Study

1 Chronicles 13:1-4

David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds—with every leader. Then David said to the entire assembly of Isra’el, “If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of ADONAI our God, let’s send messengers to the rest of our kinsmen in the land of Isra’el, and also to the cohanim and L’vi’im in their cities with surrounding open land, asking them to join us; and let’s bring back the ark of our God to ourselves, since we didn’t go after it when Sha’ul was king.” The whole assembly said they would do this, for in the view of all the people it seemed right.

 

David asked everyone but Adonai in bringing the ark into the city of Jerusalem. On the surface this doesn’t seem like a bad thing, but David tried to do it under his own will without consulting Torah to see how Adonai had already stated how the ark is supposed to be carried. Because David didn’t study God’s Word completely a man died due to his ignorance. Abba teach me always Your ways in Your Word. Do not let me tire of reading and applying it to my life so the rest of my days. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Service

2 Samuel 5:12

David then knew that ADONAI had set him up as king over Isra’el and increased his royal power for the sake of his people.

 

A Godly man does not seek position for himself so that he can have personal gain. A Godly man seeks to serve Adonai first in all things and as his trust grows so to will the responsibilities Adonai gives him. Abba let my passion for following Your Word be like David and Pinchas, zealous and whole hearted. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Doing Right

2 Samuel 3:6-8

During the war that was going on between the house of Sha’ul and the house of David, Avner strengthened his position in the house of Sha’ul. Sha’ul had had a concubine named Ritzpah, the daughter of Ayah; and [Ish-Boshet] challenged Avner: “Why did you go and sleep with my father’s concubine?” These words of Ish-Boshet’s enraged Avner. “What am I,” he shouted, “[that you treat me with such contempt]? A dog’s head in Y’hudah? Till this moment I have shown only kindness to the house of Sha’ul your father, and to his brothers and to his friends; and I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet you choose today to pick a fight with me over this woman!

 

Doing the right things for the wrong reasons is not following Adonai. Like Avner it is still following the selfish and self centered reasons that is sin, and not honoring the Creator. In this case it led to Avner’s death. How can it be any different for our own lives if we act the same way? Dear Lord take from me any plotting or devious workings in order to find favor with my fellow man. Keep me honest and always referring to You so all may come to know You. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Walking

Matthew 14:28-32

Then Kefa called to him, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come!” he said. So Kefa got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Yeshua. But when he saw the wind, he became afraid; and as he began to sink, he yelled, “Lord! Save me!” Yeshua immediately stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “Such little trust! Why did you doubt?” As they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. The men in the boat fell down before him and exclaimed, “You really are God’s son!”

 

It always amazes me that Kefa, Peter, could see the wind, not feel it, not see it’s effects, but actually see the wind. Walking in total trust in God allows us to see the supernatural in the natural. Yet when doubt enters in we stumble and have to depend on God to carry us through. Dear Lord, I stumble more than I walk, please continue to encourage me through Your ox goads on my bad days and Your compassion on my good days. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Filling

Matthew 12:43-45

“When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry country seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says to itself, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house standing empty, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they come and live there—so that in the end, the person is worse off than he was before. This is how it will be for this wicked generation.”

 

We can be delivered from any kind of addiction, depravity, or hatred, but if we do not replace it with the Spirit of God, the Ruach HaKodesh, we are just empty vessels waiting for the next destructive thing to fill our lives. It is only by allowing Adonai to indwell in us by accepting the sacrifice that Yeshua has done for all time, that we can be filled in such a way that we daily become stronger and closer in our walk with Him. Lord forgive me for not being a better follower for most of my life. Keep me in Your will and let me grow in love for You. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Submission

1Samuel 28:1-2; 29:6-7

​ In due time the P’lishtim assembled their armies for war against Isra’el. Akhish told David, “You know, of course, that you and your men will join me and the army in battle.” David answered Akhish, “I see that you already know what your servant will do.” Akhish said to David, “For that answer, I am making you my personal bodyguard for life.”

 

So Akhish summoned David and said to him, “As ADONAI lives, you have been upright; and I myself would be more than pleased to have you go on campaign with me; because I haven’t found anything wrong with you between the day you arrived and now. However, the chiefs don’t trust you. Therefore, now, go on back; and go in peace, so as not to do what appears bad to the chiefs of the P’lishtim.

 

We are to honor the leaders Adonai places over us, as David did. God will cover us in those stressful times and deliver us from doing wrong just as He did David through the fear of the P’lishtim Chiefs. But our hearts must be also like David, focused always on Adonai.

Focused

Psalm 63:2-7

O God, you are my God;

I will seek you eagerly.

My heart thirsts for you,

my body longs for you

in a land parched and exhausted,

where no water can be found.

I used to contemplate you in the sanctuary,

seeing your power and glory;

for your grace is better than life.

My lips will worship you.

Yes, I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands.

I am as satisfied as with rich food;

my mouth praises you with joy on my lips

when I remember you on my bed

and meditate on you in the night watches.

 

In everything we are to focus on Adonai. There is nothing that should be separated from Him in our lives if we truly trust in Him. While we may have been introduced to Adonai in our congregations and sanctuaries we will not experience his full indwelling until it becomes as needful as water, food and sleep. Abba keep me always focused on You. Have me pause before I respond in a worldly way and let me always do Your will. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen

Acknowledgement

Matthew 8:4

Then Yeshua said to him, “See that you tell no one; but as a testimony to the people, go and let the cohen examine you, and offer the sacrifice that Moshe commanded.”

 

Yeshua had just healed a man with tzara’at and in his new physical body the man started rejoicing. Yeshua gently reminded him that he still had service to Adonai yet to perform for the healing as taught in God’s Word, Torah. Many times I have been the diseased man, rejoicing at being delivered from a dark painful time but being so overjoyed that I forget who my deliverer is and partied myself right into another dark time, all the while missing an opportunity to praise and worship Adonai for all to see. Dear Lord let me see always Your hand in my life. Let me pursue You as a deer pants after water. Never let me forget who provides everything for me. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Pursue

Matthew 7:7-8

“Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened.

 

My relationship with Adonai is just that a relationship. When I was young it was superficial through the teachings of Adults around me. As a young man I walked away from the relationship in pursuit of my own selfish interest. But now since I have been pursuing Him with daily prayer and study of the Word I have grown closer than I have ever been. It is that pursuit that builds the bonds of trust. It is this pursuit that builds all other relationships I am apart of. It is this daily pursuit that has changed everything for me. Thank You Abba, for salvation in Your son Yeshua, and the infilling of the Ruach HaKodesh to lead me in Your Word, amen.

Our Rudder

Psalm 34:12-15
Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of ADONAI.
Which of you takes pleasure in living?
Who wants a long life to see good things?
[If you do,] keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceiving talk;
turn from evil, and do good;
seek peace, go after it!

The beginning of our following Adonai should be the taming of our words, the control of our tongue. Sha’ul tells us it is like a rudder to the ship, a small plank of wood that steers everything. If we claim that we believe in God then engage and promote gossip about our neighbors how are we any different than the non-believers and why would they want to place themselves among such people. But the speaking of life into everyone’s existence, exhorting the good that they do and offering the peace of Yeshua’s sacrifice as Adonai intended, this is how we can have the fulfilling life David was writing about. Abba forgive me when I have started and passed on rumors and speculation without concern for how it would affect others. Keep me meek and restrained in Your love so that I speak only life to everyone. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.