Wednesday, April 10, 2019

WHITER THAN SNOW

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 11-12

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Mount Hermon is the only ski resort in Israel and is located in the north. Even in Summer a snow cap can still be seen. King David prayed, “Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7b).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 2 Samuel 12:7a

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!…”

In today’s Bible reading we learn that it is impossible to hide from God. God told the prophet Nathan all about David’s sin. David had tried to cover it up. God will rip the covers off in His time and for His purpose. Perhaps because David had been so blessed by God, he thought he would be an exception and that God would let him get away with his sin. When we read together the Psalms, we’ll see that David has a special relationship with God. Is it possible that David thought God would let him get away with adultery and the deliberate act of ensuring Uriah’s death? Perhaps David no longer feared God as he once did. Psalm 111:10 tells us, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” Jesus is quoted in each of the first three Gospels saying, “There is nothing covered that will not be revealed” (Matthew 10:26). This should put “the fear of God” into us. David, when he was caught, repented. He wrote Psalm 51 at this time. Let’s take time to read it together. In 51:7b he states his confidence that God washes away his sin and makes him “whiter than snow.” While God forgives, the circumstances don’t always forgive, as we will see in tomorrow’s reading.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I join King David in his prayer of repentance: “Have mercy upon me” (Psalm 51:1). “Cleanse me from my sin” (51:2b). “Create in me a clean heart” (51:10a). I pray this through Jesus, Who bore my sin on the cross and Who washes me clean in the blood that He shed (1 John 1:7b – let’s read all of 1 John chapter one). Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I believe that “repentance” is a constant in my life. John the Baptist began his ministry with the word “repent” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus did the same (Matthew 4:17). Is this a top priority for a believer? That’s for sure! To me, “repentance” means a 180 degree turn!  At 179 degrees, I’m still moving away from God. Daily Bible reading and prayer keeps me focused like the surveyor I saw with a transit scope the other day. I must not look away from God’s will for my life. David did, and look what it cost him.

On one occasion, I had the joy of skiing at Whistler, British Columbia. The lifts were full and I found myself sharing a three-person chair with two young ladies from Quebec. The move to separate from Canada was big then. They told me they would vote for Quebec as an independent country. I said, in my best French, “Look around you. British Columbia is your country now. It won’t be if you separate. How could you possibly give up all this beauty?” They answered, “We’ll think about that.” Then I asked them to think about Someone else… God. I quoted Job 38:22 – “Have you considered the treasures of the snow?” (that’s my rough translation from French). That opened the conversation for the next few minutes to talk about the Lord! Good seed was planted in their hearts. I saw them from a distance twice more that day, and they waved and gave me their biggest smiles. Perhaps they we’re laughing at my accent, but I think not! Je pense non! Oui?

Yours for “whiter than snow,”

David

P.S. Over a three-year period some 50 years ago, I read the French Bible daily in my time of devotions. I suggest that this is a great way to learn a language, holding in one hand the English text, and the French in the other. Here’s a link to a French and English parallel version of today’s reading (click here).

 

12 thoughts on “Wednesday, April 10, 2019

  1. Indeed, we must not look away from God’s will for our life. Great lesson in scripture, prayer, message and links, today. I feel like a learned child, basking in the greatness of what the Lord has revealed, this morning. Our sin will always find us for our God sees and knows everything. Shame covers us when we blatantly sin and loss surely is ours. God even used King David to be an example to show us. But our Saviour died for our sake that we would be forgiven of our sins. We are not worthy and yet our God loves us that much to free us from our sin and redeem us. Thank You God. Oh, how we love You, so. Blessings upon blessings, today, fellow saints in the Lord!

    Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:17-18 NIV

    Sidewalk Prophets — “You Love Me Anyway” with Lyrics
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myP9Mvs1sOk

  2. Thank God for your son Chris’ protection Nan and trust you are feeling better Joy and praying for you. Hard reading today of David’s sin when he was doing so well and the Lord gave him victory in many battles. When we look at our circumstances we can also fail in our faith then we need to look again and thank God for all our blessings from His hand.
    “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
    Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
    Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.(Psalm 103:1-3)

  3. Amen, Beverlee. I always look forward to your comments.

    Thank you fellow bloggers for your encouraging words regarding my sons accident. You have no idea how much you touched my heart. I was talking with him this morning and he is sore but not as much as one would expect. My husband and I are going to his house this afternoon. It will be good to see him for myself.

    I’d like to say thank you to Ron and Anne for this blog. It is a must for me every day. I’m so glad David listened to God and devoted himself to writing it. What a wonderful legacy he left for us. That also includes Huntley Street.

    May God richly bless you all reading today.

    • Lord bless Nan and her family! Thank you for healing her son! Bless the family as they gather to celebrate with the son, keep everyone safe Lord; PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW amen amen amen

  4. Please pray for a young 16 yr. old, Brady. His parents are going through separation and divorce and it is causing this young lad depression and having physical problems as well as emotional problems. I just prayed with his dad.
    Gave him Jeramiah 29:11 to declare over his son and applied the blood of Jesus over. Brady for his deliverance and for his salvation.
    Thank you praying saints.

    • Lord watch over Bradly, his life is changing and he did not cause the change; however he has to deal with all the issues; speak to his parents so that they will find good counsel for Bradly and that he can still have a good relationship with his parents even though they are not together, yes Lord, divorce is hard on everyone; forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
      amen amen amen

  5. In my studies, I was blown away when discovered Jews don’t believe there is a Hell.
    The only person who could pay the debt of our sins would be someone who never committed sins of his own. And only one person in all of human history has lived a sinless life. Not Muhammad, or Confucius, or Buddha, or anyone else. Only Jesus (Hebrews 4:15).
    D. A. Carson: “It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross . . . it was his love for sinners like me.”
    “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” Jesus is quoted in each of the first three Gospels saying, “There is nothing covered that will not be revealed” (Matthew 10:26).
    It’s rather comforting to know that we can’t ‘get away with anything’ but that others can’t either:-).
    Great to see you’re back Beverlee and thanks so much for your postings. God bless you and all saints always. Enjoy this gift of life God has given us.

  6. G’day.Like David was,I am a biker.Repentance is a lot like riding a bike,it is a constant.You must always keep the front wheel pointed in the right direction and have the bike leaning at the right angle too.If you take your eyes off the road for a few seconds then you could end up off the road or meeting an oncoming vehicle.Repentance is like that in that you must be always aware of it and ”focused”
    on it.”Keep your eye on where you want to go and the bike will follow.”…(will follow that path.)
    Thanks for the music,Beverlee and,Nan,I am glad your son is OK.I missed the post about his accident.God is good…..

  7. Would like to thank every fellow saint who prayed for my healing
    from a head injury.
    I prayed the PRAYER FOR TODAY and trust our Lord and Saviour
    Jesus Christ for full recovery.
    Wishing each one a blessed Spring! God is good and His Mercy
    endures for ever! Amen.

    • Lord bless Joy! Heal her completely from head to toe! Keep her faith strong; always looking at You Lord for all her needs and You Lord love this child so much so that You had a plan for her salvation long before she was born! Thank you Lord; we Praise Your Name You are Lords of Lords; You are Lord God Almighty over all the earth; Thank you Lord,

  8. Lord You know Brady! his parents are divorcing; it is very hard on children to understand their parents; Lord forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us; bring a positive person into Brady;s life to help him deal with his family; I pray his parents will plan on having their son see them regardless of their divorce; Lord help this young man, he is very mixed up and hurting and wondering what is going on; he is just 16 and his heart is breaking; Lord keep him from doing anything stupid; Lord speak to the parents and let them know that their son is hurting TY Lord in Jesus Name I Pray amen

Leave a Reply to Nan Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.