Chosen for Service by Casting Lots

In today’s Bible reading* David appoints Solomon as his successor. Some of the men are chosen by family lineage and some are chosen for specific service in the Temple by casting lots. (1 Chronicles 24:7, 25:9, 26:14) So what is “casting lots”? Casting lots was similar to throwing dice. And people would make decisions based…

Is This a Bible Contradiction?

One might read today’s Bible reading* and ask, “Is this a Bible contradiction? How can you possibly reconcile 2 Samuel 24:1 and 1 Chronicles 21:1?” We’re told that God punished David for conducting a census of the people under his reign. What could be wrong with that? The LORD’s anger burned against Israel again, and…

Beware of False Prophets: Those Claiming to Speak for the Lord

Twice in today’s Bible reading* we read of someone delivering news from the Lord. And both times, it was wrong. They were false prophets. In 2 Samuel 16:21, Ahithophel told Absalom to rape David’s concubines to demonstrate his contempt for David. Ahithophel also encouraged Absalom to pursue David to kill him. Hushai warned Absalom that…

Uzzah Dies Trying to Help God

Earlier this month, we read about Saul’s sin of trying to help God. In today’s Bible reading* we read that Uzzah tried to help God and was struck dead on the spot. 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13 tell the story of the Israelites’ bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel in…