The purpose of 2nd Samuel is to record the history of David’s reign; to demonstrate effective leadership under God; to show the qualities that please God; to depict David as an ideal leader of an imperfect kingdom and to foreshadow Christ, who will be the ideal leader of a perfect kingdom.
On Monday, we learn fr 2 Sam 1/2 that God Gives the Direction. On Tue, we learn from 2Sam 5/7 to Do God’s Will In His Terms. On Wed, we learn from 2Sam 8-10 to Coperate with God To Succeed. On Thu, we learn from 2Sam 12 that God Sends Someone to Tell. On Friday, we learn fr 2Sam 15 that God Cares about our Challenges. On Sat, we learn from 2Sam 22 that God Secures & Strengthens.
Let us humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. Help us O God be Christ’s disciples who Hear You: For God Gives us Direction and You Send Someone to Tell us; For Cooperate with God to succeed and to Do God’s Will in His Terms; For God Cares for our Challenges and that He Secures & Strengthens. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
The last four chapters of 2 Samuel form an appendix to the main body of the book and includes a beautiful psalm of deliverance, a listing of David’s mighty men of valour, a sinful census and the severe punishment that followed. The closing paragraph of the book portrays David in his natural posture: worshipping the Lord in humility.
Lord, You will make me Secure: Lord, we Praise You for being Our Strength and Our Rock: For who is God except the Lord? And who is a rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength & keep my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights (2 Sam 22:32-34). Blessed be The Rock of my salvation! He delivers me and lifts me up above those who rise against me (v47-48). He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me… Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord & sing praises to Your name (v49-50).
Lord, some challenges we face in life can make us feel insecure. Our fears tell us that if we take a wrong step, we’ll fall into danger. David used the feet of the nimble deer as a reminder of the strength and assurance God provides. Lord, in Your grace exchange our slippery feet for the deerlike feet of the overcomer. And we will give You all the glory. Amen.
Lord, thank You for Your offer to arm us with strength and offer to help us stand Secure. l crave for these Your assurances and appropriate them by faith. Please put a spring in my step like the deer as I follow where You lead and do what I may think is impossible. For apart from You God, I can do nothing; but with God nothing is impossible.Amen
Lord, thank You for providing stability and for being our rock, and the God of our salvation.I may enter each day with the intention to trust in Your great power. Yet when the winds blow and the waves rise, I may forget to look at You. Forgive me each time I have not sought refuge in You. As my rock, be my stability when things are not stable. Help me focus on You my solid rock! Amen.
Today’s reading describes the fulfilment of Nathan’s prophetic judgment on David. While his own transgression was done in secret, the shame & murder within his own family circle would be done before all Israel. But the greatest headache would be the rebellious attempt by Absalom to usurp his father’s throne David’s faith in God never diminish, though severely tested. Driven from Jerusalem and disgraced by his son, David is restored eventually, though at heavy personal and national cost.
Lord, we Entrust our future to You: (Absalom) got up every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. Then Absalom would say: You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t hv anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel (2 Sam 15:2-6). A messenger came and told David: The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom. Then David said to all his officials… Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom (v13-14). They set down the ark of God and Abiathar offered sacrifices… Then the king said to Zadok: Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favour in the Lord’s eyes, He will bring me back. But if He says: I am not pleased with you… let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him (v24-26).
Lord, all scripture is profitable for instruction in righteousness; including obscure passages related to the judgment on King David. Help us Lord to do the right thing in difficult & challenging situations. Help us to entrust our future to You help us to be Guided by Your Law. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Lord of Justice, we realize that there is much pressure to conform to the world in its ways and values. Rather than trying to be popular, guide our life Lord by the moral principles given in God’s Word. For You who never change will stand for justice, You know the ways of evil men & know what is best for us. We entrust our future to You. Amen.
Lord, let us follow the example of David when life’s broken & dreams shattered, he still worshipped You. Help us when the future is uncertain to entrust ourselves to Your hands. Help us to trust that when we protect Your honour and seek Your kingdom and righteousness, You will provide all that we need. Help us to depend solely on You for deliverance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
At a time when David should have been on the field of battle, he finds himself instead on the roof of the palace. A casual glance, a lustful thought, an inquiry and the king of Israel set in motion a chain of events that culminates in adultery and murder. God then Sends Nathan To David to uncover the whole ugly scheme; and David Repents & Receives Forgiveness.
Lord, we Seek Your Forgiveness: The Lord sent Nathan to David… David’s anger was greatly aroused… and he said to Nathan: the man who has done this shall surely die! Then Nathan said to David: You are the man… Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight… So David said: I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David: The Lord also has Put Away your sin; you shall not die (2Sam 12:1-13). But because by this deed you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you shall surely die… David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted & lay all night on the ground… Then on the seventh day… the child died… So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and went into the house of the Lord & worshiped. Then he ate (v14-20).
Lord, grateful for Your tender mercies and forgiving spirit. You put away David’s sin & spare his life despite serious transgressions including adultery, false witness, abusing of power and murder. We purpose that when we fall into sin, that we will not hide but come to You in repentance that we may receive mercy. Amen.
Gracious Lord, have mercy upon me; blot out my transgressions; and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Against You have I sinned & done this unrighteousness in Your sight. Create in me a clean heart O God & renew steadfast spirit within me. And restore to me the joy of Your salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord, here is an instance where You denied a prayer in wisdom. David’s request for the child of his shame was denied in mercy and judgment, for the child would have been a perpetual reminder of his sin. When the child was dead, David humbled himself under the presence of a holy God, and rested grateful with His grace for him.Amen
Once the internal opposition against his rule has been silenced, David is free to secure his new kingdom against foreign invasion. In quick succession the Moabites, Syrians, Edomites and Ammonites fall to David’s troops, causing the other neighbouring powers to surrender without a fight. Extensive new territories are added to David’s kingdom. But David nurses no spirit of revenge, as evidence in his dealings with Mephibosheth.
Lord, we’ll Show Justice & Kindness: And David made himself a name when he returned from killing 18,000 Syrians… Throughout all Edom he put garrisons… And the Lord preserved David wherever he went. So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his pple(2Sam8:13-15) One day David began wondering if anyone in Saul’s family was still alive, for he had promised Jonathan that he would show kindness to them. He summoned Ziba, who had been Saul’s servant… The king asked Ziba: Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness(2Sam 9:1-3) When Joab saw that he would have to fight on both the front & the rear, he Choose Some Israel’s elite troops and placed them under his personal command to fight the Arameans… He Left The Rest of the army under the command of his brother Abishai, who was to attack the Ammonites. Joab told his brother: if Arameans are too strong for me,come help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you… Let Us Fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord’s Will Be Done (2 Sam 10:9-12)
Lord, You are a just God and You want us to show justice to everyone like what David did in his country. Help us Lord when we are placed in a leadership position, that we will be fair to everyone. Help us not show favouritism to people who have similar opinions or similar backgrounds to ourselves. Help us to defend and care for especially the disadvantaged, the weak and the downtrodden. Amen.
Lord, bring to my remembrance people I have forgotten and those You want me to show kindness. Help me be generous to others; for one kind act can lift up a person and strengthen his faith. When I make a commitment to someone, help me fulfil it quickly so that I don’t forget to do it. Remind me Lord that You never fail to fulfil Your promises. Amen.
Lord, we need to keep our actions and our faith in You God in balance. For we know that You expect us to use our minds and muscles even while we depend on You for help. Help us learn on the fair sharing of resources in doing Your work. We purpose to obey God, trusting You for the outcome; and we aspire to live by Your Word. Amen.
With the death of Ish-Bosheth, the people of Israel transfer their allegiance to David as their rightful king. As his first official act, David conquers the strategic Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem and makes it the new capital of the nation. But something more than political and military reform is necessary. The worship of God must be returned to its place of primacy. Knowing this, David makes plans to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem and build a fitting place for it to reside. In the process, he learns some hard lessons about doing God’s Will in God’s Way and in God’s Timing. Amen and amen.
Lord, we’ll Follow Your Direction: David inquired of the Lord: Shall I go up against the Philistines? And the Lord said: Go up for I’ll doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand. So David went to Baal Perazim and defeated them… Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the Lord and He said: You shall Not Go Up; circle around Behind them. And David Did As the Lord commanded him & he drove back the Philistines (2S5:19-25). Lord, we’ll Accede to Your Will: Go tell my servant David: Are u the one to build me a house to dwell in? When your days are over… I will raise up your offspring to succeed you and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish… his kingdom forever (2Sam 7:5-13)
Lord, I don’t want to make any decision without Your leading. You care about the details of my life and want to guide me in the way I should go. Take away my peace if I should decide to step off the path of Your greatest blessing for my life. Help me to never stray from Your will. Amen.
Lord, I trust You and accept Your answers to my prayers, even when the answers is not what I want. Help me to understand Your will, especially when the answers to my prayers are not what I expect to be. I am grateful You know what is best for me; and You will not allow me to seek after things I shouldn’t. Amen.
Lord, praise You for Your faithfulness and we are inspired by David on his dependence on You for success. Help us Follow Your Instructions and not stray from Your will. Help us Accept Your answer to our prayers even when the answers is not what we want, for You know what is best for us. Help us to Delight in Worshipping, remembering what You’ve done. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel are actually a single continuous story. In 1 Samuel, the mood is despair; in 2 Samuel, a ray of hope shines. In 1Sam, Saul’s dynasty is destroyed; in 2Sam,David’s dynasty secured. But transition of power is not simple: Proper mourning for departed king, the inauguration of the new leader, the purging of rebellious elements, all these things must be done before David can rule in peace.
Lord, we Seek Your Direction: A man arrived fr Saul’s army camp… Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead. David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul… his son Jonathan & for the Lord’s army (2S1:1-4,11-12) David inquired of the Lord: Shall I go to any of the cities of Judah? The Lord said:Go up. David asked Where? And He said: To Hebron. So David went up there. Then the men of Judah anointed David king of Judah. And they told David: The men of Jabesh Gilead buried Saul. So David sent messengers to Jabesh Gilead and said: l’ll repay this kindness (2Sam 2:1-6). The war betw the house of Saul and the hse of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker (2 Sam 3:1).
Lord, we see David’s loyalty to Your purpose as he mourned for Saul who was the Lord’s anointed. And because David trusted You God, he would not rejoice in Saul’s death. Give us Lord greater passion for Your will and purpose rather than our ambition and interest. In Jesus ‘ precious name, Amen.
Lord, praise You for Your faithfulness and we are inspired by David on his dependence on You for success. Prompt us Lord to Inquire of Your will for guidance in the way to go. When we don’t quite understand why You move so slowly at times, grant us sufficient signs to trust that Your promises will be fulfilled. Help us focus on Your purpose and help us wait on Your timing. Amen.
Lord, we note that when Saul died, David did not rush to make himself the king of Israel. Help us Lord not to assume that we know what is best but seek wisdom in Your Word and Your Spirit. Help us Lord to inquire of You, follow Your direction, and wait patiently for Your promises to be fulfilled for we trust in You. Amen.
i’m Israel has been ruled by judges for over 200 yrs. Eli and Samuel are the last of those judges. Samuel grows up in the tabernacle as a priest-in-training under Eli and is well qualified to serve Israel as both a priest and a judge. Although the nation had fallen away from God, it is clear that He is preparing Samuel to lead the nation back to right living.
Lord, we aspire a Listening Heart: One night, Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle. Suddenly the Lord called out: Samuel ! Yes? Samuel replied: What is it? He got up and ran to Eli: Here I am… Eli realised it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Sam If someone calls again, say: Yes Lord, Your servant is listening… And the Lord came and called as before: Samuel ! Samuel ! And Samuel replied: Yes, Your servant is listening (1Sam 3:1-10).
Lord, call me out of my slumber; speak for I want to hear what You have to say into my life. Make my heart come alive by the power of Your word of life. I don’t just listen to You in order to consider my options for I need Your direction and You are my master and Sovereign God. Speak Lord for Your servant is listening. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord, listening and responding are vital in the relationship with You. Quieten my mind and my heart so that I can hear You clearly. Remove Lord any distractions that will keep me from being attentive and open to what Your Spirit is impressing on my heart. Make me receptive to Listen to You and willing to answer obediently when You call on me. Amen.
Lord, I need Your divine direction for my life; and I don’t just listen to You in order to consider my options. You know Lord my deepest needs and You also love and care for me. I purpose to commit that Your will is my direction; for You are good. I quieten my heart to hear what You want to say. Speak Lord Shepherd for Your sheep is listening. Amen.
The purpose of First Samuel is to record the life of Samuel, Israel’s last judge, thru reign and decline of Saul, the first king; and the choice and preparation of David, Israel’s greatest king. Establishing a monarchy did not solve Israel’s problems. What God desires is the genuine devotion of each person’s mind and heart to Him. No government or set of laws can substitute for the rule of God in our heart & life.
On Monday, we learn from 1Sam 1 that Loving God Cares about You. On Tuesday, we learn from 1Sam 3 to Listen for the Lord Speaks. On Wed, we learn from 1Sam 7 that Gracious God Is Mighty Helper. On Thursday, we learn from 1Sam 10 that Spirit of God Empowers Us. On Friday, we learn from 1Sam 17 that God Delivers His People. On Sat, we learn from 1Sam 30 that Almighty God Is Our Strength.
Let us humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. Help us O God be Christ’s disciples who Hear You: For the Loving God Cares for Us and we Listen when He Speaks. For Gracious God Is Our Mighty Helper and He Delivers His People. For Almighty God Is Our Strength and the Holy Spirit Empowers Us. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
After months of running for his life, David concludes that leaving Israel entirely is the only way to escape Saul’s relentless pursuit. By convincing the Philistines he is a defector, David is given the city of Ziklag as his base of operations. But instead of aiding the enemy, David and his army methodically destroy Philistine strongholds. Meanwhile, Saul’s desperate attempts to counter the Philistine threat lead him to consult a medium. And instead of promise of victory, Saul heard frightening prediction of defeat and death, forecasts which came true the very next day as he & his sons die on the field of battle.
Lord, You are God of My Strength: It happened when David and his men came to Ziglag, on the third day that the Amalekites invaded the South burned it… and had taken captives… Then David and the people who were with him… wept until they had no more power to weep Now David was greatly distressed for the people spoke of stoning him… But David Strengthen himself in the Lord his God (1Sam 30:1-6). Then David said to Abiathar the priest… Bring the ephod to me… So David inquired of the Lord: Shall I pursue this troop?… And He answered him: Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail Recover all (v7-8). Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except 400 young man… who fled. So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away(v17-18)
Lord, we learnt from David that we can strengthen ourselves in You. For You are our strong fortress and You are the God of our strength. In You Lord are power and might; and in You we find all that we need. Forgive us for doubting Yr strength and failing to access it in our life. As Your children we claim access to Your strength, rather than walk in our own limited power. Amen.
Lord, some challenges we face can make us feel insecure and doubtful. Our fears tell us that if we take a wrong step, we will fall into danger. Help us learn from David to inquire of You Lord; and remember of Your assurance to strengthen us. Grant us direction and strength to do what we are called to do. And put Lord a spring in our steps as we follow where You lead. Amen.
Lord, I need You for my strength is limited but Your strength is endless. Gird me with Your great strength for I am weak but You are strong. Strengthen my heart and resolve when life seems so challenging. Strengthen my mind to think big because I serve a big God. Strengthen my hands to do all that You have called me to do; for You are My Strength!! Amen.
