Read: 2 Samuel 13:1-39; John 17:1-26; Psalm 119-81-96; Proverbs 16:6-7
If you have family problems then you will be able to relate to David’s family. Amnon was David’s son who fell in lust with his sister, Tamar, from another mother. Ironically, Amnon’s name means “faithful” but I think the only one Amnon was faithful to was himself. Since Tamar was a virgin and Amnon was not, he didn’t know how to approach nice girls. He and his cousin devised an evil plan to get Tamar alone. When he had her in his bedroom, he raped her, then despised her.
Poor Tamar’s life was ruined over Amnon’s selfishness and disrespect. She lived distraught in the house of Absalom, her brother. Absalom was furious at Amnon and waited for the perfect time to kill him. He finally found it two years later at sheep-shearing time. He talked his father, David into letting him take his brothers with him to shear the sheep. When he had gotten them away to himself, he told his servants to kill Amnon. They obeyed and the other sons fled.
Word got back to David that all his sons had been killed. He fell on the floor in despair. Then he learned that only Amnon had died because of what he did to Tamar. Absalom fled to Geshur and stayed with the king there. David mourned for Amnon for three years. Then he started missing Absalom.
Anger leads to murder. Absalom had two years to forgive Amnon, but instead he let his anger grow to murder. We will hopefully never kill a person, but when we get angry we kill them with our words. It all comes from the same spirit which is rooted in unforgiveness. Unforgiveness is a seed which will grow if we water it. Or, we can choose to kill it with forgiveness and water our hearts with the Word. We are constantly planting seeds in our lives. We want to be planting seeds that bring forth life and not death.
In John, Jesus invited his disciples into his intimate fellowship with his father. He had just finished making the statement that his disciples finally got who he was and now he felt they could experience his prayer life. In Jesus’ prayer, we see that he knows who he is and he knows his mission. He knows who God is also. He prays for his disciples, not that God would spare them from the world but that they would be sanctified by the truth. He prayed for us that would come to know him centuries later that we would be one just like he and God were one. He prayed that we would be in heaven and see his glory. He also prayed that we would have the same love Jesus had for God and that Jesus would be in us.
I pray that too. Lord, let your love be in us just like it is in you.
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Monday, May 27, 2019
Mon’s Devo - Repentance Brings Promotion
Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-31; John 16:1-33; Psalm 119:65-80: Proverbs 16:4-5
The Lord sent Nathan to David to give him an allegory of his own life. David was blinded to his own sin but fully alive to this man’s sin in the story. When David was outraged, Nathan told him that he was the man in the story and that because he did this in secret, God would do the same to him publicly. Calamity would come to his kingdom and his wives would be taken by someone who was close to David. This person would lay with his wives in broad daylight.
Instead of protesting, David repented, but he would lose the life of his son. Because David knew the mercy and kindness of the Lord, he fasted and prayed for mercy for his son. His son lived seven days before he died. Then David got up and ate. His servants didn’t understand David’s actions so he explained that while the child was alive, he prayed for him, but now there was nothing left to pray for. He went and comforted Bathsheba. God blessed David’s repentance and gave them another son. David named this son Solomon which means “peaceableness”. Nathan named him Jedidiah which means “beloved of God”. God had put his stamp of approval on this child.
Because David put things in the right order and repented, God gave him victory over the Ammonites and gave him a new crown.
When we repent. we get promoted in God’s kingdom. God doesn’t look at the horribleness of our sin, but the purity of our heart when we repent. When God forgives, he does it completely. He never goes back to rehash it like we do. He only goes forward to the next assignment.
In John, Jesus warned his disciples of what was ahead for them. They were headed for social, religious and personal persecution because they had followed Jesus. Jesus comforted them with the fact that they would not face this alone but the Holy Spirit would be given them to help them. He would convict the world of their sin, bring righteousness to the earth, and judge the devil.
Jesus told them that in a little while they wouldn’t see him then in a little while they would see him again. They had no idea what his riddle meant so he explained that he was going to leave them and go to heaven, but then he would come back to them. Before he left, they would leave him and be scattered. He would be all alone but they were not to worry about him because his father would be with him. Jesus was referring to his arrest and his trial. Jesus told them this, so they could have some peace of mind when it happened. He reminded them that he had overcome the world.
I wonder what they thought when he told them he had overcome the world. Maybe, that he really was going to become a king and set Israel free. In their wildest imaginations, they couldn’t have seen what was about to happen. It tested their faith to the core. The trials we go through do the same to us. We have to find joy in the pain and rejoice in our sorrow. Then God can lift up our heads and give us peace.
Lord, we remember what you did on the cross and the resurrection. Help us to concentrate on the resurrection. There is life in every death! In every repentance there is great promotion! Thank you for all the men who died serving our country and giving us a life of peace. Bless them and their families.
The Lord sent Nathan to David to give him an allegory of his own life. David was blinded to his own sin but fully alive to this man’s sin in the story. When David was outraged, Nathan told him that he was the man in the story and that because he did this in secret, God would do the same to him publicly. Calamity would come to his kingdom and his wives would be taken by someone who was close to David. This person would lay with his wives in broad daylight.
Instead of protesting, David repented, but he would lose the life of his son. Because David knew the mercy and kindness of the Lord, he fasted and prayed for mercy for his son. His son lived seven days before he died. Then David got up and ate. His servants didn’t understand David’s actions so he explained that while the child was alive, he prayed for him, but now there was nothing left to pray for. He went and comforted Bathsheba. God blessed David’s repentance and gave them another son. David named this son Solomon which means “peaceableness”. Nathan named him Jedidiah which means “beloved of God”. God had put his stamp of approval on this child.
Because David put things in the right order and repented, God gave him victory over the Ammonites and gave him a new crown.
When we repent. we get promoted in God’s kingdom. God doesn’t look at the horribleness of our sin, but the purity of our heart when we repent. When God forgives, he does it completely. He never goes back to rehash it like we do. He only goes forward to the next assignment.
In John, Jesus warned his disciples of what was ahead for them. They were headed for social, religious and personal persecution because they had followed Jesus. Jesus comforted them with the fact that they would not face this alone but the Holy Spirit would be given them to help them. He would convict the world of their sin, bring righteousness to the earth, and judge the devil.
Jesus told them that in a little while they wouldn’t see him then in a little while they would see him again. They had no idea what his riddle meant so he explained that he was going to leave them and go to heaven, but then he would come back to them. Before he left, they would leave him and be scattered. He would be all alone but they were not to worry about him because his father would be with him. Jesus was referring to his arrest and his trial. Jesus told them this, so they could have some peace of mind when it happened. He reminded them that he had overcome the world.
I wonder what they thought when he told them he had overcome the world. Maybe, that he really was going to become a king and set Israel free. In their wildest imaginations, they couldn’t have seen what was about to happen. It tested their faith to the core. The trials we go through do the same to us. We have to find joy in the pain and rejoice in our sorrow. Then God can lift up our heads and give us peace.
Lord, we remember what you did on the cross and the resurrection. Help us to concentrate on the resurrection. There is life in every death! In every repentance there is great promotion! Thank you for all the men who died serving our country and giving us a life of peace. Bless them and their families.
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Sun.’s Devo - The True Vine
Read: 2 Samuel 9:1-11:27; John 15:1-27; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 16:1-3
David wanted to honor anyone who was left of Saul’s household for Jonathan’s sake. Saul had a servant named Ziba who had been caring for Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth. Mephebosheth had become lame in both legs a the age of five when he fell, fleeing from the enemy.
David gave all of Saul’s land to Mephiboshth and asked Ziba to farm it for his family and for Mephibosheth, but Mephibosheth and his son, Mica, were to eat every meal with David at the palace.
David also wanted to show sympathy to Hanun the new king of the Ammonites because his father had died. His father had been kind to David when he was running from Saul. David sent his men with words of comfort to Hanun but his advisors believed David’s men to be spies. They had David’s mens beards shaved and the skirts of their uniforms cut off explosing them. When David found out he sent these men to a secluded town till their beards could grow back and rallied his troops for war. Hanun knew this was coming so he hired the Armenians to fight with him. Israel won and the Armenians never helped the Ammonites again. Instead they both served David and paid him tribute.
In the spring, when David should have been out to war, he stayed home and was idle. He walked out on his balcony and saw Bathsheba bathing from her monthly period. He wanted her, so he sent for her. It didn’t seem to matter to David that she was married and that her husband was one of the best soldiers serving in his army. He had sex with her and when he found out she was pregnant, he did everything he could think of to cover his sin. David had to resort to killing her husband, Uriah, so he could legally have Bathsheba and hide his sin. He couldn’t hide it from God and I’m pretty sure most of David’s household servants knew the truth also.
In John, Jesus told his disciples that he is the true vine. A vine is a picture of a family line. If Jesus is the true vine, then there is a false vine also that produces a bad family line. Cain, Esau, and Ahab were all examples of fruit from Satan’s line.
If we are born again, then we are part of God’s vine and the only way we can produce fruit is to get the nourishment of the vine. To do this we must remain attached to the vine. Everything God does stems from the blood flowing through this vine so apart from it we are lifeless and we will die.
In case this seems confining, Jesus said that if we remain on the vine, in him, we are his friends. On the vine, we can ask anything and it will be ours because we will be asking what God wants. We will have his heart and his blood flowing through our veins. To help us know God’s heart, God sent us his Holy Spirit to give us truth.
Lord, help us to remain in you so that our words can bring life.
David wanted to honor anyone who was left of Saul’s household for Jonathan’s sake. Saul had a servant named Ziba who had been caring for Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth. Mephebosheth had become lame in both legs a the age of five when he fell, fleeing from the enemy.
David gave all of Saul’s land to Mephiboshth and asked Ziba to farm it for his family and for Mephibosheth, but Mephibosheth and his son, Mica, were to eat every meal with David at the palace.
David also wanted to show sympathy to Hanun the new king of the Ammonites because his father had died. His father had been kind to David when he was running from Saul. David sent his men with words of comfort to Hanun but his advisors believed David’s men to be spies. They had David’s mens beards shaved and the skirts of their uniforms cut off explosing them. When David found out he sent these men to a secluded town till their beards could grow back and rallied his troops for war. Hanun knew this was coming so he hired the Armenians to fight with him. Israel won and the Armenians never helped the Ammonites again. Instead they both served David and paid him tribute.
In the spring, when David should have been out to war, he stayed home and was idle. He walked out on his balcony and saw Bathsheba bathing from her monthly period. He wanted her, so he sent for her. It didn’t seem to matter to David that she was married and that her husband was one of the best soldiers serving in his army. He had sex with her and when he found out she was pregnant, he did everything he could think of to cover his sin. David had to resort to killing her husband, Uriah, so he could legally have Bathsheba and hide his sin. He couldn’t hide it from God and I’m pretty sure most of David’s household servants knew the truth also.
In John, Jesus told his disciples that he is the true vine. A vine is a picture of a family line. If Jesus is the true vine, then there is a false vine also that produces a bad family line. Cain, Esau, and Ahab were all examples of fruit from Satan’s line.
If we are born again, then we are part of God’s vine and the only way we can produce fruit is to get the nourishment of the vine. To do this we must remain attached to the vine. Everything God does stems from the blood flowing through this vine so apart from it we are lifeless and we will die.
In case this seems confining, Jesus said that if we remain on the vine, in him, we are his friends. On the vine, we can ask anything and it will be ours because we will be asking what God wants. We will have his heart and his blood flowing through our veins. To help us know God’s heart, God sent us his Holy Spirit to give us truth.
Lord, help us to remain in you so that our words can bring life.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Sat.’s Devo - The Principle of the Kingdom
Read: 2 Samuel 7:1-8:18; John 14:15-31; Psalm 119:33-48; Proverbs 15:33
When David had settled into his new role of king, he got the idea of building God a house to live in. He told his prophet, Nathan, who thought it was a good idea also until God spoke to Nathan and told him else wise. God said that he had never lived in a house but had traveled with the people wherever they roamed. It wasn’t time to build a house for him, but it would be the right timing for his son. So, David continued to fight the enemies and bring the booty from their nations into the treasury so that his son could use it to build a temple for God.
This is the principle of the kingdom. We are to plunder the enemy and take his treasury to use for God’s kingdom. Everything in the earth is the Lord’s and it is all there to bring him honor and glory. Evil men have prospered and they use God’s bounty as weapons against God. God wants his people to prosper so they can give God back what is already his to use to further his kingdom. That is why we are seeing very prominent people falling and justice being served. God is restoring his treasury house so he can build his kingdom. Wealth is not only money but it is excelling in inventions, ideas, position, leadership, business, entertainment, arts, sports, education, government, etc. His people are to be the head and not the tail. They should be the leaders in all these areas on the earth for God’s glory.
In John, Jesus was talking to his disciples for the last time. He explained that the key to the kingdom which is love. If you love God, you will love Jesus and if you love Jesus you will obey anything he says to do. Jesus was leaving them, but only in the natural. He was sending them his spirit to always be with them and remind him of everything he had told them. They didn’t understand most of what Jesus had said, but when he was gone, they would understand it so much better.
We have the gift of the Holy Spirit that does the same for us. We read the Bible and don’t always remember what we have read until we are in a trial, then the words of the Bible come back to comfort us and encourage us. If we don’t hide God’s Word in our hearts, we have no library to draw from when we need it.
Lord, help us to hide your Word deep in our hearts that we won’t fall when we are being tested.
When David had settled into his new role of king, he got the idea of building God a house to live in. He told his prophet, Nathan, who thought it was a good idea also until God spoke to Nathan and told him else wise. God said that he had never lived in a house but had traveled with the people wherever they roamed. It wasn’t time to build a house for him, but it would be the right timing for his son. So, David continued to fight the enemies and bring the booty from their nations into the treasury so that his son could use it to build a temple for God.
This is the principle of the kingdom. We are to plunder the enemy and take his treasury to use for God’s kingdom. Everything in the earth is the Lord’s and it is all there to bring him honor and glory. Evil men have prospered and they use God’s bounty as weapons against God. God wants his people to prosper so they can give God back what is already his to use to further his kingdom. That is why we are seeing very prominent people falling and justice being served. God is restoring his treasury house so he can build his kingdom. Wealth is not only money but it is excelling in inventions, ideas, position, leadership, business, entertainment, arts, sports, education, government, etc. His people are to be the head and not the tail. They should be the leaders in all these areas on the earth for God’s glory.
In John, Jesus was talking to his disciples for the last time. He explained that the key to the kingdom which is love. If you love God, you will love Jesus and if you love Jesus you will obey anything he says to do. Jesus was leaving them, but only in the natural. He was sending them his spirit to always be with them and remind him of everything he had told them. They didn’t understand most of what Jesus had said, but when he was gone, they would understand it so much better.
We have the gift of the Holy Spirit that does the same for us. We read the Bible and don’t always remember what we have read until we are in a trial, then the words of the Bible come back to comfort us and encourage us. If we don’t hide God’s Word in our hearts, we have no library to draw from when we need it.
Lord, help us to hide your Word deep in our hearts that we won’t fall when we are being tested.
Friday, May 24, 2019
Fri.’s Devo - Establishing the Kingdom
Read: 2 Samuel 4:1-6:23; John 13:31-14:14; Psalm 119:17-32; Proverbs 15:31-32
Everyone wanted position with the new king, David so they did what they thought would give them favor. Baanah and Recab had been military leaders for Israel and thought that if they killed Ishbosheth, the leader of Israel, and presented his head to David, David would honor them and give them portion in his army. David was not like Saul, he had them killed for taking matters into their own hands and not letting God determine what was to happen to Ishbosheth.
Now that there was no king, all the tribes came and found David and anointed him king of Israel. David was 30 years old which is the same age Jesus was when he started his ministry. He reigned as king over both Israel and Judah for 33 years which was the age of Jesus when he died. The first thing David did as king is to take the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites and make it his city. When Hiram sent wood for him to build a house to live in he knew that his kingdom was established and for the first time in many years he had a permanent dwelling place to live. He started growing his own family.
The Philistines found out about David’s new kingdom and came to fight him. God gave David specific orders when and how to fight them. Once he had defeated them, he was ready to bring the ark from Judah to Jerusalem. When the ark almost fell and Uzzah, one of the priests, put out his hand to steady it. God’s anger broke out and killed Uzzah. Once again, man was trying to do God’s work his way. The ark was not to be carried on cart but on the shoulders of the priests with the poles. David, not knowing what to do, stopped the festivities and let the ark stay right where it was till he could figure out why God was so mad.
The ark rested at the home of Obed-Edom and God blessed his household so much in 3 months that it was noticeable to the people. David knew it was time to bring the ark to Jerusalem and he had researched how to carry it.
David brought the ark home sacrificing a bull and a calf every time the priests took six steps. He wore the linen ephod of the priest and danced wildly in worship of the presence of the Lord. There was music and festivities and great joy. Saul’s daughter, Michal watched David dancing and was embarrassed. That night she told him that he had made a fool of himself in front to all his slave girls. David put her in her place and told her that God had chosen him over her father and he would make a bigger fool of himself in the future worshipping God. She might be embarrassed, but his slave girls would honor him. Michal was barren the rest of her life.
In John, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment and it was to love others as he had loved them. Up to that time, Jesus had taught them to love others as they loved themselves but this was much higher. Jesus had shown them a love greater than man’s love and that was their new challenge. Then Jesus talked about leaving them and going somewhere they could not go. He was talking about the kingdom of heaven. When Peter argued he was ready to lay down his life for Jesus, Jesus gave him a sign that he wasn’t ready. He told him that before the rooster crowed, he would deny him three times.
Jesus was making the point to Peter that he could not do this on his own passion and strength. After the Holy Spirit came, not only could they go where Jesus had gone but they would have the power to resist sin and the devil. Then they would be ready to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, help us to love as you loved us. Thank you for making the way for us to approach the throne and go where you have gone. Remind us of who we are in you. Establish your kingdom in our hearts.
Everyone wanted position with the new king, David so they did what they thought would give them favor. Baanah and Recab had been military leaders for Israel and thought that if they killed Ishbosheth, the leader of Israel, and presented his head to David, David would honor them and give them portion in his army. David was not like Saul, he had them killed for taking matters into their own hands and not letting God determine what was to happen to Ishbosheth.
Now that there was no king, all the tribes came and found David and anointed him king of Israel. David was 30 years old which is the same age Jesus was when he started his ministry. He reigned as king over both Israel and Judah for 33 years which was the age of Jesus when he died. The first thing David did as king is to take the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites and make it his city. When Hiram sent wood for him to build a house to live in he knew that his kingdom was established and for the first time in many years he had a permanent dwelling place to live. He started growing his own family.
The Philistines found out about David’s new kingdom and came to fight him. God gave David specific orders when and how to fight them. Once he had defeated them, he was ready to bring the ark from Judah to Jerusalem. When the ark almost fell and Uzzah, one of the priests, put out his hand to steady it. God’s anger broke out and killed Uzzah. Once again, man was trying to do God’s work his way. The ark was not to be carried on cart but on the shoulders of the priests with the poles. David, not knowing what to do, stopped the festivities and let the ark stay right where it was till he could figure out why God was so mad.
The ark rested at the home of Obed-Edom and God blessed his household so much in 3 months that it was noticeable to the people. David knew it was time to bring the ark to Jerusalem and he had researched how to carry it.
David brought the ark home sacrificing a bull and a calf every time the priests took six steps. He wore the linen ephod of the priest and danced wildly in worship of the presence of the Lord. There was music and festivities and great joy. Saul’s daughter, Michal watched David dancing and was embarrassed. That night she told him that he had made a fool of himself in front to all his slave girls. David put her in her place and told her that God had chosen him over her father and he would make a bigger fool of himself in the future worshipping God. She might be embarrassed, but his slave girls would honor him. Michal was barren the rest of her life.
In John, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment and it was to love others as he had loved them. Up to that time, Jesus had taught them to love others as they loved themselves but this was much higher. Jesus had shown them a love greater than man’s love and that was their new challenge. Then Jesus talked about leaving them and going somewhere they could not go. He was talking about the kingdom of heaven. When Peter argued he was ready to lay down his life for Jesus, Jesus gave him a sign that he wasn’t ready. He told him that before the rooster crowed, he would deny him three times.
Jesus was making the point to Peter that he could not do this on his own passion and strength. After the Holy Spirit came, not only could they go where Jesus had gone but they would have the power to resist sin and the devil. Then they would be ready to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, help us to love as you loved us. Thank you for making the way for us to approach the throne and go where you have gone. Remind us of who we are in you. Establish your kingdom in our hearts.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Thurs.’s Devo - Vengence is Mine, Saith the Lord!
Read: 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119:1-16; Proverbs 15:29-30
Abner, Israel’s army commander, met Joab, Judah’s army commander and their troops at Gibeon. They matched man to man in a battle hoping not to have to fight a huge battle. That didn’t work because they killed each other and their was no survivor. This led to a battle where 360 Israelites died and only 19 from Judah. In this battle, Joab’s younger brother, Asahel relentlessly chased Abner to kill him. Abner gave him a chance to escape but he wouldn’t take it. Finally, Abner had to kill him. Asahel’s other two brothers chased Abner till they got to a hill. Abner talked Joab and his brother into peace and they went home.
There were many battles after that between them and they ended about the same. David’s side grew stronger and Ishbosheth’s weaker.
David was living in Hebron and had 6 sons with six different wives. David was a strong leader and the people loved him.
Ishbosheth was a weak leader. He rebuked his commander, Abner for sleeping with his father’s concubine when he should have had him put to death or fired him. Instead, Abner, stood up to Ishbosheth. Abner had no respect for Ishbosheth and decided he would rather serve David so he arranged a meeting with David to give him the whole kingdom. First, David wanted his wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, to be given back to him. She had been given to another man who was greatly distraught to lose her.
David met with Abner and made a covenant to be one nation. After Abner left for home, Joab returned from a raid. When he found out that David had let Abner go in peace, he was irate. He chased Abner and killed him to avenge the blood of his brother, Asahel. He didn’t consider the peace of the nation because he couldn’t get over the offense he had in his heart.
David saved the peace by honoring Abner in his death and letting the people know without a doubt, he had nothing to do with Abner’s death. Joab didn’t learn from watching David’s life and how he learned to forgive Saul and not take revenge into his own hands. God is the one who avenges us. He does it so that no one is blamed. Our part is forgiveness.
Joab got his revenge but also a huge curse on his family. The curse was that no one from his house would be without a running sore or leprosy or one who leaned on a crutch or fell by the sword or who lacked food… in other words: plague, war and famine.
In John, Jesus was about to have his last supper with his disciples. First, he wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the feet of his disciples. Then he reminded them that he was their teacher and their Lord yet he humbled himself to wash their feet. They were to do the same for one another.
Then, Jesus told them that one of them would betray him. This flabbergasted them and they put John up to asking Jesus who it was. Jesus said it would be the one who he gave the piece of bread once he had dipped it in the bowl. He dipped it in the bowl and gave it to Judas and told him to go and do what he was going to do. As soon as Jesus gave him the word and the bread, Satan entered into Judas and he left. The disciples still didn’t get it. If they had, they probably would have tried to stop God’s plan. God blinded their understanding until it was over and too late to stop it.
Psalm 119 is the alphabet song of the Hebrews. Every eight verses stands for the letters of their alphabet. Today we read Aleph for “A” and Bet for “B”.
Lord may we hid your Word in our hearts that we not stray from your commands.
Abner, Israel’s army commander, met Joab, Judah’s army commander and their troops at Gibeon. They matched man to man in a battle hoping not to have to fight a huge battle. That didn’t work because they killed each other and their was no survivor. This led to a battle where 360 Israelites died and only 19 from Judah. In this battle, Joab’s younger brother, Asahel relentlessly chased Abner to kill him. Abner gave him a chance to escape but he wouldn’t take it. Finally, Abner had to kill him. Asahel’s other two brothers chased Abner till they got to a hill. Abner talked Joab and his brother into peace and they went home.
There were many battles after that between them and they ended about the same. David’s side grew stronger and Ishbosheth’s weaker.
David was living in Hebron and had 6 sons with six different wives. David was a strong leader and the people loved him.
Ishbosheth was a weak leader. He rebuked his commander, Abner for sleeping with his father’s concubine when he should have had him put to death or fired him. Instead, Abner, stood up to Ishbosheth. Abner had no respect for Ishbosheth and decided he would rather serve David so he arranged a meeting with David to give him the whole kingdom. First, David wanted his wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, to be given back to him. She had been given to another man who was greatly distraught to lose her.
David met with Abner and made a covenant to be one nation. After Abner left for home, Joab returned from a raid. When he found out that David had let Abner go in peace, he was irate. He chased Abner and killed him to avenge the blood of his brother, Asahel. He didn’t consider the peace of the nation because he couldn’t get over the offense he had in his heart.
David saved the peace by honoring Abner in his death and letting the people know without a doubt, he had nothing to do with Abner’s death. Joab didn’t learn from watching David’s life and how he learned to forgive Saul and not take revenge into his own hands. God is the one who avenges us. He does it so that no one is blamed. Our part is forgiveness.
Joab got his revenge but also a huge curse on his family. The curse was that no one from his house would be without a running sore or leprosy or one who leaned on a crutch or fell by the sword or who lacked food… in other words: plague, war and famine.
In John, Jesus was about to have his last supper with his disciples. First, he wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the feet of his disciples. Then he reminded them that he was their teacher and their Lord yet he humbled himself to wash their feet. They were to do the same for one another.
Then, Jesus told them that one of them would betray him. This flabbergasted them and they put John up to asking Jesus who it was. Jesus said it would be the one who he gave the piece of bread once he had dipped it in the bowl. He dipped it in the bowl and gave it to Judas and told him to go and do what he was going to do. As soon as Jesus gave him the word and the bread, Satan entered into Judas and he left. The disciples still didn’t get it. If they had, they probably would have tried to stop God’s plan. God blinded their understanding until it was over and too late to stop it.
Psalm 119 is the alphabet song of the Hebrews. Every eight verses stands for the letters of their alphabet. Today we read Aleph for “A” and Bet for “B”.
Lord may we hid your Word in our hearts that we not stray from your commands.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Wed.’s Devo - Two Kingdoms
Read: 2 Samuel 1:1-2:11; John 12:20-50; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 15:27-28
First Samuel was the story of Saul and his kingship but Second Samuel was the story of David’s kingship. Saul’s kingship lasted his lifetime but David’s covenant was eternal. Jesus would be a part of David’s kingdom.
Saul died in a battle with the Philistines and lost everything when at the same time David won a battle with the Amelekites and got back everything. On the third day, after Saul’s battle, David met an Amelekite who thought he would use David to get some kind of reward. He lied and said he had killed Saul and brought David, Saul’s crown and his arm band. Instead of a reward, it costs him his life. David carried no offense in his heart toward Saul. This is amazing since Saul had repaid David’s loyalty with distrust and attempts to kill him. David walked in forgiveness which is not easy to do. David wrote a lament and sung it in honor of Saul and Jonathan and all Israel and Judah mourned their deaths.
David asked God what he should do next and God said to go to Hebron. David and his men were well loved in the land of Judah since they had been fighting their enemies and keeping them safe all the years they lived in the land of the Philistines. David had also shared his winnings with the people of Judah. So he went to Hebron where they proclaimed him their king. In the meantime Abner, Saul’s army commander went back to Israel and proclaimed Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, king of Israel. Ish-Basheth means “man of shame”.
In John, Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover but Jesus was not appearing in public. Some of the Greek-speaking Jews recognized Philip as Jesus’ disciple and asked him if they could talk to Jesus. Philip gave Jesus the message and Jesus knew it was time to come out of hiding. He made the statement that a grain of wheat had to die in order to multiply. He was speaking of his own death which the disciples would get once he died.
When Jesus met with the crowd, he prayed aloud for God to save him from this hour. Then he said that it was this hour that he was born for, so he changed his prayer to “glorify your name”. God spoke out loud and said, “I have glorified it before, and I will glorify it again!” All heard the voice but some only heard it as thunder. Others heard it distinctly. We hear according to how spiritually tuned our ears are.
Jesus explained to them that the voice was for their sake and it was time for the world to be judged and the ruler of the world to be expelled. He was speaking of Satan. He was cast out at Jesus death so we don’t need to see him as anything to fear. He is an imposter claiming to have power when he is actually our servant.
Many believed that Jesus was the light sent from heaven to earth; God’s son. Others couldn’t see because their was no light in their eyes to see. To reject Jesus was to reject God.
Lord, help us to see clearly and believe with pure hearts. Help us not to carry any unforgiveness or resentment in our hearts.
First Samuel was the story of Saul and his kingship but Second Samuel was the story of David’s kingship. Saul’s kingship lasted his lifetime but David’s covenant was eternal. Jesus would be a part of David’s kingdom.
Saul died in a battle with the Philistines and lost everything when at the same time David won a battle with the Amelekites and got back everything. On the third day, after Saul’s battle, David met an Amelekite who thought he would use David to get some kind of reward. He lied and said he had killed Saul and brought David, Saul’s crown and his arm band. Instead of a reward, it costs him his life. David carried no offense in his heart toward Saul. This is amazing since Saul had repaid David’s loyalty with distrust and attempts to kill him. David walked in forgiveness which is not easy to do. David wrote a lament and sung it in honor of Saul and Jonathan and all Israel and Judah mourned their deaths.
David asked God what he should do next and God said to go to Hebron. David and his men were well loved in the land of Judah since they had been fighting their enemies and keeping them safe all the years they lived in the land of the Philistines. David had also shared his winnings with the people of Judah. So he went to Hebron where they proclaimed him their king. In the meantime Abner, Saul’s army commander went back to Israel and proclaimed Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, king of Israel. Ish-Basheth means “man of shame”.
In John, Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover but Jesus was not appearing in public. Some of the Greek-speaking Jews recognized Philip as Jesus’ disciple and asked him if they could talk to Jesus. Philip gave Jesus the message and Jesus knew it was time to come out of hiding. He made the statement that a grain of wheat had to die in order to multiply. He was speaking of his own death which the disciples would get once he died.
When Jesus met with the crowd, he prayed aloud for God to save him from this hour. Then he said that it was this hour that he was born for, so he changed his prayer to “glorify your name”. God spoke out loud and said, “I have glorified it before, and I will glorify it again!” All heard the voice but some only heard it as thunder. Others heard it distinctly. We hear according to how spiritually tuned our ears are.
Jesus explained to them that the voice was for their sake and it was time for the world to be judged and the ruler of the world to be expelled. He was speaking of Satan. He was cast out at Jesus death so we don’t need to see him as anything to fear. He is an imposter claiming to have power when he is actually our servant.
Many believed that Jesus was the light sent from heaven to earth; God’s son. Others couldn’t see because their was no light in their eyes to see. To reject Jesus was to reject God.
Lord, help us to see clearly and believe with pure hearts. Help us not to carry any unforgiveness or resentment in our hearts.
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