#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 138

May17

    Day 138—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Are you reciting, praying, and singing the Psalms we’ve been reading?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 138 – Psalms 26, 40, 58, 61, 62, 64. – (Psalms of David during and after the calamity with Absalom)

Psalm 26. “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.”

Psalm 40. “I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.”

“For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.  Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!”    “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.”

Psalm 58. David proclaims judgment on the wicked but contrasts the righteous. “Mankind will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges the earth!”

Psalm 61.  “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 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, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.”

Psalm 62. “For God ALONE, my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He ONLY is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be greatly shaken.     “For God ALONE, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”     “Trust in Him at ALL times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”

Psalm 64.  “Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers…”     “Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in Him! Let all the upright in heart exult!,,”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 137

May16

    Day 137—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? What are you learning about Him?  Share in the comments section.

   Day 137 – 2 Samuel 16 – 18 (Absalom’s take-over & Fall, David’s friends & sorrow)

You may need to read these chapters twice to keep track of all that is happening, but basically, they are about Absalom vs David (their counsel & battles, and their loyalties & betrayals), and God’s sovereign oversight.

Chapter 16. As David and his entourage pass over the Mount of Olives, a man meets him with supplies for the exiled King and his men. It’s Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth (Saul’s remaining disabled son, whom David has been more than generous with), and along with supplies, he brings news that Mephibosheth is taking advantage of the situation to reclaim the throne of his father, Saul.  On hearing this, the exiled King transfers all the blessings he gave to Saul’s son to Ziba.  However….,this is just another incident of betrayal, which we’ll see in chapter 19.

As they go, Shimei, a Benjamite from Saul’s family, travels along with them on the hillside, cursing David. Joab’s brother and second-in-command, Abishai, offers to go and kill the fellow, but David stops him, recognizing that perhaps he deserves the cursing. 

Meanwhile, Absalom and all his followers enter the city, and Ahithophel, David’s former counselor, advises him to “take” his father’s concubines in the sight of all Jerusalem. This will fix him firmly in the place of king. (This is part of the “consequences” God spoke to David.)

Chapter 17.  Next, Ahithophel gives Absalom good military advice, but the proud usurper asks for a second opinion from Hushai (David’s spy in the court).  Hushai gives him bad military advice, which plays to Absalom’s ego, so he takes it.  Hushai tells Zadok, the priest who secretly sends the news and some advice via messengers to David.  Ahithophel sees the writing on the wall, goes home, and hangs himself.

One of Absalom’s loyal men sees the messengers and tells his master. The messengers are pursued, but the wife of a loyal-to-David man hides them in a well until the danger passes (much like Rahab in Joshua’s time).  David listens to Zadok’s advice and flees over the Jordan River.  Again, men loyal to David bring them all food and supplies.

Chapter 18 tells of the battle between David’s army and commander Joab and Absalom’s army, led by his commander Amasa (a distant relative of Joab). Before the battle begins, king-in-exile David tells Joab in the hearing of all the men NOT TO KILL Absalom.

God allows Joab a resounding success, and in the middle of the battle, Absalom’s donkey runs a bit too close to a low-hanging branch of a tree in the forest. Absalom’s gorgeous, thick hair – which he is so proud of – catches in a branch, and he is left hanging there and vulnerable while the donkey keeps going.  It is told to Joab by a soldier who scolds him for not killing the usurper. Immediately, Joab, wisely but contrary to David’s specific command, thrusts a javelin through Absalom’s heart.  Several of his men surround the body and finish him off (to cover for who actually killed him??). 

Commander Joab then blows a trumpet to call his men off and tell them of the victory.  Another of Zadok’s sons, Ahimaaz, asks to be the messenger of good news to David.  However, Joab sends another messenger. He knows King David will not be happy to hear that Absalom is dead, against his specific orders.  BUT he allows Ahimaaz to also run after the first messenger has a head start.  However, Ahimaaz is a faster runner and charges ahead.

Meanwhile, back in the city where David is staying, a watchman sees the first runner and tells the King. Then he sees another runner passing the first.   Ahimaaz arrives and says, “All is well. Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.”

But David is only concerned about Absalom. “Is it well with the young man, my son?” he asks. Ahimaaz, who knows very well what has happened, says he only saw a commotion when he left, so he doesn’t know, trying to be gentle with his king.  But the second messenger soon arrives (the one who began first) and gives David the news, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man!”

David, the king, sinner, adulterer, murderer, and failure as a father to his sons, goes up to his chamber and weeps for his arrogant and betraying son. “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”  

Seriously????

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 136

May15

    Day 136—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Are you reciting, praying, and singing the Psalms we’ve been reading?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 136 – Psalms 3, 4, 12, 13, 28, 55.. – (Psalms of David in exile)

Psalm 3 specifically describes David’s anguish as he flees from Absalom. “O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God.”    

But as always, his heart turns to God. “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me; my glory, and the lifter of my head.”    “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.  I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”

Psalm 4. “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress.”    “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone O LORD make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 12 (maybe speaking of how Absalom wooed the people from David with his “silver tongue.”  “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart the speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say ‘With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us, who is master over us?'”    “The words of the LOD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”

Psalm 13.  “How long, O Lord?  Will you forget me forever?

“How long will you hide your face from me?

“How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

“How long shall my enemy be exalted?

“Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.”

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 28. “To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.”     “Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.”

“Blessed be the LORD! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.”

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to Him. The LORD is the strength of his people, He is the saving refuge of his anointed. O save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.”

Psalm 55 describes David’s anguished and grieving heart.  “…I am restless in my complaint, and I moan, because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me.”  “Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.

“And I say, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”   

“For it is not an enemy who taunts me–then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me–then I could hide from him. But it is YOU, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together within God’s house we walked in the throng.”

“My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords!”

“But You, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days.”

“But I will trust in You.”

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 135

May14

    Day 135—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Have you identified with any Bible characters?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 135 – 2 Samuel 13 – 15 – (The “sword” begins in David’s house)

Amnon, King David’s firstborn son, took after him in one aspect. He lusted after a woman. It happens that Tamar was his half-sister and Absalom was their brother.  Both Absalom and Tamar are said to be very beautiful (handsome). 

Amnon had a wicked friend who hatched a plan to get Tamar into Amnon’s bedroom.  It worked, and he raped Tamar. Afterward, he hated her and cast her away. (If he’d have asked his father, David would have given Tamar to him, but this was not love just pure lust.  So Tamar went to live with her brother Absalom as a defiled, unmarriable woman.

King David is clueless.

Absalom waits two years, then plots to murder his brother.  News is taken to the King that ALL his sons are dead, and he almost has a heart attack. But then it’s said only his firstborn has been killed. Perhaps this is done to make Absalom’s offense seem less horrible. David does not respond with discipline, but merely sends his now oldest son away.

Absalom waits another two years without speaking to his father, and then Joab sends a “wise woman” to trick David into bringing him back from exile.  The king suspects Joab is behind it but calls Absalom back to Jerusalem.  However, he refuses to speak to his son.  

Absalom waits another two years, then gets Joab’s attention by burning his field.  “I want to talk to my father,” he demands, and Joab arranges it.  The King welcomes him with a kiss this time, and it seems all is reconciled.  But Absalom schemes to take the kingdom for himself without waiting for David to die. Gradually, he begins winning the people’s hearts away from David.

After FOUR years of this, Absalom puts another plan into action.  On the pretense of fulfilling a vow he made while in exile, the scheming son goes throughout all of Israel, calling people away from his father and to himself. “As soon as you hear a trumpet sound, proclaim, ‘ABSALON IS KING AT HEBRON.'”  He even entices David’s top counselor to his side. 

A messenger tells David of the coming coup, and (nope, he doesn’t fight for his kingdom against his favorite son), but instead flees the City of David (which may have been on its way to be named the City of Absalom.) 

What is touching to me is that the priests and Levites remain faithful to David. They get the Ark of the Covenant and follow him.  This time, however, David is NOT dancing and rejoicing before the Ark, but he is “weeping as he went up the Mount of Olives, barefoot and with his head covered.”

He hears that his top counselor has turned against him, and David prays, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

He also tells the priests to take the Ark back into the city. He enlists Hushai, a faithful servant and friend, to be his spy in Absalom’s court and to try to mess with Ahithophel’s advice. David tells him that Zadok and Abiathar are loyal, so if he wants to get word to him, he should tell these priests, and they will send a message to the exiled king.

So Hushai enters the city gate just as Absalom arrives and enters. And the scene is set.

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#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 133 & 134

May13

    Day 133 & 134—We have begun our FIFTH month of Bible reading.  Are you learning and loving God more each day?

(Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

    Day 133 – 2 Samuel 11 – 12, 1 Chronicles 20 (the king’s sin, confession, downfall, and the consequences).

Since David is my favorite character in the Old Testament, this is the hardest section for me to read. But God knows how much I sin, too, and it gives me hope for his forgiveness and generosity and also reminds me of the sad consequences that sin brings.

King David – in the springtime when kings went to war – stayed home. Restless, he looked out his palace windows and saw a beautiful woman bathing on a rooftop. And he lusted after her.

Bathsheba, the woman, was ceremonially purifying herself after her monthly period, and the rooftop was where rainwater was collected and stored.  David – not only sinning with his eyes – took it a step further and inquired about her. EVEN when he was told that she was the wife of one of his valiant men, he called for her to be brought to him. And he committed adultery with her. Then sent her home.

Now, this particular time in the month is when a woman is most fertile and Bathsheba conceived. A month or two after the fact, she sent word to the King. (After all, she would be considered a prostitute and sinner because everyone knew her husband was away at war.) “Now what, your Majesty?”

David’s first cover-up plan was to call Uriah back from the field and let him sleep with his wife.  That way, the king’s son would be considered Uriah’s offspring.  But it turns out that Uriah was more noble than his Commander-in-chief and stayed in the barracks with the men.

David next gets him drunk and sends him home. But Uriah staggers to the barracks again.

This was not working, so the King added murder to adultery (both carrying the death penalty).  He sends Uriah back to the front carrying a message to Commander Joab to put him on the front line… and then draw back, so this righteous man is killed.  Joab obeys and then sends back a “disguised” message that the king’s wishes have been met.

King David sends for Bathsheba again and takes her as his umpteenth wife.  All of Jerusalem sees what he has been doing. There is no fooling them. But he is king. The shrug.

David breathes a sigh…. until the prophet Nathan comes and tells him a story.  The king is furious with the evil man who stole a poor man’s ONLY ewe lamb and requires quadruple punishment for that evil guy.

Nathan, “YOU are the man.”

And then Nathan speaks for God the saddest epitaph, “I anointed you king over Israel, and delivered you out of the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.  Why have you despised the word of the LORD to do what is evil in His sight? Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house.”

David – “a man after God’s heart” – immediately recognizes his sin and mourns his wicked deeds. “I have sinned against the LORD!” he cries.

Nathan, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.  Nevertheless, because by this deed, you have UTTERLY SCORNED THE LORD, the child who is born to you will die.”

David fasts and prays for the baby for seven days, but the baby dies.  (James 1:14-15)

David then gets up, washes himself, puts on fresh clothes, and goes into the house of the LORD. There, he worships the LORD.

Then, he comforts Bathsheba (the innocent victim of all this deceit).  In time, he sleeps with her, she conceives again, and gives birth to Solomon. But the LORD, through Nathan, names him “Jedidiah,” which means ‘beloved of the LORD.’

Commander Joab sends a message to the king that he is about to take Rabbah and end the war. He tells the king that he’d better come and lead the charge, or else it will be called “Joab’s victory.”   The king goes, and Israel wins. The Ammonite king’s golden crown is set on David’s head and all cheer.

And life goes on…. until it doesn’t.  The next chapters in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles begin the story of “the sword never leaving” David’s own house.

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Day 134 – Psalms, 32, 51, 86, 122. (the king laments his sin and pleads with God)

Psalm 32: “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from sin!  For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against YOU, YOU ONLY have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”  “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”    “Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation..”

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Psalm 86: “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”    “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. For You, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.  Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.”    “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.”

“But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me;”  

Psalm 122: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!’ 

True repentance and broken-heartedness when we sin reach God’s heart. He is merciful and gracious. He forgives and restores our relationship with Him, but we must still bear the consequences of sin.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 132

May11

    Day 132—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Are you reciting, praying, and singing the Psalms we’ve been reading?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 132 – Psalms 65, 66, 67, 69. 70. – (Psalms of God’s glory and awesomeness, and of humility and confession)

Read Psalms 65-67 in one swoop!  I’ll highlight phrases and verses. 

Psalm 65. “Praise is due to you, O God in Zion.:”   “O you, who hear prayer..”  “…You atone for our transgressions.”

“Blessed is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts!”    “By awesome deeds, you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation.”   “You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.” (Sunrise & sunset)

Psalm 66.  “Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name, give to Him glorious praise!  Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.”    “Come and see what God has done: He is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.”

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.”    “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”    “Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me!”

Psalm 67. “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us.”    “Let the people praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy.”    “,,,let all the ends of the earth fear Him.”

Confess, lament your sin, and plead for God to help. But then praise Him. He is GREAT.

Psalm 69. “Save me, O God!”    “O God, You know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.  Let not those who hope in You be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who see You be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.”

“Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.  Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me….”

“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. ”    “For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise His own people …”    “Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion…..”

Psalm 70. “Make haste, O God to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!” “May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” “But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!”

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Hey, it’s okay to ask God to act quickly! Don’t panic, but pray!

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 131

May10

    Day 131—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Are you reciting, praying, and singing the Psalms we’ve been reading?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 131 – 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalm 20. – (War with Ammon & Syria, Trust in  God)

2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19 tell of the same incident, with slight differences. Both show King David’s graciousness toward a son whose father has died. Both show the stupidity of the friends of that son. Both show the strategy, victory, and godliness of Commander Joab. 

Psalm 20 tells of their trust and hope in God, who helps in the day of trouble. 

David: “I will deal loyally with Hanun, son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent his servants to console him concerning his father.

Hanun’s princes:  “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? He’s sent them to search the city and spy it out to overthrow it.”

(This reminds me of the foolish advisors to Rehoboam who helped split Israel, after his father, King Solomon, died.)

So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half their beards (disgrace!), and cut off their garments in the middle (exposing their genitals). WHOA!! When King David heard this, he told his servants to stay in Jericho until their beards re-grew, and sent Joab with the army to deal with these ingrates.

When Hanun and the Ammonites saw they had become “a stench to David” they hired Syrians to come fight with them. $1K pieces of silver did the trick and the Syrians brought 20K soldiers (plus 1K and 12K from other areas) to fight. Commander Joab, with his second-in-command brother, Abishai, led Israel’s soldiers. When they saw two battle fronts they split their men.

Joab: If the Syrians are too strong for me, they you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. “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.”

All the armies fled before Israel’s armies. (Hmmm. This reminds me of recent world news.) But when these armies saw they’d been “shamed” in battle, they called more troops, crossed the Jordan, and arrayed themselves against Israel…again.

King David himself led the battle, killed 40K horsemen, and killed Shobach, the commander of their army. When the Syrians realized this resounding defeat, they “made peace with Israel and became subject to them.”

“So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.” 

Psalm 20:1-5, 7

"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May He send you help from the sanctuary 
and give you support from Zion!
May He grant you your heart's desire 
and fulfill all your plans!
May we shout for joy over Your salvation,
and in the name of our God, set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 130

May9

    Day 130—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Are you reciting, praying, and singing the Psalms we’ve been reading?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 130 – Psalms 50, 53, 60, 75. – (Psalms of Asaph and David)

In Psalm 50, Asaph writes about “The Mighty One, God, the LORD, as an all-sufficient judge. 

Around our God is “a devouring fire and a mighty tempest.”   He does not NEED  offerings and sacrifices because “every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”  God says of Himself, “I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.”

So what does God desire of His people?  “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.”  IF his people will praise and obey Him, He says to them, “call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalm 53 is almost a repeat of Psalm 14 except verse 5, in which David celebrates a battle won.

In Psalm 60 David praises God for victory over Edom “in the Valley of Salt” which we read about yesterday in 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18.  David closes his song with, “Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God , we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down out foes.”

Again in Psalm 75, Asaph sings about God judging with equity. “At the set time that I appoint, I will judge with equity.” Asaph warns, “I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn or high or speak with haughty neck.”

“But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.”

NOTE: A “horn” symbolizes an animal’s or human’s strength and majesty. Lifting up the horn describes a stubborn animal who kept itself from entering a yoke by holding its head up as high as possible. Here, it portrays insolence or rebellion.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 129

May8

    Day 129—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Are you reciting, praying, and singing the Psalms we’ve been reading?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 129 – 2 Samuel 8 – 9, 1 Chronicles 18. – (David’s victories & compassion as king)

2 Samuel 8 recounts the battles and victories over the nations surrounding Israel: Philistia, Moab, Amalek, Edom, and Zobah (as far as the Euphrates River), and the Syrians at Damascus.

In all these, David collected tribute and spoils that he dedicated to the LORD (later to be used by Solomon in building the Temple and its furnishings). But most importantly, the chapter says, “the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.” (verses 6, 14) King David wisely gave glory to God.

2 Samuel 9 shows King David’s kindness and loyalty to his BBF Jonathan, Saul’s son, who was killed in battle. “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul that I may show him the kindness of God for Jonathan’s sake?” 

They found a young man – Mephibosheth – a son of Jonathan alone. He had been crippled as a child when his nurse dropped him and crippled him in his feet. When David heard about Mephibosheth, he called for him and installed him in his house to “eat at his table always.” He also personally restored all the land that belonged to Saul and directed servants to till the land, harvest the crops, and give the proceeds to him. 

Mephibosheth could hardly believe his good fortune!  “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I.”

Isn’t this what God has done for believers in Jesus?  We are sinners, separated from a holy God by eons and light years because of our iniquity and transgressions.  And yet he has brought us to Himself by sending His Son, Jesus, who paid all our sin debt on the cross. Now we can sit at the banquet table of the King forever. 

1 Chronicles 18 also tells of the victories of King David over his enemies, expanding the kingdom of Israel far and wide. It’s interesting that he disabled 9/10s of the chariot horses after conquering Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. 

Why this cruelty?  For sure, to prevent an uprising and return of a mighty foe. However, it could also be that David remembered God’s cautions for the kings of Israel not to accumulate horses and chariots for themselves to win battles but instead to depend on God for their victories.

Verse 14: “So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people.”   (Wow. If only that was David’s final epitaph….)

 

Verses 15-17 end with a list of the important men in his service:

Joab – commander of the army

Jehoshaphat – recorder

Zadok & Ahimelech – priests

Shavsha – secretary

Benaiah – over the Cherethites & Pelethites, the loyal non-Jewish men who attached themselves to the king as his bodyguards

David’s sons – chief officials in the king’s service. 

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 128

May7

    Day 128—We are in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? Are you reciting, praying, and singing the Psalms we’ve been reading?  Share in the comments section.

    Day 128 – Psalms 25, 29, 33. 36. 39. – (Psalms of praise, worship, and commitment  by David and others.)

In Psalm 25, David pleads for a go,dly life: “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust…”   “Make me to know your ways, O LORD. Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me…”   “Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love.”

In Psalm 29, David seeds to glorify and magnify God. “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.”  Then David writes a series of metaphors from creation that show God’s power with gentleness.

In Psalm 33, the psalmist encourages God’s people to shout for joy, give thanks to the LORD, make melody to him on instruments, and sing new songs to him.  He describes the power in God’s Word and what happens whenever He speaks.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as his heritage!  The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned, He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.”     “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death…”

Psalm 36 begins by describing the heart of the wicked but soon turns to the love and mercy of God. “How precious is your steadfast love, O God!”    “Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know You, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!”

David is introspective in Psalm 39.  First, he pledges, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle so long as the wicked are in my presence.”   Next, he shows his vulnerability.  “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!”

“Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!

Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

Surely, for nothing, they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!”

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(If you feel like reading more along this vein, turn to Psalm 90:4-16, James 4:13-15, and Luke 12:16-21.)

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And David finishes with, “And now, O LORD, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”