From: May 21, 2024
“Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep” (1 Samuel 30:4 ESV).
In the time when David was on the run from King Saul, he allied himself with King Achish of the Philistines. Yet, on the eve before they went into battle against Israel, the other Philistine kings insisted that David and his men be sent away. In this God protected David. For the Philistines defeated Israel and killed Saul and his three sons. How different the story of David would’ve been if he had been an accessory to Saul’s defeat and death.
However, God wasn’t finished with David. For on the way back from the camp of the Philistines, they found that the Amalekites had raided their home, burned it to the ground, and carried off all of their women, children and possessions. The men were so bitter that some talked of stoning David. Yet, David encouraged himself in the Lord and sought guidance from God. And the Lord answered him and gave him victory over the Amalekites, recovering all their families and possessions. In this, the Lord corrected David for losing his way and almost allying with Israel’s arch enemies.
Have you ever been protected from the consequences of your own bad judgment, while at the same time being corrected for it? What grace God showed David. Both protecting and correcting him as a son.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, how many times have You prevented us from getting what we want because You were protecting us from its dire consequences? Thank You. And thank You for the many times that You have gently corrected us without destroying us. Your discipline is loving and accomplishes Your purpose in us. We trust You Lord. Have Your way with us today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 21, 2023
“But David found strength in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6 NLT).
When David and his 600 men returned to their hometown of Ziklag, they found it burning and their families taken captive by the Amalekites. David and his troops wept loudly until they were without strength. His men were so distraught that they even spoke of stoning David. Yet David, when he had no one else to turn to, “found strength in the LORD his God.” Or as the KJV translates it, “but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”
What do you do in times of trial, especially when others seem to have turned against you? Where do you go for help? David turned to the Lord. He knew how to encourage himself in God. As he wrote in today’s psalm reading, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Psa. 118:8).
Do you know this spiritual discipline? Have you learned to encourage yourself in the Lord? Instead of medicating the pain or commiserating with others, David sought help from the Lord and found strength and encouragement for his soul.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we turn to You for our strength and encouragement today. For You are always faithful. You are our refuge and our strength! Therefore, we trust everything to You. Now lead us and strengthen us by Your Spirit this day we pray. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 21, 2022
CHRIST IS OUR PURIFICATION
Over 100 purification pools or “mikvehs” have been discovered in the ruins surrounding the Temple Mount. The Jewish pilgrims who came from all over the Roman Empire for Passover would arrive early to bathe in one of these mikvehs, cleansing themselves and putting on clean clothes before entering the Temple. Yet, the Passover week that John wrote of would change everything. For by the end of that week, Jesus would offer His blood for the purification of sin to all those who would believe.
As we read in the book of Hebrews, “Dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:19-22).
The Temple rituals and holy days of the Old Testament all have their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. Both the mikveh and the Passover point to Him. Jesus is our purification. Jesus is our great High Priest who makes us right before a holy God, so that we might enter boldly into His presence.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank you for Jesus. For He is the One who has paid for our sins and purified us by His blood. Now help us to live holy lives that give glory to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 21, 2016
A good reminder during a political year.
From: May 21, 2015
When David and his 600 men returned to their town of Ziklag, they found it burning and their families taken captive by the Amalekites. They were so distraught that they spoke of stoning David. What do you do in times of trial or when others turn against you? Where do you turn for help? David turned to the Lord. He knew how to encourage himself in God. Do you know this spiritual discipline? Instead of medicating the pain or commiserating with others, David sought help from the Lord and found it.
From: May 21, 2014
This was Jesus’ reply to Judas when he accused Mary of wasting an expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet that could have been sold to help the poor. Judas sounded pious as he judged Mary’s offering as wasteful. Yet, Jesus knew their hearts. He accepted Mary’s offering as appropriate worship from a pure heart. But he rebuked Judas knowing his was the heart of a thief and a betrayer. Jesus commented that the poor would “always” be around, but that this opportunity to worship Jesus would not. Poverty is the result of sin in this world. No amount of money can completely eradicate poverty. Yet, no one who has received the treasure of God’s Son can ever be poor again.