Week 21. May 21-27

Day 1

480 years after Israel came out of Egypt the temple begins to be built.

God spoke to Solomon concerning His house. God told him walk in my statutes and obey my rules and commandments. God said I will establish My word with you and will dwell and walk among Israel and won't forsake them.

The temple was a magnificent building. Cedar wood and overlays in gold.

Day 2
Whatever we do, the Lord needs to be in it.  If He is not, then it is in vain.  Children are a gift from God. 
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord and walks in His ways. 
Lord's house finished in 7 years.  Solomon took 11 years to build his house. 
Altar was made out of bronze.  Bronze symbolizes judgment. The wash basins were also out of bronze.  There was sin so that is why they needed to have the altar - to sacrifice.  Had to be a payment for the sin and judgement. Now we have Jesus -  He was our payment!

Day 3
Solomon assembled the people to bring up the Ark of Covenant.  They sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they couldn't be counted. Once the Ark was in the house, it filled with  a cloud. 
Give glory to the Lord, for the sake of Your steadfast love and faithfulness.  Lord is our help and shield.  He will bless us. Steadfast means -  Unwavering, firm, not subject to change, loyal and fixed. I'm so glad I serve a God who has that kind of love for me (and for you too!)

Day 4
God fulfilled the building of His house like He said that He would. Temple is dedicated. Solomon knew that this house couldn't contain the Lord but it would be a place for the people to go and pray towards. 
Lord be with us and not forsake us, incline our hearts to You and walk in Your ways.  Lord is God and there is no other.  Let your heart be wholly true to the Lord our God. 

Day 5
Once the prayer was done to dedicate temple fire came down from heaven and consumed the offerings.  The glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.  People bowed with faces to the ground and worshipped. 
The Lord reigns and is great, praise His awesome name.  Holy is He.  Make a joyful noise to the Lord.  Serve Him with gladness.  It is He who made us and we are the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. 
Lord warned them if they turn away and serve other gods that He will cut them off. People will see and ask. "why has the Lord done this to the people?" and it will be because they abandoned the Lord. 
If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.  If they turn away from God then He will pluck them up from the land He gave them. 

Day 6 & 7
Beloved = Him
Love = Her
Solomon is a love song/story
We can see the love between a woman and a man.  They marry and have a beautiful relationship.  We are Christs bride (the Church), He found us and loves us.  We need to cling to Him with all our love.  The groom considered his bride the most beautiful among women.  God thinks of each one of us in that way (male or female).  We are beautiful, precious in His sight.  
I read a great commentary on Song of Solomon from James Vernon Mcgee and it gave me great insight to this book.  Check it out if you want to dig deeper!

Happy Reading - Jeannie 

Week 20 May 14-20

Day 1

Psalms 47 Clap your hands and shout with joy, sing praises to the Lord.

King David puts his son Solomon on his mule. He also has his priest anointed Solomon king. Adonijah feared Solomon and asked that he wouldn't be killed. Solomon said, "If worthiness is in you then you will be fine but if wickedness is in you then you will die.
David had prepared for the building of the temple. .  It must be exceedingly magnificent. David told Solomon it would be built by him.  The Lord will be with him and set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. 

Day 2
Organized all the musicians, gatekeepers, treasurers and officials. 

Day 3
Ps. 145 Exalt God and bless His name forever.  Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.  Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
David gives Solomon the plan for the building of the temple.  Tells Solomon not to worry because God will finish what He starts.  
Just like He does with us.  We are a work in progress and He didn't save us to just leave us behind. 
Ps 104  Bless the Lord Oh my soul.  All things are under His control. 
May my meditation be pleasing to Him.  I rejoice in the Lord. 
Ps 124 The Lord is on our side.  He is our help. 

Day 4
Ps. Behold how good and pleasant  for brothers to dwell in unity. 
Ps. 86 Hear me Lord, I trust in You.  Be gracious to me.  I will give thanks to you with my whole heart. 
Solomon was young and inexperienced but David said that he had made preparations.  People had given willingly with their whole hearts.  
Do you see how when God wants something to happen he will make it happen.  Don't look at how hard it might be or how much it might cost.  If God's hand is in it, then He will provide for it. 
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.  

Day 5
David is dying  Told son to be strong and show yourself a man.  Keep walking in the ways of God. If you do then there will be no lack of a man on the throne. 
Don't fret over evil doers or be envious of them.  Trust in the Lord and do good.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will act. Be still and wait patiently for Him. Refrain from anger.  Turn away from evil and do good and so shall you dwell forever.   Give thanks to the Lord and when I call He listens and He will fulfill His purpose for me. 

Day 6
David reigned for 40 years.  Now Solomon is on the throne. 
Adonijah (son of David and Haggith) came to Bathsheba and asked if he could have Abishag (the women who was Davids nursemaid in his last days) for his wife.  He said he had come in peace but really he was using trickery to try to take over the throne.  Solomon saw this as trickery and had him killed. 
Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh King of Egypt. 
Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked what He could give him.  Solomon knew he was young and inexperienced so he asked for wisdom and discernment.  The Lord was pleased with this request and granted it to Solomon.  
So many times if I would pray for just that... Wisdom and Discernment things would be better than just praying for the situation to be "fixed".  I learned a lesson from Solomon in this scripture.  

Day 7
List of King Solomons officials.  Solomon was very wealthy, not lacking in anything. Hiram King of Tyre worked with Solomon, he was very fond of King David and wanted to help out.  They worked together.  Hiram provided wood and Solomon provided food. 

Proverbs 31
An excellent wife is more precious than jewels.  She does good for her husband and not harm. Keeps her home and is wise.  She isn't idle.  Her children call her blessed and her husband praises her.  Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  
We may never be just like this women in Proverbs 31.  Sometimes we will have good days or weeks but other times we will struggle.  But one thing we can do is, Fear The Lord.  If we follow Him we will be blessed and be a blessing to others. 

Happy Reading - Jeannie 

Week 19 May 7-13

Day 1

Ps. 28. Call to the Lord, my Rock. Don't treat me like the wicked with evil in their hearts. They don't regard the Lord. V.7 The Lord is my strength and my shield, in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped, my heart  exults and with my song I give thanks to Him.

Ps. 143 Meditate on all the Lord has done. Teach me to do Your will for You are my God and I am Your servant.

Ps. 70 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation say evermore, God is great!

Ps. 40 I delight to do Your will, O my God, Your law is within my heart.

Day 2

Ps 27 The Lord is my light and my salvation who should I fear?. One thing I ask of the Lord and seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life and see it's beauty.

Ps. 121  My help comes from the Lord, the Lord will keep me from all evil.

Day 3

David was sending his men out to war. He was going to go with them but they told him no because Absalom was seeking his life. Absalom got caught in a tree and David's men found him. Joab told them to kill Absalom but they didn't so Joab strikes him and 10 of Joabs armor bearers surrounded him and killed him. The trumpet is blown and the war is over.  David hears of Absaloms death and is very grieved. The men came back with a victory but because David was mourning they felt grief and ashamed. Joab told David to get up and encourage his men or they will not stand with him no more.

David put Amasa in charge of army instead of Joab.

Day 4

Ps. 92. It is good to give thanks to the Lord, praise His name. How great are His works.

The war did not have to happen if David had forgiven Absalom and treated him like a prodigal son in a few chapters back. 

Sheba rebelled against David and brought all of Israel with him. David returns to Jerusalem and took his 10 concubines and put them in a house under guard  and provided for them to the day that they died. But he didn't have any relations with them and they lived like widows after Absalom had defiled them on the rooftop.  David called Amasa, his new leader, and told him to go out after Sheba. But Amasa delayed in leaving, Joab went out and met Amasa and killed him. Joab went on to find  Sheba  and  had him killed. 

There was three years of famine because of the blood guilt of Saul killing the Gibeonites. David went to them and asked what he could do for them. They said no amount of silver or gold will do it but the sons of the man that planned to destroy us. So David gave them  7 sons of Saul. But Mephibosheth (Johnathan's son) he spared. God responded and gave them an end to the famine.

Day 5

Ascribe to the Lord, give Him worship and glory. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless His people with peace.

There is war with the Philistines again. David grows weary and his men tell him to not go back out to war with them. 

Ps. 36 God is faithful with His steadfast love. We can take refuge in the shadow of His wings.

Day 6

David does a census of the people. Joab told him not to do this thing.  David realizes he has sinned. He repents to God and is told you can choose 1 of 3 things. He chooses 3 days of pestilence. 70,000 men died. David sinned but others gave their life in payment for it. When we sin it affects others as well. David pleaded with the Lord and told him that it was his sin, "Lord let your hand be against me and my house." 

David bought land from Araunah to raise up an altar. Araunah didn't want him to pay for it. But David refused, he said I will not offer any offerings to The Lord that didn't cost me nothing. Our offerings should cost us something, if not it wouldn't be considered a sacrifice.

Ps. 30. Sing praises and give thanks to the Lord. His anger is for a moment but his favor is for a lifetime.

Day 7

Ps. 33 Shout for joy in the Lord and give thanks. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Our soul waits for the Lord, He is our help and our shield.  David is old and is getting closer to death.  Adonijah, Absolams younger brother exalts himself and said he will be king.  Nathan, the prophet, goes to Bathsheba and tells him this news. They both spoke with David and told him. David called his men to him and tells them that Solomon shall be king.

I have enjoyed reading about David in these last books of the Bible. We can be encouraged by David's life and the things that he went through. He was called a man after gods own heart. That is the kind of person that I want to be, a woman after gods own heart.

Happy Reading, Jeannie 

Week 18 April 30 - May 6

Day 1
Ps. 51
David asks the Lord to be gracious to him. Forgive me and blot out my sin O Lord. Cleanse me from it. V.10 Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Don't cast me out. David knew his spirit and heart needed to break before the Lord. We repent our sins, we need to be broken, a quick sorry is not enough sometimes.
Ps. 32
David had kept his sin on the inside and it was eating him up. We cannot live with the guilt of sin. Confess it to the Lord. God is my hiding place, He preserves me from trouble. Surround me with songs of deliverance. God will instruct us in the way that we should go. V. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness will surround him. Be glad and rejoice, shout for joy!
Ps. 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is in within me, bless His holy name. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Day 2
David's baby was very sick David fasted and prayed. On the seventh day the baby died. After the death of the baby David washed himself and worshiped God and ate. Solomon is then born. Solomon means "beloved of The Lord".
David rejoices in God's strength. David was given his hearts desire and is blessed.
2 Samuel 13:1-39
David had a daughter from a foreign women. Her name was Tamar. She was very beautiful. David's son Amnon loved her and wanted to be with her. He tricked his father to make her come take care of him and then raped her. She pleaded for him not to and even told him to ask if she could be his wife and the King would allow it. He didn't care and did it anyway. Once he was done he had a hatred for her and sent her away. David found out and was angry but didn't deal with it. Absalom had Amnon killed. He then ran away for many years.
Day 3
Joab finds a way to make David allow Absalom to come back home. Absalom returns but can't be in the presence of the King. Absalom would sit at the gate and talk with the people and settle disputes and was gaining their trust. Had David dealt with things this snowball effect wouldn't be taking place. How many times do we allow things to happen because we don't want to upset someone but in reality it just makes the situation way worse than it needed to be.
Ps. 62
My soul waits in silence for God alone, from Him comes my salvation. He is my rock, salvation, fortress, my glory, mighty rock, and refuge. V8 trust in Him at all times, pour out your heart before Him.
Day 4
David hears that his son has won over the people. David packs up stuff and leaves. The men brought the Ark with them and David tells them to bring it back to Jerusalem. If The Lord finds favor in him (David) then He will allow me to see it again.
David asks The Lord to hear his cry, his heart is faint. Watch over me and protect me. It is one thing to have those who seek to harm you but when those enemies are your own son, I can't imagine how that must feel.
Day 5
The fool says there is no God. They are corrupt.
David sends his friend Hushai to be with Absalom  This may have been because the friend was older and David needed to keep on the move and in hiding. Also the friend would be a spy for him and a help.
As David travels a man of the house of Saul comes out cursing him continually. Davids men want to kill cursing man.  But David tells them no. David's says, "May The Lord look upon him and his cursing and bless me because of it." It is not easy to turn away from your accusers and those who want to pick on you and curse you. But there are times where we need to and we will be blessed.
Day 6
David's old friend that turned on him is now giving advice to Absalom. He is planning an attack on how to kill David. Absalom asked Hushai if the advice is good and he tells him no. David is a valiant warrior and it won't be easy to sneak up on him. Absalom listens to this council. Hushai sends message to David. Meanwhile Absalom has gone to city of Jerusalem and pitched a tent on the Kings roof and slept with his David's concubines.
David asks The Lord to answer him and to give him relief in his distress. The evil ones continue to speak lies. God will set apart the Godly to Himself. Be angry but do not sin. Put your trust in The Lord. For The Lord alone will make you dwell in safety.
As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after The Lord. Hope in The Lord.
Day 7
David asks for The Lord to defend him against the ungodly. David takes refuge in The Lord but feels like The Lord has rejected him. When we sin we move away from The Lord. God is holy and therefore there is No sin in Him, nor can He be around it. Thank you Lord Jesus our Savior for dying for us so that we can have fellowship with God.
David continues to cry out to Lord. He is being pursued by family and friends. The one thing that enemies will  cause you to do is be in prayer a lot! Turn your enemies over to God.
Shout for joy and sing praises to The Lord!

Happy Reading -Jeannie

Week 17 April 23-29

Day 1
David appointed Levites as ministers before the ark. David also appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord. V.8 Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name. Sing praise to Him. Seek Him continually. V.25 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. The Lord reigns.
Ps.98 Make a joyful noise to the Lord.

Day 2
When David came home to bless his house his wife Michal told him it was shameful. He did it for the Lord, but she was embarrassed by him. David danced and worshiped with all of his might for the Lord. Because of this his wife was childless because he estranged himself from her.
Lord gave David rest.
David wanted to build a house for the Lord. He asked Nathan if he should. Nathan told him to do what was in his heart to do. But later the Lord came to Nathan and told him not to have David build him a house. The Lord said that Davids son would build the house. V.14 I will be his Father and My steadfast love will not depart from him.

2 Samuel 7
David asks the Lord,"Who am I that I am so blessed?" Do you ever feel this way, and ask the Lord the same question? I do all the time. We serve such an amazing God and He is so good to each and everyone of us.

Day 3
David takes refuge in the Lord. And there is no good apart from Him. Set the Lord always before me because He is at my right hand and I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my heart rejoices. V.11 In the Lord's presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand is pleasures forever.
Ps. 9 Give thanks to the Lord with a whole heart. The Lord is the stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Day 4
With God we shall do valiantly, it is He who will tread down our foes. David reigned over all of Israel. He administered justice and equality to all of his people.

Day 5
David sang a song of deliverance.
Lord is my rock, fortress and deliver. I take refuge in Him, my shield, horn of salvation, stronghold and my refuge my Savior. I call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised and I am saved from my enemies. The Lord rescues me and supports me. Gods way is perfect his word is true. He is a shield for all of those who take refuge in him. The Lord lives and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation.
Ps18 I love you Lord my strength. I call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised and I am saved from my enemies. How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Day 6
David was looking to see if there was anyone still left from Saul's family. He wanted to show kindness to him for his friend Jonathan's sake. Jonathan's son was still alive. He told him that he would always eat at the Kings table.
David wanted to deal kindly but the men of Ammon. But the men did not believe it and they ashamed the men who came to tell them news. The men were told to be of good courage and to be courageous and let the Lord do what seems good to him. They knew that the Lords way was the best way.

Day 7
Ps 20 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble and send you help. May the Lord fulfill all of your petitions. Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God!
David did what was right in the eyes of The Lord. Except with Uriah the Hittite.
David stays home from war. He was walking on his roof and saw the beautiful woman bathing. David sent for her and he lay with her. She becomes pregnant. Then David had her husband come back from the war and he wanted him to go and see his wife. David was trying to make him lay with his wife so that he could take the guilt away from himself. But Uriah was a good man and would not do it because all of his other men were at war and why should he go to his wife they were fighting a war. David even try to get him drunk but it still did not work. Then David sent him back to the front line and had him killed. Nathan comes to David and exposes his sin to him. David deserves to die but he repents for his sin. God allows him to live but there will be grave consequences. The child will die.
Yes what David did was terrible and we all seem to remember that part of it. But he also did a lot of things that were great. Yes David fell he sinned but he did live a life that this was not the pattern. We all sin and do things that aren't right. But God is a forgiving God and loves us. There will be consequences but God still forgives if we ask and repent, humble ourselves before Him.
We can learn a lot about the man David. He was a man after gods own heart. But he too had struggles still God loved Him.

Happy Reading - Jeannie