Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 2:13-46; Psalm 119

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY?

What if you hear these words from God as you sit down to spend time in His presence? How will you answer? What will you choose? One Sunday, I asked the students in my small group to think of something they would like to ask God for. If they could pick one thing, one BIG request, what would it be? The answers varied. Some answers were humorous, some creative and some profound.

If you could ask God for anything, what would you ask Him for? If God woke you up this morning with the announcement that He wants to bless you greatly, that you are to choose a gift from Him and He will give it to you in abundance, what gift would you choose?

Remember the wish George made in the movie It’s A Wonderful Life? He wished he had never been born and an angel granted him the wish. For the next few days he saw what life would have been like for everyone else without him. The experience opened his eyes and changed his perspective on life. What if the gift you could ask for from God was one that would forever change you?

On his deathbed, King David gave his son Solomon advice on how to lead God’s people. If I put myself in Solomon’s situation, I imagine he must have felt overwhelmed and unequipped for the job ahead of him. Scripture tells us that he loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David. But, in addition to his obedience, Solomon worshiped God and sacrificed generously to Him. The Lord saw Solomon’s heart and asked him this question:

WHAT DO YOU WANT? ASK, AND I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU!

Solomon replied, “You showed faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne. Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! GIVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING HEART so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for WISDOM. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies – I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for – riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.” — 1 Kings 3:5-14

I WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU ASKED FOR!

That is the God we serve! Our God gives us what we ask for and also what we do not ask for. God sees the hearts of His people and blesses them accordingly. Remember the words of David in his final psalm: “I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there” (1 Chronicles 29:17a). In Solomon, God saw great humility and a desire to serve God well.

In response to the sacrificial life Solomon was living, God offered him the opportunity to ask for ANYTHING and Solomon asked for wisdom. Solomon could have asked for something for himself and instead he asked for something that would help him serve God and his people better. Solomon’s request was selfless and generous. God’s response matched Solomon’s as He generously gave him very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore… He was wiser than anyone else (1 Kings 4:29-31).

But we know that about God, right? We know he LOVES to give gifts, especially wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY?

This week many of us will pull up to a drive-through at our favorite coffee place and hear the words, “What can I do for you today?” What if we hear those same words from God today as we sit down to spend time in His presence? How will we answer? “What can I do for you today?” My job is feeling pretty big right now so my response is “I would like a venti of wisdom with a double shot of understanding, please!” What will you ask the Lord for today?

Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word. — Psalm 119:33-37

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 29, Psalm 148-149

David, a man who knew what it was to fail and be forgiven, ended his reign as king praising the Lord. David, a man who knew what it was to have his prayers sometimes answered with a “yes” and sometimes answered with a “no”, ended his reign praying for the people God had given him the privilege to lead. David, who had done his fair share of confessing, was now able to fill his prayer with praise to the God who had shown His power; he offered thanksgiving to the God who had provided for him over and over again. As he passed on the leadership of God’s people, David took time to pray over the hearts of those who would carry on his legacy.

ADORATION

“O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! YOURS, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.

THANKSGIVING

“O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have you first gave us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.

“O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your name comes from you! It all belongs to you! I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.

SUPPLICATION

“O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes. Give my son Solomon the WHOLEHEARTED desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.” – 1 Chronicles 29:10b-19

Father God, you are amazing! You are worthy of every wonderful song David wrote for you. You are stronger than any problem we are facing and wiser than all of our best laid plans. You show your love to us over and over again. We stand in awe of you this morning — our Creator, our Provider and our Savior.

Lord, we confess that we have spent needless hours worrying. We confess that we are a self-centered people who form opinions and cast judgments. Lord, we ask for your forgiveness as individuals, as a church, and as a nation. We pray that you will continue to do a work in our hearts, making our hearts want to obey you.

Abba, we thank you for another day to serve you. You are the source of everything good in our lives and our hearts are grateful for your grace and your love. Thank you for another opportunity to spend time with those we love and thank you for the strength to follow your lead today.

Heavenly Father, we ask for you to watch over and protect us today. We pray that truth will be evident and our enemies will be bound. We pray for the prodigals in our lives who are struggling to believe. Lord, we pray that you will send someone into their lives today to draw them closer to you. We pray that you will once again provide for our families and friends today. We pray for your healing touch, as well as your comfort for those who are hurting. We love you with all of our heart, mind and strength. Amen.

I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever. – Psalm 145:21

Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command, and they came into being. – Psalm 148:5

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 22-28; 2 Samuel 23; 1 Kings 1-2:12

O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. – Psalm 5:1-3

“GOD’S WAY IS PERFECT.”

These are the words of David as he held his dying son. He was crying out of regret that he had sinned against God and sadness that his baby was sick. God forgave David’s transgression yet did not answer David’s prayer. The same God who answered Hannah’s prayers of anguish with the birth of a son, did not answer David’s prayers of anguish for the life of his son. What do we do with this?

After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife. David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground… Then on the seventh day the child died. – 2 Samuel 12:15-18a

David’s advisers were surprised when he went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord after hearing of his son’s death. He went from fasting to eating; from pleading with God to resting in God’s decision.

David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.” – 2 Samuel 12:22-23

RESTING IN GOD’S ANSWER

Sometimes I cannot wrap my mind around our Almighty God; my human limitations cannot always understand a God who has no limitations. GOD’S WAY IS ALWAYS PERFECT. Even when I do not receive the desire of my heart, God loves me and blesses me according to His plan — just as He did David.

Although God took the life of the baby conceived in David’s adulterous relationship, God chose to bless their marriage and gave them many more children. Out of all of his wives and all of his children, God chose the next son born to David and Bathsheba to be David’s successor as king. They named this son Solomon, but God gave him the name Jedidiah, which means “beloved of the Lord”. With this name, God expressed his special love for Solomon and revealed His plan to use this baby in a special way. Solomon would build God’s Temple – God would be his Father and Solomon would be God’s son.

BE STRONG AND DO THE WORK

David had some powerful words of advice for his son and for all of us who are called to do a work for the Lord:

“…Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors INTIMATELY. Worship and serve him with your WHOLE heart and a WILLING mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. THE LORD HAS CHOSEN YOU to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”…

Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. HE will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” – 1 Chron. 28:9-10, 20

As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon: “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations and laws written in the law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go…” – 1 Kings 2:1-3

TAKE COURAGE AND GROW UP

What great advice for Solomon and what great advice for us today. God may not answer every prayer the way we want him to, but take courage and grow up. We may fast and plead with God only to lose someone we dearly love. But don’t be afraid or discouraged – the Lord our God is with us! What He has called us to do, He will equip us for. What He has asked us to do, He will provide the resources for – whether earthly materials or strength to face the day. He can give us the wholehearted desire to serve and obey Him, according to HIS plan and HIS will, regardless of the circumstances around us.

THE LORD HAS CHOSEN YOU to _______________. Be strong and courageous, and do the work.

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! – Psalm 31:24

Today’s Reading: Psalm 3, 9, 10, 13, 16, 18

O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.
So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
You are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety,
for the Lord was watching over me. – Psalm 3:1-5

The book of Psalms is the place many of us go when we are struggling, when difficult times are upon us and we are wondering why God is allowing us to walk such a hard path. The Psalms remind us that God allows us to go through pain and experience problems so that we will long for His PRESENCE, recognize His PROVISION, and cry out for His PROTECTION. Over and over again you see this pattern in the poetry of the Psalms — this dance between man and God.

COME, LET US DANCE WITH THE LORD.

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord,
do not abandon those who search for you. – Psalm 9:9-10

Difficult times come and our faith in God causes us to seek Him in the midst of the pain – where is God (PRESENCE), how is He going to help me (PROVISION) and am I going to survive this (PROTECTION)? We cry out “Lord, have mercy!” (9:13a) and He hears the hope in our cry for help — He hears our cries and comforts us, bringing justice and faith to replace the fear (10:17-18).

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me. [PROTECTION]
I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. – Psalm 13:3-6

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.
I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”…
Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine. [PROVISION]
The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!
I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me…
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your PRESENCE
and the pleasures of living with you forever. – Psalm 16:1-2,5-8,11

This dance of life is a partner dance — a dance rooted in relationship with God. We are not meant to struggle alone but to allow difficult times to bring us back to the dance floor where God hears our cries, knows every detail of our problems, and stays by our side through it all. It is His PRESENCE that helps us find joy despite our circumstances.

COME, LET US DANCE WITH THE LORD.

I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
My God is my rock, in whom I find PROTECTION.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. – Psalm 18:1-6

For some their pain is physical and they are faced with a disease or injury that threatens their life. The same God is their Great Physician, listening to the cries of their heart and making the same promises — I will be with you (PRESENCE), I will be everything you need (PROVISION), and I will be your fortress (PROTECTION).

Perhaps you are thinking – I am not a good dancer. I avoid the dance floor because it is hard for me to submit to someone else’s lead. I can deal with my own problems without His PRESENCE, I have my own source of PROVISION and I do not need His PROTECTION. The psalmist declares his own testimony of letting go and allowing God to draw him out of the dark and into His light. We do not have to know what to do but simply allow God to take the lead, supporting us and keeping our feet from slipping — even in the most difficult of situations.

COME, LET US DANCE WITH THE LORD.

You light a lamp for me.
The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale a wall.
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for PROTECTION.
For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
God arms me with strength [PROVISION] and makes my way perfect.
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.
You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping. – Psalm 18:28-36

God is speaking. Can you hear Him asking, “Can I have this dance?” Will you trust Him and allow Him to take the lead? Will you let go of the pain and the problems and hold onto Him instead?

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21; Psalm 51

Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you…” – 2 Samuel 12:13

But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing.” – 2 Samuel 24:10

I am so thankful that we serve a God who sees our regret, hears our confession and willingly forgives us when we have sinned against Him. Like all of us, David was the recipient of that grace over and over again. The Lord gave David this beautiful ability to put his emotions into words, leaving us with so many psalms we can relate to — songs that celebrate the mercy of our God!

WASH ME CLEAN FROM MY GUILT

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
For I was born a sinner – yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.

PURIFY ME FROM MY SINS

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.

HEAL MY BROKEN HEART

You do not desire sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. – Psalm 51:1-17

Let’s intentionally praise God for His patience and compassion. Let’s thank Him for His mercy and grace. Let’s sing His praise and confess our sin.

Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. – Psalm 32:1-5

Lord, thank you for hearing the prayers of a sinner, even when we are unworthy of your audience. We praise you for your plan of salvation — that you would give your Son as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. We humbly come before you this morning praying for you to lift away the burden of our guilt and replace it with the joy of restoration. May you be glorified through our repentance and the cleansing of our unrighteousness. Purify me from my sins and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Amen.

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. – 1 John 1:5-9

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 22; Psalm 18

God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right…
I will thank the Lord because he is just;
I will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high. – Psalm 7:10,17

These are the words of thanksgiving David wrote as he finished his reign as king. Looking back on his life, there were so many difficult struggles. From King Saul’s attempts to kill David to his own son’s rebellion against him, from the violence against his daughter to the violence against his concubines, from the grief and loss of his friends to the grief and loss of his newborn son — David experienced more pain than most of us will ever know. Yet at the end of his life, David did the same thing he had always done — he sang to the Lord who had generously blessed him and saved him from his enemies.

As I read David’s song of praise to God, I think of the times when I have called out to God in my distress and felt His presence swoop in and surround me with peace. I am reminded of my own healing and the healing of others as I read of God’s emotions when death and the grave lay traps in the path before us.

This psalm in 2 Samuel 22 has beautiful imagery so I pray you are able to place yourself in this beautiful song and picture the love of the God who rescues you! I pray you are able to find peace and say…

MY GOD’S WAY IS PERFECT.

He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and HE SAVED ME from my enemies.

“The waves of death overwhelmed me; floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help.
HE HEARD ME from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.

“Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the heavens shook; they quaked because of his anger.
Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dense rain clouds.
A great brightness shone around him, and burning coals blazed forth.
The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.
He shot arrows and scattered his enemies; his lightning flashed, and they were confused.
Then at the command of the Lord, at the blast of his breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.

“HE REACHED DOWN from heaven and RESCUED me; HE DREW ME OUT of deep waters.
HE RESCUED ME from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord SUPPORTED me.
HE LED ME to a place of safety, he rescued me because HE DELIGHTS in me.
The Lord REWARDED ME for doing right; he RESTORED ME because of my innocence.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.
I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.
The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.
To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.
You RESCUE the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.
O Lord, you are my lamp. The Lord lights up my darkness.
In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.

“GOD’S WAY IS PERFECT.”

“All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?
God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect.” – 2 Samuel 22:2-33

Perfect Father, help us to come to the same place today that David did at the end of his life. Help us to recognize your presence in our life and how you have been with us through every situation, from the deep waters to the battlefields. Thank you for showing yourself faithful and watching over us. Give us the confidence to say that we can crush any army and scale any wall with your help. Protect us with your shield and set us upon your solid rock. Your way is perfect, even when it is beyond our understanding. When I accept your way for my life, I can know it will be perfect — exactly as you intend for it to be. You are my Refuge, my Rock, my Savior; and I love you!

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. – Psalm 18:30

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 19-21; 1 Chronicles 20; Psalm 14

Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” – 2 Samuel 19:1-4

Joab saw what was happening and he saw ahead to what the outcome of David’s response would be if he continued to put his own feelings ahead of the emotional strength of his army. He saw that the king’s grief was confusing the people, causing them to feel shame instead of rewarding them for their service and loyalty. He told King David to go out and congratulate the troops, so the king came out and took his seat at the town gate. News spread and the people gathered around the king, reinstating David to his rightful place as king.

JOAB STEPPED UP AND SPOKE OUT.

The next few chapters speak of the season of restoration God’s people experienced following David’s response to Joab’s wise advice. Leadership was established and redemptive conversations took place. David’s ten concubines who had been raped by his son, Absalom, were brought to a place of healing where their needs could be provided for and they could be shown great care for the remainder of their lives.

As the Israelites had a tendency to do, the tribes bickered and quarreled amongst each other about timing and rights. One troublemaker named Sheba blew a ram’s horn and tried to rally a group against the dynasty of David. The men of Israel deserted the king to follow Sheba but the men of Judah chose loyalty to the house of David.

Then the king told Amasa, “Mobilize the army of Judah within three days, and report back at that time.” So Amasa went out to notify Judah, but it took him longer than the time he had been given. – 2 Samuel 20:4-5

AMASA STEPPED BACK AND FELL SHORT.

We have a saying in our family, and perhaps you have spoken these same words in your home: Delayed obedience is disobedience. Hesitation in doing what we have been told to do reveals a heart of disloyalty and disregard for authority. Because it was important for David’s troops to act quickly, Amasa was removed from his position of authority (and killed), and Abishai was placed in command.

Meanwhile, Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel and eventually came to the town of Abel-beth-maacah. All the members of his own clan, the Bicrites, assembled for battle and followed him into the town. When Joab’s forces arrived, they attacked Abel-beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the town’s fortifications and began battering down the wall. But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you.” – 2 Samuel 20:14-16

A WISE WOMAN STEPPED UP AND SPOKE OUT.

Their wall of protection was coming down and this woman knew someone needed to act quickly. Instead of waiting for someone else to do something, she took action for the sake of her community. She got the attention of David’s commander, Joab, and asked him why he would want to destroy such an important town in Israel — a town known as the Mother of Israel. She negotiated an agreement to hand Sheba over to David’s army in exchange for leaving the town in peace. She then lifted her voice above the confusion, getting the attention of her community. She convinced them to cut off Sheba’s head and throw it over the wall to Joab.

THIS WISE WOMAN OFFERED A SOLUTION TO THE CHAOS AND PEACE WAS ESTABLISHED.

Although we will never know her name, this woman’s story can influence us today, just like we can learn from the boldness of Joab and the delayed obedience of Amasa. We can pray for the Lord to give us wisdom, even in the most difficult of situations. Then we can pray for the boldness needed to step out and speak up. Perhaps our words will impact the actions of others, going as far as to save lives or establish peace among God’s people.

There was a famine in all of Israel that had lasted three years (21:1). David asked the Lord about it, and He revealed that it was due to an injustice committed against the Gibeonites (those who were left from the nation of the Amorites). The blame for this wrongdoing did not land on David, yet the king took steps to amend the situation in order to bring restoration to the people the Lord had called him to lead. He took action and the time of famine among God’s people ended.

DAVID MADE A DIFFICULT LEADERSHIP DECISION AND JUSTICE WAS GIVEN.

Lord, help us to lean in and listen closely to what you would like to accomplish through us today. Give us wisdom for the position to which we have been called and give us compassion for those who have experienced injustice. May we respond immediately in those moments when you have given us courage to step up and a voice to speak out. Use us to bring peace among your people so that the voice of the Church can rise up and praise you! Amen.

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 13 – 18; Psalm 63

David thought he could have Uriah killed and no one would notice; he thought no one would care. But God cared about Uriah and God cared about the choices David was making. God loved David, pursued David, and continued to bless David. God desires the same for us when we fall away from Him.

GOD CARES WHEN WE CHOOSE SIN AND DEVALUE LIFE.

All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him. – 2 Samuel 14:14

These are the words of a woman from Tekoa sent to David at a time when he needed a reminder of how God had forgiven him. David’s son Absalom had killed his half-brother Amnon for raping their sister, Tamar. Although Absalom had good reason to administer justice, David became very angry and refused to forgive his son.

In response to Tekoa’s words and the request of Joab, David chose to extend grace to Absalom by letting him return to Jerusalem, but he continued to ban his son from his presence. Even when Absalom rebelled against David and tried to take the kingdom from him, the change in David’s heart was evidenced in these words to Joab: “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom” (2 Sam. 18:5). At the news of Absalom’s death, David cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son” (2 Sam. 18:33).

THE GOD OF MERCY IS WILLING TO FORGIVE AND CAN HELP US FORGIVE OTHERS.

The way in which God loves us and values each life changed David and it can change us too. Perhaps we have good reason to stay angry or refuse to forgive someone, but we must remember that we also have sinned against God, yet he loves us enough to continue to draw us to Him. The God we have sinned against still wants a personal relationship with us. If God is willing to forgive us, will we allow him to do a miracle in our hearts, giving us the strength to forgive others?

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. – Luke 6:37

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:31-32

GOD DOES NOT JUST SWEEP LIFE AWAY.

When I was a teenager, I asked God to break my heart at what breaks His. I believe in response to that prayer, God called me to the pro-life ministry. I believe it breaks the heart of God when the lives of the unborn are devalued. Reading the scriptures, I know in my heart that God loves the mothers and fathers who have chosen abortion. He loves them enough to want them to come to repentance so that He can forgive them and restore them. And once forgiven, the Lord does not hold us at a distance but He welcomes us as sons and daughters.

If you are in need of forgiveness today, know that your Savior loves you. Know that God is not done with you, He does not just sweep your life away. As He loved David, He loves you! As He forgave David, He wants to forgive you. He has not given up on you but continues to devise ways to draw you back to Him. Perhaps today is the day to stop resisting His pull and allow God to change your heart as He changed the heart of David.

GIVE US A HEART OF FORGIVENESS, OH LORD.

If you are in need of forgiving someone today, know that Almighty God has the power to do a work in your heart. Just as God wants to forgive you, He wants you to let go of the hurt and pain, forgiving others for all they have done to you. God does not just sweep life away and neither should we.

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. – Psalm 3:3-5

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you! – Psalm 63:1-3

If you have an abortion in your past, please consider taking a weekend to go DEEPER STILL in your healing from that decision. Follow this link to learn more about the upcoming retreats in 2024: https://www.pregnancyresourcecenter.org/services/after-abortion-support/deeper-still-post/

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 8-12; 1 Chronicles 18-19

Does it seem to you that most television sitcoms have the same plotline? The main character makes a mistake and tells a lie to cover up the truth; then they have to tell another lie and then another lie to cover up the first lie. Everything becomes a mess, the truth comes out, and they realize it would have been better to just tell the truth right away. In today’s passage, David is that main character.

David took a break from the battlefield and went up on his roof to walk around. From there he saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, taking a bath. At that moment, David made a choice. God told him to look away but the enemy told him to look closer. God was telling David you can’t have that and the enemy was telling David you need that, you deserve that – after all, you’re the king! This lie is one of Satan’s favorites and he continues to use it against us today.

AGAINST YOU, AND YOU ALONE, HAVE I SINNED!

This was the moment when David made a huge mistake – not an accident but a choice. He gave in to temptation and to his own fleshly desires instead of listening to the Spirit. David’s behavior was self-serving instead of God-serving. David did not fall into sin, he boldly stepped into it. When Bathsheba became pregnant with David’s child, David made another choice. Instead of confessing his sins, he tried to cover up his indiscretions through manipulation, lies and murder.

As you read through this story in 2 Samuel 11, take notice that Uriah the Hittite is not even an Israelite, and yet he is so dedicated that he refuses to go home and be with his wife as long as the Ark of the Covenant and the army are out on the battlefield. David, on the other hand, is less concerned about his soldiers and the safety of the Ark and more concerned about himself. The king of Israel had always gone into battle with his army, but David remained safe in the palace while his men risked their lives.

I HAVE DONE WHAT IS EVIL IN YOUR SIGHT!

It would have been wise for David to remember all God had done for him. It would have helped David to remember God was with him wherever he went. Even when he was sinning in secret, God knew all.

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.” David was furious…Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!” – 2 Samuel 12:1-7a

REMOVE THE STAIN OF MY GUILT!

David confessed his sin and suffered greatly due to the consequences of his first sin, as well the many sins he committed in an attempt to cover up the first. God forgave David but there were consequences, and David’s baby lived only seven days. This is where the plot might end but David’s story continues. God forgave David; He still had a plan for David’s life.

DO NOT BANISH ME FROM YOUR PRESENCE, AND DON’T TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace…Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. – Romans 8:5-6,12-14

The enemy has plans for us today, plans to trip us up and lead us into temptation. God has another plan – a plan that involves keeping our eyes on Him and saying “no” to temptation. When the enemy says to look closer, may we hear God’s voice telling us to look away. When the enemy tells us we need something, may we accept God’s answer of “No”. Today may we give in to the urgings of the Spirit instead of the urgings of the sinful nature. Let’s pray as Jesus taught us to:

Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one. – Matthew 6:9-13

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalm 132

“I will not go home; I will not let myself rest.
I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber
until I find a place to build a house for the Lord,
a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” – Psalm 132:3-5

DAVID DESIRED TO BUILD A HOUSE FOR THE LORD

Now David built several buildings in the city of David, including a palace to live in. Then he said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant is out there under a tent!” Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.” – 2 Samuel 7:2-3

David’s desire was to build a house for the Lord but that was not God’s plan for David. God loved the heart with which David served Him and He told David of His plans to build a house for David — a dynasty of kings.

GOD DESIRED TO BUILD A HOUSE FOR DAVID

“I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!…

“Furthermore, I declare that the Lord will BUILD A HOUSE FOR YOU – a dynasty of kings! For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will BUILD A HOUSE – a temple – FOR ME. And I will secure his throne forever. I will be his father and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you. I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.” – 1 Chronicles 17:7-14

David recognized the magnitude of God’s blessing and was humbled at His words. He did not think too much of himself, but saw that God’s favor was a gift from God — something any man would be unworthy of. The gift was out of the righteousness of God, not David’s own righteousness.

His response could have been — This is exactly what I deserve; look at all I have done for God. Instead his focus was on all God had done for him as he recognized God’s unmerited favor. He could have reacted in disappointment that God’s plan would not grant the desire of David’s heart to build a temple, but instead he reacted in gratitude for what God would choose to bless him with.

“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you…YOU made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. YOU performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. YOU made Israel your very own people forever, and YOU, O Lord, became their God.

“And now, O Lord God, I am your servant;…You are God, O sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!” – 2 Samuel 7:22-29

LORD, BLESS OUR HOUSE.

Lord, we humbly recognize your unmerited favor in our lives. You are so good, O Lord, and we do not deserve all the blessings you pour into our lives. We are your servants, O God. Help us to accept your answer and give you all the praise even when we do not receive the desires of our heart. We are praying for you to use us as YOU desire. Your words are truth and we believe that all You have promised is true. How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you! Amen.

When I look at the night sky and see your fingers –
the moon and the stars you set in place –
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority –
the flocks and herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky,
the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! – Psalm 8:3-9