David's Faith: A 30 Day Women's Devotional Based on the Life of David
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King David, Israel’s greatest king, was a giant killer as a youth, a mighty warrior as a young man, a sweet psalmist ― and also a lustful man ― in his prime, and a poor excuse for a father in his older age. Still, the Bible records that David was a man after God’s “own heart.” The life and adventures of David, both his triumphs and failures, are recorded in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, specifically in the books of First and Second Samuel, First and Second Kings, and First and Second Chronicles for our benefit. David’s Faith is designed to be read every day as a 30-day devotional, complete with an epilogue for months that have 31 days. Each chapter includes a Bible reading about one event in David’s life; a Bible study on the Scripture passage; a practical application for Christian women today whose heart’s desire is to be a woman after God’s heart; a reflection on a psalm of David; and a suggested prayer. This book brings the ancient biblical king alive, not only to relate his amazing adventures, but also to apply his experiences to our personal joys and triumphs as we seek to draw closer to God. This book also helps the reader to obey the Bible’s command to study it, while teaching and helping the reader to apply lessons learned from ancient history to contemporary Christian life. Lastly, David’s Faith includes a glossary of people and places that were important in the life of King David. Each chapter in the book is subdivided into sections: • Daily Bible Reading: A passage about David and one of his psalms. • Key Bible Verse: A summation of both the Bible lesson and personal application. • Bible Lesson: The Biblical account explained. • Ponderings of a Woman after God’s heart: A practical application from the account of David’s life as applied to daily Christian living. • Reflections on one of David’s psalms: Thoughts on one of the psalms written by David that relates to that particular event in David’s life. • Suggested prayer: A short prayer after the day’s reading. Topics included in this book that David had to deal with and are examples to us in our daily lives include: • Being disappointed with God: It was David’s desire to build a house for God, but God said that He wanted David’s son, Solomon, to build it. • Coping with the loss of an innocent child: David’s first child with Bathsheba died as a result of his actions. • Honoring aging parents: David was a wanted man with a price on his head, so by extension, his parents were not safe either. David provided for them. • Adultery and its fallout: David and Bathsheba • The loss of a loved but rebellious child: David’s son Absalom was intent on killing his father and taking the throne for himself. Absalom paid for this with his life. • Trusting God while being falsely accused. • The beauty of friendship: Prince Jonathan was David’s best friend, even while his father, King Saul, was intent on killing David. • Love at first sight: David and Abigail. • Coping with the death of a beloved friend: Jonathan’s death in battle. • David encourages himself in God, even when all of his men wanted him dead. • Thanking God for all of His blessings. • Feeling forsaken by God. • Dealing with a treacherous friend. • Learning how to be patient: David was anointed three times before becoming the second king of Israel. • David’s last words: David turns his kingdom over to Solomon. As you read through both the Bible using the suggested Scriptures and the accompanying Bible lesions in David’s Faith, you will be introduced to many characters, both good and bad. There are times when David was faced with grievous trials, to which he responded very well ― and a few times when he did not. When he did what was right, he is an example to us today. When he failed and fell into sin, we can learn from his failures and ― hopefully ― not repeat them in our own life. Although David is long dead and in heaven with God, his life still speaks volumes to us today.
Mary Jane Humes
I am Mary Jane Humes, avid reader, Pennsylvania native and published author of Bible study devotionals for women based on Old Testament heroes. Currently I teach Sunday School and play the piano at my church.I have a BA in Biology from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and and I love plants, animals and working outdoors with my husband Joseph.
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David's Faith - Mary Jane Humes
PREFACE
In my years of going to church, learning, and listening, I thought that I had an average grasp of the basics of the Bible. Perhaps I did, since I grew up in a Christian home, went to a Christian school, and went to Sunday school. However, as an adult, I talked to several women who did not have a good, if any, understanding of some of the stories of the great heroes of the Bible, especially those in the Old Testament; David being one of them. Those who did know something about ancient history, as recorded in the Bible, did not realize the lessons that these Biblical stories
were also for us today. Even though some may read their Bibles on a daily basis, too often, people read without comprehension. Therefore, I felt that some teaching about these Bible characters would be beneficial.
I once taught a Sunday school class on the life of David, and in the memories of what I studied to teach to my class, and attempted to make alive for my students, became the basis of this book. During the time I was teaching the Sunday school class, one lady at church remarked to me about my chosen topic saying, Everyone loves David!
The character of David is so attractive because we can all relate to him, and he is one of the Bible’s best heroes. He is man who went from poverty to riches, and experienced both failures and successes. And though he was neither an exemplary husband nor father, he was still a powerful warrior who protected his nation and never lost a battle. He wrote most of the book of Psalms and is referred to as the sweet psalmist of Israel.
Ironically, David battled with bouts of depression and fear, which is conveyed poignantly in many of his psalms, including his most famous one of all, Psalm 23. Despite his failures, David is referred by God as a man after mine own heart.
(Acts 13:22)
In this 30-day devotional, I recount the events of David’s life along with practical applications for today’s Christian woman, while interweaving the Psalms for reflection and encouragement. It is my desire that you will both learn more about David, while challenging your own Christian life to become more of a woman after God’s own heart. My hope and prayer for you is that this little book will help you to draw closer to the God of David.
In Christ,
Mary Jane Humes
P.S. Please visit my blog Drops of Grace-
(http://www.drops-of-grace.com) encouragements for Christian women with a generous dash of essential oils.
INTRODUCTION
This book is a devotional based on events in the life of David, the second King of Israel, who is referred to as a man after God’s own heart. (1Samuel 13:14) In each 30-day period, there is a Bible reading about one of the events in David’s life, one of his Psalms, a Bible lesson that recaps that particular incident in his life, a section called Ponderings of a Woman After God’s Own Heart, what we can learn from David, and a suggested prayer.
The King David story is recorded in the Biblical books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles. After going through the 30 events in the life of David, highlighted in this book, it is my hope that you will go back and read the full account of David’s life as recorded in the Bible.
David went from an unknown shepherd boy to the greatest king that Israel ever knew. He was a direct ancestor of Christ, and he was promised by God that his throne would be established by Him forever. (2 Samuel 7:16) This promise of God is referring to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, the most famous Son of David, after his Second Coming.
All Scripture is taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, and it highly suggested by the author that the reader use this particular version when reading the Bible passages in this book, and for their own personal devotions.
Day 1
DAVID — A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and Psalm 8
Today’s Verse: (I Samuel 16:7) But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
B
IBLE
L
ESSON:
In this chapter we are first introduced to David. God sent the prophet Samuel to the family of Jesse to find the next king. God told Samuel that He was going to take the kingdom of Israel away from King Saul and give it to a man after His own heart.
Samuel’s job was to find the future king and anoint him.
Jesse had eight sons. Samuel started with the oldest of Jesse’s sons, Eliab, who came before Samuel. He was tall good and looking, and no doubt he had a kingly bearing. Samuel thinks, This must be the one,
but God said, No, I have refused him; his heart is not right.
This same scenario is repeated six more times with Samuel inspecting each of the young men. After the last one is rejected, Samuel must have thought that either God made a mistake or there had to be another son that was not brought before him.
Out of desperation, Samuel asked the obvious question to Jesse, Do you have any other children?
Jesse admitted that his youngest was keeping the sheep. Obviously, Jesse considered the youngest member of his family as not important enough, or just plain too young. But Samuel said, Go get him.
Samuel was probably thinking something to the effect of, This has to be the one. There’s no one else left.
God confirms to Samuel that this young man, the eighth son of Jesse, David by name, is the one chosen by Him to be the future king of Israel. He is, we find out, the man after God’s own heart.
It is not obvious, at this first meeting of David, to understand David’s heart. However, as we study the life, actions and words of David contained in the Psalms, the focus of his heart becomes quite evident. As he matures in years and experiences, he never stops trusting in God, even in times of extreme personal grief and disappointment.
P
ONDERINGS OF A
W
OMAN
A
FTER
G
OD’S
H
EART:
David was the eighth son of Jesse. The number eight in the Bible is the number of new beginnings. David was the start of a new line of kings in Israel, a line of kings that God promised would continue forever
(II Samuel 7:16). This promise that God gave to David was a forward look to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, at his Second Advent.
If you are reading this devotional, you obviously desire to learn how to be a woman after God’s own heart. Once you have accepted the free gift of God’s great salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23 and Romans 10:9-10), you are commanded to Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(II Peter 3:18)
Here are the three basics of becoming a woman after God’s own heart.
1. Daily prayer — This devotional has suggested prayers based on each daily topic. However, use these only as a tiny supplement to your prayer life. Learn to develop a daily prayer time where you can communicate all the desires of your heart to God.
2. Daily Bible reading — If you have not yet cultivated the habit of reading the Bible daily, this devotional is designed to help you. Each day there is a portion of Scripture concerning David and one of his Psalms for you to read.
3. Regular church attendance — I hope that you attend a church that faithfully teaches and preaches the Bible. Regular fellowship with other Christians is not only important to your daily walk with God, but is commanded by Him in Hebrews 10:25, which reads, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another.
T
HOUGHTS ON
P
SALM 8:
This psalm may have been written by David as a very young man, the shepherd boy, before he was anointed king. Perhaps David wrote this particular psalm when he had to stay awake at night and watch the sheep. He may have been referring to himself when he said in verse 2, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength.
In this glorious psalm, David praises God because of His wonderful creation. David realizes the vastness of God’s power and he marvels that God even thinks of mankind. But David knows that God gave man the responsibility to care of His beautiful creation. David also seems to know something about the angelic realm, because he said that God made man a little lower than the angels (verse 5).
If this psalm was written by David at a very young age, it shows that David truly had a heart for God and for the things of God. The next time you take in the beauty