Beware of False Prophets: Those Claiming to Speak for the Lord

Twice in today’s Bible reading* we read of someone delivering news from the Lord. And both times, it was wrong. They were false prophets. In 2 Samuel 16:21, Ahithophel told Absalom to rape David’s concubines to demonstrate his contempt for David. Ahithophel also encouraged Absalom to pursue David to kill him. Hushai warned Absalom that…

A Biblical Description of Blessings is not a Biblical Prescription for Blessings

Psalm 1 from today’s Bible reading* describes the blessings of those who seek God and His ways. How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and…

Praying with the Psalms

I have mentioned several times before that the Psalms can serve as models for our prayers, praise, thanksgiving, worship, and expressing our grief. The Psalms in today’s Bible reading* are particularly good examples for us. Psalm 89 is another Maskil. You will remember that Maskils are psalms that stimulate the mind. They make you think….

Uzzah Dies Trying to Help God

Earlier this month, we read about Saul’s sin of trying to help God. In today’s Bible reading* we read that Uzzah tried to help God and was struck dead on the spot. 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13 tell the story of the Israelites’ bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel in…

Calling All Men of Issachar

Yesterday, I talked about the need for more valiant warriors. Today’s Bible reading* is similar in its application call for more men of Issachar. These men of Issachar understood the times and knew what Israel should do. When 1 Chronicles 12:32 says that the men of Issachar understood, it uses two Hebrew words together: knowledge…