READING:
One-year plan: 2 Samuel 4-7, Luke 22:39-71
Two-year plan: Numbers 11-12, Mark 8:22-33
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The Lord told David to attack the Philistines, and He would hand them over to the king. So, David did just as God commanded—and God did just as He said He would. The Philistines apparently left in haste, for they “abandoned their idols there” (2 Sam 5:21). Their gods were no gods at all; indeed, David and his forces carried them off to burn them. To carry off defeated “gods” was, in fact, a custom in the ancient world.
I can’t imagine what the Philistines thought as they left their gods behind. They had surely relied on those gods, but they were powerless against the true God. I can’t help but wonder if the Philistines left them behind precisely because they realized the gods would be no help. Why hang on to powerless “gods”? In either case, we are reminded again today of the foolishness of sinners to follow “gods” who are both abandoned and carried off.
Do you have idols today? If so, are you willing to abandon them—realizing they are no match for the Hebrew God?
PERSONAL REFLECTION: How would you answer the above questions?
PRAYER: “Lord, we need Your help today to avoid idols. Show me my wrong.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: 2 Samuel 8-11, Luke 23:1-31
Two-year plan: Numbers 13:1-14:10, Mark 8:34-9:13