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?
Maw 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 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
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. Surrounded 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, was 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