Hope Alliance Bethlehem

How does God respond to David's shocking fall?  With truth and grace.  He speaks the truth about what David has done and its consequences.  And this rebuke is a gracious act that enables David a path…

In shocking fashion, King David, who had been known by covenant faithfulness to God and led Israel to considerable victories, lost a very different kind of battle.  His lust for power led to complete…

David's act of kindness to the Ammonites is misunderstood and a major battle ensues.  With the army surrounded, Joab suggests a radical battle plan - trusting in the support of those around us and in…

In David's embrace of Mephibosheth, we get a beautiful picture of God's kindness toward us.  He pursues us and calls us by name - not for judgment, but because of his love for us.  He takes the shame…

As we continue in 2 Samuel chapter 8, we see that God gives David the victory wherever he went, and we learn what it means to experience victory in our own lives as well.

When David wants to build God a house, God's response is stunning.  Not only does he not want David to build him a house, but God will instead build David a house.  This unfailing promise and covenan…

The coming together of Israel under David as king demonstrates the realization of the covenant that God had first made with Abraham - a nation, a land and his presence.  It's the presence of God that…

In the life of Abner and his contemporaries, we see that humanity has a broken need to seek power and control - thinking that this brings the significance, acceptance and security we long for.  Even …

As David's reign begins, once again we see a man who seeks the wisdom of God, whose life is marked by obedience and faith, and who graciously offers the blessing of his kingdom to those around him.  …

When David received the news that Saul was dead, his natural reaction was grief.  Why we he respond that way towards his enemy?  David sought God's glory above his own and showed himself to be the ri…

Confidence is not merely a secular ideal.  It can be a spiritual reality, rooted deeply in our hope and producing true faith.  We see this played out in the life of King Hezekiah during the Assyrian …

Isaiah prophesies to a nation in the midst of significant uncertainty and anxiety.  Their corrupt king has led them in all the wrong ways.  But God in his grace is sending light into their darkness -…

The prophet Jeremiah foretells a time when there is stability in the land and the beginnings of renewal by God.  It's into the reality (while shepherds watched their flocks by night) that Jesus arriv…

In a broken world, the message of hope finds footing - that out of pain there will be peace.  And this peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a sense and reality of wholeness.  So when the sh…

To a nation who had been beaten down and lost its glory, God spoke a word of rest, forgiveness and restoration - a promise of return to its past glory.  This is ultimately accomplished through Jesus …

Early in his life, Paul saw himself as the epitome of religious success - calling himself blameless.  Towards the end of his life, Paul called himself the "worst of sinners."  Meeting Jesus and under…

Peter's bold profession of Jesus as Messiah is followed a major blunder in correcting Jesus.  Even with this display of imperfect faith, Jesus not only embraces Peter, but makes it clear that he will…

When Jesus famously tells Nicodemus that he must be "born again," he is really striking directly at his religious identity.  For a man who placed all his hope in his Jewish heritage and superior mora…

Though we focus on the stature of Zacchaeus, the truth is he was likely a very bad guy.  And so while it is important to notice Zacchaeus looking for Jesus, the beauty of the story is actually that J…

When faced with a well-orchestrated trap by the religious leaders of the day, Jesus responded by demonstrating the brokenness of all people - religious and irreligious.  And he announced a radical fo…