Standing on the Promises

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from (2 Samuel 7:18-29). This Scripture is a prayer from King David to the LORD. David went before the LORD, and asked Him, “Who am I, O Lord GOD? What is my house, that You have brought me here?” David didn’t understand why the LORD chose him. Have you ever wondered the same thing as David did? Even though David couldn’t figure out why God chose him, he still stood on the promises of God for him and his family.

David prayed, “This was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; but You have spoken of Your servant’s house for a long time. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?”

What else can I say to You? You, Lord GOD, You know Your servant.
For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, have You done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.

David proclaims, “You are great, O LORD God: there is none like You, nor is there any God beside You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

What nation in the earth is like Your people, Israel, whom You, oh God redeemed as Your people, and made a name for Yourself. You did great and mighty things, for Your land, before Your people, which You redeemed from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

You have confirmed Your people Israel to be a people to You forever: and You, LORD, have become their God.

David asked the LORD to do as He promised concerning him and his house.

Let Your name be magnified forever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of Your servant David be established before You.

You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant, saying, “I will build you a house: therefore I have found in my heart to pray this prayer to You.”

Now, O Lord GOD, You are that God, Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant:

Let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it: and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.

David is confirming what Nathan told him that the LORD said. He is proclaiming God’s words back to Him through prayer. Do you ever pray the Scriptures back to God and claim His promises over your life? We can stand on the promises of God.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 7:18-29

18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

Things to think about:

What is David doing in this Scripture?

What were some of the things David proclaimed to the LORD?

What is the one thing that David confirmed that the LORD had said?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture we see that David is confirming the what Nathan told him that You said. He is proclaiming the promise that You made concerning him and his house. Help us to proclaim the promises that You made in Your Word. Help us to know that we can count on You to back up Your promises. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Standing on the Promises” – Alan Jackson

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

New Release

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions is a Daily Bible Reading study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is a study of Zechariah from the Old Testament of the Bible. Zechariah was a prophet during Old Testament times. He tells of eight dreams or visions he has where the LORD communicates with him.

In the beginning of the book the LORD is beckoning His people to return to Him and He will return to them. The dreams that Zechariah has are dreams that are pertinent to his day as well as dreams about the future.

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and visions contains twenty-two Daily Bible Reading Lessons that take you through the entire book of Zechariah. Each lesson contains a commentary by the author, the Scriptures for Daily Bible Reading, a few questions for contemplation called “Things to think about,” and a Prayer for the Day. It is a great book for individual or group Bible studies.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00N1ZAOAM
Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive FREE
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox Mon-Fri
at: http://DeborahHBateman.com/subscribe

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Saul Inquires of the Witch of Endor

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Samuel 28:1-14. The Philistines gathered their armies together to fight against Israel. Saul freaked out when he saw the size of the Philistine army.

Achish, the Philistine’s king, let David know that he was expecting him and his men to support them in the battle. David asssured Achish of his abilities. Achish showed his trust in David by telling David that he was the keeper of his head forever.

We learned several lessons back that Samuel passed away and the people mourned over him and buried him in Ramah. This Scripture reminds us of Samuel’s passing.

We are also told that Saul had done away with those who had familiar spirits and the wizards from the land.

The Philistines gathered their troops at Shunem and Saul’s army gathered at Gilboa. When Saul saw how many Philistines there were, he was filled with fear.

Saul prayed to God, but God didn’t answer him. The LORD didn’t reveal anything to Saul by dreams, prophets, or by Urim. Urim were the stones that were kept in a pouch on the high-priest’s breastplate, which were used in determining God’s decision in certain questions and issues.

So Saul asked his servants to find him a woman with a familiar spirit, one who evokes the dead, that he could go and inquire of her. Saul’s servants told him there was a woman at Endor who had these capabilities.

Saul disguised himself by dressing in other garments. He took two of his men with him and went to visit the woman of Endor at night. The woman asked Saul if he was trying to get her killed. She reminded him that Saul had done away with all those who had a familiar spirit and the wizards. Saul swore to her before the LORD that she wouldn’t be punished for her work.

The woman agreed to perform the task and asked Saul who he wanted her to bring up. Saul asked her to bring up Samuel. When the woman saw Samuel she cried out asking Saul why he had deceived her.

Saul told her not to be afraid and asked her what she saw. She told Saul that she saw gods ascending from the earth. Saul asked her what the man looked like. She told Saul that it was an older man with a mantle covering him. Saul thought it was Samuel and he bowed down to him.

Why would a king, a man appointed by God, go to see a sorcerer? What was God going to think about Saul’s actions? There are many Scriptures that tell us that sorcery, witchcraft, and such are evil and we shouldn’t fool around with evil spirits.

Daily Bible Reading:

1 Samuel 28:1-14

1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

Things to think about:

What armies were about to go to war?

What happened when Saul saw how many Philistines there were?

When God didn’t answer Saul’s cries for help, what did Saul do?

Why did Saul turn to other sources when he felt he wasn’t hearing from the Lord?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 1 Samuel we are perplexed at Saul’s decision to seek guidance from other sources. Help us in our time of decision making not to become so fearful that we seek advice from those who are not guided by You. Help us to use wisdom when seeking advice from anyone besides You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Sweet Hour of Prayer” – Alan Jackson

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study. We will continue with the study of The Book of 1 Samuel.

New Release:

The Book of Nehemiah: A Story of Dedication and Determination
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Nehemiah: A Story of Dedication and Determination is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Nehemiah by Deborah H. Bateman. The book of Nehemiah is found in the Old Testament of the Bible. Nehemiah was led by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah was a great leader. He headed up the project. Despite the opposition that the Jewish people encountered they were able to complete this major project in less than sixty days. Their dedication and determination shines through in every aspect of the project.

The Book of Nehemiah: A Story of Dedication and Determination contains eighteen Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson contains a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation or discussion and a prayer for the day. This is a great Bible study that can be used for either a personal Daily Bible Reading Study or for a group Bible study.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00LLPLGTM
Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive FREE
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox Mon-Fri
at: http://DeborahHBateman.com/subscribe

Have a blessed day,

Deborah