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Aug 07, 2023 06:00am

The Bible Recap: Days 141-147

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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 141: Read 2 Samuel Chapters 22-23 & Psalm Chapter 57

My Takeaways:

David just knew, friends. He knew God. He knew God’s character. He had experienced God. He knew how to pray. He laid his heart out in his psalms and prayers.

He was humble.

“Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in you. I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings until danger passes. I called to God, God Most High, who fulfills his purpose for me. He reaches down from heaven, and saves me, challenging the ones who tramples me. God sends his faithful love and truth.”
Psalm 57:1-3

He was confident. (And, when he wasn’t confident, he preached to himself to be confident!)

“My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.”
Psalm 57:7a

He praised God.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge. My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior; you save me from violence. I called to the Lord who is worthy of praise and I am saved by my enemies.”
2 Samuel 22:2-4

And, he found strength in God.

“He reached down from on high and took ahold of me; he pulled me out of deep water. He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.”
2 Samuel 22:17-19

“With you, I can attack a barricade, and with my God I can leap over a wall.”
2 Samuel 22:30

“He makes me feet like the feet of a deer and sets me securely on the heights. He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
2 Samuel 22:34-35

“I pursue my enemies and destroy them…you have clothed me with strength for battle, you subdue my adversaries beneath me. You have made my enemies retreat before me.”
2 Samuel 22:38, 40-41a

I think so many times, we get tired and want to give up…but God offers us His strength and His power for these times.

If we, like David, know God, trust God, have confidence in God, we too can experience His supernatural strength to do the impossible!

We can’t do it in our flesh, but God used David to show us we can do all things through Him, even if it’s facing our enemies with confidence that God is with us.

With God, we can face hard things!

Day 142: Read Psalm Chapters 95 & 97-99

My Takeaways:

Words.

Today’s reading shows us the power of our words.

They can be used for good. And, they can be used as weapons of mass destruction.

I know this because I’ve used them as such and have reaped the consequences. They can look like a convicted heart, an “I’m sorry” or broken relationship. They can tarnish your character. They can diminish your light.

The thing is this: I know this. I’ve always known this. But, in the heat of the moment, I give way to my feelings. I become like the Israelites in the wilderness. I gripe. I complain. I point fingers.

Because it’s easier to do this instead of praying about the situation and talking to that person.

Ugh. This is hard, friends, because if I am being honest: I want to gripe in the moment.

Let’s just say that God used my complaining and griping about a situation this past year and allowed me to be on the other side of it.

It’s kind of like that old saying: I got a dose of my own medicine.

Um, ouch.

Psalm 95 had a stern warning about griping and complaining—it can harden our hearts, like what happened to our Israelite friends in the wilderness.

But Psalm 95 (in addition to our other psalms) also shows us how to use our words: to praise God, an act of worship.

Here’s a few from our reading:

“For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.”
Psalm 95:3

“For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care.”
Psalm 95:7

“For you, Lord, are the Most High over the whole earth; you are exalted above all the gods.”
Psalm 97:9

“You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the power of the wicked.”
Psalm 97:10

“Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks to his holy name.”
Psalm 97:12

There’s something very powerful in praising and worshiping God amid the great trials of life.

What would it look like if we took a holy pause in our pent up feelings and, for a few minutes, focused on God?

What if thanked God for what we do have versus what we don’t?

What if we praised God for what He has done in the past over how we think He’s not showing up in our current season?

What if we thanked Him for being in this sticky situation, even though we don’t see it or feel it, and how He will answer it?

Oh, these are challenging for sure! But, taking a holy pause and doing these interventions could be exactly what we need. They could be the key to activating some Holy Spirit power in our lives of patience, gentleness, and self-control. It may not change our situation but it sure can change our perspective and the way we wield our words.

Because it’s hard to have a complaining heart when you choose to have a thankful heart.

Words matter, friends. Let’s choose to use them well.

Day 143: Read 2 Samuel Chapter 24, 2 Chronicles Chapters 21-22, & Psalm Chapter 30

My Takeaways:

“I KNOW him! I KNOW him!”

Oh, I am willing to bet someone knows what movie this line comes from! Just imagine an oversized elf who just caught sight of one of his favorite people—Santa. He was so happy, he started jumping up and down, clapping his hands in excitement. (If you have seen this movie, you know the scene I am talking about!) You see, Buddy the Elf knew this man and this man’s character so well, his first response was joy at the sight of someone who brought him comfort and happiness in the past.

He was equally devastated when he learned that this Santa was an imposter—a fake Santa. He was so angry he got into a fight with fake Santa, a fight that got him kicked out of the department store. He had gone from being overjoyed to feeling dejected and lost…in just a matter of minutes.

He had put his confidence in the wrong thing.

He’s not alone. I have been there before. Perhaps you have, too? People in the Bible are certainly not immune to such mistakes as well, even people after God’s own heart like David. You see, in our reading today, David made a mistake: he ordered for a census to take place within his kingdom. He wanted to know how many able-boded warriors he had in his army. While this isn’t a bad thing for kings to do, David did it on his own accord, without consulting God.

Our guy—who had fought Goliath, spent years on the run from Saul, overcome a potential coup d’é·tat from his son, and written many psalms praising God—put his confidence in the strength of his army over the strength of his God.

Perhaps it had been awhile since he had experienced a big move of God, like being reinstated as king. Perhaps he hadn’t invested much time in his relationship with God at this time in his life. Perhaps he did what a lot of us can do—put our hope and confidence in things or people we can see.

Once the census was done, he knew. He had that feeling of conviction we all get when we know we have stepped out of line with God and His will. And, here’s the thing: God held him accountable for his actions. But, here’s also the grace: God gave him three options of punishments.

three years of famine
three months of being overcome by other armies
three days of the Lord’s sword

Here, friends, is where David might have thought: “I KNOW Him…I KNOW HIM.” You see, David knew God. David had lived in God’s unfailing love. He experienced God’s mercy. He experienced God’s grace. HE KNEW GOD.

Because He knew God, he chose to take a punishment from God, rather than from men. And, right in the midst of this devastating punishment of a plague, God gave mercy to David and the people in Jerusalem. He stopped the plague in the exact location that the future temple would rest.

Perhaps this inspired David to write in Psalm 30: “You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness so that I can sing to you and not be silent. Lord, my God, I will praise you forever.” (Psalm 30:11-12)

Knowing God leads to trusting God, even in the hardest of circumstances, friends.

Over the course of David’s life, he knew his God. He had an intimate relationship with God. Yes, he had failed and fallen into sin. Great sin at times. And yet, that sin didn’t take him down and out of the game. God was compassionate and gracious to David, restoring him each time.

Reading God’s Word helps us know God and His character in such a way, when those devastating times happen or when we have fallen into great sin, we turn to Him and Him alone to see us through. Because all those imposters we can put our faith into will fail us at some point.

Whatever situation or circumstance you are in today, friends, take it to God. Trust His unfailing love, His compassion, His justice, His grace, and His mercy. Trust His restoration He offers to all those with repentant hearts.

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5

David experienced this. We can, too. That is what we are doing with this Bible study, friends! Do you feel like you know Him more than last week? Last month? Since the beginning of this study?

Does it help you trust Him?!

Because when devastating times come, it’s what can see us through in such a way, we can say: “I KNOW HIM. I KNOW HIM” and take joy He is working all things out for our good.

Day 144: Read Psalm Chapters 108-110

My Takeaways:

“But, I continue to pray.”

This verse grabbed my heart!

In Psalm 109, David is hurting. People have lied about him. People have plotted against him. People have attacked him without reason.

God is silent….but despite the circumstances, despite David’s feelings, David declares, “BUT, I continue to pray.” (Psalm 109:5)

David’s story has been filled with mountains and valleys, betrayals, schemes, sin, and rejection.

And yet, David continues to pray.

He puts his faith and hope in God’s unfailing love. He declares: “Your faithful love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” (Psalm 108:4-5)

Perhaps this hope keeps him praying when his heart is hurting and his eyes don’t see evidence of God moving.

Friends, this is faith! David is standing by God’s character and relying upon Him alone! David doesn’t give up, he doesn’t take revenge, and he doesn’t retaliate against a God who seems silent.

He stands firm in his faith—in what he knows about God and His character!

He has remembered all the ways God has intervened in his life in the past, and he knows that if He did it then, He will do it again. His God is faithful! His love is unfailing!

Yes, David is suffering. Yes, God has allowed these things to transpire against David.

But, these things are reinvigorating his heart and passion for God. God doesn’t always work the same old ways—He keeps us growing in our relationship with Him.

So, sometimes, He moves slower to grow our faith muscles.

Sometimes, He works differently than the last time to keep us from putting Him in a box.

Sometimes, He allows us to feel trapped and uses that to train us in that terribly difficult season/moment.

Sometimes, He wants us to know that He is enough for us in this season. His grace is enough. His mercy is enough. His love is enough.

Prayer is the key, friends, for the delays and valleys in life! Prayer keeps us connected to Him. Prayer is intimacy. Prayer is time. Prayer involves vulnerability. Prayer invokes surrender. Prayer is being transparent.

And, prayer is relationship.

No matter what comes our way, if we keep our prayer time in tact, good things happen.

GOD things happen.

There is strength for the battle. There is supernatural intervention. There is joy amid the sadness. There is hope that you will survive this moment.

Don’t give up, friends, when the battle is at its fiercest—out-pray that battle.

Out-pray that wandering child or rebellious child.

Out-pray that struggling marriage.

Out-pray that co-worker you want to smack upside the head.

Out-pray that friend who has hurt you.

Pray like your life depends upon it….because it does. Your heart needs you to.

It’s then you experience God on a level you never thought possible.

Day 145: Read 1 Chronicles Chapters 23-25

My Takeaways:

Today’s reading was a day where David took on another role: a planner. David planned out how the temple would be run by the Levites.

You guys, it hasn’t even been built yet—but he is already making plans for it! I loved the analogy Tara-Leigh gave about the temple: the temple was “absolutely central to their relationship with God, just like the Spirit is for us today.”

That puts it in perspective, doesn’t it?

In assigning all the roles to the Levites, a few things stood out to me.

First, David was leaving yet another legacy—his words regarding the temple. Years from this time, the Jews would be sent into exile for abandoning the Lord and when a portion of them would come back to rebuild the temple, they would use these words of David to help them! David’s love for the Lord emerged in his psalms but in today’s reading, it emerged through his instructions about the temple and the jobs the Levites had with it!

Side note: each division of the Levites was each treated alike and assigned job duties based on lots—no favoritism in their jobs for the Lord!

Each of us is called to leave a legacy of faith to the next generation. In Deuteronomy 6:5-9, we see the strongest one: a legacy of love for the Lord and to share that love with our family-the next generation. We are called to talk about the Lord and share stories of faith. Isn’t this beautiful?!

Our faith is meant to be a generational faith.

The second area that stood out to me was regarding the music. Music has always been a part of the Jewish culture and is still a part of the church today. It’s meant to ignite our hearts to the Lord. It’s another way to worship God. Think about the power of music we have read about already—Miriam with her tambourine after the Red Sea was parted, the sound of trumpets causing the walls of Jericho to fall, and David’s songs brought peace to Saul’s crazed mind.

Music, specifically music for the Lord, was a powerful part of worship for the Jews and is for us today.

It can bring us encouragement, prompt us to give thanks, open our eyes to worshipping God for who He is, help us forget the troubles we have going on in our lives for a few minutes, and refocus our eyes on the Lord.

Praise and worship music was meant and is meant to draw our hearts closer to the Lord.

That is why David is so intentional here—he knows from personal experience! It’s something Solomon may not know or may not have experienced yet, but David has and feels compelled to leave this most special legacy.

What is your legacy, friends? It’s never too late to focus on one—think about a need in your church you can help with. Think about a young mama who needs help. Think about a teen you can take to lunch and share encouragement through our story. Think about wayward children or grandchildren and how you could reach out to them.

One of the most profound legacies you could leave is this: your prayers. The power of a praying woman can change the next generation.

Oh friends, you can make a ripple effect! You were meant to have a profound difference in this world! Let today’s reading be a reminder of this: if you are still breathing air on this earth, you have a job to do for the Lord. You have a purpose.

You just have to be intentional with that purpose.

Day 146: Read Psalm Chapters 131, 138-139, & 143-145

My Takeaways:

We had many psalms today. So, I took a little creative license and created a prayer using portions of each one. This prayer is for all of us who need the Lord in ways only He knows and He can satisfy.

Lord,

Let me feel your presence, so that you can calm and quiet my soul. (Psalm 131:2) You have promised me that when I call upon you, you will strengthen me—Lord, I ask that now. Increase my strength! (Psalm 138:3)

No trap nor enemy will take me down-for I know your right hand is there to save me. I know you have a purpose for me and my life—fulfill it Lord! Don’t abandon me! Help me feel your faithful love now and forever. (Psalm 138:7-8)

You know me.

You know my thoughts.

You are with me wherever I go.

I’ve tried to run and hide from you Lord, but every time I do, I realize: you are already there waiting on me. As much as I try to hide in the dark of night, you see me.

You know me inside and out because you created me. Help me see how remarkable and wonderful you made me, Lord. (Psalm 139:14) Help me live out the purpose you have written for me and planned out long before I was born!

Search me. Test me. Expose my dark areas, those areas that hold me back in life, Lord. But don’t stop there—lead me away from them and onto your path in life. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Let me experience your faithfulness in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go because I trust you with my life. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me on level ground, Lord.

You are my faithful love, my fortress, my stronghold, and my deliverer. You are my shield and I take refuge in you. (Psalm 143:2)

I exalt you Lord and praise your name forever! May I declare your works and mighty acts to the next generation. May I tell others how you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. That you are good to everyone. That you are faithful in all your words and kind in all your actions. (Psalm 145:4, 8, 13)

You help us when we fall—you raise us up, Lord! We look to you, and you feed us at just the right time. Only you can satisfy us, Lord! You are near to us when we call out to you and you save us—you guard us because we love you.

Bless your name forever! (Psalm 145:14-21) Amen!

Day 147: Read 1 Chronicles Chapters 26-29 & Psalm Chapter 127

My Takeaways:

Unless the Lord builds a house….unless the Lord watches over a city….it’s all in vain.

Oh, friends, today’s reading has all the feel good vibes.

We have been studying David’s story and his psalms for over 40 days and now his story is coming to an end. (I get so attached to these people and their stories! I felt like this with Moses and Abraham, too.)

And David is doing something big in his last days: preparing his son to not only take over as king but to also build the Lord’s temple.

And both of these tasks are part of God’s will.

We know that David being king was part of God’s will from the very beginning and through the mountains and valleys of his life, God was not only there—He was working it all out for his good!

Now we are at the end of David’s life and kingship and he is preparing his son with one of his strongest legacies: build a house for the Lord. The temple would represent God and the Jews’ faith. It’s where they would travel several times a year for corporate worship. It’s where sacrifices were made. It’s where God’s presence would reside (the Most Holy of Holies).

It was everything to Jews!

God, through David, makes all the plans and prepared all supplies for Solomon to begin. And David gives some beautiful advice to Solomon upon commissioning for this most important and most sacred job:

Know God.

Serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind, for the Lord looks at the heart.

If you seek Him, He will be found by you.

Be strong to do the task the Lord has planned for you.

Be strong and courageous and do the work! God is with you and will not abandon you.

Oh, what a pep talk! What encouragement! This may be exactly what Solomon needs to do the job God has planned for him.

Friends, let’s take this advice and apply it to our lives. God has a purpose and a plan for each of you! It’s a plan that involves a “yes” to the things that are within His plan. It’s a plan that involves a “no” to the things that would hold you back from this plan. I love how Tara-Leigh put it in her recap: Saying “no” to the things that would hold you back from God’s plan for your life is the kindest thing He can do for you. It’s His loving kindness that guides you every step of the way.

Is it hard to accept the “no’s”? You bet.

But, if we looked at His “no’s” as His kindest answer and remember His character we have learned from this study, it helps give us the strength and grit to accept them.

If David’s story has shown us anything, it’s this: no matter how much we mess up or no matter how much the enemy attacks us, God will use every obstacle in our lives to chisel a godly character in us, one like His, to trust and follow Him as we walk in His light and in His plans for our lives.

Because everything else we try to do on our own, adrift from God, is in vain. It won’t last.

I love the wording of the Message for this in Psalm 127:1:

“If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.”

I don’t want shacks and naps, friends, I want God’s best. So, I commission you with the same advice:

Know God through His Word.

Serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind, for the Lord looks at the heart. It’s always about the heart.

If you seek Him, you will find Him!

Be strong to do the task the Lord has planned for you.

Be strong and courageous and do the work! God is with you and will not abandon you.

And I will add this: You can do all things through Christ, who gives you strength. (Philippians 4:13)