Philippians 4:8 - Happy Halloween

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Halloween can be an evil holiday, worshiping satan, or it can be a fun day to dress up and have some candy. I choose the latter. We can bring glory to God by focusing on the good.

Lord, thank you for giving us the choice to celebrate or not celebrate certain days. Please help us to focus on the good and bring glory to your name in everything we do. Amen.

2 Samuel 19:6 - A leader who listened

You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead.

David was not perfect. David knew it and his trusted advisors knew it. Joab, the leader of David's army, was willing to tell him the truth and David would listen. King David's son, Absalom, had been trying to overthrow his father. They went to battle and his son was killed. Even though his son acted as his enemy he still loved his son and was devastated when he was killed. This was unfair to his armies who had just put their lives at risk for David to defeat his son. Joab pointed this out to David and he listened.

Lord, thank you for giving us people who are willing to tell us when we need to make a correction in our lives. Please help us to listen to these people and help us to be the advisor when needed. Amen

2 Samuel 17:14 - Understanding the ways of the Lord

Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

Ahithophel had been an advisor to King David and now he was advisor to Davis's son, who was trying to overthrow David. His advice was given after praying to God. In this case God was using Ahithophel as a part of a bigger plan to return David to the throne. From the outside it looked like Ahithophel had failed and he killed himself. We never know the bigger plan. Our job is to always rely on God and cling to his hand even when it seems we have made the biggest mistake of our life or had a huge tragedy occur. God can use all things to his glory.

Lord, thank you for using us, and even what we see as failure, to your glory. Please help us to continue to rely on you even when it seems the worst has happened. Amen

2 Samuel 16:11 - God's tool

David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.

David is fleeing his city from his son and his men. A man along the way throws rocks at David and his men and yells curses at him. His men want to kill the man, but David has a deep insight into the ways of the Lord God. He understands that the Lord's ways are not our ways. David generally does not do things unless he feels directed by the Lord. He understands that within God's plans and purposes, one day he may be King, the next a pauper. He is merely God's tool. He will not fight for his position unless it is God's will.

Lord, thank you for guiding us and having a plan for us. Please help us to be sensitive to your will and understand what you are guiding us to do. Amen.

2 Samuel 15:21 - New loyalty

But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”

David's son was conspiring against him, so he decides to leave his city. Hundreds of soldiers and people go with him, even a group of 600 people who had just recently arrived from another country. David tells the group to stay, they "didn't have a dog in this fight," but the group was loyal to David regardless of what happened. When we are a new Christian, we may not understand everything, but new loyalty can be strong loyalty.

Lord, thank you for knowing what is right for us. Please help us to trust you, no matter of how long we have been your follower. Amen.

2 Samuel 14:14 - Returning to God

Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.

One of David's son killed his brother for an atrocious act. This son flees from David and is essentially banished. After mourning the son who was dead, one of David's men shows him it is ok for his son to return. God desires reconciliation. He knows of our sins, but he wants us to return to him and will create a path for us. The great path was the death of his son so that our sins could be forgiven, but he also devises a personal path for each of us to return to him if we will follow it.

Lord, thank you for making a way for us to return to you. Please help the lost to open their eyes and see your plan for them. Amen.

2 Samuel 13:3 - Bad advice

Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

We have to be careful about the people we get advice from. Are they living the kind of life God wants them to live? David's son Amnon was getting advice from his uncle. We get the idea this man was not the most upright guy, but shrewd and street wise. It sounds like he knew how to get what he wanted, and he advised Amnon how to go about raping his sister who he was lusting after. We all have sinful desires, but who are we surrounding ourselves with, people who will encourage our sin our guide us away from it?

Lord, thank you for including this difficult topic in your word, so many have suffered because of rape. Please help us to surround ourselves with your people who will help us and give us good advice. Amen.

PS-On the flip side, give good, Godly advice. Be the kind of friend or mentor who gives wise council and pulls people away from sin.