December 17 | God’s Perfect Timing

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 13:1–14

Key Verse: Psalm 128:1

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.

All of us know the feeling; a decision must be made, and from our point of view God seems to be dragging His feet. That was what Saul was feeling just before battling the Philistines. Samuel had instructed him to wait seven days. At the end of that time, he would come and make the appointed sacrifice.

But by the morning of the seventh day, Samuel had not arrived and Saul made a spiritually devastating decision to make the sacrifice himself:

Saul’s motivation … seems genuine and appropriate: the Philistines were gathering for battle against Israel, his men were deserting him, and Samuel had not arrived … Saul therefore felt the urgent need to seek God’s favor—or at least that was his excuse. What he apparently failed to realize, however, is that animal sacrifice is not a prerequisite for entreating God … The fact is that Saul had not heeded the divine word through the prophet, and obedience is always better than sacrifice. (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

Shortcuts are never an acceptable alternative to God’s chosen plan. Before you make the decision to go ahead of Him, think of the consequences and how they will affect your life at a later date. At that point Saul lost his right to the kingdom. Remember, whatever you think needs to be done now can wait for God’s perfect timing.

Father, Your timing is perfect. Don’t let me be diverted by shortcuts. Your way is best, even when it seems longer. Give me patience to wait.¹

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¹  Stanley, C. F. (1999). On holy ground (p. 368). Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Commendable David Arrives in Declining Saul’s Court – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon

Commendable David Arrives in Declining Saul’s Court – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon

LIVE ON SUNDAY, 12/15/2024, AT 11:00 AM:

Commendable David Arrives in Declining Saul’s Court – Pastor Patrick Hines Sermon

1 Samuel 16:14-23
New American Standard Bible
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrified him. 15 Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you. 16 May our lord now command your servants who are before you. Have them search for a man who is a skillful musician on the harp; and it shall come about whenever the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will become well.”

17 So Saul said to his servants, “Now select for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18 Then one of the young men responded and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a valiant mighty man, a warrior, skillful in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.” 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.” 20 And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine, and he took a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David.

21 Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul greatly loved him, and he became his armor bearer. 22 So Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David now be my attendant for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would feel relieved and become well, and the evil spirit would leave him.

December 1 | A Tragic End to a Promising Beginning

scripture reading:	1 Samuel 15:13–23
key verse:	1 Samuel 15:29

The Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.

The race of life that God has placed us in requires daily, deliberate exercise as well as a good start if we are to finish well and strong. Many of us know Christians who started with great promise but ended in tragedy and despair.

Initially Saul loved God and did His will. God even changed his heart for good, and before long, Saul had captured the hearts of his countrymen and countrywomen. However, this great man’s life was spent in bitterness, hatred, and depression.

Saul offered a sacrifice when he became impatient for Samuel to arrive. It didn’t seem that much at the time, but it grew into increased rationalization. He began to blame others—“the people took some of the spoil” (1 Sam. 15:21 nasb)—until Saul no longer took responsibility for his sin, and his self–will loomed larger than God’s will for him.

The process hasn’t changed. We flirt with a particular sin, we rationalize it—and before long we are captive to it. Our hearts are hardened to God’s loving conviction, and we pursue our own destruction.

Are you rationalizing a sin today? Is there a known area of disobedience in your life? If so, go to God and confess and repent of it. God will restore you.

Lord, I want to end well. Reveal any disobedience so that I can deal with each issue. Restore me so that I can finish strong.¹

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¹  Stanley, C. F. (1998). Enter His gates: a daily devotional. Thomas Nelson Publishers.

30 NOVEMBER | Running from Guilt

But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 2 Samuel 11:9

suggested further reading: Isaiah 57:15–21

David was frustrated when Uriah did not want to sleep with his wife, so he racked his brain, seeking time and ways to still bring that about. Previously David had sent Uriah “as a present to his house” (2 Sam. 11:8). Now David called Uriah to his table (2 Sam. 11:13).

By his own actions, David would prove himself guilty, though he was trying to do the opposite. In this we see how God removes every vestige of prudence and discretion from those who operate with a bad conscience. No one had yet accused David of wrongdoing, but even when his sin was unknown, he felt under pressure to cover it up. He began running in strange directions, first seeking one way out of his sin, then another.

When we despise the judgment of God and try to conserve our good reputation before others, God gives us our just reward by drawing us in the very opposite direction from where we want to go. He thus brings us by force to judgment. Let us carefully note, therefore, that a bad conscience will always be accompanied by torment, anxiety, and anguish.

If we wish to have true peace, let us have a good conscience and do right. Furthermore, let us not hope to have peace when we flee the presence of God, especially when we attempt to abolish his justice. Now the wicked, at times, are certainly dead to the disturbing pain of guilt, but this kind of peace is not lasting. The reason is that, instead of presenting themselves before God, they go farther from him.

To have sure and permanent peace, let us be careful to present ourselves before God and deeply examine our conscience. When we feel guilty, let us groan and sigh over our sins, then ask pardon of him who is ready to give us mercy when we come to him in sincerity of heart.

for meditation: The peace David was frantically trying to find was false. It only made him run farther from God and dragged him down into greater sin. Do you find yourself in the same frenzy? Do you try everything to escape the just reward of your sin? Turn to God, rather than from him, and find the peace that passes all understanding in the gospel of Jesus Christ.¹

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¹  Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 353). Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

26 NOVEMBER | Praying for Family Blessing

Then David returned to bless his household. 2 Samuel 6:20

suggested further reading: Psalm 127

This verse tells us that David returned to “bless” or “save” his house. He came to ask God to prosper his family, or, as we say today, to “save” his family. The word save here refers to God having us and our lives in his hands, and to safekeeping those for whom we pray. Therefore, since David has already publicly declared that all the good and prosperity of the people depend on the pure grace of God, he now offers the same prayer privately for his family, namely, that God would watch over them and be their protector.

This point here is well worth noting. It is certainly true that fathers of families and heads of houses ought to carefully do their duty in governing those who are placed under their authority. But the main thing parents should do is to take refuge in God. Those who have children should recognize that they will never reach their goal and their pain can produce no good fruit unless God takes the whole matter in hand and controls it.

Those who have servants and handmaids must also recognize that if God does not preside over their house, everything will go badly, and there will be much confusion. Even when a man only has his wife in his household, he must know that when his household is not blessed by God, there will be nothing but poverty.

It is true that David expressed this dependence by means of a public ceremony. But there is no doubt that the Holy Spirit praised David here for clearly recognizing that in all things he sought refuge in God.

for meditation: Psalm 127:1 says, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Every day and in every way, we and our families need God’s blessing. This dependency on God should motivate us to storm his mercy seat for divine benediction at the very beginning of our day! Robert Murray M’Cheyne said, “I would see the face of God before the face of man each day.”

Besides morning prayer and devotions, what other means can we use to foster a greater consciousness of our dependency upon God’s daily blessing?¹

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¹  Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 349). Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

24 NOVEMBER | God’s Inscrutable Ways

And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 2 Samuel 6:6–7

suggested further reading: Jonah 4

We have the very strange story here of a man who burns with good and holy devotion. He attempts to honor God but then is punished like a criminal. This certainly offends our feelings, even though we know the main cause of offending God is our wicked will. On the other hand, when our desire is to glorify him and we have no ill will in us, it seems that God should not hold that against us, especially when we do not willfully get out of line or go beyond the rule that he gives us.

Well, here is Uzzah, walking in front of the ark of God. He sees that the ark is in danger of falling because the oxen are shaking it. He puts his hands on the ark to hold it up. But then God kills him for touching the ark. Was being zealous to protect the ark of God so that it would not be shamed a crime worthy of punishment? If not, why was Uzzah punished? How should we understand God’s actions here?

Let us take closer heed to ourselves. Many people who do not dare to openly blaspheme God privately murmur when the judgments of God do not agree with their understanding and fantasies. Let us note that Scripture often warns us that the judgments of God are a profound abyss. This should make us so utterly astonished that we fear God and his judgments and find good in all that he does, even when we are confused about it.

Let us have the sober attitude to be totally persuaded that nothing proceeds from God that is not just and irreprehensible. If many of his works do not agree with our appetites or our reason, let us remain his captive, realizing that it is quite necessary that God and his ways surpass all our senses.

for meditation: “Why?” is a question haunting many of us. Surely it must have haunted those who gathered around Uzzah’s body. In many cases, we will never obtain an answer to our “whys” in this life. We must simply submit ourselves to God’s good will, even when life’s circumstances go beyond our understanding.¹

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¹  Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 347). Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

21 NOVEMBER | Glorifying God’s Strange Ways

And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 2 Samuel 5:23

suggested further reading: Judges 7

There was a reason why God commanded David to go behind his enemies and not to attack them directly. For our faith must be proved in various ways, and if David had always conquered his enemies in one way, he would not have been so keenly aware of the help of God.

There was another benefit in David’s recognizing that God could smite his enemies both from the back and from the front. He could punish them one way now, and another way later, thereby cleverly surprising them. When one means fails us, God has more than a million more in his hand to offer us. That is what David recognized.

Likewise, let us carefully recognize that when God uses different methods that we do not understand with our own minds, we must humble ourselves and adore his wisdom. When he is hidden from us and we cannot see the reason why he acts as he does, we must turn everything over to him and accept as good everything that he declares to be his will. This is how the foolishness of God overcomes the wisdom of the world (1 Cor. 1:25).

When we cannot understand why God does something, we show arrogance in our nature when we presume to be his judges and boldly condemn him. Men have tried all sorts of trickery to find ways to contradict God, but they only remain confounded. Well, then, that is the point: God takes care of his people in such strange ways that we cannot understand why he uses various approaches. But when God’s way seems foolish to us, let us learn to receive with deep sobriety and reverence what we know has proceeded from him.

for meditation: God often chooses to accomplish his will in ways we did not expect and may not like. In such situations, however, we see that it is God who is accomplishing his will, not us. He does not need to follow our plans or obey his council; we must follow his. In this way he keeps us humble and dependent on him. Is there an area of your life where you are struggling with this truth today?¹

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¹  Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 344). Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

19 NOVEMBER | Asking for Guidance

And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. 2 Samuel 2:1

suggested further reading: Luke 11:9–13

When the text says God told David that he should go to the country of Judaea, it teaches that we have only ourselves to blame if we do not accept good advice. For Scripture says we are to knock on the door and it will be opened to us, we are to seek and we shall find, we are to ask and it will be given to us (Matt. 7:7). David had this promise engraved on his heart, but it had not yet been stated in its fullness as we have it today. Instead, he sought God’s will by the ceremonial means of the priestly ephod.

Today we have far more than that. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to fulfill his promise to his disciples that he would no longer call them his servants but his friends (John 15:15). That means he has come so close to us that we, like good pupils, can learn all we need to know.

When we clothe ourselves in humility, God will certainly respond to our need. Are we lacking in wisdom? James says the “Father of lights” (James 1:17) is ready and able to help us in our weakness and needs. Thus, let us go to him. Above all, when we need wisdom, let us realize that God reserves the right to give it, and we should not be so foolish as to attribute wisdom to ourselves. Instead, let us worship him for such an excellent gift.

We should be persuaded that if we ask God to give us the Spirit of understanding, we can be assured that he will respond if we are ready to subject ourselves to his Word. We will find him ready and inclined to grant our requests, and we will never be frustrated for having waited to make our requests to him.

for meditation: God has not changed since the time of David. David asked and he received what he asked for; we too can ask and know that we will receive what we ask for. The New Testament clearly states this. Believing this is a great test of our faith because it is difficult. Be encouraged by David’s example.¹

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¹  Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 342). Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

November 18 | Positioned to Hear His Voice

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 5:22–25

Key Verse: Psalm 62:5

My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.

David had just been anointed king over Israel when the Philistines attacked. The first thing he did was to go to God in prayer and inquire: “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt Thou give them into my hand?” (2 Sam. 5:19 nasb). The Lord affirmed the victory to David.

Israel captured the Philistine camp. In desperation, the Philistines attempted another raid. David could have looked at the situation from a human perspective. His army easily won the first victory; what was there to stop them from repeating the same action? Plenty, and David knew it. Joshua failed to seek God at Ai and lost to a much smaller army than the one David faced (Josh. 7:1–12). Making decisions such as that one apart from God invited defeat. David immediately went back to God for the solution.

The Lord told him not to attack the enemy! Instead, he was to wait until he heard the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. Try to imagine what David felt. He knew the enemy was poised and ready to strike, but he had to wait for God’s timing.

Times of waiting are times of great blessing. When we learn to wait on the Lord, we position ourselves to hear His voice. God’s timing is always perfect. And when you commit yourself to following His lead, you will never be disappointed.

O God, help me wait for Your timing, even when I frantically feel I must do something. I commit myself to follow You. I know I won’t be disappointed.¹

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¹  Stanley, C. F. (1999). On holy ground (p. 337). Thomas Nelson Publishers.

17 NOVEMBER | Seeking the Good of Others

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son. 2 Samuel 1:17

suggested further reading: 1 Samuel 26

We are not to obscure the commands of God to excuse ourselves. On the contrary, knowing very well that God condemns all vengeance, we must loathe it. Whenever we are tempted to give way, let us run to God, who controlled his servant David and bestowed on him the grace of stamping on those violent passions that could have moved him to hatred and bitterness toward Saul. This is the first point of this text.

Second, let us learn from David to seek the common good of those with whom we live. Let us seek to maintain and preserve peace in the community so that our personal profit and loss does not influence us when we confront a question of the public good. People should not just look after themselves but after others.

David shows us the way. Because he was a frail man like ourselves and did not lack feelings, he was in the same condition that we are in; nevertheless, he put other things before his personal concerns. They were nothing compared to the salvation and preservation of the people of Israel. That is why he mourned over Saul.

This seems strange at first glance, but it is certain that David’s burning zeal for the good of the people over which God had placed him as king made him forget everything else. So he fought against himself and submitted to the will of God in proclaiming Saul’s good characteristics.

As for the rest, there is no doubt that the lamentation recorded here was published all over the country so everyone would realize that David was not cut off from the people of Israel. They would take him as a faithful member, recognizing that he had always pursued the welfare and safety of the people and was still seeking that goal.

for meditation: Our own personal struggles should not cloud how we conduct ourselves in the community, for we must contribute to its health, not adversely affect it. In what areas of your life are you presently putting your welfare before the welfare of those around you? Ask God for grace to repent in these areas, so that you put him first, others second, and yourself third in every area of life.¹

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¹  Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 340). Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.

October 24 | Daily Treasures

Intro

Welcome to Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Today’s reading is Second Samuel 11 through 14. Our lesson is from Second Samuel 12:12–14, “ ‘Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’ Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.’ ” (NASU)

Lesson

Today’s text is a witness to one of the most tragic and painful moments in the life of David. This incident in David’s life should be a warning to all of us to know that what is done in secret will be revealed. Let’s view three stages of David’s sin.

First, David sinned in secret. One of the obvious things is that David knew of the gravity of his actions and yet he tried to hide it from others. He tried to conceal his behavior from Uriah the Hittite, who was Bathsheba’s husband. David tried to be very cunning in that he told Uriah to go home so that Uriah could have relations with his wife. David thought that this would help in covering his sin. The result was that David’s scheme caused the death of Uriah but his sin did not remain hidden.

Next, David’s sin was revealed. Nathan the prophet was the Lord’s instrument in bringing to the forefront and unearthing David’s secret. Nathan used the illustration of a man who had many sheep. This person took the only sheep that another person had. David reacted in outrage at such a person who would steal someone else’s only sheep. Nathan showed David that he was that man because of his adulterous affair with Bathsheba.

Suddenly David admitted his fault. He repented of his sin and realized he offended the Lord. Tragically, there are consequences of sin that go beyond the action.

Third, David’s sin was judged. Sin and its effects are never just personal in scope. It involves and influences others. Uriah was dead and the Lord judged David and Bathsheba. The child would surely die as prophesized by Nathan.

God can and does forgive sins. However, the consequences of sin extend into many spheres of a person’s life. This is clearly seen in the life of Adam and Eve and the lives of many other biblical characters. Sin is not to be taken lightly.

In conclusion, David sinned in secret. David’s sin was revealed. And David’s sin was judged.

Never allow sin to dominate any area of your life. If there is a secret sin, confess it to the Lord right now. He is the God of forgiveness and restoration!

End

It has been a pleasure to share with you Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Tomorrow’s Bible reading is Second Samuel 15 through 19. Let’s not forget the words of the psalmist “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Until tomorrow and may God bless you in abundance as you study the Word of God.¹

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¹  Venditti, L., & Venditti, N. (2012). Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Logos Bible Software.

October 22 | Daily Treasures

Intro

Welcome to Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Today’s reading is Second Samuel 1 through 5. Our lesson is from Second Samuel 5:10, “And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD of hosts was with him.” (NASU)

Lesson

Today’s text is a fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to David when Samuel anointed him to be king and the Lord rejected Saul. It also demonstrates the unification of his kingdom from the tribe of Judah to the entire nation of Israel. In the previous verses we notice how David conquered the Jebusites in order to unite the nation. Let’s study three truths about David.

First, David lived in Jerusalem. Jerusalem throughout Scripture is God’s city where His presence lives. Jerusalem is also known as the city of David. It is because he had conquered it and made it the capital of his kingdom.

Second, David became more and more powerful. At times leaders forget who the source of their authority is. David did not lead a perfect life and we are very much aware of his shortfalls. However, one of the things throughout his life is his reliance on God and knowing that the Lord was the basis of his power. David is famous for being known as a man after God’s own heart.

There were a number of trials and tribulations in the life of David. Saul tried to kill him because he was jealous. David was an outcast from his own people for a while. Yet, he trusted the Lord and David’s influence and territory were expanded.

Last, David was with the God of hosts. Our text states the Lord was with David. It is important to realize David’s dependence on the Lord’s presence. David’s life is an enigma at times. When you read the psalms, it is amazing to see his transparency before the Lord. David is not ashamed to cry out to the Lord and let Him know how desperate and hurt he feels. David takes the reader through an array of emotions from total desperation and need to great joy.

In addition, David was a great worshipper of the Lord. He was a musician who knew how to be in God’s presence. David also knew how to take others into the presence of God. What a great example of someone who valued God’s presence!

In conclusion, David lived in Jerusalem. David became more and more powerful. And David was with the God of hosts.

Take a moment to reflect on David to learn how to trust in the Lord. Invite the presence of the Holy Spirit to help you grow and mature in the Lord so that His plans and promises for you will come true. This can be done as an act of worship and submission to God’s perfect will for you and your ministry.

End

It has been a pleasure to share with you Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Tomorrow’s Bible reading is Second Samuel 6 through 10. Let’s not forget the words of the psalmist, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Until tomorrow and may God bless you in abundance as you study the Word of God.¹

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¹  Venditti, L., & Venditti, N. (2012). Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Logos Bible Software.

October 21 | Daily Treasures

Intro

Welcome to Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Today’s reading is First Samuel 28 through 31. Our lesson is from First Samuel 28:5–6, “When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.” (NASU)

Lesson

We need to be careful of allowing fear to control us. This can disarm the believer. We should not be foolish if a dangerous situation arises but we should be able to put our total confidence in the Lord, who can rescue us.

First, Saul saw the Philistine army. The enmity between Israel and the Philistines went back for many years. Saul’s problem was he focused on the strength of the Philistines rather than seeing the hand of the Lord. He looked at the apparent potency of his enemy instead of seeking God’s presence.

Next, Saul was afraid. This was the result of not trusting in the Lord; instead he looked at himself. As a matter of fact, he was more than just afraid. Our text states he was terrorized. The degree of fear was great. When one is in a panic mode, it totally disarms the person because they are not able to think sensibly. When a person tends to freeze, it makes one totally subject to their emotions and prey to the enemy of our souls.

Third, Saul inquired of the Lord. It appears this was his last resort. It is good to see that King Saul did try to seek the presence of the Lord but tragically the Lord did not respond. The ways Saul sought the Lord were through dreams, Urim and the prophets. The Almighty does use different channels to communicate His will but Saul had disobeyed the Lord.

The king should have waited on the Lord but he took matters into his own hands. He contacted a medium. This was an abomination and totally prohibited by the Torah. In reality, what Saul did was to transfer his allegiance from the Lord and His revelation to the lies of the kingdom of darkness. How tragic!

Any part of the occult world whether it be horoscopes, Ouija or contacting the dead are not to be played with because the satanic powers are behind those practices. There is a great difference between magic and signs and wonders in the Bible.

In review, Saul saw the Philistine army. Saul was afraid. And Saul inquired of the Lord.

May we learn to trust wholehearted in the Lord and have the Bible as our rule of thumb. The Bible is there to use as our reference guide to life. It informs us on how to behave according to God’s desires and will. God’s Word and counsel are indispensable for daily living.

End

It has been a pleasure to share with you Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Tomorrow’s Bible reading is Second Samuel 1 through 5. Let’s not forget the words of the psalmist, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Until tomorrow and may God bless you in abundance as you study the Word of God.¹

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¹  Venditti, L., & Venditti, N. (2012). Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Logos Bible Software.

October 20 | Daily Treasures

Intro

Welcome to Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Today’s reading is First Samuel 24 through 27. Our lesson is from First Samuel 24:15, “The Lord therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” (NASU)

Lesson

At the beginning of chapter twenty four, we notice that King Saul is after David. He wants to kill him. However, David has the opportunity to murder Saul, yet he chooses not to because Saul has been anointed by the Lord as king. David feels remorse and does not take political advantage of the situation. Saul admits his guilt and David’s righteousness. This brings us to David’s three appeals in our verse.

First, David appeals to the Lord as his judge. If we find ourselves in David’s situation, I would imagine that all of us would want justice, especially if we are treated unfairly. Worthy to note is that David knows who the only one who can provide true justice is and that is the Lord.

David invites the Almighty to judge between Saul and himself. He realizes the importance of the Lord being the one who decides and not his friends or himself.

Second, David appeals to the Lord as his advocate. By trusting in the intervention of the Lord, David is willing to free himself of any treachery on his part. Although a great injustice has been committed by Saul, David is willing to let the Lord handle it for him. This speaks of great maturity and a willingness to prove that the Lord is his defender.

Third, David appeals to the Lord as his deliverer. David knows that only the Lord can truly save him from the mentally unstable Saul. David was a man of war and accustomed to taking things into his own hands. Yet here he is willing to forsake that and rely on God’s grace and protection. David was not a perfect person by far but he undoubtedly demonstrated an intimate relationship and confidence in the Lord who would keep him from the hands of King Saul.

In review, David appeals to the Lord as his judge. David appeals to the Lord as his advocate. And David appeals to the Lord as his deliverer.

The three roles of the Almighty can be applied to Jesus Christ. He is the only true judge who will judge all of humanity. He is our advocate. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. And finally, Jesus is our deliverer. He delivered us from sin and the dominion of the kingdom of darkness.

Take time to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ. May we look to and appeal to Him in whatever situation we may find ourselves. Victory is assured when we totally surrender to Him and His ways.

End

It has been a pleasure to share with you Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Tomorrow’s Bible reading is First Samuel 28 through 31. Let’s not forget the words of the psalmist, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Until tomorrow and may God bless you in abundance as you study the Word of God.¹

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¹  Venditti, L., & Venditti, N. (2012). Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Logos Bible Software.

October 19 | Daily Treasures

Intro

Welcome to Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Today’s reading is First Samuel 19 through 23. Our lesson is from First Samuel 20:16–17, “So Jonathan made a [covenant] with the house of David, [saying], ‘May the Lord require [it] at the hands of David’s enemies.’ Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life.” (NASU)

Lesson

As one matures in life, it becomes more evident of the need of having good and well established friendships. Today’s text shows three traits of Jonathan and David’s relationship.

First, Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David. If we review the previous chapters, we can see that King Saul was jealous of David. Saul becomes enraged with his son Jonathan when he wants to intercede on David’s behalf. Saul is out to try to kill David.

However, Jonathan does not agree with his father. He took a step of courage in defending David and wanting to continue his friendship. Jonathan went so far as to protect his friend from Saul who wanted to murder David. He was willing to be in disfavor with his father because of the injustice done to David.

Next, Jonathan made David renew his vow. For a relationship to be healthy, it must be bi-directional. Both parties need to work together and be committed to it. Jonathan asks his friend David to be as devoted as he is to their friendship. As a matter of fact, they both make a promise to extend their relationship to their houses. In other words that it extend down through the generations. What an act of dedication on both parts!

Last, Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself. For any relationship to last there must be true love and care for each other. Obviously, this was an essential component in the lives of Jonathan and David. They were both loyal to each other in the midst of great tension and difficulty. Both were willing to serve each other.

In conclusion, Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David. Jonathan made David renew his vow. And Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.

The words of Jesus are appropriate when He speaks to His disciples and calls them friends. Jesus is the ultimate example of friendship. He demonstrated His love in dying on the cross. He was innocent yet made Himself guilty for our sins. In addition, He promised that He would be with us forever.

Jesus treated the disciples as real friends. They made missteps and he was patient with their inadequacies. Peter is a prime example. Jesus is the true friend of all believers.

Let’s learn to value friends when they come our way. Truly, Jesus is our greatest friend. May we devote our lives to serve Him.

End

It has been a pleasure to share with you Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Tomorrow’s Bible reading is First Samuel 24 through 27. Let’s not forget the words of the psalmist, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Until tomorrow and may God bless you in abundance as you study the Word of God.¹

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¹  Venditti, L., & Venditti, N. (2012). Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Logos Bible Software.

October 16 | Daily Treasures

Intro

Welcome to Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Today’s reading is First Samuel 5 through 10. Our lesson is from First Samuel 7:3, “Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, ‘If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.’ ” (NASU)

Lesson

Life is full of decisions yet there are special moments whereby our choices have more important consequences especially in matters of faith. The Bible is full of examples. Israel was at a crossroad and Samuel as the leader challenged the people to remain faithful and follow the Lord. Let’s look into three exhortations.

First, Samuel exhorted the house of Israel. Exhortation has to do with edifying with words or counsel. The primary goal of exhortation is to help someone to improve their ways and behavior. This was the intention of the prophet.

Israel as a people throughout their history had up and down moments. Here we notice how they were at a crossroad. Do they continue to be influenced by the nations or were they to repent and return to God? Obviously, the prophet wanted the latter.

Second, Samuel exhorted Israel to abandon the foreign gods. A perplexing thing when one studies the history of the nation of Israel is the number of times that she as a nation apostatized and served other gods. It is a sad and tragic commentary when the people walked away from God and His word. They preferred to follow the false gods of the nations instead of remaining true to the Lord. Tragically, some in Israel wanted to imitate other nations and cultures.

Third, Samuel exhorted Israel to only serve the Lord. A clear biblical mandate is that believers should solely serve the one true living God. There are many false gods but only one who is King of kings and Lord of lords. He does not share His glory with any other.

Believers are to give their total commitment to the Almighty. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case. Years later we see how Israel as a nation was divided into the ten tribes of the north and the two tribes of the south. All the kings of the north were bad and encouraged the people in idolatrous behavior. It was not until after the fall of Jerusalem, captivity and the return of Israel to Jerusalem that the nation abandoned their idolatrous ways.

In conclusion, Samuel exhorted the house of Israel. Samuel exhorted Israel to abandon the foreign gods. And Samuel exhorted Israel to only serve the Lord. May this be the cry of our hearts to exclusively serve the Lord. Nothing less than total allegiance to the living God!

End

It has been a pleasure to share with you Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Tomorrow’s Bible reading is First Samuel 11 through 14. Let’s not forget the words of the psalmist, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Until tomorrow and may God bless you in abundance as you study the Word of God.¹

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¹  Venditti, L., & Venditti, N. (2012). Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Logos Bible Software.

October 13 | 1 Kings 16; Colossians 3; Ezekiel 46; Psalm 102 (Part 1)

first and 2 kings narrate the declining fortunes of both the northern and southern kingdoms. Occasionally there is a reforming king in one realm or the other. But on the whole the direction is downward. Some orientation (1 Kings 16):

(1) Although 1 and 2 Kings treat both the northern and the southern kingdoms, the emphasis is on the former. By contrast, 1 and 2 Chronicles, which cover roughly the same material, tilt strongly in favor of the kingdom of Judah.

(2) In the south, the Davidic dynasty continues. During its history, there are, humanly speaking, some very close calls. Nevertheless God preserves the line; his entire redemptive purposes are bound up with continuity of that Davidic line. The stance throughout is well expressed in 1 Kings 15:4. Abijah king of Judah, who reigned only three years, was doubtless an evil king. “Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.” In the north, however, no dynasty survives very long. The dynasty of Jeroboam lasted two generations and was then butchered (15:25–30), replaced by Baasha (15:33–34). His dynasty likewise produced two kings, and then the males in his family were wiped out by Zimri (16:8–13), whose reign lasted all of seven days (16:15–19). And so it goes. If the Davidic line continues in the south, it is all of grace.

(3) These successions in the north are brutal and bloody. For instance, after Zimri the citizens of Israel face a brief civil war, divided as they are between Omri and Tibni. The followers of the former win. The text wryly comments, “So Tibni died and Omri became king” (16:22). In short, there is perennial lust for power, few systems for orderly hand over of government, no hearty submission to the living God.

(4) From God’s perspective, however, the severity of the sin is measured first and foremost not in terms of the bloody violence, but in terms of the idolatry (for example, 16:30–33). Omri was a strong ruler who strengthened the nation enormously, but little of that is recorded: from God’s perspective he “did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him” (16:25). Building programs and a rising GDP do not make up for idolatry.

(5) Details in these accounts often tie the narrative to events much earlier and later. Thus the rebuilding of Jericho (16:34) calls to mind the curse on the city when it was destroyed centuries earlier (Josh. 6:26). The founding of the city of Samaria (16:24) anticipates countless narratives of what takes place in that city—including Jesus and the woman at the well (John 4; see March 14 meditation).¹

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¹  Carson, D. A. (1998). For the love of God: a daily companion for discovering the riches of God’s Word. (Vol. 1, p. 312). Crossway Books.