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Jul 31, 2023 06:00am

The Bible Recap: Days 134-140

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(The following are reflections from the writer’s personal journey through The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble – a Bible reading plan to read the Bible chronologically in one year. To learn more about The Bible Recap, visit thebiblerecap.com. Find more posts from this series at lifeword.org/thebiblerecap.)

Day 134: Read Psalm Chapters 32, 51, 86, & 122

My Takeaways:

Okay, I loved all of these psalms! There are so many lines that I have turned into prayers over the years!

Psalm 32 showed me that while sin can weigh us down physically, emotionally, and mentally, confession leads to forgiveness and restoration.

It is one of our greatest privileges as believers to confess sin. It’s one of the most freeing feelings to know that even though you messed up, it does not define you. God will bring good from that mistake and restore you in a way only He can.

And that friends, brings joy to our hearts.

Psalm 51 shows us that God desires integrity that flows from our hearts and minds—those moments of us doing the right thing when no one is around. Those times when we follow God with our words and actions.

Here is a wonderful prayer we can pray for our selves, for our children and great-grandchildren:

“God, create a clean heart for me, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways and sinners will return to you.”

Oh, what I especially love about these lines is this: this person experienced God in such a way, there is a testimony to tell others, a testimony to lead them back to Him. Never underestimate the power of sharing what God has done for you, friends.

Psalm 86 highlights the faithfulness of God—that there is no one like our God. And, another great prayer emerges from this psalm:

“Teach me your way Lord, and I will live by your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear your name. I will praise you with all of my heart, Lord, my God, and I will honor your name forever for your faithful love for me is great, and you rescue my life from the depths of Sheol.”

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful, loving truth, turn to me, and be gracious to me, give your strength to your servant.”

Joy. Strength. Forgiveness. Restoration. Clean minds. Clean hearts. Integrity. Praise. Testimony.

These are all benefits of a person who turns to the Lord amid their mistakes and prays to be better. One who seeks the Lord with all their heart. One who is desperate for a change in life.

The Lord allows us to experience these times to tenderize our hearts so that we will turn to Him and He can take that battered heart and do His best work in it.

For what is done in our hearts and minds will overflow into our words and actions. And that friends is a testimony of itself.

Day 135: Read 2 Samuel Chapters 13-15

My Takeaways:

These are hard reading days, friends. Strife among family, especially the family of a man we have been cheering on for awhile now, is hard.

And yet, it’s the consequences of David’s sin.

Was he forgiven? Yes.

Are there consequences? Yes.

I wonder…if David had dealt with the rape immediately if any of this would have happened? It seems to me (and I am not casting stones) as much as David has loved and followed the Lord, he struggles in being a parent, especially a parent who lays boundary lines and disciplines his kids when they cross them.

This reminds me of all of us parents who do the same. Boundary lines mean “I love you enough to say ‘This is wrong, don’t do it. You may not understand but you have to trust me.’ “

God lays boundary lines much in Leviticus and other books for His kids. Did He have to disciple the Israelites? Yes. Did it change their behavior? Yes…for a time, until they forgot. Then, He had to remind them.

But, David doesn’t deal with the hard stuff, and because of that, it drives a wedge between him and his son, Absalom, to the point Absalom has devised a scheme to take over the throne and David doesn’t do anything about it.

Our mighty David backs down and leaves town. By this point, I feel he is beaten down and ruled by insecurity. A rape, a murder, and an estranged son have beaten him up emotionally and mentally, and I think he truly feels these are consequences he must endure. Instead of seeking God’s guidance, he leaves town.

I truly think the enemy seeks to overcome us in moments like this, friends. He takes our bad decisions, our moments we should have done something but didn’t, our moments we failed in, and reminds us of them so much, we are beaten down and back away from the fight. That, instead of trusting God and turning to Him, we accept defeat and shrink back. We give up.

Oh friends, this is so true! Don’t let the enemy fool you into this! We were made to be overcomers! We were made to do all things through Christ’s strength! We were made to crave the impossible, even if the impossible is to overcome our own flaws and mistakes and still hold our head up high.

God’s plan doesn’t involve His kids giving up and giving in—it involves them relying upon Him to do the impossible. Thank God for His sovereignty, especially in these times we give up—He reminds us that He has a plan for us and we need to believe Him to be bigger than our mistakes, flaws, and evil plans of others.

Our mistakes don’t have to define us—they are there to refine us.

Day 136: Read Psalm Chapters 3-4, 12-13, 28, & 55

My Takeaways:

Friends, these psalms are beautifully painful. They are from a man who has been broken by people and betrayal. A man whose heart has been slain. A man who is desperate.

And we get that…because we have been there. Maybe some of you still are. Me too.

So, I am writing this for you.

When your foes seem to increase and there are many attacks from all sides, remember that “You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head…rise up, Lord! Save me, my God!” (Psalm 3:3,7)

When the insults come, “Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself and the Lord will hear when you call to him.” He tells us in our anger to not sin but to “reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent…and trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 4:3-4)

Trusting in God brings a “joy in my heart” so that at night, “I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone Lord make me live in safety.” (Psalm 4:7-8)

Trusting in God when our eyes don’t see does something special amid life’s toughest battles—it fuels our praise: “but I have trusted in your faithful love, my heart will rejoice in your deliverance, I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously.” (Psalm 13:5-6)

And when you need strength to stay in the fight, God becomes your strength when you turn to him: “The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped.” And when that happens, friends, you will find that my “heart celebrates and I give thanks to him with my song.” (Psalm 28:7)

Because I know that when “I call to God, the Lord will save me.” I “cast my burden on the Lord and he will sustain me.” (Psalm 55:22)

No matter what battle or enemy comes my way, no matter what betrayal is dealt to you, no matter what pain your heart is suffering:

“But, I will trust in you.” (Psalm 55:23)

Sometimes, we need reminded when the battles are at their fiercest. Saying these lines, pondering them, and praying them will change your perspective and take you from being on the defense to being on the offensive side.

A breakthrough is coming. It’s always darkest before dawn.

Day 137: Read 2 Samuel Chapters 16-18

My Takeaways:

“What a coincidence!”

“I can’t believe…”

“Isn’t that crazy timing?”

How many of us have said these statements? How many times have you thought about the timing of something?

The thing I loved about today’s reading is that it showed God’s sovereignty and perfect timing in Absalom’s plot to taking over the kingdom.

God lets this evil plot play out…but at just the right time, He works in the chance encounters, in the timing of someone showing up, in the hesitations in someone’s mind (even the minds of our foes!).

Like Tara-Leigh said, He is in control!

Isn’t that comforting for those of us who like to be in control and struggle relinquishing it?

This Bible study shows us so many beautiful facets of God’s character—qualities that show He can be trusted! That He has a plan for us! That no matter how much we feel like we mess things up here on earth, that doesn’t trump God’s plan! That should be a huge relief to us large and in charge people!

So, why do we struggle surrendering to Him amid the most difficult times I life?!

Trust. Control. Our plans. Those are just a few that trip me up.

And yet, God uses these stories to show us that He can be trusted with the details—all of them. He can work them out for good (Romans 8:28) and use them to advance His plan.

So, why does He allow such hard times to happen?

Well, I thought of a few.

To refine us.
To give us a fresh experience of Him.
To allow us to do “all things through Christ who gives us strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
To give us spiritual eyes to see good coming from betrayal, heartbreak, obstacles, or just the plain mean. (Romans 8:28)
To give us yet another bookmark in our lives that we can remember and reflect upon the next time things get hard. Because they will.
To grow our surrender and trust in Him. (If you have ever had a rough relationship with a parent and your trust in him/her was broken, it can be especially hard to trust God. He uses these moments to show us He is not that parent and unlike him/her, He can be trusted to take care of us.)
To remind us that He loves us and that we aren’t alone in this battle of life.

Oh, how He loves us, friends. He loves us enough to not swoop in and save the day…but to grow us to face the adversity, trusting He will work it out for us.

So many times, I want to save my kids from the hard stuff in life….and if I do, I rob them from turning to God and experiencing Him and His intervention.

What if we looked at those hard moments in life as opportunities to experience God more? Would that change our perspective?

I challenge you today to do just that. You have an enemy who wants you to question your God in such a way, you turn away from Him. Don’t let that doubt grow in your mind. Don’t let him win. Combat it with faith, with prayer, with trust, and with confidence that your God has a plan for you—one that leads to overcoming, not succumbing to defeat.

Because friend, you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength!

Day 138: Read Psalm Chapters 26, 40, 58, 61-62, & 64

My Takeaways:

In these psalms, David experienced anger, yet he didn’t take revenge. He cried out to the Lord to defend him.

David experienced betrayal, yet he didn’t lash back out…instead, he trusted God.

David had others scheming and devising traps against him, breathing lies about him, yet he cried out to the Lord to disgrace them.

These psalms show something I very much want: confidence in God.

You see, David looked back to a time in which he was anointed king and had to wait 15 years for God to fulfil that.

He looked back to when Saul was hunting him and he had to wait on the Lord’s deliverance. God did. And because he remembered these times, he is able to write:

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay and set my feet on a rock, making my step secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God, many will see and fear, and they will trust in the Lord.”
Psalm 40:1-3

He trusted in the Lord….and knew this truth: if God did it in the past, He would do it again.

Is he afraid? Yes.

Does he suffer? Yes.

Does he feel alone in the battle? Yes.

But, he relies upon God’s character to sustain him: David knew that his God is faithful.

And because of this, he was able to proclaim:

“Vindicate me, Lord because I have lived with integrity and have trusted in the Lord, without wavering test, me Lord, and try me examine my heart in my mind. For your faithful love guides me and I will love by your truth.”
Psalm 26:1-3

You guys, I love how he can proclaim this with confidence! I wish I could say “I trusted in the Lord without wavering.” (Especially when nothing around me looked hopeful!) In fact, David has chosen to show integrity, amid the betrayals, the attacks, and the lies.

Wow.

And friends, God honors this because He does vindicate David when others schemed against him, time and time again!

May we be men and women who do the same.

When others talk about us, scheme against us, or try to take us down, may we take it to the Lord, pray like there’s no tomorrow, and trust He will defend us. We may never see what God is doing on the other side, but may we trust that He is working all things out for our good, friends.

Because if He did it for David, He will do it for you.

Maybe that is what inspired David to write:

“How happy is anyone who has put his (or her) trust in the Lord.”
Psalm 40:4

Day 139: Read 2 Samuel Chapters 19-21

My Takeaways:

Restoration is a beautiful, beautiful thing…an answered prayer for sure.

But, it sure can be ugly.

It can come with weeping for those who had hurt you, as David had done for his son Absalom.

It can come with loyalty, as the men of Judah stood by their king’s side.

It can come with bypassing revenge and giving grace, as in David’s encounter with Shimei.

It can come with understanding when feelings have been hurt, as it did with Mephibosheth and David.

It can come with division and conspiracy, as the men of Israel did with David’s kingship.

It can come with loneliness, as David’s concubines were confined until the day they died because Absalom had lain with them.

It can come with evil plots, as Joab conspired against Amasa and killed him.

It can come in the form of a wise woman, who arranged the death of the conspirator Sheba to avoid a city-wide attack.

It can come with righting past wrongs, as it did with the Gibeonites with Saul’s family to end the famine.

And it can come with a mother’s love and loyalty on display, as Rizpah never left her son’s bodies after they were killed.

Yes, friends, restoration is a beautiful thing, but it doesn’t come without costs. David was blessed—that’s for sure. But, he was a man immersed in much conflict in his life.

Perhaps that’s what inspired him to write so many psalms.

Perhaps that was molded his heart to be a man after God’s own heart.

Perhaps that’s why we are still talking about him today.

He’s like all of us, in different seasons of our lives. His life shows us that God is faithful. That God’s sovereign will trumps the enemy’s. That God doesn’t play favorites and will punish sin. That God also gives grace and mercy. That God can empower us to face our giants.

Thankful for a God who helps us do all things through Christ, who gives us strength.

Day 140: Read Psalm Chapters 5, 38, & 41-42

My Takeaways:

Oh, these psalms seep with sadness and distress. These reflect a deep longing for God and His intervention. They reflect a broken man looking to his God for hope and help.

And how many of us have been broken by adversity, betrayal, and suffering?

It’s so tempting (and let’s be honest, easy) to point our finger at God and get mad at Him. I get it. But, David shows us through these psalms that when we are poor and needy in spirit and turn to God—despite our feelings and situation—when we are expectant of His intervention, we will experience Him! We will not be let down.

And friends, we need that hope that life won’t always be this hard and heartbreaking. That though our situations might not change, our hearts can. Our perspectives can. Our purpose can. Our resolve can.

So, for those of you who are hurting, lost, feeling adrift from God, overwhelmed by others, hurt by others, or questioning everything, let David’s psalms become your prayers.

When deep calls to deep, when my troubles come again and again like the waves in a tumultuous sea, I will remind myself of God’s faithful love. Each day, He will surround me with His unfailing love so that at night, I praise Him and feel His presence at night. (Psalm 42:7-8)

When my soul is discouraged, sad, or even depressed, when these feelings well up inside me, I will put my hope in God. I will still praise Him because I know He will save me. (Psalm 42:11)

When I feel forgotten and overwhelmed by the enemy’s oppression, when I feel dejected, I will put my hope in God. I will still praise Him because He is my Savior. (Psalm 42:9-11)

When my heart is broken, when I thirst for God and His intervention as a deer thirsts for water, I will remind myself of the times I would testify about the goodness of God. I would sing and shout my praise, leading others to do this same. (Psalm 42:1-4) Because this I know: If God was faithful to me then, He will be faithful to me now.

Was David flawed? Yes.

Did he fall into sin? Yes.

But, he loved God and looked to Him for everything. And, he was God’s beloved.

You know what?

So are we.

May we look to God to help us, to tend to our hurting hearts, to save us, and to restore us with all life throws our way.

Because, friends, like Tara-Leigh says: “He’s where the joy is.”