Daily Devotions

Who wrote the book?

As we noted in the previous chapter, 1 and 2 Samuel form one book in the Hebrew Bible. The Septuagint, the Greek version of the Bible, first divided these books into two parts. Although the book does not name a specific author, the material was compiled from documents written and collected by the prophets Nathan, Gad, and Samuel—the prophet for whom the book is named (1 Chronicles 29:29).

https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-historical-books/second-samuel

Day 1 (January 27)
2 Samuel 4:1-1
Key Verse: 4

Day 2 (January 28)
2 Samuel 5:1-25
Key Verse: 6

Day 3 (January 29)
2 Samuel 6:1-23
Key Verse: 15-16

Day 4 (January 30)
2 Samuel 7:1-29
Key Verse: 11-13

Day 5 (January 31)
2 Samuel 8:1-18
Key Verse: 15

Day 6 (February 1)
2 Samuel 9:1-13
Key Verse: 7

Memory Verse
2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 

Where are we?

Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC).https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-historical-books/first-samuel

https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-historical-books/second-samuel

Day 1 (February 3)
2 Samuel 10:1-19
Key Verse: 19

Day 2 (February 4)
2 Samuel 11:1-27
Key Verse: 26

Day 3 (February 5)
2 Samuel 12:1-31
Key Verse: 7

Day 4 (February 6)
2 Samuel 13:1-22
Key Verse: 5

Day 5 (February 7)
2 Samuel 13:23-39
Key Verse: 30

Day 6 (February 8)
2 Samuel 14:1-33
Key Verse: 33

Memory Verse
1 Chronicles 14:17
And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.

Why is Second Samuel so important?

First Samuel introduces the monarchy of Israel, and 2 Samuel chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. The book opens as David learned of Saul’s death. His lament over the deaths of Saul and of Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:19–27), David’s unlikely best friend, demonstrated David’s personal grief over their demise. The Lord soon set David over the tribe of Judah (2:4) and then over all Israel as His anointed king (5:3), uniting all twelve tribes into a tight-knit nation.

The first ten chapters show David as victorious in battle, praised by the people, compassionate to the sick and poor, and righteous in God’s sight. We see David dance before the Lord in the streets of Jerusalem as his men brought the ark of the covenant back home (6:12–16). We also meet Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan to whom David extended grace, “for the sake of [his] father Jonathan” (9:7).

Yet biblical writers did not overlook their heroes’ flaws. In the chapters that follow, we note that David’s adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1–27) was followed by a series of tragedies: their child’s death (12:18), David’s daughter Tamar’s rape by his son Amnon (13:1–39), Amnon’s murder (13:28–30), David’s own political overthrow by his son Absalom (15:1–37), and Absalom’s subsequent death (18:1–33).

Despite the turmoil in his later years, David enjoyed the Lord’s forgiveness and favor. His genuine sorrow and regret over his sins revealed his repentant heart, with which the Lord was pleased.

https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-historical-books/second-samuel

Day 1 (February 10)
2 Samuel 15:1-12
Key Verse: 6

Day 2 (February 11)
2 Samuel 15:13-37
Key Verse: 30

Day 3 (February 12)
2 Samuel 16:1-23
Key Verse: 18

Day 4 (February 13)
2 Samuel 17:1-29
Key Verse: 23

Day 5 (February 14)
2 Samuel 18:1-18
Key Verse: 14

Day 6 (February 15)
2 Samuel 18:19-33
Key Verse: 33

Memory Verse
1 Chronicles 18:14
So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

Where are we?

Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC).

https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-historical-books/second-samuel

Day 1 (January 20)
1 Samuel 29:1-11
Key Verse: 6-7

Day 2 (January 21)
1 Samuel 30:1-31
Key Verse: 6-8

Day 3 (January 22)
1 Samuel 31:1-13
Key Verse: 4

Day 4 (January 23)
2 Samuel 1:1-27
Key Verse: 25-27

Day 5 (January 24)
2 Samuel 2:1-32
Key Verse: 8-9

Day 6 (January 25)
2 Samuel 3:1-39
Key Verse: 22-24

Memory Verse
1 Samuel 22:32

For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?

Who wrote the book of I Kings?

Like the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings originally were one book. In the Hebrew Bible the book of Kings continued the narrative started in Samuel. The Septuagint separated them into two parts. We derive our English title “Kings” from Jerome’s Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible.

No one knows the author of 1 and 2 Kings, though some commentators have suggested Ezra, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah as possible authors. Because the entire work encompasses a time period of more than four hundred years, several source materials were used to compile the records. Certain clues such as literary styles, themes woven throughout the book, and the nature of material used point to a single compiler or author rather than multiple compilers or authors. This person assembled the manuscript while God’s people were in exile at Babylon (see 2 Kings). But he didn’t complete the work until the Babylonians released King Jehoiachin after thirty-seven years in prison (560 BC), most likely completing it within another twenty years.¹

https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-historical-books/first-kings

Day 1 (February 24)
2 Samuel 23:1-16
Key Verse: 3

Day 2 (February 25)
2 Samuel 23:17-39
Key Verse: 20

Day 3 (February 26)
2 Samuel 24:1-24
Key Verse: 13

Day 4 (February 27)
I Kings 1:1-27
Key Verse: 8

Day 5 (February 28)
I Kings 1:28-53
Key Verse: 30

Day 6 (March 1)
I Kings 2:1-20
Key Verse: 3

Memory Verse
I Kings 3:11-12
And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked
riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;