with so much as a culture.

David is now King and has rested for himself and Israel from their enemies. So as David has to do less running and less fighting, he has time to sit, and quite often, he sat before the Lord. One day he came up with a brilliant idea: to build a temple for Lord. Why should David have such a great house, yet the Ark of God is still housed in a tent? So he asks Nathan, the prophet, can he build the Lord a temple? Hear the Lord's reply through Nathan, and also what it means to talk to God.