Alternate First Reading

Dear standing in forest
Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:8-13

If you have not read the Song of Songs (its [...]

Stay Awhile sign on bookshelf
Commentary on 1 Kings 8:[1, 6, 10-11] 22-30, 41-43

This week’s reading presents us [...]

dried fish on a board
Commentary on 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

The transition from the reign of David to that of [...]

hands clasped in mutuality
Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

By this point in David’s story, I’ve developed quite a [...]

waves crashing on rock
Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:57—18:5, 10-16

[Note this semi-continuous first reading is one of two options [...]

bread baked with crosses on top
Commentary on 2 Samuel 11:1-15

Growing up I remember hearing this infamous David and Bathsheba [...]

hooded figure alone on boardwalk
Commentary on 2 Samuel 7:1-14a

At first reading, we might want to applaud David’s desire [...]

Man and boy smile at each other
Commentary on 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

While the account of David’s ascendance is the stuff of [...]

friends on a beach at sunset
Commentary on 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

This passage signals the new reign of David as king. [...]

statue of person hugging knees
Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

David’s mourning cry at the death of Saul and Jonathan [...]