July 13, 2017
These two verses come from the psalm of thanksgiving that David instructed Asaph and the Levite singers to sing during the procession of the Ark to its new home in Jerusalem. David was not only a good king, he was a good worship service planner.
The first stanza invites all the earth to sing to the Lord. The next instructs his saints to proclaim the gospel (“good news”) every day. The third and fourth stanzas instruct the saints to declare God’s “glory” and “wonders” among every nation and people. Reading this, one can see the continuity of David’s song and Christ’s Great Commission, namely, to “go and make disciples of all nations.”
What a wonderful worship service David planned for the Ark’s arrival in its new home! And what a worship service the Lord plans for us when we arrive home with Him!
July 12, 2017
After Saul died, all Israel came together to make David their king. At this time, David consulted with leaders from every tribe to get their advice about bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and inviting all Israel to gather together for the occasion. The assembly gladly approved the idea. So David invited Israelites from as far South as “Shihor in Egypt” (“Shihor,” meaning “black,” was another name for the Nile River), and as far North as “Hamath” (A city located deep in modern Syria called “Hama”), which at that time was a possession of Israel.
David had the Ark brought from “Kirjath Jearim,” the place where it had rested for 20 years, since its capture and return by the Philistines (1 Sam. 7:1-2). Unlike king Saul, David wanted the Ark nearby, that he might inquire of the Lord, something that Saul had not done.
King David’s first act as king revealed his heart for the Lord and his wisdom for uniting the twelve tribes into one nation.
July 11, 2017
David was God’s man, but he was also a man’s man. There was something about his heart that the Lord would anoint him king. And something about his manner that made men of action want to follow him. He was an amalgamation of such eclectic talent and passion, rarely found in one man. He was both a song-writer and a stone-slinger, a man of words and a man of war, a gentle lover and a giant-killer, a musician and a mighty warrior, he was the shepherd king and even mighty men would follow him anywhere.
David was a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah. The one who would be both Lion of Judah and Lamb of Jehovah. The one who was lifted up on the cross that He might “draw all men” to Himself (John 12:32). Those who follow Him as King are made His “mighty men” and mighty women today.
July 10, 2017
Another way of reading this proverb might be: “A man may have many fair-weathered ‘friends,’ but it is rare to have one who remains for him when trouble comes.”
Such a friend is rare indeed, for he “sticks closer” than his own family. Jesus is such a friend. As He told his disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus demonstrated this love when He died for us on the cross. O, what a Friend we have in Jesus!
July 9, 2017
David wrote this psalm while hiding from Saul’s pursuit. During this time he was being falsely accused by a certain man from Saul’s tribe named, Cush, whom David feared would “tear him like a lion.” In this psalm, David invited the Lord to be both his judge and deliverer. He called on the Lord to defend him. David’s dire condition caused him to pray not only for his situation, but that all wickedness in the world would come to an end.
Have you ever looked around at the world we live in, and prayed that the Lord would bring the “wickedness of the wicked” to an end? Have you ever prayed that the Lord would “establish the just?” Of course, we tend to put others in the first category and ourselves in the “just” one. That’s why God is the only one capable of such a judgment, for He alone can “test the hearts and minds.”
One day, David’s prayer will be answered. The wicked will be judged and their time brought to an end. And the Lord Jesus Christ will establish the just, those who have been made so by believing in His Name. Until then, we can pray as David did, depending on the Lord to be our Savior and Defender.
July 8, 2017
David wrote of a time when he was so distressed in his soul that his nights were filled with groaning and his bed drenched with tears. Whether the occasion was because of his enemies without or of his own sense of guilt within, he described the torment he felt as he cried out for the Lord’s help, yet for a time, heard no response.
Some have described such a time as the “dark night of the soul.” Anyone who has been a believer for any length of time has probably experienced such a “night.” Which is really an indefinite period that can last for days or weeks, or longer, as one’s soul cries out for the Lord’s response. Such a state is intensified, in that night, which was meant for rest, has instead become a time of weariness and groaning. And the bed, which is meant for comfort and relaxation, becomes a place of torture and tears.
David experienced such a time. And certainly, so did Christ, as He cried out to the Father in the garden of Gethsemane. Yet, the Father is not far away. He never leaves, nor forsakes us. David’s sixth psalm closes with confidence that the Lord has heard him in his distress. And we too, can have that confidence. For ultimately, the dark night ends, and a new day dawns, and the Lord answers us in our distress.
July 7, 2017
In the listing of names in the lineage of Judah, the author of 1 Chronicles paused to comment on a man named Jabez.
What can we know about Jabez from these two verses?
1) He was “more honorable” than his brothers.
2) His mother named him, “Jabez,” meaning “to cause pain, grief or sorrow,” because he caused her such pain in childbirth.
3) He was a praying man.
4) He prayed to the “God of Israel,” not a false god.
5) His prayer revealed that he wanted to overcome the name and situation he had been given at birth.
What did Jabez pray?
1) That God would bless him “indeed” (Double use of “barak,” – “blessing” in Hebrew. Literally, that God would “bless bless” me.) Jabez wanted a double blessing!
2) That God would enlarge his “territory” (“coastlines, boundaries”). He wanted God to grow his influence.
3) That the “hand” of God would be with him. He prayed for God’s continual presence on his life.
4) That God would keep him from evil. This request was similar to Christ’s “deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13) request in His teaching prayer.
5) That God would keep him from causing pain. Or that God would keep him from pain (As most translators see it).
And God “granted” his request. Regardless of our situation at birth, or at present, the Lord is ready to hear our prayers. Jabez did not complain, nor blame. He asked God to bless and be with him. And God is always ready to do just that!
July 6, 2017
Some of the same group of Jewish leaders who had accused Jesus before Pontius Pilate, now traveled to Caesarea to bring accusation against the apostle Paul before the Roman governor, Felix. This time, they hired a Roman orator and attorney named Tertullus to represent their case. He began his accusation by complimenting “noble” Felix and the Romans for the Pax Romana that they had brought to Judea. And in contrast, he named Paul, with ad hominem disdain, a “plague,” a pestilence, among the Jews throughout the Roman world. Yet, his climatic charge was that Paul was a “ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,” using the same name that they had given Jesus, namely, Jesus of Nazareth.
The Greek word translated “sect” is the origin of our word for “heresy.” So, the Jews called the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, a heretical sect called “Nazarenes.” Muslims picked up this name and have called Christians by this same name since their invasion of Christian lands in the 7th century. Recently, the Christians in Mosul, Iraq, were labeled with the Arabic letter “nun” (“N” in our alphabet) by members of ISIS to show that they were “Nazarenes,” a name meant to shame them, but instead worn as a mark of faith by those so labeled.
The apostle Paul was essentially marked with the letter “N” for Nazarene. Yet he too, wore it not with shame, but with humble faith in the One who was first called the Nazarene.
July 5, 2017
Ezra, the writer of 1 and 2 Chronicles, began with a lengthy genealogy that began with the first man, Adam. The genealogy continues through chapter nine. Its purpose seems to be to retain a record of all the family lines of Israel, especially that of King David, this need being made more profound by the fall of Israel and Judah and their 70 year captivity in Babylon.
Ezra’s Chronicles began without commentary, just the listing of names. Yet, we are reminded that all people, regardless of race, belong to the human race. And that all of us are descended from Adam, and more specifically from Noah. The careful record-keeping of the ancient Jews made possible the genealogies of Matthew and Luke that show Jesus to be in the physical line of David as prophesied.
We are all children of Adam. And we have all been born with Adam’s sin nature. Yet, Jesus Christ, the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:45-49), makes it possible for us to be born again into God’s family, having our sins forgiven and washed away.
July 4, 2017
After a long and depressing description of Judah’s decline and ultimate fall, the author of 2 Kings offered a glimmer of hope. After thirty-seven years in prison, the deposed king of Judah, Jehoiachin, was released and given a royal pension to live on the rest of his days by Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar. Thus, by God’s grace the seed of David was preserved.