Devotion
Show thyself a man
David Jacobs
Two of the earliest memories that I have of my parents involve them giving me advice. First, I remember my parents telling me to "look both ways before crossing the street." I used to walk with my brother to our primary school, and we were quite proud to be able to do it by ourselves. The other piece of advice I remember is "always wear your seatbelt." This good piece of advice from my parents to a young child, and again, it involved me being excited and proud to finally be able to get out of a car seat and use a seat belt on my own.
King David has reached his final days and must choose one of his many sons to be an heir to the throne. His sons have killed each other (2 Samuel 13) and his sons have died in an attempt to overthrow him (2 Samuel 18), so some of David's top choices may have already died. However, he chooses his son Solomon, the son of his wife Bathsheba. Solomon is wise and his father imparts some final words of wisdom: be strong, be a man, and listen to God as he did.
I am not sure how David interpreted his father's message to follow the commandments of God considering he is the son of Bathsheba, the woman that David committed adultery with and then was responsible for the death of her husband, but we can certainly understand that Solomon realizes the responsibility that his father is bestowing upon him. For all of David's faults, he always came to God for counsel. David has always been the character with which I most easily identified in the Bible: he has his good moments, and he has his bad (really, really, bad moments), but he always clings to his relationship with God.
Prayer
The relationship with our natural parents and our Father in Heaven is where we should turn in times of trouble, just as King David did, just as Solomon will do. What advice have your parents given you? More importantly, what advice have you learned from God? Seek his counsel in prayer and you will hear His lessons.
Night Prayer
The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
Inspiration
When a king rules with fairness and justice, his kingdom will flourish. If the same king accepts gifts or bribes, his kingdom will fall. We've all observed a person in a leadership position who acted wrongfully. Perhaps a boss did not discipline employees fairly, or a political leader accepted kickbacks for legislation decisions. These corrupt actions lead to their demise. Scripture advises leaders to maintain justice with fair decision-making. As leaders, we must reflect on the mercy and grace God shows to us and lead others in the same fashion.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for coaching us in our leadership endeavors. We have faith in Your Words and will lead Your people accordingly. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Devotion
The Widow of Naim
Frances Taylor
This story of Jesus' raising the son of the widow of Naim gives us some information that lets us know just how important it was for this widow. At that time, women had no way to earn a living. They were property of their parents until they became property of their husbands, and actually moved into the home of the husband. Now that this widow's son had died, she had no one to take care of her. The compassion that Jesus showed meant life to that widow. I'm sure the leaders weren't too happy that the power of God to raise someone from the dead rested in Jesus. There must also have been those who were saying, "Why her and not me?" We all will die and we will all lose someone we love including those of us who have and will lose children. We can easily read this passage and question. It can be difficult to understand God's plan for us, even though we keep trying. It is better to concentrate on the positive than the negative. A priest I once knew lost ...
