Psalm 12-17; Psalm 19-21 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ Psalm 12 verses 1 & 2 are intriguing verses for me - "Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts." Are there days when you feel like this?   I think there are some days when I do... but not too many.  I guess I sometimes wonder about the state of my heart - or if I've gotten enough sleep the night before :) - when ..read more

1 Kings 2:1-9; 2 Samuel 23:1-7; 1 Kings 2:10-12; 1 Chronicles 29:26-30; Psalm 4-6; Psalm 8-9; Psalm 11 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ Dramatic readings in First Kings today!  David's final instructions to Solomon include some strong words about how Joab & Shimei should die.  And later in today's readings, these words come to fruition.  An image is below for David giving his final instructions to Solomon in today's readings: In 1 Kings 2:10 in today's readings, we read this simple verse that concl ..read more

1 Chronicles 29:1-22; 1 Kings 1:1-53 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ I love David's prayer of praise to God today in 1 Chronicles 29 verses 10 through 12: "O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power ..read more

1 Chronicles 26:1-28:21 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ It is interesting to read about the various gatekeepers, treasurers, officials, military commanders and leaders in today's First Chronicle readings!  In some ways it is sad to read about how well organized things were - knowing that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and the exile to Babylon is coming up.  All of this organization will be destroyed.  Why?  Because of sin.  Sin destroys.  Sin kills.  So sad.  It is ..read more

1 Chronicles 23:1-25:31 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ In First Chronicles chapter 24 today we read about the divisions of the priests and the Levites.  It is important to note that the priests and Levites had differing roles.  The priests actually performed the sacrifices whereas the Levites assisted the priests in their duties - including assisting in the sacrifices, playing music, baking goods, and care of the Tabernacle/Temple (to name a few things the Levites did).  Both priests and Levites were ..read more

2 Samuel 24:1-9; 1 Chronicles 21:1-6; 2 Samuel 24:10-17; 1 Chronicles 21:7-17; 2 Samuel 24:18-25; 1 Chronicles 21:18-22:19 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ Second Samuel 24 today finishes up with David taking a census, then judgment upon Israel for this sin, and then closing up the book with David building an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.  A few things to point out here.  First, you'll note verse 1 starts out with:  "Once again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel.."  ..read more

2 Samuel 22:1-51; Psalm 18 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ Today in Second Samuel chapter 22 we read David’s Song of Praise to God! This is an incredible chapter and certainly reminds us why David composed so many powerful Psalms as well.  In fact, you will notice that this song of praise from David today is, oh, the same as Psalm 18... :)  It is thought that this Song was composed shortly after David's victory over an enemy, but before his sins against Bathsheba and Uriah.  The Song starts off with Da ..read more

2 Samuel 19:31-20:26; Psalm 7; 2 Samuel 21:1-22; 1 Chronicles 20:4-8 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ In Second Samuel chapter 20 today we read about the revolt of Sheba from the tribe of Benjamin.  Zondervan's commentary today points out that an important thing to keep in mind here is that tribal jealousy still was brewing over the transfer of the kingship from Benjamin (Saul's tribe) to Judah (David's tribe).  Sheba appeals to the Israelite suspicion that David favored his own tribe over the other tribes ..read more

2 Samuel 17:15-29; Psalm 3; Psalm 63; 2 Samuel 18-19:30 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ Interesting readings in Second Samuel today!  The dynamics between Ahithophel's advice and Hushai's advice is fascinating. Hushai plays smartly to Absalom's ego and insecurity with the advice he gives. Ahithophel seems to realize that he's lost his status in Absalom's kingdom - and I wonder if maybe perhaps Ahithophel realized this kingdom of Absalom's would soon fall?  And thus decided to kill himself?  It was prob ..read more

2 Samuel 15:1-17:14 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~ ~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ We have more sad readings today in Second Samuel!  However, it is impressive to see David's countenance in the midst of all of the chaos going on around him.  I love David's words in verses 10 through 12 when Shimei is cursing David: "If the LORD has told him to curse me, who am I to stop him? My own son is trying to kill me. Shouldn't this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to do i ..read more