Day 131- The Bible Recap

Today's reading is 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, and Psalm 20. Here's what stood out to me:

Saul was "turned into another man" 10:6 and "God gave him another heart." 10:9, The LORD did this before He used him to fulfill His plans. We are nothing on our own. In fact, Isaiah 64:6 says that even our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. Apart from Christ, there is nothing good in us! That can seem like a harsh reality for some, but for me, it is freeing to know the LORD is working in me and through me...it's not my strength but His...what a relief!

Samuel made it clear to the people that even though the LORD kept His promise of rescuing them from the Egyptians, they were choosing to reject Him by anointing Saul king.

10:22 said Saul was hiding when he was to be brought before the people as king. Again, another reminder that it is not man's strength that fulfills the LORD's plans.

And then we come to one of my favorite accounts in the Old Testament. Psalm 20:7 was a verse I heard over and over as a child, and I always sort of attributed it to not depending on material things. But in 1 Chronicles 19, we read where the Ammonites disgraced David's men, and then, out of fear of David's retaliation, they spent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from neighboring areas. In contrast, David's men, with Joab in charge, in verse 13 said, "Be strong and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to Him." So some men were literally trusting in chariots and horses, while others were trusting in the LORD! And we saw the LORD defeated David's enemies!