Mon.’s Devo - David Sets Up His Kingdom

Read: 1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17; Romans 1:1-17; Psalm 913-20; Proverbs 19:4-5 When David was running from Saul, he joined with the Philistine army to fight their enemies. It came time for the Philistines to fight Israel, but many on the Philistine side did not want David and his men to fight in the battle because they were afraid David would defect to Israel’s side. Many from Saul’s army from the tribe of Manasseh came over to David’s army and it grew to look like the army of God. After Saul died, the tribes met at Hebron eager to make David their king. Warriors from Judah, Simeon, Levi, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali, Dan, Asher, Rueben, and Gad met and there were 120,000 in all. They brought food and feasted for three days. David met with the generals and officers of the tribes and agreed it was time to bring back the Ark of the Lord that had been neglected in Saul’s reign. They didn’t consult the law to read about how to transport the ark so they brought it on a cart like the Philistines had carried it. The oxen stumbled and the ark almost fell off, so one of the men reached out his hand to stead the Ark. He was instantly killed. This scared the people so much they stopped right there and left the Ark at Obed-edom’s house. It was there for three months and Obed-edom’s household was blessed. King Hiram of Tyre sent his carpenters to help David to build his kingdom. David married more wives and had 13 sons in Jerusalem. When the Philistines found that David had become the king of Israel, they mobilized their army to come to Jerusalem and capture David. David inquired of the Lord if he should go out and fight them. God said to go and he would defeat them. David went out and drove them away. They left their idols behind which David burned. After a while the Philistines came back and God told David to set up an ambush and get them from behind. David defeated them once again and news of David’s fame spread to other nations causing them to fear David. Romans was written by Paul before he ever went to Rome. He had heard from other Christians about the church at Rome. He wrote his letter to the Romans to introduce himself to them. Paul, who had been used to having slaves and being in charge, introduced himself as a slave to Jesus Christ by choice. He explained that the Old Testament foretold of the Messiah through the prophets years before he came. His coming was the Good News that the son of God came to earth to show them how to go to heaven. Paul commended them for their faith. He told them that he prayed for them and longed to see them and share stories. He made it clear to them that the Good News was for both the Jew and the Gentile. It is by faith that a person is saved, not lineage. Lord, thank you that the Good News is free to anyone who will hear it and believe. We choose to be a slave and friend to Jesus.