Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 20
Scripture Focus: He blew a trumpet, and said: “We have no share in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Everyman to his tents, O Israel!” ... But the men of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to David. (2 Samuel 20.1-2)
Devotional Thought: Are we like the man who hit a parked car? He left the following note on the car's windshield: “Everybody looking at me right now thinks I’m leaving you my name, address and phone number. But, I’m not……” We want to look like we are doing the right thing to those watching.
What did Sheba think as he was about to cause a wreck in the already shaky kingdom? He certainly thought he was right. I'm pretty sure he wanted others to think he was right. But, was he right?
I have seen this happen in churches and business and even in families. But, in almost every case, the devil has been able to once again exchange the truth for a lie, and has found someone to buy into his lie.
· Could a pastor have a Sheba in his church who feels the pastor is showing favoritism, and then whispers deceitfully about it in the church?
· Maybe it’s at work, where the boss picks someone else over you to head up a big visible project. Or, it’s just because someone else got the promotion. Then, the whispers of deceit and disloyalty begin.
Many times loyalty is purchased - what do I get out of it? That’s what Sheba was basically saying here. But, the men of Judah had true loyalty and honor. At the end of purchased loyalty, you will often find deceit. But, when you find true loyalty, it’s normally structured from a magnanimous heart - a heart full of God’s love and God’s Truth, which will bring honor to the one to whom you are loyal.
Pastor Bruce
Prayer: Lord, help me to be a person of honor, loyalty and truth. Help me to refrain from deceitful whispering that tears down another's reputation. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 105.23-36
23 Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24 And the Lord made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes. 25 He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.
26 He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27 They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words. 29 He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die. 30 Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. 31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. 32 He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land. 33 He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country. 34 He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number, 35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground. 36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
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