Category: Through the Bible Devotions

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Comfortable in a tent

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Birk Enwald on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 7.

Whenever we’ve gone camping, we’ve taken time to walk through the grounds to see the variety of trailers and coaches set up for the night or for a long stay. We were always the smallest kid on the team, setting up camp in a tent, pop-up camper, or small trailer next to the behemoth rigs. With five slide outs, some of those forty-plus-foot vehicles had almost as much living space as the first house we bought.

Dwarfed by huge coaches at an RV park, I struck up a conversation with one owner who was grilling supper. He told me they had to stay put for a while because he really couldn’t afford the fuel to drive anywhere. That didn’t sound like much fun to me.

One day King David decides that God needs something better than a tent. If he’s living in a nice cedar-walled house, God should have a nice place, too (2 Samuel 7:2).

That’s not God’s style. The Lord says, “Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling” (2 Samuel 7:5,6).

God’s never had a house. His place was a tabernacle, set up wherever his people happened to be. The almighty creator of the universe was comfortable in a tent.

One day a descendant of David would build a house for the Lord. But for now, God has a better idea. “I will build you a house'” (2 Samuel 7:27). Someone from the house and lineage of David will always be on the throne of Israel, a promise that finds ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do something for the Lord. The magi bring gifts. A woman anoints him with expensive perfume. Tearful friends wrap his body in line and lay him in a tomb. His followers offer themselves up as living sacrifices.

I just need to remember that God’s greatest desire is to do something for me. He wants to give me abundant, eternal life.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Don’t touch that!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 6.

There are many things you do not want to touch. The following is not a complete list, just a few things that come to mind.

  • Wet paint
  • Cactus
  • Porcupine
  • Hot stovetop burner
  • Fire
  • Jellyfish
  • Poison Ivy
  • Superglue
  • The ark of the covenant

The ark of the covenant? Yes, God’s law is clear. Only Levites can touch the holy things of God, especially the ark. Mishandle it, and you die. Period (Numbers 4:15).

This isn’t like your big brother threatening, “If you touch my stuff, I’ll kill you!” It’s about a holy God and impure, sinful people. Putting them together is like dropping a match into a bucket of gasoline. Just like camping at the base of Mt. Sinai, you better keep your distance.

Anyway, in 2 Samuel 6, David wants to bring the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. Twenty years ago, the Philistines captured the ark. When they suffered all kinds of health problems, they quickly got rid of it. They put it on a cart, hitched up a couple of cows, and sent it down the road to Israel. It was stored at the house of a man named Abinadab.

David had secured the throne of a united Judah and Israel. It’s time to bring the ark home. Unfortunately, they got sloppy. When the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, Uzzah kept the ark from falling with his hand and died on the spot. David is angry, and “David was afraid of the Lord that day,” too (2 Samuel 6:9). Rather than bringing the ark into the city, they store it in another person’s home.

When do we take God’s holiness for granted? Most of the time. We forget that Jesus had to die a terrible death on the cross to atone for our sins and make a relationship with God possible. We get sloppy. Rather than following his clear instructions, we figure he’ll let us slide. Rather than being grateful, we’ll get impatient and demanding. We’ll even get angry with God. What does it take before you fear the Lord?

Three months later, David tries again. This time he takes his time and does it right. He saturates the journey to Jerusalem with reverence, worship, sacrifice, praise, and joy (6:13-15).

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Who abandoned who?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by cottonbro studio on pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 28.

In the middle of a phone conversation, I realize I’m talking to myself. Either my phone has dropped the connection. I take connectivity for granted until I drive through a dead zone with little or no cell service.

King Saul experienced the same thing. When the enemy gathers for attack, Saul is shaking in his boots. It gets worse. “Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him” (1 Samuel 28:6). The prophet Samuel has died, so Saul tries everything he can think of, from prophets to dreams. Nothing. Crickets.

Saul turns to the occult. He finds a medium. When she conjures up the spirit of Samuel, the prophet wants to know, “Why are you bothering me?”

Saul replies, “God has abandoned me and no longer answers me” (18:15).

What did you expect, Saul? Samuel reminds him, “The Lord has done just as He spoke through me” (28:17). Remember, Saul? “You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel” (15:26).

You never listened to God before. And you’re not going to hear from him now, either. You got exactly what you wanted.

What hinders our prayers? Here’s a few things:

Insincere worship. “Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high” (Isaiah 58:4).

Unconfessed sin. “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18).

Wrong motives. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3).

Ignoring God’s word. If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).

Saul’s experience reminds me that if I feel like God has abandoned me, I need to consider how I’ve abandoned him.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Delivered from evil

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Marina Abrosimova on pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 25.

I figure I’ve prayed, “Deliver us from evil” over 20,000 times in my lifetime. And I know God answers that prayer by protecting me from harm, getting me through difficult times, and eventually getting me out of here to be with him in eternity. David’s experience in 1 Samuel 25 reminds me that God sometimes accomplishes this through other people.

David is upset with Nabal, who won’t cough up some food and drink for David’s men who have provided protection during a sheep shearing season. David is so upset that he intends to slaughter the whole bunch of them!

Nabal’s wife, Abigail, gets wind of this, gets a huge gift basket together for David, and begs for forgiveness. Her intercession defuses the situation.

“David said to Abigail, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand'” (1 Samuel 25:32,33).

Thank God for family and friends who pull me aside before I do or say something I’ll regret. My reaction will probably make things worse. Do I really want to add to the evil in this world? In that moment, yes! But not really. It’s good to have a few folks around to calm me down.

David was right to relent. Nabal gets drunk, has a heart attack (?), and dies. God takes care of the whole situation, as he typically does.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Where does God fit into the equation?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 24-26.

At some pastor’s conference somewhere, we were talking about people and situations in our congregations. In response to one story, an experienced pastor said, “That’s something a well-timed funeral would cure.” We all chucked, but we also all nodded in agreement. (And now you’re all wondering, “Is my pastor eagerly awaiting my demise?”)

David has two chances to deal with King Saul once and for all. The first time David is hiding in the cave where Saul retreats to relieve himself. It was the perfect moment. But David wouldn’t touch him. Not the Lord’s anointed king (1 Samuel 24:10). He simply cuts off a piece of Saul’s clothing as proof that he could have ended Saul’s life in that moment.

Not long after that, David finds Saul and his entire army fast asleep. He gets close enough to take Saul’s spear and jar of water. He could have taken the king’s life. But once again David wouldn’t touch the Lord’s anointed (1 Samuel 26:9).

Why didn’t David take matters into his own hands? He knew God had made Saul king. At the right time God would deal with him.

God had anointed David king, too. God would take care of him.

It’s always tempting to take matters into our own hands. But before you do, ask, “Where does God fit into this equation?”

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Rejoicing with others

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jonathan Sebastiao on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 18.

How do you feel when your social media feed is filled with pictures of fit, attractive couples who live in professionally decorated homes taking cruises to beautiful, exotic locations with an au pair who tutors their overachieving, well-behaved children? Rather than being happy for them you’re probably jealous, and wonder why you were dealt such a bad hand in life.

As David succeeds and increases in popularity, King Saul gets more and more upset. You would think he’d be glad to have someone like David on his staff. Instead, he feels like he’s losing his grip on the kingdom.

In frustration, Saul throws a spear at David, hoping to pin him to the wall. David evades that attack. Saul sends him into battle. David comes home victorious. Every time.

“Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually” (1 Samuel 18:29).

Saul tries to have David assassinated. Instead his servants warn David and he escapes. He sends more men to find and kill David, but David escapes out a window.

Saul becomes consumed with finding and getting rid of David.

Scripture tells us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). In God’s kingdom, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). But those responses don’t come naturally. It’s a Spirit thing.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Spiritual Training: Preparing for Life’s Challenges

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 17.

When David volunteers to fight one-on-one with the giant Philistine Goliath, King Saul says, “That’s not a good idea. You’re just a young man. He’s been fighting his whole life.”

David replies, “What do you mean? I’ve fought off lions and bears while tending my father’s flock. I can handle him.”

“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37).

David’s been training his whole life for this moment, too. Grabbing, hitting, and killing lions and bears is good physical training. Watch sheep graze sounds mostly dull, giving a shepherd plenty of time to practice with a sling.

It’s good spiritual training, too. Fighting off lions and bears sounds terrifying. When it’s over, David knows God had a hand in his victory. Since one of God’s character traits is faithfulness, David was confident of a victory over Goliath.

Which of today’s experiences is preparing me for future tasks? Who knows. God is still faithful, so I know he’s getting me ready for something. Just as he always has.

Learning how to play guitar on the front porch of the fraternity house turned out to be a great asset when leading preschool students in worship. DJ-ing for the college radio station equipped me to work a sound mixing board in the church sanctuary. Volunteering in a hospital while I was in high school prepared me for visiting parishioners in the hospital.

I never know when I’m going to encounter a giant. But I do know that with God’s help, I’ll be ready. How about you?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

How David’s Music Brought Relief to Saul

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Gabriel Gurrola on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 16.

Music is powerful. The rhythm makes you tap your foot. Certain songs make you well up with tears. Others you can’t help but sing along with. Some tunes like the national anthem or wedding processional bring everyone to their feet.

My sister studied music therapy in college. We used to kid her that if someone wasn’t feeling well she would know exactly what piano tune would make them feel better. (I know, I know, it’s a teaching tool.)

But it works that way for King Saul.

“Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him” (1 Samuel 16:23).

David’s melodies changed the mood of the room. The lyrics brought God’s power and promises to mind. Worship replaced worry.

I could use some of that. Daily. I’m grateful for Christian music radio.


Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

The Spirit of the Lord and Saul’s Troubled Heart

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Nathan Cowley on pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Samuel 16.  

“Why are you in such a bad mood?”

Hey, it happens to all of us, right? We’re grumpy, sullen, grouchy, agitated, irritated, anxious, or depressed. Or all of the above.

It happens to people in the bible, too. “Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him” (1 Samuel 16:14).

I’ve always struggle to understand what’s going on here. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of the Lord seems to come and go. And an “evil” (or harmful) spirit from the Lord doesn’t sound right at all.

Maybe it’s the writer’s way of describing someone who responds to the promises and the presence of God – or not. King Saul hasn’t exactly been on the same page as the Lord lately, so rather than living with assurance, he’s got nothing but fear, jealousy, and depression.

It’s kind of like your reaction to the return of Jesus. You might dread it or you might be excited about it. It just depends on your faith or your lack of it.