Lots of Psalms today!  These are David’s psalms that Bible scholars were not able to date or connect to an event in David’s life.  Here we go: please read Psalms 12, 13, 4, 15, 16, 17 (skip 18), 19, 20 and 21.  Do you love Psalms?  Here we have so many great examples of how honest we can be in our prayer and praise – God wants to be our go-to and best friend!

I love Psalm 15, and the MSG translation is great!

“God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list?

Sometimes we make life and the pursuit of godliness more complicated than it actually is – David reminds us that clean living (though not always easy) is always simple.

It’s a long list today, but we can do it!  Let’s go: we’re reading 1 Kings 2:1-9, 2 Samuel 23:1-7, 1 Kings 2:10-12, 1 Chronicles 29:26-30, and lots of Psalms: Psalm 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11.  What is on your heart today?

Near the end of David’s life, read again these powerful words to his son:

“I’m about to go the way of all the earth, but you—be strong; show what you’re made of! Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you’ll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go” (1 Kings 2:1-3 MSG)

That’s great advice for anyone anywhere!  No matter where we are in life, following God absolutely will always leads us to peace.

“God’s business is putting things right;  He loves getting the lines straight, Setting us straight. Once we’re standing tall, we can look Him straight in the eye” (Psalm 11:7 MSG)

Restoration, restoration, restoration. I love that! What a legacy David left!  Because of God’s covenant with David (2 Sam 7:16), we will continue to hear about David for generations and generations.

Let’s read 1 Chronicles 29:1-22, and 1 Kings 1 today.  I’m excited to hear what you think – leave a comment and let me know! 🙂

Maybe because my children are grown, coming into themselves and following the Lord, but I am struck today by David’s confidence in Solomon.

“Then David the king addressed the congregation: “My son Solomon was singled out and chosen by God to do this. But he’s young and untested and the work is huge—this is not just a place for people to meet each other, but a house for God to meet us. I’ve done my best to get everything together for building this house for my God” (1 Chron. 19:1-2 MSG)

That’s beautiful and powerful – and I bet Solomon was even more confident because of his father’s trust in him. I also love Solomon’s response to Adonijah’s rebellion against his reign – if he proved to be a man of honor, he would live. That’s the Holy Spirit and Solomon’s raising coming out in one of his first decisions as king – be generous, be kind, and desire restoration over revenge.

I’m praying that my children’s raising will come out as a legacy of generosity, kindness and love!  Let’s agree in prayer for each other’s families today.

Today, we are continuing with the temple preparations.  Please read 1 Chronicles 26, 27 and 28.  What stands out to you today?

I love this charge from King David to Israel:

“in this public place, all Israel looking on and God listening in, as God’s people, obey and study every last one of the commandments of your God so that you can make the most of living in the good land and pass it on to your children, insuring a good future” (1 Chron, 28:8 MSG)

This charge can apply to us today as well.  We have a responsibilty to leave a legacy for future generations.  I also love how David shared all these plans and materials with Solomon, setting him up for success – there’s no competition.  His life carved out a path for Solomon, how powerful!

Who is your life carving a path for?

Lots going on this morning!  Let’s read 2 Samuel 24:1-9, 1 Chronicles 21:1-16, 2 Samuel 24:10-17, 1 Chronicles 21:7-17, 2 Samuel 24:18-25, 1 Chronicles 21:18-30, and 1 Chronicles 22.  Continuing on with David – let’s see what happens today.  Leave a comment and let’s have a dialog – what stands out to you today?

See how the MSG translates David’s prayer asking for forgiveness for taking the census:

“But when it was all done, David was overwhelmed with guilt because he had counted the people, replacing trust with statistics. And David prayed to God, ‘I have sinned badly in what I have just done. But now God forgive my guilt’ ” (2 Samuel 24:10 MSG)

Did you see the phrase: “replacing trust with statistics”? We do that too sometimes, don’t we?  Fine line between counting the cost and moving out of faith…. When God asks us to do anything for Him, we can be (we should be) confident that He will also make provision for us.

I also think about the threshing floor often, when David purchases it from Araunah, instead of receiving it as a gift:

“the king said to Araunah, ‘No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.’ ” (2 Samuel 24:24 MSG)

A sacrifice must be a SACRIFICE.  And also: YAY – we are starting building preparations for God’s sanctuary (1 Chronicles 22)! I love this history!  I also love how David invests in his son as well as in the temple, creating a legacy for future generations to worship.  What are you doing to leave a legacy for the next generations?

Big day!

Today, two chapters: 2 Samuel 22, and Psalm 18.  Again we are able to connect David’s life event to the psalm he wrote in response to it – love these times.  After you’ve read, come on back and let’s chat!

“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”  (2 Samuel 22:21-25 MSG)

How about that? I love the cause-and-effect that we get with the Lord – and we always get the sweet end of the trade!  When we give God our broken pieces, He makes us complete.  When we clean up our act, He gives us a fresh start.  Does anyone need the text of their life rewritten?  Praise God – He can do that!

“Suddenly, God, your light floods my path, God drives out the darkness. I smash the bands of marauders, I vault the high fences. What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested.  Everyone who runs toward him makes it” (2 Sam 22:29-31 MSG)

That’s an encouragement for sure!  Everyone who runs toward God makes it – that includes me and you!  Go out and face the day – you are going to WIN the day with God on your side!

About one-third of the way through our year together – big day, big milestone! 🙂 Please read 2 Samuel 19:31-43, 2 Samuel 20, Psalm 7, 2 Samuel 21, and 1 Chronicles 20:4-8, and head on back.  Let’s have a visit!

“I’m thanking God who makes things right” Psalm 7:17

So many things going on for David today. Many times, we are left with the realization that God is our only defense and judge – in those moments, we have to come to realize that this is ALL the time.  Don’t leave anything “on the table” – we must thank Him every day, depend on Him every day.  When it looks like He is making things right, trust.  When it doesn’t look like He is making things right, trust anyway.  God is on our side! Let’s learn to depend on the Lord every day, not just the hard days.

Today we are reading 2 Samuel 17:15-29, Psalm 3, Psalm 63, 2 Samuel 18, 2 Samuel 19:1-30. Every single day is an opportunity to learn something from the Word, something big, something small, even just a reminder.  No pressure – if you are trying, you can’t get it wrong!  Let’s go:

In light of what is happening in David’s life, the Psalms are so much more meaningful.  I love it when we can connect a psalm to an event like this. When David wrote this his own son Absalom was the enemy who was against him:

“God! Look! Enemies past counting!
Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery:
‘Hah! No help for him from God!’ ” Psalm 3:1-2 MSG)

David was protective over Absalom, even when Absalom was against him.  It didn’t matter what he did, Absalom was his son.

“Then the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.’ ” (2 Samuel 18:5 MSG)

God feels the same way about us – and that kind of tenderness ought to inspire loyalty in return. Weird that Absalom was caught by his own hair – remember how proud and vain he was just a few chapters ago?  David wanted victory, but not at the price of his son’s life. Sadly, Absalom’s rebellion did not allow for his father’s loyalty. Let’s end today on a happy note – 

“Real help comes from God.
Your blessing clothes your people!” (Psalm 3:8 MSG)

We’re staying in Samuel today!  Please read 2 Samuel 15, 2 Samuel 16, and 2 Samuel 17:1-14. Is the Lord speaking to you through His Word?  Leave us a comment and let’s turn this monologue into a dialogue together!

“Absalom would say, ‘Look, you’ve got a strong case; but the king isn’t going to listen to you.’ Then he’d say, ‘Why doesn’t someone make me a judge for this country? Anybody with a case could bring it to me and I’d settle things fair and square.’ Whenever someone would treat him with special honor, he’d shrug it off and treat him like an equal, making him feel important. Absalom did this to everyone who came to do business with the king and stole the hearts of everyone in Israel. After four years of this, Absalom spoke to the king….”         (2 Samuel 15:3-8 MSG)

Four years. Wow. Absalom planned for YEARS to betray his father. (No surprise there – our reading yesterday revealed Absalom’s character).

David cares for Ittai on his way out – encouraging him to stay; and David also sent back the Ark to its rightful place, rather than trying to manipulate the presence of God.

“The counsel that Ahithophel gave in those days was treated as if God himself had spoken” (2 Samuel 16:23 MSG)

Absalom made a mistake trusting Ahithophel. I thought it was interesting that the people trusted Ahithophel’s words as if they came from God Himself. It is right to trust people, but never right to put man’s words above the word of God. Receive counsel AND pray for discernment.