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2 Samuel |
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| Chapter 1 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 13 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 2 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 14 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 3 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 15 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 4 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 16 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 5 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 17 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 6 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 18 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 7 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 19 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 8 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 20 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 9 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 21 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 10 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 22 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 11 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 23 | Prayer | Devotional | |
| Chapter 12 | Prayer | Devotional | Chapter 24 | Prayer | Devotional |
O Father of the Redeemed, we mourn for the loss of men like Saul and his son Jonathan. Foolish men are only able to see the sin of others. They presume to ease the pain by hastening the death of a fallen leader. Some would kill a great man because of his unwise deeds. So many would be devoid of respect for the great and without mercy for the wounded. How the mighty have fallen! What was Saul? Was he a strong man or a weak man? He was lovely in life and in death, together with his good son, Jonathan. We mourn over the loss of such great leaders, though they are weak and sinful men. Demons shall no longer harass and oppress them, for even they may still be covered by the blood of the Lamb. Thus there is yet hope even for us.
Lord God, the Day of Your Son swiftly approaches. He has been anointed as King of the Church through His resurrection. He will one day be acknowledged as King of heaven and earth. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of Your holy name. But we do not see every knee bowing before Him this day. We see Jesus as the Husband of the Church. We also see many false Christs and many false teachers. The day of their destruction swiftly approaches. Brutal men do vicious things in a world of the devouring sword. May the Man of Peace cause the trumpet to blow, so that the great Son of David may soon be acknowledged as the only King of kings.
Father God, You have raised up the descendants of David in great number, but there is One alone who is the eternal King. We thank You for this incomparable ruler of Your church, the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. We mourn the fact that there are many imposters who would desire to take His place. Father, we pray that You would bless us in our close association with the true King, Jesus. We are His bride, for He has purchased us with His blood. Use Your church, that we might gather all Your people to this one Savior. Bring into the fold of Your church all who will humbly submit to His reign. Forgive us for our disrespect and intrigue against Your Son and against the pastors and elders that would truly serve Him in accord with His Word. Why would we rail against You? Our rebellion is neither wise nor safe. Grant to us a greater wisdom as we serve among Your people. Make us gentle in this world full of sin and folly. Thank You for the blood of the eternal sacrifice, which is our sure hope.
Eternal Lord, the day will come when Your adversaries will be put away forever, and all challenges to the reign of Your Son will be gone. Thank you for the mercy of Christ to us in our weakness and need. Evil men would accomplish their plans with violence and lawlessness. Some even think that You will be pleased with their hateful ways. Yet you will bring all such pretended servants to the destruction that is ordained for them. You are merciful. We live by Your grace and power.
Sovereign Lord, we long for the day when we will see Your Son face to face. Our great Messiah will reign forever and ever. We celebrate His victory in securing the heavenly Jerusalem for us. He has entered the holy city above with the purifying sacrifice of His own blood. You have ordained a time of holy warfare for Your church as we serve Him here below, until the final day of heavenly peace fully comes. We do not fight with the weapons of this world, but we seek to win the hearts and minds of men with the truth of the gospel. Make us faithful in this battle that we might rest in the perfect peace of Jerusalem through the merit and mediation of Our Redeemer.
God of Glory, there are so many disappointments that we face in this age of difficulty, yet You also bring moments of glory to us at just the right time. Help those who are facing severe trials. Many are ready to give up. Teach us the importance of Your Word. We know that obedience to You is not simply a matter of good intentions. Have mercy on us, for we are very weak. We rejoice before You with all our might. Though we may be despised by others because of our devotion to You, we pray that our hearts will not be unduly moved by the insults of those who do not love You. Make us pure in heart, mind, and body. We have been chosen by You that we might rejoice before You always.
Faithful Lord, grant us rest from all the enemies that surround us. Father we would serve You with full devotion. Our plans are not always Your plans. Lead us in the right paths of fruitful service. Build up Your house and glorify Your Name. Bring glory to Your Son Jesus. You have made a house for David, and have established the Kingdom of His Son. Your steadfast love will never depart from Him. His throne is established forever. Who are we that You would grant to us a place in Your house? What can we say to You? You are great, O Lord, God. There is none like You, and it is the greatest privilege to be included in Your kingdom. You have confirmed Your Word of blessing through the death and resurrection of Your Son. Your promises are true. The house of Your servant Jesus shall know the security of Your love forever.
Lord God, will we sink into despair because of the challenges of the past and our fears about the future? There is work to be done today, yet we are not sufficiently engaged in doing the things that You have called us to do. Help us to take up the shield of faith and all of the armor for the spiritual battle that You have ordained. We cannot mourn forever because of the miseries that we face. Your church must rejoice in You. This is a day of victory, for Your Son reigns. Men who are strong in Your Spirit have been placed by You in important positions of trust in Your church. Shall we ignore our duties forever? Strengthen us in Your service.
God of All Covenant Faithfulness, show us Your kindness today because of our relation to Your Son, Jesus Christ. We are obviously weak. Look upon our weary limbs, and search our broken spirits. We confess our sins before You. Thank You for Your abundant forgiveness, O God. You have lifted us up and promised us food from Your table. Remember our desperate need. Even if we will be given food by men, no one can provide good nourishment for our souls today but You. Feed us with Your truth, for we long to walk again in the glory of Your Name.
Glorious Lord, though we would act with sincerity and care for the world, we cannot be certain that we will be treated kindly and respectfully by others. Remind us again of the gospel, particularly at times of special disappointment and danger. Protect us from the hatred and violence of men. We would be men of peace. Assist us in the proclamation of the truth to every creature under heaven. Grant us courage in this task. Our forthright word of faith and repentance may cause some to attack, yet we must be true to You, whatever the danger before us may be.
God of Mercy, how can we have hope when we have fallen into such grievous sin? Lord, we could be quickly and wrongly captivated by some person, and led by our own evil hearts into a web of deceit and destruction. Sin leads to sin in our lives. Adulterous thoughts can beget murderous actions. Help us, Lord. Our sin would lead to trouble for many. We bring forth the poisonous fruit of death for others to eat, others who may have nothing to do with our evil desires and schemes. Surely there would be no hope for us if Your valiant Son had not come to do battle for us. He did not come with lies or with a depraved heart. He fulfilled Your commandments from the depths of His being. His ways were always deeply pleasing to you. He has faced death, and has won for us eternal life. Have mercy on us for His sake.
Father God, You have sent to us servants of Your Word to speak the truth boldly. Our sin has been exposed. You have given us so many gifts, and You would have given more if we had only asked. Yet we have despised You, Your Word, and Your provision, for we have taken what was not ours. The consequences of our rebellion against You are serious. We rejoice in the fact that You have put away our guilt through the provision of a perfect substitute. Nonetheless, You discipline those You love. We face the seriousness of great loss, and we mourn. In our grief, You speak sweetly to us of a better day to come, and we believe. Though our loved ones may rest in the grave and they will not return to us, yet we are assured that we will go to them one day, together with all who are in Jesus. You are able to help us with comfort and assistance, even granting life in the face of tremendous loss. You send us forth again in useful service, that our lives might be well spent for the glory of Your Name. Thank you for Your faithful love, and for the forgiveness of sins.
Sovereign Lord, our affections have become perverse in sin. We live in a world that has long been full of strange evil. We would pursue unholy desires and would uncover great troubles for ourselves and many others. Have we lost all sense? Will we do outrageous things that are obviously foolish and shameful?Will we use our strength for violent assaults, rather than to protect the weak and vulnerable? Will we use the power at our disposal to abuse others? In this world of sin, how can we escape the ugliness of wickedness? Father, we need Your powerful help to keep us from disaster. Keep our hearts strong in Your Son, in Your Word, and in Your Spirit. Help us to believe Your promises. May our affections rise up to You in the time of temptation, so that we will not be mired in the depravity of this world and of ugliness of our own sinful flesh.
Lord Almighty, we mourn the depravity of our sons and daughters, and ask for Your help. We ask that the end result of Your grace in both our lives and theirs will be consistent with a great eternal heritage. We stand in the greatest need of Your help in our lives. Please assure us again that our children will live to serve You forever. We love our young ones, but we need more wisdom that we might raise them up with integrity. There are so many temptations and troubles ahead of them. Will they have the spiritual strength to resist the devil and the schemes of proud and vicious men? Give us the courage to do what is right according to Your Word, despite the pleas of those who would insist on foolish plans. May we have the discernment to distinguish between the good and the bad, and the courage of our convictions to follow Your Son in the pathway of true integrity. We would love peace, but we will not have any rest through evil pursuits. Will we murder and destroy the property of others and claim to be in the right? Will we follow evil, and still be followers of Your Son? Grant us wisdom.
Omnipotent God, we seek Your help today, for conspiracy against Your church seems to be everywhere. False rulers captivate the gullible. They steal the hearts of Your people. They plot with evil schemes. We play our parts with no sense of the danger that is ahead of us. Whole churches are attacked from deceitful enemies, and the work of many years is destroyed in a matter of days. These are times of trouble in Your kingdom. Faithful leaders are made to look like weak men who cannot be safely loved. Ruthless men amass great power for themselves and foolish men and women consider the wicked to be the hope of the future. Has Your church lost all sense? Is Christ not among us? How can we listen to lies? People deny the most foundational truths of our faith, and show disrespect for men of holiness and proven sincerity. In such an evil day, grant to us clear thinking. When we hear the plans of deceivers, make us wise in both our speech and our silence. Let us love the truth with a faithful heart, and serve Your Son in the day of a great apostasy all around us.
Our Father, even those who come with gifts in their hands are not always speaking the full truth. We do not know what is in the hearts of men as Your Son did. How can we be safe in the face of the curses of the wicked and the lies of supposed friends? Help us to trust You, for You are working Your sovereign will and accomplishing Your deep and holy purposes despite the troubles that surround us. Though men throw stones, fling dust in our faces, and speak insulting lies against us, You are God. You are able to defend Your Name and to protect Your sons and daughters. Our hope is in Your Word.
Father God, it is so discouraging to Your people when trouble comes against us from within Your church. We are persuaded that in all things You are working for our good. Grant us courage to continue in Your ways, despite any disappointments. Give us godly counsel. We need You. Look on us in our weakness. Forgive our sins. Give us hope in the day when an Absalom seems to threaten the Kingdom. We thank You for Your glorious Son. He is pure in heart and action, and is safely followed in every holy pathway. Protect us from wicked men and demonic enemies who come to steal, kill, and destroy. Curb our foolish pride and entangling sin, that we might not despair of life in the day of testing.
Glorious Lord, Your forces of Kingdom love move forward under the banner of Jesus Christ. Your Son, our Commander, is safe in the heavens. He is beyond the reach of evil foes. He is watching and ruling over all. Attacks upon us are considered to be a strike against Your Son, and though we seem to fall, no one can stop our King. He has a heart for those He knows to be sons of God by adoption. Help us to consider the end of the way of wickedness carefully and to turn from all evil. Father, what a sad day it is when a child is dead. There is no joy, even though the son be an Absalom who aimed to destroy the king and to seize the kingdom. Your heart for the most troubled of Your children longs to see each young one live. You are powerful to save. Answer the longing hearts of mothers and fathers who cry out to You for their sons and daughters. Bring them good news of hope in the darkest night.
Father God, we mourn over the sin and misery that we face in this world. Help us to understand the limits of our grieving, for we do not want to add sin to sin. Grant to us a clear understanding of how we can move forward in Your service when it would appear that our former life is gone because of some challenging loss. Remind us of our identity in our Savior and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Show us that Your Son is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In Him we have stability. There is no loss so great that it could take us away from Your great love. May we live in a day of life and joy in Christ. Make us agents of abundant mercy through Him. Restore those who have fallen. Grant to us repentance. Give us the right words to speak in Your presence, that we might remember the security and blessing that we have in Your promises. As we grow in age, help us to look for our hope in a city yet to come. Bring the young along in the tasks that You have for them in Your kingdom, and grant rest to Your servants who have served You for many years. You know how to build Your kingdom, how to use those who are vigorous and young, and how to give rest and joy to those who are weary.
Lord Almighty, as we seek the growth and holiness of Your kingdom, worthless men would work for disruption and trouble in Your house. Protect us from evil and self-seeking enemies. Give us holiness and love that are in Christ. Keep us from the deeds of men of intrigue who would kill and destroy in order to get revenge or eliminate dissent. Should such things be allowed to stand in Your church? Use all of Your men and women, high and low, to bring true peace and faithfulness to Your people. Help us to turn away from leaders who would only be haters of Christ. We return to You, O God, for You will build Your kingdom. Thank you for the opportunities that You grant to us for humble service as Your disciples.
Eternal God, when men have long forgotten about the bloodguilt of their fathers, You still remember. Is there some curse upon us because of the wickedness and lies of those who have gone before us? Father, we have no way to make things right. First, we must understand our offense. Even then, what can we do, since we are already Your possession through the death of Your Son? We are not our own. We have been bought with a price. We plead the blood of Christ, seeking Your mercy and forgiveness, for many men have been unfaithful. Unless You make a way for the restoration of our fortunes, we will surely fall. Give us aid from above, lest our lamps be quenched in a battle that is too difficult for us.
O Lord our Rock, You have delivered us from all our enemies. We take refuge in You. You have saved us from the hands of the violent. The waves of death would have been too much for us. When we called to You, Your help was near. You are able to answer Your children in the day of trouble. There is no God but You. You who rule the elements will help Your children who cry out to You night and day. You can push back any enemy from on high, no matter how strong they may seem. Thank You for the perfect righteousness of Your Son. He has kept Your ways blamelessly. You have rewarded us according to His obedience, for You are merciful to the humble. We turn away from all known sin. Be a shield to us, for You are a strong refuge to those who fear You. Grant us energy for the tasks ahead. May we worship You forever, for You have already destroyed our greatest enemies. Give us Your strength for the remaining battle that we face day by day. You are the God of Your people. Your Son is our Head and King. We serve Him with gladness. You have loved us with an everlasting love. Our future is secure. We will sing praises to Your Name forever in the congregation of the redeemed.
Glorious Lord, You have granted to us the Word of Your Anointed, the Lord Jesus Christ. He has given us good news and has filled us with Your Holy Spirit. He is our great Ruler and King. He is the Seed of the Woman, who has crushed the head of the serpent. In our Redeemer, we have been made as mighty men, for even the devil is to be crushed under our feet. You have granted to Your servants water from the well of eternal life. At the cost of Your Son’s blood, You have given us a spring of water that gushes up forever, a refreshing help for weary sinners. O Father, we long for the fulfillment of Your Son’s Kingdom. There remain enemies all around us, and we are weak and weary in our duties. Even when we read Your Word and worship You we feel the challenge of our flesh and our sin. Deliver us forever from this body of death, and bring us into a land of abiding strength.
Father God, we are so weak, and we would easily fail and fall at any test. Surely we need Your strength if we are to resist evil. We are so full of pride. We do what we do because of our own desires. Transform our hearts into something better and purer, that we might have holier desires. Your heart is perfect. Make us to love what You love, and to pursue these better desires with all the power and faith that comes from You. We would bring great trouble upon our lives and upon others all around us through our lust for power, fame, or pleasure. We need an atoning sacrifice for our wickedness. Your hand came against a Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the Lamb of God for us. Through His perfect desires and His astounding love, a plague of death has been taken away from us. Through His own life and death, He has accomplished what could never have come to us through the death of bulls or goats. Though we can pay nothing for our salvation, the cost to You has been measured out in the blood of Your Son. Thank You for Your mercy, for Your justice has been satisfied at a great cost, and we have been redeemed.