The prophet Nathan comes to David and points out his sin, and tells him that while the Lord will not kill David for his sin, “the sword will never depart from your house.”

Also, the child Bathsheba bore David dies. He goes in to comfort her, and she bears Solomon, so God ultimately blessed the union in that way.

But one of David’s other sons goes on to rape his sister, and that sets in train events which lead David’s house to be forever divided.

Psalm 29 is about giving glory to the Lord. It also introduces the idea that it is the voice of the Lord that gives the thunder, the movement of water, the flames of fire and the life of trees and animals…. Everything is sustained by the voice of the Lord. This is one of my favorite thoughts. I have often listened for God in the rain, or the movement of the waters….. surely it is the God of love that speaks to us in the face of our babies and our purest moments of connection.

Dear God, Thank you for all your gifts to me. Thank you for talking to me each day in the lovely things that happen – and for comforting me in the sad things. Please help me to listen for your voice always, and to do your will. Please show R your grace and forgiveness – help him to seek it. Please help A with her illness too, lovely Father. Please bless our holidays and replace our tiredness with new strength and joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.