May 1
2 Samuel
23:8-12; 1 Chronicles 11:10-14; 2 Samuel 21:19-22;
1
Chronicles 20:5-8; 2 Samuel 10:1-19; 1 Chronicles 19:1-19;
Psalm
33:1-22; 2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Chronicles20:1a
Blessed be
the Name of the Lord. My Father, how wonderful
are Your works. Even the secret chambers
of my heart are brought to surrender in the wake of my failures. Certainly, I marvel at the evidence of Your
majesty throughout this earth and across the heavens, but the greatest
trembling of awe is what You create within me – a new heart and a renewed
mind. What is impossible to do? You have done it and more! There is none like You, O Lord. I have enslaved myself to Your plan, and I
have freedom at long last. Yes, it is so
true, just as David and the nation of
May 2
2 Samuel
11:2 to 12:24a; Psalm 6:1-10; 32:1-11; 38:1-22
Father, my
Shield and Protector, forgive me for neglecting Your protection. How many times, Lord, can a man let down His
guard – his shield of faith? How many
fiery darts must be endured before I learn?
I love You, and I know, Father, when I am about the business of loving
others, I will not be tripped by the enemy.
Pre-occupation with self-focus leaves me so vulnerable. But Lord, You renew my mind – You change my
steps to a true path – You lead me into the battle and You protect my flanks –
You also follow behind, ready to rescue when one falls. You will lose no one. You are the Ranger of all eternal existence
and I worship You. Father, You are just,
but I appeal to Your grace, and I find at the cross that neither are
absent. Justice and mercy flow like
mighty streams from the heart of the God of grace down the hill
May 3
Psalm
51:1-19; 103:1-22; 2 Samuel 12:26-31; 1 Chronicles20:1b-3;
Psalm
21:1-13; 2 Samuel 12:24b-25; 2 Samuel 8:2;
1
Chronicles 18:2; 2 Samuel 23:20a; 1 Chronicles 11:22a;
2 Samuel
8:3-4; 1 Chronicles 18:3-4; 2 Samuel 8:7-8;
1
Chronicles 18:7-8; 2 Samuel 8:5-6; 1 Chronicles 18:5-6
Father,
today’s reading continues the process of David’s repentance, but turns later to
the many victories of David’s later military campaigns in the outer parts of
those areas promised by God previously.
Also, there is a hint of Joab’s loss of respect for David. But my strongest leading today, Lord, is to
continue in repentant prayer as David is doing as this reading opens. Psalm 51 has been such a ministry to me in my
walk with You. But it grieves me to
write that its needfulness has been all too frequent. My heart fills with gratefulness when I
consider the durability of Your mercy.
It truly never fails. My merciful
Father, of all the works of Your hands, the most awe-inspiring to me is the
work of creation in the human heart.
David clearly knew Christ. He
clearly knew that his Lord was at the right hand of the Lord. Only such an advocacy as that, only the
sacrifice of Divinity can lift the burden of guilt from the mind of man. Amen.
May 4
Psalm
124:1-8; 108:1-13; 60:1-12; 2 Samuel 8:9-14;
1
Chronicles 18:9-13; Psalm 44:1-26; 20:1-9; 2 Samuel 23:18-19;
1
Chronicles
Father, how
easily we forget that our Father is the Source of victory. You are the Source of victory because You are
the Supreme Good and all true goodness originates with You. O Father, wonderful Lord, I know this
generally, for all of creation proclaims it with unmistakable vividness. And my Lord of Glory, I know it specifically
because even more vivid is the explosion of intimacy in my heart. You regenerated that which was dead. You made the unrighteous to be
converted. You have made the corrupted
to be cleansed. You make all things
new. I think of the song, “You ask me
how I know He lives. He lives within my
heart!” You have made the Christ to be
the firstfruit – alive from the dead.
And because He lives, my heart is no longer made of stone. Father, make me strong – and Lord, do not put
more on me than I can bear. I know You
will not, because of Your promise. I
believe You. Energize that belief,
Father, against all my enemies. You are
my victory! Amen.
May 5
2 Samuel
23:20b-39; 1 Chronicles 11:22b-47; 2 Samuel 8:15-18;
1
Chronicles 18:14-17; 2 Samuel 7:1-29; 1 Chronicles 17:1-27
Father, You
are my Rock – can anyone truly promise except for You? But You Lord, when one considers Your love
with Your ability, and Your ability with Your love; one cannot contain the
exhilaration of receiving a promise from You.
Because of all beings in time and space, there are none that can
dependably promise anything. I cannot
imagine how David must have felt when he heard the words from Nathan – when he
heard the Word of the Lord. But then I
remind myself, a similar promise and greater, has been given to me by the One
Who is Truth. The thoughts and
comparisons encourage me so, my Lord. I
think of David and his foolish indiscretions both before this promise and after
this promise, and it reminds me that Your purpose will prevail over all
obstacles, even the obstacles of disobedience and foolishness. The reason I am encouraged is obvious. Thank You for the Promise given at the Cross
and sealed at the Resurrection. Amen.
May 6
Psalm
138:1-8; 139:1-24; 145:1-21; 2 Samuel 21:1-14; 9:1-13;
Psalm 8:1-9
O Lord, our
Lord, Your majesty is seen throughout the heavens and the earth; and yet there
is no point in all of creation that You are far from, except the heart of the
proud. My Father, keep Your servant from
pridefulness. I understand this prayer
could lead to undesired pain, but may I always and automatically default to
Your will. I only care that You keep me
and consume me into Your glory, Father.
Bless those around me with an awareness of Your presence and Your
willingness to deliver and establish.
Father, may all my actions this day reflect the heart of Christ. The knowledge of You is indeed too lofty, too
wonderful to digest even a morsel, but Father I reach to Your Tree of Life
nevertheless. The spiritual landscape in
our world is dry and thirsty, but those who know You find water in the
Rock. You shade us with Your hand and
protect us with Your wings. Be praised,
our gracious Lord; be blessed. Amen.
May 7
2 Samuel
5:13-16; 1 Chronicles 14:3-7; 3:4b-9;
2 Samuel
13:1 to 15:6
Merciful
Father, the inescapable conclusion from today’s reading is, “Be sure your sins
will find you out.” We read of David’s
public sin with Bathsheba and we have hints of possibly numerous private
sins. It seems that David, in the taking
of many wives and concubines, cannot gain control of his passion, even in the
wake of the disastrous effect of his son’s death. But Father, rather than just reading and
pointing, I confess my private sins, and any unknown sins, and I plead Your
mercy in those and in any public sins, which have been numerous in my
life. It is true that “sins will find
you out,” and it is equally true that the sins of the world are “found out” at
the cross. Father, I do not dare come
before Your throne naked with sins in my hands.
I come only by way of Jesus – by the cross – clothed only in His
righteousness, cleansed only by the blood of Jesus. Grant my victory through Him. Amen.
May 8
2 Samuel
24:1-25; 1 Chronicles 21:1-30; 2 Samuel 15:7-36
My faithful
Father in heaven, may this writer and whoever may be reading these words
realize the One Who is trustworthy and loving is the One Who is above all and
in all and through all. How is it,
Father, that our spiritual senses can become so dull so quickly? How is it that we can suddenly find security
in the insecure? And Father, what can
cause a man to look into the mirror of death to find a guide? David apparently had lost his way in the
delusion of previous successes. He
forgot that the Lord raised him up and that his own way brought only
destruction. Father, it is a fearfully
wonderful thing that You have allowed all of this to be recorded for our
reproof and correction. And I think few
will read and not identify with these failures of David; but O Lord, please allow
Your Spirit to soften our hearts and bring the full effect of such teaching to
bear on our lives. Father, change us –
may we come to realize that Your love can be trusted above all. Amen.
May 9
Psalm
3:1-8; 4:1-8; 11:1-7; 23:1-6; 26:1-12; 2 Samuel 16:1-14;
Psalm
12:1-8; 36:1-12
Gracious
Shepherd, keep me close to Your staff of assurance and Your rod of
discipline. I could read of David and
think remotely but the truth is the relation is incredibly close. The spiritual battles are continual, the
treachery of the flesh unceasing, and the cursing of the principalities
relentless. But my comfort is in You, O
Lord and loving Shepherd. I know that if
I (like a lamb) will draw close in – close to my Shepherd, that even while the
frightening eyes blink from the dark forest line and even though the menacing
growls should come from the ranks around me, Your love can be trusted – Your
protection is assured. You gave Your
all. No wickedness can stand against
You, because You have already made a spectacle of the utter defeat of all that
would harm. You and You alone are my
confidence, O Lord. Amen.
May 10
Psalm
37:1-40; 9:1-20; 10:1-18; 2 Samuel
Psalm
27:1-14
My Father,
how full my heart becomes when I look into Your Word and hear Your voice. The theme today is consistent. Your providence must be apprehended by
faith. Commit, trust, refrain, turn,
dwell, praise, sing. So powerfully
illustrated here is Your justice and the utter futility of the wicked and
proud. We may witness their prosperity,
but it is a fleeting and hopeless prosperity.
Even before their last breath is drawn they come face to face with the
meaninglessness of their worldview.
Father, all around us the problem looms as a giant but the answer
dominates the landscape. Your justice,
Lord, is certain and terrible; but flowing from that same justice is the
everlasting mercy of the Divine Benevolence; extending toward us, even into our
most guarded insecurities. Your love
invades our comfort zones in wonderful and frightening ways. You are truly my light and my salvation, and
though all the imps of the air should focus on me, Your deliverance is
certain. Teach me Your way, Lord. Amen.
May 11
Psalm
28:1-9; 39:1-13; 41:1-13; 42:1-11; 43:1-5;
2 Samuel
Gracious,
Almighty, and All-wise Lord, I continue to be stunned by Your mercy – by the
use of the pronoun “my.” You are my God,
my Rock, my Redeemer, my Provider, my Protector – thank You dear Lord. You could only allow this Father from Your
very heart, through the blood of Your Son.
This is too wonderful for comprehension.
Father, cleanse me – purge me and prune me; that I might be fit for
service. Go before me into the
battleground for my soul and for Your ineffable Name. Restore my hope – strengthen my face as I
stand against the enemy. You have become
life to me. Please do not turn
away. Receive my repentance and shepherd
my mind. You spoiled the good advice of
Ahithophel and You elevated the lesser advice of Hushai. You granted favor in the sight of
May 12
Psalm
55:1-23; 58:1-11; 61:1-8; 62:1-12; 63:1-11;
2 Samuel
17:24-26; 1 Chronicles
My Savior,
the intensity of David’s situation provides for these passionate Psalms. He alternates continually between praise to
You and prayer against his enemies. When
he considers his enemies, he always calls to You. He knows that only You can deliver. Our ability to identify spiritually with this
should be strong. One of the strong
themes throughout these Psalms is that salvation is from God. It is not from our strength. It is not from our weapons. It is not from our numbers. It is from the Lord and Him alone. It is from You. Father, that is why You sent Jesus. He is the salvation of God. Spiritually we struggle with that truth,
because we want to be able to contribute to our welfare. We want to contribute to our revival from
deadness in sin. But we are totally
incapable. May we understand that,
Father, and run to You - as individuals and as a nation. Our country needs to know that only Your
strength brings victory. Amen.
May 13
2 Samuel
18:19-33; Psalm 64:1-10; 70:1-5; 84:1-12;141:1-10;
143:1-12; 2
Samuel 19:1-43
Father in
Heaven, may the understanding and awareness of your essence that was in David,
be also in me. My Lord, I hold so
tightly to my comforts. I put You first
in everything but then I compromise. The
counsel of many brings confusion. They
say, “trust God” but then they say, “God helps those who help themselves.” There are many mixed messages of many centers
of “sovereignty.” But I truly think
David understood the balance. He thought
quickly, he fled quickly, and he acted prudently and expeditiously. But here he is – emptied – casting all of his
security needs upon You. He took refuge
in You. He hid in You. And he trusts only in Your righteousness. He knew he could not access You in any other
way. He meditated on Your ways, he
remembered You, and he spread his hands toward you; but in the end, he knew
that his righteousness was flawed, his spirit failing, and only amazing grace
could bring him to You. Amen.
May 14
2 Samuel
20:1-26; Psalm 140:1-13; 1 Chronicles 22:1-19;
Psalm
29:1-11; 30:1-12
My Lord of
Glory, hallowed be Your Name. Your
May 15
1
Chronicles 1-23; 6:16-30;
Father, it
seems appropriate today that we should consider the order of priesthood
regarding worship – regarding service to You.
Levites, the Aaronites, the ones set apart to You: the Most Holy
One. Out of all that David did,
preparing for the
May 16
1
Chronicles 25:1-31;
Father, I
think David secured the designation of “man after God’s own heart” as a result
of his diligence concerning the things in this section. The careful assignments and administration of
the musicians, the prophets, the gatekeepers, the attendants at the Tabernacle
and the Tent of Meeting, and even the assignments east of the Jordan. And of course, there were the watchmen over
the treasuries. The Levites were more
than just a religious factor in the nation of
May 17
1
Chronicles 27:1 to 29:22; 1 Kings 1:1-27
Holy
Father, today I can’t help thinking of Your omniscience. You are not bound by time and space. You relate to man in time and space through
the Word and through the Word made flesh.
But You are not bound by such. As
David spoke to Solomon of the
May 18
1 Kings
2 Samuel
23:1-7; 1 Kings 2:10-11; 1 Chronicles 29:26-30;
1 Kings
Thank You,
my loving Father, for Psalm 25.
Certainly there is much to be received in the reading of the responses
from the treacherous Adonijah and Joab.
There is plenty to consider in the circumstances in David’s expeditious
actions regarding the installation of Solomon as king. And his final instructions to Solomon, as
well as the oracle of his last words spoken, should truly give anyone pause. But Father, You know my heart – You know I
must pitch my tent this day at the 25th Psalm. Truly, it is the Psalm of the Savior and the
Song of the Sanctifier. Lord, it is the
lonely cry of a faithful king who has recognized his failures and his
propensity to fail. But it is inspired
from a heavenly place – it is inspired from Your heart, O Lord. Your words, gracious Redeemer, are true and
just and merciful; and they are healing balm to my broken heart. Thank You.
Amen.
May 19
1 Kings
Psalm
72:1-20
My
marvelous Savior, wonderful Lord, and loving Father; how I long for Your
Spirit. I crave Your protection from my
soul’s enemy – from myself. I know the
faith You have given me is active and acquires Your grace. I know Your guidance is assured and Your
deliverance is true. You have saved me
from the pit that relentlessly seeks me.
Your promises never fail, though I fail.
You are forever faithful. Your
mercies, Father, endure beyond the limits of this universe, and they endure
beyond the extent of my trespasses. You
have given me a robe that is washed in the righteous blood of Your Son. You overcame all unrighteousness; and by
grace through faith I can rest in You.
Father, Your mercies are truly inexpressible in their scope. You command Your children to show mercy seven
times seventy every day to reflect Your mercy unbound by numbers or
limits. Father, send Your Holy
Spirit. Grant the victory which is
assured through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
May 20
Psalm
50:1-23; Song of Songs 1:1 to
Lord of the
lilies, when You call for thank offerings, You do not just call for the
activities of one’s voice. You call for
the activity of the heart – for the preparation of the heart to see the
salvation of God. You call for
repentance – a true turning – a true ceasing of the pursuit of iniquity. Father, this psalm is so sobering to me,
because I see so much of myself in the object of Your warnings. I know this must change and so I cry out to
You now with a heart of gratitude.
Because, Father, it is clear: salvation can only come from You. Jesus could never be of this earth, but how
gratefully I acknowledge to You, my Father, that Jesus came to this earth to
take my sin upon His righteous Being and to give Himself to You. I have no sacrifice but that which You
provided: Jesus; and I thank You with my heart and my voice. Forgive me for treating Your grace
cheaply. Thank You for Your embrace. Amen.
May 21
Song of
Songs 5:1 to
2
Chronicles 2:1; 2 Chronicles 2:3-16
Beloved
Redeemer, You are altogether lovely.
Your beauty flows from twin rivers of majesty and tenderness. Your love feeds the streams of mercy and
grace. And these, my Lord, like an
elevator of eternity carry justice high above all that You create and
throughout all that You sustain. Your
relentless loving-kindness along with my perpetual neglect leaves me truly
“faint with love.” Your church can be so
fickled – so inconsistent, but Your faithful care never misses a beat. Forgive us, Father – mold us, make us, rebuke
us, correct us, guide us into the fullness of the image of Christ. The Marriage Supper approaches, and I
anticipate it with an aching heart.
Father, until then grant us the wisdom of Your Spirit, which exceeds
even Solomon’s. Fill me to overflowing,
Father, that I might keep this temple pure and completely devoted to You. Amen.
May 22
1 Kings
5:13-18; 2 Chronicles 2:2;
1 Kings
9:15-16;
1 Kings
6:1-38; 2 Chronicles 3:1-17; Psalm 127:1-5;
1 Kings
7:1-12
Our Father,
Who knows all of time in the eternal, You ordained the glory of Your Name from
everlasting to everlasting. You know
Solomon’s heart and all his days, as You do mine. It is this very fact that brings me to cry to
You, emptied of all personal ability.
The intimacy is astonishing, Father, that You would grant such a
detailed physical look at the
May 23
1 Kings
7:13-51; 2 Chronicles 4:1 to 5:1; 1 Kings 8:1-21;
2
Chronicles 5:2-14
Merciful
Father, what grace this section speaks of!
The unrecordable multitude of sacrifices, the diligent obedience of the
king and his people, and the attention to detail are all appropriate; but all
must stop in the presence of Your glory.
The dark cloud brought all priestly activity to a halt. You truly are the God of grace. The anticipation of the Savior is
intense. Our Father, You have always
been the source of salvation. Our evil
is always before us, condemning us, until You provide for its removal. Jesus, You are a High Priest Who does not
need to bathe in the
May 24
2 Chronicles
6:1 1-11; 1 Kings
My awesome
Father, Almighty Savior, it gives me such pause to think that I, in this year,
on this day, read of another day in the past.
This distance of time back to this event is measurable, and the amazing
event actually occurred. But what is
even more sobering to me is that I know of so much that was future to that
time. When Solomon prays, using the word
“if,” I already know much about the direction the people will ultimately go
(including Solomon). And how many of my
prayers are recorded in heaven? I know
what I prayed and I know what has happened since. How easy it is to forget that You have no
such restrictions of time or knowledge or even space. You know what I will do this afternoon and
what I will do (or not do) a year from now.
You see all of the past, present, and future always right now. And this is why, my glorious Father, that
Your mercy endures forever. This is why
You gave – this is why You are love.
Thank You. Amen.
May 25
1 Kings
8:62-66; 2 Chronicles 7:4-10; Psalm 132:1-18;
1 Kings
9:1-9; 2 Chronicles 7:11-22; 1 Kings 9:10-14;
2
Chronicles 8:1-3; 1 Kings 9:24; 2 Chronicles 8:11;
1 Kings
9:25; 2 Chronicles 8:12-16; 1 Kings 9:17-19;
2
Chronicles 8:4-6; 1 Kings 9:26-28; 2 Chronicles 8:17-18;
1 Kings
My Lord,
there is so much to celebrate in this reading, and yet there seems to be a
cloud of doom that hangs over all of it.
Your words to Solomon sound more like prophecy than warning. Father, this is the story of two “if,s.” You have given two oracles; one an oracle of
cursing and one an oracle of blessing, both with that contingent, “if.” You speak clearly and directly of cutting off
the people from the land and destroying the
May 26
1 Kings
10:1-13; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12; 1 Kings 4:1-19;
1 Kings
4:29-34; Proverbs 1:1-33
Father,
when I read of Solomon, including this first chapter of Proverbs, my emotions
rise up entangled. Much of what Solomon
wrote became an indictment of his later conduct. I think we should be greatly sobered by this,
because even the most magnificent God-given wisdom can yield to the lust of the
flesh. At the same time, I think there
is encouragement to be found here. Not
because of anything in man, but because of what is in You, Lord. If You can keep Solomon even through his
idolatry and if You can turn his heart once again to You, then we all can know
that Your mercy endures forever. But
Father, let it not be, that we should handle Your mercy cheaply. We must recognize Your authority, and we must
yield our members in total surrender.
Complete obedience should be our goal, not out of legalistic necessity,
but out of the urgency of divine love flowing from Your Spirit out of our
hearts like rivers of living water. We
must take up our cross – die daily – be crucified with Christ that He might
live through us. May it be so, dear
Father. Amen.
May 27
Proverbs
2:1 to
Father, I
love and look to You because You are the Source for wisdom. And that is what I need to know to determine
the value of wisdom. It is good to know
how it will help me and what it will do.
It is also good to know what will happen if wisdom is neglected or
forsaken. But the number one criterion
to me for determining the value of wisdom is that wisdom comes from You, My
Father. True wisdom can only come from
You. It flows from Your goodness, Your
love, Your majesty, and from Your infinite knowledge. We are told that all we have to do is ask in
faith, and we will receive Your wisdom liberally. Father, I ask for it today. You have allowed much knowledge to be
encountered by me. Now, Lord, grant me
the wisdom that I might share the knowledge of Your ways with others. Surround me with divine benevolence, fill me
with divine power, and use me as You reveal Your glory, my Father. Amen.
May 28
Proverbs
5:1 to
My
wonderful Father, how carefully You care for those You love. The reading today makes that so evident. You have encouraged me in the strongest terms
to get wisdom, and You have warned me in the strongest terms to avoid
foolishness. Father, I am desperately
short on the first and tragically entrenched in the second. How many times I have instructed my children
in such matters, only to turn aside into failure myself. How do I pray to You, Father? How do I ask?
v I am blessed with Your Word.
Ø Father, may I be blessed by Your Word?
v I am blessed with Your Spirit.
Ø O Savior, may I be blessed by Your Spirit?
v I read that You are a consuming
fire.
Ø My Lord, please purify Your child
this day.
Sanctify me
in each breath. Cleanse my thoughts,
renew my mind, and take me into the raging fire of total consecration. Consume my life for Your glory. For Yours alone, my God. Amen.
May 29
Proverbs
8:1 to
Father, all
wisdom must come from the All-Wise. You
are the Source and Your Word tells me that You dispense wisdom liberally to
those who ask, as long as they are committed to the way of righteousness. Wavering faith and double minds will only
draw a blank. When the earth and the
heavens were made; when the mountains and the oceans, the deserts and the seas
were made, we know that Job was not there.
But one was there – wisdom.
Wisdom was there because knowledge was there. Knowledge was there because You, my Father,
my Lord, were there. Lord, may wisdom be
found in me and me in wisdom. Help me to
understand the darkness of foolishness even in those times when it comes
flooding in with all its adornments.
Please, my awesome Savior, receive me to Your breast, and hide me
there. Be glorified, my Lord. Amen.
May 30
Proverbs
11:1 to
Father,
Christ, Spirit – the wisdom of all ages flows from Your holiness. Your knowledge flows from Your goodness. If only Your children would hear and turn. Spirit of God grant a heart of flesh,
sensitive to Your presence, joyous of Your correction, and surrendered to Your
guidance. Plant the seedlings of
integrity, prudence, kindness, thrift, generosity, and righteousness into the
soil of my heart; and please, my Father, water them with Your holy Word. Lord, today, as I read through these measures
of wisdom, I realize that as much as I need these godly virtues; the most
important thing I need is focus. Indeed,
it could lead naturally to all the others.
And ultimately, the greatest of all these is righteousness - not the
righteousness that comes from personal deeds - that contains too many stains of
iniquity. But Father, we need the
imputed righteousness of Christ, which has no stains at all. Amen.
May 31
Proverbs
14:1 to
Merciful
Father, the faith that I have is given by You.
My ability to use it is an ability granted by You. My choice to activate or suppress my belief
in You is also an allowance that You are in control of. Nevertheless, the choice is genuine. Today, Father, I make no choices but to cry
to You. It blows my mind that anyone
could truly have the “fear of the Lord” and still entertain occasions of indulging
one’s own flesh. But this truly seems to
happen, Father. How can anyone fear You,
while suppressing an awareness of Your presence? It seems at times that we choose to craft a
fog-filled cocoon and then zip ourselves into it. These things should not be, Father. Please, my loving Father, whatever it takes,
whatever discipline or revelation or rebuke – please lead me and keep me in the
safety of true reverence. May the fear
of the Lord never be absent in me. Amen.
Ó
2007 C. E. Briggs