My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22
This week is filled with life discoveries in our bible reading. We finish Acts and begin our third reading of the New Testament with Matthew. In the Epistles, we begin The Revelation of Jesus Christ. In 2 Samuel, we enter into the reign of David as King of all Israel, as we watch him bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem and set it in the tent he sets up for worship – The Tabernacle of David – We watch his kindness to Johnathan’s heir, and then in his exhaustion, his sin and coverup with Bathsheba and Uriah. Nathan the prophet confronts David, and he repents. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer after Nathan the prophet confronts David, be sure to read this to see into the heart of repentance that God receives. We continue in Proverbs and Hosea, what a gift we have been given in God’s word.
Acts 26 – 28
Paul shares his testimony and ministry calling to King Agrippa. His testimony has matured from His conversion in Chapter nine, his testimony to the angry mob two years prior in Jerusalem into His life calling. Take a moment and recall your conversion to God in praise. Chapters twenty-seven and twenty-eight are about Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and His declared destiny from Jesus that saves all the lives on the ship destined for destruction.
Matthew 1 – 4
We love the book of Matthew as we see the Lord find Jospeh in his doubts, send the wise men from the East, frustrate Herod’s murderous plot, and send Jospeh, Marr, and Jesus to Egypt. In Chapters three and four, Jesus begins His ministry and begins calling His disciples from the sea.
Revelation 1 – 7
In the prologue in the first three verses, we are given the purpose for the prophecy being given, followed by Jesus’ glorified appearance and His letters given to John to send to the seven churches. In Chapter four, we are brought into the throne room, as John is called up and sees God in His glory. There in His hands is a scroll that contains the prophecy, but no one is worthy to take the scroll and open the seven seals. The Lamb who was slain has prevailed! He takes the scroll; worship explodes and then in Chapter six He begins to open the scroll of the prophecy. Chapter seven is the sealing of the servants of God, another worship session with those who have come out of tribulation and made the garments white in the blood of the Lamb. A vision of our place in Christ now in heaven, even as war continues today on the earth. Let Him lead and feed and bring us to living fountains of water as God wipes away every tear from our eyes.
2 Samuel 4 – 12
David begins his move by consolidating his reign over all of Israel. His first task was to take Jerusalem from the Jebusites and make it His capital. Next, he brings the Ark into Jerusalem, into the tent/tabernacle that he sets up for worship. David wants to build a Temple, but God says, “No.” Instead, God makes an oath through the prophet Nathan to build David’s house and swears that the Messiah will come from David’s lineage according to the flesh (2 Samuel 7:12, Psalm 132:11, Acts 2:30). Then comes David’s further conquests, his kindness to Mephibosheth, Johnathon’s son, and more war.
In Chapter eleven, David is exhausted and decides not to lead His men and sends Joab instead. Here in Jerusalem, he is exhausted, and sleeping a lot. He wakes in the evening to see Bathsheba bathing from His rooftop. Adultery follows, with coverup, the murder of her husband, Uriah, and finally marriage to Bathsheba and what appeared to be a narrow escape from being found out. But God saw what David had done and it displeased Him. In Chapter twelve, it all crashes on David and the man after God’s heart appears again out of hiding in hypocrisy. All David sought to protect is thrown into the wind as he humbles himself by fasting, seeking to save his son who must die. Read the Chapter, see the changes, and watch what happens after the child dies. Then read Psalm 51 and see the heart of man returning to God.
Hosea 9 – 13
God continues to call Israel to repentance, letting them know that the days of punishment have come. The Lord reminds Israel of their relationship long ago in Chapter eleven. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck, I stopped and fed them. Hosea 11: 4 The Lord continues in Chapter twelve, recalling Israel’s beginnings and makes a promise to return them to the feast, I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast. Hosea 12:9.
