Sat.’s Devo -Amnon’s Transgression

Read: 2 Samuel 13:1-39; John 17:1-26; Psalm 119:81-96; Proverbs 16:6-7 In 2 Samuel 3:2,3 we read that David’s first born son was Amnon. His third son was Absalom whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai the king of Genshur. Ammon had a huge crush on Tamar who was Absalom’s sister. All of these are David’s children. Ammon thought he could never have Tamar since she was a virgin. Ammon must have had a bad reputation when it came to women. Amnon’s friend and cousin was Jonadab who was really crafty. He devised a plan where Amon he could have some time alone with Tamar. Ammon was to play sick and ask that Tamar come and take care of him. It all worked but Amnon couldn’t hold back his lust and raped her. She begged him to do it the right way and marry her but he refused. When it was all over, Amnon hated Tamar. Tamar went home disgraced. David was upset when he found out but Absalom was determined to get revenge when he heard. Tamar came and lived with Absalom and he told her to have patience, he would avenge what was done to her. Just a thought, I wonder if David didn’t do anything because of his guilt with Bathsheba. He had sort of done the same thing Amnon did. Maybe he didn’t feel qualified to discipline him. Absalom waited two years and then was ready to execute his plan. He went to his father David and asked if he and his whole family would come to his sheep-sheering party. David excused himself but allowed the rest of his sons to attend. Absalom had given his servants orders to kill Amnon when he was drunk. That night, they killed him and the other brothers jumped up and ran back home. The shrewd friend, Jonadab sent a message to David that his sons were all killed then ran ahead of them and told David that only Amnon was dead. Absalom had been plotting this since the day Amnon raped his sister, Tamar. Absalom fled to Geshur where his mother was from and stayed with his grandfather for three years. David reconciled Amnon’s death over that time and began to long for his son Absalom. In John, Jesus finished talking to his disciples then began to pray to his Father about them. He wanted them to hear him pray for them. Jesus knew he had completed his mission on earth so he was committing his followers to God. He prayed for their safety from the evil one. He prayed for truth and faith to lead them and guard them. He prayed not only for them but for all the followers that would come throughout the ages. He prayed for you and me. Jesus gave us his glory that we might be one and experience the unity that Jesus and the Father did. Jesus revealed God’s glory to them as he walked the earth and promised to continue to show them his glory after he had gone. Lord, your glory is revealed from the heavens and in all the earth. Let your glory be evident in us to others.

Fri.’s Devo - David’s Discipline

Read: 2 Samuel 12;1-31; John 16:1-33; Psalm 119:65-80; Proverbs 16:4-5 After David got Bathsheba pregnant and had Uriah killed so David wouldn’t have to face him and his own transgression, God had something to say about it so He sent Nathan to give David a hypothetical situation so he could see his sin from God’s perspective. He told him the story of a poor man who had a pet lamb that he loved very much. A rich man had a visitor and wanted to serve lamb. Instead of killing one of his own, of which he had plenty, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and fed it to his guests. David was appalled and ordered this man’s execution. Nathan told him that the rich man was him and he had done the same sin to Uriah by taking his wife when David could have any woman in the kingdom. Then he killed him to cover his tracks. God was not pleased with him and because of what he did, the child would die. What he did in secret would be done to him in public. Someone in his own household would rebel against him and God would give his wives to him before his very eyes and the eyes of his people. His family would also live by the sword since he had killed Uriah by the sword. This was fulfilled by David’s son, Absalom many years later. David repented and God forgave him but even after fasting a week and praying for the child’s life, he died. David went to Bathsheba to comfort her. They got pregnant again and this time God blessed the child and called him Jedidiah which means “loved by God”. He was also called Solomon. Meanwhile, Joab was fighting the Ammonites and about to take their capital. He sent message to David to come so he would get the victory. David did and took the king’s crown which weighed 75 pounds. He also took great amount of plunder from the city and made the people his slaves. In John, Jesus warned them of what was coming so they wouldn’t lose their faith. They would be expelled from the synagogue and killed for their belief in Him. The people who did this to them would think they were pleasing God by persecuting them. Jesus was leaving them so he could send them the Advocate, the Holy Spirit who would lead them into all truth. He will convict the world of its sin . He would make righteousness available to anyone who believed in Jesus and the Holy Spirit would warn of the judgment that would come on the world since the ruler of the world, Satan, has been judged. The Holy Spirit will speak for the Father and let them know what he says. Jesus went on to explain that they were going to experience great grief when Jesus leaves them but it would soon turn to great joy. They won’t have him to ask questions, but they can ask God and he will answer them. They were about to be scattered and confused but Jesus assured them, they could find peace in him. Lord, thank you that our peace is in you. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who reveals the Father and the Son to us. Thank you that you discipline those you love.

Thurs.’s Devo - David’s Transgression

Read: 2 Samuel 9:1-11:27; John 15:1-27; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 16:1-3 David searched for any survivors of Jonathan’s family that he could show kindness to because of his love and the covenant he had made with Jonathan. Ziba had been a servant of Saul’s who knew of a survivor. His name was Mephibosheth. He was the little boy who had been dropped by his nurse while fleeing the palace. He was a cripple. David called in Mephibosheth and told him that he was giving him the land that his grandfather, Saul had owned but he would eat at his table every meal. He then put Ziba and his family in charge of working the land and taking care of Mephibosheth. Ziba had 15 sons. In the international news, King Nahash of the Ammonites died. His son Hanun became their king. David wanted to show kindness to him because his father had been a good ally, so he sent some of his elite warriors to offer condolences. Hanun’s commanders were suspicious and thought they were spies sent to spy out their army. They shaved their heads and cut off their robes. The men came home in shame so David had them stay in Jericho until their beards grew back. The Ammonite army realized how offended David was so they hired 33,000 soldiers from the Arameans, the king of Maacah and from the land of Tob. David sent his whole army against them and had to fight in the fields and in the cities. Joab divided his army into two groups to fight on both fronts. The Arameans realized they were no match for the Israelite army and fled. Hadadezer surrendered to Israel and they became their subjects. They vowed never to help the Ammonites against Israel again. In the spring of the year, David decided to stay home and not go to war with his army. He was walking on his rooftop terrace when he saw a very beautiful woman bathing. He found out that she was Bathsheba who was married to Uriah. David ended up sleeping with her and she became pregnant. David tried everything he could do to hide his sin. He tried different strategies to encourage Uriah to go home and have sex with his wife so he would think the child was his own. Uriah was a soldier to the core and refused to go home. David had to find a way to murder him so he sent word by Uriah’s own hand to Joab. The letter said to have Uriah put in a place where he would surely be killed. Uriah was killed. David thought he had hid his sin, but God saw everything and he was not pleased. In John, Jesus was intimately talking to his disciples before he leaves them. He told them that he is the true vine. His followers are his branches. If they don’t produce fruit, they are cut off. If they do produce fruit they are pruned so they will produce even more fruit. The ones that didn’t produce fruit will be burned as waste but his true disciples will remain on the vine and remain in his love. If we remain in his love then we will love one another. The world will hate Jesus’ followers like they hated him but the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit will testify about Jesus. He is the one we listen to. Lord, thank you for the spirit of truth that helps us remain in the Father. Thank you that we can produce fruit through love.

Wed.’s Devo - Building the Temple

Read: 2 Samuel 7:1-8:18; John 14:15-31; Psalm 119:33-48; Proverbs 15:33 Once David was settled in his new palace he began to want God to have a palace or temple himself. He told Nathan, his prophet his dream and Nathan told him to do it. Nathan answered out of his own head thinking that God would, of course, like a Temple. But, once Nathn left encouraging David to build a temple, God did speak to Nathan about building a Temple and sent him back to tell David His opinion on the matter. God had never lived in a Temple; the earth is the Lord’s Temple. God told David that He had taken David from the sheepfold to the Palace. He would be a father to David and establish his kingdom forever and make him famous. God would discipline him as a father to a son but he would never take the kingdom from him like he did to Saul. David was so humbled he went and prayed to the Lord and thanked him for all the things he had done for him and his family. He ended it with, “…when you grant a blessing…it is an eternal blessing.” David understood that God’s word is eternal and nothing can stop it from happening if he says it. David went on to defeat the Philistines by conquering Gath, their greatest royal city. He also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer. The Arameans had come to help Hadadezer but David defeated them and made them pay tribute to him. King Toi of Hamath also began to pay David tribute. David took all this tribute money and put it in the treasury of the Lord. David was going to use it to build God a temple. In John, Jesus was with his disciples giving them his last words. He was leaving them in body but not in spirit and he was sending them two helpers. The first was the Holy Spirit who would lead them into truth. The world couldn’t receive him because they weren’t looking for truth. The second gift he was leaving them was peace. This peace is a spirit. It would guard their minds and heart. So he told them not to be troubled or afraid. Jesus was leaving them to do what he came to do…to reveal the love of the Father to the world. We are building God a temple also only it is within us. We build that temple with faith, prayer, devotion, giving, and loving. Everything we do goes to building or destroying that temple. Lord thank you for the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the gift of peace. Thank you that we do not need to fear the future because you are in the future waiting for us and you have it all planned. May we continue to build your temple within our hearts.

Tues.’s Devo - David is Anointed King of Israel

Read: 2 Samuel 4:1-6:23; John 13:31-14:14; Psalm 119:17-32; Proverbs 15:31-32 Two brothers named Baanah and Recab had been part of Ishbosheth’s army. When they found out that Abner their commander had been killed, they were fearful for their own lives so they devised a plan to get ahead. They went to Ishbosheth’s house and snuck in and killed him. They brought his head to David thinking they would get a big reward and be promoted. David did not look favorably on those who took matters into their own hands especially when it came to leaders that God had anointed. David had them both killed. Jonathan had a son named Mehibosheth who had become crippled at the age of five when his nurse heard that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. She had fled with Mephibosheth in her arms, tripped and dropped him which caused him to become crippled. We will read more about him later. The leaders of the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and anointed him king of Israel. David was thirty, the same age Jesus was when he went into his public ministry. He ruled over Judah for thirty-three years, the same age Jesus was when he died. David led him men against the Jebusites who owned the land around Jerusalem. They taunted that David would never be able to conquer them but God led David to victory over them. He made their land his home and called it the City of David. It had been the fortress of Zion which means “parched place”. Now it was the city of the beloved. King Hiram of Tyre sent him cedar and carpenters to build his palace. In Jerusalem, David married more wives and concubines and had ten sons there. When the Philistines found out David had been crowned king, they came to attack. Twice they attacked and both times God led David in victory. Once, David’s land was secure from his enemies, he wanted to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. They placed the Ark on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house. Abinadab’s two sons walked with the cart and when the oxen stumbled, Uzzah stuck out his hand to stabilize the Ark. God struck him dead right there. David was so upset he left the Ark there in Obed-edom’s house. God blessed Obed-edom greatly while the Ark was there. When David heard this, he decided to read about how to move the Ark. He had the priest use the poles to carry it on their shoulders and they brought the Ark into Jerusalem. David was so happy he danced before the Ark offering sacrifices every 6 steps. David’s wife, Michal watched from the palace window and thought David looked like a fool dancing in linen without the distinguishing robe of a king. She told him so when he got home and David let her have it. He told her that he was dancing before the Lord who had chosen him to lead Israel over her father Saul. He would make himself even more undignified than this to praise the Lord and the servants she thought he had disgraced himself in front of would think he was distinguished. Michal was barren her whole life because of this. In John, Jesus waited till Judas left to give them a new commandment. Before he had told them to love the Lord with all their heart and to love others as they wanted them to be loved. Now he gave them a new commandment to love others as he had loved them. He had set the example. He was about to lay down his life for them and he wanted them to have this same love for the world. He was entering into his glory and they would not be able to follow just yet. Peter thought he was ready to follow Jesus into death but Jesus said he wouldn’t even make it through the night without denying him three times. They had much suffering to face themselves before they were ready to follow Jesus into the eternal life. He encouraged them that they would do even greater works than he did because he was leaving. He also encouraged them to ask anything in his name. Lord, help us to realize our promises. We will one day do greater works than Jesus did. I believe that day is coming soon. Lord, may we be prepared to love others as you have loved us and courageously follow you into death.

Mon.’s Devo - Trust God’s Plan

Read: 2 Samuel 2:12-3:19; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119; 1-16; Proverbs 15:29-30 Ishbosheth’s army, led by Abner met David’s army, led by Joab at the pool of Gibeon. Abner suggested that 12 of his best warriors should go up against 12 of Joab’s best warriors. They each grabbed their opponent’s hair and drove their spear through them, killing all 24 of them. The battle began. Joab had two younger brothers, Abishai and Asahel who were fighting that day. Asahel was a very fast runner and ran after Abner, determined to kill him. Abner was much older and more experienced in war. He tried to get Asahel to stop chasing him but Asahel was relentless. Finally, Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Ashael’s stomach. It went all the way through his body and came out the other side. When Asahel’s two brothers found out what had happened they went after Abner with a vengeance and caught up with him on the hill of Ammah. Abner called down to them and begged them to stop warring brother against brother. Joab called a truce and everyone went home but Joab didn’t forget what Abner had done to his brother. When they assessed their casualties, Joab (David’s side) had only lost 19 men where Abner had lost 360 men. For years Israel fought against Judah. Israel becoming weaker and weaker while Judah becoming stronger and stronger. It all came to a head when Abner went in to one of Ishbosheth’s concubines and Ishbosheth reproved him for it. Abner didn’t like being scolded by a weak king so he rebelled against Ishbosheth and went over to David and offered him his loyalty. All David required of him to show his allegiance was to bring back his wife Michal. Abner brought her back to him with her husband crying all the way. Abner then went and campaigned throughout Israel for David and won the people over to David. Joab came back from war and found out Abner had been conspiring with David and was filled with rage. He went and killed Abner out of revenge for what he did to his brother. David was very mad at Joab and mourned greatly the death of Abner. All the people saw that David had no hand in the death of Abner and loved David. David cursed Joab and every generation of his family with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food. It makes me wonder if some of these people were the ones that Jesus came and healed many years later. In John, Jesus was celebrating his last Passover as he was to be the Passover lamb on this one. Jesus knew that Satan had set his trap and was using Judas to betray him. He also knew that he was about to leave and go back to his Father in heaven so he chose to wash his disciples’ feet. He was washing away their sins. Then, Jesus explained to his disciples that what he did for them, they were to do for others. Judas was in the group while he did this which troubled Jesus greatly. He told them that one of them would betray him. When John asked Jesus who it was that would betray him, Jesus said it was the one who he gave the bread to that was dipped in the bowl. He then dipped the bread in the bowl and gave it to Judas Iscariot. Once Judas ate the bread, Satan entered him and Jesus told him to leave. Jesus was in control of everything, even his enemies. Judas didn’t take his life, Jesus gave it. His disciples didn’t understand what was happening at the time, but later they were able to piece it together and realize that Jesus was in full control the whole time. He understood everything that was happening and was at peace with it. Jesus was setting the example of how to die and they would follow his example in this also. Lord, help us to be at peace with all that is happening around us, knowing that we can only do what you tell us to do. You have the whole situation in your hands and you are not anxious or afraid. May we enter into your peace.

Sun.’s Devo - David Becomes King in Hebron

Read: 1 Samuel 29:1-31:13; John 11:55-12:19; Psalm 118:1-18; Provers 15:24-26 David stayed with his newly captured family for two days and on the third day, he was visited by a man who had escaped the Israelite camp. He came to David for refuge. He told David how the battle had gone. Israel was defeated. Concerning the details of Saul’s death, the man gave David a completely different story than the one we read yesterday. The truth was that Saul was injured and asked his own body guard to kill him. When he wouldn’t do it, Saul fell on his own sword and died. When the body guard saw he was dead, he fell on his own sword also. This man claimed to be the one that Saul asked to kill him which he did, and then escaped. He thought David would spare his life and reward him. Instead, David killed him for killing God’s anointed. David and his men mourned Saul, his sons and all of Israel. David composed a song for Saul and Jonathan and taught it to the people of Judah. Then, David asked the Lord if he should move back to Judah and where he should move. God told him to move to Hebron which means “communion”. It was time to commune in his own land. The people of Judah made David their king. David sent word to Jabesh-gilead asking them to be his subjects and acknowledge him as their king. Abner, Saul’s commander had already crowned Saul’s son Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jereel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashrites and all the rest of Israel. That was everyone north of Judah. Ishbosheth ruled from Mahanaim for 2 years. Ishbosheth means “man of shame”. David was king in Hebron for seven and half years. In John, we see the beginning of the harvest as Greeks came to worship God at the Passover and to see Jesus. Jesus agonizes leaving now when many are coming to believe, but he realizes that like a grain of wheat that doesn’t bear fruit until it dies, he came to die. He will bear much more fruit in his death than in his life. The people couldn’t understand him dying since they had read that the Messiah would live forever. Jesus explained that his light would shine on earth in his earthly form just a little longer and if they walked in his light, the darkness would not overtake them. Then Jesus hid himself from them. Many didn’t believe even when they couldn’t deny his miracles. Some of the believers included the Jewish leaders but because of their pride, they wouldn’t make it public. They chose the praises of men over the praises of God. Jesus submitted to God’s plan even if it meant he would be misunderstood. He left his life in God’s hands. Lord, we submit our lives into your hands even and especially when we don’t understand.