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 14, 2025, 7:12 AM
Passage Read: 2 Samuel 22 - 1 Kings 1
Meditation Verses: 1 Kings 1:7-10
Thought
Solomon's appointment as next in line for the throne was public knowledge, at least among the leaders of Israel. Adonijah knew it too, and so he didn't invite Solomon or Nathan the prophet or Zadok the priest or Benaiah and his guard.
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 7, 2025, 7:24 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 29 - 2 Samuel 1
Meditation Verse: 1 Samuel 29:8
Thought
Was David planning to betray the Philistines who had sheltered him and his men? They could have done great damage if they turned against them in the battle.
Feb 6, 2025, 7:26 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 25-28
Meditation Verse: 25:39
Thought
David planned to kill Nabal and all his men because he wouldn't repay David's kindness with some meat. Instead, Nabal insulted him.
Feb 5, 2025, 7:28 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 21-24
Meditation Verses: 22:22-23
Thought
There are two amazing statements in David's response to Abiathar: one is that he takes responsibility for the death of Abiathar's father's whole family but he's not crippled by the weight of that.
Feb 4, 2025, 7:30 AM
Passage Read: 1 Samuel 17-20
Meditation Verses: 20:32-34
Thought
If not for Jonathan, David likely would have been killed. He was a servant of God to protect David.