1 When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
REFLECTION
The life of David is a mixture of ups and downs, triumphs and failures. What we admire in David doesn’t cancel out what we abhor about him, and what we abhor doesn’t cancel out what we admire.
The story of David is no different from ours. It isn’t a story of what God wants us to be but a story of God working with the raw material of our lives as He finds us.
In the end before his death, David exhorted his son to be faithful to God. Faith in God, with love for Him and dedication to obedience, is the most important heritage we can pass on to our children.
It is comforting to read David’s story. Because it is exactly like our lives, God is continually, through His gracious salvation, despite our ups and downs shaping us into His intended image.
PRAYER
Thank God for His “relentless love” for a sinner like me. And thank God for His never-giving-up transforming work in me.
The books commonly known as 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings are really one long book. (They were separated due to the length of ancient scrolls.) Beginning with Samuel, the last of the judges, this book describes what happened in the days of the kings who ruled first the whole nation, and then the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The reigns of Saul and David are described in detail. The repeating structure within the book tells how old a king was when he came to the throne, where and for how long he ruled, and something about his character and the notable events of his reign. (Some traditions call this book the “Book of Reigns.”)
Beneath this pattern of historical succession, however, another rhythm can be discerned. Saul, the first king, does not follow God faithfully, and God announces he will seek a man after his own heart to rule Israel. God finds this person in David. He puts him on the throne, promising that his descendants will always rule Israel if they continue to serve him. Unfortunately, the kings after David are not committed to following God’s way. Many of them abandon God and lead the people to do the same, although a few of them call the people back to obedience. Using David’s wholehearted dedication to the Lord as its standard, the book of Samuel-Kings traces the tragic wavering of the people’s devotion to God. Their covenant failure leads to the nation first being divided and then later conquered by the powerful empires to the east.
The “Book of Reigns” is therefore a tragic closing of the whole covenant history that began in Genesis. Just as the first humans were exiled from God’s garden, now Israel is sent out of the “new Eden” God intended in the promised land. Land and temple have been lost in the darkness of judgment, and only a flickering light remains. The deeper purpose of God for Israel—to bring blessing and restoration to the nations—seems to have been frustrated. But hope remains alive in God’s promise to bring a descendant of David back to the throne.
5 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. 7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah.
9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother.
11 Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king and David our lord does not know it? 12 Now therefore come, let me give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then is Adonijah king?’ 14 Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.”
REFLECTION
Nathan is faithful and loyal to God and David. He knew that Solomon was to be king after David. Therefore, when he heard of the schemes of Adonijah, he planned right away to stop it.
All of us need a Nathan in our lives – a person of integrity and courage to remind us of the primacy of God’s will when we’re making decisions. David did many foolish things in his life, but the one really smart thing he did was listening to Nathan’s counsel and his rebuke (which were really God’s counsel and rebuke).
Who is the Nathan in my life? What is he saying to me? And how well am I listening?
Am I someone’s Nathan?
PRAYER
For the Nathans in my life, give thanks to God and ask God’s blessing for them.
Ask also that I would be a Nathan to someone who’s in need. Pray for that person now.
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
REFLECTION:
The church at Corinth was a pastor’s nightmare, but their new life was ablaze in them. Their problems were many and serious. But, they knew that their lives were being shaped for some grand and eternal purpose. In spite of some hard words exchanged between Paul and them, he called them “friends” and encouraged them to “keep their spirits up” (v11). And he wished them the best by blessing them (v14). This demonstrates that even though we can have strong disagreements within the body of Christ, we can still be friends, still encourage one another, still hope the best for each other.
What about my church? Can I still keep friendship with someone at church even though we hold different opinions? Pray for our church that it will be filled with people who are true reflections of God’s love and power.
PRAYER:
Coming before God with a humble and gentle heart, I pray that in my current difficulties, God may grant me greater faith and increased obedience. May I be able to fully surrender myself to God, letting go and allowing God’s gracious hand to shape me, so that I may continually find joy and become a complete person.
I pray for the entire congregation of Peoples Gospel Church, that our brothers and sisters, even amidst differing opinions, may have unity of heart and work together to build God’s church. May we all grow together continuously within the church.
1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
REFLECTION:
When we tell people that God guarantees His children health and wealth in this life, or if they only have enough faith, they’ll be healed, that’s not true. Paul prayed with total confidence, only to learn that the answer was no. He learned in time that the weakness which devastated him was truly a gift from God. A gift that enabled him to experience God’s grace, presence, and power, in ways he would never have experienced them otherwise. So, when tragedy strikes and disaster comes, God will give His own strange gifts as we grow in our dependence on Him. As we seek His strength, we’ll discover a depth to our relationship with the Lord that we would otherwise never have known. And a strength that makes weakness a triumph and a joy.
What is my weakness? Have I received God’s gift? How does this gift help me experience God’s power and grace?
PRAYER:
With a devout heart, I come before God and offer thanks for all of God’s mercy, healing, protection, and blessings in my past. I am grateful for the abundant grace God has bestowed upon me.
I ask God for mercy in my current weaknesses and also express gratitude for prayers in the past that may not have been answered as I desired. I recognize that God uses my weaknesses to bless me and strengthen my intimate relationship with Him.
16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves!20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!
But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
REFLECTION:
Read this passage slowly as if you were with Paul: storms, imprisonment, beating, robbery, hunger, shipwreck, drift at sea…… What do you think of such a “resume” of Paul, a great spiritual giant in contrast to the impressive resume the world seeks after? How do you think of such a leader?
Why does Paul say, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness”? God is still looking for “weak” people in whom to display His strength. Are you interested in the job?
PRAYER:
Coming before God with a grateful heart, I thank God for providing me with a peaceful environment and a good life, sparing me from suffering like that of Paul. I pray that God keeps me vigilant, so that my current peaceful and comfortable life does not become my weakness, hindering the growth of my life.
I ask God to grant me greater courage, enabling me to boldly step out of my comfort zone, strive to spread the gospel, and be a powerful witness for the Lord.
1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.
REFLECTION:
From Paul’s example here, what is supposed to be the “normal” way Christians exercise leadership over one another? On a scale from 1 – 10, how well do I demonstrate Christ’s gentleness and meekness in leading others?
What will I work on this week that demonstrates my interest in building people up?
PRAYER:
Humbly coming before the presence of God, I pray for God’s illumination to shine upon me, removing the hidden pride and rebellion in my heart, so that I may serve God with a pure heart.
I ask God to grant me greater humility, enabling me to emulate Paul and not act according to my flesh. I pray for a submissive heart, willing to obey God’s will, seeking only to please God in all things rather than seeking the approval of people.
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
REFLECTION:
God gave His Son because he “so loved the world”. There is no higher motive for Christian giving than the example God set for us when he gave His only Son. Can we give like He did – freely and sacrificially, even delightfully? Yes, in fact, Corinthian church is one fine example. It was to that church that Paul wrote of the highest motive for giving. Our money is an extension of ourselves, he argued. If the money we give isn’t delightfully given, it’s because we aren’t delightful givers. The only way we’re going to give delightfully is to give out of LOVE. Any other motive leaves one joyless. In the long run, joyless giving does little good for Christ’s kingdom – and nothing for us (see 1 Cor 13:3)
Paul reminded the Corinthians and us of the blessings that make Christians giving such a joy. (1) Giving benefits us materially and spiritually. (vv8, 10) (2) Giving permits us to bless others.(vv11,12) (3) Giving stimulates others to pray for us.(vv13, 14)
Do I give compulsively or with careful planning? Am I a joyful giver, or a reluctant one? Have I received the blessings Paul talked about? In all the causes that I donate, is there a need for adjustment?
PRAYER:
Quietly before God, I pray for God to grant me heavenly wisdom, increase the fruits of righteousness in me, and help me understand that true wealth lies in the abundance of life, while spiritual dryness is true poverty.
I ask God to give me a willing heart to offer, ready to dedicate my finances, time, and energy to expand God’s kingdom. May God make me a blessed individual both materially and spiritually, and may my giving bring blessings to others.
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
REFLECTION:
Living in a materialistic society, we can easily become dominated by a spirit of acquisition – of getting and storing and then guarding what we’ve gotten and stored. The biblical practice of giving is an offering of a portion of the fruits of our labour to God. The offering is based upon the conviction that we would have gotten nothing from all our sweat and exertion if God hadn’t first given us the ground to use, the muscles to work, a brain to think, and a community to live and be employed in. Everything comes to us as a gift from God. Sunshine and rain. Fruitfulness and fertility. Strength and health. They are all from God. Our offering is an acknowledgment of that. It’s a way of honouring Him and giving thanks to Him.
Do I always give with a thankful heart?
PRAYER:
Come before God with a humble and grateful heart, acknowledging to God that everything I have, including my talents, achievements, and even life itself, comes from Him.
Pray for God to mold my life so that I may have a heart of gratitude in all things and grant me the ability to offer my best to the Lord willingly.
8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted.
REFLECTION:
The world’s sorrow is an “I’m sorry I got caught” kind of sorrow. The individual is sorry for himself, and the consequences he now has to pay. Godly sorrow is grief about the original act, and repentance – a commitment to turn from wrongdoing and to turn back toward God. We grieve, like Isaiah does in Isaiah 6, not only for ourselves, but also because we belong to a people who are sinful. With this comes spiritual insight and maturity.
Have I ever experienced this deep godly grief, for myself, or for others?
PRAYER:
Quietly before God, I ask for the courage to face the wounds within me that still haven’t healed, and I pray for God to grant me comfort and healing.
I ask God to purify me so that I may grieve according to God’s will, not sorrowing over the consequences of my wrongdoings but only repenting for my sins themselves. I pray for God’s forgiveness, filling my spirit with joy and peace.
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
REFLECTION:
Christians are to be completely separated unto the Lord, with that separation as sharp as the dividing line between light and darkness, between Christ and Satan, and between the temple of God and a shrine where idols are worshiped. In short, we are to “purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.” (7:1) God is our Father, but when we sin, sin’s contamination separates us from God. He is not able to be a Father to us in the same, intimate way He would if we were in close fellowship with Him. Similarly, when sin comes into a relationship between two people, it’ll be felt like a grain of sand entering into the eye, the relationship will be affected. So, the issue isn’t whether I could have intimate relationship with non-Christians, rather, if I want to maintain this close relationship with God the Father. Our loving father is calling us: “I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters.” How do I respond?
Imagine I am taking a walk with the Lord in the garden. What would I say to Him right now? The Lord is listening. Speak to Him slowly and listen to His talking, too.
PRAYER:
Humbly coming before the presence of God, I pray that the Lord may cleanse me, set me apart as holy, and grant me the faith and strength to live a life of holiness.
In all my daily affairs, I ask the Lord for guidance, bestowing upon me abundant wisdom to discern between truth and falsehood, darkness and light, impurity and purity. May I not indulge in the pleasures of sin, lest I offend God.
