Our Daily Bread 27 November 2020 Devotional Message
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Topic: Facing the Battle
Today’s Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:1–11(NIV)
Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 30–32; 1 Peter 4
Key Verse: Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. – 1 Chronicles 16:11
Today’s Insight: A private moment mars the elation with which David welcomed the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. His wife, Michal, tells him how embarrassed she was to see him dancing in the streets of Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6:16–23).
Michal may be speaking out of her own hurt. She was the daughter of a king who gave her to David with thoughts of killing him (1 Samuel 18:20–28). Later Saul gave her as a gift to one of his friends (25:44)—only to have David take her back when he came to the throne (2 Samuel 3:13–16). Now with her father and brothers killed in battle (1 Chronicles 10), Michal is a lingering reminder of her father’s troubled and dying legacy (2 Samuel 6:23).
Our Daily Bread 27 November 2020 Devotional Message
Not long ago I met up with a group of friends. As I listened to the conversation, it seemed like everyone in the room was facing some significant battle. Two of us had parents fighting cancer, one had a child with an eating disorder, another friend was experiencing chronic pain, and another was facing major surgery. It seemed a lot for a bunch of people in their thirties and forties.
First Chronicles 16 recounts a key moment in Israel’s history when the ark of the covenant was brought into the City of David (Jerusalem). Samuel tells us it happened in a moment of peace between battles (2 Samuel 7:1). When the ark was in place, symbolizing God’s presence, David led the people in a song of praise (1 Chronicles 16:8–36). Together the nation sang of God’s wonder-working power, His promise-keeping ways, and His past protection (vv. 12–22). “Look to the Lord and his strength,” they cried out; “seek his face always” (v. 11). They’d need to, because more battles were coming.
Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face. That’s not bad advice to follow when illness, family concerns, and other battles confront us, because we haven’t been left to fight in our own waning energies. God is present; God is strong; He’s looked after us in the past and will do so again.
Our God will get us through.
Reflect & Pray
What battle do you need God’s power to face right now? How can you hand your struggle to Him?
Wonder-working God, I hand over this battle to You. I trust in Your strength and Your promises.
READ: Joel Osteen 26 November 2020 Devotional – Enter with Thanksgiving