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2 Samuel 6:1-23; Nahum 1:1-15; Romans 13:1-14

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Psalm 106:13, 15

John Perowne says of this Psalm, “They were not content to exercise a patient dependence upon God, leaving it to Him to fulfill His own purposes in His own way but would rather rule Him than submit themselves to His rule”. He gave them their request but He sent leanness to their soul. Often the hardest part of living for the Lord is when we need to wait on Him. Beware of dire consequences when we do not wait on the Lord’s timing to answer our prayers. A premature answer is not God’s best for us. We must learn to wait. —K.J.W.

My soul, be silent, wait upon the Lord!
Till God may freely, fully flow thru thee. —W. Lee

2 Samuel 4:1-5:25; Micah 7:1-20; Romans 12:1-21

I thank God, whom I serve. 2 Timothy 1:3 NKJV

To serve God, Paul suffered whippings, beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, perilous journeys, weariness, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold, nakedness, frequent imprisonments, and threats of death (2 Cor. 11:24-27). He had faced persecution, but Roman laws had protected him (Acts 16:38-39; 21:39-40; 22:25-29). Now being a Christian was a crime and some preached Christ insincerely “to add affliction to my chains” (Phil. 1:16). Now, again imprisoned in
Rome, “all those in Asia have turned away from me” (2 Tim. 1:15). Soon his life would be “poured out as a drink offering” (2 Tim. 4:6).

Nonetheless, he was thankful to be serving his God. Thankfulness
depends on what you value most. —David W. Oliver

Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision, Looking at the Crucified. —M. James

2 Samuel 3:1-39; Micah 6:1-16; Romans 11:13-36

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us. Daniel 3:17

My favourite Bible story is about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I love how these men refused to follow the crowd. They stood alone when all the rest bowed down. King Nebuchadnezzar was furious because his supremacy was challenged, so he ordered that they be cast into a furnace. But that fire had no power over the servants of God.
When the king looked inside, he saw four men! He said to his officials, “The fourth is like the Son of God” (v. 25). He then acknowledged the supremacy of their God. The pressure on Christians to conform to the world around us is continual. There is much we can learn from these three faithful believers. —Pam Hagey

Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard.
Not I, but Christ in every thought and word.
—Albert B. Simpson & Ada A. Whiddington

2 Samuel 2:1-32; Micah 4:9-5:15; Romans 11:1-12

And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. Lamentations 3:17
He shutteth out my prayer. Lamentations 3:8
Great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23

Have you ever felt like this? Godly Jeremiah did, and I must admit I have also and I am no Jeremiah. This is when we must remind ourselves that “the Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5). Do not rely on feelings. Remember the Lord will bring you through. “Great is thy faithfulness” (Lam. 3:23). —Brian Russell

Then feels my deepest smart,
The soul-reviving power,
And gently rests my troubled heart,
Beneath the crimson shower. —Gerhard Tersteegen

2 Samuel 1:1-27; Micah 3:1-4:8; Romans 9:30-10:21

And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Psalm 39:7

As we look at our broken world, plagued by injustice, hatred and war, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed and helpless. But the psalmist reminds us that our hope is not in this world, but in the Lord. We don’t trust man’s ability to solve issues and restore peace—we don’t even trust ourselves. Only in God, can we find true hope and restoration. Has life become wearisome, full of anxiety and cares? Look to the Lord. There is no one else who can see us through today, tomorrow, and into eternity. Lord, my hope is in you! —Deborah Manera

Nothing else is needed to quiet all your fears,
but just this, that God Is. –Hannah Whitall Smith

1 Samuel 30:1-31:13; Micah 1:1-2:13; Romans 9:1-29

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:5

The Lord Jesus was eternally in “the form of God”, and in the incarnation took on “the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:6-7). By contrast, many in these last days have the form of godliness, but it is merely a façade. God desires truth in the inward parts, rather than hypocrisy. Christ was fully God and fully became a servant on earth— there was no pretense about his “form”. We must imitate Him by growing in His grace and having the same attitude of dependent
humility. May we be what we seem to be. —Keith R. Keyser

Oh, may that mind be form’d in us,
Which shone so bright in Thee;
May we be humble, lowly, meek,
From pride and envy free. —Thomas Cotterill

1 Samuel 28:1-29:11; Isaiah 66:1-24; Romans 8:18-39

For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. Hebrews 3:3

Guests invited to a banquet to honour a particular individual are excited to be there. And while they enjoy meeting and talking with other attendees, their primary focus is seeing the guest of honour. Likewise, each Lord’s Day we delight to fellowship together, but our greatest joy is remembering and thanking the One we gather around, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the pre-eminent One, the focus of all our worship and praise. —George Ferrier

O happy home, where Thou art loved the dearest,
Thou loving Friend, and Saviour of our race,
And where among the guests, there never cometh,
One who can hold such high and honoured place! —K. Spitta

1 Samuel 26:1-27:12; Isaiah 65:1-25; Romans 8:1-17

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day  approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV

We, who are in the body of Christ, are to encourage one another unto love and service to our Lord. To do this we need to spend time together in fellowship and truly become part of each other’s lives. As our Lord’s coming draws near, we need to get together even more often. His coming is drawing near. The time to start is now! —Rex Trogdon

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms. —Elisha Hoffman

1 Samuel 25:1-44; Isaiah 63:15-64:12; Romans 7:7-25

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee. Proverbs 20:22

Samuel told Saul to go down to Gilgal and tarry seven days “‘til I come to thee”. When Samuel had not come after the seven days Saul presumed to function as a priest by offering the burnt offering. At the very end of the seventh day, upon Samuel’s arrival, he challenged Saul’s disobedience: “Thou hast done foolishly”. The end result was disastrous. What a lesson for us. May we take seriously the Scripture’s injunction, “You have need of patience” (Heb. 10:36).
—Wm. H. Gustafson

Wait on the Lord, children, wait on the Lord.
You can trust your Father; He is with you still.
He will work His purpose, and you know He will. —K. Bible

1 Samuel 23:1-24:22; Isaiah 62:1-63:14; Romans 6:15-7:6

He that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18

The late King George V of England once wrote in the flyleaf of a friend’s Bible the following words, “The secret of happiness is not to do what you like to do, but to learn to like what you have to do”. God has called us to do our particular work and we must not look enviously at others and wish we had their gifts and calling. If we find things hard and difficult, we need to call upon the Lord to help us to enjoy and be fulfilled in the work He has given us,
remembering that the One who calls us also equips us. Let us serve Him with a cheerful and enthusiastic spirit. —Paul Young

Happy, still in God confiding,
Fruitful if in Christ abiding,
Holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,
All must be well. —Mary Bowley Peters