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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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

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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”

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Daily Bible Reading “Evil Acts Backfire” (2 Samuel 4:1-12)

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

Evil Acts Backfire

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 4:1-12. When Saul’s son heard about Abner’s death, he was feeble. All of the Israelites were mourning over Abner.

Saul had two men who were captains of bands. One was named Baanah and the other was called Rechab. They were the sons of Rimmon, who was a Beerothite. He was one of the children of Benjamin.

Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son named Mephibosheth who was lame since he was five years old. He fell and got hurt as his nurse tried to flee when they heard of Saul and Jonathan’s death.

Rechab and Baanah went to Ishbosheth’s house one day about noon while he was taking a nap. Ishbosheth wasn’t bothering anybody. He was laying on his bed trying to rest. They pretended they were there to gather wheat. They went into his house and killed him. Then they cut his head off and fled with it.

They took Ishbosheth’s head and presented it to David. Somehow they thought David would be happy about their actions since Saul had pursued David for so long. They acted as if they were doing David a service.

David wasn’t happy about their actions at all. He wasn’t even happy when he was told that Saul had been slain. David insisted that those who did this act had to be punished. He instructed his men to slay the two men for their actions.

Then, they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it, along with Abner, in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

I know some of these lessons are hard. They aren’t encouraging and inspirational as I would like them to be, but when we’re studying through a book of the Bible we have to take the bad with the good. We’re learning the history of the Bible. That history includes not only the births of the people of the Bible, but also how and when their lives were ended.

One thing we can learn from this lesson is that we can’t expect good to come from evil. When people do sinful acts eventually they will have to pay for them one way or the other. We also learn that David wasn’t looking for revenge on Saul’s family because Saul had pursued him for many years.

First Peter 3:8-9 reminds us, “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 4:1-12

1 And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
2 And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
4 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

Things to think about:

Who was Mephibosheth? What did we learn about him?

Who were Saul’s two band leaders? What did they do?

What was David’s response to their actions?

How did David honor Ishbosheth?

Prayer of the Day:

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we learn that there were those who were evil back in David’s day as well. They did things out of spite, but their actions backfired on them. Help us to realize that it’s not our place to take revenge on those who have wronged us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Compassion (Change the World)

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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.

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Daily Bible Reading “Joab Kills Abner” (2 Samuel 3:22-30)

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

Joab Kills Abner

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 3:22-30. Joab and David’s servants came in from pursuing a troop. They brought in great treasures which they had collected from the troops. Abner was no longer with David because David sent him away in peace.

When Joab heard that Abner had been there to visit David he was upset. Joab went to David and asked him why he sent Abner away. Joab asked David didn’t he know that Abner only came to make a league with him so he could know David’s comings and goings.

Joab left David and sent messengers to get Abner and bring him back to the well at Sirah, but David didn’t know anything about it.

When Abner returned Joab took him aside to talk to him privately. Then Joab stabbed Abner with his sword and killed him because Abner had killed Ashahel, Joab’s brother, in the battle at Gibeon.

When David heard what Joab did to Abner he said that he and his servants were guiltless of the death of Abner, the son of Ner.

David declared that the responsibility for Abner’s death would fall on Joab and his father’s house since he and his brother conspired to kill Abner in revenge for their brother’s death. They caused even more trouble for their family by taking revenge.

David had no idea what Joab’s intentions were. Had David known he may have been able to stop this from happening.

It is understandable that Joab and his brother were upset over their brother’s death, but does killing someone else resolve the issue? Could we forgive someone for doing such as this?

We are told in Romans 12:19 that vengeance belongs to the Lord, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

We are not to take vengeance into our own hands. If someone does us wrong or hurts us in some way we should turn it over to the Lord and He will take care of it. In due time, everyone will get their just rewards.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 3:22-30

22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

Things to think about:

Where had Joab and David’s men been when Abner visited the king?

What did Joab tell David when he found out Abner had been there?

Who did Joab send to find Abner?

What did Joab do when Abner returned?

What was David’s reaction to what Joab did?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we learn that Joab was angry with Abner because of his brother’s death. Joab took his vengeance out on Abner and killed him. You told us in the Scriptures that vengeance belongs to You and You will repay. Help us not to take vengeance into our own hands. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Christian Music Video: “A Heart That Forgives”

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