Read: 1 Samuel 26:1-28:25; John 11:1-53; Psalm 117:1-2; Proverbs 15:22-23
Today we read about two mean who rose from the grave: Samuel and Lazareth. David spared Saul’s life which was a life spared from the grave. After revealing to Saul that he could have killed him David gave Saul back his water bottle and his spear. Saul provoked a blessing on David telling him he would do great things and surely triumph. Saul wanted David to come home but David knew better than to trust Saul. Instead, David went to Achish of Gath, the very king he had acted insane in front of and asked if he could join forces with him. I wonder what Achish thought when he saw David standing before him totally sane. Instead of punishing David for deceiving him, he gave him the city of Ziklag. When the day came to fight against Israel, Achish wanted David to be his personal bodyguard. All I can say is that when God wants to hide you, he can hide you and when God wants to give you favor, he can give you favor.
Saul would face the Philistines the next day and he was not feeling very confident so he had his men search for a living medium since he had had them all killed. They found one in Endor. Saul tried to hide his identity, but God exposed him. He had to promise not to kill her and then admit that he wanted her services. He broke his own law to bring up Samuel because he knew he couldn’t hear God’s voice for himself. Saul always trusted in man more than God. Samuel was mad about being woken up and he didn’t have anything good to say to Saul. He told him that God had torn his kingdom from him and given it to David because Saul didn’t obey Him. He also told him that God was going to turn him over to the Philistines on the next day and his sons would die. After his devastating news, the medium fixed Saul his last supper.
In John, Jesus brought Lazareth back from the grave and he got to continue living on earth. Jesus used this as an illustration that he was the resurrection and the life. This was too much for the Jewish hierarchy and they met to decided what to do about Jesus. Caiaphas, the high priest prophesied that it would be better for one man to die for the whole people than that the whole nation perish. How true! That was exactly why Jesus came, only they would not be on the receiving end of that salvation. They used the excuse that if they let Jesus continue then the Romans would come and take away their place and their nation. I think they were more interested in their place than the nation.
God used all their scheming to bring about his redemptive plan because that is what God does. He works all things for his and our good.
Lord, we trust that all the things we are going through are working for your redemptive plan.
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Sat.’s Devo - Judgement and Justice
Read: 1 Samuel 24:11-25:44; John 10:22-42; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 15:20-21
David spares the life of Saul and Saul, in turn, spares his. Saul even prophesies David’s rise to the throne. He leaves for a season from chasing David and David meets another Saul by the name of Nabal. Nabal’s servants had become friends with David’s men while they watched their sheep. David’s men had been protection for them while in the field. During those days when the time came for sheering the sheep, the owner of the sheep would have a huge sheep sheering party and everyone that had anything to do with helping with the sheep was invited. There was plenty of food and wine for everyone. David and his men were starving and had helped with the success of the harvest. Because of them, none of the sheep had been stolen and none of the shepherds killed. So, his request to come to the party was very well warranted. Nadal was told this, but refused to let him come because Nabal was evil and stingy. It would have cost Nabal and his family their lives if not for Abigail who was told what was going down. She rescued herself and all her servants by taking David food and wine. Instead, Nabal died of a heart attack and David took Abigail as his wife.
This was a small snapshot of what was going to happen in the kingdom. It seemed like everyone knew David would become king one day yet no one was doing anything to make it happen…but God.
In John, the people had cornered Jesus and demanded that he tell them if he was the Christ. He said that he was from God and opened scripture to them but they refused to believe it. They wanted to stone him but he slipped away and crossed the sea to the other side. He landed at the place where John baptized many people. He opened their eyes to who he was and many believed.
Lord, thank you for giving us eyes to see who you are and to believe. Help our unbeliefs.
David spares the life of Saul and Saul, in turn, spares his. Saul even prophesies David’s rise to the throne. He leaves for a season from chasing David and David meets another Saul by the name of Nabal. Nabal’s servants had become friends with David’s men while they watched their sheep. David’s men had been protection for them while in the field. During those days when the time came for sheering the sheep, the owner of the sheep would have a huge sheep sheering party and everyone that had anything to do with helping with the sheep was invited. There was plenty of food and wine for everyone. David and his men were starving and had helped with the success of the harvest. Because of them, none of the sheep had been stolen and none of the shepherds killed. So, his request to come to the party was very well warranted. Nadal was told this, but refused to let him come because Nabal was evil and stingy. It would have cost Nabal and his family their lives if not for Abigail who was told what was going down. She rescued herself and all her servants by taking David food and wine. Instead, Nabal died of a heart attack and David took Abigail as his wife.
This was a small snapshot of what was going to happen in the kingdom. It seemed like everyone knew David would become king one day yet no one was doing anything to make it happen…but God.
In John, the people had cornered Jesus and demanded that he tell them if he was the Christ. He said that he was from God and opened scripture to them but they refused to believe it. They wanted to stone him but he slipped away and crossed the sea to the other side. He landed at the place where John baptized many people. He opened their eyes to who he was and many believed.
Lord, thank you for giving us eyes to see who you are and to believe. Help our unbeliefs.
Friday, May 18, 2018
Fri.’s Devo - Don’t Be Deceived
Read: 1 Samuel 22:1-23:29; John 10:1-21; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 15:18-19
It is easy to see how David was led by God and Saul was always one step behind. God sent David prophets to warn him, spies to give him intel and diversion when he was about to be caught. Saul had his spies also. One of them was Doeg which means “anxious”. He told on David and cost the lives of 85 priests and the lives of all the people of the town of Nob. Only the priest’s son, Abiathar escaped to tell David. David felt horrible and took responsibility for protecting Abiathar.
Every step of David’s life, he was always asking God what to do. Saul was led by man’s warnings only. God’s eyes are better than man’s.
Jesus, in John, was talking about spiritual things. He told them about a sheep pen which represents the spiritual realm. He said that others can get into that pen by other means like climbing over the fence but this person is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd. He opens the gate for his sheep and they enter when he calls their name. He is the gate and he is the shepherd that cares for his sheep.
There are many spiritual people who can do miracles, healings, and teach things that sound amazing, but if they aren’t doing it in the name of Jesus, then they are the thief and the robber. They don’t know that they are deceived just like the scribes and Pharisees didn’t know they were deceived. Jesus promised that the ones that are in his will know his voice and won’t follow the voice of a stranger. The way to know Jesus’ voice is to practice hearing it by being quiet and listening. He will never say anything opposite of his Word. If we know the Word and know how to listen, we will not be deceived.
Lord, help us to hide your Word in our hearts that we won’t be deceived.
It is easy to see how David was led by God and Saul was always one step behind. God sent David prophets to warn him, spies to give him intel and diversion when he was about to be caught. Saul had his spies also. One of them was Doeg which means “anxious”. He told on David and cost the lives of 85 priests and the lives of all the people of the town of Nob. Only the priest’s son, Abiathar escaped to tell David. David felt horrible and took responsibility for protecting Abiathar.
Every step of David’s life, he was always asking God what to do. Saul was led by man’s warnings only. God’s eyes are better than man’s.
Jesus, in John, was talking about spiritual things. He told them about a sheep pen which represents the spiritual realm. He said that others can get into that pen by other means like climbing over the fence but this person is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd. He opens the gate for his sheep and they enter when he calls their name. He is the gate and he is the shepherd that cares for his sheep.
There are many spiritual people who can do miracles, healings, and teach things that sound amazing, but if they aren’t doing it in the name of Jesus, then they are the thief and the robber. They don’t know that they are deceived just like the scribes and Pharisees didn’t know they were deceived. Jesus promised that the ones that are in his will know his voice and won’t follow the voice of a stranger. The way to know Jesus’ voice is to practice hearing it by being quiet and listening. He will never say anything opposite of his Word. If we know the Word and know how to listen, we will not be deceived.
Lord, help us to hide your Word in our hearts that we won’t be deceived.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Thurs.’s Devo - How To See
Read: 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15; John 9:41; Psalms 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 15:15-17
David had to convince Jonathan of his father’s disdain for him so he gave Jonathan a test to prove it. Saul had taken David from his family and became his family and now rejected him. Jonathan put his father to the test and realized that David was right. His father hated David and was obsessed with the idea of killing him. David would spend years running from Saul and fighting for his life.
David went to the priest, Ahimelech and didn’t want to tell him he was running from Saul. He didn’t want Ahimelech to have to make the choice between him and Saul. He asked for food and a sword. The only bread he had was bread from the shewbread table that was only for the priests but he gave it to David and his men. God didn’t kill them for eating the holy bread. The only sword the priest had was the one of Goliath’s - the one that David had taken from him. In a way, God was restoring to David what was rightfully his. David was a true priest to the Lord because he knew how to worship God and evoke his presence.
He then left for Gath where he had to pretend to be insane to save his own life. God will give us witty ways to outsmart the devil if we will listen.
In John, Jesus healed a man who was born blind. The Pharisees made such a big deal about this because healing a person born blind was one of the three criteria they had written in their books that would be something only the Messiah would be able to do. The healed man’s own parents wouldn’t take up for him because they didn’t want to be thrown out of the synagogue. They knew that if they acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah, then they would be excommunicated. How sad, that they loved the laws and religion of man more than their own son and more than God, himself.
The man that was healed was brought before the religious leaders to testify about what happened to him. He ended up being excommunicated so he came back to Jesus and received his salvation. Jesus explained that he came to make the blind see and those who see, blind. The Pharisees claimed to see, so they became blind, but those who were teachable began to see.
It is the same today. If we remain teachable and humble, our eyes will be opened more and more. But if we claim to know everything, we will become blind.
Lord, help us to remain teachable and open to what you are revealing on the earth.
David had to convince Jonathan of his father’s disdain for him so he gave Jonathan a test to prove it. Saul had taken David from his family and became his family and now rejected him. Jonathan put his father to the test and realized that David was right. His father hated David and was obsessed with the idea of killing him. David would spend years running from Saul and fighting for his life.
David went to the priest, Ahimelech and didn’t want to tell him he was running from Saul. He didn’t want Ahimelech to have to make the choice between him and Saul. He asked for food and a sword. The only bread he had was bread from the shewbread table that was only for the priests but he gave it to David and his men. God didn’t kill them for eating the holy bread. The only sword the priest had was the one of Goliath’s - the one that David had taken from him. In a way, God was restoring to David what was rightfully his. David was a true priest to the Lord because he knew how to worship God and evoke his presence.
He then left for Gath where he had to pretend to be insane to save his own life. God will give us witty ways to outsmart the devil if we will listen.
In John, Jesus healed a man who was born blind. The Pharisees made such a big deal about this because healing a person born blind was one of the three criteria they had written in their books that would be something only the Messiah would be able to do. The healed man’s own parents wouldn’t take up for him because they didn’t want to be thrown out of the synagogue. They knew that if they acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah, then they would be excommunicated. How sad, that they loved the laws and religion of man more than their own son and more than God, himself.
The man that was healed was brought before the religious leaders to testify about what happened to him. He ended up being excommunicated so he came back to Jesus and received his salvation. Jesus explained that he came to make the blind see and those who see, blind. The Pharisees claimed to see, so they became blind, but those who were teachable began to see.
It is the same today. If we remain teachable and humble, our eyes will be opened more and more. But if we claim to know everything, we will become blind.
Lord, help us to remain teachable and open to what you are revealing on the earth.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Tues.’s Devo - The Players 5–30-18
Read: 2 Samuel 15:23-16:23; John 18:25-19:22; Psalm 119113-128; Proverbs 16:10-11
Today’s reading has many different players so it’s a little hard to keep everyone straight. David fled from Absalom across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives. This is the path that Jesus will enter Jerusalem when he comes back. He sent Zadok, the priest and his two sons back so they could be spies for him. He prayed that God would make the advice of Ahithophel foolishness. Ahithophel had been David’s advisor but he rebelled to follow Absalom.
Ziba, who had been Saul’s servant that David honored when Saul died, met David and his men with provisions. When David asked about Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s cripple son, Ziba lied and said that he had stayed hoping to get his father’s kingdom back. David flippantly gave Ziba all of the things he had given to Mephibosheth.
David was next met with a man named Shimei who cursed David and threw rocks at him from the hillside. Shimei was of the clan that Saul was of. David’s men wanted to kill him but David wouldn’t allow them to.
While David was leaving the city, his friend, Hushai was just arriving and they missed each other. Hushai stayed and acted like he was loyal to Absalom so he could protect David.
When Absalom asked Ahithophel advice about what to do, his advice was to make a tent on the roof of the palace and sleep with David’s concubines so all Israel could see. What foolish advice!
In John, Peter was going through his own fire. He was asked by the relative of the man whose ear he cut off if he was the man with Jesus in the garden. He denied it. This was Peter’s third denial of knowing Jesus. Meanwhile, Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the palace of the Roman governor, Pilate. The Jews couldn’t enter his house because it would make them unclean and they wouldn’t be able to celebrate the Passover. What a farce! Everything they were doing was making them unclean to ever enter heaven and they were worried about their manmade laws! Pilate wanted them to settle this themselves, but their Jewish laws wouldn’t allow crucifixion so they had to include the Romans.
Pilate had a conversation with Jesus about being a king. He decided there was no just cause to charge him with so he tried to get Jesus released. It backfired and he was forced to flog Jesus. His soldiers mocked him with a crown of thorns and a robe, hailing him king. Pilate handed him back to the Jews. The Jews said he had to die because he claimed to be the son of God. This scared Pilate even more and he tried everything he could to set Jesus free. The Jews made Pilate choose between Caesar and Jesus. Pilate felt his hands were tied and sent Jesus to be crucified. He made his men make a sign that said “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. This made the Jews mad but he refused to change it.
So many players and so few faithful. We are all players in the game of life and we all get to chose whose side to follow. The crowd is loud and forceful and the way to life is always death.
Lord, help us to chose life.
Read: 2 Samuel 15:23-16:23; John 18:25-19:22; Psalm 119113-128; Proverbs 16:10-11
Today’s reading has many different players so it’s a little hard to keep everyone straight. David fled from Absalom across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives. This is the path that Jesus will enter Jerusalem when he comes back. He sent Zadok, the priest and his two sons back so they could be spies for him. He prayed that God would make the advice of Ahithophel foolishness. Ahithophel had been David’s advisor but he rebelled to follow Absalom.
Ziba, who had been Saul’s servant that David honored when Saul died, met David and his men with provisions. When David asked about Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s cripple son, Ziba lied and said that he had stayed hoping to get his father’s kingdom back. David flippantly gave Ziba all of the things he had given to Mephibosheth.
David was next met with a man named Shimei who cursed David and threw rocks at him from the hillside. Shimei was of the clan that Saul was of. David’s men wanted to kill him but David wouldn’t allow them to.
While David was leaving the city, his friend, Hushai was just arriving and they missed each other. Hushai stayed and acted like he was loyal to Absalom so he could protect David.
When Absalom asked Ahithophel advice about what to do, his advice was to make a tent on the roof of the palace and sleep with David’s concubines so all Israel could see. What foolish advice!
In John, Peter was going through his own fire. He was asked by the relative of the man whose ear he cut off if he was the man with Jesus in the garden. He denied it. This was Peter’s third denial of knowing Jesus. Meanwhile, Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the palace of the Roman governor, Pilate. The Jews couldn’t enter his house because it would make them unclean and they wouldn’t be able to celebrate the Passover. What a farce! Everything they were doing was making them unclean to ever enter heaven and they were worried about their manmade laws! Pilate wanted them to settle this themselves, but their Jewish laws wouldn’t allow crucifixion so they had to include the Romans.
Pilate had a conversation with Jesus about being a king. He decided there was no just cause to charge him with so he tried to get Jesus released. It backfired and he was forced to flog Jesus. His soldiers mocked him with a crown of thorns and a robe, hailing him king. Pilate handed him back to the Jews. The Jews said he had to die because he claimed to be the son of God. This scared Pilate even more and he tried everything he could to set Jesus free. The Jews made Pilate choose between Caesar and Jesus. Pilate felt his hands were tied and sent Jesus to be crucified. He made his men make a sign that said “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. This made the Jews mad but he refused to change it.
So many players and so few faithful. We are all players in the game of life and we all get to chose whose side to follow. The crowd is loud and forceful and the way to life is always death.
Lord, help us to chose life.
Wed.’s Devo - The Evil of Jealousy
Read: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24; John 8:31-59; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 15:12-14
Two times it says that Saul was afraid of David and one time it stays that Saul was still more afraid of David. Saul realized that the spirit of God had left him and was on David and this terrified him. Instead of repenting so that he could have the spirit of God, he rebelled and tried to fight God by trying to kill David. Spiritual jealousy is just this ridiculous. There is nothing you can do to buy favor, only God can give that.
Saul had lost God’s favor and David oozed with it. Saul tried over and over to kill David and when they didn’t work he tried to trap him by giving him his daughter in marriage. Saul’s daughter, Michal, and his son, Jonathan, favored David above him. Saul had become an enemy in his own house because of jealousy.
In John, Jesus was facing the same demon. The Pharisees were so jealous of his following and his power that they did everything they could to discredit him even calling him a demon possessed. Jesus explained that he was the Son of God. They wanted to kill him too.
Lord, help us to guard our hearts against jealousy and walk in your favor.
Two times it says that Saul was afraid of David and one time it stays that Saul was still more afraid of David. Saul realized that the spirit of God had left him and was on David and this terrified him. Instead of repenting so that he could have the spirit of God, he rebelled and tried to fight God by trying to kill David. Spiritual jealousy is just this ridiculous. There is nothing you can do to buy favor, only God can give that.
Saul had lost God’s favor and David oozed with it. Saul tried over and over to kill David and when they didn’t work he tried to trap him by giving him his daughter in marriage. Saul’s daughter, Michal, and his son, Jonathan, favored David above him. Saul had become an enemy in his own house because of jealousy.
In John, Jesus was facing the same demon. The Pharisees were so jealous of his following and his power that they did everything they could to discredit him even calling him a demon possessed. Jesus explained that he was the Son of God. They wanted to kill him too.
Lord, help us to guard our hearts against jealousy and walk in your favor.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Tues.’s Devo - Defeating the Devil
Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11
The Philistines had a champion named Goliath. Goliath means “stripped” or “exile”. This is how God saw him yet to the world he looked nine feet tall, strong and heavily armored. He was a picture of a spiritual principality that causes fear and stops God’s people. God gave David eyes to see beyond the nature. David understood who was on his side and that there is no power greater than God.
David’s brothers didn’t encourage him at all. They were more like adversaries which is sometimes how it is in families. But, David didn’t give up. When he couldn’t encourage the soldiers to go out and fight, he got drafted to do it himself. Israel was desperate for someone with courage. That is all it takes to fight the devil: courage and the Word of God. David’s stone stood for the Word. It hit the devil between the eyes and knocked him out. David finished the job with Goliath’s own spear.
David’s reward was wealth, Saul’s daughter in marriage and tax exemption for his family but the greatest thing David won was the heart of Jonathan’s. A friend is greater than all the worldly riches and we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).
In John, Jesus nailed the Pharisees. He told them that he was going to heaven and they were going to hell. He explained that they would believe who he was when he was gone. Some people there heard him and believed.
Lord, help us to see the devil stopped and exiled instead of strong and powerful. Thank you for reminding us of how powerful your Word is and that we have nothing to fear when we trust in you.
The Philistines had a champion named Goliath. Goliath means “stripped” or “exile”. This is how God saw him yet to the world he looked nine feet tall, strong and heavily armored. He was a picture of a spiritual principality that causes fear and stops God’s people. God gave David eyes to see beyond the nature. David understood who was on his side and that there is no power greater than God.
David’s brothers didn’t encourage him at all. They were more like adversaries which is sometimes how it is in families. But, David didn’t give up. When he couldn’t encourage the soldiers to go out and fight, he got drafted to do it himself. Israel was desperate for someone with courage. That is all it takes to fight the devil: courage and the Word of God. David’s stone stood for the Word. It hit the devil between the eyes and knocked him out. David finished the job with Goliath’s own spear.
David’s reward was wealth, Saul’s daughter in marriage and tax exemption for his family but the greatest thing David won was the heart of Jonathan’s. A friend is greater than all the worldly riches and we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).
In John, Jesus nailed the Pharisees. He told them that he was going to heaven and they were going to hell. He explained that they would believe who he was when he was gone. Some people there heard him and believed.
Lord, help us to see the devil stopped and exiled instead of strong and powerful. Thank you for reminding us of how powerful your Word is and that we have nothing to fear when we trust in you.
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