As man commits his thoughts to the Lord, the Lord is ever faithful to direct his steps.

As a shepherd boy, David was unafraid to stand before the giant Goliath because David knew in his heart that the God who chose him was and is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9). Standing before the scoffing, sneering and uncircumcised enemy, David declared his trust in the name of the Lord, the name above all names: "you come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts" (1 Samuel 17:45). With a sling and five smooth stones, the weapon with which God had gifted and trained him, David slew Goliath. David made a display of his victory by severing Goliath’s head with the giant’s own sword and by taking his head to Jerusalem.

As David made a public display of his victory over his enemy, the Lord Jesus Christ disarmed principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). We can be like David, trusting in the name of the Lord for victory and deliverance. It is God Who is at work in us leading us in the name of Christ to victory (2 Corinthians 2:14).

After defeating Goliath, Saul put David in charge of the king’s men of war. David achieved great success on the battlefield. His popularity grew to the point that "women sang as they danced, and said: Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7).

Despite Saul’s resentment of David’s popularity and despite the fact the prophet Samuel had anointed him as king (prior to his encounter with Goliath), David patiently waited on God’s timing for his succession of King Saul.

In the 7th chapter of 2nd Samuel, we see the first of a long-line of promises that David’s family would reign forever. This line of succession would culminate with the King of Kings: "then the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David" (Luke 1:30-33).

David was Israel’s greatest king and a "man after God’s own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22). Yet, this great king sinned greatly. David followed an adulterous affair with Bathsheba by, in effect, ordering the murder of her husband. When confronted with his sin by the prophet Nathan, David’s reaction proved that he was indeed a man after God’s own heart. Psalms 32 and 51 were born by this bitter experience.

April

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God
(Romans 12:2).

Some use Sunday to catch up on Bible reading missed during the week. Others prefer to double up on their reading on Saturday in order to set aside the Sabbath for church and fellowship. Either way, if you consistently read Scripture in the 15 or 20 minute increments shown above for an entire year, you will read all of Scripture in just one year.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

David & Goliath

In 1 Samuel 17, we find one of the best known Bible stories – the story of David and Goliath. The story of David and Goliath is much more than that of the triumph of an underdog against a formidable foe and even more than a story of the triumph of good over evil. In the story of David and Goliath, we find that as man commits his thoughts to the Lord, the Lord is ever faithful to direct his steps (Proverbs 3:16). David is a classic Biblical example of a man who trusted in the Lord and leaned not on his own understanding – instead, David trusted in the Lord of Hosts.

King Saul

Israel’s impatience with God to choose a king (Deuteronomy 17:14-20) and their desire to be like other nations (1 Samuel 8:20) caused them to reject God (1 Samuel 8:7). By pursuing her will rather than God’s will, Israel broke covenant with the King in order to have a king like their heathen neighbors. Consequently, Israel suffered the same consequences as heathen nations (1 Samuel 8:11-18).

Israel paid the price for wanting to conform to the world around her. We can learn from this example.

Biblical History

The April issue of All Scripture Advocate covers 1st and 2nd Samuel and 1st Kings. These books provide Biblical history on the emergence of Israel’s monarchy (Kings Saul, David and Solomon).

Unlike other accounts of the past, Biblical history contains theologically significant and applicable principles that apply to present times. So, the April issue of All Scripture Advocate will focus on what we can learn and apply to our lives today from Biblical accounts of famous men of the past.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Click the image below and download this daily reading guide to keep track.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your loving kindness . . . for I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done this evil in your sight . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51).

Today, the liberal press argues that it would be unreasonable to expect our leaders to be morally perfect – implying that moral indiscretions should be expected and accepted. To be a man after God’s own heart, however, man must confess his sin to God. While we can ask and receive God’s forgiveness of our sins (1 John 1:9) and even ask for His mercy, we must never forget the lesson that we learn from David – even with forgiveness, there are consequences for sin.

Of the three thousand proverbs and one thousand songs written by Solomon, only three books have been preserved: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. First Kings 4:33 tells us further of Solomon’s great scientific learning in natural history: he spoke of trees, animals, birds and fish. Yet, of all these, God in His wisdom saw fit to save only those writings of Solomon that would be suited to His purposes in Holy Scripture.

As we read those accounts of Solomon’s reign over Israel in this month’s readings, we marvel at the wisdom and understanding given to him by God. Yet we also tremble at the thought of a man so richly blessed with wisdom going so horribly wrong. The inspired words of his own lips must surely have come back to haunt him: "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). His many foreign wives turned Solomon to idolatry — he "professing to be wise" became a fool.

The contrast in the life of Solomon is so great that we might be tempted to despair and proclaim with the Teacher: "all is vanity and a striving after the wind." What are we to do when the wisest of all men falls? God points us to a "better hope." Indeed, although men and women will travel far and wide to hear the wisdom of the wise, the Word of God tell us "a greater than Solomon is here." It is none other than Jesus Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." We dare not depend on the best of men, but Jesus never fails. It is to Him we must cling. The Author of the book of Hebrews says it perfectly: "since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race which is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2)