Mon.’s Devo - Solomon’s Request

Read: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17; Romans 6:1-23; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 19:20-21

Solomon became great because God was with him. He had all the leaders and commanders meet him in Gibeon to worship the Lord at the tabernacle. The bronze altar was still there even though the Ark had been brought to Jerusalem by David. 

On the bronze altar, Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord which got God’s attention. That night, the Lord came to Solomon and asked him what he wanted him to give him. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to know how to rule all these people he had been put over. 

God was so pleased with Solomon’s answer that he told him he would give him everything he asked for and would add to it riches, possessions, and honor like no other king had been given before him.

God did bless Solomon with wisdom, understanding, riches, possessions and honor. He acquired horses and chariots from Egypt. He began the building of the Temple and his own royal palace. He used all the supplies David had stored up and the blueprints he had given him for the Temple. He sent a letter to Hiram in Tyre asking for a man who was skilled in working with metals and fabrics to come and help his workers. Hiram was pleased to send Huram-abi as their craftsman. Hiram would also send timber from Lebanon on rafts. 

Solomon assigned the aliens living in Israel to do the hard work. He began the work on the temple on Mount Moriah at the threshing floor of Ornan. The temple was built of cedar and overlaid with gold. Everything in it was to represent the garden of Eden with trees, flowers and cherubim. The pillars in front of the temple were set up one on the south called Jachin and one on the north called Jachin. Together these pillars mean “he will establish quickly with his power.”

In Romans, Paul continues his sermon on grace. He explains that grace is not a license to sin but a reason why not to sin. We died with Christ along with our sins and are raised with him to be righteous. Our old self was crucified on the cross with Jesus and now we are raised to walk as a new creature in Christ. 

It is our choice not to let sin reign in our bodies and be used as instruments of unrighteousness. We are now instruments of righteousness. Sin no longer has any power over us because we are not under the power of sin but under grace.

If we choose to sin then we become slaves to sin. We can choose to obey the Lord and be free from the power of sin and became slaves to righteousness which will lead to our sanctification. Sanctification leads us to receive the gift of eternal life. 

Lord, may we remember that we are slaves to righteousness and that sin has no power over us. May we walk in the freedom of this truth. Thank you for the gift of eternal life in Christ.

Sun.’s Devo - The Free Gift of Salvation

Read: 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30; Romans 5:6-21; Psalm 15:1-5; Proverbs 19:18-19

David assembled all the leaders of the tribes, commanders, stewards who worked for him and his seasoned warriors together. He told them that it was in his heart to build God a house of worship, but the Lord told him that since he was a man of war and had shed so much blood, he would not be the one to build it. God had chosen him to be the king and had chosen his son, Solomon to build the Temple. God promised if Solomon continues to keep God’s commandments, he will establish his kingdom forever. David admonished them to observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord so that they may possess the land and leave it as an inheritance to their children. 

*** David addressed Solomon and told him to serve the Lord with his whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 

*** David then gave Solomon all the blueprints for everything he would need for the Temple and access to enough supplies to do everything in the plan. He told him not  to be afraid or anxious about the enormity of it but to be at peace because David had arranged people to do everything on the list. They would help him build the Temple.

*** After he had explained what it would take to build the Temple, David blessed the Lord aloud so all could hear. He praised the Lord and his name and then blessed the people. They offered sacrifices to the Lord and had a great feast. 

*** Solomon sat on the throne in Davids’ place from then on and he prospered. All of Israel pledged their allegiance to him. David had reigned over Israel 40 years - seven years were in Hebron and 33 were in Jerusalem. He died happy and prosperous, having lived a full life. 

*** In Romans, Paul was still preaching about salvation by faith. He explained the immensity of what Christ did for us. Not many people would give their lives for another person, no matter how great that person was, but Christ gave his life for sinners. He justified us by his blood and saved us from the wrath of God. He did this while we were enemies of God. He reconciled us to God by his death and we are saved by his life. What a thing to rejoice about! 

*** Sin entered the world through Adam and death came with sin. This happened before the law was given which made us accountable for our sins. All before Christ died in their sin because of what Adam did. Now all who believe will live by the free gift of grace through Jesus’ death. 

*** We are no longer condemned to death through what Adam did, but and justified and free to live, not die, through what Jesus did. 

*** Lord, thank you for the free gift of grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Sat.’s Devo - David's Kingdom

Read: 1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34; Romans 4:13-5:5; Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 19:17

David’s kingdom was a picture of how the body of Christ should function. Everyone had their assignments. They served hard for a month, then had the rest of the year to spend with their own families and working their own land. It took 24,000 men working throughout the year to maintain David’s kingdom. Some were gatekeepers and ministers in the house of the Lord. Others were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord. Others acted as officers and judges and had oversight of the tribes west and east of the Jordan. 

 *** When we give God, our king, our best to maintain his kingdom - our month of service, he provides all we need for our families and our well-being. *** Every month had a different leader to command the workers of that month. Some of these were of David’s army officers. These men had to be gifted and honest men of integrity. Some kept the vineyards and the fields and were stewards of David’s property.  

*** Two men counseled David’s sons and Ahithophel was David’s counselor. Hushai was David’s friend and Joab commanded his army. 

 *** In Romans, Paul continued his sermon on faith. Abraham was promised his heir because of his righteousness. He didn’t even have the law then. Trusting in adherence to the law brings God’s wrath, but having faith brings the promise to life. 

 *** Abraham was made the father of many nations and he brought us righteousness by faith. When God told him he would make him a father of nations he never wavered in that promise. We must not waver in our faith over the promises God has given us. Abraham was our example of what faith looks like. It helps us be able to endure our sufferings and even rejoice in them knowing that our promise is on the other side. Suffering produces endurance which produces character, which givens us hope and God makes sure that our hope is not in vain. 

 *** Lord, thank you for reminding us that our faith is a process that shapes us to be able to handle the promise. May we let our waiting shape us into the vessel that can hold the promise.

Fri.’s Devo - The Divisions of the Priests

Read: 1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11; Romans 4:1-12; Psalm 131-6; Proverbs 19:15-16 Aaron had four sons but two of them Nadab and Abihu had died when they offered strange fire to the Lord. Neither of them had children. The two left were Eleazar and Ithamar. Zadok helped organize the priests into divisions. Eleazar had more chiefs among his sons than Ithamar so 16 of the chiefs came from the sons of Eleazar and 8 came from the sons of Ithamar. It was determined by lot which division of the 24 they would take. During their determined time they were to perform the duties of service in the house of the Lord. *** The rest of the sons of Levi served under them and their month of service was determined by lot also. David set apart some of them who prophesied with music under his direction. One of them was Asaph who wrote some of the songs we have recorded in the book of Psalms. Asaph received the first lot. There were 288 who were trained in singing to the Lord. *** The gatekeepers were also determined by lot and Obed-edom was one of them who had 8 sons who were blessed with great abilities. It was his house that the Ark had rested for three months. *** In Romans, Paul explained that Abraham was not justified before God because he did good, but because he believed in God. A man who works gets a wage because it is due him. It is not a gift. A person who tries to earn eternal life with his works will perish in his sin because no one can live a perfect life. But, the person who believes and confesses his sins and is forgiven and is given the gift of eternal life. *** Abraham’s circumcision did not make him righteous. It was given to him after he believed in God as a seal of his covenant with God. We are given the seal of the Holy Spirit after we believe. *** Lord, thank you that you make it so simple and easy to become your child. Thank you for opening our eyes to this wonderful truth of salvation. You have set us free from the bondage of sin and given us your Spirit to walk in righteousness and truth.

Thurs.’s Devo - Davids Commission to Solomon -

Read: 1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32; Romans 3:9-31; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 19:13-14 David provided everything Solomon would need to build the Temple to the Lord down to the nails. He had accumulated a supply of cedar for wood, silver, gold and everything Solomon would need to build it. David had workmen and artisans ready to do the work. *** David didn’t wait till he was dead to let Solomon reign. He equipped him and appointed him king while he was still living and let him rule. He surrounded him with godly men who would assist him in building the Temple because he understood that this would be a daunting assignment for Solomon. *** David told Solomon why he was not building the Temple himself. He had shed too much blood in war but Solomon would have peace during his term. God had told David he would have a son and his name would be Solomon and he would be given peace and prosperity as long as he followed the Lord with all his heart. He would be the one to build him a Temple. *** When David made Solomon king he also assembled all the leaders of Israel, the priests and the Levites. He had 24,000 men to work on the house of the Lord. Six thousand would be officers and judges, 4,000 would be gatekeepers, and 4,000 would be on the worship team. David organized the Levites according to their families and they would keep charge of the sanctuary and attend to the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord. *** In Romans, Paul made it clear that the Jews had no advantage over the Gentile. They were all sinners. The purpose of the law was to let us know what sin was. Now, righteousness is obtained through Christ and it is available to all. We all come to salvation the same way - through repentance and confession in Jesus. *** Lord, thank you that when you died, you had trained your disciples to do your work just like David had prepared Solomon to build his Temple. You are building your Temple in the earth through us. You have equipped us to do your work and show forth your power through our faith in you. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that leads us to do your will.

Wed.’s Devo - Israel’s Battles -

Read: 1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30; Romans 2:25-3:8; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 19:10-12 Nahash, king of the Ammonites died and David wanted to pay his respects to Nahash’s son Hanun. David sent ambassadors to honor him. The princes of the Ammonites told Hanun, not to trust them because they had really come to spy out their land. Hanun believed his princes and had his men shave the ambassador’s heads and cut off their garments at the hip and send them home. *** When David heard what Hanun had done to his men he had them stay in Jericho till their beards had grown back. This incident would surely end in a battle. Hanun hired men of Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah to fight with them against Israel. *** Joab divided his army into two divisions and defeated both the Ammonites and the Syrians. The Syrians surrendered and became subject to David. The next year, Joab led the army against the Ammonites and defeated them. *** Then they went to war against the Philistines. They had giants, but they were no match for God. *** Since David was conquering all Satan’s men on earth, Satan himself stood up to fight. He enticed David to number his people. Joab tried to talk him out of it, knowing it was wrong, but David refused to listen. He sent Joab out to number the people. *** God sent Gad the seer to rebuke David for numbering the people and he gave him his choice of punishment: 3 years of famine, 3 months of being defeated by their enemies, or 3 days of God’s sword. David chose to be disciplined by God because he was merciful. *** God sent out his death angel with a plague that killed 70,000 of his people. David saw the angel about to lift his sword against the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite on his way to Jerusalem. David plead with God to punish only his family since he was the one who sinned. *** Gad went to David and told him to offer sacrifices on the threshing floor of Ornan to atone for his sin. David bought the piece of land from Ornan and offered sacrifices to the Lord. God answered him with fire from heaven and commanded the angel to put up his sword. The plague was stopped. *** In Romans, Paul explains that circumcision was always a heart issue, not just a physical requirement. Circumcision was a symbol to show that a person had given their heart to the Lord, just like repentance was a spiritual circumcision of the heart. So, the uncircumcised were the same as the circumcised if they had cleansed their heart and given it to the Lord. *** Lord, may we have clean hands and a pure heart. May our worship be pure and undefiled. Thank you for your discipline and your mercy.

Tues.’s Devo - David’s Success -

Read: 1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17; Romans 2:1-24; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 8-9 David left Ashaph and his brothers to minister before the Lord each day. He put Obed-edom and his 68 brothers and Hosah in charge of the gate to the tent. Zadok, the priest along with his brothers offered the burnt offerings in the morning and at the evening. Others were chosen to give thanks to the Lord with music and singing. *** Everyone else left to go home. David had in his heart to build a cedar house for the Lord like he had. He asked Nathan about it and Nathan gave him his blessing, but that night God spoke to Nathan. He told him to tell David that He had never dwelt in a building and had always traveled with the people in tents. He had never asked for a house to live in. Nevertheless, if will not be David who will build the house for the Lord, but his offspring will do it. *** So David set about to defeat his enemies and leave his off-spring a kingdom of peace and prosperity. He defeated the Philistines, the Moabites, Hadadezer, king of Zobah-Hamath, and the Edomites. Many nations brought him tribute and he put it aside for the Temple his son would build for the Lord. God gave David victory wherever he went. *** In Romans, Paul warned them against judging people for the same things they were doing. God is the ultimate judge who will judge all people. God’s kindness is meant to bring all to repentance. All will be judged for their works. Those who worked for the Lord will receive glory, honor, peace and eternal life, but those who lived for themselves and did evil will face the wrath and fury of God. *** Those who did not have the law will be still be judged and those who have the law will be judged by it. He explained that everyone has the law of God in their hearts and know what is right to do, so no one has an excuse not to do good. *** Paul confronted the Jews who had the law and asked them if they practiced what they preached. He reminded them that the scriptures say that the Jews caused God’s name to be blasphemed by the Gentiles. In other words, many of their works were an approach to God and had given God a bad name among the heathen. *** Lord, may our lives bring glory to your name. May we honor you in our walk and cause others to want to know you.