This morning’s reading (2 Samuel 23 through 1 Kings 7) went pretty quickly. By this time, David has died and Solomon has taken over the throne. There was a bit of intrigue over who had the right to become king after David, but David settled that issue right before he died.

I think that God asking Solomon what he wishes for is an interesting story. Nowhere else in the Bible, that I know of, has God telling someone “ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon could have asked for power, riches, or a long life. But instead he asks for wisdom!

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
1 Kings 3:9.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I would have been tempted to request something for myself. I am a selfish person, if I want to be honest. I just hope that if God ever gives me the opportunity to ask Him for something, I will be able to ask for love or wisdom or patience. I already ask for those things but I struggle every day to be like God.

I actually read today’s reading (2 Samuel 13 through 2 Samuel 22) in two sessions. I rarely do that. But I read the first three chapters while waiting for church to begin and read the rest this afternoon. In a way, reading in two sessions was easier but I’m afraid if I make a habit of it, I won’t sit down to read the second half. I usually try to read soon after waking and read the entire assignment.

When I read the Bible, I love when I recognize worship songs that I’ve heard.

The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock;
and exalted be the rock of my salvation
2 Samuel 22:47.

I love this praise song. I wish we could sing more songs like this in church with just the piano for accompaniment. But hubby and I are attending a church with an average membership age of around 60. I’m afraid that I would be rocking the boat unnecessarily as music can be so controversial. I don’t really understand why, but I can respect it. Tonight I asked the pastor about sometimes singing more contemporary worship songs at vespers and he told me to go ask the person in charge of the vespers schedule. I might just do that.

Unfortunately, I have nothing interesting to say about today’s reading (1 Samuel 29 through 2 Samuel 12).

Saul dies. David mourns Saul. David becomes king. War and intrigue. David sins by taking Bathsheba and then killing her husband.

I’ve had some interesting discussions on Bathsheba and whether or not she sinned. I don’t think it’s something I want to delve into on my blog. I’m just glad that we have no king today who can order me to “know” him.

21 days! Three weeks! We’re really moving through the Bible quickly.

I read 1 Samuel 16 through 28 today. It basically covered the story of Saul chasing David around the countryside, trying to kill him. Twice David had the opportunity to kill Saul. Twice David declared that he could not lay a hand on God’s anointed. David had no problems taking people’s lives if he felt it was justified (see 1 Samuel 25 for the story of Nabal). So he must have felt very strongly that God’s anointing was still applicable to Saul, even though Saul was trying to take David’s life.

I found another question to add to my list of things to study later. 1 Samuel 16:14 says that “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.” What is the evil spirit in this verse? An evil spirit from the Lord? I didn’t realize there was such a thing… I have to study this in depth later.

I didn’t have too many thoughts on today’s reading (1 Samuel 3 through 15). I did mark a couple texts as interesting, though.

And it was so, that when he [Saul] had turned his back to go from Samuel,
God gave him another heart:
and all those signs came to pass that day
1 Samuel 10:9.

This verse jumped out at me because of the phrase “God gave him another heart.” That sounds kind of like God causing Pharaoh’s heart to harden. I’m definitely going to have to study this topic more after I’m done with the 90 days.

The other text that stuck out to me was 1 Samuel 11:6.

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

This addresses a question that has come up in our Bible study several times, if anger is considered a sin. In this text, the Spirit of God came upon Saul and his anger was kindled. Obviously, that means that some types of anger or reasons for anger are not sinful, or else the Spirit of God would not have caused those feelings in Saul. Just a thought I had today.

I completed another two books of the Bible today. The reading covered Judges 15 through 1 Samuel 2.

The author of Judges (believed to be Samuel) is forced to admit that:

In those days there was no king in Israel,
but every man did that which was right in his own eyes
Judges 17:6.

The problem with doing what is right in one’s own eyes is that there is no standard. Even though God did not want Israel to have a king, setting up an earthly government gave Israel a set of enforced rules and laws. It wasn’t enough for the Israelites to have God’s rules and commandments; they wanted an earthly king. But until the king was designated by God, each man determined on his own what qualified as “right.”

I hope that I will always be open to learning the truth about falsehood, sin, and error. I don’t want to be found doing what is right “in my own eyes.” Instead, I want to do what’s right according to God for there is “none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2).

Today’s reading (Judges 4 through 15) went much easier than yesterday. I read about some of the first judges and how Israel responded when each judge died. For most of the judges, there is very little information listed. Then we get to Samson…

I had a very negative view of Samson until my hubby and I started reading through the Old Testament together last year. When I was younger, the stories I heard about Samson made him seem to be an evil man who is used by God to help Israel during their bondage. I was under the impression that Samson had poor choice in wives, that he was reckless, and that he was extremely violent.

When I actually read the stories for myself, I was shocked. The Bible says that Samson’s first marriage was “of the Lord” (Judges 14:4). Samson didn’t disregard God’s council and marry a Philistine; God wanted him to marry a Philistine woman. And yes, the stories about Samson are kind of violent. But Samson wasn’t being violent just for the sake of violence; God was using Samson as an instrument to punish the Philistines for acts they committed against the Israelites! “The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him” in several instances (Judges 14:6, 15:14). No wonder Samson was listed in the faith chapter. I finally understand why.

I have to admit that I really struggled to finish today’s reading (Joshua 15 through Judges 3). Most of the chapters covered the dividing of Canaan and how it was distributed to each of the tribes. There were a LOT of cities listed.

Judges records the beginnings of Israel’s wavering.

1 – The Israelites are following God.
2 – The last judge/leader dies.
3 – The Israelites start worshiping other gods.
4 – The Lord is angry with Israel and allows other peoples to start ruling over them.
5 – Israel cries because of their bondage.
6 – God hears and sends a judge to save them.
7 – The Israelites are following God.
8 – The last judge/leader dies.
9 – The Israelites start worshiping other gods.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

After reading about the first of many rebellions, an earlier promise begins to feel very relevant.

But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them
Deuteronomy 4:29-31.

I am very grateful that God is a merciful God and that He continued to love the Israelites. Because of these stories, I am reassured that God continues to love me even when I fall over and over again.