May 4-10

Heart Preparation:
As you get into the habit of reading God’s Word daily, it can easily build into just something that you do. It can slip into routine, or obligation even. Take a moment and pray each morning before you read that you would enter into the presence of God, not out of routine or obligation, but out of desire to be in His presence. The Creator of the universe, who holds the universe in the span of His hand, wants to be with you. 


Week’s Reading Plan:

• Sunday,     May 4th –  2nd Samuel 5:11-6:23  &  1st Chronicles 13-16
• Monday,     May 5th – Psalms 1, 2, 15, 22, 23, 24, 47, & 68
• Tuesday, May 6th – Psalms 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, & 132
• Wednesday, May 7th – 2nd Samuel 7  &  1st Chronicles 17
• Thursday, May 8th – Psalms 25, 29, 33, 36, & 39
• Friday, May 9th – 2nd Samuel 8-9  &  1st Chronicles 18
• Saturday, May 10th – Psalms 50, 53, 60, & 79

What to Expect:
We are in the early years of Davids reign as King of Israel. He is pure in these early years and lives the definition of a man after God’s own heart. This is a man that we can root for, we have not yet seen the downside of Davids humanity. It’s like the movie version we see of the hero. He is a great fighter, he makes the right wise decisions regardless of what others around him think, he wins battles, he follows the commands of God… Though the reality is that humanity is in all of us, there will be stumbles, and there will be falls. What I feel separates David from others is his repentance. Enjoy reading about these early years of a Mans Man, more-so God’s man in Davids early years reigning as King. 


Things to Look For:

1. Psalms: The part I enjoy about this Chronological approach to the Scriptures, is that the Psalms often line up with what David is going through, when that Psalm was written. It helps to understand Davids heart and mind that is somewhat unwritten in the passages we see. There are battles won and worship taking place, but motive is hard to ascertain from a passage that is sharing history. Paired with the Psalms that David writes we can see another level into his heart. 
2. Chronicles: The passages in 1 Chronicles this week parallel 2 Samuel. Both covering David’s victory over the Philistines, The Ark of the Covenant, and God’s promise to the throne of the House of David. Reading them in concession with one another gives more information on the specific procession that is revealed. 
3. Samuel: The passages read in Chronicles and Samuel this week show the victory of Israel over the Philistines twice. A dear friend of King Davids is killed because he unworthily touched the Ark, which showed the respect in which God deserves, this also invokes fear in David and he puts the Ark outside of Jerusalem for a time. Then he brings it into the city of Jerusalem while worshipping the Lord. His wife Michal was displeased that David would remove his royal clothing which is what set him apart as King from the people, and dressed in an Ephod as the priests would have. David placed himself humbly on the level of a servant to worship God. In Ch7 David offers to build a temple for God, but God says this isn’t something I have commanded. It is a great point in your relationship with God to want to do more than he asks. God is pleased with David and tells him that his Dynasty will reign forever. This Royal line comes to fulfillment with Jesus, who is King forever. 

Personal Insight: 
My convictions this week come from Psalm 15. As above I see David as what I expect from God’s Man. A man I want to be for my wife, for my children, and for my church, and for my God. Who is worthy of God? Certainly not I. Psalm 15 points at qualities that God holds in high esteem. We should speak truth, honor our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and keep our oaths, especially when it hurts. If we can stay on the path God tells us is righteous, no matter what comes “He who does these things will never be shaken.”


Prayer:
God, as I consider who You are, I realize how unworthy I am of Your love and grace, yet You lavish Your love upon me. Thank you for that. May I strive to be a person after Your own heart, living a life that reflects the love You have for me, and walking in confidence that I am Yours, and I am loved eternally by You. 


This weeks devotion was prepared by Curt Zahm.