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30. 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, Psalms (Early King David)

A Chronological Daily Bible Study of the Old Testament
7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and a Practical Daily Application

Week 30

Sunday (2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalms 133, 106-107)

David Is Anointed King Over Israel

5:1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood! 5:2 In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. The Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.’”

5:3 When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord. They designated David as king over Israel. 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years. 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

David Occupies Jerusalem

5:6 Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, “You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot invade this place!’”

5:7 But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the city of David). 5:8 David said on that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the ‘lame’ and the ‘blind’ who are David’s enemies by going through the water tunnel.” For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace.”

5:9 So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards. 5:10 David’s power grew steadily, for the Lord God who commands armies was with him.

1 Chronicles 11-12

David Becomes King

11:1 All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood! 11:2 In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel’s commanding general. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.’” 11:3 When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord. They anointed David king over Israel, just as the Lord had announced through Samuel.

David Conquers Jerusalem

11:4 David and the whole Israelite army advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). (The Jebusites, the land’s original inhabitants, lived there.) 11:5 The residents of Jebus said to David, “You cannot invade this place!” But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). 11:6 David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general!” So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander. 11:7 David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David. 11:8 He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; Joab restored the rest of the city. 11:9 David’s power steadily grew, for the Lord who commands armies was with him.

David’s Warriors

11:10 These were the leaders of David’s warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel, in accordance with the Lord’s word. 11:11 This is the list of David’s warriors:

Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers. He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle.

11:12 Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors. 11:13 He was with David in Pas Dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines, 11:14 but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory.

11:15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 11:16 David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. 11:17 David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate!” 11:18 So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. They carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 11:19 and said, “God forbid that I should do this! Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.

11:20 Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 11:21 From the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them.

11:22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. 11:23 He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom; Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 11:24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 11:25 He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

NOTE: The genealogy in 11:26-47 has not been included here.

Warriors Who Joined David at Ziklag

12:1 These were the men who joined David in Ziklag, when he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. (They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. 12:2 They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left-handed. They were fellow tribesmen of Saul from Benjamin.) These were:

12:3 Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth;

Berachah,

Jehu the Anathothite,

12:4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, one of the thirty warriors and their leader,

(12:5) Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite, 12:5 (12:6) Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, 12:6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites, 12:7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

12:8 Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills. 12:9 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, 12:10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 12:11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12:12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 12:13 Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh. 12:14 These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand. 12:15 They crossed the Jordan River in the first month, when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west.

12:16 Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold. 12:17 David went out to meet them and said, “If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you. But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you, may the God of our ancestors take notice and judge!” 12:18 But a spirit empowered Amasai, the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said:

“We are yours, O David!

We support you, O son of Jesse!

May you greatly prosper!

May those who help you prosper!

Indeed your God helps you!”

So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.

12:19 Some men from Manasseh joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel, the Philistine lords sent David away, saying: “It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul.”) 12:20 When David went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh. 12:21 They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army. 12:22 Each day men came to help David until his army became very large.

Support for David in Hebron

12:23 The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul’s place, in accordance with the Lord’s decree:

12:24 From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears.

12:25 From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.

12:26 From Levi there were 4,600. 12:27 Jehoiada, the leader of Aaron’s descendants, brought 3,700 men with him, 12:28 along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family.

12:29 From Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul.

12:30 From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families.

12:31 From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.

12:32 From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command – they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

12:33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty.

12:34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.

12:35 From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.

12:36 From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.

12:37 From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons.

12:38 All these men were warriors who were ready to march. They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king. 12:39 They spent three days feasting there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions. 12:40 Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, for Israel was celebrating.

Psalm

133:1 A song of ascents, by David.

Look! How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together!

133:2 It is like fine oil poured on the head which flows down the beard – Aaron’s beard, and then flows down his garments.

133:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which flows down upon the hills of Zion. Indeed that is where the Lord has decreed a blessing will be available – eternal life.

106:1 Praise the Lord!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his loyal love endures!

106:2 Who can adequately recount the Lord’s mighty acts,

or relate all his praiseworthy deeds?

106:3 How blessed are those who promote justice, and do what is right all the time!

106:4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people!

Pay attention to me, when you deliver,

106:5 so I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice along with your nation, and boast along with the people who belong to you.

106:6 We have sinned like our ancestors; we have done wrong, we have done evil.

106:7 Our ancestors in Egypt failed to appreciate your miraculous deeds, they failed to remember your many acts of loyal love, and they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea.

106:8 Yet he delivered them for the sake of his reputation, that he might reveal his power.

106:9 He shouted at the Red Sea and it dried up; he led them through the deep water as if it were a desert.

106:10 He delivered them from the power of the one who hated them, and rescued them from the power of the enemy.

106:11 The water covered their enemies; not even one of them survived.

106:12 They believed his promises; they sang praises to him.

106:13 They quickly forgot what he had done; they did not wait for his instructions.

106:14 In the wilderness they had an insatiable craving for meat; they challenged God in the desert.

106:15 He granted their request, then struck them with a disease.

106:16 In the camp they resented Moses, and Aaron, the Lord’s holy priest.

106:17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it engulfed the group led by Abiram.

106:18 Fire burned their group; the flames scorched the wicked.

106:19 They made an image of a calf at Horeb, and worshiped a metal idol.

106:20 They traded their majestic God for the image of an ox that eats grass.

106:21 They rejected the God who delivered them, the one who performed great deeds in Egypt,

106:22 amazing feats in the land of Ham, mighty acts by the Red Sea.

106:23 He threatened to destroy them, but Moses, his chosen one, interceded with him and turned back his destructive anger.

106:24 They rejected the fruitful land; they did not believe his promise.

106:25 They grumbled in their tents; they did not obey the Lord.

106:26 So he made a solemn vow that he would make them die in the desert,

106:27 make their descendants die among the nations, and scatter them among foreign lands.

106:28 They worshiped Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.

106:29 They made the Lord angry by their actions, and a plague broke out among them.

106:30 Phinehas took a stand and intervened, and the plague subsided.

106:31 This brought him a reward, an eternal gift.

106:32 They made him angry by the waters of Meribah, and Moses suffered because of them,

106:33 for they aroused his temper, and he spoke rashly.

106:34 They did not destroy the nations, as the Lord had commanded them to do.

106:35 They mixed in with the nations and learned their ways.

106:36 They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

106:37 They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.

106:38 They shed innocent blood – the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted by bloodshed.

106:39 They were defiled by their deeds, and unfaithful in their actions.

106:40 So the Lord was angry with his people and despised the people who belong to him.

106:41 He handed them over to the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.

106:42 Their enemies oppressed them; they were subject to their authority.

106:43 Many times he delivered them, but they had a rebellious attitude, and degraded themselves by their sin.

106:44 Yet he took notice of their distress, when he heard their cry for help.

106:45 He remembered his covenant with them, and relented because of his great loyal love.

106:46 He caused all their conquerors to have pity on them.

106:47 Deliver us, O Lord, our God!

Gather us from among the nations!

Then we will give thanks to your holy name, and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.

106:48 The Lord God of Israel deserves praise, in the future and forevermore.

Let all the people say, “We agree! Praise the Lord!”

107:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his loyal love endures!

107:2 Let those delivered by the Lord speak out, those whom he delivered from the power of the enemy,

107:3 and gathered from foreign lands, from east and west, from north and south.

107:4 They wandered through the wilderness on a desert road; they found no city in which to live.

107:5 They were hungry and thirsty; they fainted from exhaustion.

107:6 They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.

107:7 He led them on a level road, that they might find a city in which to live.

107:8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people!

107:9 For he has satisfied those who thirst, and those who hunger he has filled with food.

107:10 They sat in utter darkness, bound in painful iron chains,

107:11 because they had rebelled against God’s commands, and rejected the instructions of the sovereign king.

107:12 So he used suffering to humble them; they stumbled and no one helped them up.

107:13 They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.

107:14 He brought them out of the utter darkness, and tore off their shackles.

107:15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people!

107:16 For he shattered the bronze gates, and hacked through the iron bars.

107:17 They acted like fools in their rebellious ways, and suffered because of their sins.

107:18 They lost their appetite for all food, and they drew near the gates of death.

107:19 They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.

107:20 He sent them an assuring word and healed them; he rescued them from the pits where they were trapped.

107:21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people!

107:22 Let them present thank offerings, and loudly proclaim what he has done!

107:23 Some traveled on the sea in ships, and carried cargo over the vast waters.

107:24 They witnessed the acts of the Lord, his amazing feats on the deep water.

107:25 He gave the order for a windstorm, and it stirred up the waves of the sea.

107:26 They reached up to the sky, then dropped into the depths. The sailors’ strength left them because the danger was so great.

107:27 They swayed and staggered like a drunk, and all their skill proved ineffective.

107:28 They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.

107:29 He calmed the storm, and the waves grew silent.

107:30 The sailors rejoiced because the waves grew quiet, and he led them to the harbor they desired.

107:31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people!

107:32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people!

Let them praise him in the place where the leaders preside!

107:33 He turned streams into a desert, springs of water into arid land,

107:34 and a fruitful land into a barren place, because of the sin of its inhabitants.

107:35 As for his people, he turned a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into springs of water.

107:36 He allowed the hungry to settle there, and they established a city in which to live.

107:37 They cultivated fields, and planted vineyards, which yielded a harvest of fruit.

107:38 He blessed them so that they became very numerous. He would not allow their cattle to decrease in number.

107:39 As for their enemies, they decreased in number and were beaten down, because of painful distress and suffering.

107:40 He would pour contempt upon princes, and he made them wander in a wasteland with no road.

107:41 Yet he protected the needy from oppression, and cared for his families like a flock of sheep.

107:42 When the godly see this, they rejoice, and every sinner shuts his mouth.

107:43 Whoever is wise, let him take note of these things!

Let them consider the Lord’s acts of loyal love!

Prayer

Lord, You have been so very patient and Your mercy overflowing, but there is an end to that. May I not test the limits of Your patience in my life.

Scripture In Perspective

The leaders of the tribes of Israel then swore allegiance to David.

David marched into Jerusalem, despite the dire warnings of the Jebusites who insisted that even the blind and lame there would resist him, and he established the center of his kingdom there.

King Hiram of Tyre, a wealthy Phonecian city, sent many resources to assist David in building a palace. David gave God the glory for establishing him as King and for blessing the kingdom.

David married several other concubines and wives and fathered many more children.

David had previously been called an anointed as the next king so the people recognized and followed him.

The text reviews the military men who accompanied David while he was being hunted by Saul, describing their great feats, and the rewards they received when he became king as a result of their bravery and loyalty.

Psalm 133 “Look! How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together!”

Psalm 106 was a prayer of praise which contained confession “We have sinned like our ancestors; we have done wrong, we have done evil.”, petition “Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people!”, and wisdom “The Lord God of Israel deserves praise, in the future and forevermore.”

The text recorded the author’s teaching that the Lord God deserved praise for His faithfulness, despite the ancient rebellion of Israel, and for His repeated rescues and restoration. This text describes the subjugation of Israel at the hands of foreign nations as God’s chastising of Israel. The author was not identified in the text.

Psalm 107 was a praise and wisdom Psalm with a stream of petition. The author recounted God’s punishment and rescue of Israel on more than one occasion. “They sat in utter darkness, bound in painful iron chains, because they had rebelled against God’s commands, and rejected the instructions of the sovereign king.” might be taken to refer to a time after the kings or could refer to a difficult time during the ebb and flow of the latter kings. There was an interesting reference to a somewhat parallel story to that of Jesus “He calmed the storm, and the waves grew silent.” The author is not identified in the text.

Interact with the text

Consider

Choices have consequences. Although the Lord God allowed Saul to serve as king for many years his rebellion eventually destroyed him and his family.

Discuss

Why did the Lord God allow David to be tested so severely, along with those around him, for so many years prior to him becoming king?

Reflect

Those around David earned the right to trusted authority and responsibility.

Share

When have you experienced of observed someone being tested by the “fire” of challenging experiences prior to being promoted?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where the Lord God is testing you through challenges, and/or has done so in the past, as preparation for the future.

Act

Today I will celebrate the Lord's preparation of me, even as I remember that during the time of testing I was not happy about it, and I will use that experience to encourage myself as current and future testing (trials) prepare me for the future.

Be Specific ________________________________________________

Monday (2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13-16, Psalms 1-2)

2 Samuel

5:11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. 5:12 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 5:13 David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David. 5:14 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5:15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 5:16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Conflict with the Philistines

5:17 When the Philistines heard that David had been designated king over Israel, they all went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. 5:18 Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 5:19 So David asked the Lord, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to David, “March up, for I will indeed hand the Philistines over to you.”

5:20 So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, “The Lord has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 5:21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men picked them up.

5:22 The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 5:23 So David asked the Lord what he should do. This time the Lord said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. 5:24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 5:25 David did just as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

6:1 David again assembled all the best men in Israel, thirty thousand in number. 6:2 David and all the men who were with him traveled to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. 6:3 They loaded the ark of God on a new cart and carried it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart. 6:4 They brought it with the ark of God up from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Ahio was walking in front of the ark, 6:5 while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before the Lord, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

6:6 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and grabbed hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 6:7 The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him on the spot for his negligence. He died right there beside the ark of God.

6:8 David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day. 6:9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How will the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 6:10 So David was no longer willing to bring the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. David left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 6:11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. The Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his family.

Uzzah Meets Disaster

6:12 David was told, “The Lord has blessed the family of Obed-Edom and everything he owns because of the ark of God.” So David went and joyfully brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David. 6:13 Those who carried the ark of the Lord took six steps and then David sacrificed an ox and a fatling calf. 6:14 Now David, wearing a linen ephod, was dancing with all his strength before the Lord. 6:15 David and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord, shouting and blowing trumpets.

6:16 As the ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him. 6:17 They brought the ark of the Lord and put it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before the Lord. 6:18 When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 6:19 He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. 6:20 When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, Michal, Saul’s daughter, came out to meet him. She said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servants’ slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do!”

6:21 David replied to Michal, “It was before the Lord! I was celebrating before the Lord, who chose me over your father and his entire family and appointed me as leader over the Lord’s people Israel. 6:22 I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this! But with the slave girls whom you mentioned let me be distinguished!” 6:23 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, had no children to the day of her death.

1 Chronicles

13:1 David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred. 13:2 David said to the whole Israelite assembly, “If you so desire and the Lord our God approves, let’s spread the word to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, so they may join us. 13:3 Let’s move the ark of our God back here, for we did not seek his will throughout Saul’s reign.” 13:4 The whole assembly agreed to do this, for the proposal seemed right to all the people. 13:5 So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. 13:6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who sits enthroned between the cherubim – the ark that is called by his name.

13:7 They transported the ark on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart, 13:8 while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before God, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 13:9 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to take hold of the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 13:10 The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him, because he reached out his hand and touched the ark. He died right there before God.

13:11 David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day. 13:12 David was afraid of God that day and said, “How will I ever be able to bring the ark of God up here?” 13:13 So David did not move the ark to the City of David; he left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 13:14 The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom’s house for three months; the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s family and everything that belonged to him.

David’s Prestige Grows

14:1 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him. 14:2 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

14:3 In Jerusalem David married more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. 14:4 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 14:5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 14:6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 14:7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

14:8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of all Israel, all the Philistines marched up to confront him. When David heard about it, he marched out against them. 14:9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim. 14:10 David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!” 14:11 So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, “Using me as his instrument, God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So that place is called Baal Perazim. 14:12 The Philistines left their idols there, so David ordered that they be burned.

14:13 The Philistines again raided the valley. 14:14 So David again asked God what he should do. This time God told him, “Don’t march up after them; circle around them and come against them in front of the trees. 14:15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 14:16 David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.

14:17 So David became famous in all the lands; the Lord caused all the nations to fear him.

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

15:1 David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 15:2 Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually. 15:3 David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the Lord up to the place he had prepared for it. 15:4 David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

15:5 From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives.

15:6 From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives.

15:7 From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.

15:8 From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives.

15:9 From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives.

15:10 From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.

15:11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 15:12 He told them: “You are the leaders of the Levites’ families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it. 15:13 The first time you did not carry it; that is why the Lord God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.” 15:14 The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15:15 The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command.

15:16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully. 15:17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 15:18 along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.

15:19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 15:20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style; 15:21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, as led by the director; 15:22 Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter; 15:23 Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians of the ark; 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark.

15:25 So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration. 15:26 When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 15:27 David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; David also wore a linen ephod. 15:28 All Israel brought up the ark of the Lord’s covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments. 15:29 As the ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him.

David Leads in Worship

16:1 They brought the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. 16:2 When David finished offering burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the Lord’s name. 16:3 He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. 16:4 He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel. 16:5 Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals; 16:6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of God’s covenant.

David Thanks God

16:7 That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord:

16:8 Give thanks to the Lord!

Call on his name!

Make known his accomplishments among the nations!

16:9 Sing to him! Make music to him!

Tell about all his miraculous deeds!

16:10 Boast about his holy name!

Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

16:11 Seek the Lord and the strength he gives!

Seek his presence continually!

16:12 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,

his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,

16:13 O children of Israel, God’s servant,

you descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen ones!

16:14 He is the Lord our God;

he carries out judgment throughout the earth.

16:15 Remember continually his covenantal decree,

the promise he made to a thousand generations –

16:16 the promise he made to Abraham,

the promise he made by oath to Isaac!

16:17 He gave it to Jacob as a decree,

to Israel as a lasting promise,

16:18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

as the portion of your inheritance.”

16:19 When they were few in number,

just a very few, and foreign residents within it,

16:20 they wandered from nation to nation,

and from one kingdom to another.

16:21 He let no one oppress them,

he disciplined kings for their sake,

16:22 saying, “Don’t touch my anointed ones!

Don’t harm my prophets!”

16:23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Announce every day how he delivers!

16:24 Tell the nations about his splendor,

tell all the nations about his miraculous deeds!

16:25 For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise,

he is more awesome than all gods.

16:26 For all the gods of the nations are worthless,

but the Lord made the heavens.

16:27 Majestic splendor emanates from him,

he is the source of strength and joy.

16:28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations,

ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!

16:29 Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves!

Bring an offering and enter his presence!

Worship the Lord in holy attire!

16:30 Tremble before him, all the earth!

The world is established, it cannot be moved.

16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy!

Let the nations say, ‘The Lord reigns!’

16:32 Let the sea and everything in it shout!

Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!

16:33 Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord,

for he comes to judge the earth!

16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good

and his loyal love endures.

16:35 Say this prayer: “Deliver us, O God who delivers us!

Gather us! Rescue us from the nations!

Then we will give thanks to your holy name,

and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.”

16:36 May the Lord God of Israel be praised,

in the future and forevermore.

Then all the people said, “We agree! Praise the Lord!”

David Appoints Worship Leaders

16:37 David left Asaph and his colleagues there before the ark of the Lord’s covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day’s requirements, 16:38 including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers. 16:39 Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served before the Lord’s tabernacle at the worship center in Gibeon, 16:40 regularly offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar for burnt sacrifice, morning and evening, according to what is prescribed in the law of the Lord which he charged Israel to observe. 16:41 Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. (For his loyal love endures!) 16:42 Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance.

16:43 Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family.

Psalm 1

1:1 How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers!

1:2 Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night.

1:3 He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.

1:4 Not so with the wicked!

Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.

1:5 For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.

1:6 Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.

Psalm 2

2:1 Why do the nations rebel?

Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?

2:2 The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king.

2:3 They say, “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us!

Let’s free ourselves from their ropes!”

2:4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them.

2:5 Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying,

2:6 “I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill.”

2:7 The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son! This very day I have become your father!

2:8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property.

2:9 You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter’s jar!’”

2:10 So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!

2:11 Serve the Lord in fear!

Repent in terror!

2:12 Give sincere homage!

Otherwise he will be angry, and you will die because of your behavior, when his anger quickly ignites. How blessed are all who take shelter in him!

Prayer

Lord, Your Word is sovereign and You expect it to be obeyed, the consequence of disobedience is sometimes only discomfort, but result in death. May I be careful to both know and obey Your Word. You have consistently asked us to come before You as children, innocent or presumption or pride. The world does not understand that and never will. May I leave my concerns for worldly approval behind, and only think of You, when I enter into praise and worship of You. Before we step out in Your name we must always consult You first, if we want to be certain we are doing the right thing at the right time in the right way. May I be patient and wise and always consult You in prayer before every decision as all that I am and all that I do belongs to You.

Scripture In Perspective

The Philistines heard that David had united Israel as King so they gathered to attack. David consulted the Lord God Who told him to attack them. He did so and God gave him success against them.

The Philistines regrouped and gathered again to attack. David again consulted God Who told him to come around to the side and that He would attack the Philistines for him. David did so and God caused the Philistines to fall from Gibeon to Gezer, a distance of 25 miles, about halfway from Jerusalem roughly west to Joppa on the Mediterranean Sea.

David gathered 30,000 men and traveled to Judah to retrieve the ark of God for relocation to Jerusalem. As they traveled he and others played instruments and danced in celebration.

David gathered his military leaders and made plans to relocate the ark of God to Jerusalem.

During the process the cart carrying the ark of God was allowed to dip into a rut and the ark threatened to topple. Uzzah, not a priest authorized by the Lord God to have any contact with the ark, reached out to steady the ark and was struck dead – according to the rules God had dictated about the ark.

Uzzah was among those responsible for transporting the ark of God and when the oxen stumbled and the ark was shaken instead of having control via the proper carrying bars he grabbed the actual ark. This was forbidden to anyone other than the High Priest (even then under very rare circumstances) and thus Uzzah was struck dead.

David was upset because Uzzah was his nephew, so he left the ark of God in Nacon (or Kidon) in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The Lord God blessed house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months.

After three months David went to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem, this time obeying the rule of the Lord God, only allowing the Levitical priests to handle the ark.. After the first six steps they offered a sacrifice and following that they brought it triumphantly into the city and placed it in a tent prepared there for it.

The priests and ark were accompanied by the military leaders and led by David, dancing with great joy, as they entered the city. One of David’s wives, Michal – daughter of Saul – saw him and felt humiliated.

Once the ark was safely in Jerusalem David gave thanks to the Lord God with a lengthly prayer and a great time of celebration and worship. Then David returned to his home to bless his family. When David had completed the ceremonies and prayers associated with the ark’s arrival in Jerusalem he went home to bless his household and was greeted by an angry and offended Michal.

Michal, daughter of Saul and one of the wives of David, saw him dancing with joy dressed only in skirt-like clothing and was embarassed. [Michal had been raised in the household of the arrogant, proud, and rebellious King Saul; she would have developed a pompous sense of the conduct of members of royalty and little of placing the Lord God first. Michal had also suffered the indignity of marriage to David, was taken from him by her father and given to another man in marriage, then taken back by force by David. Seeing David in the streets would have made for an easy temptation by the enemy.] She disrepected him for his childlike joy before the God and was made permanently barren by the Lord God as a punishment.

David shared with Nathan the prophet his concern that the ark of God was in a tent while he lived in a palace. Nathan’s first response was that since the Lord God was with him then he should do as he desired.

The Lord God corrected Nathan and instead had him tell David that He had never asked for a building but had traveled with and blessed His people. He promised to bless David and build for him a dynasty, to give a time of peace to Israel, and to make him great among the greatest kings. He also promised to give David a son who would be an even greater king and who would build a house for His name. David’s son would be the first among a permanent dynasty to never be broken, unlike that of Saul’s family.

King Hiram of Tyre offered to assist David with artisans and resources to build a palace.

David’s first Psalm contrasted the righteous with the wicked.

David’s second Psalm challenged the kings of captive nations and sub-groups within Israel, who took the opportunity of the transition of kings from Saul to David to contemplate rebellion, to consider that the Lord God was watching and that it was He who had assembled them together and called David as their king.

Interact with the text

Consider

David was right to desire to transport the ark of God to Jerusalem, and correct to note that during the reign of Saul the Lord had not been consulted, but nothing in the text describes David consulting the priests or the Lord God prior to moving the ark of God.

David was blessed in battle, where Saul was not, because he consulted the Lord God from a pre-existing relationship – not merely on those occasions when he wanted something from Him.

Michal, like her father Saul, appears to have placed the Lord God in a small box that suited her needs and preferences and had no room for variation from that. She sacrificed many potential blessings as a result.

Discuss

Why would David have been so careless as to forget to assign responsibility for the ark of God to the Levitical priesthood on the first occasion? David should have know the regulations of the Lord God relative to contact with the ark of God. Why would David have abandoned the ark for three months, rather than mourning the death of his nephew? Given David’s history as a shepherd boy who both sang songs to the Lord and battled lions with power from Him, then was called to be King but hunted like an animal, and was finally at peace in Jerusalem and blessed by the presence of the Lord God through the ark of God – is it any surprise that he would burst out in exuberant praise?

Reflect

Saul had neglected the centrality of the Lord God and David was attempting to set things right. The Philistines must have sensed a major change in the balance of power with the arrival of David as king. God’s blessings were always conditioned on obedience, no less so for David and Solomon, but for the moment David’s eyes and heart were on Him and so the pathway of blessing through David to the kingdom was clear.

Share

When have you experienced or observed the right thing being done in the wrong way – with at least partially-negative results? When have you realized that you were treating the Lord God like an occasional helper, ignoring Him on a daily basis, then expecting Him to bless you when you call? How was that not working for you? When have you experienced a moment of joy and peace which prompted you to break out in uncommon praise and worship for the Lord God?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of either something of God that has been neglected that you can restore, or something you are doing which appears to be right but which violates the Word of God in some way and to reveal to you some ways that you may improve your relationship with the Lord God. Ask the Holy Spirit to touch your heart in such a way that you will make the God-honoring choices that will lead you to a nearer walk with the Lord God.

Act

Today I will make things right before the Lord God, either restoring something neglected or fixing what I have been doing incorrectly. It may be gathering together in fellowship more consistently, reading His Word and praying more frequently, sharing His truth with people who appear to be open – rather than shrinking from the task for fear of conflict, giving to His ministry, serving in His ministry, avoiding crude and crass joking and language, avoiding situations that tempt me to sin, refraining from gossip or substance abuse, attending worship more concerned about my physical appearance and the approval of man than celebrating the Lord God, etc. I will prayerfully cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He transforms my careless relationship with the Lord God to a rich daily relationship so that He may use me as an instrument of blessings for others. This may include more time in His Word, more time in prayer, more time listening to music where He is glorified, more time in fellowship with others engaged in shared worship and discipleship, more time in evangelistic-missions, and/or more time serving others in His name. I will prayerfully search my life for those places where the Holy Spirit directs me to seek the Lord’s perspectives and His priorities and turn away from those of the world. I will flood my environment with music of praise and of worship and with His Word. I will give to Him more of my creativity, energy, more of my gifts and talents, and more of my time. I will recognize His work in my life and thank Him for that. And I will make more time for praise and worship, alone and with others.

Be Specific _____________________________________________

Tuesday (2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18)

2 Samuel

The Lord Establishes a Covenant with David

7:1 The king settled into his palace, for the Lord gave him relief from all his enemies on all sides. 7:2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent.” 7:3 Nathan replied to the king, “You should go and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.” 7:4 That night the Lord told Nathan, 7:5 “Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in? 7:6 I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent. 7:7 Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?”‘

7:8 “So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you leader of my people Israel. 7:9 I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. 7:10 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed any more. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 7:11 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief from all your enemies. The Lord declares to you that he himself will build a dynastic house for you. 7:12 When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 7:13 He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent. 7:14 I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings. 7:15 But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 7:16 Your house and your kingdom will stand before me permanently; your dynasty will be permanent.’” 7:17 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.

David Offers a Prayer to God

7:18 King David went in, sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point? 7:19 And you didn’t stop there, O Lord God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. Is this your usual way of dealing with men, O Lord God? 7:20 What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, O Lord God! 7:21 For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant. 7:22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true! 7:23 Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation on the earth? Their God went to claim a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land, before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods. 7:24 You made Israel your very own people for all time. You, O Lord, became their God. 7:25 So now, O Lord God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality. Do as you promised, 7:26 so you may gain lasting fame, as people say, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel!’ The dynasty of your servant David will be established before you, 7:27 for you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have told your servant, ‘I will build you a dynastic house.’ That is why your servant has had the courage to pray this prayer to you. 7:28 Now, O sovereign Lord, you are the true God! May your words prove to be true! You have made this good promise to your servant! 7:29 Now be willing to bless your servant’s dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O sovereign Lord, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant’s dynasty be blessed on into the future!”

David Subjugates Nearby Nations

8:1 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah from the Philistines. 8:2 He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third. The Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute. 8:3 David defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish his authority over the Euphrates River. 8:4 David seized from him 1,700 charioteers and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of the chariot horses. 8:5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 8:6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned. 8:7 David took the golden shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. 8:8 From Tebah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities, King David took a great deal of bronze.

8:9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 8:10 he sent his son Joram to King David to extend his best wishes and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Toi had been at war with Hadadezer. He brought with him various items made of silver, gold, and bronze. 8:11 King David dedicated these things to the Lord, along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations that he had subdued, 8:12 including Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amelek. This also included some of the plunder taken from King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah.

8:13 David became famous when he returned from defeating the Arameans in the Valley of Salt, he defeated 18,000 in all. 8:14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned. 8:15 David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.

David’s Cabinet

8:16 Joab son of Zeruiah was general in command of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary; 8:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was scribe; 8:18 Benaiah son of Jehoida supervised the Kerithites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.

1 Chronicles

God Makes a Promise to David

17:1 When David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under a tent.” 17:2 Nathan said to David, “You should do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”

17:3 That night God told Nathan the prophet, 17:4 “Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: “You must not build me a house in which to live. 17:5 For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places. 17:6 Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, ‘Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?’”‘

17:7 “So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord who commands armies says: “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you a leader of my people Israel. 17:8 I was with you wherever you went and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. 17:9 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 17:10 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.

“‘“I declare to you that the Lord will build a dynastic house for you! 17:11 When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 17:12 He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent. 17:13 I will become his father and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you. 17:14 I will put him in permanent charge of my house and my kingdom; his dynasty will be permanent.”‘” 17:15 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.

David Praises God

17:16 David went in, sat before the Lord, and said: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point? 17:17 And you did not stop there, O God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. You have revealed to me what men long to know, O Lord God. 17:18 What more can David say to you? You have honored your servant; you have given your servant special recognition. 17:19 O Lord, for the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing in order to reveal your greatness. 17:20 O Lord, there is none like you; there is no God besides you! What we heard is true! 17:21 And who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation in the earth? Their God went to claim a nation for himself! You made a name for yourself by doing great and awesome deeds when you drove out nations before your people whom you had delivered from the Egyptian empire and its gods. 17:22 You made Israel your very own nation for all time. You, O Lord, became their God. 17:23 So now, O Lord, may the promise you made about your servant and his family become a permanent reality! Do as you promised, 17:24 so it may become a reality and you may gain lasting fame, as people say, ‘The Lord who commands armies is the God of Israel.’ David’s dynasty will be established before you, 17:25 for you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a dynasty for him. That is why your servant has had the courage to pray to you. 17:26 Now, O Lord, you are the true God; you have made this good promise to your servant. 17:27 Now you are willing to bless your servant’s dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O Lord, have blessed it and it will be blessed from now on into the future.”

David Conquers the Neighboring Nations

18:1 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. He took Gath and its surrounding towns away from the Philistines.

18:2 He defeated the Moabites; the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.

18:3 David defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah as far as Hamath, when he went to extend his authority to the Euphrates River. 18:4 David seized from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of Hadadezer’s chariot horses. 18:5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 18:6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned. 18:7 David took the golden shields which Hadadezer’s servants had carried and brought them to Jerusalem. 18:8 From Tibhath and Kun, Hadadezer’s cities, David took a great deal of bronze. (Solomon used it to make the big bronze basin called “The Sea,” the pillars, and other bronze items.

18:9 When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 18:10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to extend his best wishes and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Tou had been at war with Hadadezer. He also sent various items made of gold, silver, and bronze. 18:11 King David dedicated these things to the Lord, along with the silver and gold which he had carried off from all the nations, including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

18:12 Abishai son of Zeruiah killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 18:13 He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned.

David’s Officials

18:14 David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people. 18:15 Joab son of Zeruiah was commanding general of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary; 18:16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe; 18:17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were the king’s leading officials.

Prayer

Lord, You have consistently asked us to come before You as children, innocent of presumption or pride. The world does not understand that and never will. May I leave my concerns for worldly approval behind, and only think of You, when I enter into praise and worship of You. None may stand before Your power, and all must eventually kneel before You. May I be useful in Your service and always humble in submission. You respond to humble obedience with blessings. May I remember to keep my heart humble before You.

Scripture In Perspective

David shared with Nathan the prophet his concern that the ark of God was in a tent while he lived in a palace. Nathan’s first response was that since the Lord God was with him then he should do as he desired.

The Lord God corrected Nathan and instead had him tell David that He had never asked for a building but had traveled with and blessed His people. He promised to bless David and build for him a dynasty, to give a time of peace to Israel, and to make him great among the greatest kings. He also promised to give David a son who would be an even greater king and who would build a house for His name. David’s son would be the first among a permanent dynasty to never be broken, unlike that of Saul’s family.

David prayed to the Lord God from a heart overwhelmed with gratefulness and surprise. He recited God’s blessing of, and faithfulness to, the nation of Israel.

David’s prayer was a little odd as he asked the Lord God to keep his promise of blessing as though God needed his permission or his request – it may have been that David was so emotional that he thought he needed to agree and to ask.

With the power of the Lord God David defeated the enemies of Israel in every direction, he took from them plunder which he dedicated to God, and he made them subjects who paid tribute.

David’s armies conquered enemies all around and received gifts from enemies of his enemies and he joined those with the plunder of war and dedicated it all to the Lord God. Then to keep the peace he appointed his key officials.

Interact With The Text

Consider

David was wise as he stopped to give praise to the Lord God and also gave to Him the first fruits of successful warfare. The two books of Chronicles repeat a great deal of the content of prior text, primarily emphasizing the events rather than other details.

Discuss

Might David have been looking at the example of Saul when he asked God to fulfill His promise to bless his descendants? Why would it be so important to David that his descendants would be royalty?

Reflect

God’s blessings were always conditioned on obedience, no less so for David and Solomon, but for the moment David’s eyes and heart were on Him and so the pathway of blessing through David to the kingdom was clear. An ancient Chinese military general quipped “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” King Toi of Hamath apparently viewed David as such since he had been at war with Hadadezer and David had defeated Hadadezer. Despite the bad decision of the Israelites to demand a mere human king when they had the Lord God as their King the Lord God chose to bless them.

Share

When have you been so emotional in your worship of the Lord God that you found yourself asking Him to do things that He had already said He would do? When have you experienced or observed the Lord God bless someone despite a poor decision?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a place in your life where the promises of the Lord God have been blessedly-fulfilled and to reveal to you a situation where you have made a poor decision but that the Lord God has found a way to bless you, or others through you, despite it.

Act

Today I will gratefully praise and worship the Lord God for all that He has done to fulfill His promises in my life. I will celebrate the Lord God’s redemption of something good despite my poor decision(s). I will share that story with a fellow believer as an encouragement.

Be Specific _________________________________________________

Wednesday (2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19)

2 Samuel

David and the Ammonites

10:1 Later the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him. 10:2 David said, “I will express my loyalty to Hanun son of Nahash just as his father was loyal to me.” So David sent his servants with a message expressing sympathy over his father’s death. When David’s servants entered the land of the Ammonites, 10:3 the Ammonite officials said to their lord Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? No, David has sent his servants to you to get information about the city and spy on it so they can overthrow it!”

10:4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved off half of each one’s beard. He cut the lower part of their robes off so that their buttocks were exposed, and then sent them away. 10:5 Messengers told David what had happened, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown again; then you may come back.”

10:6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, they sent and hired 20,000 foot soldiers from Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah, in addition to 1,000 men from the king of Maacah and 12,000 men from Ish-tob.

10:7 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them. 10:8 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the men from Aram Zobah, Rehob, Ish-tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

10:9 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. 10:10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 10:11 Joab said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, I will come to your rescue. 10:12 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!”

10:13 So Joab and his men marched out to do battle with the Arameans, and they fled before him. 10:14 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before his brother Abishai and went into the city. Joab withdrew from fighting the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.

10:15 When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they consolidated their forces. 10:16 Then Hadadezer sent for Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam. Shobach, the general in command of Hadadezer’s army, led them.

10:17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and came to Helam. The Arameans deployed their forces against David and fought with him. 10:18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach, the general in command of the army, who died there. 10:19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subjects of Israel. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

1 Chronicles

David’s Campaign against the Ammonites

19:1 Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him. 19:2 David said, “I will express my loyalty to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death. When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy, 19:3 the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!” 19:4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved their beards off. He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed and then sent them away. 19:5 Messengers came and told David what had happened to the men, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow again; then you may come back.”

19:6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah. 19:7 They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.

19:8 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them. 19:9 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. 19:10 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. 19:11 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 19:12 Joab said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, I will come to your rescue. 19:13 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!” 19:14 So Joab and his men marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him. 19:15 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab’s brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem.

19:16 When the Arameans realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River, led by Shophach the commanding general of Hadadezer’s army. 19:17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and marched against them. David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him. 19:18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 7,000 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 infantrymen; he also killed Shophach the commanding general. 19:19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

Prayer

Lord, You stand with Your people against enemies but we must never presume that You will overlook our failure to stand righteously before You. May I be attentive to the things You have asked of me so that I am a suitable vessel for Your blessings.

Scripture In Perspective

When Saul was trying to kill David the king of the Ammonites gave him a place to live. When he heard that the king had died David sent messengers to honor the new king.

Advisors to the new king, the dead king’s son, gave him poor advice; they told him that David’s emissaries were spies so they were disrespected and sent home. When David heard he was disgusted.

When they discovered that David was now an angry adversary they panicked and massed for war.

The Ammonites sent soldiers, some their own and many hired as mercenaries from other cities, to attack Israel.

Joab took the army to meet them and when it came time for battle the enemy fled, frightened by the approaching Israelites, then regrouped.

When they returned in greater force (including many Arameans) David led the army against them, thoroughly defeating them so that they surrendered and became subjects of Israel.

Interact With The Text

Consider

The newly-crowned young Ammonite king was badly served by his advisers and should have known that David meant no harm.

Discuss

Given the way that the Lord God had empowered king David to make subjects of many nations around Israel does it not seem strange that the new Ammonite king would risk offending him?

Reflect

It is often true that one may reach out with the hand of peace only to have it slapped away.

Share

When have you, or someone you know, intended to deliver a compliment or a word of encouragement only to have it misinterpreted and confusion or conflict result?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you may be misjudging the intentions of another, or perhaps accepting the wrongful counsel of others as to someone’s intention.

Act

I agree to prayerfully re-evaluate my perspective, confess and repent if I have been hasty and incorrect, request and receive forgiveness (if not from the one offended then from the Lord), and repair my decision-making process.

Be Specific ________________________________________________

Thursday (Psalms 15, 22-24, 47, 68, 89, 96, 100-101, 105, 132)

Psalms

15:1 A psalm of David. Lord, who may be a guest in your home?

Who may live on your holy hill?

15:2 Whoever lives a blameless life, does what is right, and speaks honestly.

15:3 He does not slander, or do harm to others, or insult his neighbor.

15:4 He despises a reprobate, but honors the Lord’s loyal followers. He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise.

15:5 He does not charge interest when he lends his money. He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent. The one who lives like this will never be upended.

22:1 For the music director; according to the tune “Morning Doe;” a psalm of David.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.

22:2 My God, I cry out during the day, but you do not answer, and during the night my prayers do not let up.

22:3 You are holy; you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.

22:4 In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted in you and you rescued them.

22:5 To you they cried out, and they were saved; in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.

22:6 But I am a worm, not a man; people insult me and despise me.

22:7 All who see me taunt me; they mock me and shake their heads.

22:8 They say, “Commit yourself to the Lord!

Let the Lord rescue him!

Let the Lord deliver him, for he delights in him.”

22:9 Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts.

22:10 I have been dependent on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.

22:11 Do not remain far away from me, for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.

22:12 Many bulls surround me; powerful bulls of Bashan hem me in.

22:13 They open their mouths to devour me like a roaring lion that rips its prey.

22:14 My strength drains away like water; all my bones are dislocated; my heart is like wax; it melts away inside me.

22:15 The roof of my mouth is as dry as a piece of pottery; my tongue sticks to my gums. You set me in the dust of death.

22:16 Yes, wild dogs surround me – a gang of evil men crowd around me; like a lion they pin my hands and feet.

22:17 I can count all my bones; my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.

22:18 They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.

22:19 But you, O Lord, do not remain far away!

You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!

22:20 Deliver me from the sword!

Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs!

22:21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lion, and from the horns of the wild oxen!

You have answered me!

22:22 I will declare your name to my countrymen!

In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!

22:23 You loyal followers of the Lord, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him!

22:24 For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed; he did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.

22:25 You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my promises before the Lord’s loyal followers.

22:26 Let the oppressed eat and be filled!

Let those who seek his help praise the Lord!

May you live forever!

22:27 Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him!

Let all the nations worship you!

22:28 For the Lord is king and rules over the nations.

22:29 All of the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship; all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him, including those who cannot preserve their lives.

22:30 A whole generation will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.

22:31 They will come and tell about his saving deeds; they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.

23:1 A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

23:2 He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water.

23:3 He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.

23:4 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

23:5 You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.

23:6 Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

24:1 A psalm of David.

The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it.

24:2 For he set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents.

24:3 Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord?

Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?

24:4 The one whose deeds are blameless and whose motives are pure, who does not lie, or make promises with no intention of keeping them.

24:5 Such godly people are rewarded by the Lord, and vindicated by the God who delivers them.

24:6 Such purity characterizes the people who seek his favor, Jacob’s descendants, who pray to him. (Selah)

24:7 Look up, you gates!

Rise up, you eternal doors!

Then the majestic king will enter!

24:8 Who is this majestic king?

The Lord who is strong and mighty!

The Lord who is mighty in battle!

24:9 Look up, you gates!

Rise up, you eternal doors!

Then the majestic king will enter!

24:10 Who is this majestic king?

The Lord who commands armies!

He is the majestic king! (Selah)

47:1 For the music director; by the Korahites; a psalm. All you nations, clap your hands!

Shout out to God in celebration!

47:2 For the sovereign Lord is awe-inspiring; he is the great king who rules the whole earth!

47:3 He subdued nations beneath us and countries under our feet.

47:4 He picked out for us a special land to be a source of pride for Jacob, whom he loves. (Selah)

47:5 God has ascended his throne amid loud shouts; the Lord has ascended his throne amid the blaring of ram’s horns.

47:6 Sing to God! Sing!

Sing to our king! Sing!

47:7 For God is king of the whole earth!

Sing a well-written song!

47:8 God reigns over the nations!

God sits on his holy throne!

47:9 The nobles of the nations assemble, along with the people of the God of Abraham, for God has authority over the rulers of the earth.

He is highly exalted!

68:1 For the music director; by David, a psalm, a song.

God springs into action!

His enemies scatter; his adversaries run from him.

68:2 As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away.

As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.

68:3 But the godly are happy; they rejoice before God and are overcome with joy.

68:4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!

Exalt the one who rides on the clouds!

For the Lord is his name!

Rejoice before him!

68:5 He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace.

68:6 God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes; he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity. But sinful rebels live in the desert.

68:7 O God, when you lead your people into battle, when you march through the desert, (Selah)

68:8 the earth shakes, yes, the heavens pour down rain before God, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

68:9 O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, you sustain them,

68:10 for you live among them. You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God.

68:11 The Lord speaks; many, many women spread the good news.

68:12 Kings leading armies run away – they run away!

The lovely lady of the house divides up the loot.

68:13 When you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver and with glittering gold.

68:14 When the sovereign judge scatters kings, let it snow on Zalmon!

68:15 The mountain of Bashan is a towering mountain; the mountain of Bashan is a mountain with many peaks.

68:16 Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, at the mountain where God has decided to live?

Indeed the Lord will live there permanently!

68:17 God has countless chariots; they number in the thousands. The Lord comes from Sinai in holy splendor.

68:18 You ascend on high, you have taken many captives. You receive tribute from men, including even sinful rebels.

Indeed the Lord God lives there!

68:19 The Lord deserves praise!

Day after day he carries our burden, the God who delivers us. (Selah)

68:20 Our God is a God who delivers; the Lord, the sovereign Lord, can rescue from death.

68:21 Indeed God strikes the heads of his enemies, the hairy foreheads of those who persist in rebellion.

68:22 The Lord says, “I will retrieve them from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

68:23 so that your feet may stomp in their blood, and your dogs may eat their portion of the enemies’ corpses.”

68:24 They see your processions, O God – the processions of my God, my king, who marches along in holy splendor.

68:25 Singers walk in front; musicians follow playing their stringed instruments, in the midst of young women playing tambourines.

68:26 In your large assemblies praise God, the Lord, in the assemblies of Israel!

68:27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler, and the princes of Judah in their robes, along with the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.

68:28 God has decreed that you will be powerful. O God, you who have acted on our behalf, demonstrate your power,

68:29 as you come out of your temple in Jerusalem!

Kings bring tribute to you.

68:30 Sound your battle cry against the wild beast of the reeds, and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls!

They humble themselves and offer gold and silver as tribute. God scatters the nations that like to do battle.

68:31 They come with red cloth from Egypt, Ethiopia voluntarily offers tribute to God.

68:32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God!

Sing praises to the Lord, (Selah)

68:33 to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times!

Look! He thunders loudly.

68:34 Acknowledge God’s power, his sovereignty over Israel, and the power he reveals in the skies!

68:35 You are awe-inspiring, O God, as you emerge from your holy temple!

It is the God of Israel who gives the people power and strength.

God deserves praise!

89:1 A well-written song by Ethan the Ezrachite.

I will sing continually about the Lord’s faithful deeds; to future generations I will proclaim your faithfulness.

89:2 For I say, “Loyal love is permanently established; in the skies you set up your faithfulness.”

89:3 The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant:

89:4 ‘I will give you an eternal dynasty and establish your throne throughout future generations.’” (Selah)

89:5 O Lord, the heavens praise your amazing deeds, as well as your faithfulness in the angelic assembly.

89:6 For who in the skies can compare to the Lord?

Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings,

89:7 a God who is honored in the great angelic assembly, and more awesome than all who surround him?

89:8 O Lord, sovereign God!

Who is strong like you, O Lord?

Your faithfulness surrounds you.

89:9 You rule over the proud sea. When its waves surge, you calm them.

89:10 You crushed the Proud One and killed it; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.

89:11 The heavens belong to you, as does the earth. You made the world and all it contains.

89:12 You created the north and the south. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.

89:13 Your arm is powerful, your hand strong, your right hand victorious.

89:14 Equity and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loyal love and faithfulness characterize your rule.

89:15 How blessed are the people who worship you!

O Lord, they experience your favor.

89:16 They rejoice in your name all day long, and are vindicated by your justice.

89:17 For you give them splendor and strength. By your favor we are victorious.

89:18 For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

89:19 Then you spoke through a vision to your faithful followers and said: “I have energized a warrior; I have raised up a young man from the people.

89:20 I have discovered David, my servant. With my holy oil I have anointed him as king.

89:21 My hand will support him, and my arm will strengthen him.

89:22 No enemy will be able to exact tribute from him; a violent oppressor will not be able to humiliate him.

89:23 I will crush his enemies before him; I will strike down those who hate him.

89:24 He will experience my faithfulness and loyal love, and by my name he will win victories.

89:25 I will place his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers.

89:26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my father, my God, and the protector who delivers me.’

89:27 I will appoint him to be my firstborn son, the most exalted of the earth’s kings.

89:28 I will always extend my loyal love to him, and my covenant with him is secure.

89:29 I will give him an eternal dynasty, and make his throne as enduring as the skies above.

89:30 If his sons reject my law and disobey my regulations,

89:31 if they break my rules and do not keep my commandments,

89:32 I will punish their rebellion by beating them with a club, their sin by inflicting them with bruises.

89:33 But I will not remove my loyal love from him, nor be unfaithful to my promise.

89:34 I will not break my covenant or go back on what I promised.

89:35 Once and for all I have vowed by my own holiness, I will never deceive David.

89:36 His dynasty will last forever. His throne will endure before me, like the sun,

89:37 it will remain stable, like the moon, his throne will endure like the skies.” (Selah)

89:38 But you have spurned and rejected him; you are angry with your chosen king.

89:39 You have repudiated your covenant with your servant; you have thrown his crown to the ground.

89:40 You have broken down all his walls; you have made his strongholds a heap of ruins.

89:41 All who pass by have robbed him; he has become an object of disdain to his neighbors.

89:42 You have allowed his adversaries to be victorious, and all his enemies to rejoice.

89:43 You turn back his sword from the adversary, and have not sustained him in battle.

89:44 You have brought to an end his splendor, and have knocked his throne to the ground.

89:45 You have cut short his youth, and have covered him with shame. (Selah)

89:46 How long, O Lord, will this last?

Will you remain hidden forever?

Will your anger continue to burn like fire?

89:47 Take note of my brief lifespan!

Why do you make all people so mortal?

89:48 No man can live on without experiencing death, or deliver his life from the power of Sheol. (Selah)

89:49 Where are your earlier faithful deeds, O Lord, the ones performed in accordance with your reliable oath to David?

89:50 Take note, O Lord, of the way your servants are taunted, and of how I must bear so many insults from people!

89:51 Your enemies, O Lord, hurl insults; they insult your chosen king as they dog his footsteps.

89:52 The Lord deserves praise forevermore!

We agree! We agree!

96:1 Sing to the Lord a new song!

Sing to the Lord, all the earth!

96:2 Sing to the Lord! Praise his name!

Announce every day how he delivers!

96:3 Tell the nations about his splendor!

Tell all the nations about his amazing deeds!

96:4 For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise; he is more awesome than all gods.

96:5 For all the gods of the nations are worthless, but the Lord made the sky.

96:6 Majestic splendor emanates from him; his sanctuary is firmly established and beautiful.

96:7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations, ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!

96:8 Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves!

Bring an offering and enter his courts!

96:9 Worship the Lord in holy attire!

Tremble before him, all the earth!

96:10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!

The world is established, it cannot be moved. He judges the nations fairly.”

96:11 Let the sky rejoice, and the earth be happy!

Let the sea and everything in it shout!

96:12 Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!

Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy

96:13 before the Lord, for he comes!

For he comes to judge the earth!

He judges the world fairly, and the nations in accordance with his justice.

100:1 A thanksgiving psalm.

Shout out praises to the Lord, all the earth!

100:2 Worship the Lord with joy!

Enter his presence with joyful singing!

100:3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!

Give him thanks!

Praise his name!

100:5 For the Lord is good. His loyal love endures, and he is faithful through all generations.

101:1 A psalm of David.

I will sing about loyalty and justice!

To you, O Lord, I will sing praises!

101:2 I will walk in the way of integrity. When will you come to me?

I will conduct my business with integrity in the midst of my palace.

101:3 I will not even consider doing what is dishonest. I hate doing evil; I will have no part of it.

101:4 I will have nothing to do with a perverse person; I will not permit evil.

101:5 I will destroy anyone who slanders his neighbor in secret. I will not tolerate anyone who has a cocky demeanor and an arrogant attitude.

101:6 I will favor the honest people of the land, and allow them to live with me. Those who walk in the way of integrity will attend me.

101:7 Deceitful people will not live in my palace. Liars will not be welcome in my presence.

101:8 Each morning I will destroy all the wicked people in the land, and remove all evildoers from the city of the Lord.

105:1 Give thanks to the Lord!

Call on his name!

Make known his accomplishments among the nations!

105:2 Sing to him!

Make music to him!

Tell about all his miraculous deeds!

105:3 Boast about his holy name!

Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

105:4 Seek the Lord and the strength he gives!

Seek his presence continually!

105:5 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed, his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,

105:6 O children of Abraham, God’s servant, you descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen ones!

105:7 He is the Lord our God; he carries out judgment throughout the earth.

105:8 He always remembers his covenantal decree, the promise he made to a thousand generations –

105:9 the promise he made to Abraham, the promise he made by oath to Isaac!

105:10 He gave it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as a lasting promise,

105:11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”

105:12 When they were few in number, just a very few, and resident aliens within it,

105:13 they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another.

105:14 He let no one oppress them; he disciplined kings for their sake,

105:15 saying, “Don’t touch my chosen ones!

Don’t harm my prophets!”

105:16 He called down a famine upon the earth; he cut off all the food supply.

105:17 He sent a man ahead of them – Joseph was sold as a servant.

105:18 The shackles hurt his feet; his neck was placed in an iron collar,

105:19 until the time when his prediction came true. The Lord’s word proved him right.

105:20 The king authorized his release; the ruler of nations set him free.

105:21 He put him in charge of his palace, and made him manager of all his property,

105:22 giving him authority to imprison his officials and to teach his advisers.

105:23 Israel moved to Egypt; Jacob lived for a time in the land of Ham.

105:24 The Lord made his people very fruitful, and made them more numerous than their enemies.

105:25 He caused them to hate his people, and to mistreat his servants.

105:26 He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.

105:27 They executed his miraculous signs among them, and his amazing deeds in the land of Ham.

105:28 He made it dark; they did not disobey his orders.

105:29 He turned their water into blood, and killed their fish.

105:30 Their land was overrun by frogs, which even got into the rooms of their kings.

105:31 He ordered flies to come; gnats invaded their whole territory.

105:32 He sent hail along with the rain; there was lightning in their land.

105:33 He destroyed their vines and fig trees, and broke the trees throughout their territory.

105:34 He ordered locusts to come, innumerable grasshoppers.

105:35 They ate all the vegetation in their land, and devoured the crops of their fields.

105:36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of their reproductive power.

105:37 He brought his people out enriched with silver and gold; none of his tribes stumbled.

105:38 Egypt was happy when they left, for they were afraid of them.

105:39 He spread out a cloud for a cover, and provided a fire to light up the night.

105:40 They asked for food, and he sent quails; he satisfied them with food from the sky.

105:41 He opened up a rock and water flowed out; a river ran through dry regions.

105:42 Yes, he remembered the sacred promise he made to Abraham his servant.

105:43 When he led his people out, they rejoiced; his chosen ones shouted with joy.

105:44 He handed the territory of nations over to them, and they took possession of what other peoples had produced,

105:45 so that they might keep his commands and obey his laws.

Praise the Lord!

132:1 A song of ascents.

O Lord, for David’s sake remember all his strenuous effort,

132:2 and how he made a vow to the Lord, and swore an oath to the powerful ruler of Jacob.

132:3 He said, “I will not enter my own home, or get into my bed.

132:4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep, or my eyelids to slumber,

132:5 until I find a place for the Lord, a fine dwelling place for the powerful ruler of Jacob.”

132:6 Look, we heard about it in Ephrathah, we found it in the territory of Jaar.

132:7 Let us go to his dwelling place!

Let us worship before his footstool!

132:8 Ascend, O Lord, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength!

132:9 May your priests be clothed with integrity!

May your loyal followers shout for joy!

132:10 For the sake of David, your servant, do not reject your chosen king!

132:11 The Lord made a reliable promise to David; he will not go back on his word. He said, “I will place one of your descendants on your throne.

132:12 If your sons keep my covenant and the rules I teach them, their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”

132:13 Certainly the Lord has chosen Zion; he decided to make it his home.

132:14 He said, “This will be my resting place forever; I will live here, for I have chosen it.

132:15 I will abundantly supply what she needs; I will give her poor all the food they need.

132:16 I will protect her priests, and her godly people will shout exuberantly.

132:17 There I will make David strong; I have determined that my chosen king’s dynasty will continue.

132:18 I will humiliate his enemies, and his crown will shine.

Prayer

Lord, You are the Creator-God, the One and only true-God, and yet You care for the least of Your created humankind. May I rest in the joy that I am loved by You. You want to be our Great Shepherd, the One Who gives us rest because You bring us safety and security in Your love and the promise of our eternity with You. May I rest in You Lord.

Scripture In Perspective

David’s fifteenth Psalm recorded his view of the exclusivity of those permitted into the presence of the Lord; essentially the list was of those who obeyed the Ten Commandments, and based on his prior description of his enemies David saw them as estranged from God.

David’s twenty-second Psalm returned to a cry for the Lord God’s rescue. He remained faithful that God would rescue him but lifted a plea for Him to please hurry.

He observed that those who pursued him mocked his faith in the Lord God, and in so-doing mocked God Himself.

David’s twenty-third Psalm is a celebration and recitation of the Lord God’s nearness, provision, and protection at all times and in all places for those who belong to Him. He used a parallel to sheep, which he knew well from his days as a shepherd, because sheep are very nervous and will only lie down if they feel very safe – which is part of the responsibility of the shepherd.

David’s twenty-fourth Psalm returned to the theme of praise and worship of the Lord God, marveling at His holiness and power, observing the exclusivity of His throne.

David’s forty-seventh Psalm was a praise song to the Lord God.

David’s sixty-fifth Psalm was a praise-song to the Lord God which emphasized His power.

David’s sixty-sixth Psalm was a praise-song to the Lord God which emphasized how He worked in the lives of the people.

David’s sixty-seventh Psalm was a praise song to the Lord God which emphasized His relationship with the nations and their obligation to respond rightly.

David’s sixty-eighth Psalm was a praise-song to the Lord God which emphasized His provision and protection. It included some notable phrases:

“He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows.”

“The Lord speaks; many, many women spread the good news.”

“The lovely lady of the house divides up the loot.”

“... in the midst of young women playing tambourines.”

“There is little Benjamin, their ruler” [NET translators speculate this refers to Saul]

“... the one who rides through the sky from ancient times!” [A history of miracles for His people.]

“Day after day he carries our burden, the God who delivers us.”

A Psalm by the Korahites, specifically Ethan the Ezrachite, numbered eighty-nine began with praise, then contained wisdom about the call of David as king, then turned to a petition for rescue.

Psalm Ninety-Six was a praise-song which contained wisdom “Sing to the Lord a new song!” – which flowed from the assertion that He “... comes to judge the earth! He judges the world fairly, and the nations in accordance with his justice.” The author was not identified.

Psalm One-Hundred was a praise-song which contained wisdom “For the Lord is good. His loyal love endures, and he is faithful through all generations.” The author was not identified.

Psalm One-Hundred and One was a praise-song of David which contained wisdom “I will have nothing to do with a perverse person; I will not permit evil.”

Psalm 105 was for praise-leadership which included wisdom “Seek his presence continually!”; it called the people to remember God’s faithfulness to Israel and to praise Him for that. [The NET translator’s notes record that 1Chron16 contains similar text.] The author was not identified in the text.

Psalm 132 “Ascend, O Lord, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength! May your priests be clothed with integrity! May your loyal followers shout for joy!”

Interact With The Text

Consider

David was again anxious for the Lord God’s rescue, but he continued to be confident in the Lord. David chose to emphasize the important role of women in the Lord God’s service. In the case of the “... young women playing tambourines.” the NET translator’s notes explain that David was referring to the tradition that such would be the practice during a victory parade.

Discuss

Why would David be so offended that those who chased him also ridiculed his faith? Why would David invest so much time in writing songs of praise to the Lord God?

Reflect

The Lord God redeemed David’s time as a shepherd as He taught him to understand his intimate relationship as parallel to the sheep to their earthly shepherd. David made a special effort to remind people of the Lord God’s caring, even specifically listing “the fatherless” and widows.

Share

When have you been troubled yet found rest in the Lord? When have you found it an encouragement to read the Psalms which described the loving care of the Lord God?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you are allowing the troubles of this world to worry you – and then to lead you to a place of rest in Him, and to reveal to you a specific moment in your life where He demonstrated His protection and/or provision for you.

Act

Today I will trust the Lord to be my protector and my provider and I will surrender my fears to Him – allowing Him to give me His peace and His rest. I will make some time to prayerfully reflect on the loving care of the Lord and to give Him praise. I will share that with a fellow believer as an encouragement to them to do the same and as a way to share my joy.

Be Specific _____________________________________________

Friday (Psalms 25, 29, 33, 36, 39)

Psalm 25

25:1 By David. O Lord, I come before you in prayer.

25:2 My God, I trust in you. Please do not let me be humiliated; do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me!

25:3 Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated. Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.

25:4 Make me understand your ways, O Lord!

Teach me your paths!

25:5 Guide me into your truth and teach me. For you are the God who delivers me; on you I rely all day long.

25:6 Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord, for you have always acted in this manner.

25:7 Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts!

Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord!

25:8 The Lord is both kind and fair; that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.

25:9 May he show the humble what is right!

May he teach the humble his way!

25:10 The Lord always proves faithful and reliable to those who follow the demands of his covenant.

25:11 For the sake of your reputation, O Lord, forgive my sin, because it is great.

25:12 The Lord shows his faithful followers the way they should live.

25:13 They experience his favor; their descendants inherit the land.

25:14 The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance, and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.

25:15 I continually look to the Lord for help, for he will free my feet from the enemy’s net.

25:16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and oppressed!

25:17 Deliver me from my distress; rescue me from my suffering!

25:18 See my pain and suffering!

Forgive all my sins!

25:19 Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me; they hate me and want to harm me.

25:20 Protect me and deliver me!

Please do not let me be humiliated, for I have taken shelter in you!

25:21 May integrity and godliness protect me, for I rely on you!

25:22 O God, rescue Israel from all their distress!

Psalm 29

29:1 A psalm of David.

Acknowledge the Lord, you heavenly beings,

acknowledge the Lord’s majesty and power!

29:2 Acknowledge the majesty of the Lord’s reputation!

Worship the Lord in holy attire!

29:3 The Lord’s shout is heard over the water;

the majestic God thunders,

the Lord appears over the surging water.

29:4 The Lord’s shout is powerful,

the Lord’s shout is majestic.

29:5 The Lord’s shout breaks the cedars,

the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

29:6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf

and Sirion like a young ox.

29:7 The Lord’s shout strikes with flaming fire.

29:8 The Lord’s shout shakes the wilderness,

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

29:9 The Lord’s shout bends the large trees

and strips the leaves from the forests.

Everyone in his temple says, “Majestic!”

29:10 The Lord sits enthroned over the engulfing waters,

the Lord sits enthroned as the eternal king.

29:11 The Lord gives his people strength;

the Lord grants his people security.

Psalm 33

33:1 You godly ones, shout for joy because of the Lord!

It is appropriate for the morally upright to offer him praise.

33:2 Give thanks to the Lord with the harp!

Sing to him to the accompaniment of a ten-stringed instrument!

33:3 Sing to him a new song!

Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to him!

33:4 For the Lord’s decrees are just,

and everything he does is fair.

33:5 The Lord promotes equity and justice;

the Lord’s faithfulness extends throughout the earth.

33:6 By the Lord’s decree the heavens were made;

by a mere word from his mouth all the stars in the sky were created.

33:7 He piles up the water of the sea;

he puts the oceans in storehouses.

33:8 Let the whole earth fear the Lord!

Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!

33:9 For he spoke, and it came into existence,

he issued the decree, and it stood firm.

33:10 The Lord frustrates the decisions of the nations;

he nullifies the plans of the peoples.

33:11 The Lord’s decisions stand forever;

his plans abide throughout the ages.

33:12 How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people whom he has chosen to be his special possession.

33:13 The Lord watches from heaven;

he sees all people.

33:14 From the place where he lives he looks carefully

at all the earth’s inhabitants.

33:15 He is the one who forms every human heart,

and takes note of all their actions.

33:16 No king is delivered by his vast army;

a warrior is not saved by his great might.

33:17 A horse disappoints those who trust in it for victory;

despite its great strength, it cannot deliver.

33:18 Look, the Lord takes notice of his loyal followers,

those who wait for him to demonstrate his faithfulness

33:19 by saving their lives from death

and sustaining them during times of famine.

33:20 We wait for the Lord;

he is our deliverer and shield.

33:21 For our hearts rejoice in him,

for we trust in his holy name.

33:22 May we experience your faithfulness, O Lord,

for we wait for you.

Psalm 36

36:1 For the music director; written by the Lord’s servant, David; an oracle.

An evil man is rebellious to the core. He does not fear God,

36:2 for he is too proud to recognize and give up his sin.

36:3 The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right.

36:4 He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil.

36:5 O Lord, your loyal love reaches to the sky; your faithfulness to the clouds.

36:6 Your justice is like the highest mountains, your fairness like the deepest sea; you preserve mankind and the animal kingdom.

36:7 How precious is your loyal love, O God!

The human race finds shelter under your wings.

36:8 They are filled with food from your house, and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies.

36:9 For you are the one who gives and sustains life.

36:10 Extend your loyal love to your faithful followers, and vindicate the morally upright!

36:11 Do not let arrogant men overtake me, or let evil men make me homeless!

36:12 I can see the evildoers! They have fallen!

They have been knocked down and are unable to get up!

Psalm 39

39:1 For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David.

I decided, “I will watch what I say and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. I will put a muzzle over my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”

39:2 I was stone silent; I held back the urge to speak. My frustration grew;

39:3 my anxiety intensified. As I thought about it, I became impatient. Finally I spoke these words:

39:4 “O Lord, help me understand my mortality and the brevity of life!

Let me realize how quickly my life will pass!

39:5 Look, you make my days short-lived, and my life span is nothing from your perspective. Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.

39:6 Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

39:7 But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying?

You are my only hope!

39:8 Deliver me from all my sins of rebellion!

Do not make me the object of fools’ insults!

39:9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth because of what you have done.

39:10 Please stop wounding me!

You have almost beaten me to death!

39:11 You severely discipline people for their sins; like a moth you slowly devour their strength. Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)

39:12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!

Listen to my cry for help!

Do not ignore my sobbing!

For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land; I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were.

39:13 Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy before I pass away.

Prayer

Lord, You are always there, and our praise of You reminds us of Your perfection and power. May I worship the only One worthy of worship and trust the only One worthy of my faith.

Scripture In Perspective

David’s twenty-fifth Psalm represented a return to his cry for help from his enemies. He continued the theme of constant-faith in the Lord God, added a plea for the Lord to teach Him His ways, and asked that the rebellion and sin of his youth not be held against him. He concluded with a plea for the protection of Israel.

David’s twenty-ninth Psalm began with what sounded like an instruction to the angelic beings to acknowledge the Lord but is perhaps best understood as intending to be a statement of fact; that they do acknowledge Him, and that they do so partially in response to what He has done in His Creation.

David’s thirty-third Psalm was a song of praise, it recited His sovereign Creation, His sovereign power over all human activity, and His sovereign care for those whose faith is invested in Him.

David’s thirty-sixth Psalm was a prophesy of the future of the rebellious man.

David’s thirty-ninth Psalm was when David was being disciplined by the Lord God. Interestingly, David described his choice when “... in the presence of evil men” he chose not to respond to them but to instead talk to the Lord.

Interact With The Text

Consider

David’s long-time faith, despite occasional lapses of good judgment in the flesh, prepared him to truth the Lord even in the most difficult of times.

Discuss

Why was it important to David to not only praise the worship of the angelic beings, in the heavenly presence of the Lord God, but to also offer his own reflective praise and worship of the greatness of God?

Reflect

Remembering the future of the rebellious man is a powerful way to remind oneself to be certain of right-standing with the Lord God.

Share

When have you been challenged by condemning-enemies, who didn’t care about you or what you might have to say, and it was your prayer-talk with the Lord that kept you confident and focused on His purposes?

Faith In Action

Pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of His perfect and powerful presence in your life, and that He has a plan for you.

Act

I agree to remember the Lord in praise and worship several times today, I will bring all things – great and small to Him to be tested before I decide or speak, and I will resist failing the test - falling into the temptation to respond to evil with evil.

Be Specific _____________________________________________

Saturday (Psalms 50, 53, 60, 75, 20, 65-67, 69-70)

Psalms

50:1 A psalm by Asaph.

El, God, the Lord speaks, and summons the earth to come from the east and west.

50:2 From Zion, the most beautiful of all places, God comes in splendor.

50:3 Our God approaches and is not silent; consuming fire goes ahead of him and all around him a storm rages.

50:4 He summons the heavens above, as well as the earth, so that he might judge his people.

50:5 He says: “Assemble my covenant people before me, those who ratified a covenant with me by sacrifice!”

50:6 The heavens declare his fairness, for God is judge. (Selah)

50:7 He says: “Listen my people! I am speaking!

Listen Israel! I am accusing you!

I am God, your God!

50:8 I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices, or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.

50:9 I do not need to take a bull from your household or goats from your sheepfolds.

50:10 For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me, as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills.

50:11 I keep track of every bird in the hills, and the insects of the field are mine.

50:12 Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all it contains belong to me.

50:13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls?

Do I drink the blood of goats?

50:14 Present to God a thank-offering!

Repay your vows to the sovereign One!

50:15 Pray to me when you are in trouble!

I will deliver you, and you will honor me!”

50:16 God says this to the evildoer: “How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant?

50:17 For you hate instruction and reject my words.

50:18 When you see a thief, you join him; you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.

50:19 You do damage with words, and use your tongue to deceive.

50:20 You plot against your brother; you slander your own brother.

50:21 When you did these things, I was silent, so you thought I was exactly like you. But now I will condemn you and state my case against you!

50:22 Carefully consider this, you who reject God!

Otherwise I will rip you to shreds and no one will be able to rescue you.

50:23 Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me. To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.”

53:1 For the music director; according to the machalath style; a well-written song by David.

Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.” They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.

53:2 God looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.

53:3 Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

53:4 All those who behave wickedly do not understand – those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to God.

53:5 They are absolutely terrified, even by things that do not normally cause fear. For God annihilates those who attack you. You are able to humiliate them because God has rejected them.

53:6 I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion!

When God restores the well-being of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be happy!

60:1 For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style; a prayer of David written to instruct others. It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram-Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

O God, you have rejected us. You suddenly turned on us in your anger.

Please restore us!

60:2 You made the earth quake; you split it open. Repair its breaches, for it is ready to fall.

60:3 You have made your people experience hard times; you have made us drink intoxicating wine.

60:4 You have given your loyal followers a rallying flag, so that they might seek safety from the bow. (Selah)

60:5 Deliver by your power and answer me, so that the ones you love may be safe.

60:6 God has spoken in his sanctuary: “I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem; the Valley of Succoth I will measure off.

60:7 Gilead belongs to me, as does Manasseh!

Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my royal scepter.

60:8 Moab is my washbasin. I will make Edom serve me. I will shout in triumph over Philistia.”

60:9 Who will lead me into the fortified city?

Who will bring me to Edom?

60:10 Have you not rejected us, O God?

O God, you do not go into battle with our armies.

60:11 Give us help against the enemy, for any help men might offer is futile.

60:12 By God’s power we will conquer; he will trample down our enemies.

75:1 For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a psalm of Asaph; a song.

We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks!

You reveal your presence; people tell about your amazing deeds.

75:2 God says, “At the appointed times, I judge fairly.

75:3 When the earth and all its inhabitants dissolve in fear, I make its pillars secure.” (Selah)

75:4 I say to the proud, “Do not be proud,” and to the wicked, “Do not be so confident of victory!

75:5 Do not be so certain you have won!

Do not speak with your head held so high!

75:6 For victory does not come from the east or west, or from the wilderness.

75:7 For God is the judge!

He brings one down and exalts another.

75:8 For the Lord holds in his hand a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices, and pours it out.

Surely all the wicked of the earth will slurp it up and drink it to its very last drop.”

75:9 As for me, I will continually tell what you have done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob!

75:10 God says, “I will bring down all the power of the wicked; the godly will be victorious.”

20:1 For the music director; a psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble; may the God of Jacob make you secure!

20:2 May he send you help from his temple; from Zion may he give you support!

20:3 May he take notice of your offerings; may he accept your burnt sacrifice! (Selah)

20:4 May he grant your heart’s desire; may he bring all your plans to pass!

20:5 Then we will shout for joy over your victory; we will rejoice in the name of our God!

May the Lord grant all your requests!

20:6 Now I am sure that the Lord will deliver his chosen king; he will intervene for him from his holy heavenly temple, and display his mighty ability to deliver.

20:7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we depend on the Lord our God.

20:8 They will fall down, but we will stand firm.

20:9 The Lord will deliver the king; he will answer us when we call to him for help!

65:1 For the music director; a psalm of David, a song.

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion. Vows made to you are fulfilled.

65:2 You hear prayers; all people approach you.

65:3 Our record of sins overwhelms me, but you forgive our acts of rebellion.

65:4 How blessed is the one whom you choose, and allow to live in your palace courts.

May we be satisfied with the good things of your house – your holy palace.

65:5 You answer our prayers by performing awesome acts of deliverance, O God, our savior. All the ends of the earth trust in you, as well as those living across the wide seas.

65:6 You created the mountains by your power, and demonstrated your strength.

65:7 You calm the raging seas and their roaring waves, as well as the commotion made by the nations.

65:8 Even those living in the most remote areas are awestruck by your acts; you cause those living in the east and west to praise you.

65:9 You visit the earth and give it rain; you make it rich and fertile with overflowing streams full of water. You provide grain for them, for you prepare the earth to yield its crops.

65:10 You saturate its furrows, and soak its plowed ground. With rain showers you soften its soil, and make its crops grow.

65:11 You crown the year with your good blessings, and you leave abundance in your wake.

65:12 The pastures in the wilderness glisten with moisture, and the hills are clothed with joy.

65:13 The meadows are clothed with sheep, and the valleys are covered with grain. They shout joyfully, yes, they sing.

66:1 For the music director; a song, a psalm.

Shout out praise to God, all the earth!

66:2 Sing praises about the majesty of his reputation!

Give him the honor he deserves!

66:3 Say to God:

“How awesome are your deeds!

Because of your great power your enemies cower in fear before you.

66:4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you!

They sing praises to your name!” (Selah)

66:5 Come and witness God’s exploits!

His acts on behalf of people are awesome!

66:6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot.

Let us rejoice in him there!

66:7 He rules by his power forever; he watches the nations. Stubborn rebels should not exalt themselves. (Selah)

66:8 Praise our God, you nations!

Loudly proclaim his praise!

66:9 He preserves our lives and does not allow our feet to slip.

66:10 For you, O God, tested us; you purified us like refined silver.

66:11 You led us into a trap; you caused us to suffer.

66:12 You allowed men to ride over our heads; we passed through fire and water, but you brought us out into a wide open place.

66:13 I will enter your temple with burnt sacrifices; I will fulfill the vows I made to you,

66:14 which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.

66:15 I will offer up to you fattened animals as burnt sacrifices, along with the smell of sacrificial rams. I will offer cattle and goats. (Selah)

66:16 Come! Listen, all you who are loyal to God!

I will declare what he has done for me.

66:17 I cried out to him for help and praised him with my tongue.

66:18 If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

66:19 However, God heard; he listened to my prayer.

66:20 God deserves praise, for he did not reject my prayer or abandon his love for me!

67:1 For the music director; to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm, a song.

May God show us his favor and bless us!

May he smile on us! (Selah)

67:2 Then those living on earth will know what you are like; all nations will know how you deliver your people.

67:3 Let the nations thank you, O God!

Let all the nations thank you!

67:4 Let foreigners rejoice and celebrate!

For you execute justice among the nations, and govern the people living on earth. (Selah)

67:5 Let the nations thank you, O God!

Let all the nations thank you!

67:6 The earth yields its crops.

May God, our God, bless us!

67:7 May God bless us!

Then all the ends of the earth will give him the honor he deserves.

69:1 For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” by David.

Deliver me, O God, for the water has reached my neck.

69:2 I sink into the deep mire where there is no solid ground; I am in deep water, and the current overpowers me.

69:3 I am exhausted from shouting for help; my throat is sore; my eyes grow tired of looking for my God.

69:4 Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head. Those who want to destroy me, my enemies for no reason, outnumber me.

They make me repay what I did not steal!

69:5 O God, you are aware of my foolish sins; my guilt is not hidden from you.

69:6 Let none who rely on you be disgraced because of me,

O sovereign Lord and king!

Let none who seek you be ashamed because of me,

O God of Israel!

69:7 For I suffer humiliation for your sake and am thoroughly disgraced.

69:8 My own brothers treat me like a stranger; they act as if I were a foreigner.

69:9 Certainly zeal for your house consumes me; I endure the insults of those who insult you.

69:10 I weep and refrain from eating food, which causes others to insult me.

69:11 I wear sackcloth and they ridicule me.

69:12 Those who sit at the city gate gossip about me; drunkards mock me in their songs.

69:13 O Lord, may you hear my prayer and be favorably disposed to me!

O God, because of your great loyal love, answer me with your faithful deliverance!

69:14 Rescue me from the mud! Don’t let me sink!

Deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep water!

69:15 Don’t let the current overpower me!

Don’t let the deep swallow me up!

Don’t let the pit devour me!

69:16 Answer me, O Lord, for your loyal love is good!

Because of your great compassion, turn toward me!

69:17 Do not ignore your servant, for I am in trouble! Answer me right away!

69:18 Come near me and redeem me!

Because of my enemies, rescue me!

69:19 You know how I am insulted, humiliated and disgraced; you can see all my enemies.

69:20 Their insults are painful and make me lose heart; I look for sympathy, but receive none, for comforters, but find none.

69:21 They put bitter poison into my food, and to quench my thirst they give me vinegar to drink.

69:22 May their dining table become a trap before them!

May it be a snare for that group of friends!

69:23 May their eyes be blinded!

Make them shake violently!

69:24 Pour out your judgment on them!

May your raging anger overtake them!

69:25 May their camp become desolate, their tents uninhabited!

69:26 For they harass the one whom you discipline; they spread the news about the suffering of those whom you punish.

69:27 Hold them accountable for all their sins!

Do not vindicate them!

69:28 May their names be deleted from the scroll of the living!

Do not let their names be listed with the godly!

69:29 I am oppressed and suffering!

O God, deliver and protect me!

69:30 I will sing praises to God’s name!

I will magnify him as I give him thanks!

69:31 That will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hooves.

69:32 The oppressed look on – let them rejoice!

You who seek God, may you be encouraged!

69:33 For the Lord listens to the needy; he does not despise his captive people.

69:34 Let the heavens and the earth praise him, along with the seas and everything that swims in them!

69:35 For God will deliver Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, and his people will again live in them and possess Zion.

69:36 The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who are loyal to him will live in it.

70:1 For the music director; by David; written to get God’s attention.

O God, please be willing to rescue me!

O Lord, hurry and help me!

70:2 May those who are trying to take my life be embarrassed and ashamed!

May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!

70:3 May those who say, “Aha! Aha!” be driven back and disgraced!

70:4 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!

May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,

“May God be praised!”

70:5 I am oppressed and needy!

O God, hurry to me!

You are my helper and my deliverer!

O Lord, do not delay!

Prayer

Lord, throughout all time You are the sovereign One, all-knowing and all-powerful. May I obey You and praise You so that my life will be in right standing before You and You may use me in Your great plan. One is indeed a fool who declares in his heart that there is no God, and then testifies their foolishness to the world by indulging in unrepentant sin. May I be careful that a pattern of sin in my life not be a testimony to a foolish functional-atheism as to Your concern about any specific sin. As David wrote You are my protector and deliverer and refuge, and You are also the source of both justice and love. May I rest in You, trust in You, follow You, entrust justice to You, and learn about love from You. You are the Creator-God, the One and only true-God, and yet You care for the least of Your created humankind. May I rest in the joy that I am loved by You. Your justice is perfectly balanced with Your mercy. May I not be as impatient with You as was David, but learn from the sharing of his many Psalms of anxious petition. May I rest assured that nothing can touch me if You choose to protect me – and whatever my circumstances You will strengthen and teach me – if I choose to be teachable.

Scripture In Perspective

David’s fiftieth Psalm is a wisdom-song warning that when the Lord God comes He comes in judgment. It was a warning to those who claim to speak for God but whose lives are filled with selfish disobedience. It was both a remembrance of the Lord challenging Israel at the mountain for their rebellion and a prophesy of the final judgment of God.

David’s fifty-third Psalm was a wisdom-song; he declared that a fool says there is no God - and then sins unrepentantly, no one does what is right, and that the Lord God allows such people to be humbled by others.

David’s sixtieth Psalm was his cry to the Lord God to assist his armies – which was answered when Joab was empowered to turn an annihilate over 100,000 Edomites.

Asaph’s Psalm, numbered seventy-five, was a praise and wisdom-song.

David’s twentieth Psalm records his prayer for all of the faithful that the Lord God will meet their needs and answer their other prayers. He included a prayer that the Lord would complete his installation as the king.

David’s sixty-fifth Psalm was a praise-song to the Lord God which emphasized His power.

David’s sixty-sixth Psalm was a praise-song to the Lord God which emphasized how He worked in the lives of the people.

David’s sixty-seventh Psalm was a praise song to the Lord God which emphasized His relationship with the nations and their obligation to respond rightly.

David’s sixty-ninth Psalm was his cry for mercy. He confessed that he had sinned and deserved punishment, and he repented and asked for forgiveness. He was upset that his failure and punishment was giving encouragement to the enemies of the Lord God to slander Him. He also worried that his circumstances would discourage the faithful. He asked the Lord God to right things so that His name would be glorified.

David’s seventieth Psalm was a cry for the Lord God to hurry and rescue him.

Interact With The Text

Consider

David weaves the themes of the Lord God’s character and His action throughout his Psalms. The Lord cleanses and then keeps one from future sin – if we let Him. The powerful thread of praise throughout most of David’s Psalms is a model for health and strength in a corrupt and corrupting world. David chose to emphasize the important role of women in the Lord God’s service. [In the case of the “... young women playing tambourines.” the NET translator’s notes explain that David was referring to the tradition that such would be the practice during a victory parade.] David was always an emotional and impatient personality – and it shows in his wild swings of emotion.

Discuss

How could David be so loquacious in confidence and praise for the Lord God and still plead sometimes as if he were not certain the Lord cared or even noticed his plight? Why would David invest so much time in writing songs of praise to the Lord God? Why would David fear for his life if he truly believed that he was the Lord God’s anointed and that the Lord was sovereign?

Reflect

David appeared to draw again upon his shepherd-days for the concepts of “refuge” and “shelter”. David’s discomfort was amplified because he had experienced great comfort for a time, both spiritually and physically. David made a special effort to remind people of the Lord God’s caring, even specifically listing “the fatherless” and widows. David worried that his errors were having a negative impact on the perceptions of others about the Lord God – and rightly so.

Share

When have you be so troubled that you wondered if the Lord cared or even noticed your plight? When have you gone from comfort to discomfort, either voluntarily (e.g. camping or other unusual environment) or involuntarily (loss of home, moving, etc) and longed for your prior circumstance? When have you found it an encouragement to read the Psalms which described the loving care of the Lord God? When have you struggled and felt impatient with the Lord God to set you free? Did you later, upon reflection, observe that He delayed because He was teaching you?

Faith In Action

Pray

The Lord cleanses and then keeps one from future sin – if we let Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a time and place of greater intimacy with Him, to reveal to you a specific moment in your life where He demonstrated His protection and/or provision for you, and to reveal to you something about your walk that the enemy could use to discourage believers and/or those who are considering-Christ, and encourage those who were already predisposed to oppose the Lord.

Act

Today I will praise the Lord God for his clarity as to my standing before Him, and my dependence upon Him, and then ask Him to cleanse me and keep me clean. I will remember and celebrate my prior moments of exceptional intimacy with the Lord God and then I will assess my circumstances to discover how I might improve my relationship. I will make some time to prayerfully reflect on the loving care of the Lord and to give Him praise. I will share that with a fellow believer as an encouragement to them to do the same and as a way to share my joy. I will confess and repent my poor witness for Christ, I will accept the Lord’s forgiveness, and I will act intentionally to avoid the repetition of that sin. As appropriate I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement and to be my accountability-partner to assist me in remaining free of presenting that poor witness.

Be Specific _________________________________________________

All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org

Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.

Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.

Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.

Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“Genesis 3. Prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in August of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.

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