Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 6:16-23.

“Then it happened as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD;  and she despised him in her heart.

So they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it;  and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.  When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.  Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one.  Then all the people departed each to his house.

But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today!  He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!”  So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel;  therefore I will celebrate before the LORD.  I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.”  Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.”  2 Samuel 6:16-23.

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David rightly was more concerned about what the LORD thought about his “leaping and dancing before the LORD” than what his wife Michal thought about it.  

David wanted to fully show his joy and fully give thanks and praise to the LORD for what the LORD had done and was continuing to do for him, even if it would seem to others that he was humbling himself.

It appears as if Michal had no such concern for thanks and praise to either the LORD or for David.  It appears as if Michal was only concerned how the royal family would appear to others to better lord over others.  It appears as if the LORD punished Michal.  “Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.”  Verse 23.  

Consider what Jesus’ disciples did in their expression of joy.

“As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting:

“BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”  But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”  Luke 19:37-40.  

“Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.” Psalm 149:1-3.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 6:12-15.

“Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.”  David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.  And so it was, that when the bearers of the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.  And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod.  So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sound of the trumpet.”   2 Samuel 6:12-15.

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In the previous Scripture, we read:  “David was afraid of the LORD that day;  and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”  2 Samuel 6:9.

In today’s Scripture, we see that the LORD helped David.  

There is more detail concerning the LORD’S help in the account of this event as reported in 1 Chronicles 15:25-28.  “So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with joy.  Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.  Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers.  David also wore an ephod of linen.  Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres.”  1 Chronicles 15:25-28. 

In today’s Scripture, we also see that David was wearing a linen ephod.  A linen ephod was normally reserved for the priests.  Would the LORD strike down David?  

No, there was hope for David.

“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;  and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”  Exodus 19:5-6.

And, there is hope for us today!

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 6:1-11.

“Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.  And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim.  They placed the ark of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill;  and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart.  So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill;  and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark.  Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.

But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it.  And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence;  and he died there by the ark of God.  David became angry because of the LORD’S outburst against Uzzah, and that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.  So David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”  And David was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD into the city of David with him;  but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.  Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.”  2 Samuel 6:1-11.

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“10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.” Proverbs 9:10-12.

Regarding how the ark of the LORD and all the other holy objects were to be moved, the LORD commanded through His Law that they be carried by the Kohathites through the use of “carrying poles”, (not by other means such as by a cart), “so that they will not touch the holy objects and die.”

“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects and die.  These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.”  Numbers 4:15.  Regarding the use of “carrying poles”, see Numbers 4:5-14.

More generally, for us today, we can use today’s Scripture to meditate on the following three points: the holiness of the LORD, our need for the LORD to draw us to Himself, and we cannot worship the LORD as we please (but rather we must worship the LORD as He pleases according to His word). 

First, the LORD is thrice holy, and no one can approach the LORD unless He allows it and causes it to occur. 

“And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3.

“… For who would dare to risk his life to approach Me?’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 30:21.

“How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You
To dwell in Your courts.
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.” Psalm 65:4.

Second, we can not worship the LORD as we please.  Although “David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals”, such worship did not eliminate the requirement that the LORD be worshipped in reverence according to His Law.

“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:10-12.

Third, we cannot even approach the LORD through our own will and our own works.  Like David, we should fear the LORD and, so to speak, ask:  “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” 

The LORD comes to us through His will, not our will.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;  and I will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:44. 

Consider that if those who heard Jesus’ pure words of preaching and teaching and saw His miracles in person could not come to Him unless it was granted to them by God the Father, how much more is it true for us today!

“And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”  John 6:65-66.

In summary, we can only come to the LORD if the LORD draws us and gives us His Spirit.  We can only worship the LORD in the truth of what He provides through His Word.  “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;  for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  John 4:23-24. 

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 5:17-25.

“When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David;  and when David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold.  Now the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.  Then David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines?  Will You give them into my hand?”  And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”  So David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there;  and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.”  Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.  They abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.

Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.  When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go directly up;  circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.  It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”  Then David did so, just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.”  2 Samuel 5:17-25.  

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It is noteworthy that in the two battles with the Philistines in today’s Scripture, the LORD gave different instructions to David for each battle. The LORD gave victory over the Philistines for both battles, but the LORD did not give victory to David in the same way.  

The LORD also does not always deliver us from our trials and tribulations in the same way.   

So to speak, the check may often come in the mailbox just when we need it.  But sometimes, we do not receive the check when we think we need it. God helps us some other way.

Too often, we get anxious and panic when we do not see how God is going to help us.  Too often, we care more about the check in the mailbox than we care about trusting God.

But, there is hope!

God often helps us in unexpected and different ways so that we do not base our trust in what we expect and see.  God causes us to trust Him, no matter what we expect and see.

Jesus is the “author and perfecter of faith”.  Hebrews 12:2.  

How does God perfect our faith?  God helps us in unexpected and different ways so that we trust Him, and not just trust in what we expect and see.  We learn to trust God to get us through our struggles somehow. 

God causes us to fix our eyes on Jesus, rather than to fix our eyes on the mailbox.  Hebrews 12:2.

“Do not fear, for I am with you;  Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”.  Isaiah 41:10.

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:28-32.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 3:1-16.

“Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David;  and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.

Sons were born to David at Hebron:  his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;  and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite;  and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;  and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;  and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;  and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah.  These were born to David at Hebron.

It came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.  Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah;  and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”  Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah?  Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David;  and yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the woman.  May God do so to Abner, and more also, if as the LORD has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”  And he could no longer answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.

Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, “Whose is the land?  Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”  He said, “Good!  I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, namely, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.”  So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”  Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.  But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as Bahurim.  Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.”  So he returned.”  2 Samuel 3:1-16.

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We see more of the steps, some of them unusual, that the LORD provided for David to become king over all of Israel in addition to being king over Judah.  

In the first paragraph, we read the summary of “a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David;  and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.”  In the second paragraph, we read of the children born to David at Hebron.  In the third paragraph, we see the following unusual steps: Abner taking Saul’s concubine whose name was Rizpah, the calm and reasonable question of Ish-bosheth, but then the surprisingly angry and drastic decision by Abner to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel.  In the fourth paragraph, we see the making of the covenant between Abner and David, including the unusual stipulation of the return of Michal, Saul’s daughter, to David.

And, there is hope for us!

“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7.

“23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24.

“The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 2:18-32.

“Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel;  and Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field.  Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner.  Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?”  And he answered, “It is I.”  So Abner said to him, “Turn to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his spoil.”  But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him.  Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me.  Why should I strike you to the ground?  How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?”  However, he refused to turn aside;  therefore Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back.  And he fell there and died on the spot.  And it came about that all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.  The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band, and they stood on the top of a certain hill.  Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever?  Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end?  How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?”  Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.”  So Joab blew the trumpet;  and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, nor did they continue to fight anymore.  Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night;  so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.

Then Joab returned from following Abner; when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David’s servants besides Asahel were missing.  But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abner’s men, so that three hundred and sixty men died.  And they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb which was in Bethlehem.  Then Joab and his men went all night until the day dawned at Hebron.”  2 Samuel 2:18-32.

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Abner’s peace-making words resulted in at least temporary peace, and it leads us to meditate on the peacemakers and the merciful.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  Matthew 5:9.

“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”  Titus 3:1-2.

“Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.  This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”  James 3:18-18.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”  Matthew 5:7.

“The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm.” Proverbs 11:17.

“Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”  2 John 1:3.