Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. – Psalm 45:3

Today's Scripture Reading (November 26, 2025): Psalm 45

G. K. Chesterton wrote that "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him" (G. K. Chesterton). I believe that there are times when every man wants to be seen as a warrior, and that desire is never greater than when we are around the ones that we love. And maybe there is no moment when a man wants to be seen as a warrior more than on the day that he gets married.

The title of Psalm 45 tells us that the Psalm is intended as a wedding song. More than just a wedding song, it is likely the wedding song of a King, in this instance, likely King Solomon. Perhaps it is worth remembering here that Solomon's understanding was that his father, David, was the warrior. And because of the blood Dad had spilled, he didn't have the opportunity to build the Temple that had been his dream. That had been delayed until the reign of the builder, Solomon. Yet, in this moment, even Solomon wants to be seen as the warrior and the mighty one.

So, the Psalmist tells Solomon, and the groom in other wedding settings, to clothe himself in splendor and majesty, and to place the sword on his side, because on this day, he was the warrior.

Psalm 45 is a wedding song, possibly written for Solomon, but by extension, it is a psalm written for every bridegroom on his wedding day. It is a Psalm that reminds men that they are supposed to be warriors, not because of what they hate, but because of who they love.

Some experts also believe that this is a Messianic Psalm, that it is Jesus who ultimately clothes himself in splendor and places the sword on his side as he steps out as the warrior who battles the evil forces of this world. Some even suggest that this verse is the basis for a description of the heavenly warrior in Revelation 19.

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-16)

Until then, go and be a warrior willing to defend all that you love.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 4

Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother." – 1 Kings 3:27

Today's Scripture Reading (November 25, 2025): 1 Kings 3

I am lucky; I grew up in a strong, loving family. I think most of my friends growing up also experienced strong family units, but there were a few where the family unit seemed to be damaged. I remember, as a small child, having friends who were locked out of the house early in the morning, only to be welcomed back for a short time at lunch before they were locked out again until supper time. I was of preschool age at the time, but even to my immature mind, something seemed wrong. I also admit that I didn't understand the circumstances that were the realities of this family; how could I, at such a young age? But to my young mind, something wasn't right.

Another friend was adopted as a child. And perhaps it was just the personality of his parents, but when I was at the house, there was a noticeable difference between the loving manner of his adoptive mother and the sterner, more distant attitude of his adoptive father. But the one thing that I never doubted was that both of his adoptive parents loved him. They may have loved him differently, and I know my friend didn't always appreciate the efforts of his adoptive father, but the love was present from both parents.

Two prostitutes are brought to Solomon with a problem. Both had become pregnant and both had given birth to a child. One of those children had died, and now both women were claiming the surviving child as her own. The story is one with which most of us are familiar, but I think we often miss the point of Solomon's judgment. First, we need to be reminded that both women wanted a child. So, they came and presented the problem to the wise King Solomon, and Solomon had to deliver his judgment. Solomon has no way of knowing which woman is the mother of this child, a fact that remains unchanged throughout the story. At no point can Solomon tell which woman is the mother. This question of ancestry is often overlooked. We believe that the story reveals which woman is the birth mother, but that is not what the story actually tells us.

Solomon demands that a sword be brought to him, and then orders that the child be cut in half, with half of the child being given to each mother. It was a gruesome judgment, and I often wonder what Solomon would have done if both mothers had agreed with his decision. But that doesn't happen. Instead, one woman celebrates the decision while the other is horrified. The one who is horrified immediately surrenders her claim. The child will at least live, even if he lives in the presence of the other woman. Solomon's wise decision is that the woman who was willing to relinquish the child so that it could live was the true mother.

Was she? Yes, but perhaps not in the way we might think. The woman who was willing to give up the child might have been the birth mother, but her willingness to give up the child to ensure his survival was what a loving mother, birth or adoptive, would do. Whether this woman was the birth mother or not doesn't really matter; she was the one who would be willing to sacrifice so that her child would live, and that made her the right mother for the child.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 45

Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. – 2 Chronicles 1:1

Today's Scripture Reading (November 24, 2025): 2 Chronicles 1

Officially, it is called the "Commonwealth of Nations." Informally, it is more often referred to as the "British Commonwealth" or simply the "Commonwealth." Currently, the Commonwealth is led by King Charles III, comprising 56 sovereign nations, none of which rule over another. The nations that comprise the Commonwealth of Nations have declared that they share certain values and goals, which they have chosen to pursue and promote. These values include a belief in democracy, the existence of inalienable human rights, adherence to the rule of law, the equality of people before the law, free trade among nations, and a desire for global peace. These beliefs are the glue that holds these 56 nations together.

What I find interesting is that while the Commonwealth is built around these principles, there was an understanding late in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II that it was the Queen who was actually holding the Commonwealth together. The fear on the part of royalists, and even part-time royalists like me, was that when the Queen died the Commonwealth of Nations might die with her unless the crown skipped a generation to the reign of King William V. Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, and the crown did not pass to King William V; instead, it went to King Charles III. And why shouldn't Charles have taken the crown? It was a position that he had prepared for all of his life, more than seventy years of learning how to be King. Charles felt like he deserved to try to reign as King. At the time, I think most of the royal watchers expected that the days of the Commonwealth were growing short. Without Elizabeth to keep the nations focused on the shared vision, the member states of the Commonwealth would likely quickly begin to drift apart.

Fast forward three years, and so far, the predicted exodus has not materialized. Charles III has acquitted himself reasonably well. There is no doubt that cracks remain in the Commonwealth of Nations, with many who view the idea of a monarch as antiquated and something the world no longer needs. That is a discussion we should have. But, maybe unexpectedly, Charles has emerged as a better King than most thought he would be. And, maybe, we could even say that he has established himself over his kingdom of nations.

As Chronicles begins the tale of King Solomon, it would have been natural for the nation to wonder how Solomon would do as King. He had received every advantage that a King could want at the beginning of their reign. But, at the same time, and much like Charles III, Solomon could never live up to the King that his dad, David, had been. Yet again, possibly unexpectedly, Solomon established himself over the nation. However, Chronicles also tells us why Solomon was able to establish himself as the ruler of his kingdom. Solomon's greatness originated with God. And Solomon would only be great if he were willing to depend on God.    

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 3

Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one. – Psalm 132:17

Today's Scripture Reading (November 23, 2025): Psalm 132

Jerusalem. The Holy City has become a divided city. It is still a city promise, but it is also a place of great pain. Today, Jews, Christians, and Muslims hold the city to be one of the most sacred places on the planet. The three Abrahamic religions have converged in this city. There, the faiths argue, fight, or sometimes attempt to ignore each other. All are waiting for the day when Jerusalem will stand once again for something more than just its divisions.

Some seem to want to rush the day, to have Jerusalem internationally recognized as the Capital city of Modern Israel. Others believe that this is not the time for such a move. Someday, maybe, but not now. They are waiting for a time after a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian question. Still, the hold that the three faiths have on the city means that an acceptable solution to the problem might be a long time coming. If there is any evidence that Jesus' return may be delayed, it might be the current status of Jerusalem.

As with many of the Psalms, there is a question about when this Psalm was written. Some prefer to place this Psalm at the tail end of David's life. Others believe that it was likely written during the exile. I lean a little toward the latter, possibly on the strength of this verse. During the days of David, Jerusalem was a powerful city and a light to the world. It was a city of trade and power. It didn't have to be made into that. However, as the exiles prepared to return to Israel, Jerusalem wasn't just a divided city; it was a broken one. There was no Temple, and no wall to protect the city. It was neither a possessor of power nor a light for God's anointed one. Jerusalem was little more than a home for jackals and the wildlife that surrounded the city.

However, in this Psalm, God promises to restore Jerusalem's power. And not only that, but a light for his Anointed One, literally, the Messiah. It is a promise, straight from God, that assured the exiles that this pile of broken rocks that was once the City of David would stand again, and that God's Messiah was still on the way. God wasn't finished with Jerusalem, not yet.

I believe that is still true. Even in a day when Jerusalem is divided and peace seems to be so far away, God still has plans for David's city. And he will restore it, heal the divisions, and it will be a light for the second coming of his Messiah. I don't know when that might happen, but I am certain that it will. And it is that day for which I patiently wait.  

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 1

Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. – Psalm 72:1

Today's Scripture Reading (November 22, 2025): Psalm 72

In our enlightened state, or perhaps in our skepticism, we often question the notion that the King, or later a Pope, could be thought to have ruled in the place of God. Our skepticism likely stems from the numerous failures of those in positions of power. I recently commented on the number of Pastors that I followed a couple of decades ago, who have since fallen off their perch and been removed from their ministries due to moral failures. Maybe power really does corrupt. It is a principle that we see almost daily in our headlines, as King Charles struggles to punish his brother, Prince Andrew, for his alleged misbehavior, as he supposedly participated in the sex scandal that surrounds the late Jeffrey Epstein.

The reality is that we have missed the central message of our belief about ruling in the place of God. Kings and leaders were thought to rule in the place of God, not as a reminder of their power, but as a reminder that they were designed to be a fountain of justice. After all, if a King or a Pope did not dispense justice with the power that they possessed, then no one would. If those who could not afford a bribe could not get the justice they needed from the King, then justice would be unavailable to anyone. It is why, even today, the idea that a politician can be bought is one of the worst crimes that can be brought against our political leaders.

And it is one of the worst charges that can be brought against a pastor. A friend who was responsible for dispensing tax receipts in a congregation shares a story about a pastor who asked him for donation information so that he would know who to visit, wanting to ensure that he only visited with significant donors. My friend was rightfully offended by the request, believing that it was just another example of a "pay to play" philosophy.

There is some question of whether this Psalm was written by Solomon or to Solomon. I think it might have been the latter. The Psalm somehow feels like it is the prayer of a father who wants to leave his son with a positive thought that stems from what was believed to be the central responsibility of a King. If it were David, maybe we could rephrase the prayer as "God, make the new King a fountain of your justice; Lord, please give to my son your righteousness that he might genuinely be your King.

Today, maybe we can't depend on the Kings to be a fountain of justice. And maybe our leaders will let us down, but as Christians, that is who we must be. We must stand up against injustice wherever it may be found. And when our leaders refuse to be the "Fountain of Justice," we must step up and declare a righteousness that is for everyone, regardless of the economic and social realities that might want to point us toward something less.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 132

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong. – Psalm 37:1

Today's Scripture Reading (November 21, 2025): Psalm 37

I don't think that I have had to live through evil times. At least, nothing on the scale of an Adolf Hitler-led Germany or a Josef Stalin-led Russia. I have read about the events that occurred during those times, but I have not lived through them, and I am glad that I haven't. What would it be like to be a Jew boarding a train for the West, attempting to escape Hitler's policies, wondering if you were going to make it or get caught at the last moment?

I am not saying that such times are not possible during our day. Every day as I watch the news, it seems like evil is lurking, maybe just around the corner, waiting to see if we will dare to let our guard down. But it is not here; not yet. Some of the political parties might seem to be pressing the limits of evil. However, the fantastic part of that evaluation is that which party is closer to that evil likely still depends on your political beliefs. It seems to me that Adolf Hitler was objectively evil, as was Josef Stalin. But no one in our current political environment has that kind of image in our culture. (Which is why I am not naming the evil in our current culture. We might agree that there is evil in our society, and yet have differing ideas on who those evil characters might be.)

The question that I struggle with is what I would do if I lived during the eras of truly evil people. Do I have the faith not to worry if I lived during their times? It is a lot to ask. I love the way that Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) responds to this text.

The Psalm opens with the first precept. It is alas! too common for believers in their hours of adversity to think themselves harshly dealt with when they see persons utterly destitute of religion and honesty, rejoicing in abundant prosperity. Much needed is the command, Fret not thyself because of evildoers. To fret is to worry, to have the heartburn, to fume, to become vexed. Nature is very apt to kindle a fire of jealousy when it sees lawbreakers riding on horses, and obedient subjects walking in the mire: it is a lesson learned only in the school of grace (Charles Spurgeon).

Do I fret over the evil I see in our society? Probably. I worry, although I am not quite ready to blame my heartburn on that worry. But maybe. The Psalmist is clear. Don't fret because of the forces you see at work on the outside. As a good friend often reminds me, know that God is still on the throne. He is still at work even when things seem to be heading in the wrong direction. And he can work even through the greatest evil that we can imagine. What we need to do is, regardless of what is happening outside, to keep walking in the footsteps of Jesus and be the salt and light that our culture still needs. In the process, we can make this world, with the help of the Holy Spirit, a better place.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 72

When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. – 1 Kings 2:1

Today's Scripture Reading (November 20, 2025): 1 Kings 2

In a royal system where ascension to the throne is determined by family ancestry and birth order, the reality is that most monarchs have known for their entire lives that one day they will become King. It is definitely true for the men who are likely to be the next kings of England. King Charles was four when his mother became queen. But even before his fourth birthday, it had already become clear that his mother (Elizabeth II) would reign, and that meant that, as her eldest male child, he too would have his time on the throne. In the end, the only doubt for Charles was whether he would live long enough to inherit the crown. There is no doubt that Prince William has been groomed to assume the crown of the United Kingdom from birth, including his late mother's insistence when he was a baby that he would never be called "King Billy." Next in line is George, who seems to be quickly becoming a young man — a twelve-year-old who sometimes appears much older, as twelve-year-olds often can. One day, he will, in all likelihood, become George VII, King of the United Kingdom. Monarch is a position for which each of these three men has or will spend a lifetime in preparation. And in all likelihood, none of them will assume the throne at a young age. None of them will have a chance to match the longevity of being the supreme monarch that Elizabeth II enjoyed; Elizabeth spent almost 70 years on the Throne of the United Kingdom.

David ascended the throne when he was about 30 years old. And he reigned for 40 years. He had many sons, and among them were those who believed that one day they too would assume the throne of Israel. But one by one, his sons seemed to disqualify themselves from the position. Finally, the decision was made that it would not be the oldest son who would receive the mantle of leadership from his Father, but rather a younger son, the son of Bathsheba, a young man named Solomon. The news sent shockwaves through the family dynamics, especially among those who believed they should be the next King. By the time that David was ready to die, at least two of his older sons had already preceded him in death: Amnon (the oldest) and Absalom (the third oldest). So, David sends for Solomon to give him some advice, one King to another. Dating this event is somewhat problematic, but this action likely occurred around the time of Adonijah's rebellion (David's fourth-oldest son), as he attempted to seize the throne of his Father. David's charge to Solomon was either the precipitating event that caused Adonijah to rebel and crown himself King, or David crowned Solomon as King in response to Adonijah's rebellion. The real mystery is what Chileab (the second-oldest and heir apparent) was doing throughout all of this. We know very little about David's second son.

However, David had decided to go outside the birth order to crown Solomon as King. And it was not the first time in the biblical narrative that such a thing had happened. God seems to have a way of ignoring what we think is important and moving in a totally different direction. God has a more intimate understanding of the way we have been created and the things that we need to accomplish in life.

The challenge for us is trusting God when events do not go our way. We sometimes have to decide to be faithful through the struggle, saying to God once and for all, "Have Thine own way."

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 37

See also 1 Chronicles 23:1

Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. – 1 Kings 1:3

Today's Scripture Reading (November 19, 2025): 1 Kings 1

A good friend of mine literally bristled whenever the subject of Abishag came up. Abishag was a beautiful woman who was brought into David’s bed to keep him warm, and she has been referred to by various names by critics and experts alike. Perhaps, depending on the person's stereotypical beliefs regarding the story, Abishag has been referred to as a “housekeeper,” “attendant,” “administrator,” or even a “palace steward.” And maybe she was. It is possible that they brought her in to keep the King warm while also fulfilling other duties in the service of the King.

But it is not the meat of the description that most of us have of Abishag. It is also often not the illustration that artists want to take from the story of Abishag. “David and Abishag,” a painting by Pedro Americo from 1879, depicts a beautiful, naked Abishag lying beside a naked and elderly David. It was this image that enraged my friend. That image, along with some of the other descriptions of Abishag, has brought to the forefront of our minds descriptions like “bedfellow,” “hot-water bottle,” “heating pad,” or simply “bed warmer.” None of these descriptions of Abishag is very appealing.

Perhaps the tragedy of Abishag's story is that as it unfolds, she continues to be used as a pawn in the battle between the powers vying for the Throne of Israel. First, she is used to warm King David’s bed, then she becomes the love interest (probably not the proper term to use) of Adonijah, David’s eldest surviving son. Adonijah wants to marry her, not because she is beautiful or talented, but because Abishag was a concubine of his father, and now he believes she can help him take his father’s crown for himself by becoming his “bed warmer.”

Some experts believe that Abishag is also the love interest in Solomon’s “Song of Songs.” That she is the beautiful woman who calls Solomon “My beloved.” If that is true, then it seems that Abishag the Shunammite remained a pawn for the powerful for most of her life.

I must admit that I sometimes wonder what happened when Abishag grew older and her beauty began to fade slightly. Was she still pursued and honored, or was this just a function of her youth? It is a question that Robert Frost explores briefly in his poem “Provide, Provide,” although the poet only uses her name and not her story. In the opening words of Frost’s poem, he writes;

The witch that came [the withered hag]
To wash the steps with pail and rag,
Was once the beauty Abishag (Robert Frost: Provide, Provide).

I hope Abishag found peace in her later years. I actually hope that Solomon decided to honor her throughout her life, not because of her desirability, but because she was a person of value who had served Kings and was used by those who just wanted to be Kings.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 2

So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. – 1 Chronicles 29:23

Today's Scripture Reading (November 18, 2025): 1 Chronicles 29

Throughout human history, thrones have often been held by a family line. Succession frequently ran from Father to son, but sometimes to a daughter. Occasionally, there were questions over succession. One of the most recent questions to arise resulted in the Jacobite rebellion during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The uprising began over a disagreement on who was the rightful heir to the throne of England, a fight that existed between the House of Stuart (or Stewart), which ended with the reign of Anne, Queen of Great Britain from 1702-1714, only to be succeeded by the House of Hanover with King George I. The disagreement stemmed from a question of who should have succeeded King James II and VII, a Catholic Monarch who was removed in favor of his Protestant daughter, Mary II, and her husband, William of Orange. The Stewarts believed that the rightful heir to the throne was James Francis Edward Stuart. Perhaps one of the most famous of the Jacobite Stuart pretenders was Charles Edward Stuart, the son of James Francis Edward Stuart, better known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie." The Royal Stuart line died out in 1807, ending any possible rebellion from the House of Stuart. But for a while, there were questions about who should have been on the throne of England.

David was dying. And in the last days of his reign, Solomon took the throne. There had been insurrections as Solomon's older brothers had tried to take the throne for themselves, but the throne did not belong to them; it belonged to David, at least on the surface. It appears that David had made an agreement with Bathsheba to place Solomon on the throne of Israel, despite the fact that other sons could have rightfully claimed that the throne should have been theirs. It seems that, perhaps to counter those who might try to take the throne for themselves, Solomon was given the crown just prior to David's death, while David was still alive and able to confirm that this was his will.

However, the author of Chronicles provides us with another piece of information. We might call Solomon's throne the throne of Israel or even the throne of David, but it wasn't. The throne didn't belong to either a nation or a person; it belonged to God. The people may have requested Samuel to give them a King, but Samuel hadn't chosen the King. First, God had chosen Saul. After Saul's failure, God chose David. And now, it was God who was choosing Solomon. As long as the Kings remembered who it was who had chosen them, things would go well. But when they forgot, then things would always go sideways. That principle included Solomon. Initially, Solomon performed well as King. However, as his reign continued, things began to go wrong when Solomon stopped ruling in God's name and started to rule as he saw fit, without giving God a second thought in the nation's decisions.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 1

But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.' – 1 Chronicles 28:3

Today's Scripture Reading (November 17, 2025): 1 Chronicles 28                               

We were going to build a new church. We already had a piece of land for the new building. The existing church was beginning to show its age, parking had become a problem, and, to be blunt, past property decisions were starting to come back to haunt us. So, plans were made and a new church was in the dreaming process.

The problem with new churches and old churches is a question of economics. It is often more cost-effective to relocate a church to the outskirts of the city than to make the necessary changes within the city. That was also part of the scenario that led to the decision to build a new church. It was simply cheaper to move the church to the edge of the city than to try to buy property and rebuild where we were. So, we began to raise funds to feed the dream.

At one point in the process, I remember going to my boss with a question. Where do you think God wants this church to be? The answer I received was that my boss didn't believe that God had an opinion. It took the pressure off the possible move, but it was an answer with which I struggled. After all, building the new church meant that we were going to be moving a city church, that existed between the city center neighborhoods and the suburbs, and follow the trail of many other city churches to the edge of the city.

We didn't end up building a new church; instead, we decided to keep the church where it was. Soon after the failed move bid, my boss decided to move on. When asked if the two incidents were in any way related, the public answer was always no, but I was never convinced. I mean, there would have been no way the lead pastor would have left a church that was in the process of building a new church, but that is really just my opinion.

David wanted to build a Temple. But he also wanted to move it. The Tabernacle was not in Jerusalem, and that is where David wanted to build the Temple. So, it was a move and a build. But, in this case, God did have a preference. And David understood that while he dreamed of the new Temple, he would not be the one to build it. That would be the privilege of his son.

I don't think David ever understood what was on God's mind. I am convinced that it wasn't David's son, Solomon, who was supposed to build the Temple. It was Jesus. And it was not a move from Gibeon to Jerusalem that God had planned, but a move from Gibeon to the hearts of the people that was required.

David misunderstood, but we can know that God's Temple is built inside of all of us, his church. And God does care where that church is located; it is situated in the midst of all the people because that is where God is sending us.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 29

David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped. – 2 Samuel 24:25

Today's Scripture Reading (November 16, 2025): 2 Samuel 24                                    

Have you ever wondered what might be buried beneath your feet? Or maybe what your neighborhood might have looked like a thousand years ago? If you live in my neighborhood, you might be tempted to say that no one was here a thousand years ago. But that is not true, regardless of where you live. It is the reason that, in my part of the world, we sometimes hold land acknowledgment ceremonies, reminding ourselves that we, as descendants of European pioneers, are not the first to walk in North America. Somebody was here before us.

Some of our most popular buildings are constructed on top of other significant structures or sacred sites. My grandfather used to tell me to invest in land because "they aren't making any more," so maybe it shouldn't surprise us that buildings are sometimes built on top of other buildings. One of those buildings built on top of something else is the Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City. The Basilica of St Peter was started by Pope Julius II in 1506, but it wasn't completed until 1615, over a hundred years later, under the watchful eye of Pope Paul V. However, St. Peter's Basilica was built on the same spot where Constantine had once built a smaller Basilica during the fourth century. In fact, Pope Julius II intentionally positioned his Basilica over the footprint of the old church. But underneath the fourth-century Basilica lies the Vatican Necropolis, which contains tombs that date back to the time of Jesus, including, many believe, the burial site of St. Peter himself.

David builds an altar on the site of the threshing floor of Araunah. A threshing floor was a place where grain was threshed. Threshing is a process where the grain is gently tossed in the air, and the chaff, or the unproductive part of the grain, is blown away by a breeze, while the heavier seed falls to the ground. As a result, threshing floors tended to be built on high places where the breezes were frequently available. And that is true of this threshing floor belonging to a man named Araunah. The threshing floor was built on a hill in Jerusalem. But the threshing floor wasn't the first thing to be built on this space.

The threshing floor of Araunah, situated on a high place, is believed to have been constructed on Mount Moriah, where Abraham once intended to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It was this same space where Solomon would build his Temple, and it is the space that Zerubbabel would build the second Temple after Judah returned from the Babylonian exile. It is also the same group of hills where Jesus would be crucified in 30 C.E., and it is the same place that today the Jews call Temple Mount; a place where today you will find the Dome on the Rock, which was built in 692 C.E. and is one of the oldest extant Muslim structures in the world. All of this is why Temple Mount is so important to all of the Abrahamic religions today.

You never know what history might have taken place right below your feet.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 28

Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. – Psalm 108:6

Today's Scripture Reading (November 15, 2025): Psalm 108

It has been described as one of the most significant theological assertions scholars have ever made. If there is one thing about God that we all need to know, it is this one thought, and yet, so often we overlook its importance, maybe because it is found in a children's song:

            Jesus loves me this I know

            For the Bible tells me so (Anna Bartlett Warner – 1859).

It is something that John the Apostle seemed to understand, and he could never get beyond this one thought. As John writes his gospel, every place where he could insert his name, he instead places the phrase "the disciple whom Jesus loved." The phrase only occurs in John's gospel, where it occurs six times. It's as if John couldn't get over this one thought. Jesus loves me. Can you believe it? Me. Why would he love me?

David has the same struggle. God, I don't know why you love me, but you do. In the past, you have moved to save me, and I know that you will save me now, because I know that you love me.

The Psalm opens up with David's praise for this God who loves him. In fact, it isn't until verse six that the reader even realizes that David is in trouble and in need of rescue. As he comes before God, it is not his need that first comes to his mind; it is his praise of the God who loves him. I can almost hear the King singing as he writes;

            Yes, Jesus loves me.

            Yes, Jesus loves me.

            Yes, Jesus loves me.

            The Bible tells me so (Anna Bartlett Warner – 1859).

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 24

… and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all. – 2 Samuel 23:39

Today's Scripture Reading (November 14, 2025): 2 Samuel 23

You know the story. David goes up on the roof in the evening to look over the city. It was a common practice for women to place a bathtub full of water on the roof. The heat of the day would warm the water, and the lady of the house would go and bathe in it in the evening. It is unlikely that David didn't know what he was going to see.

What David sees is a beautiful woman taking a bath, and the King is smitten. Did he know who this woman was or that she would be there beforehand? I am not sure of the answer to that question. However, David thinks he is in love. He sends for this woman, and she comes to him. Today, this would be a significant misuse of power. The question that needs to be asked is "Could this woman say no to the King?" The answer to that question is pretty obvious: no.

David sleeps with this woman, whose name is Bathsheba, and she becomes pregnant. Her husband is in the army, fighting and defending Israel. David sends for the husband of Bathsheba, ordering him to return to Jerusalem. The King hopes that while he is home, Bathsheba's husband will go and sleep with his wife and come to accept that the child is his. But this soldier is too principled to do that. He sleeps on the floor of the palace, refusing the comforts of home because his brothers in arms are not able to share that comfort in their homes. So, Bathsheba's husband is sent back to the battle with orders that will essentially mean that he cannot survive the battle. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, David enjoyed such an elevated position in Judaism that the rabbis placed the blame for this soldier's death on the soldier. After all, if he had only followed the demands of his King and gone home to his wife, there would have been no need to have him killed. I don't follow that warped logic.

Bathsheba's husband was Uriah the Hittite. And as David's life draws to a close, Uriah the Hittite is listed as one of David's Mighty Men. It is a sad conclusion to this list of heroic men who had sacrificed so much for David and Israel, and yet the King had not always given them the same honor in return.

For us, this mention of Uriah, rather than just highlighting a flaw in David's character, is a reminder that we all have character flaws. And we all sin. I believe that when we are aware of our flaws, we have the opportunity to overcome them and improve. I know that David could have done better. But he didn't, and as a result of David's flaws, someone died.

Perhaps, because we are familiar with this story, we can do better.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 108

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. – 2 Samuel 22:18

Today's Scripture Reading (November 13, 2025): 2 Samuel 22

In April 1961, the United States made plans to attempt to overthrow the Fidel Castro government in Cuba. It was a David and Goliath story that turned into a Goliath and David story, and this time, David lost. The genesis of the plan began in the office of the President of the United States. Part of the problem was that the person of the President changed midway during the planning of the invasion. The planning began with Republican President Dwight Eisenhower. However, by April 1961, it was Democratic President John F. Kennedy who would carry out the last planning stages, as well as be at the helm of the actual invasion.

The Cuba attack of 1961 is known as the Bay of Pigs invasion because the Bay of Pigs on the island nation of Cuba was where the invasion was to begin. Maybe what we have to understand is that the Bay of Pigs invasion was never intended to overthrow the government or take control of the island. The purpose of the invasion was to give the Castro opposition in Cuba a path to overthrow the dictator. One of the invasion's negative factors was that the size of the invasion force and air support was continually downsized right up to the time of the assault. And air support was downsized to almost zero; the only air support was a bombing raid on a Cuban military airport, which was underwhelming in its effectiveness, which took place a few days before the actual invasion began. There was intended to be a second raid, but President Kennedy canceled that raid.

The result was that when the land force went in on April 17, 1961, the soldiers believed that they had more American military support than had, in reality, been approved. Throughout the fight, the officers on the ground in Cuba continually sent messages requesting help from the United States military. These messages were consistently met with silence. The truth was that the pleas were reaching the right people, and those people were pleading with the Kennedy government for permission to send help, but John F. Kennedy continued to say no. The soldiers on the beach were incredulous. The largest and most significant military in the world refused to come to the aid of its soldiers fighting a battle less than a hundred miles from the Florida coast. It was a moment of intense failure for the Kennedy presidency that occurred just a few months into his time as President of the United States.

This situation also fueled the conspiracy theories that the CIA was involved in the Kennedy assassination. After all, President Kennedy had proven himself to be an unreliable partner in times of need. Another conspiracy theory was that Castro was involved in having the President assassinated. And again, Kennedy had tried to kill Castro, so why shouldn't Fidel Castro attempt to assassinate Kennedy?

President Kennedy didn't come through for the Cuban exiles he had put in harm's way in Cuba. However, David did not doubt that his God would come through when he needed him. The enemy was powerful, but no one was as powerful as David's God, and he heard David's cry and rescued him from the situations that threatened to overwhelm him.    

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 23

In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. – 2 Samuel 21:20

Today's Scripture Reading (November 12, 2025): 2 Samuel 21

Antonio Alfonseca was a professional relief pitcher who was born in the Dominican Republic. The Montreal Expos originally signed Alfonseca. (The Expos were the first Major League Baseball team to be located outside of the United States, and I have to admit that, back in the day, I was a card-carrying member of the Montreal Expos fan club.) He didn't play for my Expos, but he did play for several teams in MLB and was part of the Florida Marlins team that won the World Series in 1997. He also won the National League Rolaids Relief Man Award and was the National League saves leader during the 2000 season, also with the Marlins.

Alfonseca also had a few interesting nicknames. He was known as "The Dragonslayer," "El Pulpo" (The Octopus), and "Six-Fingers." The last two nicknames were likely because Alfonseca had a condition known as polydactyly; he had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. It was a condition that his grandfather also had, and Alfonseca regarded his extra fingers and toes as a badge of honor and a family trait.

Polydactyly is not an unknown condition; approximately 4 to 12 babies out of every 10,000 births are born with the condition. The extra fingers can cause pain, often negatively affect a person's self-esteem, and might make a person seem clumsy. Today, most children with polydactyly have the extra digits removed soon after birth. But some, like Antonio Alfonseca, keep the extra fingers and toes and are proud of this feature that makes them different from most other people.

The author of 2 Samuel tells us of a giant Philistine warrior from Gath who had twelve fingers and twelve toes. The author of Samuel may have never met anyone with polydactyly. It also seems probable that the author linked the extra digits of this warrior to his size, believing that he was so big he needed them. I have no idea whether the additional digits helped or hindered this Philistine giant. But it seems evident that the extra fingers and toes were a significant propaganda element for the Philistines.

However, the extra fingers and toes did not cause David and his mighty men to second-guess their mission. It didn't matter how big or strong the enemy was, or how many fingers and toes they had; David was confident that his mission had been given to him by God. God would not leave him alone, so the King was unimpressed by the extra fingers and toes of a Philistine giant.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 22