Read To Me Daily Semester 3Намуна

Welcome to day number 1 of the Third Semester of the Read To Me Daily reading plan! 

2SAMUEL 17:
The second semester of our reading plan ended with chapter 16 of 2nd Samuel. So in our last reading, we heard how Saul's servant, Ziba, showed his loyalty by helping David on his way. And how Shimei from Saul's family followed along a ridge for some distance, yelling curses and throwing stones at David, starting from a place named Bahurim. No wonder David was exhausted after that hike. David refused to put Shimei to death or to punish him. (But we find out later that David didn't forget about him.) David's friend, Hushai, joined himself to Absalom, as David asked him to do. And Nathan’s prophecy to David was unknowingly fulfilled through Ahithophel’s advice to Absolom. 

PSALM 116:
Today we read Psalm 116. This is a poem sharing personal experience. Though this poem is not attributed to David, what we read here could be his prayer during and following what we are reading about in 2nd Samuel chapters 17-18.

John 1a:
Each year I look forward each year to reading the Gospel of John. John’s Gospel is different from all the other gospels. John was probably very young when he became Jesus’ follower, perhaps 25 years old. But he waited until very late in life to begin writing, perhaps when he was 85 years old. This was long after the other Gospels and even the epistles were written. The title he gives himself in this book is ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. This doesn’t mean that Jesus didn’t love the other 11! 

Let’s pray before opening God’s Word.
O Lord, our God, how we long for the day when you show that You are God, and You defeat all idols. Many people today who would not consider worshipping a statue, are nevertheless trusting— and in effect worshipping— things that are not worthy of praise. One day they will be ashamed. Lord, You are winning the victory now, even though it is not covered by most news sources. You are not surprised by the things that are happening to us. Paul has reassured us, Lord, that You are able to make us stand firm in our believing in Christ. Thank You that nothing can stop You from loving us. And, Lord Jesus, when You come back, we pray that we will not be ashamed to meet You, because our hearts will reassure us that we have honored You as our Lord, and stood firm in believing the Good News about how You died on the cross and were raised again. Now, today, as we start reading the Gospel of John, please help us to see your glory and strengthen our belief in You.