Today, we will look at a passage where King David was having some rough times. He fled from Jerusalem because his son Absalom was trying to kill him. Imagine that! That must be a difficult situation to be in.  Read More

We’ve all felt at one time or another what David is expressing in these Psalms: Questions, Hurt, Ridicule, Sadness. Psalm 3: Morning Prayer of Trust in God But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the one who lifts my head. I was crying to the Lord with my voice and He answered me from his holy mountain. Arise, O Lord: save me, O my God! Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be upon your people.  Read More

These chapters of 2 Samuel are difficult to read. The focus will be on 2 Samuel 15. There is a commentary that explains some extremely interesting parallels between Jesus and David. Although I know we are supposed to write the devotional, it just can’t be written & explained better than this Verse by Verse Ministries, International study. We all know that David is used in Scripture as a picture of Christ, and this scene is one of the most powerful comparisons. David’s flight from the city is a picture of Jesus’ departure from Jerusalem and from Israel after His first coming.  Read More

We all have messed up, whether in word or deed. We wish we could have a retake of what was said or done. But it is too late, damage has been done, opportunity missed. Psalm 32 is a powerful passage that highlights the joy of forgiveness, the necessity of confession, and the guidance of God. Confession leads to freedom, and trusting in God brings peace.   Read More

Chapter 11 tells the story of David and his lust for Bathsheba. He then arranges to have her husband killed. The last sentence of this chapter ends with “But the Lord was displeased with what David had done”.  Read More

In the Psalm 69 we find David pleading to God to save him from his many enemies and those who would destroy him and the people of Isreal. He feels as if he is drowning under the weight of his many troubles and conflicts. He is also asking God to bring his wrath down on his enemies and punish them in the worst way.  Read More

In 2 Samuel chapter 10 verses 1 and 2 we see Nahash the king of the amorites has died and his son Hanun become king. We see King David had a heart to show kindness to Hanun as his father had showed kindness to David. However Hanun did not receive David's heart of kindness as what it was. And he returned to David and his men evil for the good David was trying to do.  Read More

“Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.” PS 50:22-23 NIV  Read More

I once went to a Rockets game and didn't realize how great the seats were, until we arrived. What I remember most about the game was actually the halftime show. It was one of those artists who shows up with a large empty canvas, board, wall, etc. and doesn't tell you what he is going to do. You are forced to use your own imagination as he begins to shape and create a picture. Your mind goes a million different directions as you try and figure out what he is creating. Once you begin to see, you are blown away at the imagination, the creativeness, and the sharp eye that it takes to forge such beauty.   Read More

Psalm 25 is a heartfelt prayer of David, expressing trust in God, a plea for guidance, and a request for forgiveness. It resonates deeply with those seeking divine direction and mercy in times of uncertainty.  Read More

God specified that the ark was to be carried by poles that would be placed through rings that were attached to the four corners of the ark (Exo. 25:13-14). Levites, it would be the job of the sons of Kohath to bear the ark and that no one was to touch the ark, not even the sons of Kohath, the result of doing so was to die (Num. 4:15). We want God's presence with us but we have to honor his holiness and commands. Uzzah’s death showed that he disregarded God’s commands and it came with consequences.  Read More

Scripture to Focus on: Real Life Principles Psalm 89:1 – “I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 96:3 – “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Psalm 100:4-5 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever.” Psalm 101:2 – “I will walk with integrity of heart within my house.” Psalm 105:5 – “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” Psalm 132:11 – “The LORD has sworn an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke.  Read More

Psalms 23 is one of the most popular psalms, the one that is quoted frequently due to its comforting imagery of God as our shepherd. For many the imagery allows us to walk through the scene David put before us. A scene of tranquility such as green pastures and still waters. When feeling anxious or unrest this is the psalm to turn to. The psalm is simple but offers solace in times of hardship and celebrates Gods unwavering love. Psalms 23 is often used at both weddings and funerals making it a psalm for all occasions. Its message about Gods love, care and provision make it comforting for all who read it. Psalms 23 is written by David who expresses his deep faith in Gods provision, protection, presence and guidance. It uses the imagery of a shepherd and lambs to show us Gods love and guidance.  Read More

David is King! All of Israel is rejoicing with him and feasts have been celebrated in his honor! And then: well, it does not take long for David to get served some humble pie…sadly at the expense of Uzzah. “Who is Uzzah,” you ask. (Strictly my opinion here) He was an “innocent” man driving a cart of oxen to bring the Ark of The Covenant into Israel, and we find he fell victim to breaking one of God’s rules about the Ark. He touched it quite innocently in an attempt to stabilize it. He was here, he touched it, then he was dead! We can all read this and think, “Well that was harsh!” We must ask ourselves who put him in that situation though. You see in Chapter 13, David consults all the people (not God) for advice on this, so it was doomed from the start. Our God that put him where He needed him was not sought outright on the Ark being moved.  Read More

Are you proud of your children? Your Grandchildren? We used to pull pictures out of our wallets to show everyone. Now we pull out our cell phones. We have thousands of pictures and even videos. We are quick and loud to tell others about their latest and greatest accomplishments. Why aren’t we that way about our Jesus? Are we embarrassed? Ashamed? All throughout the bible, we see examples where believers spoke of the miracles of God or Jesus and were ridiculed, laughed at, and some were even exiled from their family or even stoned.   Read More

When I was a teenager, me and a buddy of mine were out one Saturday afternoon riding around in my dad’s old 1946 Willis Jeep. We were miles away from home on some old backwoods’ trails, testing the old jeep for its ability to off-road, when something happened to the engine, and it overheated. As we investigated, we found that the belt that ran the water pump had broken and was completely missing. In that day, there were no cell phones to call for help with. We were tasked with figuring it out or walk for miles. We came up with a crazy idea! We took the shoestrings out of our shoes, doubled them, tripled them, quadrupled them, and fashioned a makeshift fan belt. Believe it or not that that creation made it all the way home with no problem! There was no way that one shoestring would have done it alone but with all of them together it was plenty strong. Psalm 133 is all about how God’s people are blessed when we are in unity with one another. We are stronger together than we are as individuals. Just like those shoestrings working together, we are sufficient when together and weaker when alone. King David realizes this as he writes this song of ascents.  Read More

2 Samuel 5 recounts pivotal moments in King David's reign. It begins with all the tribes of Israel coming to David at Hebron, where they anoint him as king over Israel.   Read More

This psalm is unique in that no author is listed, and there are no historical or liturgical notes that accompany it. It is believed that early Christians used this penitential prayer in worship. The psalm’s superscription reads, “A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament (Hebrew- complaint) before the Lord.” NIV version.  Read More

The passage for today’s devotion is a list of names of the tribes of Israel and their descendants. It’s a hard passage to unfold when you only have names, however, I once had a professor who told me that even in those passages, God has a purpose.  Read More

I have often heard that the Bible is a “love letter” from God. The book of Psalms is a collection of prayers, songs, and lamentations, all (in some way) in reverence to God. In these few chapters we cover today, we see a collection of palms that to me depict what many of us experience in life today, especially in my own personal story/testimony. In Psalm 81, the author is communicating a remembrance to the reader of God freeing them from the hand of Pharaoh. God heard their call, freed them, and then we see they forgot about what He had done…they turned to other gods, and the Psalm depicts that God is there waiting for them to find their way back to Him.   Read More

1 Chronicles 6 focuses on the genealogy of Levi. His descendants and famous figures like Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. This chapter also details the Levites who were temple Musicians, highlighting God is into music and singing. It highlights the holy responsibilities, sacrifices, offerings, and upkeep of the temple. The service and role in the cities of refuge or sanctuary cities.  Read More

1. The Struggle with Comparison and Doubt (Psalm 73) Asaph begins Psalm 73 with raw honesty: “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold” (Psalm 73:2). He had watched the wicked prosper, and it seemed like their lives were easier—no pain, no struggle, just success. And yet, as he compared himself to them, he felt discouraged, like all his efforts to live righteously were in vain.?  Read More

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 introduces us to Jabez, a man described as "more honorable than his brothers." Despite the pain associated with his name, Jabez turned to God in prayer, asking for blessing, protection, and expansion of his territory. His prayer reflects a deep trust in God's provision and sovereignty.  Read More

How many times will the Lord forgive you? How many times HAS the Lord forgiven you? How many times will the Lord forgive you? How many times HAS the Lord forgiven you? When I worked in the Water Works business, we had to collect water samples and test for a bacteria called coliform. If there was a bad sample, due to collecting it wrong or accidental contamination, the lab would send a report back requesting a re-sample, and the report would be stamped “TMTC”: Too Many To Count (coliforms). After 430 years, God set the Israelites free from Egypt (Exodus 12:43). He promised them freedom and a promised land. The Journey would be long, but necessary to relearn God’s Laws and rekindle their relationship with God. But, impatience, selfishness, greed, would constantly get in the way.  Read More