Mar 31 (Psa 93, 94, 97-100)

Songs of Joy

Psalm 93

This psalm speaks of the eternal throne of Jesus. Before He made the universe, He planned out His death and reign of mankind. He made us, to love us...that's why He died for us. His power is greater than the strongest storm, since He commands the weather by His voice. Mark 4:39

Psalm 94

(v.3) As we have seen before in these psalms, the psalmist wonders why the wicked prosper and triumph in this world. I teach my kids that this may happen for a time, but in the end, they will be miserable and lost without Christ. We are better off to obey God and live for Him.

(v.9) I love this verse, since it makes us think of how incredible the human body is! I can't understand how someone could think that we came from ooze and are descendants of monkeys. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, in the likeness of our Creator. Praise God for His work!

(v.22) God fights our battles if we let Him, and who better to take care of our problems? He is our foundation, our stronghold...He delights in our reliance upon Him!

Psalm 97

(v.6) What we think of today as reading the stars, Astrology, is a pagan practice. But Astronomy is real and very interesting. Check the link at the bottom of the page, where it shows the danger of astrology.

(v.10) It is right to hate evil. If we are His, we hate it when we sin, and when others sin. However, we are to pray and let God take care of our sins, or others' sins. With the Holy Spirit in us, we desire good and the bad things we used to do, don't satisfy like they once did.

Psalm 98

(v.1) The right hand here is Jesus, who gained God victory at the cross!

(v.2) God has revealed Himself through the nation of Israel, and in His Word...the Bible. Today, with television and satellite communications, we are without excuse if we reject the Gospel of Jesus.

All of creation is waiting for the return of Christ, so once again, the whole of creation can be made right, and the curse of sin be lifted. Romans 8:22

Psalm 99

(v.4) I stress to my kids, that God is love and mercy, but He is also justice. If we sin and repent, we are once again in tune with God, but that doesn't mean there are consequences for our actions. I remind them of David, who sinned and repented, but he still lost his child as a consequence. 2 Samuel 12

(v.9) God is holy and pure, that is why we must be redeemed from our sins in order to be with Him in heaven. No man could fulfill the Law totally, so it took God Himself, Jesus, to fulfill the Law for us, and die for us. There was a consequence for sin...the death of the Son of God, to have His blood wash us clean.

Psalm 100

(v.2) Worship by song is Biblical and right. I used to be reserved about my singing and worship at church. Now, I sing and lift my hands when moved to do so. I like to close my eyes and picture us singing to Jesus on His throne in heaven! If we think of what God did for us, and all the blessings He has given us, we should lift our hands or get on our knees in worship to Him!

(v.3) This is a great verse...we are His sheep and He is our Good Shepherd. We need direction and guidance in this sinful world, so let's daily seek His face in prayer and the reading of His Word.

(v.5) God's Word endures for all generations, all cultures, and all movements. God is unmovable, so let's stop trying to change Him and His Word, and let Him change us for good!

Mar 30 (Psa 29, 33, 65, 66)

Songs of Joy

Psalm 29

(v.2) In our prayers, we need to always remember who God is...He is the Almighty, who made the heavens and the earth. He is all powerful, yet He is love. His grace and mercy are endless, and if we start our prayers with this frame of mind, we will be praying in His will.

The bulk of this song refers to the awesomeness of God's voice. There are many references to God's magnanimous voice in the Old Testament.

When we have a big thunder and lightening storm, I like to sit in our covered porch and watch the show with my kids. I teach them that God's voice is like the deafening thunder...but it's also soft like that is described in 1 Kings 19:12.

God speaks to us in times of trouble with a loud voice, and often in a soft voice through prayer, through reading His Word, or through friends or family.

(v.11) We need to remember that we are on God's team...we have the best Captain ever!

Psalm 33

(v.4) Although the Bible has been translated into many languages and formats, the Word of God is pure. If we look at the original Hebrew and Greek words of the Old and New Testaments, we will see that God is precise, and without error. If we let skeptics persuade us that the Word is tainted, then what do we have to base our beliefs on? If one part of the Word is false, then how can we trust it? We are then left to man's judgment and reasoning, and we see through history, that it is sinful and proud.

The Bible is the Word of God, and the more we study it and understand it, we see that all of the books of the Bible are inspired by God.

(v.12) God established the people of Israel, starting with Abraham and his sons, but making them a nation by Moses leading them out of Egypt. God chose to reveal His character and plans for us through the people of Israel.

God also established the United States of America. He used the USA to be a beacon of light to the world...through its freedoms, He used it to be the most evangelical nation ever. God used America to reach all the ends of the earth with the Gospel.

Today, our once great nation has pushed God away from it. We are not a nation that fears God in our institutions and laws. Individuals still love and fear God, but we've allowed the unbelievers to alter the intent of our Founding Fathers and of God. If we wish to see God back in our schools, courthouses and government, then it's up to us believers to lead the way.

Psalm 65

(v.4) All of us have a desire to know God. In that sense, all of us are chosen by God. However, few of us actually accept what Jesus did for us, and let God be the Master of our lives. If we do, then we are His Chosen Ones. If we don't, then we were called, but chose not to follow God.

I tell my kids that this is like when your friend sends out birthday invitations out. You were chosen to enjoy the party, but it's up to you to accept and attend. Those that attend and enjoy the party are like those that accepted Christ and will be joyous for eternity in heaven with Him.

Psalm 66

(v.5) We read about the awesome miracles that God did for the Jews of Israel, and we sometimes wonder if God is still around. Yes He is...He is in the starving child in Africa who accepts Christ, He is in the terrible earthquakes that devastate a land, but bring revival and many people to accept Him. He is in the emergency room, where a person is near death and there's no hope, but people are praying for healing, and defying all reason and medical logic, the person is restored.

Miracles happen all around us every day...we just need to have our eyes open to see them!

(v.10) God doesn't cause us to sin or make mistakes, but He does allow trials to come into our lives, so He can mold us and strengthen us. James 1:2 tells us that God uses hard times for us to make us stronger and more useful for Him. It's when we are in hard times, that we stop and think about our priorities...not when all is going smoothly.

(v.16) The hardest part about being a Christian for many people, is to share God with others. We have a fear of looking or sounding foolish. We are still learning the Bible, so how can we bring others to Christ?

The best witness to others is to tell them what God has done for you in your life. No one can argue with that, and it's a personal thing that connects with people.

After that, when your friend has questions, you can share the Word with them and let the Holy Spirit bring them to Christ.

Mar 29 (Psa 8, 16, 19, 24)

Songs of Joy

Psalm 8

(v.3) As part of our daily prayers, we should meditate and praise God for His wonderful handiwork with His creation. Think on the wonderful sunrises and sunsets, the beauty of an eagle in flight, the gurgling of a newborn baby...God has thought of everything, and He did this for our pleasure!

I even take this subject a little further, by reminding my kids that God's original creation was MUCH better than the most beautiful things we see today. After the Fall of Adam and Eve, and the Flood of Noah, this universe has been under the curse of sin. Even so, it's loaded with such beauty amongst evil and darkness. I try to have my kids think upon how wonderful it will be when all we will see is beauty, instead of limited amounts.

(v.6) God made Adam ruler of the earth, and to keep it. But after Adam sinned, the earth is under the power of Satan. One glorious day, the last Adam, Jesus, will take back what was given to us, and rule with love and justice!

Psalm 16

(v.3) God delights in us believers, and He enjoys guiding us for His purposes...let's make the effort to allow Him to do that since He knows what is best for each of us!

(v.10) This verse is cited by scholars to be a verse about the Resurrection of Jesus...our Savior and Holy One. Peter cited this verse on the day the Church was born...the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:27

(v.11) God will direct us to a life of joy and contentment. I also take the time to show my kids that whenever the Bible cites the right hand, it is a sign of authority. This is usually given to Jesus, since He was given the seat at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Matt 25:34 & Acts 2:33

Psalm 19

(v.1) I teach my kids the silliness of the theory of evolution often, since it goes directly against the Word of God. He made all that we see today, including dinosaurs, in the beginning around 6,000 years ago. The whole universe speaks of a Creator and Designer, a loving God that created with Intelligence, not random chance.

(v.7) This points us to what Paul was saying in Romans 7 where the Law convicts us to see that we need God to save us from our sins. God in the flesh, Jesus, did that on the cross!

(v.11) We are warned to listen to God and obey, for if we do, we are rewarded with blessings and joy that the world envies!

Psalm 24

This psalm is about prophecy. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies in His First Coming. One of the most important, was His entry into Jerusalem riding a donkey Luke 19 & Zech 9 on Palm Sunday. Most rejected Him as foretold, and Jesus ascended to heaven after His crucifixion and resurrection, to glory with the Father. Lastly, He is coming again to take ownership of the title deed of the earth that Adam relinquished to Satan in the Garden of Eden. When Jesus returns, He will have collected His Bride, the Church, and saved Israel from her enemies. He will rule and reign for 1,000 years, called the Millennium, and bring judgment upon the wicked and all those who refused Him.

Mar 28 (Psa 90, 92, 112, 115)

Songs For Right and Wrong

Psalm 90

The heading to this psalm in my NKJV reads:

"A prayer of Moses the man of God."

(v.12) Moses teaches us to make the most of our time here on earth, because we don't have another chance, and we don't know when we will die. It's impossible to evangelize and do missionary work every day of our lives, but we can be a light to the lost who are in darkness. We can show love and kindness every day. And most of all, in different ways, we can worship God every day.

(v.17) Mose rightly calls upon God to establish the work of our hands. If we are in prayer and walking with God, He will guide our steps and lead us to His purposes. Prov 3:5-6

Psalm 92

This is a wonderful song, and it's said to be sung on the Sabbath. In Israel, the first day of the week is Sunday, and the seventh is Saturday. According to creation and the Law, Jews observe the Sabbath starting Friday afternoon at dusk until Saturday afternoon. The Sabbath was ordained by God before He gave Moses the Law, so God must have had all believers starting with Adam observe the seventh day as a day of rest.

Unfortunately, the Jews have taken this and gone to the extreme, where they won't even answer the phone on the Sabbath! God rested on the seventh day, not because He was tired, but because He wanted to hallow it and make it holy. We are to remember what God did in the creation and in our lives on the Sabbath.

The Church observed the Sabbath on Sunday, since Jesus was Resurrected on Sunday. This is why we have church services on that day. However, Jesus is our rest, and He is our Sabbath, so in reality, our Sabbath is every day of the week! Luke 6:5 & Matt 11:28

Psalm 112

Psalms 112-116 are called the Hallel Psalms. Hallel in Hebrew means praise, and during Passover, the Jews would sing these songs in celebration for what God did for them. It is believed that Jesus and the disciples sang these psalms in the upper room at the Last Supper.

Psalm 115

(v.1) Give God the glory for our successes...He gave us the mind and body to perform our achievements. He created us and if we are His, He guided us, so we should praise Him when we succeed.

(v.8) Idols have been in existence for thousands of years. Those who don't have faith in God, make something to replace Him in their lives. They want something to hold or see when they worship. But if we are His, we see Him in His creation, we see Him in the love of a friend, and we see Him in His Word.

There is a saying that I believe is true:

We become like that we worship.

If we worship money and power, we may become rich and powerful, but we also become cold and proud. If we worship our cars or homes, we will become like them, where we are shiny at first, but we fade and become broken down.

But if we worship Christ, the Holy Spirit will sanctify us and mold us to be more like Christ.

Mar 27 (Psa 49, 50, 73, 84)

Songs About Right and Wrong

Psalm 49

(v.7) This is a verse that contradicts what the Roman Catholic Church taught, and why Martin Luther and other Catholic priests rebelled. The RCC was corrupt, and taught the people that they could by their own way, and their dead relative's way, out of Pergatory by indulgences. This was not Scriptural, and was opposed by the Reformers. Satan has entered the Church after he realized that his persecution of it was making the Church grow. All denominations, and all cults are man-made, and prone to corruption. The only way to keep ourselves on track, is to obey God's Word...not man's word.

Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation...not by our works, our being "good people" or any other way other than our faith in what Jesus did on the cross for us. 1 Thes 5:9

(v.15) This verse speaks of the physical resurrection in the last days. When we die, our spirit will immediately be with Christ. But after the Great Tribulation, all believers will be resurrected in body, and given new heavenly bodies.

Psalm 50

(v.5) This alludes to the Rapture, where God will gather His Church before He brings His wrath upon the world.

(v.17) This is a sobering verse...all those who rejected Jesus and God's plan of redemption, will have their will be granted. They refused God's love and mercy, and they will live eternally with their own decision...eternally separated from God in hell. This is why I teach my kids that hell is real, and we need to share God's love and Gospel to all...so they can be saved from their sins that Jesus died for.

Psalm 73

The psalmist battles with the question, "Why do wicked people prosper in this world?" We all have seen the bad guys win and gain power over our lifetimes. But we must remember that this world is just a blip in eternity. What does it gain someone to be rich and powerful if they lose their soul? Matt 16:26

(v.26) I love this verse! Our flesh fails us daily, but our God does not! The more we rely on Him to guide our actions every day, the less we will allow our flesh to fail us. This is what the meaning of Jesus being our LORD really is...if we are His servants, then He is our Master.

Psalm 84

(v.5) This is a powerful verse that I focus on with my kids. We are just pilgrims here on this earth...our home is in heaven. If we keep our focus on heavenly things, and not worldly things, we will be blessed and joyful. But if we dwell upon the things of this world, we will be disappointed and miss out on God's plans for us.

(v.10) The worst job in heaven is exponentially greater than the best day on earth or in hell. I just want to be with God eternally...that may be a doorkeeper, a janitor, or whatever! No matter what it is, I will be grateful and enjoy the beauty of the LORD forever!

(v.11) I stress to my kids, that if we obey God's Word, He will bless us and give to us abundantly. He will not hold back His blessings if we are doing His will...He can't. It's against His character.

Mar 26 (Psa 1, 36, 37, 40)

Songs about Right and Wrong

Psalm 1

(v.1) This is important to point out to our kids...have friends that will uplift you, not bring you down. My wife and I talk with our young kids about choosing friends wisely. We can't choose our family, but we can choose who our friends are...choose people who will give you that soft word of rebuke if we're doing wrong, and those who will let us cry on their shoulder when we need comfort.

(v.3) What a beautiful picture this is! A tree by a river is very fruitful if it's roots are deep and absorb the water. Jesus is our Living Water (John 4:10; 7:38) who gives us nourishment that never ceases.

(v.4) Chaff is a plant that is rootless...it doesn't hold up against wind and rain. It is a good Bible study on this subject...here are some good verses to read to your kids:

~ Job 21:18

~ Psalm 35:5

~ Isaiah 5:24

~ Hosea 13:3

~ Matthew 3:12

Chaff looks like wheat, and in Matt 13 Jesus tells a parable that illustrates this point. Chaff or tares look just like wheat, and are often harvested along with the wheat. Then the farmer would go to a hill top called the Threshing Floor, and throw the bundles of wheat and chaff in the air. The wheat is heavier than the chaff, so the pile closest to the farmer downhill would be the bundle to sell, and they would burn up the pile that landed further downhill since it was useless.

This is also a picture of all mankind on Judgement Day...the godly will be gathered and brought to heaven, where the ungodly will suffer eternal fire in hell.

Psalm 36

(v.4) This is a good thing to teach our kids...if we are godly, then we hate evil and stay away from evil. Righteous anger and hate is Biblical if it is against evil. Even so, we are to be loving and fair, even with the evil and ungodly, while standing up for good.

(v.8) This is another reference to the river of Living Water...as long as our roots are deep in the Word of God, we will never go thirsty or be abandoned by God.

Psalm 37

(v.3) This verse is so comforting, and should be read when we're feeling down, to remind us to turn to the LORD to provide.

(v.4) If we are walking with Him, He will bless us and give us abundant joy!

(v.9) We who live in such a fast-paced world want instant-gratification. We want God to respond to our needs immediately. God is outside time, and His timing is perfect!

(v.18) God knows our troubles, and Jesus experienced all our temptations and pains...He knows what we're going through, and if we cry out to Him and trust Him, He will deliver us!

(v.34) I find this verse interesting, and believe it's a reference to the Rapture of the Church BEFORE the Great Tribulation mentioned in Daniel and Revelation. We shall be brought to Jesus and see the last days unfold before us...how terrible and exciting that will be!

Psalm 40

(v.5) This is hard to fully comprehend, but God thinks of us continually...each one of us, individually, He thinks of and cares for!

(v.7) This verse is often believed by scholars to be said by Jesus, since the whole Bible is talking about Him. We can also look at it from our perspective, and see that the whole Bible speaks about God's redemption for us, so that we may be saved from our sins.

(v.13) I truly believe that God loves to deliver us from hard times...He delights in it! This speaks to His character, and His essence...love.

Mar 25 (Psa 91, 95, 108, 121,143-4)

Songs For Times of Trouble

Psalm 91

This is a comforting song of David that stresses to us where our focus should be when faced with hardships. We have a safe place to go...God!

I tell my kids that I used to play the game "Tag" a lot in grade school. When someone was chasing me, I was filled with excitement and some trepidation, since I didn't want to be caught and be "it." But once I touched safely to home base, I was immune to becoming "it" and I had a great feeling of relief come over me.

This is much like what David is describing when he realizes that God is our home base...our refuge and safe zone. If we turn our troubles over to Him, we can abandon fear and trust in Him to handle our problems.

Psalm 95

This psalm is encouraging us to worship and praise the LORD! If we are His, and we have His Spirit in us, we should be worshipping Him in many ways, and in many instances during each day.

We worship the LORD in church through songs, tithing, prayer and teaching. We worship the LORD by encouraging others, helping others and comforting fellow believers. We also worship the LORD by living more Christ-like and being His ambassadors on this earth.

There is an old saying that exhorts us to live a life of worship to the LORD:

Preach the Gospel, and if you have to, use words!

Our lives need to be evident of salt and light to the world. Not only are we to study the Word and come to know Him better through it, but we are to live the Word, by loving and serving others.

Psalm 108

(v.1) This is what we need...a steadfast heart towards God! If we focus on Him in good times and in bad, we will be under His mercy and love, and He will see us through.

(v.8) Judah is My lawgiver...this is another reference to the Messiah and King of Kings coming from the tribe of Judah.

(v.13) It is so hard for us to remember to let God lead our battles. We are so wired by our sinful nature to do things on our own. But when we are born again, we realize that we are empowered by the Almighty, and He can fight our battles for us, and He will win!

Psalm 121

(v.4) This is a very important verse! God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham and the nation of Israel in Genesis 12. God is not through with His covenant! He will see Israel through its troubles in the last days after He has called His Bride home in the rapture.

God doesn't sleep or take time off. He is outside time, where He can see the beginning and the end at the same time. The best way for us to understand this, is to picture a helicopter hovering over a parade. Compared to us on the street, seeing the parade pass by, the helicopter can see the front and back of the parade at the same time.

(v.7) Once we become born again by accepting what Christ did for us, and allowing Him to be our LORD and Savior, our souls are sealed and untouchable by Satan. We are justified to the Father by the blood of His Son! Once we are justified, we are free from the penalty of sin. To illustrate further, here are the stages of salvation:

Justification ~ Free from the PENALTY of sin by Christ's blood

Sanctification ~ Free from the POWER of sin by the Holy Spirit

Glorification ~ Free from the PRESENCE of sin in heaven with our Father

There is the Holy Trinity...the Elohim...in action for our salvation!!!

Psalm 143

(v.5) David gives us the secret to times when we are overwhelmed with fear and grief...meditate upon the love and mercy of God! By remembering what God has done in the Bible with all the people in it, we can have faith that He will do the same for us now.

(v.8) It's good practice to pray first thing in the morning, to start your day in prayer and worship. It's also good to read some of His Word before we face the day...He speaks to us this way, and we often come upon situations that His Word has spoken to us that morning.

(v.11) God saves us because that is His name...Yeshua (Jesus) means God Saves! He saves us because that's who He is. If He were to do anything else, it would be against His character.

Psalm 144

David sung this song to the LORD before going out to battle. He references God as his Rock, and his shield.

We too are in a battle...the battle for the hearts of mankind. Satan and his demons are fighting the angels of God and us for the hearts and minds of the lost. The Apostle Paul tells us to gird ourselves with the Armor of God:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

~ Ephesians 6:11

~ waist of truth

~ breastplate of righteousness

~ feet with the Gospel

~ shield of faith

~ helmet of salvation

~ sword of the Spirit

~ protection of prayer

Mar 24 (Psa 46, 61, 62, 71, 77, 86)

Songs for Times of Trouble

Psalm 46

This psalm is relevant to us in many ways, but most of all, it speaks to us to be calm and faithful when it seems the world is falling apart all around us.

(v.10) This verse should be memorized by all of us...if we stay calm, pray and seek His guidance, we will see our big troubles be handled by God who can do anything.

For with God nothing will be impossible. ~ Luke 1:37

Psalm 61

(v.2) It is fun and enlightening to do a study of all the times the word Rock appears in the Bible...Jesus is the Rock. These are just some of the references that I recommend you read to your kids so they get the flavor of who Jesus is:

Exodus 17:6

Numbers 20:8

Deuteronomy 32:4

1 Samuel 2:2

2 Samuel 22:2, 32; 23:3

Psalm 18:2, 31, 46; 28:1; 31:3; 42:9

Isaiah 8:14; 17:10; 44:8

Habakkuk 1:12

Matthew 7:24; 16:18

Romans 9:33

1 Corinthians 10:4

1 Peter 2:8

This is what brought me back to the LORD...I saw Jesus in ALL THE BOOKS of the Bible...not just in the New Testament! God has given us His Word...Jesus...and He is in every book of the Bible!

Psalm 62

(v.1) This is one of the hardest things for us to do as believers...wait on God. Especially today, where we have instant-gratification, and expect things to happen quickly. We need to realize that God's timing is perfect, and He will bless and provide for us when we need it...not when we want it.

(v.7) This is one of many key verses for those who feel they can earn their salvation through good works. God is the only way to salvation...Jesus means YHWH Saves! God provided our salvation, so all we need to do is accept what He did on the cross, and give our lives to Him, so He can work love and service to others through us. For if we can earn our salvation, then Jesus died on the cross for nothing!

Psalm 71

(v.8) God wants us and expects us to share His Good News with others. There are some believers who are of the mind that faith is personal, and shouldn't be thrust upon others. Faith is personal, but if we know God and are blessed to be saved, why would we keep that to ourselves? There is no magic number of saved people...if we share, we won't lose our own spot in heaven! We are to proclaim God's love and gift of salvation:

Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him/her I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

~Matthew 10:32

Psalm 77

This psalm reminds us to meditate and think upon the glorious grace and redemption from God! If we truly realize what God did for us, we will speak of Him often. We will speak of His love, mercy, grace and glory in our conversations during the day. If God is not on our minds throughout the day, then perhaps we need to re-examine our faith. The Holy Spirit convicts us to think and speak of what Jesus did for us...don't be afraid to share that with others, and He will give you the words!

Psalm 86

This song talks about our repentance in order for God to hear us. God loves us and wants us to come back to Him from the darkness of the world. We can't live as double agents, and live worldly while proclaiming to be His. If we are His, we will walk with Him and His ways, not the ways of the world.

Mar 23 (Psalm 22)

Psalm 22

This psalm was written by David, but we see that it's written as if by Jesus on the cross:

(v.1) This has many meanings for us. First, David himself felt abandoned, and because Jesus became sin for us Gal 3:13 on the cross, He was separated from the Father. This is why Jesus literally had blood come out of Him like sweat in the Garden the night before the crucifixion...He knew He would be separated from the Father for the only time in eternity.

Another thing to teach our kids, is in those days, Rabbi's would say a verse of Scripture, and it would be the people's job to look it up and study it. This would be God's way of showing the people that Jesus was fulfilling David's psalm in front of their very eyes! Our Rabbi is pointing us to Him on the cross by this psalm!

(v.6) The Hebrew word for worm is toliath, which was a worm that secreted a red substance used for dying clothes and linens. The toliath worm would go up on a tree and hatch its eggs by exploding, and showering the eggs to the ground below. The worm would leave a red stain on the tree, and amazingly, the stain would turn white in three days!

This is why Jesus compared Himself to this worm...He was birthing His Church, by leaving a blood-red stain on a tree (cross), and when His side was pierced, blood and water came out...like human childbirth!

(v.14) Notice that Jesus says His bones are out of joint, but not broken. Jesus was severely tortured and abused before the cross, and on the cross. However, to fulfill Scripture, He didn't have a bone broken Exodus 12:46 so He could be our perfect Passover Lamb!

The phrase where His heart was like wax, confirms to scholars and medical experts that Jesus was experiencing a fateful condition called hypovolemia. This condition occurs by severe loss of blood, and the heart doesn't have enough blood to pump in the body...it starts to harden and fail.

Depending upon the age and maturity of your kids, the part where it says that Jesus was "poured out like water" is very disturbing. The Hebrew wording used here is the same as in Daniel 5:6 where the king soiled himself out of fear. It may be that Jesus lost control of his bowels on the cross. Imagine the Creator of the universe, soiling Himself in front of all the people watching...we have no idea what shame and humiliation Jesus willingly took on for us!

(v.16) The reference to dogs is typical of that time, to allude to evil surrounding Jesus on the cross. Think about it...Satan was just as interested in these things as you and I. However, as Satan thought that he was defeating God by killing His chosen Messiah for mankind, what he didn't know, was that the Messiah had to die for man, in order that man could be reconciled back to God!

They pierced My hands and My feet is amazing! Crucifixion wasn't invented by the Persians until 700 years after David lived! The Romans took that method, and made it even more lethal a few hundred years later. How could David possibly know of this method of death, unless God had him write it, to point us to the cross?

This also makes me think of the verse in Zech 12:10

(v.17) We don't see a time in David's life, where he is examining his bones and body in front of his enemies...this is a graphic picture of Jesus on the cross, unbroken but suffering, in front of a great assembly of people.

(v.18) There is no record of David's enemies casting lots John 19:24 for his clothing, but there is an exact instance where the Roman guards did this when they crucified Jesus.

Mar 22 (Psalm 23)

Psalm 23

(v.1) I begin with my kids, telling them that the word "want" here, doesn't mean that we don't want our Shepherd. Rather, it means that with our Shepherd looking out for us, we shall not be lacking anything we need. We won't be for want of anything.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd who will guide us, correct us and even die for us.

(v.2) My Shepherd shall provide for me comfort and rest Ruth 1:9 & Matt 11:28

(v.3) He will guide my paths and lead me to His ways Prov 3:5-6 & Luke 1:79

(v.4) He will give me courage Deut 31:6 & Rom 8:31

(v.5) He will give me honor and a crown of righteousness Isaiah 62:3 & 2 Tim 4:8

(v.6) He will provide mercy and a heavenly home for me Prov 3:33 & John 14:2

The symbolism of a shepherd is key here. God used shepherds to save his people:

~ Moses

~ Joseph

~ David

A shepherd guides his sheep, and they come to know his voice John 10:4 and obey. When they sleep at night, the shepherd would move them into a cave and sleep at the mouth or door John 10:9 of the cave to protect them. If evil comes, the shepherd would protect his sheep and even give his life John 10:11 for his sheep.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd, who has already given His life for us, that we may hear His voice and obey, and He will lead us to the Promised Land of heaven!!!

Mar 21 (2 Sam 22-24)

2nd Samuel 22

Read this chapter along with Psalm 18 and you will see a close resemblance. Many scholars believe that this chapter is written from David's point of view, in relation to his status in Christ. Psalm 18 is said to be prophetic of Christ, who was truly righteous and worthy of being our Passover Lamb.

We believers will never be perfect until we are in heaven. That is why God Himself had to die for us...the perfect One who could be our Lamb of God and die in our place.

We as believers are constantly scrutinized by the world and by the accuser, Satan, in order to make us ineffective in our witness. We need to remember 2 Cor 5:21 where the Apostle Paul reminds us that we are righteous in the Father's eyes, since we as believers are washed with the blood of His Son. We are pure as snow in the Father's eyes!!! I like to tell my kids that the Father looks at us through Jesus-filtered glasses...He only sees His Son when looking at us believers!

2nd Samuel 23

David points out three key factors for us to be successful ambassadors for Christ in these three men he singles out:

~ Be a child of God in prayer...if we are prayer warriors, we are in tune with Him

~ Put our complete trust in God, and be fearless against evil

~ Be faithful with our gifts that God gave us...use them to love and serve others

2nd Samuel 24

Most current translations say that God made David count the people by putting a capital "H" in he. But if we go back to the original transcripts, it is not capitalized, and says that Satan moved David to do this.

(v.10) David realized that he wasn't walking with God here, and repented and admitted his mistake. That is the reason for the famine. David repented, so he was right with God again, but all our actions have consequences.

David bought the threshing floor from Araunah, and it would become the eventual site where the Temple would be. Araunah wanted to give the property to David, but David insisted to buy it...it wouldn't be a sacrifice if it came to David for free.

This reminds me of telling my kids about giving. If we give something of value to another, it is good. If we give free stuff or worthless things to others, then it's worthless. It doesn't have to be monetarily valuable, for it could be our time and service as well. If we are willing to set aside our own ambitions and desires, for the needs of others, then we are doing as David did here.

Mar 20 (2 Sam 19-21)

2nd Samuel 19

(v.12) David doesn't hurry back and assume the throne...he wants the people to be in agreement that he is king, and invite him back. This is a typology of Jesus as well...He came the first time and wasn't received or welcome (John 1:11) but they will call out to Him and beg for Jesus to return again (Hos 5:15).

(v.23) Here is some more typology...David shows mercy on the man who insulted him and threw rocks at him. This is like when Jesus asked the Father to forgive his persecutors on the cross (Luke 23:34).

(v.28) I like to use this event to teach my kids, that we have been blessed beyond measure and what we really deserve. The one fact that Jesus died on the cross for us, is all that we really need in this life, since it gives us admission into the next life with God. Any other blessings we get in this life are extra. If we have a heart of gratitude, we will live more joyful and complete lives.

2nd Samuel 20

For clarity, I teach my kids that when the Bible says the men of Israel, they are speaking of the people who sided with Absalom, and the men of Judah were in the South, who sided with David. This will also become a factor in the times after Solomon.

The men of Israel (Absalom) didn't know their Scriptures, since if they did, they would've known that God would have the tribe of Judah be the kingly tribe (Gen 49), like the tribe of Levi would be the priestly tribe. This is what happens when we let our pride and greed get in the way of common sense and facts.

(v.22) The wise woman at Abel is a little graphic for some of our younger kids, but she does teach us to focus on the important things. Her wisdom was, why destroy the whole city that has many righteous people over just one man? Joab agreed, and when Sheba's head was delivered, Joab and his men departed, sparing the city.

I read to my kids the account of Abraham talking with God in Gen 18 where God says He will not destroy all in Sodom in order to bring justice to the evil few.

2nd Samuel 21

David had to make things right with the LORD before God would bless the land. This is so true for us today. America was established as a Christian nation, requiring that God-fearing people rule. We have strayed from that, and God's blessings have diminished. I read 2 Chr 7:14 to remind myself and my kids, that we need to make sure we are following God, then we can attempt to change the nation.

(v.20) We see the giants again here, the offspring of the union between the fallen angels (Nephilim) and women. The results of this union are evident by their stature (almost 10 feet tall) and that they have six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. This is a genetic mutation from this union of angel and mankind.

(v.22) I ask my kids again, why they think David gathered five stones just before he went against Golaith. We see that Goliath had four brothers...David was going to kill all five giants that day, but the four brothers ran off like the rest of the enemy.

Mar 19 (2 Sam 17-18)

2nd Samuel 17

In 2 Sam 15:31 David prayed to the LORD that Ahithophel woud give foolish advice to Absalom. However, his advice was brilliant...why didn't the LORD answer David's prayer? To David, his request made sense, but God had other plans with the same result. God had Hushai act as a double agent, and hand all of Absalom's men over to David in one battle, instead of only a portion.

I remind my kids that God doesn't need our advice on how to do things...and He knows what is best for us. He does want us to call on Him and ask Him for His guidance, but as far as the timing of things, and the way they work out, that is His doing, not ours.

(v.15) Hushai was able to buy David and his people time...time to regroup and cross over the river.

(v.19) Again, God has a courageous woman save two of His people like Hagar did in Joshua 2.

(v.23) Why did Ahithophel hang himself?

~ Ahithophel had a son named Eliam, who had a daughter named Bathsheba...he was the grandfather of the woman whom David took as his wife by killing her husband! It's safe to say that Ahithophel hated David, and he feared that he would be killed once David regained the throne.

Unfortunately, we will never know if David would've shown mercy upon Ahithophel. Ahithophel's anger cost him his own life.

2nd Samuel 18

(v.2) David prepares for battle, and gives out a word of comfort, much like our LORD says to us:

Lo, I am with you always ~ Matt 28:20

David wanted to fight with his people, but they convinced him, that if he were captured or slain, the loss would be too great.

I remind my kids that Absalom was famous for his long and full hair...he would have won "Best Hair" in school every year! It was Absalom's pride that killed him...his hair got caught in the brush.

Joab killed Absalom himself...why did he disobey his king's direct order? I don't know for sure, but perhaps Joab didn't want his collusion with Absalom to be known, or he just knew that Absalom would continue to divide the kingdom if he was still alive.

(v.17) Absalom was covered in stones, which was the punishment for rebellious sons in Deut 21:18-21

Anyone who has lost a child can relate to the mourning of David. Even prodigal sons that rebelled are still loved and mourned when they die so young. But Joab gave David some tough love and a pep talk. All of Israel would've reacted to David's state of mind. David needed to praise and thank all that fought for him, instead of focusing on just one person.

Mar 18 (2 Sam 15-16; Psa 3)

2nd Samuel 15

(v.6) Absalom won over the hearts of the people, and was acting as their king. Obviously, David left a void that Absalom filled. Even though many years have passed, it seems that David is tired, and he may even be still in a "funk" over the calamity of losing a son at the hand of another son.

It is interesting that Absalom went to Hebron...that was the capital city of Israel before David moved it to Jerusalem. Abasalom instantly won over all the people of Hebron since they must have been upset that their town went from important to an afterthought, to important again.

(v.21) Ittai's oath to David reminds me of Ruth's to Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17. This can also be the oath we say to our King, Christ Jesus. David's response to Ittai is to "cross over" which is typology of Abraham's act of faith (Hebrew) and for us...when we cross over from this world to faith in Christ.

(v.30) David wept at the Mount of Olives, just like his descendant and God, Jesus, did many years later before His Triumphal Entry (Luke 20:41)

This is a period of David's life that mirrors the First Coming of Christ...shame and anguish. All the people who went out with him are like us believers today...we are broken and in debt, so we follow our King wherever He may lead us. Also, David is showing faith in God by having the ark and the priests stay in Jerusalem. He has faith that God will restore him.

(vv.32-36) David is weeping and feeling low, but he's also cunning and has his wits about him. He has the servant of his go and be Absalom's servant so he could be like a double agent! David's actions here remind me of this verse:

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

~Matt 10:16

2nd Samuel 16

(v.4) Mephibosheth's servant deceives David, and bears false witness of Mephibosheth. Even though it seemed that Mephibosheth betrayed David, David still honors his promise to Jonathan, and insists that all of Mephibosheth's belongings should stay with him.

(v.8) This self-anointed prophet, Shimei, curses and throws stones at David for usurping Saul. This is very much like the Jews in Jesus' day, where they wanted so much to be ruled by man and the world, and not by God.

David is like Christ here...taking shame and abuse, even though he is innocent of it. David has matured greatly by this time, and unlike his harsh reaction to Nabal's disrespect (1 Sam 25), he knows that God is molding and refining him for future use. David knew that he was to endure this, but on his deathbed, he had Solomon kill Shimei (1 Kings 2:8), perhaps because David thought that Solomon wouldn't handle the criticism well.

Mar 17 (2 Sam 13-14)

2nd Samuel 13

This chapter is tricky if you have young children. If you have teenagers, then it's worth going through this in detail.

Amnon and Tamar were half brother and sister...they came from two different mothers who were wives of David. If we've paid attention, this practice of siblings marrying is not new to that time nor the whole Bible. Only today, where there have been centuries of mutations in the human DNA, has offspring been affected. In those days, it was not so.

Amnon was not in love...for love is patient and kind. Amnon was in lust...and lust always acts impulsively and without thought to consequences.

(v.15) Notice that Amnon hated Tamar, even though he was the one who raped her. This is quite often seen by police, where a rapist does his evil deed, then hates himself over what he did, and he blames the victim for his sin. Then, most kill the victim in hate, and to prevent the victim from telling authorities.

(v.21) Absalom has told Tamar that he would take care of Amnon, and he would...not out of chivalry, but out of his own desire to be king. David was understandably mad as well, but he didn't do anything...why? Perhaps his own conscious had him remember what he did to Bathsheba and Uriah, and felt he was unworthy to act in this incident...we don't know for sure.

Absalom kills Amnon, and David is grieved over the loss of a son, and the departure of his other son. Lust and greed kill families.

2nd Samuel 14

David's great general, Joab, devises a way to confront David with guilt much like Nathan the prophet did...it worked once, why not try it again? It did work, and perhaps Joab was making sure his position would be secure if Abasalom were the next king.

David loved Absalom, but he couldn't forgive him for what he did to Tamar. David was a great example of faith and courage, but he did have his faults like you and me. Sometimes we let our pride get in the way of serving God. Since David refused to see Absalom for five years, Absalom developed a great hatred and resentment for his father. This would prove to be tragic later.

I discuss with my kids that we have a God who forgives if we repent...and He will remember our sins no more! Heb 8:12

Mar 16 (2 Sam 12)

2nd Samuel 12

God sends Nathan, the prophet, to confront David's sin. God often does this with us, He sends a friend or family member who rebukes us, but with love. When we hear tough love from those we love, we need to listen and not be quick to discard their words...often it is God who is speaking to us through another believer.

(v.13) Even though David had Uriah killed and made his wife a widow, he says he sinned against the LORD...why? If we remember Joseph in Gen 39:9 he views the act of adultery not as a sin against the spouse, but against God. The word, sin, means to miss the mark, and that is what we do when we fail to live up to God's perfect holiness and purity. We may wrong others, but ultimately, we fail God. That is why we needed a Savior to pay for our sins...God Himself...Yeshua (Jesus)!

(v.14) This is important for all of us to know...even though we may repent, there are still consequences for our actions. David was again walking with God, but the result of David's sin was the death of his offspring from that sin. David showed great remorse and pleaded with God to spare his son, but just like our Heavenly Father, His Son had to pay for our sins.

(v.20) David held vigil at his son's bedside, fasted and prayed for seven straight days. Fasting and praying is good for all of us to do, since it brings us closer to God. However, God is fair and just, so David's sin had to have a consequence.

I marvel at how David reacted to the news of his son's death...he ate and worshipped God! It's hard for me to picture myself worshipping God if I lost a child.

This is a moment to teach our kids this one very important thing...God provided us with the way for salvation in the death and resurrection of His Son. Everything else in life are additional blessings...we need nothing more than Jesus. None of us have the right to assume we, or our loved ones, will live long lives. As the Word in Psalm 90:12 and Prov 27:1 teaches us, we don't know what tomorrow will bring, so make the best of today. If we have that kind of grateful heart for today, then whatever happens tomorrow won't worry us.

(v.23) David teaches all of us about what happens to children when they die. They haven't been born again in the Spirit, nor have they matured enough to fully understand what Jesus did for us. Yet, they are God's children, and they will be in heaven waiting for us when we get there! As best I can tell, there is a time in each of our lives when we are at an age and consciousness of accountability to God. Some say 10 years old, or even as late at 13, but what matters is our heart, and whether we have heard the Good News and accepted it or not.

(vv.24-25) David and Bathsheba name their next son Solomon, but Nathan named him Jedidiah, which in Hebrew means "Beloved by Jehovah"

We will see that Bathsheba also had some other names for Solomon in Prov 30

(v.28) I love Joab! Not only is he a great general, but he loved David and told David to take the city so that he would get the credit, not Joab who did all the work.

This is a valuable lesson to us when we're in the workplace or even the military...it is our duty to honor God, by honoring those in authority over us. We shouldn't seek our own fame and glory, but seek to lift up those in front of us. If we do that, God will surely bless us as well as our superiors.

Mar 15 (2 Sam 10-11; 1 Chr 19)

2nd Samuel 10

(v.5) David makes a gesture to the new king of Ammon, and his servants are disgraced because of it. This is an opportunity to teach our kids to be gracious and respectful to strangers...even people who we don't consider friends. In that time and culture, a man grew a beard, and it was a sign of his maturity and stature, so David had these shamed men wait in a nearby town until their beards grew back to an admirable length before returning.

(v.12) Joab does a maneuver that is copied in warfare today...divide and attack in two fronts. It is a risky tactic, but if successful, it can be demoralizing to an enemy. This tactic worked, and mostly because Joab sent the troops off with a prayer and call for blessing by God.

2nd Samuel 11

At one time, David shows great trust in God, and his army is brilliant in battle because they inquire of God to lead them. Then, David let's the sins and temptations of the flesh get the better of him. It is so easy to let our pride get in the way of our faith. In fact, some say that when we are at our most triumphant, we are at our most vulnerable to fall. I teach my kids that when they succeed at studies or sports, they should thank God, and give ALL the credit to Him. If we start thinking we are strong and self-reliant, then that's when we fall to temptation and pride.

Depending upon the ages of your kids, we need to tread carefully here. The main point is that David wanted something he couldn't have...another man's wife. He should have left it at that, and remembered the 7th and 10th commandments (Ex 20:14,17).

If David had prayed and remembered God's Word at that time, he would have moved on and avoided the sinful acts he was about to do. To make matters worse, David didn't repent of his sinful act, and added to it by trying to cover it up, and ultimately, to have Uriah be killed in battle. As we shall see in the next chapter, it took a smack in the face of reality from the prophet Nathan, to wake David up from his lustful stupor, and he repented. Then, when we repent, God can work in us again.

Mar 14 (2 Sam 8-9; 1 Chr 17-18)

2nd Samuel 8

In the previous chapter, God gives David rest, but now, God wants David to go out and conquer. As Jon Courson says in his commentary, this is like us when we were saved. First, we have an immense sense of peace and rest, knowing that God provided for us our salvation. But then, shortly afterwards, we have this insatiable urge to spread the Good News to our family and friends. We then move on to reach the lost who we don't even know!

So God has David reclaiming the land that God gave Abraham for the nation of Israel. As we all know, that has shrunk to what we see today, and even that tiny piece of land called Israel is disputed by santanic influences. In Gen 15:18, we see that Israel's land is huge, and will be one great day when Jesus comes back to take ownership and rule!!!

2nd Samuel 9

This is a wonderful chapter of honor and mercy. David promised his dear friend Jonathan, that he wouldn't perform the standard practice of killing all the descendants of the previous king (to eliminate rivals) and he reached out to Mephibosheth.

(v.6) David says his name, and it must have lifted a great weight of fear off of this lame man's shoulders. Much like Jesus, when He said "Mary" (John 20:16) at the tomb, only then, did Mary know that all was going to be fine.

(v.11) David is a type of Christ, and he shows us mercy and priviledge. David has Mephibosheth sit at his table, much like we will sit at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9) with Jesus one day! We are like Mephibosheth...we are lame and crippled, but one day, we will be in our new heavenly bodies, without shame and pain, and dine with our LORD!

Mar 13 (2 Sam 6-7; 1 Chr 13-16)

2nd Samuel 6

(v.6) My kids ask me why God killed the man who merely steadied the ark when the oxen stumbled. After all, it seemed that he was concerned for the ark! But God gave rules about how to handle the ark (Num 4:15) which stated to never touch the ark with bare hands.

David realized that all Israel needed to be in tune with God's Word, and to take what God says with respect.

(v.16) David came to fear the LORD more, and because of it, he danced in worship to the LORD. We need to do this more ourselves! It doesn't say exactly why David's wife, Michal, resented David for doing this, but perhaps it was two things: first, she may have thought he looked silly, and worried what the people would think, or secondly, she wasn't in fear of the LORD, and thought David's actions were unjustified.

Either way, David rebuked her for her vain thoughts, and Michal never bore children the rest of her life.

2nd Samuel 7

David wanted to build a Temple for the LORD, in the fashion of the Tabernacle. This in itself was not wrong, since David wanted a place where he and all Israel could come and worship the LORD, but God didn't want it this way. David was God's warrior, and he had too much blood on his hands from doing God's work. God had planned for one of David's sons (Solomon) to build the Temple, and God promised to bless him...and He did!

(v.16) This is a key verse...Your throne shall be established forever. David would never sit on the throne in the Temple, but one of his descendants will...Jesus!

When Jesus returns, He will sit upon the throne of David and rule for 1,000 years called the Millenium. Jesus purchased us and the ownership deed of the earth when He died on the cross. He will be coming back to take residence, and rule in righteousness for 1,000 years! It is our duty as parents to teach our kids to know the LORD, and to look forward to His return!

Mar 12 (2 Sam 4-5; 1 Chr 11-12)

2nd Samuel 4

Saul's last son, Ishbosheth, was killed by David's men without David knowing it. When they presented the head of Ishbosheth to David, he had them killed for their unwise actions.

My kids and I discuss the importance of keeping our word to others. David promised both Jonathan and Saul that he wouldn't kill Saul's descendants. Now his men have made him out to be a liar in the eyes of the people. God knows that David didn't want this, but David had to show the people that he didn't order the death of Ishbosheth.

2nd Samuel 5

(v.4) Like Jesus, David became shepherd over the people at the age of 30. In Israel, one couldn't be a Rabbi (Teacher) until the age of 30.

(v.12) David gave credit to God for providing victory and his kingdom. We may work hard at a sport or career, but it's God who gave us the talent to be successful...we should always give Him the credit and glory for our successes!

(v.19) David shows us what we must do when faced with daunting tasks...inquire of the LORD! If we have a good prayer life, and we read His Word consistently, we will be thinking and acting in His will.

Mar 11 (2 Sam 1-3)

2nd Samuel 1

Saul is dead, Jonathan is dead, and this man from the enemy comes to David with Saul's crown and bracelet. He lies and says that he put Saul out of his misery and saved him from torture. In reality, David knew that he was lying, and that this man only looted Saul's crown and bracelet after he was dead.

Also, here was David who had two golden opportunities to kill Saul, yet he knew that God would take care of Saul. David knew that Saul would kill himself, since his actions were against God, and his mindset was destroying himself.

2nd Samuel 2

David respected the throne, and he thanked the men of Jabesh Gilead for burying Saul. David respected the throne, and those that God anointed. However, Saul's surviving son and Saul's commander of the army thought he should be king.

This is the stuff of action movies and soap operas! There are sons, cousins and kings fighting for rule over Israel, and after a great battle, Abner wisely offers to stop fighting. It's a good thing he did, since his army was being slaughtered!

2nd Samuel 3

The men of David are fighting the surviving men of Saul, and David is winning and getting stronger, while Saul's men are losing and getting weaker. In Jon Courson's commentary, he likens this to when we are saved...as the Holy Spirit works in us, we get stronger and are more victorious, while Satan and his influence on us weakens and ultimately loses!

(v.3) David married a pagan Gentile woman, and he will live to regret it. Absalom would later challenge David for the throne, and break David's heart. When we deviate from God's commands and plans for us, we bring sorrow and hardship upon ourselves.

Even though God has anointed David to be king through Samuel's blessing, the people are watching to see if David "acts" like a king and wins.

Because the rest of the chapter is dealing with wives and concubines, we need to tread carefully with our kids here. Also, we have revenge and murder going on...so I teach my kids that bad things are happening to the people because they wanted a man to lead them, instead of God. As a result, men are fighting against each other for power.

Mar 10 (1 Sam 29-31)

1st Samuel 29

David has escaped the persecution of Saul by befriending Israel's mortal enemies, the Philistines. By the way, the Palestinians are descendants of the Philistines, so the battle rages on today.

So now David is faced with the precarious situation of having to fight King Saul and his own brethren of Israel. Again, if we avoid one problem, we will have others spring up to replace it. David had God on his side when he was fleeing Saul, but now, he wouldn't since David would be going against God's chosen people...the very people David was destined to be king of!

I use this situation to teach my kids that they need to address their problems by praying, and letting God take care of them. Avoiding them without God's help will only lead to greater problems in the future!

(v.22) At first glance, and if we think in the flesh, we can see the point of the men who fought and didn't want the ones who wouldn't fight to share in the spoils of the battle. However, Israel and the Church looks at this differently than the world. When we send missionaries abroad to share the Gospel, God doesn't protect, provide and bless only them. All the people who gave money, all the people who helped organize, and all the people keeping the missionaries covered in prayer, all share in God's blessings.

1st Samuel 30

The same thing happens to David that happened so many times to Saul, they were obsessed with the wrong things, and they let their responsibilities be exposed. So many times Saul abandoned his protection of Israel to chase David, and now, David's obsession with facing Saul on the battlefield has left his family and army's families exposed to the enemy. Pride takes us away from God and into trouble.

1st Samuel 31

Here we have the end of Saul. A man who started with such promise and blessings, only to abandon God, and live foolishly. Saul even admitted that he wasted his chance, and died along with his sons and army.

Mar 9 (1 Sam 27-28)

1st Samuel 27

(v.1) David has been such a man of faith, and he so many times talked with God, but here he has not consulted God, and let his flesh take control. If he had remembered that God is on his side, he wouldn't have said to himself that he would die at the hand of Saul.

We all do this...we talk ourselves into and out of things. The power of rationalization is great...we can justify bad deeds or words, and we can convince ourselves that we know what is best for us. But sooner than we think, God shows us every time, that He knows what's best for us. If we just start every day walking with Him, and continue the day in prayer, we would be much better off!

(v.7) David figured that in order to have Saul's pursuit of him to end, he would encamp in the enemy's territory. This worked, but we'll see that David had to endure a whole new set of problems because of it.

This is important for our kids (and us parents) to remember...as long as we have breath, we will have trials and problems in life. Sometimes they are little, and other times, they are big problems. I teach my kids this scenario, in order that they may glean something practical in their lives from David:

When we are born again, we are new creatures in Christ. We have new power and vigor, but this doesn't mean we will never have problems, doubts, stumbles or issues the rest of our lives. In fact, because Satan doesn't want us to be effective ambassadors of Christ, he will tempt us to make us fall away from Christ and be stagnant and ineffective Christians.

So if we let our trials and persecutions in Christ drag us down, we have let the enemy win. We think if we don't speak out for Christ, and if we don't let others know the hope that is in us, we will avoid conflicts...we may just blend into the world. But soon we will find that we're more miserable away from Christ in the world, than living for Christ with persecution! (Jam 1:2-3)

(v.11) So now that David has avoided his persecution from Saul with God on his side, he has become a common thief, a liar and murderer. He has absorbed the pitfalls of this world by trying to avoid serving God! This is common with believers who fall away from God...they end up worse than when they were unsaved! The only thing that will make backsliders happy again, is to repent and return to Christ.

1st Samuel 28

(v.6) Saul was blind without God. Samuel was dead, and the LORD wouldn't speak to Saul because of Saul's unbelief.

(v.14) Because Saul was not walking with God, he sought a medium (a witch) to speak to the dead. When Saul saw Samuel, he bowed down to him. Not only was it wrong to seek Satanic mediums to speak to the dead, but it's worse to bow down to mortal men. Only God is worthy to bow down to. (Phil 2:10)

(v.19) Depending upon the ages of your kids, you may want to approach this part with discretion. It seems that Samuel's spirit is appearing to Saul. We often hear of ghosts, and perhaps this is a biblical example of a ghost.

I teach my kids, that our bodies are mortal, but our spirits are immortal. We will live forever, but our faith and choices determine WHERE we will live in eternity. Before Christ came to conquer sin and death, all the people who lived before then, went to Sheol when they died. Sheol was the Hebrew, and Hades was the Greek name for the spirit world in the Old Testament. If we read Luke 16:19-31, we see that there were two parts to this spirit world...one for believers in God, and another part for the unbelievers. The believers went to Abraham's Bosom, since Abraham is known as the "Father of the Faithful."

This is why Samuel said that Saul would be with him in the spirit world the next day. I suspect that Samuel is in Abraham's Bosom, and Saul will be in the other place that Jesus spoke about, in eternal torment. After Christ died on the cross, he freed the believers from Abraham's Bosom and took them to heaven, leaving the others in Sheol to wait for their eternal judgment.

So getting back to the issue of ghosts...If we remember the Nephilim and the giants (Gen 6), and the reason for the flood, then the spirits of these Nephilim and giants were killed in the Flood, but their spirits lived on. This is what scholars believe are demons...evil spirits that died in body, but their spirits are evil. So, I recommend that we pray and seek His wisdom when we discuss these things with our kids, since they can be a little scary and freaky to them...it is to me as well! But...it is biblical and the truth, so I don't keep that from my kids.