Sermons on 2 Samuel: Chapters 1-13

While John Calvin is chiefly remembered today as a great theologian, it should not be forgotten that he was essentially a pastor. Indeed, it has been said of him that he became a theologian in order to be a better pastor. His preaching gives some of the clearest evidence for this. Still in his early twenties when he began to preach, he continued to do so for the rest of his life- on average five times a week during his long years of ministry in Geneva. From 1549, thanks to the Company of Strangers, who employed Denis Raguenier as a scribe, Calvin’s sermons were preserved and their riches remain available to us. Now, thanks to the devoted labours of Professor Douglas Kelly of Reformed Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi, the Sermons on 2 Samuel 1-13 are made available in English for the first time.

Important as these sermons are for students of Calvin, they are of inestimable value for those who, like Calvin, are pastors, preachers or are simply ordinary Christian believers like those to whom they were first preached. Calvin’s masterly handling of the historical narrative of this wonderful book of Scripture combines with his deep insight into human character to produce a volume which will be treasured.

Contents

1. On Facing Affliction and Divine Judgement
2. David’s Response to the Philistine Victory
3. Calmness in All Circumstances
4. Guidance to Hebron
5. The Dreadful ‘Game’ of War
6. Disunity and War
7. Abner’s Face of Brass
8. Abner’s Moral Crime
9. The Infamous Murder of Abner
10. Lessons from lshbosheth’s Death
11. God’s Judgement on Murderers
12. All the Tribes Submit to David’s Yoke
13. David’s Dealings with the Jebusites and Hiram
14. David’s Polygamy
15. God Glorified in David’s Victory
16. The True Worship of God
17. Lessons from the Death of Uzzah
18. Humble David and Proud Michal
19. ‘Before the Lord’
20. On Being Dead to this World
21. Christ is the True Temple of God
22. Mercy and Judgement
23. Great David’s Greater Son
24. Lord, Who am I?
25. The Only God and his Chosen People
26. The Nature of True Prayer
27. The Temple – Then and Now
28. Justice and Judgement
29. David’s Magnanimity to Mephibosheth
30. The Two Bases for a Just War
31. God on our Side
32. David’s Adultery with Bathsheba
33. Uriah, a Man who Feared God
34. The Mark and Seal of David’s Shame
35. You are the Man!
36. God is Not the Author of Sin
37. David’s Humble Confession of Sin
38. God Chastises his Children for their Profit
39. On Facing Affliction and Bereavement
40. Solomon, whom God Loved
41. The Rape of Tamar
42. The Obligation to Punish Evil
43. The Murder of Amnon