Devotional:
“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! (2 Samuel 7:22)

Out of David’s great love for the Lord flows the idea to build Him a permanent dwelling, which to us sounds like quite a noble idea. However, God didn’t need David to build Him new digs nor did He desire it. David’s purpose was to be a fighter, not a builder, and God shows him in the most generous way who the true Builder is as He promises that He will build a dynasty (a house) for David that will endure further. As we see God’s dramatic display of generous, extravagant love in David’s life, take a stroll down memory lane and take stock of how God has fulfilled His promises to you.

Pray it:
Father, everything in this world belongs to you, so no amount of sacrifice or service could measure up to what you already have or reflect how truly awesome you are. Thank you for being a generous God who makes promises and bestows gifts upon His people and has been so good to me. Amen.

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Devotional:
And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. (2 Samuel 6:14)

David again displays that he is a man after God’s own heart in his determination to bring back the Ark of God, which was put aside by Saul. While God had given specific instructions to His chosen people for the transportation of the Ark, David opted to follow the manner in which the Philistines transported it after its capture. David’s disobedience resulted in a stern, costly reminder of the holiness of God. Witnessing the cost of Uzzah’s irreverence deepened David’s holy fear of the Lord. His worship was unrestrained and uninhibited. It didn’t matter who was watching. There is always a reason to worship. When was the last time you dropped to your knees in church or raised your hands because it mattered not who was watching?

Pray it:
Father, you are holy and also so loving, entering into a relationship with me. Help me to honor your name with the reverence you deserve while also having the passion that comes from knowing you personally and experiencing your great work in my life. Amen.

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Devotional:
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all. (2 Samuel 5:4)

God fulfills his promises to us, but it is always on His timetable. He never wastes moments or opportunities. Many years had passed since Samuel had anointed the young shepherd boy of Jesse’s clan. Yet in those days, weeks, months and years, the Lord was preparing David to be a great leader of His people. It’s easy to say, “God has a plan.” But many times it’s hard to be patient and not give up hope as that planning is unfolding. Rest today knowing God is working. You may not see it, but He is. Do not lose hope. He who promised is faithful!

Pray it:
Father, thank you for your perfect plan, for working according to your timeline and not according to mine. Give me the strength to trust in your plan even when I wish it would work faster or differently. Amen.

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Devotional:
When they arrived at Hebron, they presented Ishbosheth’s head to David. “Look!” they exclaimed to the king. “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you. Today the Lord has given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his entire family!” (2 Samuel 4:8)

Baanah and Rechab are rebel assassins. Of their own accord they murdered Ish-bosheth in his home, leaving Mephibosheth, a crippled young man, the heir to the throne. David was enraged as Baanah and Rechab not only murdered in cold-blood but also had the gall to suggest the Lord prompted their actions. Have you ever justified your bad behavior to that of helping God accomplish His purposes? May we never forget that God is holy, and He is powerful enough to fulfill His promises without us and our personal vendettas and agendas.

Pray it:
Father, I know that you are able to work in and through the evil events of this world, that what others meant for evil you work for good. Help me to resist justifying my own sinful desires in this knowledge and instead seek to reflect your kingdom through following your ways each day. Amen.

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Devotional:
When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel. (2 Samuel 3:27) 

An unforeseen ally in Abner positioned David for a more robust kingdom. Yet Joab held contempt for Abner because Abner killed Joab’s brother in battle. When given the opportunity, Joab retaliated and killed Abner. This murder was purely about revenge and was unjust, so David cursed Joab and his descendants. Joab’s one action launched a lifetime of pain and suffering upon those closest to him. Think about how you respond to those who’ve wronged you (whether justly or unjustly). Are you quick to take matters into your own hands and get even with your actions or your words? Take a breath and take a step back. Leave justice to the One who executes it perfectly (Romans 12:19).

Pray it:
Father, rid me of thoughts of revenge and bitterness towards others and instead empower me to trust in you as the one who has the perfect plan to bring justice and to remember your mercy and grace towards me.

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Devotional:
Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah. When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. (2 Samuel 2:4-6)

When the men of Jabesh-gilead made the decision to reclaim Saul’s body and give him a proper burial, it was with no other motive than to do the right thing and honor someone who helped them (see 1 Samuel 11). So often we do the right thing when others are watching or when it aligns with our agenda. But these men did what they did…just because, and God saw. What is done with no glory to be gained is certainly noticed by God who loves to bless His children for doing what is right. Don’t be quick to swap earthly recognition for recognition from the One who matters most. The latter is far, far better.

Pray it:
Father, remind me that you are always watching me and to seek to please you in all my actions. Help me not to do good in search of honor in the eyes of others but for the pleasure that comes from following you and walking in your ways. Amen.

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Devotional:
They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day. (2 Samuel 1:12)

One might expect David to rejoice at the death of Saul, a king who was laser focused on his quest to destroy David rather than being a solid leader of his people. But this is not the case. David is undone at the death of Saul because he had been the Lord’s anointed. David’s response reveals the awe and respect he had toward the Lord. Saul made David’s life miserable every time he could, yet the way in which David grieved Saul was another testament of his upright character. We live in a broken world with broken people. Those difficult people often make our lives very hard. How do you respond when your “enemies” get their due? Are you full of gladness or are you full of grace?

Pray it:
Father, help me to love and bless those who I find myself in conflict with and with those who oppose you. May your Spirit lead me to pray for their salvation and transformation and to see each person I encounter as one made in your image. Amen.

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Devotional:
Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.” (I Samuel 31:4)

This final chapter is the culmination of a life lived cowardly. Saul lived by the sword and died by the sword. Even in his final moments, he fought for control. Death was to be his way and in his time. This was the tragic end of an unsurrendered life. Interestingly the character foil to Saul is the “valiant” man. Valiant isn’t a word often used today. Valiant is the mark of courage and determination. Valiant is doing what’s right, no matter the cost. Whether or not these men agreed with Saul’s politics, they risked their lives to do the honorable, courageous act of bringing dignity to God’s anointed king and his sons. Today, look for opportunities to not only recognize the valiant but to be valiant (Romans 12:10).

Pray it:
Thank you, Jesus, for not doing what was most convenient for you but was best for me by going to the cross for my sins. When I am tempted to take the easy or the cowardly way, help me to remember your great love for me and instead choose the valiant and brave path you took. Amen.

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Devotional:
David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God. (I Samuel 30:6)

When David arrived back at his base, everything was taken – including his wives. The city was burned; there was nothing left. The grief was great and David carried the blame for this catastrophic tragedy. Others also blamed him for what happened. Everything and everyone was against him. While it may be our first response to get even and settle the score, David did not act hastily. He stopped. He drew his strength from the Lord and inquired of Him. Today, when you feel the adrenaline rush to make right how you’ve been wronged . . . STOP! Ask the Lord for His leading. His way is the best way!

Pray it:
Father, when I am tempted to get bitter because of things that happened in life, help me to find strength in you and come out a better person who lifts others up rather than brings others down. Amen.

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Devotional:
Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” (I Samuel 29:5)

David is caught in the middle of a twisted covert operation. The commanders of the Philistine army knew David’s reputation and his record. The Lord intervened and saved David from himself, creating a way where there seemed to be no way out. Our reputations always precede us. What does your reputation declare about you? Are you one who is after God’s own heart, or are you flippant, only when it’s convenient to be a follower of Christ? Ask God for wisdom. Ask Him to craft you into a reflection of Himself. It will take work, but it’s not too late to give your reputation an overhaul. Start today. Choose God. Choose His way!

Pray it:
Father, help my life and conduct create a reputation as a person who knows and loves you, and prevent my life and conduct from giving you a bad reputation among those with whom I interact with this day. Amen.

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Devotional:
He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.” (I Samuel 28:6-7)

The final days of Saul’s life are marked once again by disobedience. When he inquired of the Lord, he did not get a reply. He then took matters into his own hands and consulted a medium, which was in defiance of his own edict. Sometimes God chooses not to answer us because He wants us to wait, radically shaping our character in the waiting. There are times God doesn’t give us an answer. Remember, God our Father is HOLY. Our unconfessed sin blocks our prayers. If you desire to hear from God, confess your sin. The atoning blood of Jesus allows you direct access to connect with God, but you need to clear the communication line via confession. Now wait. Wait patiently for the Lord who hears you! He will answer in His time.

Pray it:
Father, show me any places of unconfessed or unrecognized sin that is hindering my ability to connect with you and hear from you. Thank you for hearing my prayers in the name of and through the power of Jesus. Amen.

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Devotional:
But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.” (I Samuel 27:1)

Our situations and perceptions can often obscure the promises of God. David was tired of keeping one step ahead of Saul and fled to protect his family and men. Although David’s faith stood firm in the belief the Lord would protect him in battle, his faith grew wary when it came to his protection from Saul. (He didn’t know that in just over a year he would assume the throne.) How often is our faith conflicted? Do we trust God in one area but have faith in ourselves to control other areas? Today, confess what’s dividing your heart and give it ALL over to God. Rest in His providence and His control.

Pray it:
Father, I confess that at times I grow weary in doing good and start to only trust you in some areas of my life. Show me the places where I am not trusting you, and help me to start trusting you there today.

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Devotional:
The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. (I Samuel 26:23)

We have seen time and again David doing what David does best – he lets God be God. He lets God decide who lives and who doesn’t. He lets the Lord fight his battles. In this chapter, this game of cat and mouse between a disturbed, paranoid king and a gracious, future king continues, but it is the last time Saul will speak to David. Saul’s final words are, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” When David kept his focus on the Lord, he would go on to do many great things with success. But when his focus shifted off the Lord, devastation followed. Where is your focus? Are you letting God be God? Do you welcome Him to do His things according to His timing?

Pray it:
Father, I confess that I often do things my own way rather than your way. Thank you for the reminders that your way is the path of true blessing and help me to stay focused on walking down that path. Amen.

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Devotional:
Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands. (I Samuel 25:33)

It might be argued that David’s reaction is justified in desiring to kill Nabel and his men. They were bound by a contractual agreement (provision for protection) which Nabel had no qualms breaking. However, without consulting the Lord to fight his battle, David would be marked by unwarranted bloodshed and the stain would mar his rule. Enter the wise wife, as Abigail becomes a mediator to make things right. We, too, have a Great Mediator who is faithful in providing us instruction on doing the better thing. If we heed His wise words and ways (sometimes given through those He places in our paths), there is much promise for our future as well! Stop and take a breath before trying to settle the score on your own. Seek Him first and know He will make it right in His time.

Pray it:
Father, help me to resist the urge to avenge myself and grow in trust in you by letting you be the one who puts things to right. Give the patience and hope that allows me to endure as I wait for that time. Amen.

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Devotional:
He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” (I Samuel 24:6)

When someone has wronged us, payback seems justified. It’s instinctive and a very human reaction. But those who love God trust the justness of who He is to reckon what is right. David trusted the Lord’s plan and His timing. Humble David would not remove the Lord’s chosen leader even when he had opportunity, and even when his squad encouraged him to seize the moment of retaliation. Who’s wronged you? Maybe they’ve taken something that was yours or their words killed your character? Everything in you might want to settle the score (and your tribe might be advising as such), but let God be God. Like David, show grace and walk away because God always gets the last word. He is the Lion of Judah and when it comes to protecting His tribe, He’s fierce and He roars!

Pray it:
Father, I thank you for sparing me, even though I am deserving of judgment, by sending Jesus to take my place. Help me to live like him and love those around me who might oppose me or have wronged me.

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Devotional:
So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, “Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.” (I Samuel 23:4)

It’s a small, almost buried word in today’s passage but packs much power. AGAIN. David sought the LORD again. His seeking of God’s direction in his life was not a one-and-done thing, praying to check a box or just asking for a blessing before action. Think about the past few days. How many times did you seek out GPS, Alexa or Siri? In contrast, how many times have you called out to God for direction? This realization might have stung a bit, but when we see ourselves as we truly are, we are able to make necessary tweaks to our patterns. Here’s the good news: “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). All you need to do is ask! Do it….and do it again!

Pray it:
Father, I need your wisdom and help not just in the big decisions of life but in the choices that I make each and every day. Help me to seek your counsel regularly and then to act in accordance with the wisdom that you give.

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Devotional:
Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. (I Samuel 22:2)

David points us to Jesus both in the things that he does and also in the imperfections that we see in him. Just as David gathers his misfits—the distressed, the poor, the marginalized and the broken—to fight for the kingdom, Jesus invites misfits to come under His leadership and fight for His Kingdom. Under the right leadership, the lacking and troubled can be transformed into a mighty lot! But while Jesus is a perfect leader, David was far from it. David’s imperfect leadership shows us that we need an even better leader, which we have in Jesus. And the fact that God used David in spite of imperfection is a reminder that our perfect leader Jesus invites us in the midst of our imperfections. Let us follow Him and see what He does in and through us.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you for your amazing kindness and compassion towards me in the midst of my sin and imperfections. Help me to follow the examples of David and his descendant the Lord Jesus and reach out to people in their desperation and discontentment. Amen.

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Devotional:
“The king has sent me on a private matter,” David said. (I Samuel 21:2)

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” This statement from Sir Walter Scott’s poem Marmin is true –  lies beget more lies. David is in a tough spot. He’s a fugitive, he’s hungry, and he doesn’t know whom he can trust. He chooses to sin. And just like us when we take our focus off the Provider of all things in the midst of a predicament, we tend to manipulate systems and situations for our benefit. The outcomes leave us wanting and typically wound in a mess of our own accord. The good news still remains: there is power and beauty in confession, not the obligatory, flippant, “sorry,” but the gut-wrenching, owning of our willful disobedience. A contrite heart is a broken heart. Today, check your heart. Let it be broken in repentance. God is the master rebuilder of cracked-up hearts.

Pray it:
Father, forgive me for the lies that I tell others and tell myself. Help me to be a person who seeks, spreads and stands upon the truth at all times as pursuing the truth draws me closer to you. Amen.

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Devotional:
So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, “May the Lord destroy all your enemies!” And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself. (I Samuel 20:16-17)

Jonathan and David are what Anne of Green Gables would affectionately deem bosom friends. Their friendship, albeit costly, is steeped in loyalty and truth. Although Jonathan had familial rights, he would never ascend to the throne because of the consequences of his father’s disobedience. Yet, Jonathan didn’t hold a grudge or despise David, the one who would rule, his best friend. If a should-be king can serve and cheer on a would-be king, why can’t we be better at serving and cheering on each other (Galatians 5:13-14)? Take stock of your friendships today. Do you have friends who exemplify loyalty and truth (even when it’s painful)? Who might the Lord be pushing you to lean into on a deeper level of accountability and authenticity? Who might He want you to prune from your inner circle?

Pray it:
Father, help me to be a loyal and truthful person and a loyal and truthful friend. Rather than viewing those around me as competitors for things, help me to be their greatest cheerleaders as I encourage them to seek and find your blessings in their lives. Amen.

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Devotional:
Then Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning.” So she helped him climb out through a window, and he fled and escaped. (I Samuel 19:11-12)

Saul shows himself to be a weak, jealous and disloyal individual as he seeks to kill David. In contrast, his children, Jonathan and Michal, protect David from the attacks and schemes of their father, showing tremendous courage. Jonathan and Michal chose what was right. Meanwhile, as Saul was busy swapping out his perception and faulty narratives instead of embracing God’s reality, he permitted his head and heart to reel down the trail of untruth, which escalated his discontentment, anger and fear to the point of homicidal tendencies. If you are not leaning into God’s Word, the stories you are creating and the details you are filling in can quickly snowball into profound untruth. Be tenacious in studying God’s Word and have the courage to live in light of the true story that He tells.

Pray it:
Father, guard me against believing the untruths about myself, this world and others that I hear from various voices (including my own). Help me to cling to your truth and to act in accordance with it this day even if it causes me to walk differently than those close to me. Amen.

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Devotional:
And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. (I Samuel 18:3)

Instead of being grateful for the friendship formed between Jonathan and David, it enraged and escalated Saul’s jealousy, envy and paranoia. He did everything within his power to manipulate and rid the nation of David. But God showed up! Not only did God spare David’s life time and again, He blessed it abundantly! No matter how we maneuver and calculate for certain outcomes, absolute control is beyond us. Let go of the myth of being independent and surrender yourself to God’s plan for you. Surrender isn’t a move of the weak – it is a move of the wise. God’s plan is higher and better than any plan you could construct for your life.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for sending Jesus to do what only he could do and to free me from the penalty and power of sin. Help me to do the things that you have equipped and called me to do in the name and through the power of Christ. Amen.

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Devotional:
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” (I Samuel 17:32)

This well-loved story might actually be more about David vs. Saul than David vs. Goliath. Saul should have been the one to go out and fight. While Saul was not equal to the stature of Goliath, Saul stood much taller (well over 6’) than any other man in Israel. He also had the fancy and sturdy bronze armor for battle. Outwardly, he was prepared, but once again, Saul’s heart betrays him as an unfit leader. The Lord chose young David, who didn’t have the height or the right armor to fight, on behalf of Israel because his heart and his lips honored the Lord (verse 26). What does God see when He measures your heart? Does He see a fierce and obedient reliance on Him? If you are God’s child, live your life out loud with such an undeniable confidence in Him that it causes people to ask whose kid you are!

Pray it:
Father, thank you for sending Jesus to do what only he could do and to free me from the penalty and power of sin. Help me to do the things that you have equipped and called me to do in the name and through the power of Christ. Amen.

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Devotional:
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”

But Samuel asked, “How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” … (I Samuel 16:1-2)

God was ousting a leader. And not just any leader. Saul looked and stood like a leader and had scads of followers. All boxes were checked EXCEPT that one about owning the character and conviction of God’s heart. But God sees what we miss. Regardless of the impending chatter of others (and there is always chatter), God sometimes has us do hard things. Samuel chose to be obedient and do the hard, unpopular thing of unseating a king who was a disobedient poser. Yet, God knew the inner-workings and devotion of David’s heart, who was only a young shepherd tending the sheep. Today, heed a simple tip: questioning God’s divine wisdom and track record are a waste of your energy. Pour your energy into taking one more step in trusting Him and His plan, especially if it doesn’t make sense to you!

Pray it:
Father, give me a heart that is willing to step out and do the hard things that you ask, things that may not make sense to the world’s eyes but reflect the way you do things differently from the ways of this world. Amen.

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Devotional:
Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night. (I Samuel 15:10-11)

We, much like our Old Testament friends, are a forgetful people. In addition to our self-dependence, we have a strong pull toward intentional defiance. Our behavior betrays us, leaving us helpless and undeserving, YET God chooses to bless us and pour down His good gifts into our lives anyway. Have you ever given thought to whether God regrets the abundant blessings He has rained down on you? Can it be said that you follow the LORD? (No, showing up once a week to bow your head, raise your hands and toss some coins into a basket doesn’t count.) Do you heed His spirit inside you and jump at what He prompts you to do? What a grace it is that His love isn’t dependent on us but is solely based on the faithfulness of who He is. May He not regret His abundant goodness to us!

Pray it:
Father, thank you for your abundant and amazing grace to me, an undeserving sinner. Help me to respond to your grace with obedience and love, living into the good works that you have saved me to do in your name. Amen.

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Devotional:
“My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. (I Samuel 14:29)

In this text we see leadership matters. Character matters. While Jonathan was a wise, thoughtful leader, his father, King Saul, was not. Saul was hasty and rash, which led him to make foolish and costly mistakes. We are all simultaneously followers and leaders. Take a hard look at whom you’re following. They will influence who you become. Does their character noticeably align with God’s Word? Do they push you forward in truth? You also have influence whether it be at the workplace, in the home, on the court or at the playground. How do you use your influence? Maybe there’s work to be done. Let’s get after it! Are you brave and humble enough to beg the Lord to take a chisel to your life and refine your character to resemble His? He will . . . if you are audacious enough to ask!

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the good examples of leaders with godly character that you have placed in my life. Help me learn from their examples and present a similar example to those around me who look to me. Amen.

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