Purpose - Day 26

I Kings 16:21 - II Kings 4:37

          Elijah the Prophet. The way I imagine him is strong, no nonsense, and authoritative. When he prays in front of 400 plus prophets of Baal, he meant business.

"And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again."

I Kings 18:36-37

          I bet the prophets and on lookers just snickered at Elijah. Their hearts were not going to turn towards the Lord. What was Elijah thinking?

          But when that fire came down from heaven after just one small prayer, yep, they turned towards God.

"And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God." I Kings 18:39

          God used Elijah in mighty ways, however, God still wanted Elijah to know what his purpose was in life.

"And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"  I Kings 19:13 

           I want God to use me. I may not know specifically what God is doing in my life but I need to have a purpose and a plan to keep me focused. What is your purpose?



Gladness - Day 25

I Kings 7:38 - I Kings 16:20

          Solomon gets the Lord's temple built. Israel worships the Lord. They worship for days. They had gladness and joy.

"On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people."  I Kings 8:66

         When people from other parts of the world come to see what is going on in Israel, they are amazed at the difference in Solomon's servants. They were happy.

"Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom." I Kings 10:8

          Then things change. Solomon goes after strange women, which turn his heart away from the Lord.



"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father." I Kings 11:4

        You do not read of gladness, joy or happiness again.

  "So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day"

I Kings 12:19

          When we obey the Lord and do right, that is where we will find happiness. There is joy when we obey. There are rewards for obedience and they are consequences when we disobey.

Valuable - Day 24

II Samuel 22:19 - I Kings 7:37

          The Bible is full of so many great and wonderful things. It shows God's plan for kingdoms, nations, and mankind. So when God takes the time to describe a single person, we might want to take a note of it.

          God describes King David.

"Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel,..." II Samuel 23:1

            God describes King Solomon.

"And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places." I kings 3:3

          God describes Zabud.

"...and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:" I Kings 4:5b

           God describes Hiram King of Tyre.

"And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David." I Kings 5:1

            Who is Zabud? Amongst all these great men of God, God takes the time to describe Zabud.

          Everyone is important. Everyone deserves our kindness and respect. No one is insignificant to God. 

Prayer - Day 23

II Samuel 12:11- II Samuel 22:18

          We start this reading out with David's family having some sever problems. But David did not take any of these situations to the Lord.

          David does go to the Lord when it comes to preserving his Kingdom.

"And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." II Samuel 15:31

          David waited three years before he went to God about the famine in the land.

"Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites." II Samuel 21:1

          Chapter 22 is a song written by David to the Lord.

          Did David think that some problems did not need to be taken before the Lord? Maybe David thought he could handle family problems but when it came to the kingdom, those types of things, he needed to take to the Lord.

          David chose not to go to the Lord about the famine for three years. Why did he wait so long? Why did it have to get so bad to get him to inquire of the Lord about it?

          I have learned I need to take everything to the Lord. I am not going to make good decisions until I seek God first. Why should I wait for things to get worse? I need to take everything to the Lord in prayer.

Death - Day 22

I Samuel 28:20 - II Samuel 12:10

          Quite a bit of killing in this section of reading. All for what seemed to be good intentions.

          The killing of Saul and Jonathan was supposed to please David and it did not. The killing of Ishobosheth was supposed to please David and it did not.

          David's wives get taken and David turns to the Lord.

"And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." I Samuel 30:5-6

          The Philistines hear that David is King of Israel and come down to fight him. David turns to the Lord.

"But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand." II Samuel 5:17 &19

         

          David takes Bathsheba and has Uriah killed. The Lord comes to David.

"And the Lord sent Nathan unto David." II Samuel 12:1a

            I need to learn that as a Christian I am not going to get away with things like other people may seem to get away with things. All this killing going around and it seems as if the Lord is just watching from the sidelines. Then David kills an innocent man and here comes the Lord. As God's child were are not going to get away with it because God loves us and wants to use us for his glory.

          Consequently, no one ever really gets away with sin anyways.

Trust - Day 21

I Samuel 16:1 - I Samuel 28:19



          Saul allowed his emotions to rule his conduct. He had anger and jealousy towards David.

"And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod."

I Samuel 23:9

          David realizes what Saul has planned for him which makes him turn towards God.

"Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. 

 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down." 

I Samuel 23:10-11

          When the prophet Samuel dies, that throws off Samuel even more. Saul still does not turn to God. He disguises himself and seeks after a witch.

          "And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee."

I Samuel 28:8

          Take note that Saul does not sin alone. He took two men with him.

          David was not a perfect man but he keeps turning to God for help. Saul turned to a man and when that man died he turned to a witch.

          I need to keep my sights and my heart close to God. I need to look towards the Lord for answers and guidance in my life. I have children that will watch and follow the directions I take as things go good and bad in my life. Am I showing them to turn towards the Lord or am I showing them to depend on man?



God's Way - Day 20

I Samuel 2:30 - I Samuel 15:35

          The prophet Samuel is trying to get Israel to do right but they had a desire and they were not going to be moved from it. They wanted a king.

"And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."

I Samuel 8:7

          Israel got her wish. God allowed then to pick their own king and his name was Saul.

"When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff."  I Samuel 10:21-22

          Even after they got their own way, they still did not obey the Lord and neither did Saul. Even so, Samuel persisted on doing right.

"Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:" I Samuel 12:23

           I have learned that I will not be happy unless I am doing it God's way. Even when others around me choose a different path. I need to keep following God.