What do you wish?

May 31, 2008


2 Chronicles 1:7 NET
(7) That night God appeared8 to Solomon and said to him, "Tell me what I should give you."


Wow, what a question. What do you want me to give you? And it comes from the God of the universe. The God who could give you anyhing. What would you ask for.

Maybe a nice home, money, or some creature comfort. Maybe world peace, or a healthy planet to live on. Maybe if you were poor it would just be your next meal.

As we know, Solomon asked for something for himself. Or did he? He asked for wisdom. Obviously that was for himself. He wanted wisdom so he could be the smarest person on earth. No, he wanted wisdom so that he could rule God's people wisely. But even with that wisdom he made mistakes. Still he was a good king and took care of God's people. And that is what he wanted the wisdom for in the first place.

If God was to give you whatever you wanted, what would you ask for.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
1 Kings 3:1-4:34, 2 Chronicles 1:1-17, Psalms 72:1-20
Tomorrow

Psalms 119:86-176

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Teach or explain

May 30, 2008


Psalms 119:33-34 GNB
(33) Teach me, LORD, the meaning of your laws, and I will obey them at all times.
(34) Explain your law to me, and I will obey it; I will keep it with all my heart.


As a part time teacher of college students I know the difference between teaching and explaining. When it comes to the computer classes I teach, I can teach over and over again and some will just not get it. Teaching is just the facts. But when I explain it then the light bulb goes on over their heads. Explaining it means that I take it down to there level. They may understand how to do something, but when they realize why it is that way, then the have learned.

Verse 33 tells us that when God teaches me I will obey. I do not know why I am obeying, but I will obey. I liken that to training a very young child. When my children were very young I told them what shows they could watch and what ones they could not. I did not have to explain it and I am not sure that it would make a difference if I did.

Verse 34 is where the change is. When God explains why the law is the way it is, then I will obey it and move it into my heart, where my spirit and soul meet. As my children got older I explained why they could not watch some shows. Now they have it in their heart. The other day my daughter came home from a sleep over and told me how all the girls wanted to watch a PG-13 movie with a lot of swearing. She knew what was in her heart because I had explained why not to do it. Though she was made fun of, she stuck to her guns and would not watch it.

As we mature in Christ, we will move from the teaching to the explanations. Take time to move in that direction with God.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 119:1-88
Tomorrow

1 Kings 3:1-4:34, 2 Chronicles 1:1-17, Psalms 72:1-20

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Boundaries

May 29, 2008

1 Kings chapter 2 should have a subtitle to it - Boundaries! If you have not read it let's do a quick review:

David is dying and makes Solomon the King (in chapter 1), then calls him in to tell Solomon all the enemies that David had. He basically tells Solomon that he has permission to get rid of them.

First up is the brother who tried to take the kingdom by force. When he pleads not to be killed, Solomon tells him as lon as you live like you are loyal to me, you get to live. Well brother tries tp get pne of David's cocubines,, a sure sign that he was the rightful king. You can guess where this is going, if not read 1 Kings 2. Solomon had set the boundery, the brother crossed it.

Other things happen as well, one noble man runs and swears he will die at the alter of God so Solomon has him killed there. But one stands out to look at. Do you remember Shimei? We talked about him before. David must have know something was up because he is back on the hit list. And it looks like he deserves it.

1 Kings 2:36-46 ESV
(36) Then the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever.
(37) For on the day you go out and cross the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall die. Your blood shall be on your own head."

Solomon knew Shimei was an enemy of dad's so he moved him where he could keep an eye on him. And Shimei agreed to it.

(38) And Shimei said to the king, "What you say is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.

The boundary is now in place.

(39) But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei's servants ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And when it was told Shimei, "Behold, your servants are in Gath,"
(40) Shimei arose and saddled a donkey and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath.

Well, it took a while but he broke the agreement. I can hear someone now. 'Come on, he was good for three years and he had to go get his property back!' Did he? Is an agreement and agreement? Is a boundary a boundary?

(41) And when Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned,
(42) the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the LORD and solemnly warn you, saying, 'Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any place whatever, you shall die'? And you said to me, 'What you say is good; I will obey.'
(43) Why then have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the commandment with which I commanded you?"
(44) The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the LORD will bring back your harm on your own head.
(45) But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever."
(46) Then the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

So Solomon had him killed for breaking an agreement. Nope! He had him killed for what he had done to David. He had a house arrest and he broke it. Plain and simple. You do not break the rules because you like it.

So what can we learn from this? Solomon in all the cases clearly stated the boundary and what would happen. In those we deal with in life we have to tell them what we will expect and not expect from them. If they choose to do it then they will get the reward. If they break the rules what do you do? No you do not kill them, you forgive them. But in forgiving you have to let them know the behavior is not acceptable and it is going to be paid for with a price.

Set boundaries in your life and let people know them. It is a good way to stay on the straight and narrow. For you and them.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
1 Kings 1:1-2:46, Psalms 37:1-40, Psalms 71:1-24, Psalms 94:1-23
Tomorrow

Psalms 119:1-88
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Why do they get angry?

May 28, 2008


Psalms 112:5-10 NET
(5) It goes well for the one who generously lends money,
and conducts his business honestly.
(6) For he will never be upended;
others will always remember one who is just.
(7) He does not fear bad news.
He is confident; he trusts in the LORD.
(8) His resolve is firm; he will not succumb to fear
before he looks in triumph on his enemies.
(9) He generously gives to the needy;
his integrity endures.
He will be vindicated and honored.
(10) When the wicked see this, they will worry;
they will grind their teeth in frustration and melt away;
the desire of the wicked will perish.


I can guarantee you that when you decide to live for God you will have blessings. Verse 5 tells us that.

But verse 10 tells us another story. When you live for God, people will get upset with you. If you do not believe that try looking at some message boards on the Internet some time. The other day on the Digg web site where people get to vote stories up or down as well as discuss them I came across a story about a Christian car dealer in California who was advertising his cars and telling non-Christians to shut up and let the majority decide what is right for our government. While I agree to a point with his message his method was lacking. But you would not believe the vile things that were being said abut him, Christians in general, and as one person spelled it,jeebus (Jesus is you could not figure it out).

Why do they say such things. They are worried. They are worried that we may be right and there will be an end to things not the way they expect it to end. They are worried we might take back control. And they see this stuff and get worried.

All we can do is pray for them that they will see the way and to not be fanatical when we try to defend our faith. Know that in the end, if they do not change, they and their desires will perish.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 111:1-10, Psalms 112:1-10, Psalms 113:1-9, Psalms 114:1-8, Psalms 115:1-18, Psalms 116:1-19, Psalms 117:1-2, Psalms 118:1-29
Tomorrow

1 Kings 1:1-2:46, Psalms 37:1-40, Psalms 71:1-24, Psalms 94:1-23

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The gods for our sons

May 27, 2008

1 Chronicles 28:9 BBE
(9) And you, Solomon my son, get knowledge of the God of your father, and be his servant with a true heart and with a strong desire, for the Lord is the searcher of all hearts, and has knowledge of all the designs of men's thoughts; if you make search for him, he will be near you; but if you are turned away from him, he will give you up for ever.

David gave a charge to Solomon that we should give to all of our young men when they grow up. He told Solomon to 'get knowledge of the God of your father.' Good advice for any child. Or is it?

What God would your sons follow dad (or mom for that matter)? Would it be the god of television, or sports, or success, or sex? Which god would he follow? Our lives are shinning examples for our children. We are not going to be perfect, do not even try. When you make a mistake though, be man enough to admit it and ask forgiveness. Our children will be much more likely to remember that, and that you did what God asked you to when it came time to forgive. You see, they want to see God in you. Take some time to make sure that they do.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
1 Chronicles 26:1-29:30, Psalms 127:1-5
Tomorrow
Psalms 111:1-10, Psalms 112:1-10, Psalms 113:1-9, Psalms 114:1-8, Psalms 115:1-18, Psalms 116:1-19, Psalms 117:1-2, Psalms 118:1-29

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Promise with a price

May 26, 2008


Psa 144:12-15
(12) Let's pray that our young sons will grow like strong plants and that our daughters will be as lovely as columns in the corner of a palace.
(13) May our barns be filled with all kinds of crops. May our fields be covered with sheep by the thousands,
(14) and every cow have calves. Don't let our city be captured or any of us be taken away, and don't let cries of sorrow be heard in our streets.
(15) Our LORD and our God, you give these blessings to all who worship you.


God wants us to have children who are a blessing and will be a blessing. He want us to be prosperous and live at peace. But all of God's promises and desires for us come at a cost. This is a simple but a costly one. He wants us to worship Him.

No, not a weak raising of the hands as you sing under your breath. Your whole life should be filled with the abundance of His love. You should be walking along and have a song be on the edge of your lips. You should be thinking of a problem and say to your friend, 'hey God what do you think I should do.'

When God becomes that real, the promises will start flowing.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 131:1-3, Psalms 138:1-8, Psalms 139:1-24, Psalms 143:1-12, Psalms 144:1-15, Psalms 145:1-21
Tomorrow
1 Chronicles 26:1-29:30, Psalms 127:1-5

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Getting Old

May 25, 2006

1 Chronicles 23 (New International Version)

1 When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. 2 He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites.

When David got old and could not move around as well as he could he turned the reigns over to his son Solomon. But he did not stop working.

No matter how old you may get or feel, there still is a position for you in God's kingdom.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
1 Chronicles 23:1-25:31
Tomorrow

Psalms 131:1-3, Psalms 138:1-8, Psalms 139:1-24, Psalms 143:1-12, Psalms 144:1-15, Psalms 145:1-21

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When God moves away

May 24, 2008

Psalm 10(Amplified)

1 WHY DO You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself, [veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble (distress and desperation)?

Did you ever feel that God is standing far away from you. Like He is watching you and not caring. Or even worse, not watching and not caring.

I know I have done that. I ran away from God and did what I wanted to do. Did God stop me? Nope. You see, God is a gentleman. He will let us run away and not stop us. No brick wall, no big hand, no nothing. It was only after I had come to my senses, like the prodigal son, that I realized that my fun life was not fun. I was broke and just about everything was going wrong. I called out to God and asked where He was.

His answer, I not moved. I had to move myself closer to God before I could begin to feel Him again. If like David, you feel God has moved far away from you, maybe it is time you moved closer to God.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 8:1-9, Psalms 9:1-20, Psalms 10:1-18
Tomorrow

1 Chronicles 23:1-25:31

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What is the cost? - May 23, 2008

May 23, 2008

2 Samuel 24:21-25 GW
(21) "Why has Your Majesty come to me?" Araunah asked. David answered, "To buy the threshing floor from you and to build an altar for the LORD. Then the plague on the people will stop."
(22) Araunah said to David, "Take it, Your Majesty, and offer whatever you think is right. There are oxen for the burnt offering, and there are threshers and oxen yokes for firewood."
(23) All this Araunah gave to the king and said, "May the LORD your God accept you."
(24) "No!" the king said to Araunah. "I must buy it from you at a fair price. I won't offer the LORD my God burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 1 1/4 pounds of silver.
(25) David built an altar for the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So the LORD heard the prayers for the country, and the plague on Israel stopped.


Recently I was invited to a pot luck supper for a social event. As we had at the time barely enough food for us to squeak by, I chose to decline the invitation. When I explained why I was not going the organizer of the event told me to come any way. I said that I had nothing to give and I could not take what I did not give to. He did not understand. It is a Biblical principle though. It is, in fact, taught in our Children's Church. When they take an offering they will get the usual change that parents gave the kids to put in (something that cost the children nothing) but they can also put in Bible Bucks. Now the Bible Bucks do not spend in the real world so some may say the kids sacrifice nothing. The children how ever, have to earn those bucks by bringing there Bible, answering questions in class and other ways. Once a month they get to spend them in the redemption store. So when they give them, they are giving of what they earned and they are loosing the spending potential that comes with them (like we do when we put in tithes and offerings).

David had sinned. The people were being punished. David had been told to choose a punishment and he left it in God's hands. Was it a good choice? I do not know. I do know that the people were dying and David had the way to stop it. He had to make a sacrifice. He had to give something in order to get something. As King he could have taken it and no one would question it. David knew however that it had to cost him something.

Someone else faced the same issue. The people were dying and He had to sacrifice what was dear to Him. But as a God, what is a sacrifice to give up? The only thing God could sacrifice for our being able to live was His son. And so, a little over 2000 years ago, Jesus was nailed to a cross to die. Like David, the sacrifice had to be something that He could give.

God gave His very best for us. Can we give any less?

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 24:1-25, 1 Chronicles 21:1-22:19, Psalms 30:1-12
Tomorrow

Psalms 8:1-9, Psalms 9:1-20, Psalms 10:1-18


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Sing a new song

May 22, 2008

Did you know God wants you to sing to Him. No I am not quoting the verse that says make a joyful noise, though that would be a good one. No let's look at what you should sing.

Psalms 98:1 NET
(1) Psalm 98

A psalm.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he performs amazing deeds!
His right hand and his mighty arm
accomplish deliverance.


Do not ever say that you have nothing to sing to the Lord. He has performed amazing deeds. He has healed you. He has given you the ability to earn money. He has given you life. If nothing else, He made the earth and put it just the right distance from the sun to provide for the life on this planet.

Do not think you have much to pray about, think again.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 57:1-11, 2 Samuel 22:1-23:39
Tomorrow

Psalms 95:1-11, Psalms 97:1-12, Psalms 98:1-9, Psalms 99:1-9


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Rewards

My 21, 2008

2 Samuel 22:21-25 (The Message)

21-25 God made my life complete

when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I cleaned up my act,
he gave me a fresh start.
Indeed, I've kept alert to God's ways;
I haven't taken God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works,
I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together,
and I'm watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life
when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

I have always struggled with verses like this. My Christianity says that I can not earn my way into God's favor, that I can not be rewarded just because of my works, that salvation can only come through Jesus. Yet here is a verse that clearly tells me the opposite. When I cleaned up my life, God rewarded me. How can they reconcile.

I thought back to a sermon that I heard years ago. Paul in the epistles tells us that when we die, the works that we do will be rewarded to us as gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or stubble. In the end they will all have a torch put to them. The gold, silver and precious stones will not be altered by the fire. We do know however, what will happen to the wood, hay or stubble. It will turn to ash. What is left is what our crowns in heaven will be.

So you see, salvation can only come from God alone. God however, does reward us for our works.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 57:1-11, 2 Samuel 22:1-23:39
Tomorrow
Psalms 95:1-11, Psalms 97:1-12, Psalms 98:1-9, Psalms 99:1-9

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Depression

May 20, 2008

Psalm 42:5 (Amplified Bible)

5 Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.

Depression can be a hard thing in a life. I know because I suffer from a chemical depression, the brain is not wired right chemically. Till I was able to get on medication to help it life was just a difficult thing to get through each day. People would throw verses like this at me and tell me to get better (some still do, telling me I should have faith to get healed). I wanted him and expected something to happen and I just kept trying to praise Him in the way I knew how. As I was able to come out of things I was able to talk to myself and see that I needed to improve things.

I urge you if you know a depressed person to help them get help. If you are depressed seek out help. You need to get to a point where you can tell your soul that it needs to seek God. You need to get to a point that you can praise Him.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 5:1-12, Psalms 38:1-22, Psalms 41:1-13, Psalms 42:1-11
Tomorrow

Psalms 57:1-11, 2 Samuel 22:1-23:39
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Shimei

May 19, 2008

A few days ago in the daily readings we came across the story of Shimei. I did not use it for the devotional although their was a good story there. As David was being run out of town by his son, Shimei is standing on a road over him throwing down rocks at him and cursing him. While one of David's men wants to kill him, David says to leave him alone. God may have told Shimei to curse him, in that case, killing him would be wrong. Or it could be that God would see how wrong he has been treated and work for him.

Now, a few days later and it is time for David to cross the river on his way back into Jerusalem. Guess who is first to meet him?


2 Samuel 19:18-23 MKJV
(18) And they had crossed over the ford to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he had come over Jordan.
(19) And he said to the king, Let not my lord charge iniquity to me. Do not remember the perverse way your servant acted in the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, for the king to take it to his heart.
(20) For your servant knows that I have sinned. And, behold, I come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

Now some might say that this was an act of preservation on his part. After all, he wanted to live, he had better get on the kings good side. I tend to think of Shimei as a lot like you or me. Very often we get caught up in the thrill of the moment or in peer pressure and so not do always as we should. We let those around us influence us. We may even not act like Christians in order to look or be thought of as cool. Shimei most likely had a lot of people around him that influenced him. Why he was picked out of that group I do not know. I do know, that like us, he had to go before his king and ask forgiveness for what he had done wrong.

(21) But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Jehovah's anointed?

There will always be some around that say that you can not be forgiven and that you should die in your sins for what you have done. Sometimes the devil himself will whisper it in your ear. You should not believe it. God loves you. And David cared for Shiemi.

(22) And David said, What do I have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be my foes today? Shall there be any man put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?
(23) And the king said to Shimei, You shall not die. And the king swore to him.

David did not listen to those around him. God does not listen to those who say you have messed up too much and you can not be forgiven. Like Shimei, we need to get on our knees and pray to our King to forgive us and then swear allegiance to Him.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 19:1-21:22
Tomorrow
Psalms 5:1-12, Psalms 38:1-22, Psalms 41:1-13, Psalms 42:1-11
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Whose dime?

May 18, 2008

Psalms 40:1-3 VW
(1) [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]
I waited patiently for Jehovah, and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
(2) He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and secured my steps.
(3) And He has put a new song in my mouth, praise to our God; many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in Jehovah.


A few months ago, an associate pastor at my church gave a sermon called 'On a dime.' His theory in the sermon was that God can turn your situation around on a dime. To make his point, he gave out praise report cards with a dime taped to them. When the situation that you needed prayer for that night was turned around, you were supposed to turn the card and the dime back in as a testimony that god did it.

One of the things that he brought up is though God can turn it around on a dime, it is not always our dime that He will turn it around on. In fact, God likes to turn it around on His dime not ours. When we try to change things or get God to change things on our own time, things get messed up. In stead, we need to look at getting things done in God's time. verse 2 shows us some of the benefits of doing it God's way. He will lift us out of the horrible life that we live in and put us on to something secure. In my own life I have tried to lift myself up on my own many times. Not once has it turned out well.

A further benefit is talked about in verse 3. When we get to that secure place we will have a song of praise in our hearts. I had to cut the grass in my yard today. Since it is not a fun job I tend to want to avoid it till it needs it. Normally I just go out and do it. today was different. Thought I have a lot of attacks going on right now, I took the chance to put a new song in my heart. I put on my mp3 player and started mowing. While I was singing along with the music I noticed the neighbors looking at me like I was strange. I guess I was. You know what, the rest of verse three came true. Many saw it and feared. Well maybe not feared, but you get the idea. My faith is that they will begin to look at me and my situation and the fact that I was praising God in the troubles.

So whose dime do you want to wait on, God's or your own.


Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 26:1-12, Psalms 40:1-17, Psalms 58:1-11, Psalms 61:1-8, Psalms 62:1-12, Psalms 64:1-10
Tomorrow
2 Samuel 19:1-21:22
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Words

May 17, 2008

Words are powerful. Consider these words of David:


2 Samuel 18:5-6 MKJV
(5) And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, For my sake be gentle with the young man, with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the commanders charge concerning Absalom.
(6) And the people went out into the field against Israel. And the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.


Absalom was out to kill his father. David was asking the commanders to pull their punches and not hurt his son. And what was the result?

2 Samuel 18:10-13 MKJV
(10) And a certain man saw and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
(11) And Joab said to the man who told him, And, behold, you saw him, and why did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a girdle.
(12) And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand silverlings in my hand, yet I would not put forth my hand against the king's son. For in our ears the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware you who go against the young man, against Absalom.
(13) Or I would have dealt falsely with my own life, for there is no matter hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.

One of David's own fighting army would not kill the one who would kill David if given half a chance. Not only that but he would not follow a direct order from his superior. David's words had caused a division in the ranks.

What do your words do? Do they lock people up and keep them from doing they things they need to do for God? Are you justifying those words because of something that someone else said or did? Words are powerful.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 16:1-18:33
Tomorrow
Psalms 26:1-12, Psalms 40:1-17, Psalms 58:1-11, Psalms 61:1-8, Psalms 62:1-12, Psalms 64:1-10
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Who lifts your head?

May 16, 2008

Psalm 3:3 (The Message)
The Message (MSG)

3-4 But you, God, shield me on all sides;
You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
With all my might I shout up to God,
His answers thunder from the holy mountain.


Yesterday we looked at Absalom, David's son. He tried to take the kingdom from David. He build himself up and took what did not rightfully belong to him. He did not let God do the lifting. David obviously did not teach his son what he had learned himself.


David had learned what Jesus would later tell Pilot. Power, true power, comes from God. It may not look like God is in control in our times of high fuel and food costs, but He is. Things are going on in the background that we will never know.


It is God who put David in power. It is He who lifted David's head. What a strange terminology. When we hold our head up high, then we have confidence and power. That cannot come from anything that we do, but what God does. He is the one who helps to lift our head.


Live in His power and not your own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y284YvkYrZo



Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 3:1-8, Psalms 4:1-8, Psalms 12:1-8, Psalms 13:1-6, Psalms 28:1-9, Psalms 55:1-23
Tomorrow
2 Samuel 16:1-18:33
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Family Matters

May 15, 2008

Dysfunctional families. They are everywhere in the Bible. One of the most Dysfunctional was David's family. A lot of press has been written in the US about men who have multiple wives and the problems that is causes. They could not hold a candle to the problems that David had. But were the problems because of the wives or was he just a bad dad?

2 Samuel 13:20-22 MKJV
(20) And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not set your heart on this thing. And Tamar remained desolate in the house of her brother Absalom.
(21) And when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
(22) And Absalom did not speak to his brother Amnon, neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.


David had a lot of sons and daughters. The problem now was that he could not keep track of what they all were doing and only really visited with them when there was a problem. Amnon pretended to be sick so he could get David to send his half sister to his bedroom to care for him. David did so, but all Amnon wanted was a chance to have sex with his sister. Now a good father would have noticed the unhealthy desire there, but we never said anything about David being a good dad did we. In fact, he is the poster child for how not to be a good dad.

So Amnon has his way, and what did David do about it to punish him for what he had done to his sister? Read it again:

(21) And when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

Anger. Not a good thing to have. It did not say that he did any discipline at all. If you have read this story you know what happens next. Absalom kills his brother, and David still does nothing. Later Absalom is sent away but when he comes back to see his dad, David ignores him. It led to the problems where Absalom tries to and almost succeeds in taking over his dad's kingdom.

Rule number one. Get involved in your children's lives and discipline them as necessary.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 13:1-15:37
Tomorrow
Psalms 3:1-8, Psalms 4:1-8, Psalms 12:1-8, Psalms 13:1-6, Psalms 28:1-9, Psalms 55:1-23
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Being led like a horse

May 14, 2008

Did you ever think of just how pig-headed we as humans can be. We really want to do things our own way, but God wants us to help.

Psalm 32:8-9 (New Living Translation)

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

So often we want things our own way. I know myself that God will speak to me when I am just about to sin. He wants to stop me. Most every time I will listen to Him. It is much easier for us to do what He asks us to. It gets so much more difficult when we have to be treated like an animal to be put under control so that we can be taught.


Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 32:1-11, Psalms 51:1-19, Psalms 86:1-17, Psalms 122:1-9
Tomorrow
2 Samuel 13:1-15:37
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Progression

May 13, 2008

As has been noted many times in this devotional series, salvation/coming to know Jesus is a progressive thing. So is sin however. When David had sex with Bathsheba, it was not something that just happened. David had put himself in that position by bad planning.

2 Samuel 11:1 VW
(1) And it happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

When David should have been going to war, he was hanging around the house. This is not much different in our lives either. We do not fall into sexual or any other sin without a little mistake planning. You may not intend for a relationship with a co-worker to blossom into an affair, and they may not have meant it either but it happened. When you should have been doing work, socializing took place.

Keep yourself busy, there is a much less chance of sin.



Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 11:1-12:31, 1 Chronicles 20:1-8
Tomorrow
Psalms 32:1-11, Psalms 51:1-19, Psalms 86:1-17, Psalms 122:1-9
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Getting the nations to know God

May 12, 2008

Want to know the quickest way to get the kingdome to spread?

Psalms 67:1-2 GNB
(1) God, be merciful to us and bless us; look on us with kindness,
(2) so that the whole world may know your will; so that all nations may know your salvation.


We must live for God so He can look on us with kindness. Then when He does, the world will notice and many will come to know Him.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 65:1-13, Psalms 66:1-20, Psalms 67:1-7, Psalms 69:1-36, Psalms 70:1-52 Samuel 11:1-12:31
Tomorrow
2 Samuel 11:1-12:31, 1 Chronicles 20:1-8
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Getting Help

May 11, 2008

2 Samuel 10:8-12 ESV
(8) And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.
(9) When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians.
(10) The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites.
(11) And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
(12) Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him."

When the battle is raging is not the time to start looking for teammates. You need to plan for the problems before they happen. Survey the situation and make your plans ahead of time. This will allow you to get the help you need, be it from man, or to get down on your knees before God.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 10:1-19, 1 Chronicles 19:1-19, Psalms 20:1-9
Tomorrow
Psalms 65:1-13, Psalms 66:1-20, Psalms 67:1-7, Psalms 69:1-36, Psalms 70:1-5
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Say Thank You

May 10, 2008


Psalms 50:14 CEV
(14) I am God Most High! The only sacrifice I want is for you to be thankful and to keep your word.


God really does not need us. He could do what ever He wants to satisfy His needs. What He wants is for us to thank Him for what He has given us today.

Have you done so?

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 50:1-23, Psalms 53:1-6, Psalms 60:1-12, Psalms 75:1-10
Tomorrow
2 Samuel 10:1-19, 1 Chronicles 19:1-19, Psalms 20:1-9
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Politics made easy

May 9, 2008

In our journey through the Bible, we have to go back a little bit in the devotions. If you remember, there was a case where Jonathan, Saul's son made a covenant with David. What was Jonathan's was David's and what was David's was Jonathan's. Furthermore, this led to their families as well. David had avoided as much as he could fighting one of Saul's other sons but eventually the fight was done and Israel became united under David. Now many years have past and David remembers his vow to Jonathan.

2 Samuel 9:1 BBE
(1) And David said, Is there still anyone of Saul's family living, so that I may be a friend to him, because of Jonathan?


This was political suicide. Saul was recognized as the King, and if David acknowledged any one as his descendant, they would have a legitimate claim on the kingdom.

But taking a vow, making a promise is also important. And even though it could cost him the kingdom, David knew that he had to do the right thing.

As we approach this election year in the United States, we are hearing a lot of promises from the candidates. Maybe it is time to pray for a man to run the country the way that David ran his kingdom and his life.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 8:1-9:13, 1 Chronicles 18:1-17
Tomorrow
Psalms 50:1-23, Psalms 53:1-6, Psalms 60:1-12, Psalms 75:1-10
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

The shadow of God's wings

May 8, 2008

As I write these words this morning I have a deep appreciation for the words of the scripture I have chosen.

Psalms 36:7 KJV
(7) How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.


You see, we had a big storm go through the Tulsa area where I live. If things had been normal, I would have been at work when it hit. But things were not normal. Earlier this week, my co-worker came back from shoulder surgery. He was going to have to go to physical therapy several days a week and this would burn up his sick time quick, so we changed shifts. That meant that I got to go to church this Wednesday night for the first time in 4 months. As we were were in praise and worship the speaker for the night got up and said there are bad storms in the area, please go to the shelters in the children's building.

An hour or so later (I lost track of time), we were able to leave. Driving home I listened to the news and found out that the storm had hit 4 miles NE of where we were and it was traveling in a NE direction when it struck. On other words it most likely hit while we were in the shelters.

But God had put me where He did cause He had a need that I could fill. I work with the Children's ministry at the church. We run close to 100 kids on a Sunday morning. I cannot guess how many kids were there but I can tell you that where I wound up in the shelter was real close to where the kids were and when I saw the Children's pastor and his associate running around I looked for the kids I worked with and saw that look it their eyes that said 'we have faith all will be well but we are scared.' I got down on their level and talked with them, played games, sang songs, and in general helped them through a bad situation. Here was a storm raging and they were not with their parents.

I do not tell the story to glorify me so please do not take it that way. I tell it because the children I worked with last night, through a storm was raging around them, had the shadow of God's wing covering them. Last night, that wing was me. Tomorrow it may be you. God puts us in places all the time and we can cast His shadow if we want to. If you can not be under the shadow, maybe you need to be the shadow.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 25:1-22, Psalms 29:1-11, Psalms 33:1-22, Psalms 36:1-12, Psalms 39:1-13
Tomorrow
2 Samuel 8:1-9:13, 1 Chronicles 18:1-17
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Who Am I?

May 7, 2008

David had peace finally, but David was a man of war. He wanted to build the Lord a temple so that God would not live in a tent. God did not want it and told David so. God did tell him however, that his house would be established as the one of the Kings of Israel. Many people would have said to themselves, that is my right as King, but not David. In a prayer he says to God:

1 Chronicles 17:16 GW
(16) Then King David went into the tent and sat in front of the LORD. "Who am I, LORD God," he asked, "and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far?


David knew the true meaning of humility. He was nothing in the importance of thing when it came to God. Why would God choose him. True he was the king and could do what he wanted, but he knew where his power came from. He was in awe that God would consider him so important.

Take some time to reflect where you are today. God notices you wherever you are. Though you may not be important to the world (or you may be), it is the importance that God sees in you that matters the most.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 7:1-29, 1 Chronicles 17:1-27
Tomorrow
Psalms 25:1-22, Psalms 29:1-11, Psalms 33:1-22, Psalms 36:1-12, Psalms 39:1-13
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Gates and courts

May 6, 2008

Walking with God is a progressive thing. Just like a baby has to learn to crawl before it can walk, and walk before it can run, so it is with the walk with God. This even applies to our prayer life. Let's look at the Psalms...


Psalms 100:4 KJV
(4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Now something is lost in the translation here. Just what doe it mean to enter courts and gates and stuff? Some newer translations can help us:

Psalms 100:4 BBE
(4) Come into his doors with joy, and into his house with praise; give him honour, blessing his name.

Before we could enter into someone's house (as they said in years gone by, their courts), we have to pass through the door of the house (otherwise know as the gate). Just like I cannot walk into your house without you inviting me in through the door and then into the house, I cannot just walk in on God without going through the proper procedure. I have to come in through the gate. Even Jesus tells us that we have to go through the gate to be with God. Once we have gotten their we can choose not to leave and be forever in His presence. Or we can fall in our walk and then have to come back in through the door.

The key to getting back into the good graces of God is to follow procedure, be joyful to get into the door. In other words, be thankful for what you have, not complaining about what you do not. Then you can move into praising Him and move into the living room of God to visit with Him.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 89:1-52, Psalms 96:1-13, Psalms 100:1-5, Psalms 101:1-8, Psalms 105:1-45, Psalms 132:1-18
Tomorrow
2 Samuel 7:1-29, 1 Chronicles 17:1-27
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

God in you

May 5, 2008

Psalms 68:1-3 MKJV
(1) To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song. Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; also let those who hate Him flee before Him.
(2) As smoke is driven away, You drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
(3) But the righteous are glad; they rejoice before God. Yes, let them exceedingly rejoice.


In thinking about this Psalm, it amazes me how much I tend to dwell in the hear and now. Let me explain. I know that if all of us were to start showing our 'strong' Christian faith in public, our enemies would not be scattered. In fact, they most likely be going to court in order to get us to stop it. I would think that the persecution of Christians would increase.

But you have an enemy that attacks you every day. He tries to get you to do things with your body that you should not. You justify it by saying, "that is not a sin..everyone does [fill in the blank here]." But if it displeases God, it is a sin. And as smoke is blown away by the wind, you need to drive it away. One way of doing that is to realize the strength of God that is within you. When it arises up, the enemy telling that lie in your ear has to go. When that happens, be glad and rejoice.


Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 1:1-6, Psalms 2:1-12, Psalms 15:1-5, Psalms 22:1-31, Psalms 23:1-6, Psalms 24:1-10, Psalms 47:1-9, Psalms 68:1-35
Tomorrow
Psalms 89:1-52, Psalms 96:1-13, Psalms 100:1-5, Psalms 101:1-8, Psalms 105:1-45, Psalms 132:1-18
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

The precense of God

May 4, 2008

2 Samuel 6:10-11 CEV
(10) He decided not to take it there. Instead, he turned off the road and took it to the home of Obed Edom, who was from Gath.
(11) The chest stayed there for three months, and the LORD greatly blessed Obed Edom, his family, and everything he owned. Then someone told King David, "The LORD has done this because the sacred chest is in ObedEdom's house." Right away, David went to Obed Edom's house to get the chest and bring it to David's City. Everyone was celebrating.

Whenever we can get into the presence of God there is sure to be a blessing to follow. David tried to move God under His own power. When he did some one died. But in place of moving God he let God move where He was to go. Because that person, Obededom was willing to accept Him to his place, Obededom was blessed.

Are you blessed? Has God come to live in your presence.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13:1-16:43
Tomorrow
Psalms 1:1-6, Psalms 2:1-12, Psalms 15:1-5, Psalms 22:1-31, Psalms 23:1-6, Psalms 24:1-10, Psalms 47:1-9, Psalms 68:1-35
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Say So

May 3, 2008

I love the King James version of the Bible for the poetic flow, but sometimes it just gets in the way. Psalm 97:2 says 'let the redeemed of the Lord say so.' Poetic and beautiful but what does it mean. Sometimes you just need a newer translation to get the words:

Psalms 107:2 CEV
(2) Everyone the LORD has rescued from trouble should praise him,

I do not think I need to say anything else. Have you praised Him today?


Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 106:1-48, Psalms 107:1-43
Tomorrow
2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13:1-16:43
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Living Together

May 2, 2008


Psalms 133:1-3 KJV
(1)(1) [A Song of degrees of David.] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
(2) It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
(3) As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.


Notice the word degrees in the first part of verse one. It is a set of instructions as to what the scripture is. I looked it up. Degrees is from the Hebrew mahalaw and the concordance I use says: the act (literally a journey to a higher place, figuratively a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally a step or grade mark, figuratively a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms):

Now I have read those verses many times and thought 'what a nice thought, that we could all live together in unity and how great it is.' Looking at that translation of the word gave me a much greater thought. If we want to move up to a higher place, one of being closer to God, we have to learn to live together. And it is not to live together in peace (which I somehow read in those verses). It is to live in unity,yachid , which means united. How can we as a people who are so different live united? And does unity mean that I am not me anymore, like a 1984 type of society?

I do not believe that we will ever reach true unity here on earth, but I think that we can have the progression that the scripture talks about if we take it one step at a time. We will never all agree on everything at any time. One thing that my years of Christianity have taught me is that we major too much on the minors. Let us worship together with our brothers and sisters on what we can agree on and not force one belief on the other.

And that goes for daily life as well. All whom we interact with, family, co-workers, etc., we should find a way to unite with them as well. Do not give up your beliefs but focus on the good things in them.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Psalms 133:1-3
Tomorrow
Psalms 106:1-48, Psalms 107:1-43
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

What makes a man great?

May 1, 2008

2 Samuel 5:9-10 Darby
(9) So David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from the Millo and inward.
(10) And David became continually greater; and Jehovah the God of hosts was with him.


David has now become the King as Saul is dead. He did not become the king right away, he had to take time to unite Israel. The man of God needs to be someone who unites people to his vision. The people then gave the kingdom to him.

More important though was the reason why David continued to grow. God was with him. God never leaves us, we walk away from Him by our own free will. If you want to do something for God however, you need to be near to Him. And when that happens, great things can happen. Not only in your bank account but in the lives of changed people around you.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11:1-12:40
Tomorrow
Psalms 133:1-3
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool