25/05/2026
Scripture Union Daily Guide 25th May 2026 Today’s Devotional
Topic: Desire for recognition
Bible Verse:
2 Samuel 1:1–16
Meditation Question
Q.2 – Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
Q.5 – Is there any warning for me to heed?
Introduction to 2 SAMUEL
In 2nd Samuel, there is a vivid account of David’s reign as king. In a bid to extend his kingdom and consolidate his position, he had to fight many battles both within the nation and with foreign powers. It opens with David’s kingship over Judah, immediately after Saul’s death, and closes just before David’s death, when he is “old and stricken in years”. The book, therefore, covers a period of about forty years which was the duration of David’s reign. Chapter 5:4–5 says: “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.” We can therefore always remember 2nd Samuel as the book of David’s forty-year reign.
Scripture Union Daily Guide 25th May 2026 Outline
We get here a second account of how Saul died after the one in 1 Samuel 31. David had not heard the report as told in chapter 31. It would seem like the young man was on Mount Gilboa when Saul died. He saw his chance to get a reward from David. Probably knowing that Saul had spent several years pursuing David with the intention of killing him, he resorted to telling lies thinking the news would please David.
But notice how David reacted to the news (vs.11–12). Despite Saul’s multiple attempts in the past to kill David, still David was not happy to hear of his death. What a Christlike man! How do you react to news, especially of a misfortune befalling a rival or a perceived enemy?
Notice the reward the Amalekite got for his lies (vs.14–16)? We live in days when fake news is flying around freely, especially on social media. We must be careful what news we spread, e.g., what WhatsApp message we forward and our motive for doing so lest we find ourselves in the trouble for which we never bargained.
So what?
Live a life of truth and obedience to God’s word.
Prayer: Lord, grant me a Christlike heart, so that I will take no pleasure in the downfall of my enemies, but rather pray for them.
A YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
(DAY 145): 1 Chronicles 23–25