Wed.’s Devo - Trust The Plan

Read: 2 Samuel 18:1-19:10; John 20:1-31; Psalm 119; 153-176; Proverbs 16:14-15 David divided his army into three companies and appointed Joab, Abishai and Ittai over one of them. They convinced David to stay back at the town and not go into battle. The battle began in the forest and the forest killed more than the fighting. Absalom was one of the ones who the forest got the most of. He got his famous hair caught in a low-lying tree and was left hanging. Joab was told and came and killed him with his sword. Then he blew the ram’s horn and the war was over. They threw Absalom’s body into a pit and threw stones over him. Absalom’s one accomplishment of his life was a statue he had built to himself in the King’s alley. He had no son to carry on his posterity. Joab sent a runner to tell David how the battle was going. Zadok’s son Ahimaaz begged to be a runner also. Finally Joab let him go after the another man. Ahimaaz beat the first runner because he wanted to soften the blow of Absalom’s death. He only told David that they had won the battle. He let the next man tell him of Absalom. David was so overcome with mourning and sadness over Absalom’s death that he didn’t congratulate or thank his troops. Joab went in and told him that if he didn’t go out and speak to his army, they would abandon him. David finally did. The men who had joined with Absalom talked of coming back to support David. May this be the same as those who have turned against President Trump. May they return to welcome him as our president. Mary and the disciples got the good news that they had won the battle just like Israel did. The disciples came to the tomb and saw that it was empty and went home wondering. Mary stayed and went in to the tomb. An angel appeared to her and asked her why she was crying. She explained that they had taken Jesus’ body away and she didn’t know where they had put it. When she turned around, she saw Jesus but didn’t recognize him till he called her name. Then she ran to hug him but he told her that she couldn’t hold him since he hadn’t ascended to his Father yet. He told her to go tell the disciples. She ran and found the disciples and told them what she had seen and heard. They were hiding from the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus appeared to them. He showed them his hands and his side. He breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit. Thomas had not been with them and when they told him he said he would not believe till he saw with his own eyes and placed his fingers in to the wounds. Eight days later Thomas got his opportunity. Jesus came back and offered his hands for Thomas to touch. Thomas did believe. Jesus said, “Blessed are they who believe without seeing me.” He was referring to all those who would come after him and believe. He was talking about us. Thank you Lord that you always have a plan of victory when all seems lost. We are trusting in your plan for us and our posterity.