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Christian Devotional – October 12, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 19 VERSE: 2 Samuel 19:6–You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today tat the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. TRUTH: David’s army had just won a huge victory over a rebelling army. However, because the leader of the rebellion, David’s son Absalom, was killed, David was active as if he had lost. Joab comes to him and reminds him to show gratitude and loyalty to the people who had served him and fought for him. Do…
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Christian Devotional – October 11, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 18 VERSE: 2 Samuel 18:9–Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in mid-air, while the mule he was riding kept on going. TRUTH: Absalom was very proud of his hair. In previous chapters we read how his hair was very valued and was a source of pride to him. Yet, that was exactly what God used to bring about his death. If we value something above God, He will often allow that very thing to be what…
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Christian Devotional – October 10, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 17 VERSE: 2 Samuel 17:14b–For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom. TRUTH: When we are out of God’s will, it can feel like everything is working against us. There’s a reason for that: God is working against us, or against our selfish desires and plans. God desires to frustrate our workings so that we will turn back to Him and seek only Him. If we are living in rebellion to Him, then we can expect God to be doing things to get our attention. Are we paying attention and seeking to follow Him? RESPONSE:…
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Christian Devotional – October 9, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 16 VERSE: 2 Samuel 16:12–It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today. TRUTH: David was fleeing from his son who was trying to kill him. Now, David was encountering a man who was cursing him. Instead of getting angry, David simply indicates that he will trust in the Lord. When we are going through hard times and when it feels like the whole world is against us, will we rest in God knowing that the Lord will restore his covenant blessing instead of the curses and difficulties? RESPONSE: Father, Your blessing…
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Christian Devotional – October 8, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 15 VERSE: 2 Samuel 15:31–Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” TRUTH: King David’s son Absalom was attempting to take over the throne and David was fleeing into the countryside. Then David hears that his trusted advisor has turned and gone over to Absalom’s camp. How does he respond? David offers a prayer that God will intervene. In many situations, if not all of them, we find ourselves completely at the mercy of God. We cannot act or intervene. David could do nothing about his advisor switching sides. God knows we can…
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Christian Devotional – October 7, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 14 VERSE: 2 Samuel 14:24–But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king. TRUTH: David allowed Absalom to return after murdering his brother, but he didn’t truly forgive him. David wouldn’t allow Absalom back into his presence. We often treat forgiveness like this. We say and do the very minimal necessary in order to say we’ve forgiven, but we don’t attempt any restoration. The scripture never says that Absalom repented of his sins, but still, David only half-heartedly attempts to forgive. When…
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Christian Devotional – October 6, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 13 VERSE: 2 Samuel 13:21–When King David heard all this, he was furious. TRUTH: Of course David was furious. He should have been furious. David’s son Amnon raped David’s daughter Tamar. This was a horrible thing to have happened. Unfortunately, David doesn’t do anything about his anger. He does discipline Amnon. It doesn’t even say that he tried to comfort Tamar. He just got angry and then does nothing. When we see evil, whether its in our families or elsewhere, do we get angry about evil? Then, does our anger prompt us to respond in a way that God would respond? Being angry about sin is…
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Christian Devotional – October 5, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 12 VERSE: 2 Samuel 12:8–I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. TRUTH: God, speaking here, was addressing David’s sin and reminding David of how generous He had been. David had sought something that he wanted and he didn’t come to God first. God is the supplier of everything that we need and many of the things we want. When we bypass God and go out and try do things on our own, we will end up sinning and…
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Christian Devotional – October 4, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 11 VERSE: 2 Samuel 11:1a–In the spring, at the time when kings go to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. TRUTH: David was the king, but instead of leading his troops in battle, he stayed home and sent everyone else. David wasn’t where he was supposed to be and as a result, one sin after another sin followed. This entire chapter shows how David’s choices and attempts to keep his wrong doings secret led him into more and more sin. However, it all started with this one sin of David not being where he was supposed to be.…
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Christian Devotional – October 3, 2014
Read 2 Samuel chapter 10 VERSE: 2 Samuel 10:3–the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you only to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?” TRUTH: Wrong assumptions and bad advice led the new king of the Ammonites, Hanun, to end up in battle against David. They were ultimately beaten, very badly. Yet, this all started because they made a wrong assumption about the motives of another person, namely David. Are we making wrong assumptions about others? We cannot read other people’s minds and so…