Reading notes - week 30

Just a few notes from the readings…

one note from last week - 2 Samuel 14 - Absalom’s burning of the barley fields - we should keep this principle in mind - check to see if our children’s misbehavior is an attempt to get our attention in a period where they feel neglected. Perhaps if David had not been passive (first in not punishing Amnon and then in not pursuing Absalom) there would have been no need for the barley fields to be burned.

2 Samuel 15 - verse 26 - David, in spite of his moral and parental failures, continues to have an amazing attitude of trust and submission to the Lord!

Psalm 12 - I wrote in my notes : Verses 1,2 How timely!

Verses 1,2 sound like a summary of the news and then check out verse 8 - The wicked strut about on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men. Doesn’t that make you shout AMEN! Celebrating what God calls vile is the norm these days. Heartbreaking. But this psalm reminds and exhorts me to cling to His Word - verse 6 - The words of the Lord are pure words and verse 7 - He will keep us. He will preserve us. Hallelujah and amen!

Great message in Psalm 13 - the psalmist pours out his heart - he is distressed and feels forsaken. And he is counseling himself - taking counsel in his soul - and that fails him. He still feels defeated and hopeless. What a great reminder that our self-analysis is incomplete and inadequate AT BEST. It can even be toxic and destructive. The rest of the psalm lets us know what to do - cry out to the Lord (v. 3), and trust in the lovingkindess of the Lord (v. 5) because He is always faithful (v. 6). Looking at the present condition of the world will lead us to fear or feel hopeless. Looking inside at ourselves will lead us to despair. We must keep looking to the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father.

Psalm 28:3 - did this verse jump out at anyone else? What a reminder that there are those who pretend to be “for us” , those who “speak peace with their neighbors” and yet they have a selfish agenda, “while evil is in their hearts”. Lord, give us discernment so we can know who is trustworthy!

Psalm 40 - such a beloved chapter! Verses 1-3 are worth being an entire message - note the connection between the plight of the psalmist, his rescue and subsequent song - and the resulting increase in others coming to trust in the Lord!