Key Verse: 1 Kings 1:48
Also the king said thus, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, while my eyes see it!”

Thank God for a peaceful transition from King David’s rule to that of Solomon. No precedent had been established in Israel to determine succession to the throne. Saul, and then David, had been chosen by popular demand (although God did the real choosing). It was not public knowledge, but David had earlier chosen Solomon to succeed him. With the reminder from Bathsheba, and the support of Zadok and Nathan, David moved decisively to avoid civil war and another family tragedy. The godly counsel of the priest and the prophet were key to a smooth transition of power. Within our homes, our churches, and our countries, tragedy will strike when struggles about authority and leadership arise. Blessed and peaceful are the families, the congregations, and the nations that allow God to influence decisions and pray for God’s will to be done. Solomon learned from God, Nathan, Zadok, and his father David. We may want to read what Solomon wrote in Psalm 72:1-17. It’s no wonder that a long period of peace came to Israel and its neighbours.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord Jesus, have dominion over my life, my family, the church worldwide, as well as my local congregation. May Your influence be strong in the governing of our land and other lands. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and the other Arab states. I pray for Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, China and the Koreas. Please raise up people in those and in other states who call upon You, Lord God. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The tragedy of the slaughter of the innocents in abortion, with no protection whatsoever in Canadian law, came about in the 1970’s. However, I thought that all was not lost in regard to the protection of these little ones when our government changed the words of our national anthem to include “God Keep Our Land.” These words are belted out at every hockey game, baseball game, football game, etc. For many who sing them, it may only be lip service, but for me it’s a fervent prayer. The other thing that encouraged me was that God was recognized in our new constitution in the early 1980’s. I was so hopeful when the Minister of Health, the Hon. Jake Epp, presented a bill to Parliament in the mid 1980’s, which would have protected the lives of some precious ones still in the womb. This bill passed with the votes of the elected members of the House of Commons but failed by one vote in the Senate. These people, most of whom were appointed by a previous government, overturned the will of the people as expressed by the elected members of the House. God takes most seriously, I believe, the commitment of Canada’s founders, who made Psalm 72:8 the motto of our Land: “He shall have dominion from sea to sea.” That scripture is carved in stone at the entrance to our Houses of Parliament. Therefore, I haven’t given up hope that somehow our representatives will all come to their senses and do something to stop these little bodies from being poisoned or torn apart in their mothers’ wombs. While Jake Epp’s bill would not have stopped all abortions, it is apparent that at least 100,000 Canadians are with us today as a result of the threat of passing that bill, which stopped many hospitals from performing abortions for a brief time. May God have mercy on us!

Yours for decisions that will please God in every area of human life,

David