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God’s purposes are never frustrated, even when human intentions and circumstances seem to threaten their fulfilment. David’s kingdom is preserved, Absalom’s rebellion is defeated, and God’s promises remain secure. Yet David is so overwhelmed by the loss of his son that he struggles to recognize God’s deliverance. His grief not only obscures the significance of God’s work but also dishonours those through whom that work was accomplished. Like David, we can become so consumed by disappointment, regret, or sorrow that we fail to recognize God’s faithfulness and neglect our responsibilities toward others. Even when God’s dealings with us are painful or contrary to our expectations, his purposes remain good and his promises secure. Our response should be one of humble trust, grateful obedience, and confidence in his unfailing faithfulness.

David’s kingdom is unravelling. His son Absalom has turned against him, the hearts of Israel have been stolen, and even his trusted counsellor has joined the rebellion. Forced to flee Jerusalem, David faces an uncertain future, with little indication of how the promises God made to him can possibly be fulfilled. Yet the rebellion’s apparent success conceals a very different reality. While Absalom confidently pursues his plans, the Lord is at work, frustrating the counsel of the rebellious and sustaining David through the loyalty and kindness of others. God’s judgment upon David has not meant the abandonment of his promises, nor does his sovereign care mean the immediate removal of David’s troubles. The best-laid plans of kings and men may fail, but the purposes of the Lord never will.

There is forgiveness for sin—all sin. But forgiveness does not mean that sin leaves nothing behind. Though God had forgiven David, the consequences of his wrongdoing would reach deep into his own household. In 2 Samuel 13–14, those consequences begin to unfold. Sexual violence, hatred, murder, estrangement, and family strife reveal the terrible reach of sin. Yet the tragedy is compounded by the failure to respond rightly. David’s inaction, Absalom’s vengeance, and Joab’s manipulation turn an already devastating situation into an escalating crisis. Sin has consequences, and those consequences must be faced responsibly. When they are not, wrong responses can become occasions for further sin and ruin. Yet even amid the damage sin leaves behind, forgiveness and reconciliation remain available through Jesus Christ, who has fully dealt with the guilt of sin through his death on the cross.

Sermon from October 04, 2026 service. Lew Worrad preaching.

Sin rarely remains as small or as hidden as we imagine. David’s story begins with a moment of carelessness and unfolds into adultery, deception, and murder. As Israel’s king, he uses his authority to satisfy his desires and conceal his wrongdoing, drawing others into the consequences of his sin. For a time, his efforts appear successful. But what David hides from others is fully visible to the Lord. God sees his sin, declares it evil, and sends his prophet to expose it. The confrontation reveals both the seriousness of David’s rebellion and the astonishing grace of the God against whom he has sinned. Though David is forgiven, the consequences of his actions bring grief and death into his household. His story calls us to recognize sin for what it is, hate what God hates, and seek the mercy of the God who sees us.

Most of us like having options. We like deciding where we’ll go, what we’ll do, and how we’ll respond. Which can make the idea of a king difficult for us. A king’s authority isn’t dependent upon our approval. We don’t decide whether he reigns, only how we’ll respond to his reign. And that matters because we don’t merely believe in a God who rescues us—we belong to a God who rules us. But what kind of King is he? Scripture reveals a King whose reign is righteous, whose power cannot be resisted, and whose kindness reaches helpless and undeserving people. In Jesus Christ, the promised Son of David, that King has come near to his enemies with an astonishing offer of grace: forgiveness, life, and a place in his household. The King’s kindness can be rejected, but his reign cannot. So how are we responding to the King?

Sermon from September 13, 2026 service. Avery Pham preaching.

Sermon from September 6, 2026 service. Brian Hartnett preaching.

It’s tempting to try and measure the Christian life by what we’re doing for God. We want to live wisely, give generously, and declare urgently. Desires like these are good, but they can quietly leave us carrying a responsibility God never gave us—as though his purposes ultimately depend upon our ability to accomplish them. Scripture offers something far better: a life of humble dependence upon the God whose grace precedes our service and whose promises do not depend upon our strength. We can work diligently and faithfully without believing everything rests on us. We can face an uncertain future without needing to know how everything will turn out. And we can wait confidently for promises we could never fulfil ourselves. So what does a life look like when our confidence rests not in what we can accomplish for God, but in what God has promised to accomplish?

Human greatness can be impressive, and Scripture gives us good reason to honour faithful people. David certainly deserves our admiration. In 2 Samuel 5–6, Israel unites under his rule, Jerusalem becomes his capital, his house grows, and his enemies are defeated. David becomes “greater and greater.” But the text continually raises our eyes higher. David leads because God leads him. He wins because God goes before him. He reigns because God establishes him. His greatness is real, but it is received, dependent, and derived. Even the great king lives under the rule of a greater King. That truth demands a response: not Uzzah’s presumption or Michal’s contempt, but David’s dependence, obedience, reverence, and praise. Whatever gifts, responsibilities, or influence God has given, the leader is still led. David’s great; God’s greater.

Transitions of power can be messy, and the transition from Saul to David was no exception. God had promised David the kingdom, but after Saul’s death, most of Israel still remained loyal to Saul’s house. Into that uncertainty stepped Abner—a powerful, influential man accustomed to making things happen. He made a king, fought a war, strengthened his position, and eventually tried to deliver to David the very kingdom God had already promised him. Abner’s story exposes a temptation familiar to all of us: when we know (or think we know) how things ought to turn out, we can begin to assume responsibility for making them turn out that way. But God’s purposes do not depend upon our strength, influence, or ability to control the outcome. In 2 Samuel 2:8–4:12, the “strong” man and the “weak” king remind us to trust God and not force his purposes.

What happens in our hearts when someone who has opposed us falls? Vindication can quickly become satisfaction, and another person’s loss can easily look like our opportunity. David faced precisely that temptation when news arrived that Saul was dead. The man who had pursued him for years was gone, and the throne God had promised was finally within reach. Yet David did not celebrate Saul’s fall or exploit it for his own advancement. He mourned, taught God’s people to lament, sought the Lord’s direction, and honoured those who had remained faithful to Saul. His response reveals a heart shaped by trust in God’s providence, grief over the devastation of sin, concern for others, and humble attention to his own calling. In David we see both a model for God’s people and a glimpse ahead to the perfect Son of David still to come.

First Samuel asks a simple but profound question: What kind of king do God’s people need? As the book draws to its close, the answer comes into sharp focus. Saul’s tragic reign reaches its appointed end, David stands ready to receive the kingdom God has promised, and above them both stands the Lord—the enduring King who faithfully accomplishes his purposes and keeps every word he has spoken. These closing chapters remind us that history is not ultimately shaped by human leaders, achievements, or failures, but by the sovereign God who raises up, brings down, and directs every scene according to His perfect will. As the narrative reaches this pivotal moment, readers are invited to consider these final chapters through the lens of the three kings involved: David, the incoming king; Saul, the outgoing king; and above them both, God, the enduring King.

Sermon from July 26, 2026 service. Harold Peasley preaching.

Sermon from July 19, 2026 service. Cliff Donaldson preaching.