Personal Devotions
Notes from Mark's personal Bible reading and meditation
With a goal to apply one truth from each day's reading to my life that day
Jan 28, 2024, 4:08 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 13-16
Meditation Verse: 15:24
Thought
God's appointed leader is expected to lead according to God's commands. He is not supposed to listen to his people, but to lead them. He should consider their needs and weaknesses, rather than make rash curses as Saul did when he fought the Philistines, but he shouldn't take their counsel over the Lord's. When God gives clear instruction, there is no room for negotiation.
Jan 27, 2024, 4:09 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 9-12
Meditation Verse: 12:14
Thought
It is interesting that Samuel places responsibility for walking in God's ways in the hands of the people, not the king. They chose to have a king, and the king would walk with God if they walked with God. It was not the case that the king would make them walk with God, though that seems to be the way of things.
Jan 26, 2024, 4:11 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 5-8
Meditation Verse: 8:18
Thought
A formal government, a king and all he requires for ruling the people, judging them and fighting their battles, eventually becomes a heavy burden on the people. And invariably, the king becomes insensitive to the people and does whatever pleases himself and the rich who court him, without thought of the people who produce the materials that he needs for his wishes.
Jan 25, 2024, 4:16 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 1-4
Meditation Verse: 2:30
Thought
God makes promises to people, but they must honor Him in order to see those promises fulfilled. He will not bless men who treat Him with contempt, even though He has promised to them, to their family or their people that they will be honored and blessed. God cannot reward unrighteousness and rebellion.
Jan 18, 2023, 6:57 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 29 - 2 Samuel 1
Meditation Verse: 1 Samuel 30:8
Thought
This was a tragedy, especially before they knew they would recover everything. Their city was burned and all their people and goods were plundered. But the Lord promised they would overtake and defeat the Amalekites that had done this. It was a horrible thing to have happen, but it also kept David from sneaking back to join the battle between the Philistines and Israel. David might have helped Saul defeat the Philistines.
Jan 17, 2023, 6:15 PM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 25-28
Meditation Verse: 25:39
Thought
If I am faithful to walk in the Lord's ways, then I can be sure that I never need to take vengeance on those who insult me. The Lord will do it. I need to defend the Lord and work for His glory. I need to defend His honor and leave mine to him. Even if I make a fool of myself in serving and worshiping the Lord, I don't need to work about my honor. What men think of me really doesn't matter, so I shouldn't worry about it, especially when I'm tempted to be embarrassed by something the Lord has said or done.
Jan 16, 2023, 7:00 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 21-24
Meditation Verse: 24:15
Thought
The Lord preserved David time and again, in small ways vindicating him. It would be some time before he cleared David's name and exalted him for all his righteous choices, all his goodness to Saul, Israel and the Lord. But the Lord did eventually vindicate David in the eyes of all Israel, making him king of the whole nation.
Jan 15, 2023, 7:06 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 17-20
Meditation Verse: 18:8
Thought
Saul already had problems with the Lord and with humility before Him. He knew the Lord planned to hand the kingdom over to another, but he was determined to keep it. He should have known better, but he already showed he didn't respect or fear the Lord very much. So it's no wonder he would give in to jealousy, even more as he realized David was the one chosen by God to succeed him. All his efforts to eliminate David failed, but he wouldn't give up until God put him to death.
Jan 14, 2023, 7:08 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 13-16
Meditation Verse: 16:7
Thought
The Lord looks at the heart; men look on the outward appearance to determine who should lead, who to follow, who is worthy of honor. The Lord looks on the heart, for a man after His own heart. I need to judge men not by their outward appearance, but by their heart. I can't directly see what is in their heart, but I can evaluate what comes from the overflow of their heart: I can judge them by their words and deeds, what they value, what they invest their time in, how they use their free time.
Jan 13, 2023, 7:09 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 9-12
Meditation Verse: 12:22
Thought
The Lord was pleased to make me His own, so He will not reject me. That promise should amaze me and fill me with gratitude and security, such that I am glad to do anything He asks. It should move me to grateful obedience and faithfulness to Him, knowing that He gladly chose me and commits Himself to me! My grateful obedience should bring more glory to His name. To take His love for granted and live however I want is to think too highly of myself, as if I deserved His choosing of me, and too little of Him, which brings dishonor to His name.