Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 4; 2 Samuel 5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16
Scripture: Today's reading is full of rich truth! Read it all and enjoy the insights that the Spirit will bring to you. I will give a brief overview of the entire reading today.
Observation/Application:
2 Samuel 4 -- "Nothing succeeds like success." As David's success grows and his kingdom is established, some bad actors are attracted to him. Thinking that they can earn points with David, two evil men murder Saul's son Ish-Bosheth in his bed and bring his head to David. Of course, they are wrong and end up dead. Moral: Success will bring greater numbers of followers, but not all that follow the Godly are good. Evil people will attach themselves to successful works of God.
2 Samuel 5 -- David strengthens his hand. We see some of David's military genius. In conquering Jerusalem, he uses the underground water tunnels to gain access. He forms an alliance with King Hiram of Tyre who helps construct a palace for David. David unwisely takes more wives (see yesterday post regarding this subject). This chapter ends with an invasion by the Philistines. We see David's heart toward God as he seeks God's direction regarding a military response. God gives David not only a strategy, but sends an angelic army to fight for Israel! Chalk up another victory for David. Moral of this chapter: David's strengths and weaknesses are in full view. He is a good man with some significant problems. (One of the reasons I regard the Bible to be truthful and accurate is that we are given an unvarnished account of heroes like David. There is no idealized glorification of their lives -- no, we see them portrayed "warts and all" -- as real people with their struggles and battles, victories and defeats. The Bible is the honest to God word of God.)
Psalm 139 -- Some of the most beautiful poetry ever written! I love David's recitation of God's tender and overarching care and power for His children. Moral: God is intricately woven into the fabric of my life, beginning even before I came to be. I am in His care and in His thoughts. I want to think and be like Him.
Matthew 16 -- Jesus encounter with "The Religious" provides the backdrop for His interaction with His disciples. Religious rulers ask Him for a sign from heaven, and He talks to them about the weather and rebukes them for their spiritual insensitivity. He warns the Disciples to stay away from "the leaven of the Pharisees and Saducees" and they think He is talking about bread. Jesus can't believe how thick these guys are and He derides them for worrying about bread in light of their two experiences watching Jesus multiply bread to feed thousands! He elicits the great Confession of faith from Peter calling Him "the rock", and shortly thereafter, harshly rebukes Peter calling Him "Satan!" Moral: Even the original Disciples had a hard time understanding what was going on. Should we be surprised to see spiritual confusion around us or even within ourselves? No. Moral #2: People can do something very great one minute and something very bad the next. And just because a person has great insight on one truth doesn't mean he's got all truth figured out. Don't trust in people, trust in God.
Prayer: Lord, we do trust in You. We know You will never leave us nor forsake us. I thank You that You love me so much as we read this morning: "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17) May we abide and thrive in the center of Your love and power.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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