April 27 - May 3

Heart Preparation
As you prepare each reading, take a moment to realize that you are getting the opportunity to enter into a time of hearing from God. You are not reading an old manuscript, but you are reading the very words of the Creator of the universe. Look for His hand at work in each reading, and open your heart to hear from Him. He is wanting to speak, are we willing to listen? 


Week’s Reading Plan:

• Sunday,     April 27th – 1 Chronicles 6
• Monday,     April 28th – Psalms 81, 88, 92, & 93
• Tuesday, April 29th – 1 Chronicles 7-10
• Wednesday, April 30th – Psalms 102, 103, & 104
• Thursday, May 1st    – 2 Samuel ch 5:1-10 // 1 Chronicles ch11 & 12
• Friday, May 2nd – Psalm 133
• Saturday, May 3rd – Psalms 106-107

What to Expect:
Again, this week we have a mix of Psalms and Chronicles, with a section of 2nd Samuel as well. This week David is anointed King over Israel, and arguably the most important city is taken by Israel. Jerusalem, called the city of David, which was still a Canaanite city. It was up on a hill and easy to defend, which made the Canaanites believe that the Israelites couldn’t take it. Not so when God is involved. This shows the full fulfillment of Israel gaining the Promised Land. 




Things to Look For: The Promises of God

1. Psalms: Most of our Psalm passages this week are from unknown authors. It is interesting to me to see the different perspectives they are written from. Pay attention to who the prepositions are referring to. It has been enjoyable to me to see that God is singing to his people in Psalms like 81. 
2. Chronicles: Last week you began 1st Chronicles, with a focus on the dynastic line of David. This genealogy begins in 1 Chronicles 4 from last week and continues here in chapter 6 with the tribe of Levi, the tribe of the priests. We also see the only mention of Asaph outside of the Psalms, who was one of the men appointed as a song leader. He was seemingly an amazing songwriter under the inspiration of the Holy spirit, with his influence far outlasting his life, even so that his sons were known as the “sons of Asaph”. 
3. 2 Samuel: King David has come to the throne of Israel following King Saul in 2 Samuel 5 this week. One of the first things David does as King of Israel is follow God’s plan to completion in the possession of the promised land. 
4. The Promised Land: God promises Abraham the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession for his descendants (Genesis 17:8). This promise is reiterated several times and is central to the identity of the Israelites as God's chosen people with a specific homeland. With the control of the “city of David” Israel finally sees fulfillment of possession of the Promised Land. 

Personal Insight: 
I can remember pieces of the beginning of my life in ministry, and as I started leading worship, we would come to a song occasionally, that was from the perspective of God. It was awkward for me to sing a song as if it was being spoken from God himself. It may have been an unworthiness to speak as if I was God, but I remember that I didn’t feel right about singing those words in that way. Through some study and thought, I think the Spirit encouraged my view on this by showing me one way we can view songs of this type. Like Psalm 81 in our passages this week there have been many worship songs written from the perspective of God. Where it says, “In your distress you called and I rescued you”, I see God singing over his people. These words are very encouraging and remind us, that like a father caring for his children our Father in heaven does love us and wants to rescue us. He wants to teach us, He wants to sustain us, and He wants to save us. We need only repent and accept.


PRAYER
Father, thank You for being a Father who loves me, and that You are a Father who sings over me. Help me see myself as You see me. Help me see the deep love that You have for me, and that from that love, my identity flows and I have confidence in You and being Your child. Thank You for the Spirit of adoption, and for always being faithful to Your plan. May I trust in You, even when I don’t see how things are going to work out. 




This weeks devotion was prepared by Curt Zahm, worship leader at Center Christian Church.