Welcome to my Proverbs 31 friends visiting from Encouragement for Today. I am so thankful you stopped by. We are in the last week of The Heart of a Mighty Warrior, an on-line Bible study on the life of David. Please take a few minutes to listen to the video below. It ties in perfectly with the devotion because it shares Truths, powerful truths from God Himself, about the significance of walking in obedience to His Word and the blessings that abundantly flow when we do!
If you have never joined us for a study, I would love to register you for the next one. Please leave a comment today, send me a message on Facebook, or send an e-mail to deuteronomysix@aol.com with your first name and e-mail address, and I will register you and let you know about any future studies. You can also subscribe to my blog to learn about new studies, giveaways, Proverbs 31 news, and other great stuff!
Now on to the homework. Congratulations, my sweet sisters in Christ. Today is a day for celebration! You have spent the last six weeks journeying through one of the most beautiful yet most painful stories in all of Scripture. Thank you for your hard work and discipline to walk this journey. My prayer is that your hearts have been forever changed because of the time we have spent together in God’s Word.
We have one last set of questions below covering the last days of David’s life. We will meet here again one more time next week. I am truly sad our study is at an end. You have been the most wonderful big “small” group ever!! I am praying about what our next study will be.
Registration: We are nearly finished with our David study. If you have not officially registered for this study but are interested in any further on-line studies we do, please register now. It will ensure that you receive future e-mails about new studies, giveaways, and other good stuff. Register by leaving your first name and e-mail address in a comment on my blog, e-mailing me at deuteronomysix@aol.com, or sending me a message on Facebook . I will never share your personal information.
Subscribing via e-mail: Don’t forget you can subscribe by e-mail and receive this post in your in-box each week. However, you will not be able to see the videos or comments unless you visit my blog directly.
This Week’s Memory Verse: …acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. 1 Chronicles 28:9
Homework Questions: Please do as many questions as time allows. It is in your reading and studying that God will do His greatest work.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for revealing powerful Truths, sometimes very hard Truths, each and every week. Be with me this week as I end my study. Father, give me an abundance of Your wisdom and knowledge, give me discernment to find the treasures hidden in these last chapters. I started this study wondering what You meant when You said David was “a man after Your own heart.”
Week after week, You have given me glimpses and windows into David’s heart. I have seen David at his best and at his worst. Help me to learn from both. When I step out of line due to sin and disobedience, humble my heart and ready me to receive Your discipline. Give me the strength to endure the consequences.
Father, breathe fresh wind and fresh fire into my dry and parched heart. Fill me with the fullness of Your Spirit. Empower me to live out what I have learned. Give me insight so I can do all that You call me to do. I desire for my life to be one long, obedient response to Your call. Let Your love and Your Word shape my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Today is a tragic day in the life of David. These last few weeks of reading have been difficult and painful as we have watched his family disintegrate before our very eyes. As we near the end of our study, let us remember that God placed David’s life in Scripture to teach us. So although we are sometimes shocked, saddened, disappointed, even disgusted by what has gone on, God has a purpose for it. He desires us to take the story of David’s life and allow it to teach us and transform us so that we will have a heart like his.
1. Read 2 Samuel 18:1-18. David’s men did not want him to lead them into battle, so he stayed behind.
a. What specific instructions did David give to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai in verse 5?
b. What happened to Absalom?
c. When Joab asked the soldier why he did not kill Absalom, what did he say?
d. Read verses 14-17. What did Joab do next?
e. Why do you think Joab killed Absalom in direct disobedience to David’s order?
What comes to mind as we come to the tragic end of Absalom’s life is how different it could have been had he responded appropriately and chosen differently after Amnon raped his sister. He had the choice to respond in wisdom and forgiveness or in hate and unforgiveness. He chose the latter. And that is why we end up where we are today.
2. Read 2 Samuel 18:19-33.
a. Where did David go when he learned his son was dead?
b. What did he do and what did he say?
The intensity of David’s grief is apparent in his words, “O, my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son.” David found himself with two sons dead as a consequence of his one stolen moment of self-indulgent sin.
Read 2 Samuel 20:1-26.
The fighting between the Israelites and the Judeans was heating up. In this chapter we meet Sheba. He led a revolt against David. David knew he had to stop Sheba, so he sent Amasa, who had replaced Joab as David’s new commander, to do the job. In the process of this battle, Joab committed a terrible crime. What makes this crime even worse is that Joab and Amasa were in fact cousins (sons of two of David’s half sisters)
3. What did Joab do and why? (see 2 Samuel 19:13)
We see again Nathan’s prophecy in 2 Samuel 12:10 coming true, “The sword will never depart from your house.”
There are still a few chapters left in David’s life, and we do not have time to cover them all. Let’s jump ahead to 2 Samuel 24.
Read 2 Samuel 24.
Chapter 24 relays a story that I personally struggle to understand. It is believed this event happened late in David’s reign, during his most prosperous and successful period. It begins with these words, “The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He incited David against them, saying, ‘go and take a census of Israel and Judah.’”
There is a parallel account of this story in 1 Chronicles 21:1. It says, “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.”
There have been other times in Scripture where God allows Satan to work in the lives of His children to accomplish His ultimate purposes. If you would like more understanding of this truth, please read Job 1:6-12, 2:1-6 and reread 1 Samuel 16:14 (about Saul).
What I want to make clear is that God did not incite David to do evil. He allowed Satan to provoke David to number his people.
4. Read James 1:13. What does it say? How does it shed light here?
Scholars believe that because David counted only the fighting men, he was trying to determine his military strength, and herein lay his sin. It was the sin of pride. Friends, Scripture clearly teaches that sometimes God allows us to be tempted to test us, to train us, to prune us, or to grow us.
First Corinthians 10:13, tells us
“…And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
David ordered Joab and his men to take the census. Joab knew this was contrary to what God wanted and offered David a way out. But David did not take it, so Joab obeyed, took the census, and brought the numbers back to David.
5. As soon as David received the report, what happened in 2 Samuel 24:10 and 1 Chronicles 21:8?
6. Can you believe God gives David a multiple choice question for his punishment? It is the only time we see this in Scripture. What did David choose?
7. What were David’s words to God in verse 17?
8. What happened when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem?
9. Read 2 Samuel 24:18-24. Do you think David’s offering had anything to do with God’s action in verse 16?
Why did 70,000 have to die? Remember, the first verse of this chapter also said that God’s anger burned against the Israelites. Most likely Israel was living in disobedience to God and His law. Deuteronomy Chapter 28 warned Israel what would happen as a direct result of their disobedience. So although we do not know exactly what Israel did, we can be assured this punishment was consistent with what God promised would happen in the event of disobedience in Deuteronomy 28.
Now let’s travel back to 2 Samuel Chapter 22 and read how David celebrates God as his Deliverer.
10. Read Chapter 22. This is a beautiful memorial written by David to honor His God.
a. As you read, pay attention to the words David used to describe God and share them below.
b. Please take a few moments today and write your own memorial. Share times in your life where you have seen God at work…where He has rescued you…where He has disciplined you, blessed you, spoken to you, and/or used you.
Now we come to the end of David’s life. David decides he wants to build a permanent place of worship. But earlier in his life, God told David that it was not him that was to build the structure, it was Solomon.
11. Read 1 Chronicles 22:5-19. What did David say and do in these verses?
In First Chronicles Chapters 23 through 27, David organized his kingdom for his successor….the army, the government, and the priesthood. In chapter 28 and 29, he designed the architectural plans for God’s Temple.
12. In 1 Chronicles 28:5-6, who chose Solomon as king?
13. Read 1 Chronicles 28:8-10, 12. What charge does David give Solomon? Who gave David the plans for the Temple?
14. How can you apply this charge in your own life and in your own family?
First Chronicles 29:10-20 is another beautiful outpouring of David’s heart.
15. Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-20. What do David’s words reveal about his heart at the end of his life?
a. What does David pray for his son in verse 19?
b. In your own words, what does it mean to have “wholehearted” devotion to God? How can we achieve this?
16. Read verses 21-25. What happened the next day?
We end our time together with David’s death. Yes, it is a sad day, but how wonderful to read verses 21 through 25 and see how David’s life ended…with people praising and celebrating…with people loving and accepting his son as king…with people pledging their submission to him. Listen to these words,
“The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.”
David’s life ended well.
17. Read Psalm 71:14-24. Does this psalm accurately reflect David’s life?
18. Read Psalm 78:70-72. Write verse 72 below.
David served God well. He shepherded God’s flock. He lived his life to the glory of God. 1 Kings 2:10 says of the end,
“Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.”
Life went on in Israel. But it was forever changed by God’s anointed one, the “man after God’s own heart.”
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Would you consider doing a guest post on marriage for my blog, Family Fountain, next year? Please check out the blog so you have a sense for what it is about. I plan on doing a post on marriage every Sunday, many of them by guest writers. I've read a number of your posts and would like to have you do one for Family Fountain.
Blessings. My memory verse is Psalm 1:2-3. I find that I struggle to find time at night to spend time with my Father and this bothers me as I feel lacking in the word. Please pray for me and my two daughters. Thank you.
Dahn Spence-Whittaker
Wow, I know this was writeen for as well as others. I can feel Him tugging at my heart and i know I should be in the word more and especially listening to it on Sunday mornings. However I struggle with not fitting in to a new church. I struggle with my new church not having that ferver for really reaching out to others and being so clickish that it just drives me away more and more. I heard on the radio the other day about how not to hold your church up on this pedestal of such high expectations and I realize that is what i have done. I feel I am so ready to do great and wonderful things for Christ but just don't know where to begin. Thankyou for your obediance to Christ and your prayers for me and my family.
Wendy — LOVED today's devotion!!! 🙂
Feeding on God's Word – oh how I need and crave His Word!
Love you, friend. Thanks for spurring us on!
Sharon
Hi Wendy,
I would love to participate in your next online study. I am currently living in a Muslim country with limited access to any christian studies. Please let me know when you are starting up again:)
Michelle
forthedunns@yahoo.ca
Loved the devo today! Life has been so dry lately, and I'm just starting to wake back up. I crave the Word and the relationship with God that seeps from it, but I often feel like the Word is cumbersome and difficult to navigate.
Memorizing Psalm 1:2-3 is the perfect way to start my new journey.
Thanks!
I have been feeling convicted for some time that I need to memorize scripture again. It really is amazing when you are meditating on His word through memorizing it how He will use it in your life. Your devotion ecouraged me to take the step and jump back in. I am going to choose:
THE WORD
Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written:
‘Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.’”
~ New International Version ~
God has been drawing me…but I'm not sure what our time together should "look like" I feel guilty (false guilt, I think) every time I do anything (the thought that it isn't enough, isn't right, etc.) I desire to feel closer to Him…more than ever before! (The nearness of God is my good!)
Please pray that God shows me His desire for our "date" together and that I will be consistent…to hunger for His presence day by day…and to know Him through His Word and by His Spirit.
My verse today is:
Psalm 126:5-6 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. (niv)
There are so many times that I have sown seeds of prayer for others, many times with weeping…It is easy to want to give up when I don't see the results that I would like to see quickly…but God promises that one day I will reap with songs of joy…carrying sheaves with me! 🙂
CJ
It is such a comfort for me to be reminded that God does provide a way out for me when I'm faced with temptation! I just subscribed to your blog, Wendy, after reading "Encouragement For Today"–one of my favorite devotionals.I will focus on the verse from Matthew "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from God."I have struggled with an eating disorder since I was 14. Believe it or not, I am now 51 and in poor health.Please pray for me.Thanks so much and blessings to you, Wendy
love,
Kathy
I'm so grateful for your devotional this morning & the challenge to 'eat' more of God's word. here's my verse.
"My hands have made both heaven and earth, and they are mine. I, the Lord have spoken! I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. But those who choose their own ways, delighting in their sins, are cursed. There offering will not be accepted…"
Isaiah 66:2-3
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the Heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jer 32:17
Wendy,
I loved your devo today! How wonderful it is to live a life that is pleasing to our Father God!
1John1:8-9 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins ans purify us from all unrighteousness."
I listened to your testimony! Oh, how He Loves You and I! Your testimony is Amazing! I would very much like it if you pop on over to my web site and listen to my testimony (my first one). Here is a Bible verse for both of us, "So it the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
God Bless you Wendy as you continue to share with others what God has done in your life!
Please, pray for me that as I continue to step out and do what the Lord has called me to do (that is share my testimony), that people will come to know Him. That there will be deliverance from abortions!
Love In Christ,
Jeanene
In my pursuit of being an architect I devoted all my time and energy for an entire decade. I neglected my relations, especially my relation ship with God. The past ten years I have been overwhelmed by my career and trying to raise three boys with my husband. I can't find the time I so desire with the Lord. I have been considering quitting but it is so scarey because I make the most money. Please pray for me as I try to make God the top priority in my life. I stuggle to know his plan for my life. Do you still practice law? If not how has that come about?
Thanks for your devotional. My verse is
"delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law [she] meditates day and night. [she] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever [she] does prospers." Psalm 1:2-3 (NIV)
Were you looking over my shoulder this morning when I journaled? God (as he has done before when I've asked) has hit me square between the eyes this morning with your devo on Encouragent for Today. I hate this lost, empty feeling…that there is something more to life… I'll use your power verse to memorize Mathew 4:4 – Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
I too have spent too many years as a workaholic and not looking after my relationship with God with the same dedications. I really liked your proverbs 31 devotionals, as they encourage me on many days at work recently when economy is bad, work projects are shutting down and people are being laid off. I want to thank you and the team of women who keep up those words daily for my nourishment, keeping my eyes close to God. I have started my own blog/devotional lately, please feel free to visit it when you can: http://graceinmyface.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
Can't believe it has been 5 weeks already – I have learned so much about David and to apply what I have learned to my life! As for memorizing scriptures – not easy for me – but I do post them around and keep them in my heart. I treasure HIS WORD!!! Thank you so much for doing this study – I almost hate to see this one end. You will be doing another one right – because I am so there!!!
Thank you Wendy for your Encouragement for Today post! We all need to be reminded to spend more time in the Word. Please pray for me as I find time to balance being in the Word with family obligations, work obligations, home obligations. Thank you!
My verse is John 16:33 – I tell you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!
AMEN.
-lw
Hi Wendy,
What a great devotional today! Such a good reminder for us to stay close to God and His word.
The scripture the Lord put on my heart to memorize for this week is Hebrews 10:35-36 ~ "so do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."
Thank you for praying for me!
Natalie
My memory verse: I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God. I Corinthians 6:19-20
Thank you for your encouragements and prayer!
Hi girls,
Thank you for sharing your verses…some are old favorites and others are ones I recognize but rarely read. It is such a blessing to see how He led each one of you to the verse that meets you where you are with Him.
Lord, I pray for each of these precious women, your children, as they seek to please You by hiding Your Word in their hearts. Lord will you bless them and fill them with the fullness of Your Presence. Be at work in and through them as they feed themselves the Bread of Life. May they be like trees planted by streams of living water, bearing fruit in every season. Father, shine brightly through each and everyone of these women. Meet them right where they are today and use them for Your Kingdom. I ask specifically that You make yourself very real in their lives, working in and through their prayers and Your Word. Thank You that You will be faithful!!
Blessings,
Wendy
Wendy,
Thank you for your devotion today. This is my first visit to your blog. I thank our Lord for godly women as yourself to help those of us lacking. Although I'm full, there are times I allow life to take me away from the Word. Please pray that God will continue His work in me. My verse is Philippians 4; 6-7, " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Also, I have suffered 38 years from migraines and so my memory is damaged. Please pray that God will strengthen my memory so I can memorize scripture verses.
Thank you for your prayers. Blessings!
Thank you so much for sharing God's word. I needed this devotion for today to share with a friend that i am ministring to and to remind me the importance of time with God. my verse i am commiting to is: • "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17 (NIV)
Your devotion today spoke directly to my heart. Please let me know of your next online bible study.
Tameka
tdaymoncathey@gmail.com
Wendy,
This was exactly what I needed to here. Moving to a different part of the country all by myself has made me feel disoriented, lonely and distant, especially from God. I needed this word. I am so grateful he sees me and cares for me, even if his word is hard to hear!! My verse is Romans 12:1 "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."
Hi Wendy thanks for your encouragement…i certainly need to memorize more scripture, the verse i'm going for this week is Psalms 1:2-3…keep me in prayer. agnes
Thank you so much for your encouragement today. I have not spent time with God for a good while, life has been so crazy lately, and getting more so. I desperately need to get back into his word, but don't have the desire to. I am going to commit to a memory verse, as you have said. Please pray that we will all hunger and thirst for his word. We all need it more than we realize. Thank you
Sherry
Hi Wendy.
Thank you for a wonderful devotion. My memory scripture today is from psalm 51:10 "Create in me a new heart, o God, and renew a right spirit within me".
I am going through a rough patch but I have peace within me and I believe that this is because God in His deep love for me is disciplining me so as to make my relationship with Him better. Please pray for me so that He also creates a new heart for me, a heart that is pleasing to Him.
God bless you and waiting anxiously for your next study.
Lilian.
For those of you "wanting more" way to go in prioritizing!!! Good job for listening to that tug on your heart that God does to bring us closer to Him, sometimes its a tough call to answer but oh so very worth our time. He is the only one that will always be there, way to say yes ladies. THE SACRED ROMANCE is a book i have recently started and it deals with this issue of "wanting more" and it guides you in a journey that will allow you to be caputured by HIS love for YOU. It is so good and leads us to love Him more passionately and personally (from the back of the book) it is by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge if you're interested.
Dear Wendy:
I am soooo sad that this study is coming to an end. Thank you for Ephesians this summer and now David. With your help, God has rekindled a desire and thirst in me for more of his word!! I love my mornings in the word now and I have just recently subscribed to the Chronological Bible Study with Wendy Pope and am so looking forward to that.
Today's lesson and David's memorial in Chapter 22 was exactly what I needed today! I needed to be reminded of all the words that David used to describe God: Rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, sronghold, refuge…. I am being attacked at my job and yesterday I fell apart.
But today is a new day — the day that the Lord has made and His mercies are new today!! I will take all these words with me and stand on them as I face another challenging day…..my strength is in HIM!! I fell in love with verse 19 & 20: They confronted me in the day of my disaster, BUT THE LORD WAS MY SUPPORT. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me BECAUSE HE DELIGHTED IN ME.
That's all I need for this day — God delights in me! AMEN!!!
Denise
AMEN, Denise! 🙂
God is a god of forgiveness, of mercy, and of love. He has shown this to me throughout my life in many ways. God has blessed me so greatly; to a point which I feel I am undeserving. It is amazing how he shows his mercies new every day. When we make a choice to live for him, he reveals himself to us in a whole new way. Most recently, my husband and I have struggled with financial worries (as I am sure many can relate). About a year ago, God led us to visit a church which happened to be speaking on the subject of finances. That night was a turning point for us. Over the next several weeks, we completely changed the way we thought and dealt with “our” money, and began giving it back to God, as we believe he called us to do. Even when the numbers did not add up on paper, or when we had no clue how we were going to put food on the table, God met our needs. He has never failed us. He has never left us hungry, or cold, or naked. He wanted us to trust him, to give it all to him, and to realize that without Him we would be nothing. I am so thankful that he allowed us to go through that time of our lives so that we would have the opportunity to grow in Him and let him once again have our hearts.
Wendy,
I really have enjoyed this Bible study and I am looking forward to the next one (whatever that might be). You are a great teacher. I have learned a lot about David and myself during this study. One of my favorite verses is 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"
Life Verse for me:
Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.