Month: September 2025

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You Are The Man

Links for today’s readings:

Read:  2  Samuel 12 Listen: (5:25)   Read:  Revelation 20 Listen: (2:49)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 12:7

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”

Reflection: You Are The Man

By John Tillman

You are the man!

In many fields, such as athletic, musical, or business performance, “You are the man!” is a declaration of affirmation. It means, “You are the best! You are the G.O.A.T! You are the expert! You are an idol of what we admire!”

In a court room, “You are the man,” is an accusation. It says, “You committed this crime! You harmed this person! You are guilty!” Nathan the prophet was, in all likelihood, the first person to say, “You are the man” and he meant it in the moral, legal, accusatory sense. It was the climax of a dangerous confrontation between a ruler-gone-wrong and a truth-speaking prophet. David was the man who committed an evil act. Nathan put his life on the line for the truth.

Nathan was a close associate and friend to David—a supporter and confidant. He was predisposed to believe David was a good person and that God was with him. Just a few chapters earlier, when David mentioned building a temple for the Lord, Nathan gave David a blanket affirmation without even consulting God. “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Samuel 7.1-3)

However, after hearing from God, Nathan had to return to David to walk back his statement. “Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?” (2 Samuel 7.5) That must have been a difficult message to deliver, but it isn’t until chapter twelve that we see Nathan’s finest hour. It’s easy to be like chapter seven Nathan, but few are willing to be chapter twelve Nathan.

It is important for us to remember that Nathan’s greatest prophetic moment was not speaking truth to powerful foes but to a powerful friend. Too often we reserve “You are the man” for enemies and “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it.” for allies. We place politics above prophetic responsibility.

Everyone challenges their opponents to change. Followers of Christ are called to challenge the communities and individuals we are closest to. (Matthew 10.34-38) Our purpose is not retribution or rejection, but redemption and reconciliation. When we confront others, we must let our tone reflect the ministry of reconciliation that we have been given. (2 Corinthians 5.18-19)

Saying, “You are the man,” is part of our prophetic responsibility to friends and foes. But even as it accuses, it must simultaneously invite them back into community.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

I will bear witness that the Lord is righteous; I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High. — Psalm 7.18

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Prophets Like Moses

Prophetic messages are often uncomfortable or inconvenient. Resist the urge to grumble against them as the people grumbled against Moses.

Prophets Like Moses
Read more: Prophetic Check Up

Abraham, Aaron, and Miriam leave a prophetic legacy for every man and woman in Christ. Pick up their mantle.

Prophetic Check Up
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The Sword Also Devours Its Wielders

Links for today’s readings:

Read:  2  Samuel 11 Listen: (4:25)   Read: Revelation 19 Listen: (3:47)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 11.24-25

24 Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.” 25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab.”

Genesis 4.7b

“…sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Reflection: The Sword Also Devours Its Wielders

By John Tillman

David comforts Joab by saying, “the sword devours one as well as another,” but this wasn’t really comfort—it was a cover-up. The sword was in David’s hand as he said it. Worse than that, the sword was in David’s soul. Before the sword’s edge spills the blood of its victims, it devours the heart of its wielders.

This passage is an excellent example of how violence in the Bible is personified as “the sword” regardless of how someone dies. (Uriah died from a hail of arrows, not a sword.) In the Bible, the sword is not a passive tool but an active, hungry predator—it devours.

Violence is a restless evil. Like the sin that “crouched” at Cain’s door, violence leaps into our souls. It’s possible to say that the sword of violence “devoured” Abel and Uriah, but first it devoured Cain and David.

Uriah was one of David’s inner circle of mighty warriors. (1 Chronicles 11.11-47) David assassinated an ally to cover up his private sin. Cain murdered his brother. There is no level of loyalty or love that can’t be breached by the sin of violence.

The sword represents the spirit of violence and is devouring our culture today. As it stalked Cain and David, it crouches at our doors and devours many victims. Some claim this moment, when assassinations and violent attacks top the news cycle, is unique. It is not. The sword has never rested and everything happening now has happened before.

Some claim that only one particular group has become servants of the sword of violence. This is an illusion. David was unintentionally prophetic when he said, “the sword devours one as well as another.” If we think we, or our allies, are immune or innocent, we are fooling ourselves and twice as vulnerable for our hubris. If Cain and David were devoured, we can be as well.

Devote yourself to intense prayer and examination of your heart for signs of the spirit of the sword. Do you celebrate violence? Do you ignore or excuse some sources of violence and rail against others? Do you defend violent or threatening rhetoric? Keep each other accountable. Warn brothers and sisters against the spirit of violence and the sword.


If the spirit of violence breaches your heart, its sword will find its way to your lips, then your hand. It desires to have us, but we must rule over it. (Genesis 4.7)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations and his wonders among all peoples. — Psalm 96.2-3

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: A Sword Unsheathed

Many invoke apocalyptic passages to inspire or justify violence against “God’s enemies” as they define them. This is a misuse of scripture.

A Sword Unsheathed
Read more: Of Pride and The Sword

In scripture the sword is not inanimate. The sword is hungry, with an appetite to devour individuals, races, nations, kings, and empires.

Of Pride and The Sword
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The Time For Faith

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 7 Listen: (4:26) Read: Revelation 16 Listen: (3:17)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 8-9 Listen: (4:51) Read:  Revelation 17 Listen: (3:19)
Read: 2  Samuel 10 Listen (3:19) Read: Revelation 18 Listen: (4:48)

Scripture Focus: Revelation 16.10-15

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. 12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. 15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Reflection: The Time For Faith

By John Tillman

Revelation’s bowls of wrath are comparable to the plagues of Egypt.

Moses targeted plagues at the Egyptian rulers, economy, and gods. The angels target bowls of wrath at the empire of the beast, its economy, and the beast’s worshipers.

Egypt’s people and leaders had the opportunity to repent with each plague. Some did. They joined Israelite families and left Egypt with them. Some encouraged Pharaoh to give in long before he did. Others, including Pharaoh, hardened their hearts, refusing to submit to God despite demonstrations of his power. The bowls of God’s wrath will have the same effect. People will know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that God is real, powerful, and righteous, but will still refuse to repent.

Many sincerely make this claim: If God proved he existed, I’d believe in him. They want indisputable proof. Some might say an audible voice would do it. For some, an appearance of Jesus, a miracle, clouds spelling out a message, or a “feeling” in their heart. Then, they claim, they’d believe, submit, and call him “Lord.”

But would they, though?

Many people who see evidence still refuse to believe. The guards and religious leaders saw the empty tomb and knew what happened, yet they not only refused to believe, they manufactured lies to prevent others from believing. (Matthew 28.1-15) Festus heard the evidence of Paul’s changed life and knew about Jesus because, “these things were not done in a corner.” Yet he refused to believe and wrote Paul off as mentally ill. (Acts 26.24-29) In Revelation, indisputable proof is revealed, yet many stubbornly refuse to repent and be saved.

Searching for evidence with an open mind is good. Tim Keller called this “active doubt.” “Passive doubt” uses the lack of perfect clarity as an excuse. Passive doubters want God to, in effect, make them believe. They put the problem of their doubt on God. It’s his fault.

God does not and will not “make” people believe. God sends prophets, preachers, scriptures, his Spirit, and even miracles. The Bible itself is a miracle you can read and touch. God is sensitive to doubters and holds out his hands to appeal to them, but salvation comes by faith, not by proof. (Isaiah 65.1-2; Romans 10.10-21)

At the end of history, there will be no doubt in any human heart about God’s existence or righteousness. But at that point, faith will be impossible. The time for faith is now.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man. — Luke 21.34-26

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Revelation of Love

Christ’s apocalyptic second Advent is about releasing God’s love and about releasing us to be received by God’s love.

Revelation of Love :: Love of Advent
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Long For the Day of the True King

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 6 Listen: (3:34) Read: Revelation 15 Listen: (1:29)

Scripture Focus: Revelation 15.1-8

15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

  “Great and marvelous are your deeds,

    Lord God Almighty.

  Just and true are your ways,

    King of the nations.

  4 Who will not fear you, Lord,

    and bring glory to your name?

  For you alone are holy.

  All nations will come

    and worship before you,

  for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Reflection: Long For the Day of the True King

By John Tillman

What a contrast from the stumbles, errors, and sins of Israel’s kings from Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles to Revelation’s images of God as king.

God is a king with no mixed motives. This King takes no half-measures with evil. This King is not stingy with the wealth and blessings of the kingdom. This King pours out his wrath on wickedness. This King mercifully welcomes the repentant respondents to his voice.

God, the King of Heaven, is not like the kings of the earth. Even the best of them cannot approach God’s majesty. Even the most righteous of them wears robes filthy with wickedness. Even the most generous of them is a miserly grinch compared to God’s magnanimous beneficence. Even the wisest of them covers his mouth, lest foolish blather spill forth in the presence of God’s wisdom. Even the strongest of them cannot rise from the floor. Even the boldest of them dare not raise their eyes.

Stand in awe of God, the King of Heaven, today. Compare God, King of the Cosmos, to earthly kings who command fealty to their confederations of dust. Compare God’s wisdom to human kings’ foolishness. Compare God’s strength and honor to their fragility and desperation. And do not forget to compare God to the monarch nearest to us, the emperor of self, sitting on the throne of our hearts.

We, like the kings of our past and present, are undone in the presence of God. Like Isaiah, we know we are unclean of lips, heart, and actions. Yet we are called, purified, and made part of the throng of God’s people. We are armed with harps rather than weapons and readied for worship rather than warfare.

Revelation shows us the scene. The Temple of God’s covenant is opened, ready for his people. The wrath of God is carried from the Temple and poured out, never to return. The Temple is filled with the smoke of the Lord’s presence. One day, we will enter it.

Every year, my longing for that day is greater. Every time an earthly king disappoints (including the despot of my own heart), I long for that day. Every time an atrocity shakes the ground, the sky, and the news cycle, I long for that day.

Let your longing for that day grow. “…we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4.17b-18)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. — Psalm 85.9

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Kingly Qualifications

You are the king. These principles are for you. The reason our leaders don’t match them is decades of us not matching them.

Kingly Qualifications
Read more: Dethroning Kings and Powers

The regime change we need is to dethrone the sinful powers in our hearts…drag them out…the seed of Eve will crush their heads under his feet.

Dethroning Kings and Powers

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The Bad Timeline

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 4-5 Listen: (7:10) Read: Revelation 14 Listen: (3:51)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 4:10; 5:3

10 “When someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!”

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

Reflection: The Bad Timeline

By Erin Newton

This is the bad timeline. This phrase has been used recently regarding the never-ending “breaking news” cycle—filled with stories of war, corruption, suffering, genocide, health crises, financial turmoil, and various other events.

I get the same feeling reading through these first chapters of 2 Samuel. The book opens with the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. War breaks out between the two houses. Joab murders Abner. The sons of Rimmon murder Ish-bosheth.

Once David becomes king, another battle swiftly follows. Jerusalem is captured. David takes more women into his house as concubines and wives, granting him more children over the years. Another war breaks out with his former allies, the Philistines.

In the middle of these chapters, we have the anointing of David—a glimmer of positive news showing that God’s promise was being fulfilled.

God promised David that his rule would never end. For that to be true, David would need a royal title, land to govern, and heirs to inherit the throne. Chapters 4–5 reveal the fulfillment of such a promise. David is crowned. David secures Jerusalem as the center of Judah. David has many children who will be heirs.

But the timeline still looks bad, especially from our contemporary point of view. It is surrounded by, nearly drowned in, death and deceit and warfare. It is not really a pleasant chronology to follow. And for many of us, it’s uncomfortable.

We see God working in the life of David through events that are shrouded in evil motives. We see God working through people who have less-than-ideal resumes.

It is perplexing and frustrating. We might prefer God to work through perfect people in ways that are not covered in the corruption of sin. Let us not forget: He has.

The picture of Jesus should be set against this narrative of David. It is not a crown gained through the mafia-style killing of one’s opponent’s household. It is not a story of succumbing to the temptation, “All this I will give you … if you bow down and worship” (the devil). It is not a story of using one’s power and authority to gather women to him.

Jesus is the suffering servant, crowned with everlasting authority because he is divine. He rules over the creation he made through word alone. He gathers unto him a bride who has chosen to follow him.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling;

That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness; and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God. — Psalm 43.3-4

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: David—He’s Obnoxious

We should name sin for what it is. Call it out. David was wrong. This is inexcusable. Somehow, in God’s strange working, sinners are still used in God’s plan

David—He’s Obnoxious
Read more: Abishai or Abigail?

Examine your relationship to violence and the ethics of power. Whose mindset do we have? Abigail’s or Abishai’s?

Abishai or Abigail?