Week 6 - March 7, 2010
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and he said:
"Who am I, O Sovereign Lord what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord ?
"What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O Lord, have become their God. "And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, 'The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will be established before you. "O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever “ 1 Samuel 7: 18 - 29
In response to God’s promise, David lifted a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God. David knew that God’s words were “trustworthy.” You can also depend on God to keep His word. How will you honor him through prayer?
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You may enjoy these devotional web sites:
www.bible.com www.pray-as-you-go.org www.sacredspace.org www.upperroom.org |
Recommended Reading:
Blue Like Jazz by Don Miller
Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Serve God, Save The Planet: A Christian Call to Action by J. Matthew Sleeth,M.D.
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
A Cafecito Story by Julia Alvarez |
Week 1 - January 31, 2010
The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.
On that day, David said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those 'lame and blind' who are David's enemies.” That is why they say, "The 'blind and lame' will not enter the palace."
David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him. 2 Samuel 5:6-10 (NIV)
This scripture passage reveals that Jerusalem is a place of protection. As you travel this week, be mindful of the many ways that God protects us – physically, mentally and spiritually. Salvation, through Jesus, is the ultimate protection. Thank God for this most precious gift. Think of individuals or others who are vulnerable and who feel unprotected. Lift them up in prayer that they may feel God’s protective presence in their lives.
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Week 2 – February 7, 2010
Now King David was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.
2 Samuel 6:12 (NIV) The ark of God was God’s earthly dwelling place. David recognized that there were blessings in the presence of God. As the scripture notes “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has…” By bringing the ark of God to the City of David, David established Jerusalem as a place of God’s presence, and consequently, a place of blessing. As you journey this week, recall times when you have felt God’s presence and the blessings that have followed.
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Week 3 February 14, 2010
“When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.”
2 Samuel 6:13-15
In this passage, Jerusalem is described as a place of sacrifice and praise. As you enter the Lenten season this week, what sacrifice(s) will you make? How will you praise God?
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Week 4 - February 21, 2010
They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. 2 Samuel 6:17-19 (NIV)
David rejoiced after returning the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem. He then blessed the Israelites by giving them bread and cakes. He provided for them, thus making Jerusalem a place of provision. How has God provided for you? How have you used your provisions to be a blessing to others? How will you use your provisions during this Lenten season?
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Week 5 - February 28, 2010
I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
" 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.' " 2 Samuel 7:9 -16 (NIV) Through the prophet Nathan, God revealed His promise to David. Through His word, God has revealed promises to all of us. What promises has god fulfilled in your life? What promises have you made to God? How have you fulfilled them?
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