Year 3 Week 30 Day 204-210

July 23 – 29, 2014

Week 30 Day 204-210 July 23– 29, 2014

I. Invocation and Adoration:

“O Jesus, fill me with Thy love now, and I beseech Thee, accept me, and use me a

little for Thy glory. O do, do, I beseech Thee, accept me and my service, and take

Thou all the glory.” Amen.

(David Livingstone, 1813-73)

Adoration through Psalm: Psalm 119:113-120 Samekh (ס)

We’ll use part of this Psalm, not for today’s Bible reading, but for the sake of

focusing our thoughts on God. Read slowly this part of the psalm at least three times

each day and gather one thought about this psalm that points to God’s character and

translate it into a prayer of adoration.

(If I say that the theme of this section is: “Awesome Judgment, Awesome Law! ”

what do you think?) Try to pick one verse and memorize it each day.

II. Confession

Pause now and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you your sins and ask for forgiveness.

III. Thanksgiving

List, one by one, things for which you should give thanks.

IV. Scriptural Reflection:

This week we will continue the study of the Book of II Samuel in the Old Testament. Read

slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions

below each day:

Day 204 2 Samuel 7: 1-17

(1) What prompted David to think of building a temple for the Lord?

(2) What was so right and admirable about his desire to build a temple for the Lord?

(3) Would you, if you were David? Why or why not?

(4) What was Nathan’s immediate reaction to David’s request or thought?

(5) What was Nathan’s assumption behind his reply?

(6) What mistake did Nathan make?

(7) Why did God still speak through Nathan, and not directly to David?

(8) God said, “Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?” In essence, God was

reminding David that even if he had the desire to build a house for God, not everyone

was chosen to do so. What might be the message to us today?

(9) God’s reply to David can be divided into four parts:

a. Vv. 6-7: Why was it not conducive to build anything permanent as a house for

God while roaming in the desert? What does this tell us about the desire and

commitment of God to be wherever we are?

b. Vv. 8-9: The Lord described David’s former life as one of “following the

flock” — shouldn’t it be the flock which followed David? What did the Lord

mean? Does it describe your life as well? What was the significant change God

had wrought in David’s life? Is it also true in your life?

c. Vv. 10-11: While God elevated and protected David, what was His ultimate

desire?

d. Vv. 12-16 is what is called “the Davidic Covenant”: there are two parts to this

covenant:

i. There is the eternal dimension: to whom does it point? How is it fulfilled in

our days?

ii. There is, however, an earthly and human dimension: to whom does it point?

How was it fulfilled?

(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Day 205 2 Samuel 7:18-29

David’s response to the words of the Lord through Nathan the prophet:

V. 18-21: “Who Am I?”

(1) Why was David so overwhelmed by the reply of the Lord through Nathan?

(2) What made David feel so special before the Lord?

(3) Do you? Why or why not?

Vv. 22-24: God is Real

(4) What might have caused David to experience the reality of God beyond what he had

“heard with (his) own ears”?

(5) How special were the people of Israel (as he now realized)?

Vv. 25-26: Reasons for God to keep His promise

(6) What were the three reasons he cited for God to keep His promise?

(7) Was the last reason rather self-centered? Why or why not?

Vv. 27-29: God’s promise to build David’s house instead

(8) What was David’s prayer for his own house?

(9) What was the basis on which he could have such courage to ask?

(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Day 206 2 Samuel 8:1-18

This chapter appears to sum up the victories of David over the surrounding enemies of

Israel, likely during his entire reign, and chapters 10 & 11 would recount his battles with

the Ammonites and their allies the Syrian.

(1) If you have access to a biblical map of David’s reign, it would be helpful for you to

attempt to locate the Philistines and other territories like Moab, Zobah, Aram, Edom,

plus other enemies of David like the Amalekites and Ammonites. What areas did

David conquer and make them subjects to him?

(2) Which of the enemies that David defeated had the greatest number of casualties?

(3) Which of the enemies that David defeated were best equipped?

(4) What was David’s strategy in securing continuous control over some of the enemies?

(5) What is the point the biblical author tries to make by reporting to us the geographical

extent of David’s conquest, the size of the army he captured or defeated, and the

plunder that he made?

(6) In spite of David’s great success, what does the biblical author attribute his success

to? (8:6, 14) Why is it mentioned twice in this short chapter?

(7) What did David do with many of the articles of silver, gold and bronze he captured or

given as gifts from the surrounding nations? What could he have done with these

valuables?

(8) What did his action (of dedicating these articles to the Lord) show?

(9) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?

Day 207 2 Samuel 9:1-13

(1) Perhaps, David had already heard of the surviving son of Jonathan and so the real

question was: where he was or whether he was still alive. What does this search for

Jonathan’s surviving descendent say about David as a friend of Jonathan?

(2) How did he show his kindness to Mephibosheth?

(3) Although calling oneself a dead dog was a kind of ancient eastern humility, when

said by Mephibosheth in his situation, how true might it actually be?

(4) In what way can you see God’s faithfulness revealed in a righteous and faithful

person like Jonathan?

(5) We do not know much about Makir who looked after Mephibosheth, but he was also

there to take care of David when he fled from his son (17:27):

a. In your estimation, why did he bother to take care of Mephibosheth in the first

place?

b. What risk might he be taking?

(6) Do you think Mephibosheth’s physical disability is a curse or a blessing?

(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Day 208 2 Samuel 10:1-19

(1) When God promised to give David rest from all his enemies (7:11), it obviously does

not mean that he would not have enemies, but that he would prevail over his enemies.

This chapter shows us the reality of God’s promise is this respect. How then may you

apply this truth in your life about being able to “rest” in the Lord?

(2) Why would David wish to show kindness to the son of a former enemy (See 1 Samuel

11)? How unusual was such an act by a king?

(3) How was his kind gesture received? Should it be a surprise? Why or why not?

(4) What do you think was the intention behind the advice of the Ammonite nobles to

their king?

(5) If the Ammonites knew that they were no match of the army of David, why then

would they insult David’s messengers?

(6) How many mercenaries had the Ammonites hired? We are not told how many men

David had (except in 6:1 when he first united the kingdom), but it appears that the two

sides were quite equal in strength:

a. What then, in your opinion, would be the deciding factor in the outcome of the

battle?

b. Does it mean that no battle strategy was needed for David’s army?

c. What strategy did Joab employ?

d. Did the Arameans give up upon Joab’s victory?

e. What was the eventual outcome of the second battle?

(7) What did this battle mean to the neighboring nations?

(8) What did this battle mean to David?

(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Day 209 2 Samuel 11:1-27

(1) While the previous battle saw the active involvement of David, why did he remain in

Jerusalem during such a time “when kings go off to war” (11:1)?

(2) This story took place in the evening. Why would David get up from his bed at such a

time? What might it show about his spiritual condition?

(3) Once he caught sight of a woman bathing, what should David have done?

(4) What did he do next instead? (See James 1:14-15)

(5) Knowing that Bathsheba was a married woman and that her husband was fighting his

war, what should David have done?

(6) What did he do instead?

(7) How could such a godly man commit such a horrible crime? What explanation could

one give for David’s action?

(8) Bathsheba was now pregnant, meaning David had time to reflect on the sin he had

committed. What options were open to him? What option did he take according to

vv. 6-13?

(9) What kind of a person was Uriah? Did he deserve such a fate? Did you ask in your

heart why God would allow such a horrible thing to happen to him?

(10) What did David tell Joab to do?

(11) Compare what David did here and what Joab did back in 3:27:

a. Whose sin was even more wicked?

b. If David invoked such a curse on Joab (3:29), what kind of a curse did he now

deserve?

c. Did David only take one life in his evil scheme?

d. What kind of a king did he become?

e. Could he lead Israel anymore?

(12) Even the most horrific sin begins with a first step. What was the first step in David’s

case?

(13) What lesson might we learn from David’s failure?

(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Day 210 2 Samuel 12:1-12

(1) With sins as horrible as those committed by David (adultery plus murders), should

Nathan not simply rebuke David directly? Why did Nathan choose to use a parable to

show David his sin?

(2) In the parable Nathan used:

a. How wicked was the sin of the rich man according to David?

b. Was the poor man really comparable to Uriah? Why or why not?

c. Yet, what was the reaction of David to this story (presumably he thought it was a

real story) and what was his verdict on the rich man?

(3) When Nathan said, “You are the man!” Do you think David at once knew what he

was talking about? Why or why not?

(4) From the words of the Lord:

a. What special favor did David receive from Him?

b. How heinous were his sins before the Lord?

c. What was the curse he now faced as a result?

d. Was God’s punishment commensurate with David’s sins? Why or why not?

(5) Read Matthew 1:6, which is part of the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ: does the

Biblical author mention the name of this wife of David? Whose wife does the

Biblical author maintain Bathsheba was?

(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

V. Meditative Reflection

Day 204 Serving God His way!

“Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?” (2 Samuel 7:5)

David’s desire to build a house for the Lord was indeed very admirable. To think of

himself dwelling in a grand palace and yet the Lord remained in a makeshift tent, this truly

reflected David’s love for the Lord, although theologically speaking, God does not dwell

in anything earthly as Solomon rightly observed, “The heavens even the highest heaven

cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27)

I am sure, the Lord was very delighted with David’s desire, nonetheless. However, as

admirable as the desire of David was, the Lord said, “Are you the one to build me a house

to dwell in?” (7:5) As it turned out as we know, it was God’s plan that his son, Solomon,

would build His temple.

Even Nathan made the mistake of thinking that because it was such a good desire

David could do whatever he had in mind since the Lord was with him (7:3).

This is a very important lesson for us to learn as we seek to serve the Lord. Not

everything we desire is necessarily of God, even if our intention is noble — planting a

church, doing a short-term mission or starting a new ministry. We need to inquire of the

Lord and obey His will and His timing. Otherwise, we are asking the Lord to follow us

instead!

Day 205 Special in God’s Eyes

“Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?” (2 Samuel 7:19)

David was completely overwhelmed by the reply of the Lord through Nathan. He was

thinking of building a house of God, yet in return, God covenanted with him to build his

house forever instead.

I am sure that David also knew, as his son did, that God did not really dwell in a house

built by man. His real intention was to express his love and thankfulness to God for

blessing him and his people, by defeating all his enemies and for making his name great

among the nations. I suspect the building of a place of permanency for the Lord, in the

mind of David, was a way to commit the Lord to dwell among them, to be with them

forever, unlike what happened to them in the times of the Judges and during Saul’s reign

too.

In return, he did receive what he asked for eventually, although he would not be the

one who built the temple of the Lord. This honor was given to his son, Solomon. But the

promise he received in return overwhelmed him because instead of him building a house

for the Lord, the Lord had promised to build a house for him, an everlasting house! This

prompted David to exclaim, “Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign

Lord? What more can David say to you?” (7:19-20)

We are no David obviously, and yet this is how the Sovereign Lord has dealt with us

too! We, who were not part of the race of Israel, and had never even cared about anything

about God, let alone His house, were received into that everlasting house He promised

David, the Kingdom established by the Son of David, the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Such has been made possible through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus on the cross in the

new covenant of His blood (1 Corinthians 11:25). Indeed, we are just as special as David

is in God’s eyes.

Day 206 The Model of Theocracy

“The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. David reigned over all Israel,

doing what is just and right for all his people.” (2 Samuel 8: 14-15)

Ever since the delivery of the people out of their bondage in Egypt, it had been God’s

desire that Israel would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:6). After

many years of tolerating the waywardness and idol worship of the people, the Lord

eventually found a king after His own heart who would reign over His people in justice

and righteousness, so that He could honor His promise to give His people an undisturbed

home, free from the oppression of wicked people and find rest from all their enemies (2

Samuel 7:10-11).

No matter how short this period of just and righteous reign under David was, it must

have been a great delight to the Lord, because finally Israel, though under a monarchy in

structure, was really under theocracy in essence.

While “David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people”

(8:15), “The Lord gave David victory wherever he went” (8:6, 14). As chapter 8 of

Second Samuel details the great victories of David, basically defeating and subduing

enemies to the south, west, north and east, it is a clear echo of Psalm 33 in that, “Blessed is

the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance” (Psalm 33:12).

It was true then, it is still true today!

Day 207 Blessings in Disguise

“There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.” (2 Samuel 9:3)

As I was reading the life of Jonathan, I could not help but wish that he could have a

better ending. Such an upright person who stood up to the wrong of his father; risked his

life for a good friend, David, and was willing to serve him as king, although he was the

true heir-apparent to the throne; ended up dying in the battle field — paying a price for the

sin of his father.

But the reading of how David extended his kindness to Mephibosheth gave me great

comfort to know that God is indeed good to those who was righteous. Mephibosheth

might consider himself unfortunate in being crippled as a boy while fleeing from Saul’s

enemies. However, had he not been crippled, he probably would have been used by

Abner, setting him up as king over Israel in an attempt to seize power and to go to war

against David. His fate would have been not too different from Ishbosheth. But as it

happened, he was immune to any political ploy and was left alone in relative peace. Now,

as the son of Jonathan, he was blessed with the protection and provision by the king.

Often, we complain to the Lord for the misfortune that we have come across, but the

Apostle Paul reminds us that “All things God works for the good of those who love Him,

who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) It was true to

Mephiboshethe, it is true to all those God loves.

Day 208 Rest in the Lord

“I will also give you rest from all your enemies.” (2 Samuel 7:11 )

One of the features of David’s many psalms is his praise and thanksgiving amidst his

life of suffering. Indeed, one cannot help but pity David who was constantly plagued by

enemies. One wonders what happened to God’s promised rest for him!

Sure, after his sin of adultery, many of his sufferings were a result of his own doing —

rape, murder among his children and his eventual fleeing for his life because of Absalom.

However, a good part of his trouble came from running away from Saul and from

engaging his enemies. But God’s promised rest does not mean a life of comfort and ease,

free from trouble and warfare, but the giving of victory and deliverance from all his

enemies. This is the promise God has honored in David’s life and He has given the same

promise to all His children.

Jesus has promised rest for our soul (Matthew 11:29), and that has nothing to do with

our circumstances. As we learn to trust in him, we too will find deliverance from all

situations. As to victory over our enemies, we do not have external enemies like David,

but we do have our enemy within — our old self. If we allow sin to rule over us, we

cannot hope to enjoy real rest in the Lord, and the blame is on us, not on the Lord.

Day 209 The Wicked Heart of Men

“After the time of mourning was over, David had her (Bathsheba) brought to his

house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done

displeased the Lord.” (2 Samuel 11:27)

As much as I have read the story of David’s adultery with Bathsheba many times, I am

still shocked by how heinous his sins were and how wicked David was. He was not just

any king, but a king after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

However, I am also reminded once again by the biblical truth that the heart of man is

deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9), and so given the right circumstances, we are all

capable of committing the most horrific sin. Though in shock, there are important lessons

we can all learn from David’s failure:

(1) The destructive power of lust: Even before this incident, David was given to lust

already. He was not satisfied with six wives (2 Samuel 3:2-5), but kept adding to his

“collection” of wives and concubines. He was never a “one-woman” kind of husband;

(2) The delusive power of success: as he kept gaining victory after victory, he was lured

into a false sense of security, and thus even during a season given to wars (11:1), he

chose to remain in the comfort of his palace in Jerusalem, and let his own men risk

their lives fighting against the many enemies. His comfort and ease had lured him into

a life of leisure, napping even before bedtime, loitering on the roof only to be caught

by the seducing Bathsheba. In other words, David had lost his sense of mission;

(3) The corruption of absolute power: without him knowing, David had adopted the

mindset of the kings of the neighboring nations. With absolute power came absolute

corruption of power. The lack of accountability emboldened David to take

somebody’s wife without shame;

(4) The temptation of cover-up: while his act of adultery might be a spur-of-a-moment

weakness, his subsequent steps to cover up his sin were calculated and pre-meditated.

Hosea was right, adultery does take away one’s understanding (Hosea 4:11 );

(5) The searing of conscience: I was totally amazed by the faithfulness shown by

Bathsheba’s husband which should not only put David to shame, but wake up his

conscience. But David, whose heart did love the Lord and was normally honest

without guile, had allowed his desire to cover up his affair to sear his conscience

beyond hope;

(6) The downward spiral of death: one can safely say that David’s soul by then was as

good as dead as he plotted to murder Uriah at all cost — causing the death of other

fighting men alongside Uriah.

Even the most horrific sin begins with a first step. David’s uncontrolled desire for lust

had set the stage for his own destruction. This powerful king lost not in the hands of his

powerful enemies, but to his own lust. What a lesson for us all!

Day 210 How Precious is the Forgiveness of God

“Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised

me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.” (2 Samuel 12:10 )

This was the judgment pronounced by God upon David because of his sins of adultery

and murder: “Now, therefore the sword will never depart from you house…Out of your

own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take

your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in

broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all

Israel.” (12:10-12)

As serious and harsh as the judgment was, it still was not commensurate with the

crime he had committed. Whether it was adultery or murder, David deserved to be put to

death according to the law of Moses (Leviticus 20:10; Numbers 35:30).

However, to a person who truly loves the Lord, death is not the most severe penalty,

but the departure of God in one’s life, and that was why David prayed in his prayer of

penitence, “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm

51:11).

Perhaps, too, God in His omniscience knew David would truly repent; and that with a

contrite and broken spirit, David obviously did receive God’s forgiveness. However, that

does not mean that he did not have to face the “natural consequence” of his sin.

Forgiveness means the restoration of our fellowship with God, but the forgiven David

still had to face the calamities in his family, which were not so much a curse from God, but

the natural consequence of his sins of adultery and his example of cold-bloodedness.

However, the most precious thing for David was, as much as he still needed to face all

these calamities, that he was not facing all these alone; God was with him all the way.

How precious is the forgiveness of God!

VI. A Time for Silence

You have meditated much with your intellectual faculty today. Now have a moment of

silence (the length is up to you, 5 or even 30 minutes), and ask God quietly, “Lord, is there

any important message from you today that I might have missed? Show me, your servant

is listening?”

VII. Supplication

Use the following chart to cover people and ministries that you want to remember before

the Lord, apart from praying for yourself:

Your

family

Other

people

Church

Ministries

Other

Ministries

City &

World Others

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

VII. Benediction

“May your Spirit guide my mind, may its lethargy be healed, may my mind be set to find

Christ in everything revealed”. Amen. (Johann Freylinghausen, 1670-1739)