28. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

I’ve been sick for the past couple of days and still a little under the weather.   The medicine I am on makes me really sleepy and drowsy all day.   I will return to posting on Monday.  Please keep me in your prayers.

Feeling better but not quite 100% yet.

Love you all and thanks for your faithfulness in studying with me.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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26. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our text for today is as follows:

II Samuel 17:15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled . 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying , Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over ; lest the king be swallowed up , and all the people that are with him. 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David. 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down . 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known . 20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said , Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 And it came to pass, after they were departed , that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise , and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you. 22 Then David arose , and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

 A few things I want to point out in our story today.

1.  You see that not only is Hushai an inside agent for David but so is Zadok and Abiahthar the priests.
2. Messengers were sent to warn David of Absalom’s plan.
3. The two messengers sent to warn David were named Jonathan and Ahimaaz.
4. The messengers were seen leaving the city to warn David by a little boy and was told to Absalom.
5. A woman of Bahurim kept the men safe in a well when Absalom pursed them in his attempt of killing them before they reached David.
6.  David gets the message and takes his men safely over the Jordan.
7. 
   

Tomorrow, we will see what happens when Ahithophel finds out that they have ignored his counsel.

 Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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25. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

So sorry everyone…  Laptop overheated on me while in New Orleans and could not post.  Just returning home.  Will resume tomorrow.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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22. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our text for today is as follows:

II Samuel 17:11 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2 I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king 3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” 4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel. 5 But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say.” 6 When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.” 7 Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. 8 You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops. 9 Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave. 11 “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba–as numerous as the sand on the seashore–be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12 Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a piece of it can be found.” 14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

In our text today, you can see that the counseling has begun.  Ahithophel versus Hushai.    Remember, Hushai was placed in the camp as a spy for David and also to frustrate the advice of Ahithophel.

Our text today is yet another reminder that God is control.  David is on the run but he has a friend that is up close on his son and was even summoned by his son Absalom for advice.  It is so the hand of God.  We read on yesterday that Ahithophel word was as one consulted from God and was valued by all Israel especially David and Absalom.   There was no reason for Absalom to consult Hushai but God was still working on David’s behalf. 

Stay encouraged everyone; no matter  what the situation looks like, God is still in control. 

Have a great weekend and we’ll talk again on Monday.

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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21. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our text for today is as follows:

II Samuel 16: 15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.” 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.

Our text today shows Absalom’s entrance into the city.  One of the first things that he is advised to do is to go in to David’s concubines that he had left in the city.  This was done to declare new kingship.  When a king took over in the Old Testament world, one of the first things they did was to take over the former king’s wives as a sign to show that he was now in charge.

We also see that Absalom received Hushai which is still David’s friend and a spy for David while he is on the run.

The text also shows you how both David and Absalom valued the counsel  of Ahithophel who had betrayed David and had been his long time counselor.  The text says that his counsel was as one consulted the word of God.

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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20. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

Our text for today is as follows:

II Samuel 16:5  As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6 He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7 As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel! 8 The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!” 9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’ “ 11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. 12 It may be that the LORD will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today.” 13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

One of David’s first encounters as he flees from the city is a man by the name of Shimei  who was from the clan of Saul.  Shimei curses David and tells him that the reason that all this is happening is because of the bloodshed in the house of Saul. 

He throws stones at David and his men and David’s men are ready to kill him.  David instructs them not to kill the man for if God is really telling him to curse him then why blame the man.

There is no evidence in the text that David shed unnecessary blood concerning Saul’s household.   Saul and Jonathan were not killed by David but by the Philistines that fought against Israel.  Once David got into his kingdom, he looked for the descendants of Saul so that he could bless them. 

We do know that because of the David and Bathsheba incident, the Lord promised that the sword would not depart from his house and already we have seen  his daughter raped by his son Ammon and then this same Ammon killed by another son Absalom and now Absalom has taken the kingdom from David.

Most scholars would agree that these events playing out are connected to David’s sin with Bathsheba and not an additional curse because of the bloodshed in the house of Saul.

David is not quite sure if this man Shimei is correct but he spares his life in hopes that God will grant him mercy.

There will always be those who when you are down on your luck will say that it is a judgment from God because of some sin.   In all honesty, we just don’t know.  We are experiencing this same scenario with the situation in Haiti.  There are many who claim that Haiti is suffering because of their past sins.  Not only are American preachers saying it but the Haitian preachers are themselves claiming that they are paying for their sins.     In all honesty, we just don’t know.  Events like this that happen in the world are very difficult to explain.   Our job as ambassadors of Christ is to show love and kindness and to be a blessing.    

David is on the run and one of his encounters is a man that is basically telling him  he’s getting what he deserves  because of his sins.   But our story last time showed us the kindness of Ziba who brought food, wine, and donkeys to bring some relief to him while he is on the run.

Be careful about judging.     Let’s just show love. 

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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19. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

Many of you have asked about the 21 day fast that I started on yesterday and would like to do it with me.  I thought I would break away from the study today and let you know what I am doing.

I started with my church family on yesterday.  It ends on February 8.   We are eating only vegetables and fruits and drinking only water.  For many of us, this is just a great detox from sodas, sugars, etc which we so desperately need.

We are praying at 6a.m. 9a.m. 12 noon  3p.m. 6p.m and 9p.m.  While many of us may be at work during these times just send up a quick prayer and pick one of the times where you know you are free and pray.  For most of us, it will be the 9pm hour or the 6am hour. 

I am praying for the people in Haiti and personally my husband and I are thinking about adopting one of the Haitian kids so please keep us in your prayer concerning this decision. 

I am also praying for spiritual breakthroughs in my own personal life and I am also lifting up the many prayer requests that I get over the web.  If you would like for me to pray for you, please send your requests via my email and I will print them out and pray with you during this fast for them.

I am also praying for financial breakthrough for Changing a Generation Ministries and for church order.  They just moved into their new facility and I am praying that all their budgets will be met and that the people will fall inline with the order of the house as they prepare to do great things for God.

I am personally praying for discipline for me to finish my book this year on “how to study the bible” and to increase my word and prayer life.  I WANT MORE of the things of God and I know that the first step is to increase my spiritual discipline of praying and reading his word.

I am also praying for Bishop Dwight Pate and Church Point Ministries and their needs and for the health of the Bishop.  This church and man of God is very dear to my heart.

I am also interceding for God’s Church International Fellowship and their pastor, Bishop Odis Sneed Jr.  This is my home church where I was reared in the things of God and I am interceding for their needs.

Praying also for Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family Tour as they travel from city to city ministering through this powerful play.

This fast is about going higher in God for me and focusing this year on the spiritual.      I would be honored if you would join me.  Please let me know if you are.  If you are on facebook, please join my facebook page because I will also be sharing daily scriptures there during the fast to keep us strengthened.

Thank you in advance for your support.  We will resume our study on tomorrow.

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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18. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

I forgot to tell you Friday that I would not be posting today.  Those of you that follow me know that I don’t post on holidays.  I realize that there are people from all over the world that study with me daily but I follow the American holiday calender for posting.   I don’t like to post on holidays because so many people are away from their computers and will miss out on the study and it is my own personal time that I also get a little break to spend with my family.

In America, we are celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The best way to celebrate his life is to help those that are need.

Take care family.

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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15. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

I’m sure that along with me you are already praying for the people of Haiti and are glued to the TV watching the suffering and devastation.   Many want to help but are not sure which organizations to donate to that will ensure that the money will go directly to the relief efforts.

My friend Tyler Perry has a foundation and is collecting donations along with his initial $250,000 donation to send directly to the relief efforts. 

Please go to http://www.tylerperry.com/HaitiRelief

Let’s KEEP PRAYING……………..

Our text for today is as follows:

II Samuel 16:1 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine. 2 The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the desert.” 3 The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?” Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” “I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”  

In our story today, it shows an interesting account of ungratefulness, selfishness, and disloyalty. 

For those of you that have been following me, you will remember when David succeeded Saul, one of the things that he did early in his administration was make sure that he found the descendants of Saul so that he could bless them.  The bible says that he did it on behalf of Jonathan (his best friend and Saul’s son).    The text teaches that he discovered that Jonathan had a son that was five years old when Saul and Jonathan was killed and became crippled in both feet while trying to escape during the battle that Killed Saul and Jonathan. 

David sends for Mephibosheth and makes sure that he is taken care of for the rest of his life and gives him the land of Saul and has servants work the land and bring the profits to him and he was invited to always eat at David’s table.

Here is the original story for review:

II Samuel 9:1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “Your servant,” he replied. 3 The king asked, “Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.” 4 “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” 5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel. 6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “Your servant,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” 8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet.  

In our text today, Mephibosheth  is one of the people that has become a trader to the kingdom.   Ziba, who was his servant brings food, wine and donkeys to David and his men for their journey but Mephibosheth stays behind and thinks that this is his opportunity to get his family’s kingdom back.

When David hears the news, he quickly gives all that belongs to Mephibosheth to the servant Ziba.

I think many of us can identify with this story even if it is on a smaller scale.   So many times, when we’re going through seasons of controversy or lack, the people that we once helped so often are the ones that will turn against us.   But God…. Is so faithful.  He will always have someone else staying by to show us kindness.  In this case, it is the servant that sees the hand of God still on David’s life.  Controversy does not always mean that God is displeased or has left you.   The servant stays by David and for his kindness, David rewards him.  David is still the official king of Israel.

Have a great weekend everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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14. January 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our text for today is as follows:

II Samuel 15: 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. 26 But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan son of Abiathar. You and Abiathar take your two sons with you. 28 I will wait at the fords in the desert until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there. 30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “O Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” 32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace. 36 Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.” 37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.

This text describes David’s exit from the city.  He instructs that the ark of covenant be sent back and that if God grants him favor then he will allow him to see it again in its rightful place. 

David is upset that his most trusted counselor Ahithophel is among the conspirators who have betrayed him.  Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bath-sheba and was known for his wise counsel and wisdom. 

David sends his trusted friend Hushai who was waiting for him to join him on his journey back to Jerusalem to befriend Absalom so he will have an inside man and to frustrate the advice of Ahithophel.     Hushai agrees and David instructs him to keep the sons of the priests informed and send them to him with the information. 

The journey begins……  David is on the run from his son.   He leaves the city in tears….. 

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What pain….. and so unnecessary but God will work it together for his good.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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