The Lord stands by His own!
Scripture reading for May 16th: 2nd Samuel 6, 1st Chronicles 13, Psalm 60, Acts 23
Acts 23:11-15 “The following night the Lord stood by him (Paul) and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.””
Paul went to Jerusalem under the leading of the Holy Spirit and was arrested by the religious leaders and brought before the council. As promised by God, he was given words to say and insight. Paul declared that he was a Pharisee himself, and was on trial because of his belief in the resurrection of the dead. This triggered a dispute between the members of the council, Sadducee and Pharisee. It became so violent that soldiers rescued Paul and put him in the barracks. Jesus met him there that night and encouraged Paul that God’s plans would take him to Rome to testify as well. Well planned schemes and oaths of Paul’s enemies to kill him came to nothing. Jesus stands by His people against all foes! Amen!
Psalm 60:11-12 “Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is He Who will tread down our foes.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for bringing courage to Your servants when they face trials and opposition. Help us, like King David, to worship You with all our strength each day as we bear Your presence in us by the Holy Spirit! We know You indwell us and support us and give us words for those who oppose! Stand close by me today!
2nd Samuel 6:14-16 “And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.” As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.”
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