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II Samuel 8

David defeated Philistines and Moabitesverses 1-2

And after this it came to pass – that David smote the Philistines

and subdued them – and David took Metheg-ammah

out of the hand of the Philistines

And he smote Moab – and measured them with a line

casting them down to the ground

even with two lines measured he to put to death

and with one full line to keep alive

And so the Moabites became David’s servants – and brought gifts 

David defeated the army of Hadadezer – king of Zobahverses 3-4

David smote also Hadadezer – the son of Rehob – the king of Zobah

as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates

And David took from him a thousand chariots

and seven hundred horsemen

and twenty thousand footmen

and David houghed all the chariot horses

                  but reserved of them for an hundred chariots

David defeated the Syrian of Damascusverses 5-6

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor

Hadadezer – king of Zobah

David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men

            Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus

                        and the Syrians became servants to David

and brought gifts

And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

Spoils from wars brought to Jerusalemverses 7-8

And David took the shields of gold that were on the

servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem

                        and from Betah – and from Berothai

cities of Hadadezer

king David took exceeding much brass

Joram – son of Toi – brought gives to Davidverses 9-13

When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten

all the host of Hadadezer

Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David – to salute him

to bless him

BECAUSE he had fought against Hadadezer – and smitten him

for Hadadezer had wars with Toi

And Joram brought with him vessels of silver – gold – brass

which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD

with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all

nations which he subdued – of

Syria – Moab – children of Ammon

            Philistines – Amalek – spoil of Hadadezer

                                                            son of Rehob – king of Zobah

And David gat him a name when he returned

from smiting of the Syrians in the

                        valley of salt – being eighteen thousand men

David defeated Edomitesverses 14-15

And he put garrison in Edom – throughout all Edom put he garrisons

and all they of Edom became David’s servants

And the LORD preserved David

whithersoever he went

And David reigned over all Israel

and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people

Officers in the court of David listedverses 16-18

And Joab – the son of Zeruiah was over the host

and Jehoshaphat – the son of Ahilud was recorder

And Zadok – the son of Ahitub

and Ahimelech – the son of Abiathar – were the priests

And Seraiah was the scribe

And Benaiah – the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites

and the Pelethites

And David’s sons were chief rulers

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 2        And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground, even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts. (4503 “gifts” [minchah] means present, tribute, payment form one nation to another for protection and as an acknowledgment of submission, or oblation)

DEVOTION: Once a nation was defeated it gave tribute to the conquering nation. David received tribute from all the nations he conquered with the help of the LORD. He also made sure that the same nation would not be able to fight him again in the future by cutting the number of men who could fight against him. He did this with every nation he conquered.

He accepted these gifts many times to help with the collection of things needed for the temple that was going to be built in the future. He was planning on making sure that his son had plenty of material with which to build a temple to the LORD.

So these gifts were used to make sure that the future was good for the nation. We need to make sure that we give gifts to the work of the LORD, so that, the future work of the LORD can move forward when we are gone.

God wants us to be ones who support the ministry that HE loves with our gifts. We are not conquering nations but we are inviting people to join HIS church and reach as many as are willing to listen to the message of the gospel.

The future is in our hands in the present as we are the ones who help the future succeed with our prayers and gifts.

God wants us to be cheerful givers to HIS work today. Do we give with a smile on our face or do we give grudgingly each time the offering plate is passed?

CHALLENGE: The Bible tells us that the LORD loves a cheerful giver.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 6        Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. (3467 “preserved” [yasha] means helped, to be safe, rescue, or be victorious)

DEVOTION:  Victory, how many of us would like to have more victories in our life? It seems that there are more loses to our enemies than victories. David had been at the other end of victory for a long time. He had run from Saul for many years. He had gathered a group of men around him that wanted to kill him when there was a loss while they were gone to another battle.

David is now king of all Israel. He has gone to war against many nations. He has won them all. David knew that the LORD gave him the victories. He realized that the LORD helped him in each of his battles. 

All of the spoils from the battles were dedicated to the LORD. Even a gift he received from a king that was grateful for his victory over Hadadezar was dedicated to the LORD. This wealth was going to be used in the future for the building of the Temple. He wanted an house to be built for the LORD.

Too often after a victory we think we are the one who won the war. David knew that the LORD won the war. Each time he consulted the LORD regarding a battle, he won. Over the years David learned this principle.

All our victories are from the LORD working in our lives to help us throughout times of temptations. The LORD has promised that HE will never leave us or forsake us once we are in HIS family. HE orders our steps on a daily basis.

If we think that we can do it all on our own, we are mistaken. We need to realize that the LORD gives us daily victories and we need to dedicate our spoils to the LORD. Every benefit we receive is from the LORD: health, job, church, family, etc. How often do we say THANKS?

CHALLENGE:  Our responsibility is to say “Thank You” to the LORD. Please make this a habit. Teach it to your family. Express it at church. People need to hear our appreciation for all that the LORD has done for us.


: 11      Which also king David did dedicate to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued. (6942 “dedicate” [qadash] means to be holy, removed from common use, subject to special treatment, consecrated, to be pure, be sacred, or be treated with caution)

DEVOTION:  One of the ways we honor the LORD is through our giving to HIM. HE commands us to give HIM ten percent of our income each time we are paid. The tithe was for the priesthood to be supported by the children of Israel. People could give more but that was the least amount of money that should have been given to HIM.

It is thought between all of the giving the children of Israel gave to help the poor and support the feast that it amounted to about 30 (thirty) percent of their income each year. This also helped support the government.

The Pharisees were noted for giving exactly ten percent of everything they owned. They would measure the seeds that the collected from their land and give ten percent of them. The LORD Jesus Christ when HE was on this earth commended them for their giving of the tithe but condemned them for their mistreatment of people.

Just giving the LORD some of our money doesn’t make us an obedient Christian but it is a start. King David dedicated ALL the gifts he received to the LORD. He gave over and above the ten percent. He was generous in his giving to the LORD. We are to be known for our generous giving to the LORD.

Our giving should always be given in an attitude of thanksgiving for all that the LORD is doing for us in our daily life. If we don’t see the LORD working in our daily life it either means that we have not given our life wholeheartedly to HIM. Remember just saying a prayer doesn’t mean you are on your way to heaven just like giving ten percent of your income doesn’t mean you are on your way to heaven. It is a matter of a heart commitment to the LORD that makes the difference.

The LORD is looking at our hearts when we give to HIM. HE knows if we are thinking we are buying our way into heaven or not. HE knows if we are genuine in our love for HIM. What does HE see in each of our hearts today?

CHALLENGE:  Are we only going through the motions or is it genuine? David was giving out of a genuine heart and the LORD blessed him for it.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 14      And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. (5333 “garrisons” [natsiyb] means overseer, governor, sentry, the troops who maintain and guard a fortified place, post, a military camp or town guarding the exterior limit of an area or region.)

DEVOTION:  This is the second time that the chapter states that David’s life was preserved by the LORD. He went up against armies that were bigger than his but still won the battles. He was given the strength of the LORD for each battle as he honored the LORD after each battle.

This verse also tells us that he was well organized in making sure that the countries he conquered would stay conquered. He set up garrisons in the places he conquered to show the people that he wanted them to be faithful in their giving to him. If they stopped giving to him there would be more soldiers on their doorsteps.

Remember the Edomites were the descendants of Esau who was a brother to Jacob. There was fighting going on between them when they were young but they settled their differences. However, his descendants were not kind to the Israelites when they were leaving Egypt and continued to fight against them even during the reign of David. It is hard to work with some relatives.

The LORD honored David for his faithfulness to HIM. HE gave him victories and wealth as his kingdom grew. HE knew that there would come a day when his son, Solomon would become king and all these treasures would be used to build HIM a Temple in Jerusalem where the people could worship HIM in spirit and in truth.

We need to make sure that we realize that the LORD helps us with our battles because HE sees our hearts and knows of our love for HIM and HIS Son Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit was sent to honor Jesus Christ and help us stay close to Jesus Christ. HE is not building a separate kingdom for HIMSELF. HE is building a kingdom for us to worship Jesus Christ and give HIM all the glory.

CHALLENGE: We should be looking forward to ruling and reigning with Jesus Christ in the future while we are honoring HIM alone in the present.


: 15      And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. (6666 “ justice” [tsadaqah] means righteousness, truthfulness, justification, honesty, justness, rectitude, or blameless behavior)

DEVOTION:  David treated all the people equally in regards to making just decisions regarding legal matters. It didn’t matter what the income of the household was because truth was the most important thing to him during his reign as king.

All the people could come to his court and know that they would be treated fairly by him and his representatives. He wanted to honor the LORD in the area of treating the common person well. It was a time when the judges had regard for good behavior. They behaved good and the people were expected to behave good as well.

Today we live in a different society. It seems that the ones who can really expect just judgment are the ones with the money to pay for good lawyers. There probably were lawyers even in this time period but most of the time it was two people coming to the judge and stating their case and the judge judged on their statements. There were witnesses that could be called to make sure the two who had a dispute were well represented.

Most of the time the elders of a city were sitting at the gates of the city and they would settle most cases. It was a time period when people knew each other well most of the time. That is not the case today in our society.

Our present society is caught in the trap of electronic devices that control most of their time. No one seems to have time to communicate with each other face to face.

One pastor told me that during a youth meeting in his church he found two boys texting each other in the same room. They were not talking to each other even when they were in the same room.

Communication is the key to any trial between two individuals. If there is no communication between the two individuals and the judges than a righteous judgment might not happen.  We need all the people to have righteous decisions made in their cases that are brought before the court. There should not be special treatment for those who have money as opposed to those who don’t have the money.

CHALLENGE: David set up the court to be righteous in Israel. We need the same treatment today in our court system.


DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

David gave gold and silver to the LORDverse 11

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

David dedicated riches to the LORDverse 11


DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 6, 11, 14

LORD preserved Davidverse 14

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Philistinesverses 1, 12

Moabites verses 2, 12

Became David’s servants

Brought gifts

Hadadezer – king of Zobahverses 3, 7-10, 12

Syriansverses 5, 6, 12, 13

22,000 killed

Children of Ammonverse 12

Amalekverse 12

Edomverse 14

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Preservedverses 6, 14

Dedicate treasure to LORDverse 11

Judgmentverse 15

Justiceverse 15

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Davidverses 1-15

Battles listed

Recovered border at Euphrates

Took houses and chariots

Twenty thousand footmen

Put garrisons in Syria

Put garrison in Edom

Reigned over all Israel

Executed judgment and justice

Jerusalemverse 7

Shields of gold

Exceeding much brass

Vessels of silver gold and brass

Joab – over the armyverse 16

Jehoshaphat – recorderverse 16

Zadok & Ahimelech – priestsverse 17

Seraiah – scribeverse 17

Benaiah – over Cherethites & Pelethitesverse 18

David’s son – chief rulersverse 18

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)


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QUOTES regarding passage

Bringing Damascus under Israelite control was of immense financial significance to David’s kingdom for two reasons. First, this city was the junction point for the Way of the Sea and the King’s Highway, the two major caravan routes connecting Asia with Africa. By controlling this location and stationing garrisons along the caravan routes, Israel was able to collect revenues from itinerant merchants in exchange for safe passage on the roads. Second, David was able to tap the reserves of wealth already in place within the region. David did this in part by taking “the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer” (v. 7) and bringing them to Jerusalem. These shields were likely ceremonial in function, stored in Damascus for use during courtly and religious festivities (cf. 1 Kgs 10:16–17; 14:26–28). David may have dedicated these objects to the Lord as ḥerem, items irrevocably given over for service to the deity (cf. 2 Kgs 11:10; Lev 27:28). David also “took a great quantity of bronze” (v. 8) from the Aram-Zobahite towns of “Tebah and Berothai.” The identity and location of Tebah is in doubt; in the MT the city is called Betah, but the NIV uses Tebah here to harmonize the passage with 1 Chr 18:8. Berothai probably occupied the same site as modern Bereitan; in 1 Chr 18:8 it is called Cun.( Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, pp. 348–349). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)


Justice and righteousness (Hb. mišpāṭ and ṣĕdāqâ) were primary attributes of the Lord’s character (Job 37:23; Pss 33:5; 36:6; 99:4; 103:4; Isa 5:16; Jer 9:24; Mic 7:9) and were considered the two basic virtues that characterized every person and society that pleased the Lord (Ps 106:3; Prov 21:3 Isa 1:27; 9:7; 56:1; Ezek 18:5, 27; 33:14–19); by possessing them an individual would avoid the Lord’s judgments and receive covenant promises and blessings (Gen 18:19; Ps 106:3; Jer 22:15; Ezek 18:5, 27; 33:14–19). Israelite leaders especially were expected to possess these traits (1 Kgs 10:9; 2 Chr 9:8; Isa 9:7). David’s exemplary administration of justice over all Israel opened the way for the Lord’s blessing to fall on the land. (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 351). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)


15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

Judgment and justice, i.e. just judgment, as Deut. 16:18. A figure called hendiadis, as in Gen. 3:16; Matt. 4:16. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 602–603). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)


The first statement in the verses before us is comprehensive and suggestive: “And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.” The first thing pointed out to us here is the catholicity of his kingly government, embracing all Israel, all people. He did not bestow his attention on one favoured section of the people, to the neglect or careless oversight of the rest. He did not, for example, seek the prosperity of his own tribe, Judah, to the neglect of the other eleven. In a word, there was no favouritism in his reign. This is not to say that he did not like some of his subjects better than the rest. There is every reason to believe that he liked the tribe of Judah best. But whatever preferences of this kind he may have had—and he would not have been man if he had had none—they did not limit or restrict his royal interest; they did not prevent him from seeking the welfare of every portion of the land, of every section of the people. Just as, in the days when he was a shepherd, there were probably some of his sheep and lambs for which he had a special affection, yet that did not prevent him from studying the welfare of the whole flock and of every animal in it with most conscientious care; so was it with his people. The least interesting of them were sacred in his eyes. They were part of his charge, and they were to be studied and cared for in the same manner as the rest. In this he reflected that universality of God’s care on which we find the Psalmist dwelling with such complacency: “The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” And may we not add that this quality of David’s rule foreshadowed the catholicity of Christ’s kingdom and His glorious readiness to bestow blessing on every side? “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” “On the last, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.” “Where there is neither Jew nor Greek, circumcision nor uncircumcision, bond nor free; but Christ is all and in all.” “Ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

In the next place, we have much to learn from the statement that the most prominent thing that David did was to “execute judgment and justice to the people.” That was the solid foundation on which all his benefits rested. And these words are not words of form or words of course. For it is never said that Saul did anything of the kind. There is nothing to show that Saul was really interested in the welfare of the people, or that he took any pains to secure that just and orderly administration on which the prosperity of his kingdom depended. And most certainly they are not words that could have been used of the ordinary government of Oriental kings. Tyranny, injustice, oppression, robbery of the poor by the rich, government by favourites, more cruel and unprincipled than their masters, imprisonments, fines, conspiracies, and assassinations, were the usual features of Eastern government. And to a great extent they are features of the government of Syria and other Eastern countries even at the present day. It is in vivid contrast to all these things that it is said, “David executed judgment and justice.” Perhaps there is no need for assigning a separate meaning to each of these words; they may be regarded as just a forcible combination to denote the all-pervading justice which was the foundation of the whole government. He was just in the laws which he laid down, and just in the decisions which he gave. He was inaccessible to bribes, proof against the influence of the rich and powerful, and deaf in such matters to every plea of expediency; he regarded nothing but the scales of justice. What confidence and comfort an administration of this kind brought may in some measure be inferred from the extraordinary satisfaction of many an Eastern people at this day when the administration of justice is committed even to foreigners, if their one aim will be to deal justly with all. On this foundation, as on solid rock, a ruler may go on to devise many things for the welfare of his people. But apart from this any scheme of general improvement which may be devised is sure to be a failure, and all the money and wisdom and practical ability that may be expended upon it will only share the fate of the numberless cart-loads of solid material in the “Pilgrim’s Progress” that were cast into the Slough of Despond.

This idea of equal justice to all, and especially to those who had no helper, was a very beautiful one in David’s eyes. It gathered round it those bright and happy features which in the seventy-second Psalm are associated with the administration of another King. “Give the king Thy judgments, O God, and Thy righteousness to the king’s son. He shall judge Thy people with righteousness, and Thy poor with judgment.” The beauty of a just government is seen most clearly in its treatment of the poor. It is the poor who suffer most from unrighteous rulers. Their feebleness makes them easier victims. Their poverty prevents them from dealing in golden bribes. If they have little individually wherewith to enrich the oppressor, their numbers make up for the small share of each. Very beautiful, therefore, is the government of the king who “shall judge the poor of the people, who shall save the children of the needy and shall break in pieces the oppressor.” The thought is one on which the Psalmist dwells with great delight. “He shall deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, and precious shall their blood be in his sight.” So far from need and poverty repelling him, they rather attract him. His interest and his sympathy are moved by the cry of the destitute. He would fain lighten the burdens that weigh them down so heavily, and give them a better chance in the struggle of life. He would do something to elevate their life above the level of mere hewers of wood and drawers of water. He recognises fully the brotherhood of man. (Blaikie, W. G. (1903). The Second Book of Samuel. In W. Robertson Nicoll (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible: Samuel to Job (Vol. 2, p. 146). Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Co.)


Benaiah, a military hero of legendary proportions (cf. 23:20–21), was the son of a priest (cf. 1 Chr 27:5) from the southern Judahite city of Kabzeel (cf. 2 Sam 23:20; Josh 15:21). The Kerethites and Pelethites are usually understood to be non-Israelite soldiers of Cretan and Philistine extraction that served as a private militia for the king, the assumption being that mercenaries would have no vested interest in participating in treachery against the throne. The Kerethites and Pelethites are always mentioned in connection with each other—as though they were a single group—and only in passages dealing with David’s kingship; perhaps the group ceased to exist after David’s death. David’s appointment of a priest as the head of the Kerethites and Pelethites seems to reflect his characteristic concern to have Israelite military affairs conducted in accordance with the Lord’s guidelines (cf. 1 Sam 21:5). Benaiah’s priestly status probably also explains his mention after the Aaronic priests and prior to David’s priestly sons. (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 352). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)


FROM MY READING: 

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)


We fall into a very great deception when we assume that God merely exists to make our personal life comfortable and happy. Such a belief (lived out, but perhaps never admitted aloud) produces a character flaw that will only seek God when life is not comfortable and we are not happy. However, it is not really God who is being sought, but comfort and happiness instead. The reality of that is unmasked once comfort and happiness are acquired, because God quickly becomes unimportant once again. ~Pastor Tim Halbig


Mark 4

As Jesus expands His public ministry, He teaches extensively using parables.

INSIGHT

Faith does not come to us full-blown.

It must be cultivated and nurtured. Jesus cultivates the faith of His disciples. After an extensive time of teaching, Jesus goes out into the Sea of Galilee with the Twelve, knowing that a storm will come. He calms the storm and then asks, rhetorically, “How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). His disciples marvel and their faith grows. We, too, must go through times of testing to become strong.  (Quiet Walk)


THE DEMAS WAY Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. 2 Timothy 4:10The world is opposed to Christians, and it shows its opposition by means of hatred. “Yea,” says Paul to Timothy, “and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). But the world has another way of showing its opposition. That is what I would call the Demas way: “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.” The world does not care very much how it attacks Christ’s followers. If by throwing them into prison it can wrest them from Christ, it will do so; but if that does not work, it will try some other method.“ Demas hath forsaken me”—the love of ease, love of the things of the world, its wealth, its position, its so-called pomp and show, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. How many good men have been ruined by that! Prosperity can be very dangerous to the soul, and the world is prepared to use that. If direct opposition will not work, it will pamper us, it will dangle these things before us and thus try to wean us from Christ. So it is not surprising that He asked the Father to keep us in His name. Another way in which the world does the same thing is by what may be described as the Barnabas method. We are told in Acts 15 that a dispute had taken place between Barnabas and Paul. Barnabas wanted to take his relative John Mark on their second missionary journey, but Paul said that he would not have him. Paul felt that John Mark had let them down and deserted them when they had taken him on their previous journey and that he was not therefore the man to accompany them. Here we have worldly relationships, such as family relationships, interfering in God’s work. It is the tendency not to judge things in a spiritual way. A Thought to Ponder: The world does not care very much how it attacks Christ’s followers.   (From Safe in the World, pp. 136-137, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)


God’s Tear Bottle
“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” (Psalm 56:8)
This is a remarkable insight into the tender heart of our heavenly Father. He has a tear bottle—in fact, perhaps a tear bottle for each of His wandering children.
Ancient “tear bottles” (or wineskins) have actually been excavated by archaeologists in Israel. These vessels were used to catch and preserve the owner’s tears during times of grief or extreme pressure. This psalm was actually written by David when he was being pursued by Saul on one side and surrounded by Philistines in the city of Goliath on the other. David apparently not only had his own tear bottle but also believed that God somehow was also storing up David’s personal tears in His own heavenly bottle of tears.
There is a touching story in the earthly ministry of Jesus that provides another example: “Behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears,…and anointed them with the ointment” (Luke 7:37-38).
The ointment was obviously not the same as the tears but followed the washing by tears. Some scholars think these tears came from her bottle, which was emptied on His feet and used to wash them. Others think that those tear bottles that have been found actually contained the collected tears of mourners at a burial site.
In any case, God does know all our wanderings and sorrows and all our tears, and stores them up somewhere. Perhaps it is also a metaphor for His “book of remembrance,” which is being “written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name” (Malachi 3:16). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)


Decades ago, Dr. Jerry Motto discovered the power of a “caring letter.” His research found that simply sending a letter expressing care to discharged patients who had previously attempted suicide reduced the rate of recurrence by half. Recently, health care providers have rediscovered this power when sending “caring” texts, postcards, and even social media memes as follow-up treatment for the severely depressed. 

Twenty-one “books” in the Bible are actually letters—epistles—caringly written to first-century believers who struggled for a variety of reasons. Paul, James, and John wrote letters to explain the basics of faith and worship, and how to resolve conflict and build unity. 

The apostle Peter, however, specifically wrote to believers who were being persecuted by the Roman emperor, Nero. Peter reminded them of their intrinsic value to God, describing them this way in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” This lifted their gaze to God’s great purpose for them in their world: “that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 

Our great God Himself wrote a book filled with caring letters to us—inspired Scripture—that we might always have a record of the value He assigns us as His own. May we read His letters daily and share them with others who need the hope Jesus offers. By Elisa Morgan, Our Daily Bread)


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