Daily Notes & Observations is a 365-part series that follows a chronological daily Bible reading schedule and contains a short article based on something found in the text for each day. This material is also available in paperback.

May 29, 2012

The Lord Sees and Knows (5/29)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 1-2; Psalm 37, 71, 94.

David begins Psalm 94 by asking God to take vengeance upon those who show their contempt for the Lord by abusing others.

“How long shall the wicked, O Lord, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; all who do wickedness vaunt themselves. They crush Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the orphans. They have said, ‘The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay heed’” (Psalm 94;3-7).

The oppressors that David describes believe they can mistreat others without penalty. As long as they have the ability to abuse others, they have no sense of morality that restrains them and no fear of God that would keep them from acting so wickedly. They believe that God will not see their actions; therefore, they are free to do as they please. However, David made it clear that this was not the case.
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May 28, 2012

"The Lord is For Me; I Will Not Fear" (5/28)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 111-118.

“From my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a large place. The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes” (Psalm 118:5-9).

David faced many dangerous times in his life. During these times we can see that he put his trust in God and relied upon Him for help and strength. He called upon God, and the Lord protected him from those who threatened.
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May 27, 2012

Children are a Gift of the Lord (5/27)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Chronicles 26-29; Psalm 127.

Listed among the gatekeepers was a man named Obed-edom. This man was blessed by the Lord because he kept the ark at his house for three months while David determined how to bring it to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:10-12). This passage explains how he was blessed.

“Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh and Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him” (1 Chronicles 26:4-5).

This passage does not speak of Obed-edom being blessed with riches, long life, or success in his endeavors. It is possible he might have received these things, but this passage does not mention any of them. Instead, his eight sons were given as proof that “God had indeed blessed him.”
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May 26, 2012

God’s Knowledge of Us (5/26)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 131, 138-139, 143-145.

In Psalm 139, David praises God for His omniscience. Let us be reminded of everything that is included in God’s knowledge of us.

God knows our thoughts and our motives:

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all” (Psalm 139:1-4).

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May 25, 2012

Every Morning and Evening (5/25)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Chronicles 23-25.

Near the beginning of Solomon’s reign, the text records the responsibilities of the Levites. Among them is the following instruction:

“They are to stand every morning to thank and to praise the Lord, and likewise at evening, and to offer all burnt offerings to the Lord, on the sabbaths, the new moons and the fixed festivals in the number set by the ordinance concerning them, continually before the Lord” (1 Chronicles 23:30-31).

We remember the special festivals and observances that were commanded in the Law of Moses. These required the work of the Levites. But their work in serving God involved more than just the weekly Sabbaths and yearly observances. They were to thank and praise the Lord “every morning… and likewise at evening.”
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May 24, 2012

A Priest According to the Order of Melchizedek (5/24)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 108-110.

“The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’ The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of Your enemies.’ Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; in holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew.

“The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. He will judge among the nations…” (Psalm 100:1-6).

Looking forward to the New Testament, this priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” is clearly Christ (Hebrews 5:5-6; 6:20). There are several points to be made about Christ and His kingdom that we can notice from this psalm.
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May 23, 2012

"You Will Prosper, If…" (5/23)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 30.

Shortly before Solomon took over for his father as king over Israel, David charged him with the task of building “a house for the Lord God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 22:6). As he assigned him this work, David spoke of the conditional promise of success for his efforts.

“Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you. Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.

“Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed” (1 Chronicles 22:11-13).

The Lord chose Solomon over David for this work of building the temple (1 Chronicles 22:7-10). However, the promise of success and prosperity for Solomon would only come about if he met the divine conditions that were required for him to continue to receive God’s blessings.
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