Bible Book Club - Susan Merrill & Heather Rubio

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1 Kings 2: Solomon Takes Control Aug 26, 2024

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Join us as we explore King David's final words to his son Solomon. His deathbed counsel reveals wisdom that transcends generations. In this episode, we unpack how one man's imperfect but faithful journey created a legacy that continues to point others toward God.

Themes of this podcast:

Love and obedience go hand in hand. David's core message to Solomon was that genuine love for God naturally leads to obedience to His commands. This isn't about rigid rule-following, but about a heart transformation that makes following God's ways a natural response to His love.

Deal with your unfinished business. David's story shows the heavy cost of avoiding difficult decisions and leaving justice undone. His failure to address Joab's murders and other issues ultimately became Solomon's burden. Unresolved problems don't disappear. They compound and often affect the people we care about most.

Faithfulness leaves a lasting legacy. David’s imperfect but wholehearted pursuit of God became the standard for Israel’s kings. Our daily choices can shape a legacy that points others to God long after we’re gone.

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This episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!

1 Kings Overview + 1: David, on His Deathbed, Fights for Solomon’s Succession Aug 19, 2024

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Ancient power struggles might seem irrelevant to modern life, but the story of King David's succession crisis in 1 Kings 1 reveals timeless truths about leadership, ambition, and relationships. These Biblical lessons offer surprisingly practical wisdom for navigating everything from family dynamics to workplace politics. Listen to see what this 3,000-year-old drama can teach you about living with purpose and integrity today.

Themes of this podcast:

The importance of clear leadership and decision making. David's failure to name his successor created chaos and put lives at risk. Similarly, in our own lives, whether as parents, managers, or community leaders, when we avoid or postpone making clear decisions, especially in family or spiritual matters, it can lead to unintended consequences. Clear communication about expectations, succession plans, and important choices prevents confusion and protects those who depend on our leadership.

God values the heart over appearance or position. Adonijah seemed like the natural heir. He was handsome, powerful, and next in line by birth order. But God chose Solomon because He looks at the heart, not outward qualifications. In our own lives, this reminds us to trust God’s plans over cultural expectations and not to assume someone’s worth or calling based on status, image, or popularity.

The power of faithful allies and accountability. Nathan and Bathsheba's intervention saved lives and preserved God's plan. Nathan, who had previously held David accountable for his moral failures, now helps him fulfill his responsibilities as a dying king. This demonstrates the vital importance of having trustworthy people in our lives who will speak truth to us when we're off course or failing in our duties. Whether in marriage, friendship, or professional relationships, we all need people who love us enough to have difficult conversations and help us do what's right, even when it's uncomfortable.

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2 Samuel 23-24: David’s Mighty Men and the Sacred Mount Moriah Aug 12, 2024

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If only the books of Samuel ended there, after David’s final words. It’s a great place to end, but he didn’t. There is more in 2 Samuel 23 and 24, and it is anti-climatic for the books of Samuel. However, it is an intriguing link to the future of Christ and our redemption. Recall that the author is writing the final chapters in a chiasm which is a literary structure where themes mirror each other in an inverted pattern. The focus is on the center of the chiasm. We have discussed the first 4 steps of the chiasm: Saul causes a famine, David’s Mighty Warriors, David’s final song, and David’s final words.

In 2 Samuel 23, we will discuss the remaining:David’s Mighty Warriors, and David causes a plague. These two mirror the first two. There will be more detail on the Mighty Warriors. Then we will end with David causing a plague which is a comparison to Saul causing a famine.

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2 Samuel 22-23: David’s Final Song and Final Words Aug 05, 2024

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In 2 Samuel 22, we are going to read David’s song and final words. Recall that 1 and 2 Samuel were really one long book. 1 Samuel begins with Hannah’s song, and 2 Samuel ends with David’s song. The two songs are bookends to the story of Samuel, Saul, and David. Hannah’s song celebrates what God has done, how he reverses situations, and looks forward to what He will do in the future. David’s song celebrates what God has done and how he powerfully saved him, looking back on the past. The point is that the two songs creatively bookend the whole story, Hannah’s looks forward with a prophecy of an anointed king and David’s looks back on the fulfillment of this prophecy.

The author uses the songs in another creative way. There is another song in the beginning of 2 Samuel which place is right in the middle of the other 2 songs. It is David’s song of lament for the death of Saul and Jonathan. If we string all three songs together: Hannah’s Song begins as a series of reversals.

God brings death and life.
He humbles and exalts
He guards the faithful and silences the wicked

Then Hannah ends with a prophecy:

2:10 “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Hannah sings of a king to come, for there was no king at that time. Recall, the book of Judges ended with...

Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

Everyone sinned because there was no king. Hannah has caught a vision of a time when God will reverse the situation, an anointed king will overcome the evil. Then we read David’s song of lament for Saul 2 Samuel 1. David sang about how the mighty have fallen...meaning Saul. A king had come but he was not the king God had wanted. Saul was wicked and God humbled him and he and his descendants died. In the 3rd song, David sings of the reverse. David was faithful, and God exalted him, and his descendants will live and reign forever. The point is that what Hannah foresaw was fulfilled.

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2 Samuel 20-21: Joab Kills for a Job, A Woman Kills for Peace and Gibeon kills to Avenge Jul 29, 2024

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In 2 Samuel 20, we pick up in the middle of the new rebellion led by Sheba, the Benjaminite. David has a new commander, Amasa, who is the former commander of Absalom and tried to kill David. When David appointed Amasa as his commander, back in Chapter 19, we were never given any insight into how Joab felt about being replaced. Was Joab totally fired or just demoted and ordered to report to Amasa? How did Joab react, did he walk off in his usual temper and quit? And was David confident in this decision or had he decided rashly?

Yes, Joab had disobeyed David and killed Abner and Absalom. Abner, out of jealousy. Definitely wrong. But should David have trusted Abner? Regarding Absalom, perhaps Joab had good reasons for killing him. First, according to the law, Absalom should have been killed for rebellion. Second, he had betrayed Joab, who was the one who talked David into acknowledging him. So Joab had a personal vengeance. And third, Joab knew that had Absalom lived, David would have gone soft on him and Absalom probably would have planned another rebellion.

Back to David’s decision to replace Joab. Despite the wrong that Joab had done by killing these two men, he had done a lot well. As leader of the army, he had an outstanding record. And his loyalty to David and Israel was admirable. We don’t know how Joab felt about this demotion, and we can’t say whether it was fair of David without more detail. Whatever the case, Joab is not the kind of leader who sits quietly in the background. His commitment to David and Israel is too strong. And in this episode, Joab will find a way to take center stage.

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2 Samuel 18-20: David Returns to Reign with a Broken Heart Jul 22, 2024

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In 2 Samuel 18, David, the king with such a big heart, is bereft. With this deathof his son, Absalom, our story comes full circle. David began in 2 Samuel mourning the death of Saul. A man he loved. A man who was trying to kill him. The man he had to take the kingdom from. David is back where he started, mourning the death of Absalom. A man he loved. A man who was trying to kill him. The man he had to take the kingdom from.

Being king is painful, and David would rather die himself than experience this pain for his son. His grief was made all the more painful because of his deep conviction that it was his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah that brought about Absalom’s rebellion. His pain consumes him, and his despondency is made public.

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2 Samuel 16-18: Absalom’s Obsession with Power Ends Violently Jul 15, 2024

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Note the author's focus on relationships in these last few chapters. David’s sin is in his relationships with Bathsheba and with his children And therefore, his consequences are relational.
In the 2 Samuel 15:

Joab interfered in David’s relationships by bringing back Absalom
- Absalom rebelled first against Joab and then against David
- The Kerethites, Pelethites and Gittites all foreigners are loyal to David
- Zadok the priest is loyal
- Ahithophel is not loyal
- Hushai is loyal.

With every step in his exodus from Jerusalem, David is confronted by people who have chosen to be for or against him. It must have been an emotional roller coaster for a man with such a tender heart.

David is still on the rollercoaster in this 2 Samuel 16, his emotional exodus from Jerusalem. He is still at risk of being caught and killed by his son, Absalom. With every step on the journey and with every person he meets, David is forced to face the fact that this is war. And in a war of kings, only the winner gets to live.

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2 Samuel 14-15: David is Forced to Run from Absalom His Son Jul 08, 2024

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In 2 Samuel 13, we learned that David has sons who are following in his ways. Like father, like son, Amnon is distracted by women. And in particular, women whom he cannot and should not desire. In this case, it is his half-sister Tamar that he wants. Amnon uses David to get what he wants. He rapes Tamar and throws her out in humiliation. David is furious but does nothing, while Absalom, Tamar’s brother, plots revenge. Two years later, Absalom murders Amnon.

Like father like son: Amnon’s sin was sexual as David’s was with Bathsheba. Absalom’s sin was murder, as David’s was with Uriah. Nathan had warned David the consequences of his sin. The sword would not depart from his household and David is living that reality.

In 2 Samuel 14, unfortunately for David, the fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy is not over, but just begun...
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2 Samuel 13: Amnon’s Obsession With His Sister Ends in Tamar’s Rape Jul 01, 2024

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There are a lot of scenes in 2 Samuel 13. Each scene has a different combination of 5 characters. They include David and 3 of his children, Amnon, Absalom, and Tamar and Jonadab, a no-good advisor.

Amnon is David’s firstborn, the son of his second wife, Ahinoam. David never had a child with his first wife, Saul’s daughter, Michal. Absalom is David’s 3rd son, he was born to Maakah, his 4th. Tamar was also born to Maakah, so Absalom and Tamar are close because they have the same mother and father. There is a second son between Amnon and Absalom, and his name is Kileab or Daniel. He is the son of Abigail and he must be wise like his mother because he manages to stay out of this sordid story. Or it is possible that he dies because he is never mentioned as a contender for the crown? David’s family dynamic seems complicated, and for good reason...

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2 Samuel 12: David trusts God and Confronts the Consequences Jun 24, 2024

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We ended the last episode with the information from 2 Samuel chapter 11, “that the thing David had done displeased the Lord.” Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. And he loves David too much to let him go any further in his sin.

In 2 Samuel 12, it is God’s turn to send. God sends Nathan. God sends a message. And God sends a consequence.

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