April 22 - 2 Samuel 5:1-3 | 1 Chronicles 11:1-3 | 1 Chronicles12:23-40 | 2 Samuel 5:17-25 | 1 Chronicles14:8-17 | 2 Samuel 5:6-10 | 1 Chronicles11:4-9 | 1 Chronicles 3:4 | 2 Samuel 5:13 | 2 Samuel 5:4-5 | 2 Samuel 5:11-12 | 1 Chronicles14:1-2 | 1 Chronicles13:1-5 | 2 Samuel 6:1-11 | 1 Chronicles 13:6-14

Good morning everyone,

First thing I have to say is I hope that the list of verses at the top of the page did not discourage you. While it looks like a lot of reading, really it is merely 1 Chronicles reiterating what 2 Samuel is saying. In some places word for word, while in others, adding a bit more detail. I always find it exciting to have what I read in the Bible validated in another book in the Bible, the different perspective being totally cool! Make sense?

We begin our reading in 2 Samuel where it tells us that “ALL” the tribes of Israel, having recognized that even while Saul was king, it was David who led the military campaigns. So they go to David at Hebron to anoint him ruler, king over all the land. When I first read this I thought that the “all” they were talking about were perhaps selected spokespersons for each tribe, however, in 1 Chronicles we read that there were nearly 341,000 people (if my math is correct) that came knocking on David’s door in Hebron, determined, mind you, to make David king over all the land. Who could say “no”?  

Now keep in mind that David is a mere thirty years old, that’s right friends, thirty! Quite frankly, I can barely remember back to when I was thirty, but nonetheless, all of Israel determined to have him be their king. God has totally paved the way for David! It is evident in every situation David has been in and clearly present in the hearts of the people of Israel, and so he is anointed for the third time in his life as king.

When the Philistines heard the news about David they went in search of him, they wanted to take him on; but note this, David didn’t let the “soldier in him” that is to say his pride rule his actions. No, no. Instead of going up to meet the Philistines in battle he first went down to the stronghold to meet God in prayer, to ask God what He wants David to do. Is that awesome or what?! God says “Go, I got your back.” So David did. However, next we read that once more those persistent Philistines came back to attack. Again, David goes to the Lord to seek advise. This time God tells him to circle round the back and when he hears marching in the tops of the poplar trees attack. David did as he was instructed and was quite successful. 

Now, I just want to take a moment for a personal share. I love, love, love the sound of the wind blowing through the tops of the trees. Always have. You can hear it coming forever, especially where I live and I never tire of the trees wiggling and dancing with delight as the angels whisk through tickling their branches. When I read David was to wait to hear the marching in the tops of the trees, I could totally see God’s army up there going before him and it gave me chills. Oh man, I L-O-V-E my God!!!

Yikes, I am running out of space so off to David conquering Jerusalem. The Jebusites had control and had the lame and the blind guarding the city. No kidding! I read in one commentary that the blind and the lame were placed on the walls, because why? Well, blind folks can hear really well and no one was going to sneak up on them undetected, and when they heard someone coming they would, not wanting to get caught in the fight, would make a hasty (as fast as a blind person can move) retreat leaving the lame who could not move, behind screaming for help. Hence, the the alarm system. So David being the astute commander that he was knew the way into the city was through the water shaft and put it out there that whoever made it up the shaft, into the city first would forever be his commander-in-chief. It would be Joab, you remember him, he is the one who murdered Abner, to receive the title and help David, who will rein for forty years, restore and build what will be know as the City of David. 

We’re told that David  became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him. We have the ability to be just like that, all we have to do is put our total allegiance, our hope and our faith in God almighty. I would encourage you to read then claim Isaiah 40:28-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Amen?

Have an awesome day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …

April 21 - 2 Samuel 3:6-4:3 | 2 Samuel 4:5-4:12

Good morning everyone,

Today as we begin our reading, the war between the house of Saul and the house of David had gone on and on. Abner, who had become a powerful force, has a bit of a run in with king Ish-Bosheth and will be making a “power play” to turn his entire kingdom over to David. When Abner contacts David with the proposal, David says “I’m down with that only I want my first wife, Michal, back.” Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal”, and Ish-Bosheth did have her taken from her husband, and sent to David. Deuteronomy 17:17 says “He (the king) must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray.” David knew this, and this will not bode well for his house.

Meanwhile, Abner secretly conferred with the elders of Israel and of Benjamin and then takes twenty men down to have a chat with David, who genuinely glad to see Abner, prepares a feast for them. Feeling good about the way things went Abner heads home. 

Shortly after, Joab returns from a raid he and his troop had been on and is livid when he finds out that Abner, the guy who, albeit accidental, had killed his brother was in the house and sends a messenger out after him to bring him back. Abner clearly thought nothing about it because he did return, met with Joab and Joab killed him in retaliation.

When David found out about this he proclaimed his innocence of an knowledge of the entrapment or the murder, making it known to all the people Joab did this all on his own. Like Saul, David I believe respected and maybe even loved Abner. He had spent half his life being chased by him and now David would walk behind him at his funeral procession. 

Back at the house of Saul, Ish-Bosheth’s captains enter into his bed chamber and murder him and in an effort to find favor with David, deliver the dead king’s head to him. However David could not tolerate the death of an innocent man, you see Ish-Bosheth’s only crime was in being weak. He was not wicked, he just didn’t have the courage to stand against injustice, and so David gave him a decent burial. 

2 Thessalonians 3:13 says “And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” David, though sometimes got sideways, was a guy who never tired of trying to do what was good. I like that.

I pray you have a good day, to God be the glory.

God bless you all …

April 20 - 2 Samuel 2:1-3:5 | 1 Chronicles 3:1-4 | 2 SamuelL 23:8-17 | 1 Chronicles11:10-19 | 2 Samuel 23:18-39 | 1 Chronicles 11:20-47 

Good Easter morning everyone ….. He is risen indeed!!

We continue our reading this morning with David, having learned Saul was dead, going to God and asking him if now was the right time to go up to Judah. You see, David knew he would become king but rather than rush ahead of God, going about his own plans and in his own strength, he took the time to see what God had in mind, David wanted to go with God. Make sense? And so when God said, “Go.” David asked, “To where?” to which the Lord answered, “Hebron”. 

Hebron, located high in the Judaean Moutains, about nineteen miles south of Jerusalem and was the largest city in Judah at the time. It was originally under Canaanite control, a royal city actually, until Joshua came along and conquered it when claiming the Promised Land. It was also the same area, if you will remember from Genesis, where Abraham purchased a cave to bury Sara in. Now, it is where David takes his two wives along with all of his men and their families, and where David will be anointed king of Judah. 

Meanwhile, Abner, you remember him, right? the general of Saul’s army? well, with the king dead he is probably thinking he is out of a job and scrambles to get another king on the throne of Israel, one who will allow him to continue his role as leader of the troops. He runs to get Saul’s forty year old son, Ish-Bosheth, who had stayed at home doing who knows what (I’m guessing not video games) while his dad and brothers were out fighting for the country, and says to him “Hey, guess what? You are now king.” That will not end well.

Next we read about a confrontation at a pool in Gibeon. I am not going to say a whole lot about that, other than, I have read three different commentaries and each had a little different slant as to how and what actually happened. God has not encouraged me in it so I will leave it alone for now. There’s just some things God doesn’t feel has to be crystal clear, you know?

Finally, our reading today directed us to take a look at David’s mighty warriors. There were two elite groups, “The Thirty” and “The Three”. The members of these teams were men with outstanding leadership skills and had showed exceptional, selfless courage in battle. They were the “creme de la creme” (good French … right?) They had sought David out while he was in the caves and though wavering a bit when their families were kidnapped, had proven to be devoted to David for more than a decade. When we read about these men we can see that over the years, motivated by greatness, David inspired them to be all that they could be (to coin a phrase), not only as soldiers but as men of God as well. It begs the question; Do you know who the people you hang out with? The people you spend the most time talking to? What God they look to? 1Corinthians 15:33 says “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” and Proverbs 13:20 “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” I would encourage you to look to the Davids of the world to follow. Though not a perfect kind of guy, (but really who is?) he had a heart for God and to do God’s will. Amen?

Happy Easter my dear friends, to God be the glory!!

April 19 - 1 Samuel 30:1-31 | 1 Chronicles 12:20-22 | 1 Samuel 31:1-13 | 1 Chronicles 10:1-14 | 1 Chronicles 9:40-44 | 2 Samuel 4:4 | 2 Samuel 1:1-27

Good morning everyone,

When we left David yesterday, not being allowed to participate in the attack on Israel, he was headed back to his town of Ziklag. Today we read that when he got there he found the city burned to the ground and all of the women and children taken captive along with all of their goods. Obviously no one was happy about this, in fact, his men were talking about stoning him but … but … and get this because this is totally awesome, David turned back to the Lord. Oh how I absolutely love that. David had become depressed, he had backslidden, was doing worldly things, had quit talking to the Lord, but here when his wives and children had been taken away, his town burnt down his friends are turning against him, he no longer looks to the world for help, he doesn’t try to fix it in his own strength, no, David falls to his knees and finds strength and direction from the Lord. He asks God “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” God says “Yes, go.”

So David takes his six hundred men and pursues the Amalekites who stole from them, however along the way two hundred of the men found it to be too exhausting to go on. David says no problem stay here and guard the supplies while I, and the others, push on. They find their families unharmed and all of the plunder that had been taken from them and head back. Now when they get back to the two hundred guys that had remained behind, we’re told  “But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.” But David said, “Yea … you need to rethink that. They will get the same share as you, everyone will get the same.” How is that important to us? Well, it lets us know that while the ones who go out and evangelize, or do missions, or boldly stand in front of an abortion center protesting, or anyone who goes to the front line of God’s battle field, will receive rewards when they get to heaven, so shall the little people, the ones who work behind the scenes, the ones who stay back and pray for those on the front line, they will get an equal share of the reward in heaven. Did I make that make sense? I hope so. God doesn’t play favorites. 

Chapter 31 finds Saul on the battle field wounded by an arrow. Jonathan and his two brothers are already dead, and Saul, knowing he is a goner, will fall on his sword in an attempt to take his own life though, it is thought to be a failed attempt because as we will read later, an Amalekite will go to David claiming he found Saul, laying on his sword, still alive and then killed him. Nonetheless, the Philistines, while collecting the plunder and checking out the who’s who of the slaughtered will find Saul dead and behead him. So ends the book of 1 Samuel.

Now in 2 Samuel, chapter 1, we get to that Amalekite I mentioned before, the one who tracks David down and informed him of the death of Jonathan, and also the death of king Saul claiming he was the one who struck the final blow to Saul and hands over Saul’s crown and the band from his arm. Oh how this broke David’s heart. You see, even though for years Saul sought to capture and perhaps even kill David, they had a history before that, and even a history through all of that. David loved Saul like a father and Jonathan like a brother. As I write this now, a tear falls down my cheek as I imagine how sorrowful David had to have been knowing he would never see these two men, who for decades had been such a huge part of his life, ever again. My mind’s eye sees him reflecting on the many times, in days gone by, he’d shared a meal with Saul, or seen the “atta boy” smile on Saul’s face when he’d returned from a victorious battle, or when Jonathan gifted his sword to him after he’d slain Goliath, or the time Jonathan sought him out to encourage him in God. Yes, David’s heart was mournful and melancholy as he wrote a lament for Saul and for Jonathan proclaiming “How the mighty have fallen. How the mighty have fallen” thus ending one season of David’s life. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” God’s got big plans for David in his new season coming up and He’s got big plans for you and for me too if we will but let Him use us. Let’s live our lives on our knees forever seeking the will of God. Amen?

I pray you all have an amazing day, to God be the glory.

God bless you all…

April 18 - 1 Samuel 26:1-27:7 | 1 Chronicles 12:1-7 | 1 Samuel 27:8-29:11 | 1 Chronicles12:19 | Psalm 56

Good morning everyone,

Well, as we begin reading this morning David and his men are hiding out on the hill of Hakilah where the Ziphites of the land betray him to Saul who, one more time, gathers his three thousand men and heads on out to capture David. When David heard of this news, seriously … he had to have scratched his head and thought, “are you stinkin’ kidding me?” “Again?!” But  takes Abishai with him and under the cover of darkness, they successfully make their way undetected to the center of the three thousand men, to where Saul was sleeping. While standing over the sleeping king, Abishai wants to kill him but David says, “no, leave him alone, just get his spear and water jug”, so they did and left. When they get a safe distance away, David calls out to Abner, the king’s general, “Oh H-E-L-L-O! Wake up down there. Helloooo.” Finally, getting their attention David asks the king why he is again in pursuit of him, and lets Saul know he could have killed him yet again but did not. Saul once more hangs his head, apologizes and says, “Come back David my son.” But David not trusting the ole’ boy says, “yea …. no! Here’s your spear, send one of the young men to come get it.” Then they went their own ways, this being the last time Saul would set eyes on David

Chapter 27 finds David falling into a state of depression and for sixteen months he will back slide into the world, live as a Philistine. He and his entire company travel to Gath, you remember Gath, right? Where Goliath was from, where David was once before and acted like a crazy man to make an escape? Well, now he is there again and asks king Achish for a city in the suburbs where he, his men and all the families could settle. The king, no doubt aware of David’s troubles with Saul and fugitive status feels he’s no threat and gives him the city of Ziklag to live. During this time David and his men raided and destroyed three Canaanite tribes living near Shur toward the land of Egypt. However when king Achish would ask David where he had been, David lied and indicated he had been out destroying Israelites. This is not the first time nor the second we have read of David lying. It is worth noting that David knew this was a weak area for him and we read in Psalm 119:29 (kjv) where David prays, “Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.” 

Now all the Philistines are gathering, they are going to go after the Israelites, who are quite vulnerable because instead of spending his time keeping them strong and safe from the enemy, Saul, for a decade, has been chasing one of his own, David. King Achish has appointed David his body guard and off they go. Saul sees the Philistine Armies gathering, gets a little nervous, and starts trying to talk to God. Isn’t that typical, we don’t have a whole lot to say to God until we are in trouble or danger and then we want the direct line to Him, expecting immediate attention from Him. Saul didn’t get it though, he was too far from God and so instead of the Holy Spirit, in the dark of the night, Saul seeks the company of evil spirits and goes to a witch, a fortune teller, for help. BIG Mistake!! Huge!! Leviticus 19:31 tells us, “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”  The fortune teller did not recognize Saul because of the disguise he wore when he asked her to bring up Samuel from the dead. When Samuel appeared she was quite shocked, to the point of shrieking. Samuel chastised Saul for calling on him then told him that basically his time was up. Those Amalekites he was suppose to do away with years ago and did not, are now going to be the death of him. 

Meanwhile back at the Philistine camp, all the commanders see David riding up with Achish and say, “No way are we letting him go into battle with us.” They tell Achish to send him back, saying, “Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?”’ But David, so off his game, so into the world says “What? Why can’t I fight with you?” What was he thinking?!? These are David’s own people they are going to war against. However in the morning David and his men rode away, back to the land of the Philistines. 

Interesting, would you agree?, how the song the women were singing, “Saul has slain his thousands , and David his ten thousands,” the song that made Saul so very jealous of and angry at David, driving him out from his home, apart from all that he knew and loved and in fear of his life for many years, is the very same song that will ultimately save David from going into battle against his own country, the Israelites. Preserving the life he was destined to have as their king. God so subtly and amazingly works in all the details of our lives, weaving those threads of protection, wisdom and guidance in all that goes on in the lives of those who love him, directing our paths despite ourselves. God is so good. Our God is an awesome God! Amen?

I pray you have a great day, to God be the glory.

God bless you all …

April 17 - 1 Samuel 23:13-29 | Psalm 54 | 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44

Good morning everyone,

As we begin reading today, God has just revealed to David that the people of Keilah, the same people he and his men had just rescued from the Philistines, were going to betray him and give him up to Saul, so David and his six hundred men get the heck out of Dodge (well actually Keilah) and went to stay in the Desert of Ziph. While there, David’s good friend Jonathan, finds him and we’re told “helps him find strength in the Lord”. I think that is super cool. Lot’s of people are very happy to join in on a “pity party”, help us wallow in our sorrow and Jonathan could have approached David with an “Oh, poor David, I am so sorry my dad is being such an idiot to you and you have to be on the run” type attitude, but Jonathan doesn’t, instead he reminds David that God’s plan is perfect and encourages him to be strong, and to stay strong, in the Lord. I love that! This will be the last time that David ever sees his dear friend alive, and that was a great memory to carry with him.

So now David is on the run with his six hundred men and Saul is on his tail with his three thousand men closing in on David, and just about ready to capture him when Saul gets word that the Philistines were invading his home and they needed to get back to protect it … NOW! So Saul and his men broke off the pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. Coincidence? I think not! God heard David’s prayer and came to the rescue. Our God is so good.

Once Saul has the Philistines under control he receives word that David is in En Gedi and resumes his quest to capture him. It gets pretty hot in that part of the country and so it was that one afternoon Saul sought the coolness of a cave to take a nap. Now in all the caves he had to choose from in that desert, Saul picked THE one cave David and his men were holding up in. Coincidentally? Again, I think not. David’s men encouraged him to kill Saul right then and there but instead David only cuts off a corner of his robe. When Saul wakes up, he walks out of the cave to carry on with his day never realizing that his life had just been spared. Though, David feeling guilty for his act follows Saul out and in a most humble way, bowing to and praising Saul, asks why he is so bent on killing him. Saul hears David and his heart, at least for the time being, is touched and reconciles. He asks David to give an oath that when king he will not wipe out Saul’s family. David does so and they part company. 

Now, David traveling with his company of men in wilderness are once again without supplies. They have been, though unsolicited, protecting Nabal’s shepherds and floc from bandits and David sends ten of his guys to ask for some food from Nabal which he believes is a reasonable request. Wouldn’t you? However,  Nabal, as his name indicates, is a fool and not about to give them anything but an ear full of rude words. When they reported this back to David, he too acts without thinking or talking to God and sets out in a huff to kill them. Ahh, but on the way he meets Abigail, Nabal’s wife. A beautiful and smart woman who knew of David reputation, perhaps had even heard the songs women had written about him, knew of the injustice Saul was showing him and that he would be the next king. She had learned of her husband’s stupidity toward David’s men and their request and quickly put together supplies for them and was in the process of delivering them herself when she and David crossed paths. She humbly fell at his feet, taking total blame and responsibility for her husband’s stinky behavior, begging forgiveness. David indicates “no harm, no foul” takes the food she brought for them and sends her home. The next day when Abigail tells her husband what she did he has a cardiac arrest and ten days later dies. When David heard this news he sent word to Abigail, asking her to be his wife and of course she said yes and went to him. We are told that Saul had given Michal, you remember her, David’s wife who helped him escape, to another man, however, David was also married to Ahinoam and so he will have two wives. Though having more than one wife was customary at the time, we have seen before that never ended well, and it won’t here either, but that’s another story that we’ll save for another time :-)

Awesome reading today. I hope you are loving as much as I am reading about David. He is an amazing guy who we’re allowed to see as being just like you and me. True he was anointed to be king but he went through the very same feelings, experiences, actions and reactions that we do. He was just as human as you or I and only Jesus is written about more in the Bible than David. We can certainly learn a lot from him. 2Timothy 2:7 says “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Amen?

I pray you have a super day, to God almighty be the glory.

God bless you all ….

April 16 - 1 Samuel 22:1-2 | Psalm 57 | Psalm 142 | 1 Chronicles 12:8-18 | 1 Samuel 22:3-23 | Psalm | 1 Samuel 23:1-12

Good morning everyone,

 Oh my word, amazing reading today! I love how the psalms are blended into the story of David. They are transformed from being a lovely psalm to the more tender nuance of a prayer, allowing us to be a part of a most intimate moment David is having with God and see that the time David spent on his knees is not so different from the times we ourselves go to God in prayer. Lovely picture! 

We pick up today with David in the cave of Adullam where upon hearing of David’s troubles, his family would travel to join him there, probably to not only show their support but most likely their life was in jeopardy too with Saul so angry at David. You know? Furthermore, we’re told that about four hundred men from Gad who were in distress, debt or just plain discontented with Saul, who just happened to be brave warriors ready for battle, came knocking on the door of David’s cave as well.

Now that David has a little bit of a support system going on, the first thing he does is get his family to safety. You will remember that David is related to the Moabites, his great-grandmother was Ruth and so he goes and has a chat with the king of Moab who agrees to let his father and mother stay there until he knows what God has planned for him. 

Meanwhile, Saul is being cRaZy Saul. You remember Doeg? The do-og who witnessed David lying to get bread from the priest? Well, he just threw Ahimelek, that priest, under the bus, telling Saul that he had seen him helping David. Saul sends for the priest and his whole family who were the priests at Nob, and accuses him of siding with David. But Ahimelek is so confused because honestly he himself had been deceived and having no knowledge of what was going on he adamantly professes his innocence. However, Saul in all of his blind, insane behavior would not hear it and ordered the guards to kill Ahimelek along with all the priests of the Lord. To their credit, they refused the kings order. The king would then give Doeg the same order and this blood thirsty animal of a man had no problem slaughtering not only the eighty-five priests but he would travel to Nob the town of the priests, and likewise slaughter its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. Super nice guy … not!

There would be one and one only to escape, a son of Ahimelek, Abiathar, who quickly fled to where David was with his tragic story. David encouraged him to stay there where he would be safe, though, imagine, if you can, David’s guilt at finding out the devastating ripple effect of his sinful lie to the priest, and it certainly begs the question; did Abiathar know of David’s role in all of that? Because, I am thinking what a beautiful heart this priest had. I am not seeing at all where he played the blame game, or had any animosity what so ever. I want a heart as pure as that. Right?!

Next David gets a message that the Philistines are looting the folks at Keilah, they need help. I love that the first thing that David does is ask God if He wants David and his guys to go help out. God says, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah”, but David’s team says “What?? We’re in enough trouble here. Are you sure?” So David goes back, just to be sure, and asks God again if that be His will, and God said “Go.” So David will take his men and help the people in Keilah, but what we need to get here is that it is okay to go to God to reaffirm anything we think He has told us. Sometimes I wonder and I am guessing you do too, “Is that really from God?” It’s good to check it out because if it is from God, he will validate it either through His Word, a friend, a circumstance or whatever, if you allow it He will make His will known.

Friends, the story is just getting good. You see Saul knows David is going to be in a gated city and David knows, that Saul knows, so David asks God if he will be safe there and God tells David that actually the citizens of Keilah, these very people he just risked his life to save, will actually turn him and his men over to his enemy Saul. If you’re David are you scratching your head thinking, “Huh, alrighty then”? We’ll find out tomorrow what happens next. While this is a bit of a cliff hanger one thing is for certain, our God will never leave us hanging. Our God loves, loves, loves us and is always there for us. Remember in Joshua 1:9 we read “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Good words for David and us to live by. Amen?

Have a great day, to God be the glory.
God bless you all …