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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:
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
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.
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Heart Preparation:
Take a moment each day to open your heart to Gods message to you. Pray that these scriptures would lead you to a better understanding of Gods will for His people. As you read this week, think of how God has shown you kindness and love throughout your life. Weekly Reading:
What to Expect: As we enter into 2 Samuel, we enter into the reign of King David, one of Israel’s greatest kings. At the end of 1 Samuel, Saul died in battle, as well as his son Jonathan, David’s best friend. With the death of Saul, Israel is in a state of disorder, with David being the one who was anointed king of Judah, but Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, and makes him king of Israel. Throughout this time, David conducts himself in such a way that gains the honor and respect of the people of Israel as well, thus uniting the kingdom under his rule. 1 Chronicles begins with genealogies. Though eventually the accounts of 1 Chronicles flows with those of 2 Samuel, the first 9 chapters are genealogies. The reason is because Chronicles is written after the exile of the people of Israel during the time of Ezra around the 5th-4th century BC. The opening with the genealogy shows that the royal line of David and Judah were chosen by God. When you are reading through the Psalms, they can be categorized into different general themes:
Things to Look For: As you read through the account of 2 Samuel, look at how David handles the situations. Saul has been attempting to kill him for quite some time. In a time when many people would rejoice over their enemies death, David mourns it. He does the same when Abner dies, and also Ish-bosheth. Also take note of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, who is going to be mentioned multiple times later on in the rest of the 2 Samuel. Though reading genealogies can be quite difficult and monotonous, flip over to Matthew 1 as well as Luke 3:23, the New Testament genealogies of Jesus. What I found helpful when reading through these genealogies was looking for the names that are in those genealogies as well, thus being able to trace the lineage of our Messiah. Personal Insight: In 1 Samuel 16, David was anointed king of Israel, but yet he had to wait a long time, going through various trials before he was able to receive the promise of God. This could be viewed as a picture of the Christian life. As we are saved by Christ, being “adopted” as His children, and being promised a future eternal kingdom to dwell in, we still live in this life and struggle with the trials that we will face. Jesus tells us even, in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. Just as David continued to trust in God, and trust His plan and provision, we are called to do the same. Multiple times David could’ve taken matters into his own hands with Saul, but he entrusted himself into the hands of God. David was faithful through those difficult years, and God was faithful through them as well, and in 2 Samuel, we see the prize that David receives for his faithfulness. Stand strong, stay firm in the Lord, and trust in His timing, and you will one day receive the eternal reward that God has stored up for us in Christ Jesus our Lord! Prayer: Father, thank you that no matter what is going on around us, You are good, and You are trustworthy. Help me fix my eyes on You. Help me see the eternal hope that You have stored up for me in Jesus, and may I hold fast to that hope. Thank You for the assurance of salvation found in Jesus, and for the promise that You are with me always, no matter how dark this world gets. Help me see Your light in the darkness, and help me be Your light in the darkness. Amen. This weeks devotion was prepared by Andrew Peterman. Andrew is the lead pastor at Center Christian Church. Week’s Reading Plan:
What to Expect: As you read through the passage this week, you are going to be encountering the rise of the house of David and the fall of the house of Saul. You will see how David rises and Saul fades. You will see how David deals with adversity and turns to God and how Saul deals with adversity and eventually consults a medium. You will read thru the Psalms of David and how he poured out his heart to God during the trials he endured. Things to Look For: As you read this weeks reading, in the rise of David, take note of how David deals with adversity. Take note how God is gracious and gives David a friend, Jonathon. As you read through 1 Samuel, look at how Saul hunts David down and when David gets the chance to take revenge, he spares Saul’s life twice. In 1 Samual 25, a wise Abigail intercedes and keeps David from sinning. You will see David’s camp and all their families get kidnapped by the Amalekites and David and his men rescue them. And then you will see Saul and his sons slain in battle. Personal Insight: As I read this weeks reading, the one thing that popped out to me specifically was how David endured during the time of trials. I was struck by how David turned to God time and time again thru the Psalms. I ask myself what was God doing to David. Why would God allow all this bad stuff to happen. I heard a preacher say once that before a man could be great, God had to prepare him. God had to get David to a place where David put his trust in Him, not in David’s army, not in his allies, but in God alone. I was also struck how Saul could sink so low. How could Saul treat David so badly when all David wanted to do was do right for the king. I also think how when adversity strikes me, I have a decision to make. Turn to God or turn to the flesh. I also can read this account and see how things that make no human sense, God could use to build his kingdom. If I am right with God, then nothing else matters. Proverbs 3:5-7 states; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” I think this is exactly what David did. Heart Preparation:
Take a moment to prepare your heart to enter into relationship with you. You are about to read the Words of eternal life. There is a purpose behind the passages you are going to read this week, God has a message for His people. Pray that your mind would be focused and your heart would be opened to His Word. Week’s Reading for April 6-12: • Sunday, April 6 — Judges 19-21 • Monday, April 7 — Ruth 1-4 • Tuesday, April 8 — 1 Samuel 1-3 • Wednesday, April 9 — 1 Samuel 4-8 • Thursday, April 10 — 1 Samuel 9-12 • Friday, April 11 — 1 Samuel 13-14 • Saturday, April 12 — 1 Samuel 15-17 What to Expect: As you read through the passage this week, you will finish the book of Judges with a civil war among God’s people as they continue to do what is right in their own eyes. You will read the entire book of Ruth and see themes of the cost of disobedience, of God’s sovereignty, of faithful living and of redemption. Then you will begin 1Samuel with the patience and obedience of Hannah and her son Samuel contrasted with the disobedience of Saul as Israel waits for a godly king. Things to Look For: As you read this weeks reading, notice how when there was “no king in Israel”, the people couldn’t keep perspective that God was their King; that they were to be different from those around them. When times got hard most would look for an escape or a quick easy fix, just as we do today. Then in 1 Samuel, Israel pushes the fact that they want a king at any cost so they could be just like the other nations; so God gives them their choice in Saul. But a godly king will be waiting in the wings, David, one anointed by God that will usher in the lineage for Jesus the King and Priest and true Redeemer. Personal Insight: As I read this weeks reading, the themes of obedience and disobedience stand out to me in times of relativism. With the advances in technologies, especially in the medical field, the boundaries of right and wrong seem harder to distinguish and we say we value ethics and patience but do not work to cultivate these values into virtues. I have to remind myself multiple times not to think I can rush God and make things happen even if it seems like the results will glorify God and I might have had to sacrifice certain things to get those results. 1Samuel 15:22 “… To obey is better than sacrifice..” comes to mind at times like that; a continual reminder that yes, God is The Redeemer and he will complete His plan but that His will is for me to deny myself and be obedient. This weeks devotion was prepared by Jennifer Westervelt. Jennifer serves in the Nursery as well as teaching Sunday School to the 3rd-5th graders. |
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