Why I'm Excited About Our New Series in 2 Samuel
If I had to describe our cultural moment in one word, it would be disappointment.
We've been disappointed by leaders who failed us. Disappointed by promises that were never kept. Disappointed by politics, institutions, churches, relationships, and even ourselves. We keep hoping that the next leader, the next success, the next season, or the next breakthrough will finally bring the peace and security we're looking for.
Yet somehow, we're still searching. That's one of the reasons I'm so excited about the next series we're beginning at Port City. Over the next nine weeks we'll journey through the book of 2 Samuel in a series called Search for a King. At first glance, 2 Samuel is the story of David; the shepherd boy who finally becomes king. After all the waiting and all the battles of 1 Samuel, the long-awaited king finally takes the throne. It feels like the story should end with, "And they all lived happily ever after."
But it doesn't. David is courageous. David is wise. David loves God. He extends incredible grace to people who least deserve it. Yet before long, David's life begins to unravel. His private sin creates public devastation. His family fractures. His kingdom divides. The very king everyone believed would solve Israel's problems proves he can't even solve his own.
And that's exactly why this book is so relevant. 2 Samuel reminds us that humanity's deepest need is not a better leader, stronger morality, or greater success but a perfect King. As we've been preparing for this series, one question has continually surfaced: Where are you placing your hope?
It's a question all of us need to answer. Because every one of us is trusting something. Some of us are trusting our careers. Others are trusting relationships. Some are trusting financial security, political solutions, or our own ability to keep everything under control. None of those things are necessarily bad, but they were never designed to carry the weight of our deepest hopes. Only Jesus can.
That's why I love the Bible's honesty. It doesn't hide David's failures. It doesn't sanitize its heroes. Instead, it shows us that even the greatest king in Israel's history couldn't ultimately rescue God's people. The story intentionally leaves us longing for someone greater. Someone who would never abuse his power. Someone who would never fail his people.
Someone whose kingdom would never end.
That King is Jesus.
Over these nine weeks, we'll celebrate God's faithfulness, wrestle with difficult passages, grieve over the consequences of sin, marvel at God's grace, and ultimately fix our eyes on the One to whom David's entire story points. My prayer is that this series won't simply help us understand another book of the Bible. I hope it will help us trust Jesus more deeply. Because disappointment doesn't have to lead us to cynicism.
Sometimes disappointment is God's gracious way of loosening our grip on things that were never meant to save us in the first place. If you've ever felt let down by life, frustrated by yourself, or weary from placing hope in things that never seem to satisfy, I think this series is for you. I can't wait to begin this journey together. The search for a king ultimately ends with Jesus and I can't think of better news than that.
Pastor Jeremy
