2 Samuel 1-2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 96, 106; Acts 21

I was amazed at the song that David wrote for Saul and Jonathan. I am sure the words he chose came easily as he thought more about Jonathan rather than Saul. He called it the “Song of the Bow.”

There is love of country and love of a friend – more than a friend – for David never found another man he could love like Jonathan.

I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.
You were such a friend to me.
Your love for me was more wonderful
than the love of women. – 2 Samuel 1:26 HCSB

I have never experienced such love for a friend, however, I have heard of it and understand it. I am not sure Jesus had such a friend, but I am challenged to be a Jonathan to those who are called and anointed for leadership.

David was a man, a leader, who drew other leaders to him. When he wished for water from the well in Bethlehem, those that loved him braved all danger, risked their lives, and made sure they offered him a cup of that water. I am challenged again to look at my love for Jesus, my personal love. Love is a mighty bond – Jesus’ love for me – He braved all dangers, and His love caused Him to lay down His life for me. He loves me and that love ensures that I have a covenant with Him that nothing can get in-between.

This love unites and I see it in the New Testament.

Father, I have easily written love songs to You – they flow from my heart because of Your love for me. You have been my best friend since the day I met You and You have never left me alone. You have brought me through valleys as dark as death and have surrounded me with Your protection when I faced death. I am amazed how easily I could have been destroyed, if Your hand was not there to hold me. There is not an argument in the world that can convince me otherwise, even the threat of death. I grieve for those who do not know You as I have come to know You. They have not gone through the experiences that I have. Help me be a Jonathan or a Paul or a Barnabas or a Timothy to them and allow me to love them as You have loved me. Amen

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2 Samuel 19; 2 Corinthians 12; Ezekiel 26; Psalm 74

I have had my moments where I was enjoying victory, being giddy, having fun, and then all of sudden, something more pressing came to confront me and rob me of that joy. It is amazing how quickly joy can be shut down.

And so the joy of victory was turned into sadness for all of David’s troops that day, because they heard that the king was mourning for his son. – 2 Samuel 19:2 GNT

LIfe can be strange that way – it makes for a rather unsteady life – I want, I don’t want; I pray and I don’t want the answer, or at least, not so – but thus, a crooked answer to a straight request. These are the times that I conquer such a life by the Spirit of God – it is when I pray and have it out with heaven. Then these words hit me too…

But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan’s messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 GNT

My prayer continues in pleading with God for deliverance and I strive to keep them God-centred. I realize how much time I am spending on praying for myself and try to intervene on behalf of others so that His name may be honoured in their lives too.

But remember, O Lord, that your enemies laugh at you,
    that they are godless and despise you.
Don’t abandon your helpless people to their cruel enemies;
    don’t forget your persecuted people!

Remember the covenant you made with us.
    There is violence in every dark corner of the land.
Don’t let the oppressed be put to shame;
    let those poor and needy people praise you.

Rouse yourself, God, and defend your cause!
    Remember that godless people laugh at you all day long.
Don’t forget the angry shouts of your enemies,
    the continuous noise made by your foes. Psalm 74:18-23 GNT

The Psalmist teaches me to pray for the sake of God’s name and reputation, for the sake of His praise and for the sake of His covenant faithfulness.

Father, I pray that Your Kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Your name is I AM and I bow my knee before You and cry holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. You have proven Yourself in my life over and over again. Though I may find myself mourning, I know, deep in my heart and soul, that joy will come again in the morning. For that I bless You and love You always.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

2 Sam. 18; 2 Cor. 11; Ezek. 25; Ps. 73

“I repeat, let no one think me foolish.  But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.  What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool.  Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.  For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves!  For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.  Are they servants of Christ?  I am a better one-I am talking like a madman-with far greater labors, far greater imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.  In toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?  If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”  2 Corinthians 11:16-31 ESV

2 Samuel 11; 2 Corinthians 4; Ezekiel 18; Psalm 62, 63

In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. (2 Sam 11:1) NLT

I have often wondered why David decided to stay behind. From what we know of David, he was a mighty warrior, leading the troops of Israel against their enemies. Yet this particular time he stayed back. Whatever the reason, it was a decision that changed his life. All it took was a stroll on the roof, his eyes seeing something they shouldn’t, and his thoughts going where they shouldn’t. He wanted what he wanted even though it was something that didn’t belong to him. When we sin, we tend to think no one will ever know or we’ll never get caught. Except sin has a way of revealing itself—which it did when Bathsheba became pregnant. And so the web of lies and deceit begins.  

²⁶ When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. ²⁷ When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done. (2 Sam 11:16-27)

A sin cannot be hidden from God. There are always repercussions for the choices we make. In David’s case, his family was riddled with division (“the sword will never depart from your house”). There are ripple effects to sin and innocent people can get hurt. I know this to be true in my own family. Choices were made and it started a string of events that left great pain in its wake. Trust was broken, relationships were shattered, and great division remained where once there was unity. It can impact generations.

³⁰ “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! ³¹ Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? ³² I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live! (Ez 18:30-32)

Repentance! How cleansing it is for the soul. God has given us grace. Even though sin has its price, we can repent and draw close to God once more. He loves us and he will help us change. He can restore broken relationships, he can mend a shattered heart, and with his help we can learn to trust again. There is hope instead of despair.  I know this to be true as well. I have witnessed the work of the Lord in restoring a family that had been torn apart. His hand was all over the chain of events and details that had to be in place so at just the right time hearts were ready to forgive. To this day I am still in awe of his great work. (Isaiah 43:19- “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland”).

⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. ¹⁰ Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. (2 Cor 4:8-9) NLT

David repented of his sin. He was restored to right relationship with God. Yet the consequences were set in motion by his actions. Yes, David and Bathsheba had Solomon, and the LORD loved him (12:24). But there were many family battles to come.

¹ You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.
³ Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
⁵ I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you. (Ps 63:1-5) NIV

Lord, how thankful I am you have provided a way back to relationship with you. You taught me to repent and get beyond the shame of my own actions. You taught me how to give others grace and forgiveness for sins committed against me. I have seen you change the hardest of hearts. You are the lifter of my head. I have seen your goodness and how it can change a life—starting with my own! Your love is better than life! I will praise you as long as I live! In Jesus name, Amen

Cindy (gardnlady)

2 Samuel 10; 2 Corinthians 3; Ezekiel 17; Psalm 60,61

How often do I survey the happenings around me and miss God’s handiwork?

And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.

Ezekiel 17:24 – ESV

Currently, I’m reading the book Bruchko with my kids and chapter 19 highlighted how as the Motilone people embraced Jesus, they cried out to Him with real faith that He would respond miraculously. And, when He did, the miracles did not surprise them, because they expected them.

I find myself often praying with little expectation. Worse than that, when something does “work out” the way I had prayed for, I give mental credit to medicine, hard work, time, people, or coincidence. This chapter in Bruchko, piled on top of all these passages from Scripture are convicting me of my high view of people and my minimizing view of God.

But with Jesus, there can be real change. Not just spiritual change. Not just change by and by. Real change, now, with visible power. He is the source of all change. He is the God of everyday miracles.

Bruchko by Bruce Olson p. 162.

The everyday miracles, the huge, life-changing miracles. All of them, return to Him. He earns our praise all day long with His work in our lives and those around us. I need to remember to return my thanks to Him and acknowledge all that He is doing on a daily basis.

Even in 2 Samuel we see how God orchestrated events to bless Israel, to shape military alliances, and to punish nations that rejected Him.

And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.

2 Samuel 10:19 ESV

God’s plans prevail in the military exploits of ancient kingdoms and in my daily life as a housewife in modern day America.

• Did I wake up this morning – alive and breathing?
• Do I have friends and family?
• Do I have food – physical and spiritual?
• Did I experience comfort today?
• Have the friends on my prayer list been protected through the ordeal they face?
• Has another friend made it safely home from a recent hospital stay?
• Did I have healing words of encouragement for a desperate text that came my way last week?

Yes, yes, and yes again.

God has been there. Working, responding, often providing before I even knew to ask. It has been all Him. I can take no credit, and have no right to rationalize His supernatural involvement in this world by diminishing the results with “logical” explanations.

⁴ Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. ⁵ Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God . . . Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, . . . And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:4-5, 12, 18 ESV

The result of properly attributing God’s power and presence is increased boldness, hope, and transformation. He hears our prayers and walks closely to those that hope in Him.

Hear my cry, O God,
    listen to my prayer;
² from the end of the earth I call to you
    when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
    that is higher than I,
³ for you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the enemy.

Psalm 61:1-3 ESV