Tag: david

  • House of David – Episode 8 Rewind

    We’ve made it to the epic face-off—David vs. Goliath, the battle that echoes through Sunday school rooms and stadiums alike. But if you were watching this episode with your Bible open (or your brow raised), you probably noticed the writers added some flair that’s, well… not quite biblical.

    Let’s break it down:

    • Jonathan and the Assassin Squad?
      Apparently, in this version, Jonathan attempts to take Goliath out in his sleep. Not in Scripture. Neither is him getting captured by the Philistines or being released by their king. Solid drama, sure—but definitely creative license.
    • Deserters, Spears, and Day Markers
      Goliath’s taunting dragged on for many days, and the visual of spears marking time was powerful. And did you catch that it was 40 days? That number pops up a lot in Scripture—Jesus in the wilderness, Moses on Mount Sinai, the flood—all big “God is doing something here” moments. The writers knew what they were doing with that callback.
    • David’s Arrival and Preparation for Battle
      David finally gets to the battlefield and sees how Goliath is speaking against God. He thinks, “No one can talk about my God like that!”  David’s faith outshines every one of the other soldiers.  David approaches Saul and asks if he can take on the giant. Saul gives him his armor, but David declines, he doesn’t need it! He has his slingshot. All of this is biblical. It is not however written in scripture that David has any visions while he is at the stream when he is collecting his stones for his sling. The bible does mention that David goes down to the stream to get 5 smooth stones from the brook. Although, it is not mentioned that he talks to Jonathan or that he tells Jonathan he was anointed by Samuel. But hey, sometimes they weave in extra scenes to drive home the emotion or foreshadowing—even if Scripture keeps it simpler.
    • The Big Showdown
      No, David doesn’t get hit with a spear. And Samuel isn’t there watching like a coach in the stands. But I get why they did it—it visually reinforces a core truth: David’s victory wasn’t about muscle or luck. It was God’s power on full display.

    What I love about this retelling is how it reminds us: faith is a game-changer. David may have been the underdog in stature, but he was a giant in trust. That’s the kind of courage we’re all invited to live out.

    As we close out Season 1, I hope this show sparked your curiosity, stirred your heart, and sent you running back to the Word for more. Yes, the drama may stray from Scripture here and there—but it also opens doors for deeper conversations and richer understanding.

    Don’t forget to dive into the study guide—it’s packed with insight. And just because this show is done doesn’t mean our journey ends. Stick around as we explore more Christian movies and series, always bringing it back to the Bible.

    Until next time, keep the faith—and keep reading!

    If you are interested in purchasing the full study guide, you can buy it on Lulu.com.

  • House of David – Episode 7 Rewind

    The creators of House of David are back at it—dropping those subtle Old Testament gems like confetti at a Bible nerd’s birthday party. And if you’re anything like me, the second they sneak in one of those references, you’re scrambling for your Bible (or at least Google) to dig deeper.

    Two shout-outs caught my attention in this episode:

    • First, Samuel mentions David’s mother, Hannah. Yes, that Hannah—from the opening chapters of 1 Samuel. The one whose faith and persistence paved the way for Samuel’s birth. What a powerhouse of prayer!
    • Second, David has a vivid dream involving a soldier guarding a garden and waterfall. Samuel connects it to Joshua’s encounter with the angel before the battle of Jericho. I’ll admit it—this one had me flipping pages like, “Wait… did that really happen?” (Spoiler: It did. Joshua 5. Goosebumps.)

    Now, while I love a good biblical callback, let’s be real: the writers also toss in some extra-biblical drama. Here are a few things the Bible doesn’t actually say:

    1. David and Samuel’s pre-battle meeting? Not in the text. And the whole idea of a sacrifice to “make David righteous” because of his mother? Creative license alert.
    1. David the outcast? The show paints Jesse as intentionally sidelining David, but scripture simply says the three oldest sons went to battle (1 Samuel 17:13). No offense toward David, just a young shepherd staying behind. This exaggerated detail in the show, makes it appear strange that David isn’t going to battle, but in scripture it doesn’t seem odd. You do get the sense that Jesse is sheltering him, but more because he is young, not because Jesse is sheltering him from ridicule or because his mother is dead.
    2. Vision time with Joshua? While Joshua’s angelic encounter is legit Bible gold, there’s no mention of David having visions like this. Still, kudos to the writers—if it nudges viewers to explore more of the Old Testament, I’m all for it.

    So, what did you catch in this episode? Did you have a “Wait… is that in the Bible?” moment too? Grab your Bible, dive into the attached study guide, and let’s keep peeling back the layers of faith, fiction, and biblical truth—one episode at a time.

    If you are interested in purchasing the full study guide, you can buy it on Lulu.com.

  • House of David – Episode 6 Rewind

    Let’s be honest—Episode 6 stomps onto the scene a little differently than the others. And why not? It’s finally Goliath’s time to shine (or at least tower over everyone). If you’ve been waiting for some good ol’ giant lore, buckle up—because this episode goes big.

    Where Did Giants Even Come From?

    The opening dives straight into ancient giant origins, and wow, does it raise questions. According to one theory, fallen angels looked down from heaven, noticed human women were beautiful, and said, “Let’s mix things up.” The result? A supernatural hybrid race of giants called the Nephilim, as mentioned in Genesis 6:2–4. It’s mysterious, a little eerie, and honestly—kind of fascinating.

    But here’s the head-scratcher: if Noah’s Ark only had eight people and way too many animals… how did any giants survive the flood? Genesis 6 says the Nephilim were around before and after the flood, and Numbers 13:32–33 shows scouts in Canaan freaking out about them later on. So what gives? Did fallen angels make more Nephilim post-flood? The Bible leaves room for speculation, and this episode leans right into it.

     Goliath: Nephilim… or Just a Super Tall Dude?

    Now, let’s talk Goliath. The Bible paints him as a massive Philistine warrior—over 9 feet tall! Was he a leftover Nephilim? Maybe… but scripture never directly labels Goliath or his warrior brothers that way.

    2 Samuel 21 introduces several giant warriors, all descendants of Rapha from Gath (possibly Goliath’s dad). And yep, Gath was giant central. But here’s another theory: what if Goliath was just genetically blessed with height and brute strength? Even today many of basketball players and wrestlers, shout out to Andre the Giant, were very large, tall men—no angel DNA required. Maybe ancient gene pools simply had a bit more “height variation” than we even see today.

    Show vs Scripture: What’s Real? What’s Creative?

    The Bible doesn’t reveal much about Goliath’s personal life—his mom, his motives, or his family dynamic—so the show fills in some of those gaps for dramatic effect. Totally fair. But it also sparked a question that pulled me right back into the Word: What does the Bible really say about giants? Spoiler: not as much as we’d like, but just enough to spark some serious curiosity.

    If you want to dive deeper (and trust me, it’s worth it), I recommend checking out the articles on gotquestions.org. Their entries on giants explore all these theories and more—backed with plenty of scripture.

    Take a look at the Episode 6 Study Guide for more scriptural insights, reflection questions, and some thought-provoking questions about the episode. Because in the end, giants may be larger than life, but it’s the biblical truth behind them that stands the tallest.

    If you are interested in purchasing the full study guide, you can buy it on Lulu.com.

  • House of David – Episode 5 Rewind

    You know I love, when a show sneaks in Scripture from all corners of the Bible—and this time, they brought out the big scrolls: Genesis 49, to be exact.

    We’re talking blessings from Jacob to his twelve sons—the OG tribes of Israel! As Jacob lays on his deathbed, he dishes out these poetic, powerful prophecies that spark so many later storylines. In the show, Saul hands the scroll of Jacob’s blessings to Judah’s tribal leader and then drops a line about Benjamin being a ravenous wolf. Mic drop. (That’s from Genesis 49:27, if you want to double-check.)

    That kind of cross-reference is honestly exciting—it made me want to pause the episode and go flip through my Bible right then and there. Were you curious about this reference too?

    But let’s be real: most of this episode isn’t straight from Scripture. The arranged marriage between tribes? Saul having a meltdown mid-quote? Total creative license. There’s nothing in the Bible about Saul orchestrating a marriage alliance between his daughter and the tribe of Judah. And while Jacob’s blessing is indeed sacred and powerful, we don’t have any biblical record of Saul quoting it in a rage and making everyone very angry.

    And as for Michal and Merab? Scripture gives us very little on them. We don’t know who Merab married or how that decision went down. We see the show adding drama, scandal, and romantic tension that just isn’t noted in the bible.

    That said, there are still some truth anchors to hold onto:

    • David playing the lyre for Saul to calm his spirit? Totally biblical.
    • David and Michal’s budding love story? Yep, that’s in there too (1 Samuel 18:20, for starters).

    So even if this episode added some creative flair, it was grounded just enough to stir curiosity and keep us turning pages in Scripture. And honestly? I kind of love that.

    Take a look at the recap and discussion questions in the attached episode 5 study guide. I promise they’ll help you separate the fact from the fiction and spark some great conversations in your Bible study or book club.

    If you are interested in purchasing the full study guide, you can buy it on Lulu.com.

  • House of David – Episode 4 Rewind

    Episode 4 shows us a softer side of David with his musical skills and big crush on Michal. Our favorite shepherd boy trades the pasture for the palace as he’s summoned to play his lyre for Saul, whose mind is in shambles now that God’s Spirit has left him. The only thing that soothes Saul’s torment? David’s music. Coincidence? Not even a little. This whole setup has divine appointment written all over it.

    While hanging out at the palace, David starts to strike a chord (pun very much intended) with Michal, Saul’s daughter. She’s smart, strong-willed, and clearly intrigued by the soft-spoken singer with sheep-scented boots. Next thing you know, she’s teaching him how to read, he’s serenading her with poems, and boom—we’ve got a budding royal romance. Turns out, David is quite the romantic.

    And the title of the episode? “Song of Moses.” A nod to one of Scripture’s most powerful anthems of deliverance. Throughout the episode, Michal and Saul reference Exodus 15—the victory song Moses and the Israelites sang after that jaw-dropping Red Sea escape. (If you’re curious, Deuteronomy 32 holds another “Song of Moses,” but that one’s more of a farewell ballad.) Both songs celebrate God’s faithfulness, which feels extra meaningful given everything going on with Saul’s unraveling and David’s rise.

    Now, onto the side drama: Ishvi, Saul’s lesser-known son (his name gets a brief mention in 1 Samuel, but that’s about it), gets the full villain edit. The show paints him as a spoiled aristocrat who disrespects women and winds up exiled to… wait for it… En-dor. Cue the ominous music. It is interesting that his mother decides to banish him to En-dor. This is a place that is for criminals and outcasts.

    Biblically, En-dor is indeed a sketchy hotspot. It’s where Saul later visits a medium in 1 Samuel 28—definitely not a place for a righteous field trip. But the idea that Ishvi was sent there as punishment for his bad behavior? That’s creative license. Nothing in Scripture suggests that storyline—it’s a House of David original.

    All in all, this episode blends the bible with dramatic embellishments. Just remember: the truth of Scripture holds steady, even when the show takes a few artistic detours. Take a look at the study guide for episode 4 attached to hear more about this episode.

    If you are interested in purchasing the full study guide, you can buy it on Lulu.com.

  • House of David – Episode 3 Rewind

    Well, that escalated quickly. Episode 3 kicks off with a literal nightmare—Saul starts to wander the halls in a sleepwalking stupor and then one night accidentally kills his servant. Not exactly Sunday school material. While this scene doesn’t show up anywhere in the Bible, it definitely sets the tone: Saul is spiraling fast. David, be sure to keep your slingshot close.

    The king’s household is in full panic mode, reaching out to all the sketchy corners of the kingdom for help—priestesses, spiritual healers, mysterious henchmen. When you’re trying to keep a crumbling throne together, apparently no idea is too bizarre.

    Meanwhile, Asher hires a killer to lurk around, hoping to intercept Samuel and the whole “God’s picking a new king” situation. But Samuel’s is not found only his assistant is. The terrible death of the assistant is not something that is found in scripture. Meanwhile Samuel shows up at Jesse’s house like, “Show me your sons.” And true to 1 Samuel 16, he sizes up the first seven (well, five in the show… maybe two called in sick?), and none of them fit the bill. Enter David, the forgotten shepherd boy, and BOOM—God says, “That’s the one.”

    Now here’s where it gets interesting: The second half of the episode, during the anointing, sticks much closer to Scripture than the creative chaos of the first half. But sharp-eyed viewers (yes, I see you!) might notice that there were only five brothers shown instead of the seven the Bible mentions. Did the casting budget max out? Did the writers hope we wouldn’t notice? Oh, but we noticed.

    Let’s be real—some of the story choices in this episode fall into “inspired fan fiction” territory. Saul never kills a servant mid-nightmare in the Bible, and we don’t meet any priestesses trying to calm his troubled mind until much later, after Samuel’s death (1 Samuel 28:7–10). So this episode definitely jumps the timeline a bit.

    But props to the writers for circling back to Scripture with David’s anointing—it’s a beautiful moment, and they pulled it off well. The visual of young David standing among his older, bulkier brothers, being chosen as king… it hits hard.

    Just remember: this show is telling a story based on the Bible—not replacing it. So, while the drama is gripping, it’s always worth flipping back through the pages of Scripture to keep the facts straight. Take a look at episode 3 in the attached study guide to dive a bit deeper into the anointing of David.

    If you are interested in purchasing the full study guide, you can buy it on Lulu.com.

  • House of David – Episode 2 Rewind

    I don’t know about you, but after Episode 1 of House of David, I was totally hooked. The story felt like it leapt off the page of Scripture and onto the screen. Watching the scenes play out helped me visualize parts of David’s life in a fresh, powerful way. It gave me a new lens on a familiar story that helped to bring a fresh perspective.

    But then came Episode 2—cue dramatic music—and suddenly the spotlight turned to David’s relationship with his mother. Now, here’s where the creative liberties kick into high gear. Because truth be told, the Bible is practically silent about David’s mom. No name, no backstory, no “Thanks for raising a future king!” scene. So what we see on screen is mostly imaginative storytelling with just a sprinkle of scriptural breadcrumbs.

    Let’s break down some of the assumptions the show makes—and where they might’ve found a few narrative nudges in Scripture:

    1. Family history flair: Jesse’s family tree is far from average. His dad Obed was the son of Ruth (a Gentile widow) and Boaz. Boaz? His mom was Rahab—the former prostitute turned hero of Jericho. That lineage might’ve inspired writers to portray David’s mom as another outsider. (See Matthew 1:5–6 for the genealogy.)
    2. The invisible son: Why wasn’t David even invited to the “Let’s meet the future king” party with Samuel? Was he the family’s black sheep? Maybe. Or maybe he was just busy doing his chores—watching sheep while his brothers peacocked around the prophet.
    3. Whose mom is she anyway? The show hints that David’s mother wasn’t the mother of his brothers. But Scripture doesn’t confirm (or deny) that detail—it’s just not in the text.
    4. Revenge of the lion: Yes, David fought bears and lions (epic). But no, the Bible doesn’t say a lion took out his mom The fact that David could kill lions and bears shows that he was actually a skilled fighter and very strong. However, just this fact does not mean his mother was killed by a lion or that he has a vengeance against lions as the show portrays.
    5. Music lessons 101: We don’t know who taught David the lyre. Could’ve been his mom. Could’ve been a neighbor. Could’ve been the ancient equivalent of YouTube—aka, a very patient shepherd with rhythm.

    Bottom line: We simply don’t know much about David’s mother. And that’s okay. Sometimes Scripture is loud with silence, and even that has purpose.

    To counter the arguments above; we do know that David was the youngest son and maybe that is why he was not thought of when Jesse brought all of his other sons to Samuel. Maybe his household chore was taking care of the sheep while the other brothers had other chores or jobs that they were good at. The bible in general is silent or doesn’t provide many facts about many characters in the bible. Maybe his mom didn’t get a headline because she was exactly what was expected: a faithful, ordinary woman in a faithful, ordinary role. That would explain why Scripture highlights women like Rahab and Ruth—because they were unexpected. Sometimes silence in the text is just… silence.

    So as you journey through House of David, take note of what’s explicitly biblical and what’s an artistic interpretation. The show does a great job of pulling us in, making these stories feel alive and relevant—but it’s our job as Bible readers to stay grounded in the truth.

    Let the show stir your imagination, but let Scripture shape your understanding. That’s the kind of study that sharpens both your heart and your mind. Take a spin through the attached study for Episode 2 to hear more and see the specific scripture used in this episode.

  • House of David – Episode 1 Rewind

    Confession time: I love books. Like, real books. The kind with pages you can turn and dog-ear, with covers you can crack open while sipping something cozy. Call me old-fashioned (or gloriously vintage), but there’s just something about holding a story in your hands that feels… sacred.

    I’m in a couple book clubs—one virtual with East Coast friends, and others that are a little closer to home. And when I’m not reading with those groups, I’m diving into Bible studies—sometimes leading, always learning. There’s just nothing like discussing a great read with people you love and respect. It fuels the soul.

    One of my favorite little joys? Reading a book before the movie or series drops. You know the drill: finish the novel, watch the adaptation, then immediately analyze what made it in, what got cut, and whether the characters looked anything like you imagined. It’s a guilty pleasure of mine.

    So, when I found out House of David was coming to the screen, I knew I had to circle back to my all-time favorite book: the Bible. I cracked open 1 Samuel and dove in with fresh eyes and popcorn-ready curiosity.

    Unlike other adaptations, turning biblical stories into shows isn’t just creative—it’s a delicate balancing act. These aren’t fantasy tales; they’re sacred history. That’s why I felt the nudge to create the House of David Study—a fun, flexible companion to the series that keeps us grounded in Scripture while letting us enjoy the storytelling.

    You can snag the study as a free download—it’s bite-sized enough to print (double-sided if you’re eco-friendly like me!) and can be done solo, with friends, or even with your spouse. I’ve walked through it with my Bible study group and with my husband, and it sparked some seriously rich conversation. Plus, the action-packed vibe of the show (a little like The Chosen) makes it a win with the guys too.

    As you have gotten into the show you probably noticed in episode one, the show has Goliath hurling spears at David—drama, tension, slo-mo fall… the whole deal. But is this in scripture? The bible doesn’t mention those spears. It’s not wrong to imagine those moments artistically, but if you didn’t know the biblical text, you might assume the show is 100% accurate. That’s why I created this study: to help viewers see where the screen shines with Scripture… and where it takes some creative leaps.

    So here’s my suggestion: watch episode one of House of David, then go through session one of the study while it’s still fresh in your mind. Want some extra context? Read 1 Samuel 9, 10, and 15 to really dig into Saul’s backstory. It all connects beautifully. Above all, my prayer is that this study brings you closer not only to David’s story, but to the heart of the Bible itself—and draws you deeper in your journey with the Lord.