Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 3
Scripture Focus: David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. (2 Samuel 3.20)
Devotional Thought: In 2 Samuel 3, today’s chapter, we read about the re-uniting of Israel under King David. Abner, the military commander for Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, was instrumental in bringing the tribes of Israel into the fold of David. When Abner came to David, who was then the King of Judah only, David welcomed him gladly. David honored Abner and those who were with him, grateful for the help in restoring peace and unity to the fractured nation. The scripture says “David made a feast” for them.
How welcome that feast was for Abner! Abner found himself under attack from both sides. A general in David’s army sought revenge for Abner's slaying of his brother. Saul's son accused him of unseemly behavior with one of Saul’s concubines - an act of treason. Abner had nowhere to go.
Judah’s army rejected Abner. Israel’s army was torn from him. Where could he go? He went to the king!
Have you ever been in that situation? Have you ever felt like you had nowhere to go? I’ve been there. Though you know it’s not true, you feel like you don’t have a friend in the world. The good news is this: We do have somewhere to go. We can go to the King! Like David, our King is in the feast-making business! I’m so glad that our King, Jesus, has made a feast for us! He welcomes us to his table and into his inner circle. When we, with sincerity, go to him, we discover that he has prepared a feast for us. We are loved, appreciated, and valued. There’s always room at the King’s Table for one who comes!
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that in you I have somewhere to go! I am not an orphan, a foreigner, or a stranger. I am accepted at your table to feast on your goodness and grace. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 99.1-9
The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! 4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the Lord, and he answered them. 7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!
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