Psalm 18:1
“I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.” Now set to music, David’s song begins a little differently. The most recognizable difference between 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18 is the addition of this one sentence to begin his song of deliverance. The calamity he had faced had led to knowing and loving his Deliverer more. 2 Samuel 22:29-31 “For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” David’s love for the Lord grew through the trials he faced. What if we looked at our trials that way… If what we face makes us know and love the Lord more, is it not worth it? It is easier to wait if we spend our time knowing and loving Him. The pain is less felt when we are focused on Him. Suffering and affliction are valuable additions to our lives while we endure them we choose to turn to Him. David acknowledged the Lord was the Source of his strength. Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” He lovingly depended upon the Lord for his strength to carry on. We can choose to do the same in our times of calamity. In times of waiting, love Him. In times of discouragement, praise Him. In times of suffering, seek Him. In times of doubt, trust Him. Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 15-16 | Colossians 4
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2 Samuel 22:1
“And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:” For David, it was his enemies that caused his calamity. He refers to them 17 times within this chapter. But as many times as he focused on them, he chose to look to the Lord many more…at least 85 times. David chose to focus on his Deliverer instead of his oppressors. 2 Samuel 22:2-3 “And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.” Who is He to you today? As your Rock, He gives stability. As your Fortress, He gives safety. As your Deliverer, He gives salvation. Do you trust Him today? As your Shield, He gives shelter. As the Horn of Your Salvation, He gives strength. As your High Tower, He gives security. As your Refuge, He gives peace. As your Saviour, He gives deliverance. Compare 2 Samuel 22 to Psalm 18. It is almost as if our chapter today is a first draft before the song is set to music. David left us such an example that when times get hard, we can trust the Lord. 2 Samuel 22:31 “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” When we don’t understand why or even what is happening, He does. 2 Samuel 22:33 “God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.” Choose to be thankful in your circumstances today. 2 Samuel 22:50 “Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.” Allow your thanksgiving to turn to praise, even in the midst of those who are against you. Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 13-14 | Colossians 3 2 Samuel 22:19
“They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.” Sometimes, our unbelief keeps us in a place too long, which can lead to calamity. Calamity: an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster. Have you ever had a calamity take place in your life? He knew where to turn in the days of his calamity. 2 Samuel 22:7 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.” The Lord heard him…and He answered. The Lord was his stay…He supported him. If you are in distress…call upon Him, and cry unto Him. He may not answer the way you want or expect, but He will do what He knows is best. His answer to David involved an earthquake, thunder, and lightning because of His wrath defending David. Perhaps the Lord wants to shake the very ground you walk each day. Instead of being fearful, rejoice that the Lord will fight the battle for you. 2 Samuel 22:20 “He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.” The Lord delivered him, because He delighted in him. There is such liberty on the other side of the Lord’s deliverance. He supported David in his darkest hour, as it seemed that everyone else had deserted him. When oppression overtook him, the Lord was his stay. He’ll do the same for you today. Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 11-12 | Colossians 2 Matthew 17:19
“Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?” We blame toddlers and teenagers for asking the question, “Why can’t we…”, the most often, but the truth of the matter is that adults ask just as frequently. Our answer to the younger generation is usually “for your own good” or “just do as I say”. Yet so often we neglect our own preaching. When the disciples asked Jesus, “Why could not we…”, it was not for their own good or because they just needed to obey what He said. It was their unbelief. Matthew 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” They missed out on seeing miracles take place simply because they did not believe it would happen. Jesus even explained to them that if they just had a little faith nothing would be impossible. But they doubted…ultimately, they doubted Him. They doubted what He could do in and through them if only they would believe. When we believe that with Him anything is possible, we will begin to see the mountains in our lives begin to move. Matthew 17:21 “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” He wants us to seek Him in faith. When we doubt that He will do what He said, we miss out on so much more than just our need. Unbelief has consequences. Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 9-10 | Colossians 1 Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Many people today are undependable. They may start something, but the odds of them finishing the task before them are not in their favor. This often leads to someone else having to finish the job. What a reminder of how Jesus Christ is the Author of our salvation! We cannot earn, win, or deserve salvation on our own. Romans 3:10-12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” We are an undependable people, incapable of meeting the standard of His glory on our own. Because of our sin, we cannot even begin the work of salvation in us. He is the Author. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” He not only began the good work in us, it is up to Him to perform it. Salvation has nothing to do with our own merit or ability. We only contribute the sin that makes salvation necessary. Romans 3:24-25 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” It is only up to us to believe in what Jesus Christ has done for us and depend on Him for our salvation. The moment we believe, His work begins in us, and He is the Only One Who is dependable to finish it. Are you struggling today? Maybe your salvation is sure, but your walk with Him is not what it should be. He is waiting to walk with you. He wants to direct you. He desires to have fellowship with you. His Word is waiting with the Answer. The Author is always present when you open the pages of His Word. Depend on Him today. Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 7-8 | Philippians 4 Hebrews 12:2
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Before we can reach forth toward those things that He has prepared for us, we must first be aware of where we are looking…or more importantly, to Who. Reaching forth with our eyes closed is sure to confuse, and even possibly harm, us. Reaching forth with our eyes on the world will lead us to destruction. Reaching forth with our eyes on our circumstances will depress us. Reaching forth with our eyes on other people will certainly distract us. But if we choose to reach forth with our eyes fixed on Jesus, He will never lead us astray. Looking unto Him reminds us of Who we trust. Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” He directs us as we look to Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” He is the Author, for He originated our faith. He is the Finisher, for without Him faith would not be possible. All things begin and end with Him. Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Why would we dare to look anywhere or to anyone else when we can reach forth unto Him? Reach forth while looking unto Him. Trust the Author today. Trust Him to finish what He has started. Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 5-6 | Philippians 3 Philippians 3:13-14
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Arrows must be pulled back a bit before they can be launched forward. Yet, they never look back…they are always pointed toward the mark. We are arrows in the quiver of the Lord. He points us where He would have us to go, and it is up to us to yield to His direction. If we allow the winds of this world to sway us, we will miss the mark. If we try to look back to what is behind us, we will miss the mark. Dwelling in the past is dangerous. Jesus warned His disciples against lingering in the past. Luke 17:31-32 “In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife.” Those last three words should remind us of how dangerous it is to look back in longing to return to where we once were. She was dissolved into a pillar of salt because of her disobedience. Paul realized that no matter what has happened in our past, good or bad, we must choose to forget those things. “…but this one thing I do…” He made it a priority to focus on what lied ahead, instead of what had happened. “I press toward…” What are we eagerly pursuing today? Who are we seeking? If we run ahead while looking back, we are sure to eventually trip and fall. Sometimes, the only way of forgetting those things is by reaching forth toward the things He has for us. Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 3-4 | Philippians 2 Philippians 3:4
“Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:” The Apostle Paul knew that if anyone could have a reason to have confidence in their flesh, it was him. He understood that some would expect him to depend on his past. Philippians 3:5-6 “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” But Paul chose to leave all of that behind for One purpose. Philippians 3:7 “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” He gave it all up for Him. Nothing in his past, no matter how grand, was comparable to knowing Christ. Philippians 3:8 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” He was willing to lose, and even suffer, if it meant getting closer to Him. Phlippians 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” What is our confidence in today? Who we know? Where we live? What church we attend? What profession we have? All of that is confidence in the flesh. If we choose to trust in the flesh, we will be continually, and eventually completely, disappointed. Instead, we can choose to place our confidence only in Him, even if that means He has to rewrite our entire story. Philippians 3:10-11 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Losing everything in order to know Him is always worth it. “…that I may win Christ, And be found in him…That I may know him…” Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 1-2 | Philippians 1 Hebrews 9:28
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” He was there when God spoke the World into existence. He was the Method God used…the Word. Colossians 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” He was and is the Reason. “…for him…” What is your reason for doing anything? Self-glorification, self-preservation, self-motivation… notice what all three of those begin with…self. Most of the time, what we do has selfish motives. Sad to admit, but no less true. He should always be our Reason. “…for him…” Are you working for Him today? Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Are you looking for Him today? Titus 2:13-14 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Everything should be “…for him.” Bible Reading: 2 Kings 23-25 | Ephesians 6 Colossians 1:19-20
"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” If there were a Table of Contents for the Bible, it would not be best listed as the 66 Books within the Canon of Scriptures; but rather just One Word…Jesus. “…in him…” All the fulness of the Godhead bodily dwells in Him. He was and is God in the flesh. The Word. In Him there is Peace. In Him there is Salvation. In Him there is __________________. Everything we could possibly need is found in Him. Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Everything is found in Him so that He might have preeminence in everything. Is He first in your life today? He is the Answer to our questions. He is the Reason for our existence. He is… Are you searching for something? Find it in Him. Bible Reading: 2 Kings 21-22 | Ephesians 5 |
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