He Said Amen

2 Samuel 24: The Cost of Sacrifice

2012-06-11T19:21:00.000-05:00

"The king answered Araunah, 'No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.' ..."

2 Samuel 24:24a

King David had sinned, and his sin brought a plague upon the land. When he set out to right his wrong, he had a truly repentant heart. He didn't just want to forget the past and move on. He wanted to pay for his wrongdoing, not just quit doing it. This is true repentance - the desire to give of oneself in repayment for one's transgressions.

He did pay, literally. A healthy sum of money was spent on the land and animals for the altar and sacrifice. Some might say that, for a wealthy king, 50 ounces of silver isn't even a drop in the bucket. Whether it was pocket change or all his life's savings, I don't think the quantity is what matters. The important fact is that he was not willing to sacrifice something that wasn't his.

Question of the Day:

Have you wronged somebody and left them pained by it? Even though you can never undo the pain you've caused, are you willing to pay the price for your actions? Whether you're paying money, like David, or something else, like manual labor or devotion to a relationship, it's important that you accept full responsibility for your actions, and make ever sacrifice possible in order to right your wrongs.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, You know the hurt I've brought to You, myself, and others around me. You know the sacrifices which I must endure in order to right my wrongs. You know that I am incapable of doing so without the guidance of Your Spirit. You know how my heart begs for Your Spirit to thrive within me and guide my every step. Do not let my heart be hardened, but deliver me from evil. Forgive me, and forgive those who have done wrong against me as well. Thank You for Your forgiveness, for Your faithfulness, for Your love. Amen.

2 Samuel 23: My True House

2012-06-08T20:54:00.000-05:00

"Is it not true my house is with God? For He has established an everlasting covenant with me, ordered and secured in every detail. Will He not bring about my whole salvation and my every desire?"

2 Samuel 23:5

In David's last words, he expresses comfort in the Lord's house. He knows that he has a place with his Father, even though his earthly figure is doomed to dust. He has no fear in death because he walked through life knowing his eternal Father.

Question of the Day:

When you reach the end of your days, will you be able to look back and say with honesty and clarity that your true house is with God?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, continue to lead me and my household towards You and Your Kingdom. Do not let our debt to You lead to a foreclosure of the eternal home You have promised us. Dwell in my home here on Earth, and help me to make it mirror Your home in Heaven, so that I might recognize that new home when I leave this world. Amen.

2 Samuel 22: Salvation

2012-06-06T19:45:00.002-05:00

"You have given me the shield of salvation; Your help exalts me."

2 Samuel 22:36

We Christians spout the word Salvation all the time, but I think too many of us fail to understand the implications of the term. David's use of it here, in the prayer that takes up this whole chapter, gives us a much clearer view of the word's true meaning. This prayer has nothing to do with any spiritual promise or eternal acceptance. The whole prayer is David's thanks to God for his victories in battle - for the wars he has won against his human enemies.

The "salvation" he speaks of in this prayer is an entirely physical rescue from death and dismemberment. David is thanking God for keeping him safe during these times of war. He gives God credit for every good thing, even down to the individual steps he takes, landing on widened ground so that his ankles don't give underneath him.

Why did God protect him this way? According to David's prayer, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; He repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands." He knows that his faithfulness, purity, and humility are the reasons why the Lord takes delight in him.

Let us contrast this with the spiritual Salvation brought by the Messiah. God gave earthly salvation and prosperity to David because the king followed the Lord's commands and walked in His way. Jesus gives us spiritual Salvation and everlasting life because we have NOT followed the Lord's commands and walked in His way.

Even David had made his mistakes. Even this righteous man who brings delight to the God of Heaven - even the chosen one of Israel, God's Anointed, king of all the Lord's people - even this humble ex-shepherd has shown us his guilt in the pages and chapters of this biblical sub-book. His actions with Bathsheba alone show us that he is guilty of lust, adultery, conspiracy, theft, murder, and lying enough to cover it all up. In doing all this, he wasn't bringing honor to his mother and father, he wasn't worshiping God above all else and keeping His commandments.

Question of the Day:

More than half the Ten Commandments were flushed away in that story alone, so how can God still delight in this man he raised up as king? Because of the second kind of salvation - because of Salvation, by grace, without which all of our attempts to bring joy to God would be feeble.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, thank You for saving my soul so that I might bring you joy. Help me to walk in your ways with faith, love, and humility so that I may be deserving of the worldly salvation You have already given me. Continue to grow Your Spirit within me so that I may continue to become more like You each day. Amen.

2 Samuel 21: Redemption Through Justice

2012-06-04T20:05:00.002-05:00

"During David's reign there was a famine for three successive years, so David inquired of the Lord. The Lord answered, 'It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family when he killed the Gibeonites.' ... The Gibeonites said to him, 'We are not asking for money from Saul or his family, and we cannot put anyone to death in Israel.' 'Whatever you say, I will do for you,' he said."

2 Samuel 21:1,4

A little back-history for those who have forgotten about the Gibeonites: when Israel first entered the Promised Land, and all the kings of that land convened against Israel, the Gibeonites warned the Israelites and thus were spared from the war. However, Saul went against their treaty and tried to purge them from the land.

David seeks redemption for this atrocity, and the Gibeonites ask for seven of Saul's male descendants. These men were hung to death, and David ordered the bones of Saul to be moved so he could be buried with these descendants of his. Then, the famine ended.

Question of the Day:

Sometimes, it is only through justice that redemption may be found. Other times, it is only through grace. How can you tell which ones are which?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, help me as a leader to treat those around me with a healthy balance of grace and justice. Help me to lead by a positive example of compassion, but still know when consequences for one's actions might be a better teaching and disciplining tool. Help me to grow as my own individual so that I may mirror You more not only in my own sight, but also shine Your light into the lives of those who share my life. Amen.

2 Samuel 20: The Power of Diplomacy

2012-06-03T18:28:00.002-05:00

"That is not my intention. There is a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, who has rebelled against King David. Deliver this one man, and I will withdraw from the city."

2 Samuel 20:21

Joab and the men of Judah were pursuing Sheba because he had wickedly led Israel away from their king. He had holed himself up in the city of Abel, to which Joab's troops laid siege. Once the people communicated with Joab about his intentions in the siege, they were more than happy to decapitate the man in question and throw his head over the wall.

Question of the Day:

How often are you able to resolve disputes merely by opening up lines of communication? For me, as a teacher, it happens every single day.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, there are disputes between the righteous desires You have placed in my heart and the selfishness of my earthly flesh. Help me to open up an appropriate dialogue between these battling forces and find ways to peace between them, so that I might be able to more closely walk in Your narrow path and show others how to do so, also. Amen.

2 Samuel 19: The Hard Edge of Leadership

2012-06-01T21:15:00.000-05:00

"So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: 'Look, the king is sitting in the gate.' Then they all came into the king's presence."

2 Samuel 19:8

Joab, commander of king David's troops, came to the king and reprimanded him for grieving over his son's death. The king's actions had made all of his troops feel as though they had lost the battle they had just victoriously returned from. So the king, even in his time of grief, had to console his whole army and put his own lamentations aside.

Being a leader requires a great deal of sacrifice, quite frequently of a highly personal nature. Even small-scale leadership, such as that of a parent or teacher, involves dramatic changes in priority, which often ends up meaning that some personal needs are going

- pause so my wife can check her Facebook before bed -

unmet. A truly fantastic leader is one who ends up shifting his/her personal desires in such a way that they align more with the needs of his/her subjects rather than his/her own.

Question of the Day:

We are all leaders in some way or another, whether we know it or not. In what way(s) are you a leader, and which personal needs are being sacrificed regularly to meet the needs of those you lead? Do you react to these priority shifts in the way King David did, with calm collection and a strong sense of duty? Or do you react instead out of your own selfish desires? What can you do to shift further away from selfishness and closer to true servant leadership?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, create a new heart within me. Make it a servant's heart, so that I may be the leader You have called me to be. Redirect my personal desires, reshape my personal interests, redesign my personal habits so that I may put the needs of my family and my students above my own. Guide me in appropriately prioritizing each individual need of each of these people, and keep my eyes pointed at the ultimate goal of leading them all closer to You and Your Kingdom. Amen.

2 Samuel 18: True Love

2012-05-31T20:09:00.001-05:00

"The king was deeply moved and went up to the gate chamber and wept. As he walked, he cried, 'My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!'"

2 Samuel 18:33

I hear the question often, and have even asked it myself in the past: "Why would God choose to save us, after we've been so horrible to Him?" The day I became a father, I understood the answer to that question. No matter what happens, I will always love him and desire the best for him. There is nothing that he, nor anybody else, can do to take my love from him.

Question of the Day:

We earthly fathers have this kind of love. How much greater must be the love of our Heavenly Father?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, I bask in Your unfailing Love! I know that You have loved me, for how else could I be able to show such love to others? I thank You for raising me up in righteousness and disciplining me so that I might learn the joy of a mature and wholesome soul. Continue to lead me as Lord over my life, lifting me up when I need You, and guiding me through the narrow path. Help me to become a son worthy of Your unfailing Love. Amen!

Another Day, Another...

2012-05-30T20:06:00.000-05:00

So... Today wasn't such a bad day. I woke up, got a good walk in before work, went to the library during my lunch break, bought a book from their 50-cent rack, and then got punched in the chin by one of my students thirty minutes before the end of my shift at work...

I've been working childcare for six years now - 2 years in daycare/tutoring centers, 4 years in public schools, and back into the daycare summer-camp setting for a little extra income until School starts back in August. Never, in all that time, have I witnessed an elementary-aged student who was so defiant as to strike a teacher. Never, until today...

I've been so floored by this event that, although I deflected 99% of the blow when I caught the child's arm, I don't think my jaw will ever feel the same. I'll forever remember it as the warning of the hatred humans are capable of, and the grace with which we must treat each other. I am utterly thankful that God has given me such a wonderful family to come home to after such a stressful afternoon. In this light, I think that the following prayer is appropriate for closure:

Thank You for the world so sweet;

Thank You for the food we eat;

Thank You for the birds that sing;

Thank You, God, for everything.

Amen.

2 Samuel 17: Secret Agent Man

2012-05-29T21:28:00.001-05:00

"Since the Lord had decreed that Ahithophel's good advice be undermined in order to bring about Absalom's ruin, Absalom and all the men of Israel said, 'The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel's advice.'"

2 Samuel 17:14

Ahithophel used to be king David's wisest adviser, but he was lured into working for Absalom, the traitorous son, instead. Hushai, another of David's advisers, was sent to Absalom's court as a double-agent, with orders to pretend allegiance to Absalom, but undermine Ahithophel's advice. In doing so, Hushai gives advice to Absalom which seems to be better than Ahithophel's, and he gains the respect of "king" Absalom while setting him up for defeat.

If you enjoy stories about spies and misinformation, the book of 2 Samuel is a must-read!

Whether you find particular fancy in these types of stories or not, the most important thing to be learned here is that God's will was done, even though a thorough analysis of the two advisers' plans would have revealed that Hushai's advice wasn't very good.

Question of the Day:

Have you ever noticed times in your own life, or the lives of those around you, when God's will has been so apparent even when all the circumstances seemed so obviously to lead down a different path? Have you ever had your heart changed by God so dramatically that you wondered how you could have ever been "that other person" all along?

Prayer of the Day:

Thank You, Lord, for building me up and making me more like You, and less like the other guy. Help me learn to manage my temperament in such a way that I can use all of Your gifts for good, even if they may seem on the outside to be less than ideal. Allow my apparent faults to be used like the espionage in this chapter, like the Hulk's unstoppable anger, like Batman's dark past - to make this world a better place, and to change the lives of the people You put in my path. Amen.

2 Samuel 16: Humility vs. Humiliation

2012-05-28T20:21:00.001-05:00

"Leave him alone and let him curse me; the Lord has told him to. Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei's curses today."

2 Samuel 16:11b-12

As king David and his men flee from Jerusalem, they passed by the land of Shimei, of the line of Saul. Shimei threw rocks and dirt at all of them, and continuously shouted curses at David. When one of David's men volunteered to shut the man up, this was David's response: "He curses me this way because the Lord told him, 'Curse David!'" (v10b)

In all the years I've spent studying the Word and trying to devote myself to the Lord, I've always struggled with the debate: where is the line between humility and humiliation? At what point is that line crossed?

What should have been made clear by Jesus's flaying and crucifixion has now been made clear to me - there is no line between them. Humility and humiliation are the same thing. One cannot be humble without being humiliated. One cannot have humility without having humiliation. They are one and the same. The only difference is that what we would call "a humble man" accepts his humiliation as a learning tool, approaching it with a repentant heart.

Question of the Day:

What is it about your life that humiliates you? Are you humble enough to beg forgiveness and repent?

Prayer of the Day:

Thank You, Lord, for giving me the humility to accept the humiliation which I've brought upon myself through lack of righteousness. Continue to guide me in the process of learning, growing, and creating a more righteous version of me. Continue to bear Your fruit in this good work which You have started in my soul. Amen!

2 Samuel 15: Betrayal

2012-05-27T20:11:00.001-05:00

"Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel."

2 Samuel 15:6

After Absalom had been given recompense from his father, David, the king of Israel, he then used his freedom to deceive Israelites into thinking that the king didn't have time to hear their requests. In doing so, he convinced many throughout the nation that he should be made judge over Israel. David discovered this conspiracy, and after he fled Jerusalem, Absalom moved in and took his place as king.

This story reminds me in so many ways of my own relationship with the Lord. In the beginning, He was king over my heart. I acted out of line, and He banished me from His sight. When I came back to Him, begging on my knees, He redeemed me and welcomed me back into His Kingdom. And what for? Have I not betrayed Him the same way Absalom betrayed his father? Have I not tried to claim the throne over my own heart, which rightfully belongs to the Lord?

Question of the Day:

How can I stop myself from enjoying thoughts and actions which are contrary to the righteous desires the Lord places in my heart? I do the things I want to stop doing, and I don't do the things I want to do. How can I get back into the habit of fulfilling God's will for my life?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, I accept Your guidance and wisdom, which You promise to Your People. I accept Your will over my life, and ask that You continue to fill my heart with repentance and righteousness. Help me to stay on track with all of the changes You have asked me to make in my life, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.Amen!

The Value of a Good Leader

2012-05-23T19:39:00.001-05:00

Some concerns were raised at work in a way that could have resulted in a highly negative reaction. Instead, my principal focused on using the feedback to encourage positive results. Instead of ending the school year with downtrodden emotions, I left work today with renewed vigor and have spent the remainder of the day concocting new schemes for the next school year, knowing that I have the necessary support from above. This is the value of a positive leader.

In the same way, Jesus lead his disciples with encouragement and patient assistance. He gave His all in order to perfect His people.

Prayer of the Day:
Thank You, Lord, for sending Your Son to show us the value of a servant-leader, a leader who gives His all for His people. Thank You also for placing me in a working environment where the same can be said for my supervisor. Help me to become more of a servant leader in my family, in my classroom, and in every other aspect of my life. Amen!

2 Samuel 14: Banishment

2012-05-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

"But God would not take away a life; He would devise plans so that the one banished from Him does not remain banished."

2 Samuel 14:14b

Joab sent a woman to speak with the king and convince him to bring his son Absalom back from banishment. The scheme involved having the woman pretend to be in mourning, and essentially they deceived David into guilt-tripping himself. However, one flawless argument was made, as seen above.

The Lord does everything in His power to bring His children back to Him.

Question of the Day:

Where would we be if God didn't devise plans to end our banishment? Where can we possibly go that isn't within His Kingdom?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, thank You for devising plans for my life - for bringing me back to You. Help me to forgive others the way that You forgive me. Help me to treat all those around me like the brothers and sisters they are, with all the respect and dignity that should be bestowed upon sons and daughters of the King of Kings. Help Your followers set the example for nonbelievers so that they may come to know You through our actions and come to appreciate Your grace within us. Amen.

2 Samuel 13: On Sexual Purity

2012-05-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

"'Don't, my brother!' She cried. 'Don't humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Don't do this horrible thing!'"

2 Samuel 13:12

Amnon, son of David, had a problem. He had a beautiful sister, and he "was infatuated with her." (v.1b) When his friend asked why the king's son should be so miserable every day, he replied, "I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." (v. 4b)

Infatuation. Love. Where does one begin and the other end?

Amnon and his friend devise a scheme for Amnon to be alone with Tamar, and then he rapes his sister. Afterward, "the hatred he hated her with was greater than the love he had loved her with." (v. 15b) Why? Because she had changed from a virgin, pure and delightful, into a defiled woman. Amnon's desire for his sister had nothing to do with real love, but rather the kind of "love" which most people end up trying to base their relationships off of. This kind of "love" is not even worthy of being called love because it is entirely based on an inward, selfish desire for one's own benefit. True love is based on selfless sacrifice for another's benefit.

What else is wrong with this picture? Amnon's desire was for his own half-sister, his father's daughter. There's not a single culture on earth, religious nor secular, which approves of and supports incestuous relationships. They used to be encouraged for royalty, but then we discovered how detrimental this can be to the offspring of such unions. But how far away are we from beginning to allow such unions? With the current focus on "marriage equality," many people believe that individuals should be allowed to marry whomever they wish based on "love" (often of the kind mentioned above)...

Question of the Day:

Does infatuation or sexual attraction make it acceptable to marry someone (whether they're the opposite gender or not)? Does it make incest acceptable if the feeling is mutual? Is it okay to have sex with and/or marry minors if you have their consent and their parents' blessing? Is it a good idea to have multiple sex partners before marriage, or during marriage? Is it alright to marry an animal? Should society bless and encourage these kinds of unions? If we encourage one on the basis of equal rights, won't we also have to do the same for all the rest? Would that be beneficial to our society, or would it be humiliating, something that should never be done in our nation?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, help us to find a suitable solution for allowing freedom without encouraging atrocities. Help us to be equitable without being shameful. Help us to be graceful and forgiving without accepting or blessing wrongdoing. Help us to be open to new ideas without giving up our core values. Help us to become a nation which blesses Your Name so that we can be deserving when we say: God bless the USA. Amen.

So Much To Do, So Little Time...

2012-05-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

I have honestly made it a lot farther through this biblical journey than I originally expected. I figured I'd have quit before I got through Deuteronomy...

Although I've been absent from life for the last few weeks (and probably will be for the next few as well), I would like to inform my readers that I DO plan to continue this experience, and will likely have new content up sometime this week.

At least until the end of this month, I do not expect this to be a daily endeavor. I've just finished the last of our spring art shows, and now I've got the craziness that comes with finishing out the school year. Also in the mix are plans for Mother's Day, plans to visit family out-of-town, and plans to enjoy my brother-in-law's company for the few days he'll be in town.

A big THANK YOU to my readers for being understanding, and for taking the time to read my thoughts in the first place. Have a blessed day, amen.

2 Samuel 12: Fasting and Repentance

2012-04-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

"He answered, 'While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, "Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let him live." But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I'll go to him, but he will never return to me.'"

2 Samuel 12:22-23

The Lord struck down the child of Bathsheba because of David's evil. During the week of his life, David wept and fasted, not allowing his servants to move him. When the boy died, the king got up and ate. His servants were confused, and David gave the above reply.

Most people don't seem to have a very biblically-sound view of what fasting is. Fasting isn't just a time of refusal to eat. It's a time of repentance and deep grieving. David wasn't just refusing to eat. He spent the whole time praying and begging the Lord to give his son life. He saw the error of his ways, and even though the prophet Nathan had already told him that the Lord had forgiven him, the king came before God with a repentant heart. Once he got God's final answer (a resounding "NO"), his time of fasting was over.

PS - At the end of this chapter, David does go with the rest of Israel's troops to finish the war against the Ammonites. So he recognized what had made all the rest go astray in the first place, and he truly did repent.

Question of the Day:

Have you ever fasted for the wrong reasons or in the wrong way? Have you ever had the true experience of biblical fasting, accompanied by constant prayer and repentance?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, I come before You knowing already that I have been forgiven, but begging for Your mercy anyway. Your forgiveness is mighty, but I need so much more from You. I can't live this life the way You want me to without Your intervention and strength. Have faith in me, encourage me, and lift me up when I fall. Thank You for fighting beside me and giving me the strength to stand through this life You have given me. Amen.

2 Samuel 11: Cowardice

2012-04-24T05:45:00.002-05:00

"When the time of mourning ended, David had her [Bathsheba] brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, the Lord considered what David had done to be evil."

2 Samuel 11:27

We are all familiar with the story of David and Bathsheba: the king impregnates a woman and then has her husband killed in battle. The story is used to teach children that even the best men make mistakes. But what was the first mistake David made?

Most people ignore the first verse of the chapter and find fault in the second verse, where David saw the woman bathing and lusted after her. However, he wouldn't have even been there if he had gone with his troops when they went to battle.

Question of the Day:

David had led such battles so often in the past, with the Lord fighting by his side. Why would he stay behind and protect himself from battle? Did his cowardice lead him down the wrong path and open him up to even more evildoing?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, give me the bravery that David had in the times when he did lead men in battle, but do not let me be a coward like he was when he stayed back. Help me to fight the good fight at all times, knowing that You are fighting by my side and will protect me from evil. Amen.

2 Samuel 10: Offering Aid

2012-04-23T00:49:00.000-05:00

"'If the Arameans are too strong for me,' Joab said, 'then you will be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I'll come to help you.'"

2 Samuel 10:11

When the king of the Ammonites realized that he had upset king David of Israel, he hired an army. Because he hired this army, king David sent troops to attack. The Arameans took this opportunity to join with the Ammonites, and they ambushed the army of Israel. The Ammonites were on one side, the Arameans on the other, and Joab with his troops in the middle. He split his forces: the elite soldiers with himself against the Arameans, and the rest with his brother Abishai against the Ammonites.

Question of the Day:

What made this plan successful? Was it the fact that the elite soldiers overpowered the Arameans, causing the Ammonites to flee as well? Or was it the fact that these men were ready to sacrifice themselves for one another instead of saving their own skins? The promise of aid raised the morale of both halves of the Israeli army enough to fend off a two-front battle against superior numbers.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, give me a heart of helpfulness. Do not let me ignore others' needs, but let me put them above my own. Teach me to selflessly offer aid to those in need around me, regardless of whether or not they are close to me. Help me to be the 'good Samaritan', a good neighbor to all. Amen.

2 Samuel 9: The Kindness of God

2012-04-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

"So the king asked, 'Is there anyone left of Saul's family I can show the kindness of God to?'"

2 Samuel 9:3a

I find it interesting that David refers here to the kindness of God. At first, he asks if he can show kindness to them because of Jonathan (Saul's eldest son, who had been loyal to David). Certainly, the loyalty between the two of them is the reason why David wants to show Mephibosheth (Jonathan's son) kindness, but it's not his own kindness he wants to show. It's the Lord's.

Question of the Day:

What is the Lord's kindness? David provides Mephibosheth with all of his grandfather (Saul)'s lands and servants, and also brings the lame man to his own table for every meal. Is this the kindness of God? Sustenance, abundance, and protection from disaster?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, show Your kindness to me so that I may show it to others. Lord, thank You for showing Your abundance to me so that I have been able to show it to others. I ask that You would continue to move me towards sharing Your kindness always, and never let me think it's mine to give. Amen.

2 Samuel 8: Giving Credit Where It's Due

2012-04-21T05:00:00.000-05:00

"...he sent his son Joram to King David... Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him. King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued..."

2 Samuel 8:10a,10c,11

Another king sent his son to bring a tribute to King David, thanking him for wiping out a mutual enemy. Instead of taking this for himself, the king puts it with the rest of his spoils in dedication to the Lord.

David knew that the victories were not his own, just like all the victories before, back to Goliath, and even back further to the predators he'd kept away from his flocks. The Lord made him prosperous, and therefore he gave everything he obtained back as offering to the Lord. Not just some of it. He wasn't just saying, "God helped, so I should give him a bit." He was saying, "God has brought me this victory on His own, and He deserves all the spoils of the war."

Question of the Day:

Have you ever won some form of battle, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, and then felt a sense of pride in your accomplishments? Do you give the Lord credit for allowing you to accomplish those victories?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, thank You for delivering me from the evil one so many times throughout my life. Thank You for rescuing my life for eternity, for allowing me to win the girl of my dreams and start a family, for blessing me with a strong sense of purpose in my life and seeing that purpose come to fruition. Thank You for protecting my family and me from disasters of all kinds. Continue to look favorably upon Your servant, and I will continue to give it all back to You. Amen.

2 Samuel 7: Humility

2012-04-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

"What You have done so far was a little thing to You, Lord God, for You have also spoken about Your servant's house in the distant future. And this is a revelation for mankind, Lord God."

2 Samuel 7:19

God just got done telling David, through the prophet Nathan, about Jesus - the son He would raise from David's descendants, whose kingdom He would raise up. When Nathan had finished telling David of this vision from the Lord, David went to the Lord and fell to his knees in humility. He begged the question, "Who am I... that You have brought me this far?"

Question of the Day:

Let us all ask this question with humility: Who am I, that You have brought me this far?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, who am I that You have brought me this far? Who am I that You care about me enough to even think about me or remember my name, much less pour numerous blessings upon my life? Who am I that You desire an intimate relationship with me, sharing every moment of every day together? Who am I that You choose not to let Your wrath eradicate me for my wrongdoing? Who am I that You sent Your Son to save me by taking my gruesome punishment for me? Lord, who am I? Lord, bless me so that I may carry on with Your plan for my life and so that I may set the right example for those who follow in my footsteps. Amen.

2 Samuel 6: Every Day I'm Worshiping

2012-04-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

"I will celebrate before the Lord, and I will humble myself even more and humiliate myself."

2 Samuel 6:21b-22a

David and his procession dance and cheer as they bring the Ark of the Lord into their city, but David's wife Michal (daughter of Saul) criticized him for doing so. He replied that he was rejoicing before the Lord, and that she has no business chastising him for worship.

God Calls each of us to worship Him in our own way.

Question of the Day:

In what way does God Call you to worship Him? Do you follow His Calling?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, thank You for giving me insight into Your plan for my relationship wit You. Thank You for giving me a family who are supportive of my relationship with You, rather than a spouse who despises my worship. Help me to lead my family towards closer worship of You each day. Amen.

2 Samuel 5: Leadership

2012-04-18T05:00:00.000-05:00

"Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back."

2 Samuel 5:2a

While Saul and his son Ish-bosheth reighned over Israel, they did not lead Israel. They enjoyed the pleasantries of kingship without actually performing the duties of kingship. In many cases, they even made things worse than they would have otherwise been. For example, Saul ordered the execution of a whole family of priests because one of them had aided a man who was supposedly an enemy of the state - David.

It doesn't take a very large amount of intelligence to see the parallels between this fiasco and the political situation of the modern USA (or many other nations, for that matter). Take, for instance, the whole situation with Osama Bin Laden... Our own country's government has a terrible recent history with regards to taking care of the things it's supposed to take care of. The economy is in shambles, our military (despite being larger than the rest of the world's combined) is stretched so thinly around the globe that they couldn't stop the 9/11 attacks, and our liberties are continuously trampled by those who swear oaths to protect them.

What did the people of Israel do when their misguided "leaders" perished? They looked to the man who had led them soundly through thick and thin. They anointed the man who had led with conviction and passion - with righteous selflessness and consistency.

Question of the Day:

What will the people of America do when our misguided "leaders" finish their terms in office? Will we re-elect the same rubbish, or will we set a new standard for what we expect from a true leader?

Prayer of the Day:

God bless the USA. Bless us with the wisdom to choose righteous leaders who will serve with conviction and consistency rather than take bribes and seek their own pleasantries. Bless us with the discernment to see the difference and know who You would choose to govern us. Bless us with the courage to stand up for what's right instead of choosing the lesser of two evils on voting day. Amen.

2 Samuel 4: Consistency

2012-04-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

"...when the person told me, 'Look, Saul is dead,' he thought he was a bearer of good news, but I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was my reward for his news! How much more when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house on his own bed!"

2 Samuel 4:10-11a

David, widely regarded as one of Israel's greatest leaders, was not one to get caught up in political stunts. He was a man of consistent character, who frowned upon evil even when it worked toward his own benefit. In this passage, David is approached by two men who assassinated Saul's son, Ish-bosheth. They present his head to David and expect praise for their actions against his enemy, but the king of Judah reacted to this news in the same way he reacted to Saul's death, and Abner's as well. He mourned, and he slew the men who claimed responsibility for the murderous acts of treason.

Question of the Day:

What better trait to have in a leader than consistency in the face of evil trials? What better leader than one who rejects bribery and stands up for what he believes is right? What better man could God have chosen as king over his people at that time?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, as our country goes through the process of choosing our next set of leaders, move the hearts of Americans to understand the qualities which truly make someone a good leader. Do not let us be fooled by politicians who spout inconsistencies in their attempt at drawing the votes of diverse populations, but rather help us to focus on candidates who are consistently upstanding individuals and who have a good track-record of standing up for the values You have instilled within all of us. As you did with King David, choose the right man (or woman) for the job and move the hearts of the people by moving through him (or her) in spectacular and unforgettable ways. Let us make You the King of our own hearts, so that we might stop looking for that kind of figure in our earthly governments. Amen.

2 Samuel 3: Curses

2012-04-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

"May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil."

2 Samuel 3:39b

I spent a fair amount of time in earlier books covering the biblical concept of blessings and curses, but that discussion focused mostly on the blessings. Here, I'd like to take a moment to stop and think about the opposite side of that coin for a few minutes.

A lot of things jump into our minds when we think of curses. A witch casting a spell to make a person sick or turn them into something small and croaky. A man spouting foul language at another person (or sometimes at an inanimate object). A teenager casually using foul language out-of-context and in a cheerful manner (as though pleased with himself for getting away with saying a word he's been taught is bad). Are these things really curses?

Biblically speaking, no. They're not. A curse, like a blessing, is a statement made about the future in which the speaker is essentially promising to make it so, or if the speaker is unable to do so, he is expecting the Lord to do what he himself can not do. In this particular case, David is expecting that horrible things will happen to Joab and his household because of the evil he did when he assassinated Abner. The only difference between a blessing and a curse is a difference in what's being requested of God - reward and punishment.

Question of the Day:

Have you ever been so repulsed by someone else's actions that you literally wished for horrible things to happen to them? Some people feel this way all the time and would do harm to others for the simplest reasons, but others rarely get so vindictive and would only wish ill on those who truly display evil to the utmost degree. Which one of these are you?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, bless those who read my blog with the insight to see through my jumbled thoughts and understand Your Word, not my own. Bless me with the right words to write, so that the eyes which read them may also be blessed through them. Let not my will, but Yours, be done through this blog and through my daily study of Your Word. Amen.