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
Feb 13, 2025, 8:06 AM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 18-21
Meditation Verses: 18:14-15
Thought
Joab is a hard man, and he is wise in his own eyes. For the most part, he is loyal to David, but when he thinks his idea is better than David's, he will follow his own thoughts.
Feb 12, 2025, 7:08 AM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 14-17
Meditation Verse: 17:23
Thought
For all his wisdom, Ahithophel didn't see a problem with joining the son in rebellion against his father? Does he not know how greatly God hates rebellion? David's own life is a testimony to that.
Feb 11, 2025, 7:07 AM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 10-13
Best Verse: 10:12
Thought
Joab's job was to lead the army in battle, wherever the king desired. And because David honored the Lord so greatly, the Lord was pleased to bless the army in all they went to do.
Feb 10, 2025, 7:15 AM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 6-9
Meditation Verses: 6:5-7
Thought
David loved the Lord and desired Him to be with him in Jerusalem. But there was only one right way to transport the ark: on the shoulders of priests. David put it on a cart, like Philistines who once had captured it and sent it back by cart.
Feb 9, 2025, 7:22 AM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 2-5
Meditation Verses: 5:1-2
Thought
It seems everyone knew of God's promise to David! So why the ruse of putting Saul's son on the throne and fighting David for two years?
Feb 8, 2024, 6:34 PM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 22 - 1 Kings 1
Meditation Verses: 2 Samuel 22:17-20
Thought
It's interesting how David sees his own life, especially in contrast to Jacob. Jacob endured a number of hard things, some because of his own choices, though not necessarily because he did wrong. Yet at age 130, he told Pharaoh that his days were few and evil. David lived about half as long, and suffered many things, some because of his own sin, yet he rejoices in God's graciousness, kindness and deliverance.
Feb 7, 2024, 6:36 PM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 18-21
Meditation Verses: 19:6-7
Thought
Joab warned David that he was shaming his servants by weeping over Absalom. If he didn't speak kindly to those who risked their lives for him and his household, they would all be gone by morning and he would be left alone. He had sent them out and they did do his bidding. They loved him more than their own lives, so he owed them gratitude. He owed them his life, though it seems he would rather be dead than Absalom.
Feb 6, 2024, 6:37 PM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 14-17
Meditation Verse: 16:8
Thought
This is a great example that people see what they want to see and freely ascribe to the Lord what they want to be true. The text tells us why these things happened to David, and it had nothing to do with the house of Saul, whom David had only honored, not attacked. But people see what they want to see, Shimei's bitterness blinded him. He hates David and saw this as punishment from the Lord for David's rebellion and usurping of Saul's throne.
Feb 5, 2024, 6:39 PM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 10-13
Meditation Verse: 12:14
Thought
What enemies of God would these be, that blasphemed the Lord? Who knew about David's sin except the servants who brought Bathsheba to him and the scribe who recorded the message to Joab that told him what to do with Uriah? Were they the enemies of God or the people who would tell those who hated God about David's sin? Or does God mean Satan and his rebel angels? Are there some angels still on the fence about following God, and this gives them cause to despise the Lord?
Feb 4, 2024, 6:40 PM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 6-9
Meditation Verses: 6:8-11
Thought
How often does God do something, and I see it as hostility. I get angry and I become afraid to bring the Lord near to me, for fear of what He may do to me. God killed Uzzah for touching the ark, and David was angry because he was trying to do a good thing, then he was afraid, because God is God and can he walk in safety before Him? Can he understand what the Lord desires and please Him?