Daily Bible Reading “David Conquers the Enemy” (2 Samuel 8:1-8)

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

David Conquers the Enemy

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 8:1-8. David’s rest soon came to an end. He was at battle with the Philistines again. He attacked and captured them. David seized Methegammah, the mother city, out of the hand of the Philistines.

He also conquered Moab. He divided them with a line, forcing them to lie down on the ground; with two lines he measured those who were to be put to death, and with one full line those who were to be kept alive and taken captive. The Moabites became David’s servants and brought him gifts.

David also smote Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, who was the king of Zobah, as he was going to secure the border at the Euphrates river.

David seized a thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen from Hadadezar. He also crippled the chariot horses by cutting their hamstrings, rendering them useless, except for a hundred which he reserved to use for his chariots.

David slew twenty-two thousand Syrians from Damascus when they came to support Hadadezer, king of Zobah.

He put army garrisons or forts in Syria of Damascus. The Syrians became David’s servants and paid tribute to him. The LORD protected David and delivered him from his enemies wherever he went.

David took the shields of gold that were on Hadadezer’s servants and brought them back to Jerusalem with him.

He also collected massive amounts of brass from Betah and Berothai, which were two cities of Hadadezer.

David was always victorious because the LORD was on his side. David was a man after God’s own heart therefore God protected him and blessed him in battle against Israel’s enemies.

God allowed David to enslave those he defeated in battle and confiscate their wealth. Was David perfect? No, but David was always mindful of God’s law and expectations of him as God’s servant.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 8:1-8

1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

Things to think about:

Why did God bless David?

In what ways did God bless David?

Who did David conquer in this battle?

What bounty did David confiscate from the enemies?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that David was victorious over his enemies because You were on his side. He not only conquered his enemies but he also able to recover much from them. Help us to have confidence that we can be victorious in the battles of this life with you on our side. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “King of My Heart” – Love & The Outcome

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Featured Book:

New Release

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions

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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.

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Daily Bible Reading “Standing on the Promises” (2 Samuel 7:18-29)

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

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

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Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00N1ZAOAM
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Deborah

Daily Bible Reading “Unless the Lord Builds the House” (2 Samuel 7:1-17)

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

Unless the Lord Builds the House

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 7:1-17. The LORD finally gave David a break from his enemies and he was settled in the palace. But something else began to play on David’s mind.

David expressed his concerns to Nathan, the prophet, saying that it concerned him that he lived in a house of cedar, but the ark of God was still in a tent. Nathan told David to do whatever was in his heart because God was with him.

That night the LORD spoke to Nathan and told him to go ask his servant David, “Shall you build me an house for me to dwell in?”

The LORD told Nathan that He hadn’t dwelt in a house since He brought the children of Israel out of Egypt. He had been moving from place to place with the people of Israel and had either dwelt in a tent or a tabernacle.

The LORD asked if He had ever asked any of the people who He appointed over Israel to build Him a house.

The LORD told Nathan to remind David that He took him from being a lowly shepherd over the sheep and made him to be king and rule over Israel. The LORD said He was with David everywhere he went. He protected David from his enemies. The LORD made a great name for David as great as any man on earth.

The LORD told Nathan that He would establish a place for His people Israel so they wouldn’t have to travel anymore. He would also keep their enemies at bay and wouldn’t let them bother them like they did in the past. Like He gave David rest from his enemies He would also give His people rest from their enemies. The LORD said He would build a house for David.

The LORD told Nathan to tell David when his days were over and he went to rest with his ancestors the LORD would build his kingdom. He would raise up David’s offspring to succeed him.

The LORD said he would build a house for him and He would establish his kingdom forever. He said that He would be his father and he would be His son. If he sinned He would punish him like a father did his son.

The LORD promised that His mercy wouldn’t depart from him as it did Saul. The LORD said his house and kingdom would be established forever.

Nathan shared with David the vision that the LORD gave him and everything the LORD told him.

David had dreams of building a house for the LORD, but David’s plan and God’s plan were different. If David would have gone on with his plan in spite of what God said his labor would have been in vain.

Psalm 127:1: [[A Song of degrees for Solomon.]] Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Can you imagine being able to communicate with God like Nathan and some of the other prophets did in the Old Testament?

Sometimes when I’m trying to figure something out I wish I could pick up the phone and call God to ask Him what to do. I pray about it, but sometimes still wonder what is the right thing to do. Does this ever happen to you?

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 7:1-17

1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

Things to think about:

What was David’s concern in this Scripture?

Who did David talk to about his concern?

How did the LORD relay the message to David about what was to take place?

What was the LORD’s promise to David?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that David wanted to build You a dwelling place. You had honored David and He wanted to honor You. You blessed David for His commitment to You and Your people. Help us to be committed to doing Your will in our lives. Bless us for our service to You and Your people. Help us to spread the good news of Your gospel around the world. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: Psalm 127 “Unless the Lord Builds the House”

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.

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Daily Bible Reading “Let the Celebration Begin” (2 Samuel 6:12-23)

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

Let the Celebration Begin

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 6:12-23. David heard the LORD had blessed Obededom and his house because the ark of God was there. So David decided to go get the ark and bring it to Jerusalem. After the catastrophe that happened the last time they tried to move the ark, this time David decided to follow the protocol that the LORD had laid out for them concerning the ark. David was happy and excited to be bringing the ark to Jerusalem.

David created a tabernacle from a tent for the ark. He had the Levites sanctify themselves to carry the ark. This time they didn’t put it on a cart, but the Levites carried it in the manner they were supposed to. When the ones who carried the ark had gone six paces David sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

David was clothed in fine linen and had an ephod of linen. He danced and celebrated before the LORD with all his strength. David and all the people of Israel shouted and blew the trumpet.

As the ark entered Jerusalem, the city of David, his wife Michal, who was Saul’s daughter, looked out the window and saw David dancing before the LORD and she despised him.

They brought the ark and placed it in the tabernacle David had built for it and David made burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. When David finished making the sacrifices to the LORD he blessed the people.

David celebrated with all the people, men and women alike. Their celebration included a meal of meat, bread, and wine. When the party was over they all returned to their houses.

When David returned home to bless his house he was greeted by an angry wife. Michal was upset with David because he had danced shamelessly in front of all the people. In fact she made a slur against him saying, “How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!”

David told her that he was dancing before the LORD, who had chosen him before her father Saul chose him. It was the LORD who appointed him to be king over Israel and that is who he was celebrating.

David basically let her know that if she thought that was something she hadn’t seen nothing yet. He told her that he would become even more undignified than this. In fact he would be humiliated in his own eyes, but the slave girls that she had mentioned would honor him.

Michal wanted nothing to do with David. Was she jealous of him or what? She had no children with David to the day of her death.

This story is also recorded in 1 Chronicles 15-16, which contains more details about the event in case you would like to read it.

David followed the protocol that the LORD had laid out for them concerning the ark of God and this time the transport of the ark was successful. When we obey God, He will bless us. When we choose not to obey Him, we can’t expect to have His blessings on our lives.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 6:12-23

12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Things to think about:

What did David do different this time when they went to get the ark?

How can we tell from this Scripture that this was a time of celebration for David and the people of Israel?

Who was the one person that wasn’t happy about the events that took place?

What was David’s response to her?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that David obeyed Your instructions this time concerning the ark. He didn’t disregard them as he had before. He made sure everything was carried out to Your specifications. Help us to honor and obey You in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Christian Music Video: “Give You My Heart” – Hillsong (Featuring Holly Dawson)

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:

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