Daily Devotional from 1 Kings 1-- Verse 17She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’" Adonijah thought he could easily take control of the kingdom without David’s blessing and the priests’ anointing. But Nathaniel and Bathsheba reminded David that he had promised to make Solomon king. It...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 24–Verse 24bI will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.Sometimes pride is so sneaky. As we have been reading in 1 & 2 Samuel, David consistently inquires of the LORD what he should do. But here we see him reveling in the size of his army. He orders a census taken, just so he knows how big it is. Pride snuck up on him.Repentance comes wit...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 23–Verse 12But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.I love this image of one man defending the plot of land God had given him against attackers. Because he took his stand and fought the enemy, THE LORD brought him victory! We may not have to defend our land against enemy attack...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 22--Verse 31This God—His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.This is why we as a church gather around God’s word. And this is why we started our daily reading plan. Every word is true and perfect because the One who spoke it is perfect. It’s so important we allow God’s word to have its proper place in ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 21–Verse 10Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock…You can be dishonored by the world, and still be honored by your mom. The nation was probably relieved these two brothers were executed, but not their mother. She may have been the only one in mourning. Verse 10 says, she spread sackcloth out for herself. I think it would...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 20–Verses 16 & 1916 Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen!…19 I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?”This was a bold and courageous move on her part. As a self-described peaceable and faithful woman, she pointed out the former role o...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 19–Verse 3And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.David was so deeply mourning the loss of Absalom that he didn’t want to go back to his kingly responsibilities. With no king in Jerusalem, the people are unsettled, feeling the chaos of the internal war. David’s reaction to the victory left them feeling l...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 18--Verse 33 (CSB)“The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city gate and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”’As a son of David, Absalom became treacherous. He did things against God’s law and he tried to usurp the throne of his father. Absalom’s wick...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 17--Verse 16Now therefore send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not staytonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’God was watching out for David, his anointed. David had a friend that was a spy in Absalom’s court. He had people that would risk their lives to warn him of danger.God...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 16—Verse 11...Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.What an interesting chapter. One of the things that strikes me in this passage is David’s humility before God as Shimei curses him, throws rocks at him, and flings dust at him. I don’t know about you, but I think I would get a little irritated at some point if that was happening to me, eve...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 15--Verse 21But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.”There come times in our lives that we are forced to choose one path or another. The choice we make may impact the rest of our lives - or even eternity. What vocation should I ch...  Read More

Daily Devotional from 2 Samuel 14—Verse 24And the king said, “Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is not to come into my presence.” So Absalom lived apart in his own house and did not come into the king’s presence.David did not handle the conflict between his sons well. He let things be, and he avoided things for too long. In the end, we will see how this all comes back to bite him. And ruins...  Read More