In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David. Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill.  . . .Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab . . . a very shrewd man.  He asked Amnon, ‘’Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?’’ Amnon said to him, ‘’I’m in love with...  Read More

Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.2 Samuel 12: 24-25. The love of God is so comforting! The love of God is so pure! The love of God is so refreshing! The love of God is so magnanimous th...  Read More

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace.  From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.  . . . Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.  . . . Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, ‘’I am pregnant.’’  2 Samuel 11:...  Read More

David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead.  . . . Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.His attendants asked him, ‘’Why are you acting this way? Whi...  Read More

After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth, on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants...  Read More

‘Now therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah to be your own.’ This is what the LORD says: ‘’Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do th...  Read More

(Oh, that I had someone to hear me!I sign now my defense -- let the Almighty answer me;Let my accuser put his indictment in writing.Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown.I would give him an account of my every step;I would present it to him as to a ruler.) Job 31:35-37 Job was at a point in his suffering when he desperately needed to hear from God!He felt innocent b...  Read More

If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me,What will I do when God confronts me?What will I answer when called to account?Did not he who made me in the womb make them?Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary;If I have kept my bread to myself...  Read More

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.For what is our lot from God above, our heritage from the Almighty on high?Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong?Does He not see my ways and count my every step?If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit -- let God weigh me in honest scales and He will know that I am blameless…If...  Read More

Terrors overwhelm me; my dignity is driven away as by the wind,  My safety vanishes like a cloud. And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me…I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up but you merely look at me.You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me...I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living…Have I not we...  Read More

How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,When His lamp shone on my head…O for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house...When my path was drenched with cream…Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me because I rescued the poor who cried for help and the fatherless who had none to assist them.The one ...  Read More

There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway. The earth, from which food comes, is transformed ...  Read More