In 2 Samuel, there is such a fierce precedent set for turning the other cheek, forgiveness and justice. David mourns for Abner as he mourned for Saul—men who had been his enemies.
9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size — abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
The following time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my option to learn, but I really thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you might fix in the event you werent too busy looking for attention.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
My favorite verse in the entire Bible. So powerful!
I’m so thankful to be making this journey with you ladies. Please pray for me as I’ve faithfully read the studies everyday until this past month and I’ve missed almost a week, I’m trying to get caught up but I have an active almost 2 year old, 2 dogs, a husband, am an RN and work out of the house and also just became Sunday School leader for our preschool kids. I’ve focused on devoting my life back to the lord since about July last year and am loving the results so I’m determined to not give up!
Amber- Keep on keeping on! Give yourself some grace and catch up when you can! :) Life definitely can get crazy at times but I pray you continue to feel a thirst and hunger for God and His word! Praying for you tonight in MN.
Great to hear! Grace yourself and take it easy! I was actually encouraged to not worry about “catching up” start with today and should you get the opportunity to retract do it another time. Trying to catch up a weeks worth can be overwhelming and the temptation is to continue to put it off. The Lord is not some horrible task master punishing you because you missed a few days! Enjoy his grace and walk in it!!
I never really considered how challenging someone else’s life, aside from Jesus, could be because of their belief in God. Paul is so tenacious for continuing to push and push and push.
I am here also. This is my first time to comment but just wanted to say I have so enjoyed this year with this group studying God’s word. It has been a great blessing and help to me.
gods grace should be sufficient. we must depend upon it. if we aren’t depending on it in atleast one area of life, its safe to say that it’s time to get out of our comfort zone! start truly living!
Along with others, I rarely comment but am grateful for the opportunity to study along with such a fabulous group. The insightfulness, thoughts, and comments of everyone is so interesting and such an inspiration. Feeling blessed!!
My mother-in-law has this theory that every generation of believers has a blind spot – one they can’t really see as sin. that seems pretty evident in reading the OT – their blind spot being the marrying of multiple wives. it seems so common, maybe many people (even people after God’s heart) didn’t even think it was a problem! but I love that despite those ‘blind spots’ the Lord does use our weakness to demonstrate His strength!
While David’s having 6 wives is most definitely wrong, I think the Bible includes stuff like that to show us that we all make mistakes and can get forgiveness from God if we repent. David was constantly making mistakes in regards to women, but I think what makes him “a man after God’s own heart” is that when he realizes he has sinned he repents and asks God’s forgiveness.
Hey ladies :)
Something that helps me (and I hope it encourages some of you)- is remembering that the bible is laced with stories of broken people. Just like us. We definitely see God’s heart and plan throughout the bible. However, we need to understand that not every single sentence in the bible is God’s will for man. The bible teaches us to see the sinful nature of man and how God ultimately uses everything (ranging from good to outrageous) to fulfill HIS plan. Just like David having a weakness concerning women. His weakness being recorded is not implying that God approves of his choices. Nor does his recorded weakness imply that he is forsaken by God. Our Lord is JUST. As we will read soon enough, David will have an even bigger problem because of his desire to have many wives. It gets even messier! But in God’s sovereignty, a purpose is formed. The bigger mess leads to the bloodline of our precious Messiah! We only need to trust God that He is in control. We so easily question God and His ways when we don’t understand a situation. But like any good book, the twists and turns should not cause us to stop reading… But to press in. God it the ultimate author. He is inviting us to keep reading! Keep seeking! He will reveal secret treasures to us along the way :)
I love this post. I have been encouraged to keep reading! Like tasty food- lately i find myself not satisfied with a little portion. Reading more than one day at a time now. Still praying for all of you ladies who are reading through this year too!
I’ve come into this reading plan about halfway and am encouraged by the comments here! The story of David has so many ups and down and harsh realities. I’m thankful for the reminder that in our weakness God is stronger and uses our weaknesses for his purpose. Have a lovely day, everyone!
Thankful for those that are still plowing through this reading plan!! I haven’t been commenting, but have been so thankful to stay engaged and continue on this journey. My current thought process: “Man, the story of David is intense!!” ;)
I’m still here too. I’m a faithful reader of the scriptures and comments, but rarely post. David’s story is intense. there is an insightful book/study of his life that I appreciated a some time ago called “A Heart Like His” by Beth Moore. I may get that back out as a companion while we’re reading this section.
i’m reading A HEART LIKE HIS along side as well! :) and it’s been a great help… i love how the book reveals the Psalms David wrote related to the chapters that we’re reading… i feel like personally being involved in the life of David… He feels so alive as I read his story…
Me, as well! First time reading all the way through the bible this year. But I have a six month old who has been keeping me pretty busy so not always time to comment. Love having sisters to be on this journey with though. Praying for all of you!
Lauren, I have a six month old too and whether I’m reading on my phone or my bible he always tries to snatch what I’ve got in my hands! sometimes I think about how much easier it’ll be to have my quiet times when he’s older (which may not be true…) but then I think about how much value there is in making sure I’m in the word everyday no matter how wild my son is. I love the idea of our children seeing us moms in The Word everyday – no matter how young they are :) Congrats on the baby and bravo for making it to 40%!
“2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows.”
Can anyone enlighten me on this passage? I’m confused both about the third heaven and also this person who was caught up to it?? Is there anything that clears this up?
I was curious about this verbiage as well, and found this resource from an apologetics website. It appears that the Hebrew understanding of the third heaven was the dwelling place of God; meaning that Paul had a supernatural experience where he was taken to heaven (he communicates that he wasn’t sure if it was a vision or physically).
In the Moody Bible Commentary it is explained this way…
To downplay this revelation, Paul recorded his experience in third person (though he reverted to first person in vv. 7-8) : God suddenly caught up a follower of Christ to the third heaven or paradise – the place where believers are at home with the Lord (2Cor 5:8). Mere words were not sufficient to articulate the content of the revelation (inexpressible words probably refers either to words “that humankind is incapable of expressing” or words “that should not be expressed because they are so holy”; cf. BDAG, 134). Paul probably saw such amazing things in this vision that he was incapable of conveying them adequately to others. The date of this vision 14 years before the writing of 2 Corinithians makes it impossible to connect this experience with any vision recorded previously in Acts or Paul’s epistles.
I feel really bad for Michal, to be honest. She spent hardly any time with David before he took off and then her father was crazy, and she was married to another man who obviously loved her since he followed for so long, weeping over her, only to be handed over to a man that she may well have perceived as being responsible for her father’s death… I don’t know. I feel pretty bad for her.
I struggle so much when I hear of David’s many wives. How is he called man after Gods own heart having so many different wives?! This seems to be the only part of his life that doesn’t display godliness. wouldn’t this be a big deal in the world today? Even two wives is crazy, but SIX?!
David wasn’t supposed to have those wives. I think sometimes the OT is hard to understand because stories and statements are not always followed up with “He did not follow God in this way” or something to clarify. Often we are just left to figure out what the Narrator is trying to communicate. I think a theme throughout David’s life is his weakness with women and his weakness with not being able to confront those close to him. Him taking this many wives certainly communicates that. And how funny that we are reading about weakness in Corinthians today too! He is not perfectly following God in every way but I think David is still a man after God’s own heart because he shows seeking after God even through weakness and being willing to change his ways. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart and I think David’s heart repeatedly sought after God. This encourages me today that I can still be a woman after God’s own heart counting on God’s strength to fill my own weaknesses. I need to be willing to surrender, humble myself and see God change me to look more like Him. Sorry so long, just some of my thoughts!
Don’t apologize! These are great thoughts! I love what you said about the statements not being followed up with “he did not follow God when he did this…” Just cause it’s in the Bible doesn’t mean that God condoned it, right? But I still just struggle with the thought that if this were a person in the world today in one of our churches, we wouldn’t say that they are a man after Gods own heart if they have 6 different sexual partners!
Can you please provide scripture where it says David wasn’t suppose to have these wives? I know he wasn’t suppose to scheme with Bathsheba but I don’t see anything about the others. Thanks! :)
hi Becky, read Deut.17:17 .. polygamy was never God’s will since the beginning (even in Genesis 3), I’ve read that just because polygamy was acceptable in the society in David’s time doesn’t mean that it was acceptable to God… later on, we will see how David’s heart was “led astray because of his many wives” .. God’s ways are always the best..
David’s son Solomon, had 700 wife’s & 300 concubines…he started worshiping their gods & God (1 King 11) I think it was accepted in their culture as long as the men took care of them & treated them equally…ex’s Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Elkanah (Samuel’s father) etc…
Hi Misce, I like what you said, “Do the people around us see proof that our hearts are close to God? Let our external influence come from inner intimacy w God.”
I think our actions are the most evangelical message of all.
I hope your day was blessed with much beauty.
❤️
I am weak – I need Gods strength
❤️
❤️
❤️
In 2 Samuel, there is such a fierce precedent set for turning the other cheek, forgiveness and justice. David mourns for Abner as he mourned for Saul—men who had been his enemies.
❤️
We’re so lucky that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness and that the grace he gives freely is perfect for us!
Grateful for David’s example of harshly disapproving of revenge…especially after all he endured at the hand of Saul’s house.
9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” amen !!-ellie
7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size — abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
The following time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my option to learn, but I really thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you might fix in the event you werent too busy looking for attention.
http://www.edsheeran.co.uk
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
My favorite verse in the entire Bible. So powerful!
That’s the verse I copied for my notes! So powerful, humbling, and a major gut check ❤️
I’m so thankful to be making this journey with you ladies. Please pray for me as I’ve faithfully read the studies everyday until this past month and I’ve missed almost a week, I’m trying to get caught up but I have an active almost 2 year old, 2 dogs, a husband, am an RN and work out of the house and also just became Sunday School leader for our preschool kids. I’ve focused on devoting my life back to the lord since about July last year and am loving the results so I’m determined to not give up!
Amber- Keep on keeping on! Give yourself some grace and catch up when you can! :) Life definitely can get crazy at times but I pray you continue to feel a thirst and hunger for God and His word! Praying for you tonight in MN.
Praying, friend! Grateful to have you in this community with us.
– Stormye
Great to hear! Grace yourself and take it easy! I was actually encouraged to not worry about “catching up” start with today and should you get the opportunity to retract do it another time. Trying to catch up a weeks worth can be overwhelming and the temptation is to continue to put it off. The Lord is not some horrible task master punishing you because you missed a few days! Enjoy his grace and walk in it!!
I never really considered how challenging someone else’s life, aside from Jesus, could be because of their belief in God. Paul is so tenacious for continuing to push and push and push.
I am here also. This is my first time to comment but just wanted to say I have so enjoyed this year with this group studying God’s word. It has been a great blessing and help to me.
gods grace should be sufficient. we must depend upon it. if we aren’t depending on it in atleast one area of life, its safe to say that it’s time to get out of our comfort zone! start truly living!
I’m still here as well. Not doing great with staying caught up on a daily basis. But plugging along :)
I loved 2nd Corinthians today (I’m a day late). The part about disabilities being special and important gifts from God stuck with me ❤️
I’m here too! I just began this month and am catching up but am blessed to have found this app that’ll help me grow my faith!
I’m still here too! I rarely comment but I love reading all your insights! I am learning a lot from you ladies! Thank you!
I agree, Mary! SRT is such a great tool for us women :) Great group of ladies here! I love it!
praising God for this group that continues to read and share! Amen!
Along with others, I rarely comment but am grateful for the opportunity to study along with such a fabulous group. The insightfulness, thoughts, and comments of everyone is so interesting and such an inspiration. Feeling blessed!!
My mother-in-law has this theory that every generation of believers has a blind spot – one they can’t really see as sin. that seems pretty evident in reading the OT – their blind spot being the marrying of multiple wives. it seems so common, maybe many people (even people after God’s heart) didn’t even think it was a problem! but I love that despite those ‘blind spots’ the Lord does use our weakness to demonstrate His strength!
Yes, great point. Thank you!
Well put! Thank you!
While David’s having 6 wives is most definitely wrong, I think the Bible includes stuff like that to show us that we all make mistakes and can get forgiveness from God if we repent. David was constantly making mistakes in regards to women, but I think what makes him “a man after God’s own heart” is that when he realizes he has sinned he repents and asks God’s forgiveness.
Very good point. Thank you for this. It reminds me of the verse that says that God rejects the proud but gives grace to the humble.
I am still here too!! I just love reading the Old Testament and also reading every ones comments. It is my online bible study!! Very encouraging!
And again we get to see these fabulous words “My grace is sufficient for you”!
Hey ladies :)
Something that helps me (and I hope it encourages some of you)- is remembering that the bible is laced with stories of broken people. Just like us. We definitely see God’s heart and plan throughout the bible. However, we need to understand that not every single sentence in the bible is God’s will for man. The bible teaches us to see the sinful nature of man and how God ultimately uses everything (ranging from good to outrageous) to fulfill HIS plan. Just like David having a weakness concerning women. His weakness being recorded is not implying that God approves of his choices. Nor does his recorded weakness imply that he is forsaken by God. Our Lord is JUST. As we will read soon enough, David will have an even bigger problem because of his desire to have many wives. It gets even messier! But in God’s sovereignty, a purpose is formed. The bigger mess leads to the bloodline of our precious Messiah! We only need to trust God that He is in control. We so easily question God and His ways when we don’t understand a situation. But like any good book, the twists and turns should not cause us to stop reading… But to press in. God it the ultimate author. He is inviting us to keep reading! Keep seeking! He will reveal secret treasures to us along the way :)
Thanks for this. It is such a good point!
So true…God even uses our sin to bring himself glory!
I love this post. I have been encouraged to keep reading! Like tasty food- lately i find myself not satisfied with a little portion. Reading more than one day at a time now. Still praying for all of you ladies who are reading through this year too!
What a wonderful thing to be experiencing, Annie! Thank you for sharing!
– Stormye
I’ve come into this reading plan about halfway and am encouraged by the comments here! The story of David has so many ups and down and harsh realities. I’m thankful for the reminder that in our weakness God is stronger and uses our weaknesses for his purpose. Have a lovely day, everyone!
Thankful for those that are still plowing through this reading plan!! I haven’t been commenting, but have been so thankful to stay engaged and continue on this journey. My current thought process: “Man, the story of David is intense!!” ;)
I’m still here too. I’m a faithful reader of the scriptures and comments, but rarely post. David’s story is intense. there is an insightful book/study of his life that I appreciated a some time ago called “A Heart Like His” by Beth Moore. I may get that back out as a companion while we’re reading this section.
i’m reading A HEART LIKE HIS along side as well! :) and it’s been a great help… i love how the book reveals the Psalms David wrote related to the chapters that we’re reading… i feel like personally being involved in the life of David… He feels so alive as I read his story…
Me, as well! First time reading all the way through the bible this year. But I have a six month old who has been keeping me pretty busy so not always time to comment. Love having sisters to be on this journey with though. Praying for all of you!
Lauren, I have a six month old too and whether I’m reading on my phone or my bible he always tries to snatch what I’ve got in my hands! sometimes I think about how much easier it’ll be to have my quiet times when he’s older (which may not be true…) but then I think about how much value there is in making sure I’m in the word everyday no matter how wild my son is. I love the idea of our children seeing us moms in The Word everyday – no matter how young they are :) Congrats on the baby and bravo for making it to 40%!
“2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows.”
Can anyone enlighten me on this passage? I’m confused both about the third heaven and also this person who was caught up to it?? Is there anything that clears this up?
Lauren,
I was curious about this verbiage as well, and found this resource from an apologetics website. It appears that the Hebrew understanding of the third heaven was the dwelling place of God; meaning that Paul had a supernatural experience where he was taken to heaven (he communicates that he wasn’t sure if it was a vision or physically).
https://carm.org/what-does-it-mean-when-bible-refers-third-heaven
Hope that helps!
Thank you because this really confused me too!!
In the Moody Bible Commentary it is explained this way…
To downplay this revelation, Paul recorded his experience in third person (though he reverted to first person in vv. 7-8) : God suddenly caught up a follower of Christ to the third heaven or paradise – the place where believers are at home with the Lord (2Cor 5:8). Mere words were not sufficient to articulate the content of the revelation (inexpressible words probably refers either to words “that humankind is incapable of expressing” or words “that should not be expressed because they are so holy”; cf. BDAG, 134). Paul probably saw such amazing things in this vision that he was incapable of conveying them adequately to others. The date of this vision 14 years before the writing of 2 Corinithians makes it impossible to connect this experience with any vision recorded previously in Acts or Paul’s epistles.
I feel really bad for Michal, to be honest. She spent hardly any time with David before he took off and then her father was crazy, and she was married to another man who obviously loved her since he followed for so long, weeping over her, only to be handed over to a man that she may well have perceived as being responsible for her father’s death… I don’t know. I feel pretty bad for her.
Me too :(
I struggle so much when I hear of David’s many wives. How is he called man after Gods own heart having so many different wives?! This seems to be the only part of his life that doesn’t display godliness. wouldn’t this be a big deal in the world today? Even two wives is crazy, but SIX?!
I would love further clarity on this as well!!
David wasn’t supposed to have those wives. I think sometimes the OT is hard to understand because stories and statements are not always followed up with “He did not follow God in this way” or something to clarify. Often we are just left to figure out what the Narrator is trying to communicate. I think a theme throughout David’s life is his weakness with women and his weakness with not being able to confront those close to him. Him taking this many wives certainly communicates that. And how funny that we are reading about weakness in Corinthians today too! He is not perfectly following God in every way but I think David is still a man after God’s own heart because he shows seeking after God even through weakness and being willing to change his ways. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart and I think David’s heart repeatedly sought after God. This encourages me today that I can still be a woman after God’s own heart counting on God’s strength to fill my own weaknesses. I need to be willing to surrender, humble myself and see God change me to look more like Him. Sorry so long, just some of my thoughts!
Don’t apologize! These are great thoughts! I love what you said about the statements not being followed up with “he did not follow God when he did this…” Just cause it’s in the Bible doesn’t mean that God condoned it, right? But I still just struggle with the thought that if this were a person in the world today in one of our churches, we wouldn’t say that they are a man after Gods own heart if they have 6 different sexual partners!
Amy,
Can you please provide scripture where it says David wasn’t suppose to have these wives? I know he wasn’t suppose to scheme with Bathsheba but I don’t see anything about the others. Thanks! :)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts
hi Becky, read Deut.17:17 .. polygamy was never God’s will since the beginning (even in Genesis 3), I’ve read that just because polygamy was acceptable in the society in David’s time doesn’t mean that it was acceptable to God… later on, we will see how David’s heart was “led astray because of his many wives” .. God’s ways are always the best..
Thank you!
Polygamy wasn’t condoned by God, however I don’t believe all of those who practiced it were led astray by multiple wives either.
David’s son Solomon, had 700 wife’s & 300 concubines…he started worshiping their gods & God (1 King 11) I think it was accepted in their culture as long as the men took care of them & treated them equally…ex’s Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Elkanah (Samuel’s father) etc…
“And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased the people.” – 2 Samuel 3:36
–David kept his heart close to God, that his behavior reflected strong inner character which gained the respect of people.
Do the people around us see proof that our hearts are close to God? Let our external influence come from inner intimacy w God. Good morning!
Hi Misce, I like what you said, “Do the people around us see proof that our hearts are close to God? Let our external influence come from inner intimacy w God.”
I think our actions are the most evangelical message of all.
I hope your day was blessed with much beauty.
Love this. “Do the people around us see proof that our hearts are close to God?” Wake up call. Time to show what I know!