2 Samuel 15 - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Samuel 15.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2sa/15/1/s_282001

Meditate on verses 25b and 26.

If I find favor in the sight of the LORD, then He will bring me back again…

But if He should say thus, “I have no delight in you,”

behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.

The situation with Absalom grew worse.  Plotting to take the throne from his father, he put doubt in the people’s minds about David, claiming he would do a better job for them.  Absalom stole their hearts.  Panicking, David ran toward the wilderness, and as he ran, he came to the end of himself.  He turned around and climbed up the Mount of Olives where he wept a prayer that would be echoed on that mountain 1,000 years later (vs. 25-30; Luke 22:39-42).

“LORD, do to me as seems good to You.

My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;

 yet not as I will, but as You will.”

—2 Samuel 15:26; Matthew 26:39

Are you at the end of your rope?  Are people lying about you?  Turn to your Savior who knows and understands.  In brokenness and humility, pray 2 Samuel 15:25-26 and 31 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let _________ and me find favor in Your sight.

Bring us back to You.  Please delight in us, and do to us as seems good to You.

O LORD, I pray, make the counsel of __________ foolishness.”

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Samuel 14 - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Samuel 14.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2sa/14/1/s_281001

Meditate on verse 14b.

Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways

so that the banished one will not be cast out from Him.

David’s family problems continued. Absalom lived banished from his father for three years (2 Samuel 13:38). Joab, perceiving David wanted to be reconciled with his son, conceived a plan for reuniting them. David brought Absalom home, but refused to see him face-to-face. The estrangement continued for another two years. David longed for Absalom, but he did not take the courageous and humble steps necessary to bring reconciliation.

People are banished from God’s presence because of sin, yet God longs for His people. In order to bring reconciliation, God acted with great courage and humility. He humbled Himself to earth as a human baby for the purpose of dying on a cross to remove people’s estranging sins (Philippians 2:8). Jesus’ sacrificial death ends the banishment, bringing face-to-face forever reconciliation with Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

Have you accepted His incredible gift of reconciliation? Do you have family members who need you to act with courage and humility to bring reconciliation to relationships? Let this be the best Christmas ever as you walk face-to-face with Christ, extending His life to others.

Pray 2 Samuel 14:14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, without You, _______ and I would surely die

and be like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again.

  Yet You do not desire to take away life. 

Thank You for planning the Way that we, the banished ones,

 will not be cast out from You.

Because of You, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Samuel 13 - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Samuel 13.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2sa/13/1/s_280001

Meditate on verse 21.

Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry.

When David heard about Amnon raping Tamar he was angry, but he did nothing about the heinous violation. For two years, Tamar lived in disgrace; Amnon went unpunished; Absalom seethed at the injustice, and David still did nothing. Finally, Absalom took matters into his own hands and had Amnon killed.

After Amnon died, Absalom fled and stayed in Geshur for three years (v. 38). Five years passed after the rape of Tamar. Scripture records David as angry about the assault on his daughter, grieved by the report that his sons were dead, comforted concerning Amnon’s punishment by death, and longing for Absalom. What Scripture did not record was David doing or saying anything that a father should have.

As Christmas get-togethers are happening, what can you learn from David’s life to make you a better family member? Speak God’s wisdom into your family. If your family is sinning, stop it. Seek God’s blessings instead of incurring His wrath. If you are offended, give the offense to Jesus and seek reconciliation. With the power and wisdom of Christ, do what you can to stop Satan from getting a foothold in your family. And fathers, engage in your children’s lives; speak up, and stop hoping the problems will disappear. God expects you to lead your family into Christlikeness.

Pray 2 Samuel 13:39 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, my heart longs to go out to _________.

Give me the courage to do it.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Samuel 12 - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Samuel 12.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2sa/12/1/s_279001

Meditate on verse 9a.

Why have you despised the Word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight?

The LORD sent Nathan, the prophet, to confront David about his sins. David was quick to confess, and the LORD was quick to forgive. God even removed some of the consequences; David was allowed to live (v. 13). However, some of the consequences remained; David and Bathsheba’s first baby died (v. 14).

Remember these facts about sin and forgiveness from 2 Samuel 12:

·      Doing evil despises the Word of God (v. 9).

·      Sin has consequences (v. 10).

·      Adultery is despising God (v. 10).

·      Confession of sin results in God removing your sin (v. 13).

·      Some consequences may remain even after confession (v. 14).

·      God gives amazing grace and forgiveness when you return to Him (vs. 24-25).

·      After God forgives and restores you, get back in the battle and obey Him (vs. 27-31).

Use the words from 2 Samuel 12:9-10 and 12-13 to pray over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, do not let ________ and me despise Your Word

 by doing evil in Your sight. Keep the sword out of our house.

 Do not let us despise You by committing adultery or any other evil.

  Keep us from secret sins.  LORD, take away our sins

when we sin against You, and do not let us die.

Because of You, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Samuel 11 - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Samuel 11.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2sa/11/1/s_278001

Meditate on verses 11a, c and 27b.

Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle,

that David stayed at Jerusalem.

But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.

Keep in mind that David is merely a foreshadowing picture of Messiah; he is NOT Jesus.  In fact, parts of his life are the reason Jesus came to the earth; to die for his sins...and your sins…and my sins…

Learn well from 2 Samuel 11, and let the LORD use His Truths to keep you from sinning.  Observe the path of sin David took:

·      David stayed home instead of fighting with his men (v. 1).   Where does God want you?  Stay in the trenches of God’s will, prayerfully fighting spiritual battles.

·      David was bored at home, so he went looking for something to interest him (v. 2).  Are you busy doing the LORD’s work?  It will keep you from doing and looking at things you shouldn’t.

·      David asked about the bathing woman (v. 3).  Do not even inquire about the forbidden.  Entertaining sinful ideas opens the door to disaster.

·      David sent for Bathsheba, took her, and slept with her (v. 4).  Stop yourself before it is too late.  Ask the LORD not to let sin be accomplished in your life.

·      David’s sin resulted in the murder of Uriah, one of his mighty men (v. 21; 2 Samuel 23:39).  Sin always ends in death.  Do not let it deceive you!

Pray 2 Samuel 11:27b to begin a prayer of confession to God.

“LORD, the thing that have I have done is evil in Your sight.

Forgive me by Your sacrifice, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Samuel 10 - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Samuel 10.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2sa/10/1/s_277001

Meditate on verse 12.

Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people

and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.

David’s kind intentions to send condolences were misunderstood and assigned as false motives by Hanun, the Ammonite king. Messengers sent on behalf of King David were horribly humiliated by Hanun, resulting in war between David’s armies and the combined forces of the Ammonites and Arameans. Under the command of Joab and Abishai, the Israelites were victorious.

Have your intentions, words, and actions ever been misunderstood? Christians are often lied about and humiliated by those who do not know God and His Word. Be encouraged by the story of David and Hanun. “The LORD is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). King Jesus and His armies will be victorious (Revelation 19:11-21).

Pray 2 Samuel 10:12 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help _______ and me be strong, and let us show ourselves

courageous for the sake of  Your people and for You, God.

  LORD, do what is good in Your sight.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Samuel 9 - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Samuel 9.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2sa/9/1/s_276001

Meditate on verses 8 and 11b.

Again he prostrated himself and said,

 “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?” 

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.

The covenant promises David made to Jonathan extended to his family (1 Samuel 20:15). So after Jonathan and his father, Saul, and brother, Ish- bosheth died, David longed to show lovingkindness to a descendant of Jonathan. Mephibosheth was the blessed recipient of that kindness, and even though David’s soul hated the lame and the blind (2 Samuel 5:8), this crippled man ate at the king’s table regularly because of covenant promises.

The remarkable story of King David and Mephibosheth is the picture of your covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. God hates sin and cannot be in its presence. You were blind and lame in sin and could not come close to God. Jesus became your crippling sin and died because of it (2 Corinthians 5:21). Now you come to God the Father through Jesus the Son; He extends His lovingkindness to you, and you get to eat with the LORD regularly as one of the King’s children (John 14:6; Revelation 3:20). Amazing!

Pray 2 Samuel 9:8, 11, and 13 in thanksgiving and commitment to your King Jesus.

“My LORD, I prostrate myself before You. 

What is Your servant, that You should regard a dead dog like me? 

Thank You that I get to eat at Your table as a King’s child!

Thank You that I live with You and get to eat at Your table regularly.

Because of You, King Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell