Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Samuel 8:2 (New Living Translation) 2 David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites […]

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2 Samuel 13:3 (New Living Translation) 3 But Amnon had a very crafty friend—his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimea. This is part of the story of King David and his children who seemed to have too much time and luxury on their hands to stay out of trouble. One of […]

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2 Samuel 13:14-15 (New Living Translation) 14 But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her. 15 Then suddenly Amnon’s love turned to hate, and he hated her even more than he had loved her. “Get out of here!” he snarled at her. This is a travesty that sets […]

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2 Samuel 14:25-26 (New Living Translation) 25 Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. 26 He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds! In the […]

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2 Samuel 14:14 (New Living Translation) 14 All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him. In this (hi)story, […]

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2 Samuel 12:10 (New Living Translation) From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own. The prophet Nathan is delivering a message from God to King David. David’s despicable act with Uriah and Bathsheba was over. Now comes the punishment. […]

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2 Samuel 23:3-4 (English Standard Version) 3 The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, 4 he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes […]

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2 Samuel 8:15 (New Living Translation) So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people. This is the start of the reign of David, King over all of God’s people. What words are used to describe it? Peace? Prosperity? Security? Military might? Health Care? Or one of […]

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2 Samuel 18:6-8 (New Living Translation) 6 So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, 7 and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives. 8 The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of […]

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2 Samuel 12:29-30 (New Living Translation) 29 So David gathered the rest of the army and went to Rabbah, and he fought against it and captured it. 30 David removed the crown from the king’s head, and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and […]

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