Key Verse: 2 Samuel 14:14
For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.

In this chapter we read of King David’s General Joab, who schemes to create a plan to bring about a reconciliation between David and his son, Absalom. Joab, as a principle counsellor to David, brings a widow before the king to present a fake issue on which David is asked to waive the next of kin’s obligation to avenge his murdered relative. The application to David in Absalom’s murder of Amnon is obvious. Joab wins his point and Absalom returns from exile.
In her appeal, the widow pleads God’s mercy and clemency to guilty sinners. While the case she presented was false, the two instances of God’s mercy were true. Firstly, we see the patience God displays toward those who break His laws. Secondly, God has made provision for the restoration of sinners. We are told in 2 Peter 3:9 that God, “is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” We may want to read all of 2 Peter 3 and meditate on “judgment.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, Your Apostle Paul tells me that if I judge myself, I will not be judged. I can read that in 1 Corinthians 11:31. In that chapter the “Lord’s Supper” is presented. When I partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine, I seek to review my conduct and judge myself. You show me areas of my life where I need to repent. I pray for ongoing grace to live in that attitude of repentance. In Your strong Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I very much encourage every blog reader to come along side the Crossroads Family of Ministries. In my opinion, the flagship telecast, 100 Huntley Street, is the most effective television anywhere when it comes to confronting the culture, particularly now. Please respond with your best ministry gift, and if possible, monthly support (click HERE to donate). If you are already on board with Crossroads/100 Huntley Street/Context/etc., thank you so much! There’s a new teaching telecast hosted by Nizar Shaheen in English (he’s already blanketing the globe in Arabic). HERE is a little about this new program. Nizar’s gift of teaching is exercised humbly and compellingly. Our Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Lorna Dueck, is introducing to our viewers powerful new communications initiatives. Your prayers and support, with God’s love and power, makes it all possible.

Yours for learning to judge ourselves,

David

P.S. Check out Nizar’s ministry (click https://www.lfan.org/ ). Back in the 1990’s Nizar and Jim Cantelon teamed up and were on TV daily for four years as a part of the 100 Huntley Street telecast.