2SAMUEL 21:The story of David being welcomed back ended poorly with arguments. Sheba attempted to mount a revolt. He died even though surrounded by his clan members because there was a wise woman in the town where he had taken refuge.

Before that, David had decided to promote national reconciliation by appointing Amasa as military commander. But Joab, who had grown too powerful, shamefully put an end to Amasa's career.

Re-reading PSALM 118:This is an antiphonal psalm. Imagine a leader and a chorus of voices saying a series of refrains. Today we will hear verse 22, which is the Old Testament verse most frequently quoted about the Messiah in the New Testament. And I have quoted verse 23 at the beginning of a number of podcasts.

Re-reading John 2:In chapters 1-2, John has already started to tell us what Jesus was like. He was able to enter in fully in a wedding feast, he was stern about not turning the temple into a marketplace, and he miraculously knew about people. In chapter 1 verse 24 in the NLT says that he knew "all about people." The GNT is closer to the Greek with "He knew them all." Jesus had a miraculous knowledge about people, like we have seen in chapter 1 with Nathanael.

NLT Translation note:Ps. 118:7 Yes, the LORD is [on my side//for me]; he will help me.I will look in triumph at those who hate me.====John 2:24 But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew [all people//human nature].[I believe that John is telling us something miraculous about Jesus here. He wasn't just a good student of 'human nature'! He actually knew everyone, just like he knew the Samaritan woman whom we will hear about. ]25 No one needed to tell him what [anyone was//mankind is] really like.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.