1 Kings 13 & 14: Will You Flee From Evil?
Verse of the Day: (13:33) After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.

1. Eat (13:1-32)
For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. (13:9)

A man of God was at altar of God’s house when he cried out to King Jeroboam that Josiah, a child, shall be born to the family of King David, and he shall destroy all the false gods that Jeroboam had caused Israel to worship and sinned against the true God of Israel. Jeroboam was angry with his prophecy and raised his hand for his soldiers to arrest the man of God when suddenly his hand became paralyzed. He then pleaded with the man of God and eventually his hand was restored to him. Jeroboam then invited the man of God for a feast in which the latter declined, and told him that God’s command was that he should refrain from eating and drinking and going back the same way he came from. However, as the man of God left Jeroboam, he met an old prophet who deceived him and told him that God had spoken to him through an angel to invite him to his house to eat and drink. The man of God then disobeyed God by going back the same way he came from, and ate and drank at the old prophet’s house. As he left the house, he was eaten by a lion. Indeed, let us be sober and vigilant, and only trust and obey God. (1 Peter 5:8-11)   

2. Evil (13:33-34)
And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth. (13:34)

God gave Jeroboam many chances to repent of his evil ways, but he never take heed of the warnings, and subsequently, He judged and punished him and the rest of the kings after him, a total of 19 kings, of the northern kingdom, who all did evil against Him. As for the kings of the southern kingdom, only 8 of the 20 kings were godly kings. Indeed, let us repent of our sins, and do what is right before our righteous God. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

3. Eyes (14:1-31)
And Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. (14:4)

Though Ahijah, the prophet, was blind due to his old age, yet he could spiritually see the future of Jeroboam’s sick son that he would eventually die. Whatever Jeroboam and his wife tried to do, by disguise and deceit, to restore their son’s life, they failed, because they could never escape from God’s will. Indeed, let us only look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, as only He shall never fail or forsake us. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to flee from evil, and do what is good before You.

1 Kings 11 & 12: Is The LORD Angry With You?
Verse of the Day: (11:9) And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice

1. Angry (11:1-13)
Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen. (11:13)

God was angry with Solomon because he succumbed to his lust as he had 700 wives and 300 concubines when He had intended that man should have only one wife as in the beginning of time, He created Eve from Adam’s one rib. (Genesis 2:20-25) Though God loved Solomon that He appeared to him twice; once to grant him his desire, and the second to sanctify His house and promised Israel that He shall be with them forever, yet he failed Him. God then pronounced judgment upon him that his kingdom shall be divided. His servant, Jeroboam, shall remove from him 10 tribes, while his son, Rehoboam, shall be left with only 2 tribes, the tribe of Benjamin, and his own tribe, Judah, for David’s and Jerusalem’s sake. Indeed, let us only please God. (Galatians 1:10)

2. Adversary (11:14-43)
And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. (11:14)

God stirred 3 adversaries against Solomon; one was Hadad the Edomite prince, the second was Rezon who reigned over Syria, and the third was Jeroboam, Solomon’s servant. After Solomon knew that Jeroboam would divide his kingdom, he sought to kill him, and the latter fled to Egypt. After Solomon’s death, (who reigned in Jerusalem for 40 years, the same duration as David, his father) Jeroboam returned to Jerusalem and led a rebellion against the new King Rehoboam. Though God blessed Solomon yet he sinned and only repented at the end of his life. In his lifetime, God inspired him to write 3 books, namely, Song of Solomon, Proverbs and lastly, Ecclesiastes, in which he summed up man’s life purpose is to fear God and keep His commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

3. Advice (12:1-33)
And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? (12:6)

After Solomon’s death, Israel chose Jeroboam to lead them in demanding that King Rehoboam reduce their taxes. Rehoboam then consulted 2 groups of people; one was the veterans who advised him to reduce them, while the other was his contemporaries who advised him to charge them with more taxes. He listened to the latter, resulting in strife and the split of his kingdom. Let us only seek God, and not man, for advice. (Psalms 133)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to flee from sins, and to only please and obey You.

1 Kings 9 & 10: Are You Happy?
Verse of the Day: (10:8) Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

1. Hallow (9:1-28)
And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. (9:3)

God appeared to Solomon the second time, (the 1st time was when He asked Solomon what he desired) and told him that He had heard his prayer, and had hallowed His own house, and promised him and Israel that He shall be with them for all eternity. (1 Kings 3:5-15) Subsequently Israel fell apart, and the only time that she shall be restored to her glorious days is during the Millennium, which is right after the Rapture, and the 7 years Tribulation, when Christ shall return and reign in new Israel. Indeed, though man may fail yet God never fails and He shall keep His Word and promises forever. (2 Peter 3:9-18)

2. Happy (10:1-13)
Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. (10:9)

Queen of Sheba was so overwhelmed by Solomon’s godly wisdom, and the beauty and splendour of God’s house and his palace, that she stood in awe and was speechless. What she saw surpassed what she had heard of him. However what impressed her most was that his people were happy with life because they had God’s Word through their king. Indeed, true happiness is when we have God and His Word, as our helper and hope, as only He can forgive our sins, and save our souls from eternal condemnation. (Psalms 146)

3. Heart (10:14-29)
And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. (10:24)

Not only God put wisdom in Solomon’s heart but He also blessed him with abundance of gold that everything he had was made of gold, and silver became like stones. He also had 1,400 chariots, and 12,000 horsemen whom he stationed in the cities for chariots and palace and also an impressive navy to protect him and Israel. People from all over the world visited and presented him with gifts so that they could not only hear God’s Word through him but also admire the beauty of God’s house and his palace. He was living almost like heaven on earth until he succumbed to lust and pride. Indeed, to be happy with God is not only to hear His Word, but to fully trust and obey Him. (1 John 2:15-17)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am happy always hearing and obeying Your Word.

1 Kings 7 & 8: The Glory Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (8:11) So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

1. Gold (7:1-51)
And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the showbread was, (7:48)

King Solomon hired many craftsmen from Tyre, such as Hiram, one of the outstanding craftsmen, to assist him in not only the construction of God’s house which took him 7 years, but also his own house which took him 13 years. The houses, in particular God’s house, including the altar, pillars, lattices, basins and furnishings were beautifully and elaborately constructed and covered with gold, that people from all over the world visited Israel to admire the beauty of these houses, and also to hear God’s Word from Solomon. Indeed, whatsoever we do, let us do our best, as we have only one life. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

2. Glory (8:1-27)
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (8:27)

After Solomon had brought God’s ark into the holy place of His newly constructed house, and after the priests who brought it in had left the place, His glory immediately filled His entire house. Solomon then prayed to God before Israel, and worshipped and praised Him for who He was, and what He had done for them, and confessed that even His own house could never contain Him. Solomon and Israel offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep as sacrifices to God, and dedicated His house in His own name. This was the zenith of the entire history of Israel, even until today. The only time that Israel shall surpass this zenith is when after the Rapture (All Christians shall be caught up with Christ in heaven), and the 7 years of Great Tribulation (Satan shall rule the world and torture the people), that Christ shall return, and cast out Satan to hell for 1,000 years, and rule the new earth during this period known as the Millennium, before finally God release Satan, and destroy him and all who rebelled against Him forever in the lake of fire. (Revelation 20)

3. Good (8:28-66)
Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. (8:56)

Indeed, every promise of God is good, and if He spares not His own Son, Jesus Christ, shall He not freely give us all things to enjoy? And if God is for us, who shall be against us? Let us claim upon God’s promises, and reflect upon His goodness, grace and glory, knowing that one day we shall give an account of all our works before Him. (Romans 8)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always live to reflect Your goodness, grace and glory.

1 Kings 5 & 6: Finished It
Verse of the Day: (6:14) So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

1. Father (5:1-18)
And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. (5:1)

Behind every successful man is a great father. King Solomon managed to build and even finish the house of God in 7 years, because his predecessor, King David, his father, not only encouraged and prepared the design and building materials, but he also had friends like Hiram, King of Tyre, who supported his construction. (1 Chronicles 28:10-21) Hiram generously provided Solomon with cedar and fir trees from Lebanon for the construction in return for the yearly supply of 20,000 measures of wheat, 20 measures of pure oil and 30,000 labour force from Israel. Indeed, how good and pleasant it is for our loved ones and fellow churches to dwell together in unity and harmony for God’s glory. (Psalms 133)

2. Finish (6:1-35)
And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold. (6:22)

Though David had a great part in the successful completion of the house of God, yet Solomon was also conscientious and diligent in making sure that every detail of the construction was according to God’s instructions. Before God’s Word, the Bible, was written and completed, God spoke to His people, just like He spoke to Solomon, and gave him specific measurements as to the construction of His house, and in particular, His altar. Almost everything of the building was to be overlaid with gold. In fact, they must get all the construction stones ready in exact size before bringing them into the construction site, so that there shall be no sound of hammer, axe or any iron tool in the site. Indeed, let us give our best to God, as He has given His best to us, when He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the sins of the whole world, yours and mine. (John 3:16)

3. Foundation (6:36-38)
In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif: (6:37)

Every building is as strong as the foundation. If the foundation is weak, then when an earthquake comes, the building may collapse. Solomon built a strong and deep foundation so that the house of God could stand sure amid any turbulence. By God’s grace, He took 7 years to finish it, as he started on the 4th year building the foundation and completing it on the 11th year. Indeed, let us build our faith on the foundation of God that is sure, so that we shall not be moved when crises come our ways. (2 Timothy 2:19)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to start and finish well my Christian life journey.

1 Kings 3 & 4: Solomon’s Wisdom
Verse of the Day: (4:30) And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

1. Woman (3:1-28)
Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. (3:26)

If there was only one weakness of Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest king of the world, it was his lust for beautiful women. This flaw not only made him fall from grace, but his kingdom, expanded by King David, his father, was almost razed to ground zero. He started well when in his dream, he replied to God that he desired only wisdom among other things, when asked as to what he required to lead Israel. His wisdom was soon put to the test, when 2 immoral women came to him claiming that a child was theirs. In order to prove the real mother, he ordered the child to be divided into two. The real mother then cried out to the other to have him, proving that she was the real one. From then on, Israel knew that he was blessed with God’s wisdom. However, subsequently, he sinned against God, when his heart followed his wives and their idolatry. Today, God only speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, and not dreams or any other means, unlike those days when the Bible was yet to be completed. Indeed, let us be wise, and fear God. (1 Kings 11:1-13)

2. Wall (4:1-25)
The son of Geber, in Ramoth-gilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars: (4:13)

Behind every successful leader are his lieutenants. Solomon had 12 lieutenants over Israel to assist him in leading and providing for him, each with one month in the year, and also for his people. One of them was the son of Geber who had 60 great walled cities with bronze bars. Indeed, let us as leaders, lieutenants and people be united in God’s wisdom even though we may have different gifts and talents. (1 Corinthians 12:27-31)   

3. Wisdom (4:26-34)
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. (4:29)

God blessed Solomon with excellent wisdom that all regarded him as the wisest man on earth. He, inspired by God, was also blessed with writing 3 of the 66 books of the Bible, namely, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, including 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs, covering many significant and vital aspects of life, such as life purpose and principles of life, that many from all over the world came to hear him. (Matthew 6:24-34)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please grant me wisdom to serve You with others for Your glory.

1 Kings 1 & 2: I Will Be King
Verse of the Day: (1:5) Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 

1. King (1:1-45)
The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: (1:33)

I believe the hardest thing in any organisation, and in particular, God’s church, is leadership succession. The organisation and the church may have done well in their present leadership, but after the leadership succession they fail miserably, why? They have not prepared well for it. As far as the church is concerned, God is with us and we must pray for His leadership in appointing His pastor. King David was now old and sick, and God had earlier spoken to him that his son, Solomon, the son of Bathsheba, shall be his successor. (1 Chronicles 22:6-10) However, another of David’s sons, Adonijah, the son of Haggith, who was older than Solomon, and by tradition should be the next king, began gathering support from Joab the captain and Abiathar the priest and all his brothers except Solomon, Nathan the prophet, Zadok the priest and Benaiah. However, David thwarted his plot, as he commanded Zadok and Nathan to anoint him as the next king of Israel. Indeed, God only calls leaders who truly love Him and His Word. (1 Timothy 3)   

2. Kingdom (1:46-53)
And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom. (1:46)

No matter how man strategizes, God always wins. As Adonijah’s plot failed, he feared for his life, and pleaded with Solomon by catching hold of the horn of the altar in the tabernacle. Solomon then spared his life. Indeed, let us submit to God and seek His kingdom and righteousness, and everything we need shall be fulfilled. (Matthew 6:33-34)

3. Keep (2:1-46)
And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: (2:3)

Before God promoted David, he charged Solomon to keep His commandments, and be kind to Barzillai who was a kind man, and warned him of Shimei who was an evil man. King Solomon then succeeded his father, and soon he ordered the death of Adonijah, as he had the audacity to ask him to give him Abishag, David’s concubine, to be his wife, confirming his suspicious that Adonijah was still eyeing on the throne. Solomon also ordered the death of Joab and Shimei as both of them had rebelled against him. Indeed, the conclusion of life is to fear God and keep his commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to submit to You as the King and Saviour of my life.

2 Samuel 23 & 24: The Last Words
Verse of the Day: (23:1) Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised upon on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said

1. Last (23:1-7)
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. (23:3)

Our last words are very important because they sum up what we believe. David’s last words not only thanked God for who He is, but he also exhorted his leaders that they must be fair and fear God. He shared from his experiences that God only blessed his leadership when he feared Him. In fact, David was, is and shall always be the best king of Israel. Let our last words be thanking God that we have always feared Him. (Proverbs 1:7)

2. Lion (23:8-39)
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: (23:20)

David’s last words included his commendation of his 37 mighty men, as without them he would never be a great king. 3 of his 37 men ventured into enemy’s territory just to draw water for David to drink, and when he found out, he refused to drink, but poured it out as an offering to God. Another, Benaiah, not only killed 2 lionlike Moabites, but he also killed a lion in a pit in time of snow. Indeed, with God we fear nothing. (2 Timothy 1:7). 

3. Land (24:1-25)
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. (24:25)

However, at the end of David’s life, he and Israel became proud, and God allowed him to number Israel, and thus sinned against Him. God through Prophet Gad commanded David to choose one of the 3 kinds of punishment for his sins, namely, 7 years of famine or 3 years of fleeing from his enemies or 3 days’ pestilence. David chose to fall into God’s hand, and God then sent a pestilence that wiped out 70,000 men. In order to stop the pestilence, David had to buy a threshingfloor of Araunah and offered burnt and peace offerings at that particular site. When Aarunah offered to give his land, David refused as he knew that he must pay for the penalty of his sins. Subsequently, the threshing floor became the site of God’s temple, which Solomon, David’s son, built, and it was also the site where God’s Son was crucified for the sins of the world. Let us therefore humble ourselves to know that all that we have truly belong to God and His grace. (James 4:6-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, may my last words be, Thank You, Lord, and, Lord, I need You!

2 Samuel 21 & 22: The LORD Is My Rock
Verse of the Day: (22:2) And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

1. Rest (21:1-22)
And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. (21:10)

Though King Saul was dead, yet God still judged his sins - the killing of the Gibeonites that infringed on the peace covenant that Joshua, Israel’s leader, had made with them (Joshua 9:1-21) - by allowing a severe famine to afflict Israel for 3 years. To atone for Saul’s sins, the Gibeonites required 7 of his sons to be hanged. Except for Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, David chose 7 of Saul’s son to be hanged. 2 of the 7 sons were from Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, and she spread a sackcloth for herself on the rock making sure that the birds and the beasts would never rest on her 2 beloved sons’ corpses day and night until God would grant rain to Israel again. David was touched by her deed that he commanded that the bones of Saul and his sons be brought from the men of Jabeshgilead to the grave of Kish, Saul’s father. Finally God gave them rain. David had grown weaker and during the battle with the Philistines he almost lost his life, but Abishai saved him. From that day, his men decided that he shall never lead them to battle. Indeed, God is not mocked, and not only we, but our descendants, shall reap what we sow. (Galatians 6:7)
  
2. Rock (22:1-29)
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. (22:3)

As David no longer go to war, he began to write his song of thanksgiving to his God who was his Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Shield, Horn of Salvation, High Tower and Saviour, and had not only kept him alive, and commended him as a man after His own heart, but also richly blessed him as the ancestor of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Acts 13:22-24)

3. Run (22:30-51)
For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. (22:30)

David expressed his deep love for God by writing his song of thanksgiving to Him acknowledging that it was God’s mighty hand that helped him ran through troops, leaped over high walls, and overcame all his enemies including King Saul who wanted his life. (Psalms 18). David fondly recalled God giving him his first victory over Goliath, the Philistines’ champion, and his final battle again with the Philistines. Indeed, let us fully trust God, our Rock, and if God is truly for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31-39)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my Rock who strengthen me when I am weak.

2 Samuel 19 & 20: A Wise Woman
Verse of the Day: (20:16) Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

1. Weep (19:1-40)
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. (19:1)

Joab, David’s captain, persuaded him to cease weeping over his son, Absalom’s death, and moved on, as he still had many people who cared for him. David heeded Joab’s advice and rallied and united the people of Israel and Judah. David forgave Shimei and spared his life although the latter had cursed and cast stones at him while he was on the run from Absalom who wanted him dead. David was touched by Mephibosheth’s loyalty as the latter had neither trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes since David was on the run. David showed gratitude to Barzillai by inviting him to stay at his palace as the latter had generously provided for him while he was on the run. Barzillai declined as he was already 80 years old and would rather stay at his home. Indeed let us be gracious to all including our enemies, and know that God has made everything beautiful in His time, and even the death of His saints are their promotion to glorious heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11)
  
2. Words (19:41-43)
And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. (19:43)

A war of words nearly broke out into a civil war as the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than that of Israel as the latter claimed that they were not consulted over the return of David to the throne though David was from Judah. Sheba, a Benjamite, then seized the opportunity to lead another revolt after Absalom’s. Let us submit to God, and be kind to another, and be careful with our words as they can either heal or harm us. (James 1:19-20)

3. Wise (20:1-26)
Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king. (20:22)

Amasa, David’s captain, was to lead the army against Sheba, however, he procrastinated, and Joab, his cousin, killed him, and replaced him. While besieging the city where Sheba and his rebels resided, a wise woman intervened and advised Joab that she would take down Sheba’s head to stop the bloodshed. She convinced her people, and they killed Sheba, and thus peace prevailed. Indeed, let us be wise and only fear God. (Proverbs 9:10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please grant me wisdom so that I can handle life crises and challenges.

2 Samuel 17 & 18: The Heart Of A Lion
Verse of the Day: (17:10) And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

1. Heart (17:1-29)
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. (17:23)

Ahithophel, David’s former counsellor, was an unfaithful and wicked man as he advised Absalom, David’s son, to sleep with his father’s concubines so as to mock him, and then suggested that he would lead 12,000 men to seek David’s life. However Hushai counselled Absalom that he should lead his own army as David had the heart of a lion, and would not be easily defeated. Hushai’s advice was really to buy time so that David would get a tip-off from him. Absalom and Israel then chose Hushai’s counsel and the proud Ahithophel felt humiliated, and set his house in order, before he hanged himself. Indeed, let us humble ourselves, and seek only after God’s holy heart. (Jeremiah 17:9-10) 
  
2. Heaven (18:1-18)
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. (18:9)

Though David commanded his 3 generals to spare Absalom, his son, yet Absalom ordered his men to kill his father. David’s men defeated Absalom’s men, and as Absalom tried to escape, his head was caught by a branch, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth. Joab was informed of Absalom’s predicament, and instead of rescuing him, he killed him. Subsequently, God judged and punished Joab and his descendants for their rebellion, while He blessed David and his descendants for their obedience. (1 Kings 2:33) 

3. Hurt (18:19-33)
And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. (18:32)

Though the deepest hurt of a father is when he witnesses his child’s death, yet the greatest comfort is to know that he is in heaven if he believes in Christ. When David heard that Absalom was dead, he cried to God that he should be the one to die. Though Absalom was rebellious, yet David loved him because he was his flesh and blood. Let us ask God for wisdom that we train our children in His Word to serve Him. (Proverbs 22:6)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to have the heart of a lion to do Your perfect will.

2 Samuel 15 & 16: Thou Art A Stranger
Verse of the Day: (15:19) Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. 

1. Steal (15:1-18)
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. (15:6)

This was the most trying and tragic time of King David as his beloved son, Absalom, was plotting to usurp his throne while he was waiting for God to show him as to who would be his successor. Though Absalom was the best candidate yet he was too impatient and ambitious, and could not wait for God’s appointment. Absalom went to the people and stole their hearts including Ahithophel, David’s counsellor, by promising them that he would help them in all matters of their lives. As David refused to fight with his son he chose to leave Jerusalem, and wait for God’s counsel. When the priests took the ark of God to follow David, he told them to return to Jerusalem, as God might have desired that Absalom be the king, and the ark of God shall be with him. David loved God, his family and people, and he desired that everything he did must be His will. Indeed, God’s richest blessings are upon us when we wait upon Him, and do His perfect will. (Isaiah 40:28-31) 
  
2. Stranger (15:19-37)
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. (15:21)

While Absalom, David’s son, chose to fight and rebel against him, Ittai, David’s warrior, who was a stranger and foreigner not only loved David, but he was willing to lay his life for him. In fact, David had many faithful followers, including Hushai, the Archite, whom he commanded him to return to Absalom so that he could defeat Ahithophel’s counsel in favour of him. Indeed, God loves His children even when we are yet sinners, as He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Whoever believes in Christ shall never perish in fiery hell, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven. (Romans 5:6-8)

3. Seek (16:1-23)
And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. (16:11)

David came to the humbling point, where he accepted Shimei’s curses and hurling of stones at him, and the fact that his son sought his throne and life, because he loved God, and knew that if it was His will, he would gladly accept it. Life is tough, but let us keep trusting God, as one day, we shall be with Him in His heavenly mansions. (John 14:1-6)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for saving the soul of a stranger and sinner like me.

2 Samuel 11-12: Thou Art The Man
Verse of the Day: (12:7) And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

1. Millstone (11:1-27)
Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. (11:21)

Everyone has the brightest and the darkest chapter of life. King David had the darkest chapter of his life when he excused himself from the battle and stayed in his palace, and subsequently he committed adultery with beautiful Bathsheba, the wife of one of his courageous soldier, Uriah. In order to hide his sins, he plotted with Joab, his general, to put Uriah in the hottest battle and get him killed. However, David pretended that he did not know that Uriah was sent to the hottest battle, as he told his messenger that in the first place the soldiers should not have been sent near to the wall as previously there was a woman who threw a millstone and killed Abimelech (Judges 9:50-55). This was the darkest side of David’s life. On the other hand, I believe Uriah only understand his early promotion when he met God in heaven, and realised that his death was plotted by his king who had slept with his wife. Though it must be painful for Uriah to know the truth, yet he rejoiced as he is now with God in heaven. Subsequently God forgave David as he repented his sins. Indeed, God shall forgive our sins when we repent them. (1 John 1:9-10)
  
2. Man (12:1-7)
And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: (12:5)

God spoke to Prophet Nathan of David’s sins, and as he described the sins of David with the analogy of a rich man taking the only ewe lamb from a poor man, David told him that the rich man ought to be sentenced to death. Nathan then replied to him, You are the man. Indeed, it is easy to see other’s faults, but not our own. Let us search our hearts, and repent of our sins, so that we be righteous in Christ’s righteousness. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

3. Master (12:8-31)
And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. (12:8)

God truly loved David as He gave him all of his master, Saul’s things, including his wives. However, David lusted over Uriah, his soldier’s wife, and even killed him to hide his sins. Subsequently, God judged and punished David as his 7 days old son from Bathsheba died. Indeed, let us flee from sins as we shall reap what we sow. (Galatians 6:7)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please forgive me of my sins and to trust and obey You in everything.

2 Samuel 13 & 14: The Soul Of King David
Verse of the Day: (13:39) And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

1. Shame (13:1-22)
And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. (13:13)

Amnon, one of King David’s son, could not control the lust of his flesh, and committed incest with Tamar, his half-sister. Tamar pleaded with Amnon that what he was about to do to her would not only bring shame to her and their royal family, but that he would be a fool to commit this lustful deed. However, Amnon refused to heed her plead and committed the evil act. David was angry with Amnon’s sins, however, as he recalled his own sinful deeds he could only pray for Amnon to repent his sins. Indeed, let us repent our sins that God shall forgive us and restore to us the joy of our salvation. (Psalms 51)
  
2. Soul (13:23-39)
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. (13:37)

David loved his children including Amnon who committed incest. When David received the news that Amnon was dead as Absalom had commanded his servants to kill him, he wept sore. David’s soul then longed for Absalom who had fled from him, as he knew that his motive of murdering Amnon was to take revenge of what he had done to his sister. However Absalom should have left vengeance to God. (Hebrews 10:30-31) Indeed, let us who believe in God, love our children by raising them in His ways, and praying for their salvation, that one day we shall all be with Him in glorious heaven. (Revelation 21:1-4) 

3. Spill (14:1-33)
For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. (14:14)

Joab, David’s captain, knew that David loved and missed Absalom, and hence he engaged a wise woman to convince David to forgive Absalom, and asked him to return to him. The woman told David that she had 2 sons, and they had a dispute, and one of them killed the other. Her family then wanted her surviving son to be sentenced to death, and that would leave her with no heir. David was touched by her story and told her that he would give the royal pardon to her son. David realised that it must be Joab who had sent her to him. He knew that like water spilt to the ground could never be gathered he should move on. Indeed, let us forgive one another, as God has forgiven us. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please strengthen my soul as I daily pray for my loved ones’ salvation.

2 Samuel 9-10: Bread Always At My Table
Verse of the Day: (9:10) Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

1. Bread (9:1-13)
And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. (9:7)

If there was ever the kindest man on earth, he must be King David. Not only did he spared the life of Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, and the grandson of King Saul who many times tried to kill him, but David invited him, his servants and their families to his palace, and even restored to him all the land that belonged to Saul, and best of all, he invited him to eat at his table as one of his princes. Indeed, David was a type of Christ, God’s Son, who came down from heaven to die for the sins of the world. Whoever believes in Him shall never perish in hell, but have eternal life with Him in heaven, and shall never go hungry physically and spiritually as He is the Bread of Life. (John 6:48-51)
  
2. Beard (10:1-5)
Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. (10:4)

Not only King David demonstrated his kindness to the grandson of the late King Saul, he also showed kindness to the people of Ammon, the enemies of Israel. However, the princes of Ammon were suspicious of David’s kindness and they shaved off one half of the beard of David’s ambassadors that not only humiliate them but David’s leadership. Indeed, many times when we do good, evil come upon us, yet we must continue to do good to all including our enemies as God shall richly bless and keep us. (Galatians 6:7-10) 

3. Battle (10:6-19)
When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: (10:9)

As David prepared for battle against the Ammonites because of the humiliation, they hired the Syrians for reinforcement to fight against Israel. When the battle turned against Israel, Joab, David’s captain, chose his best soldiers, and divided them into 2 formations, one led by him and the other by Abishai, his brother. They eventually defeated their enemies because of great teamwork, and above all, God was with them. (Psalms 108:13)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I shall never be hungry as You are my Bread of Life.

2 Samuel 7-8: An House For My Name
Verse of the Day: (7:13) He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

1. House (7:1-17)
That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. (7:2)

If there was the greatest and strongest Israel it must be during the reign of King David. As David defeated his enemies, rested from wars and then built his house of cedar, he contemplated of the fact that the ark of God only dwelt in a tent. David shared with Prophet Nathan his desire to build God’s house, and Nathan agreed. However, God spoke to David that he would only prepare the materials for His house, as Solomon, his son, shall build it. God also prophesied to David that His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour, who shall come from his lineage shall establish His house and kingdom that shall last forever. Though David was a man after God’s heart, yet most of his descendants including Solomon and the people of Israel rebelled against God, and subsequently He allowed their enemies to defeat and destroy them including His house. However, by God’s infinite grace, one day, during the Millennium, which is after the Rapture, and the 7 years of Great Tribulation, Jesus shall come again, and this time, He shall reign on the new earth establishing His house and kingdom in Israel forever. Today, God’s house or Holy Spirit dwells in us when we truly believe and trust in Him. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)   

2. Heart (7:18-29)
For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. (7:27)

God richly blessed King David by referring Jesus Christ, His Son, as the son of David at the beginning of the New Testament (Matthew 1:1), and then almost at the end of the New Testament, He again refers Jesus Christ as the root and offspring of David. (Revelation 22:16) Indeed, let us be like David, a man after God’s heart. (Acts 13:22-24)

3. Horse (8:1-18)
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. (8:4)

Though King David was a man of war, yet he crippled most of the chariot horses so that they were no longer be used for battles, as he knew the evils of war. Indeed, though God loves sinners, yet He hates and punishes the sins of man. Let us therefore believe in Jesus Christ, and confess and repent our sins and received His gift of eternal life. (Romans 6:23)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your House dwells within my heart as I believe in You.

2 Samuel 5-6: The Ark Of God
Verse of the Day: (6:2) And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

1. Anoint (5:1-25)
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. (5:3)

This was the 3rd time that David was anointed, and this time he was now the king of all Israel and Judah. The 1st time he was anointed by Prophet Samuel before his family, (1 Samuel 16:13) and the 2nd time he was anointed by his own tribe, Judah. (2 Samuel 2:7) David reigned for 40 years since he was the king at the age of 30 as he ruled over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, and he reigned over all Israel and Judah for 33 years. Indeed, the road to leadership is not easy, as we must not only be called of God, equipped by God, but we must also gain the respect of and acceptance from the people. (Hebrews 13:17-18)

2. Ark (6:1-19)
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. (6:7)

God commanded David that His ark which represented His presence must be brought to the tabernacle at Jerusalem where he ruled so that all the people shall worship and offer their burnt and peace sacrifices before their God. However, along the way, God took Uzzah’s life, because he failed to realise the holiness of His ark, and should never have held it when the oxen that pulled it shook it. Subsequently, David and his people realised their mistakes, and brought God’s ark to Jerusalem with great joy. Indeed, God’s Spirit, like His ark, resides in us, as we are now His holy tabernacles. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

3. Appoint (6:20-23)
And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. (6:21)

Micah could not understand her husband, King David, uncovering his royal robe before his people to rejoice and worship God after His ark was brought into the tabernacle, because she was far away from God, and never know that God’s great desires are for His people to worship Him. On the other hand, David was truly thankful and grateful to God as not only God anointed and appointed him as the King of Israel, but God was with him throughout his life journey in good as well as bad times. Indeed, let us thank and worship God in truth and spirit, for who He is, and what He has done for and in us. (John 4:21-24)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your Ark is now residing in me as I believe in You.

2 Samuel 3-4: Long War
Verse of the Day: (3:1) Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. 

1. War (3:1-21)
And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. (3:6)

Pride makes a man goes against authority and God. Abner, the captain of Israel under King Ishbosheth was the real power behind the throne and even had relationship with the late King Saul’s concubine. When Ishbosheth rebuked him, Abner, who was older and more experienced than him, revealed to him that he would initiate the reunification of Israel with Judah whose king was David. Indeed, after a long war with Judah, Abner realised that God was with David. Ishbosheth relented as he feared him. David agreed to the unification on condition that his wife, Michal, Saul’s daughter, returned to him. Ishbosheth agreed, and the long war ceased. Indeed, we also have a long war with Satan, the devil, and we can only overcome him when we truly believe in Jesus, God’s Son, and put on His whole armour until the day we are with Him in heaven. (Ephesians 6:10-24)

2. Weak (3:22-39)
And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. (3:39)

While David forgave Abner for the long war which he and his army fought against him, yet David’s captain, Joab, hated Abner, because Abner killed his brother, Asahel. Without David’s knowledge, Joab lured Abner out and killed him under his fifth rib which was at his heart. David was grieved when he heard of Abner’s death, and he warned Joab that he shall reap the consequences of his sins. Let us be forgiving, because while we were yet sinners, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. (Romans 5:1-8)

3. Wicked (4:1-12)
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? (4:11)

Rechab and Baanah, Ishbosheth’s 2 captains, killed Ishbosheth and brought his head to David thinking that they would be rewarded for the slaughter of David’s enemy, however David told them that as he had killed an Amalekite because he had allegedly killed Saul, and likewise he would kill them. David was indeed a loving and forgiving man. Let us therefore be loving and forgiving, as God is loving and forgiving. (Ephesians 4:31-32)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that that I daily defeat Satan by putting on Your armour.

2 Samuel 1-2: Swifter Than Eagles
Verse of the Day: (1:23) Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 

1. Swift (1:1-27)
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. (1:26)

The only time that we will never grieve for the loss of our loved ones is when we are in heaven reunited forever with God and our precious ones. (Revelation 21:1-4) David grieved for the passing of King Saul and his sons, especially Jonathan, his best friend. David grieved for Saul even when he tried to kill him several times. David loved God and His people including his enemies. Though Saul hated David, yet he loved his sons, especially Jonathan, as both of them were warriors who were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions, surpassed only by David who dared to face off and subsequently defeated Goliath, the giant Philistine warrior. Though David loved all, yet he killed the Amalekite because he claimed to kill Saul upon Saul’s command. The Amalekite thought that David would reward him for allegedly killing Saul, yet little did he know that David killed him, because he had killed God’s anointed man. David was indeed a man after God’s heart. Let us thus be swifter than eagles in following after God’s heart. (Acts 13:22)

2. Strengthen (2:1-7)
Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. (2:7)

David commended and strengthened the men of Jabeshgilead who risked their lives to retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons from the Philistines’ territory. Indeed, our labour is never in vain as we serve God and not men. Even if no one notices our labour and even if we are never appreciated on this earth, let us know that our God notices our labours and He shall richly bless and reward us when we get to glorious heaven. (Galatians 6:7-10)

3. Serve (2:8-32)
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. (2:13)

Saul’s servants made Ishbosheth as their king after Saul’s death, while David’s servants anointed David as their king. Israel was now divided, and hence Saul’s servants led by Abner challenged David’s servants led by Joab to a duel. David’s servants won, however it was a start of the end of Israel as throughout history there was no real peace and unity in Israel as they wrestled against God and one another. Indeed, let us submit to God, and live in unity, and love one another for God’s riches blessings to be upon us. (Psalms 133)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be swifter than eagles in following after God’s heart.

1 Samuel 31: The Battle Went Sore
Verse of the Day: (31:3) And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

1. Battle (31:1-9)
And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul’s sons. (31:2)

Everyone whether good or evil must die, but only those who believe in God shall be with Him in heaven, otherwise they are condemned in fiery hell because of their sins. The Philistines defeated Israel during their battle, and Saul and his sons including Jonathan died. Jonathan was promoted to heaven because he demonstrated his love for God and His people, especially David, God’s anointed. (1 Samuel 20:1-4) Indeed, we who believe in and love God shall love others including our enemies, because how can we say we love God whom we cannot see, and yet hate others whom we can see. (1 John 4:20-21)

2. Body (31:10-11)
And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. (31:10)

Satan, the Devil, will not hesitate to hurt and humiliate God’s people, as after all he is eternally condemned in fiery hell because of his pride and rebellion against God. (Revelation 20) The Philistines went all out to humiliate Israel as they fastened the bodies of King Saul and his sons to the wall of Bethshan. It was a tragic day for Israel. However, God is not mocked as He preserved David to succeed Saul to be the next king of Israel and led them to victory over the Philistines. Many times it may seem that God’s people suffer in shame and humiliation, yet God always preserves a remnant, like David and his men, who subsequently defeated their enemies, and honoured and glorified Him. Indeed, God always wins, and let us flee from sins, and walk worthy of His calling, and live victorious lives honouring and glorifying His name now and forever. (Colossians 1:9-17)

3. Bones (31:12-13)
And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (31:13)

Though the Philistines defeated Israel, yet there arose from Israel, the valiant men of Jabeshgilead who risked their lives to retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Bethshan. They then took their bones and buried under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted 7 days to honour their king and his sons. Though King Saul was a disgrace to Israel, yet the men of Jabeshgilead honoured him and his sons because they honoured God’s anointed king. Indeed, we may not have godly leaders, yet we honour them because they are God’s appointed leaders as He has put them in power and authority. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are with me in all my life battles against the Devil.

1 Samuel 29 & 30: Encouraged Himself In The LORD
Verse of the Day: (30:6) And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

1. Evil (29:1-11)
Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not. (29:6)

Time will reveal the character of a person. Finally the Philistine King Achish told David that his leaders were suspicious of him as he was not only their enemy, but the Hebrew who slayed their warrior, Goliath. However, Achish also acknowledged the sincerity of David that he loved his people though they were his enemies. Indeed, let us who believe in the God of love, keep loving Him, and others, including our enemies. (1 John 4:7-21)

2. Encourage (30:1-7)
And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; (30:1)

Many times I wondered why as a Christian and even as a Pastor, I suffered much yet God showed me from His Word that all His men shall suffer. David suffered too. David thought that he could live peacefully after he left the Philistines, yet when he returned to Ziklag he discovered that another of his enemies, the Amalekites, not only had burnt Ziklag, but they captured his loved ones and those of his men as hostages. They wept sore, and his men blamed him, but David encouraged himself in God. Indeed, let us encourage ourselves in God, as He is our Refuge, Strength and Help in time of trouble. (Psalms 46)

3. Enquire (30:8-31)
And David enquired at the LORD. saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. (30:8)

Seek God first and everything shall fall in place. David not only encouraged himself in God, but he enquired God when he faced crises. God then commanded him to pursue the Amalekites. While pursuing the enemy, they found a sick Egyptian who was abandoned by them. David fed him and promised him that he would spare his life if he would reveal the location of the Amalekites. Subsequently David and his men invaded and defeated the Amalekites who were found eating, drinking, making merry and not prepared for battle. David and his men recovered everything, including their loved ones. (Matthew 6:33-34)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I can encourage myself in You and Your love for me.

1 Samuel 27 & 28: Grace In Thine Eyes
Verse of the Day: (27:5) And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee? 

1. Grace (27:1-12)
And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever. (27:12)

Our lives are truly unpredictable as sometimes we are joyful while at other times we are depressed. David was no exception, as he was joyful when he overcame Goliath, the giant Philistine, when no one in Israel could, but now he was depressed as he was running away from his own King Saul who refused to accept the fact that he shall be the next king of Israel. David then foolishly chose to be with his enemy, the Philistine King Achish, who graciously befriended him, and even gave him the city of Ziklag. However, Achish was making use of him to betray his own country. Subsequently, David realised his folly and repented his sin. Indeed, let us daily and boldly go to God’s throne, whether we are joyful or depressed, to seek His grace and help in time of all our needs. (Hebrews 4:16)   

2. Great (28:1-12)
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. (28:5)

After Samuel was promoted to heaven, Saul became greatly fearful and impatient as he disguised himself by night seeking a witch instead of seeking and waiting upon God for His counsel as to whether Israel should fight against the Philistines. Saul again failed to trust God, and God subsequently judged and punished him. Indeed, let us only seek God and His righteousness so that His richest blessings shall be upon us. (Matthew 6:33-34)

3. Gods (28:13-25)
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. (28:13)

Though Satan was behind the witch, yet God was in control of everything as she actually revealed the truth that not only Israel shall be defeated, but that the Philistines shall slay Saul and his sons, and that David shall be the next king. When Saul heard these revelations, he became depressed, and the witch and his men had to encourage him to eat, and moved on in life. Time and again, God gave Saul opportunities to repent of his sins, but he rebelled against Him. Indeed, though the world believes in their gods, yet the true God shall prevail against them. Let us therefore put on the whole armour of God which consists of His salvation, righteousness, truth, peace and Word as well as our faith and prayer, that we shall withstand the wiles of Satan and his demons. (Ephesians 6:10-19) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your grace and help are sufficient for me at all times.

1 Samuel 25 & 26: Samuel Died
Verse of the Day: (25:1) And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

1. Die (25:1-44)
And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. (25:39)

No one escapes death. Prophet Samuel and Nabal, a rich rancher, died. While Samuel’s soul went to heaven to be with God because he believed and served Him, Nabal’s soul was condemned to hell because he rejected God and committed sins. David, God’s anointed man, and his men had helped Nabal in safeguarding his livestock from robbers and wild beasts, however, instead of demonstrating gratitude, Nabal condemned David. Thanks to Abigail, Nabal’s wife, who pleaded with David for mercy, he then eventually spared not only Nabal but his men as he intended to slay them. God then judged and struck Nabal and within 10 days he died. If there was one flaw of David, it must be his weakness for women. David sinned against God, as after Nabal’s death, he took Abigail to be one of his wives, when God commands us to have only one wife, as He only took one rib from Adam’s ribs, to make the woman, Eve, to be his only wife. (Genesis 2:20-25)

2. Deep (26:1-12)
So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, not knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them. (26:12)

Everything is from God as He is in control of all things right from the start. God preserved David’s life as He caused a deep sleep in Saul and his men so that not only he could escape from them, but he went to Saul’s camp and took his spear and pot of water from him. Indeed, God allows sufferings in our lives so that we realise how much we truly need to trust in Him to deliver us out of them and become precious gold. (Job 23:10)

3. Deliver (26:13-25)
And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. (26:24)

This was the second time that God delivered David out of Saul and his men as the first time He delivered David was when he was in the cave. Indeed, our God is faithful and He shall surely deliver us from all our tribulations even the hardest one. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I shall be with You when I die because I trust in You.
 

1 Samuel 23 & 24: Strengthened His Hand In God
Verse of the Day: (23:16) And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

1. Seek (23:1-14)
Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. (23:10)

Satan, the devil, is behind every wickedness of man as he deceives man to commit evil and be eternally condemned to fiery hell together with him and his demons. Satan was definitely behind Saul who sought to kill David because he refused to accept God’s will that David shall be his successor as the next king of Israel. Saul failed to realise that even though he had the whole army of Israel, he could never kill David because God was with him. Indeed, when we believe in God, He shall rescue us from Satan’s wiles and deliver us from condemnation and one day promote us to be with Him in heaven. (1 Peter 5:8-11)

2. Strengthen (23:15-29)
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. (23:17)

While Saul sought David’s life and greatly discouraged and weakened him, Jonathan, his son, greatly encouraged and strengthened David. Jonathan was different from his father, as his heart was right with God and he loved David. Jonathan even assured David that he would help him to be the next king, and would be his right hand man. However, Jonathan did not see David enthroned as he was killed during the battle with the Philistines. Indeed, let us strengthen one another’s faith as God strengthens our faith. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

3. Seed (24:1-22)
Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house. (24:21)

Little did Saul know that the cave where he went to rest was where David hid himself, and David could have killed him, but instead David only cut off the fringe of Saul’s robe. As David loved and feared God, and believed that God was his Judge and Deliverer, he committed Saul to God, and never took matter into his own hands. When Saul discovered that David had spared his life, he knew that God was with David and shall certainly enthroned him. Hence Saul pleaded with David to promise him that he would spare all his seeds once he became the king. David promised Saul, and when he became the king, he not only spared the lame Mephibosheth, the only surviving seed of Saul, but he also invited him to live with him in the palace as one of his princes. Indeed, let us keep our words and promises, as God keeps His Word and promises now and forever. (2 Samuel 9)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please strengthen me as I strengthen others for Your glory and praise.
 

1 Samuel 21 & 22: Abide Thou With Me
Verse of the Day: (22:23) Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

1. Alone (21:1-9)
Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? (21:1)

No matter how righteous a man, he is still a sinner, and the only way to keep him from sinning is to abide in God. After David ran away from King Saul, he went to seek help from Ahimelech, the priest. David then lied to Ahimelech that he had a secret assignment from the king after he was asked as to why he was alone. Ahimelech not only gave David the hallow bread for his provision, but Goliath’s sword for his protection. However, little did David know that Saul commanded Doeg, his servant, to kill Ahimelech and all the 85 priests with him as well as their families and livestock, after Doeg, who was also present at the scene on that day, told Saul that he saw Ahimelech helping David. Though we may be alone and afraid, let us know that God and His Word are always with us. (Psalms 119)

2. Afraid (21:10-15)
And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. (21:12)    

After meeting Ahimelech, David went to Israel’s enemy, Achish, king of Gath, for help. When Achish found out that he was David who killed Goliath, their great warrior, David became afraid and feared for his life, and pretended to be insane, and fled from them. Instead of lying to Ahimelech, and going to his enemy, Achish, David should have sought God, the most High, and trust in Him who shall surely help him. (Psalms 56)

3. Abide (22:1-23)
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. (22:2)

David fled from Achish and hid in the cave at Adullam, and then 400 people including all his family, loved ones and those who were distress, in debt and discontented with life came to encourage him. David was so encouraged by them that he became their leader and in turn he encouraged them. When Abiathar, one of Ahimelech’s sons, managed to escape the sword of Doeg, and sought David for help, David encouraged him and promised to protect him. David knew that he was the cause of the death of Ahimelech and all his priests including their families and livestock. David also knew that he could only find strength and comfort by abiding in God, his refuge and fortress. (Psalms 91)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to abide in Your Refuge and Fortress in time of need.
 

1 Samuel 19 & 20: A Step Between Me And Death
Verse of the Day: (20:3) And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. 

1. Salvation (19:1-24)
For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? (19:5)

True love extends beyond one’s family. Jonathan truly loved David, as he patiently explained to his father, King Saul, who sought after David’s life, that the God of Israel through David had performed a great salvation for Israel in delivering them from the Philistines. Indeed our salvation is of the LORD as we fully trust and obey Him. (Jonah 2) 

2. Step (20:1-40)
And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. (20:33)    

What a contrast between the father and his son! Saul was full of hatred and murder, while Jonathan, his son, was full of love and sacrifice. Saul found David a threat to his throne and tried all means to kill him, while Jonathan had a covenant with David to love and cherish their friendship, and did all he could to save David from being killed by his father. In fact, Jonathan and David arranged a secret plan that David would leave the palace and hid in the field, and if Saul was determined to kill David, then Jonathan would shoot his arrow beyond where David was hiding. Jonathan shot beyond David, and David knew that it was time for him to leave the service of King Saul. Subsequently, God judged Saul and replaced him with David. Indeed, let us love and serve God and others, knowing that His richest blessings and rewards shall be upon us now and forever. (Revelation 22:12-15)

3. Swear (20:41-42)
And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city. (20:42)

Indeed, David honoured his promise to Jonathan that he would take care of Jonathan’s descendants, as later in his reign as the King of Israel, and after Jonathan’s promotion to heaven, he sought for Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan. David then invited Mephibosheth to his palace to be one of his royal family. (2 Samuel 9) Indeed, let us do good to all, especially to our loved ones, while we can as life is short. (Galatians 6:7-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for my life as it is only a step before my promotion.
 

1 Samuel 17 & 18: Is There Not A Cause?
Verse of the Day: (17:29) And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

1. Cause (17:1-58)
Then said David to the Philistines, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. (17:45)

When you truly love God and what you do for Him, you will do your very utmost best, even to sacrifice your life for Him. This was David’s cause for fighting Goliath when everyone including King Saul feared him. David believed that the God of Israel shall surely overcome Goliath as he had not only defied Him but shame His people. Though David’s brothers and Israel discouraged him from fighting against Goliath, nevertheless, he kept insisting on facing off with him. Indeed, God knows the end from the beginning, as He already prepared David in the wilderness, while protecting his father’s sheep, in overcoming a lion and a bear, not with a sword or a spear, but with a sling and a stone in His Name, in order that he would eventually overcome a giant. It was indeed great victory for David, Israel, and above all, the God of Israel, as Goliath and the Philistines were resoundingly defeated. Let us therefore make sure that we have a real cause to love and serve God and others in His Name, because He first loves us. (1 John 4:19-21)
   
2. Covenant (18:1-4)
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. (18:3)

It may not be always true of the saying, “Like father, like son.” Unlike Saul, who hated David, yet his son, Jonathan, loved David, and even made a covenant with him that they would love and lay down their lives for each other. Indeed, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, loves us so much that He makes an everlasting covenant with us that whoever believes in Him shall never perish in hell, but have eternal life with Him in heaven. Let us therefore love one another, even as Jesus first loved us, and gave His life for us. (1 John 3:16-24)

3. Continually (18:5-30)
And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. (18:29)

When we reject God and worship ourselves, we will never be able to love others. Saul rejected God, as his idol was himself, and used only people to achieve his end. This was why he sought to kill David, because David was a real threat to his throne. Instead of being grateful to God and David, for overcoming Goliath, and delivering Israel from the Philistines, Saul became David’s enemy continually. Indeed, let us believe in and worship God, and love and serve all, and flee from idols and self-worship. (1 John 5:21)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that my cause of loving You is because You first love me.

1 Samuel 15 & 16: The Voice Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (15:22) And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

1. The Voice Of The LORD (15:1-22)
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. (15:10)

The voice of the people may not be the voice of God. God through Samuel commanded Saul to destroy all the Amalekites and their livestock, because they were truly wicked people. (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) However, Saul disobeyed God, and destroyed all except king Agag and the best livestock. Saul and the people kept Agag for political reason, and the best livestock for better breeding of their own livestock. Unlike Samuel, who loved both God and Saul, and even mourned for Saul when he was removed from the throne, Saul only loved himself, and was rebellious against God. Indeed, God’s richest blessings shall only be upon us, when we truly love and obey Him and His voice. (Hebrews 5:1-10)
   
2. The Word Of The LORD (15:23-35)
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (15:23)

God is not mocked, as we shall reap His judgment and punishment when we disobey Him and His Word. Saul was disobedient to God, and it caused him his throne, as subsequently Samuel anointed David to be the next king of Israel. Let us obey God and His Word, and hide it in our hearts, that we may not sin against Him. (Psalms 119:1-11)

3. The Spirit Of The LORD (16:1-23)
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. (16:13)

Many times, man only looks on the outward appearance or personality, but God looks into the very heart and character of man. God commanded Samuel to go to Jesse’s family to anoint David, his youngest son, as the next king. Little did they expect God to choose David, as he was only a shepherd boy, the least qualified of all Jesse’s children in terms of wisdom, strength and experience. However, when God’s Spirit was upon David, only he, among all Israel, could cast out Saul’s evil spirit with the music from his skilful performance on the harp. Indeed, man’s heart is wicked, and the only way for him to be righteous before God, is to repent his sins, and walk in God’s Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-26)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to only love and obey Your voice, Word and Spirit.

1 Samuel 13 & 14: The LORD Saved Israel
Verse of the Day: (14:23) So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

1. Seek (13:1-23)
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. (13:14)

A moment of folly a lifetime or even an eternity of regret. King Saul was to ask counsel of God through Prophet Samuel at the appointed time as to how he would overcome the Philistines who completely outnumbered Israel. However, Samuel turned up late, and Saul disobeyed God by sacrificing the burnt offering himself, without waiting for Samuel, who was the only one able to offer the sacrifice to God. Samuel then prophesied that God shall remove Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin, from the throne, and shall replace him with David, of the tribe of Judah, whom God had sought him because his heart was after God’s own heart. David shall not only be the king of Israel, but more importantly, he shall be the ancestor of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Indeed, let us truly believe in Jesus, and we shall have everlasting life with Him for all eternity. (Acts 13:21-24)
   
2. Save (14:1-35)
And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. (14:14)

Jonathan, Saul’s son, fully trusted God, and was wiser and braver than Saul, as he made successful exploits over the Philistines. However, Saul made several blunders and one of them was during the battle with the Philistines, when he ordered Israel to fast otherwise they would be cursed. Little did he know that it was his son who was cursed. Let us fully trust God, and know that only He can save us from hell to heaven. (Romans 10:8-10)

3. Salvation (14:36-52)
And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. (14:45)

If not for Israel pleading with Saul to spare Jonathan, who was instrumental in the great victory over the Philistines, he would have killed his own son. This demonstrated the character of Saul that he was a ruthless and selfish man even though he was the king. Indeed, salvation is only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, and just like He saved Jonathan from the curse, He shall also save us from Satan’s curse. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for saving my soul from fiery hell to glorious heaven.

1 Samuel 11 & 12: The Fear Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (11:7) And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

1. Fear (11:1-15)
And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. (11:15)

The heart of man is indeed desperately wicked, and only God can change it to the heart of righteousness. Israel’s enemies, the Ammonites, invaded them, and would only make a peace covenant with them, namely, the men of Jabesh, if they would blind their right eyes to shame Israel. The leaders of Jabesh then went to Saul who being led by God’s Spirit killed a yoke of oxen, and sent the cut pieces to all the land of Israel challenging them to follow him and Prophet Samuel. The fear of the LORD came upon all Israel, and they agreed to follow Saul and Samuel and fight against the Ammonites. This was the historic moment that Israel made Saul their first king at Gilgal to lead them to battles, after Samuel had earlier anointed him. (1 Samuel 10:1) Let us repent of our wickedness, and turn to God, and fear and serve Him, as He is our LORD and King. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)
   
2. Forget (12:1-12)
And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. (12:9)

The choice of the people may not be the voice of God. Though Israel chose Saul as their king, yet God only allowed it because they stubbornly refused to obey and submit to Him. Throughout the history of Israel, almost all their kings were evil and wicked, as they led their people in worshipping false gods and idols, and committing immorality and corruption. As Saul was made the first king of Israel, Samuel handed his leadership to him reminding Israel to submit to Saul, and most importantly to their only God and King. Indeed, God is longsuffering, as He desires all to come to His saving grace. (2 Peter 3:9)

3. Forsake (12:13-25)
For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. (12:22)

The reason why God never forsakes us, and keeps on loving and forgiving us, even though time and again we sin against Him, is because He has made us His chosen people to fear, praise and serve Him when we truly believe and trust in Him. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fear and serve You as You are my LORD and King.
 

1 Samuel 9 & 10: The Man Of God
Verse of the Day: (9:6) And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

1. The Man Of God (9:1-24)
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me? (9:21)

We will rather be a man of God than a man of power or popularity or fame or fortune, as the best thing in life is truly to please God, and have a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Prophet Samuel was indeed a man of God, as he was honoured throughout all Israel for all his prophesies came to pass. While looking for his father’s lost asses, Saul visited Samuel who not only prophesied to him the place where his missing asses were, but more importantly he prophesied to him that he shall be the first king of Israel. Saul doubted Samuel, and told him that he was not only the least in his family, but his Benjamite tribe was the smallest of all the tribes of Israel. Though Samuel subsequently anointed Saul as the first king of Israel, yet Saul eventually sinned against God because of his pride. Indeed, let us be a man of God who only seek to please and serve Him. (Galatians 1:10)
   
2. The Word Of God (7:25-27)
And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God. (9:27)

God’s man always reads and shares God’s Word because it is his heart’s desire. Before Samuel anointed Saul as the king of Israel, he shared God’s Word to him to prepare his heart to be the king after God’s heart and Word. However, Saul failed God, and instead it was his successor, King David, whom God commended him as a man after His own heart, and from his lineage came forth Jesus, the Saviour. (Acts 13:16-23) Indeed, let us read and share God’s Word that all may know Him, and sin not against Him. (Psalms 119:11)

3. The Hill Of God (10:1-27)
After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: (10:5)

Everything belongs to God. Not only Samuel was God’s man and prophesied God’s Word, but even the place where he and his prophets gathered to meet Saul was called the hill of God. Indeed, let us let go, and let God have His way in everything. (Job 1:21-22)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be a man of God who loves, fears and serves You.

1 Samuel 7 & 8: Serve The LORD Only
Verse of the Day: (7:4) Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 

1. Serve (7:1-4)
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. (7:3)

We can only serve one Master who is none other than the living and true God. Time and again, Israel failed God, as they doubted and disobeyed Him, and thus face His judgment and condemnation. Finally, after 20 years, God’s ark returned to Israel. God’s first prophet and priest, Samuel, challenged them to turn away from their false gods and idols, and worship and serve the LORD only. Let us indeed serve God only! (Matthew 6:24-34)
   
2. Sin (7:5-17)
And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. (7:6)

Either we serve God only or we sin against Him. If we are God’s children we shall serve Him only. Indeed there are many Christians who seemingly serve God but are actually serving themselves. Samuel challenged Israel to confess and repent their sins, fast and pray, and offer a young lamb as burnt offering to God. God answered them with a great thunder destroying the Philistines. Indeed, let us repent our sins, and serve God only with our work of faith, labour of love and patience of hope in Him. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

3. Samuel (8:1-22)
And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. (8:7)

Israel asked for a king just like all the nations of the world, but Samuel rebuked them that they must look to God as their only King. However, Israel insisted on having a king, and Samuel explained to them that their king would not only take their sons as soldiers, and their daughters as cooks, but he will also take their fields as well as the tenth of all their livestock. However, Israel still insisted on having a king, and God then told Samuel that they shall surely reap the consequences of having a king. This was why subsequently God only spoke to Israel through His prophets and not kings. (Hosea 13:9-11) Indeed, let us be like Christ who was obedient to God, His Father, even in death, as He willingly left heaven to come to earth, and to live and die for the sins of the world. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to serve You only as You are my King and everything.
 

1 Samuel 5 & 6: The Hand Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (5:6) But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 

1. Hand (5:1-12)
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. (5:11)

The hand of the LORD can do anything and there is nothing that He cannot do. God can save every man made in His image yet He makes man to decide for himself his own destiny. If man chooses to believe in his Creator, then his soul shall live forever with Him in glorious heaven, however, if man rejects Him, then his soul shall be cast into fiery hell. God uses His believers to share His salvation plan so that all may come to know Him. God’s ark was now with the Philistines because Israel had rejected Him, and therefore He allowed the Philistines to overcome them and took His ark to their own city. There the Philistines set God’s ark beside their god, Dagon, thinking that Dagon was greater than God’s ark. However, the hand of the LORD not only destroyed Dagon leaving it a stump, but He also destroyed many Philistines, and inflicted the rest with tumours. (Luke 1:37)
   
2. Heal (6:1-18)
And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. (6:3)

The Philistines’ priests commanded the Philistines to return God’s ark to Israel, together with jewels of gold in a new cart pulled by 2 female cows when normally it was pulled by the male ones, so that they would be healed of their tumours. Subsequently, the hand of God miraculously moved His ark, pulled by the cows, toward Israel, and away from their own calves at home, and against their maternal instincts. When Israel saw God’s ark, they celebrated with great joy. Indeed, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)     

3. Holy (6:19-21)
And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us? (6:20)

Not only God destroyed the Philistines, He also took the lives of 50,070 men of Bethshemesh because they looked at His ark when only the High Priest could look at. (Leviticus 16). Though we can never fully understand why God slayed the multitude in one day, yet we believe that He is a holy God, and He shall judge the sins of man. Indeed, we are only saved by God’s grace when we believe in Him by faith. (Ephesians 2:8-10)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your hand protects me until the day You promote me.

1 Samuel 3 & 4: Ichabod
Verse of the Day: (4:21) And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. 

1. I (3:1-21)
That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. (3:4)

God calls those whose hearts are willing to serve Him, rather than those who are qualified in the eyes of the world. Hannah prayed to God that if He would give her a male child, she would dedicate to Him. God indeed answered her with a male child named Samuel, who became His first prophet of Israel. Samuel’s heart was responsive as 3 times he answered God, Here am I, although he thought that the voice was from Eli, the priest. Before the Bible, God’s Word, was written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit, He would directly speak to men or used His creation or creatures such as the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6) or even an ass (Numbers 22:21-35). Today, God only speaks to men through the Bible, and let us read, study and meditate it, as it is His holy Word. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)   
    
2. Israel (4:1-18)
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he judged Israel forty years. (4:18)

There will always be enemies or oppositions in our lives, and it is really how we overcome them with God’s glory and grace. Israel’s long time enemy was the Philistines, and they were the toughest, and this time, they managed not only to defeat Israel, but took their ark of God, which represented God’s glory and grace. God allowed the Philistines to punish Israel because of their rebellion, as even Eli, the priest, had failed to lead Israel in serving God. Eli, who judged Israel for 40 years, fell off his seat and died, when he heard that the Philistines had taken God’s ark. For whom God loves, He disciplines them, so that they repent of their sins, and turn to Him. (Hebrews 12:1-11) 

3. Ichabod (4:19-22)
And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken. (4:22)

The worst for Christians is that God’s glory is far from us, while the best for us is that God’s glory is with and in us. Ichabod means God’s glory is departed, and His glory was indeed departed from Israel as they had sinned against Him. Except for Prophet Samuel, the rest of Israel, including Eli, the priest, sinned against God. This was why God allowed the Philistines not only to defeat them, but even took God’s ark from them. Let us hence grieve not God and the Holy Spirit in us once we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, but repent our sins, and please God and the Holy Spirit in us. (Ephesians 4:30-32)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always have Your glory and grace with and in me.

1 Samuel 1 & 2: Is Your Soul Bitter?
Verse of the Day: (1:10) And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 

1. Soul (1:1-18)
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. (1:12)

Keep praying to God even when our souls are bitter toward life as we experience life stresses, such as the desire to have children, or the loss of our health, or loved ones. Hannah was in bitterness of soul because her husband, Elkanah, had another wife, Peninnah, and they had children, while she had none. Hannah prayed and vowed to God that if God would give her a male child, she would dedicate him to God, and that no razor shall be upon his head as he would be a Nazarite fully devoted to Him. She continued praying until one day, Eli, the high priest, told her that God remembered her and heard her prayers, and she shall have a male child. Indeed, life maybe unfair and cruel, yet let us keep praying, as God remembers us, and He shall answer our prayers. (Luke 11:1-13)
    
2. Samuel (1:19-20)
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. (1:20)

Indeed, God is good all the time, as He removed the bitterness of Hannah’s soul and granted her a son whom she named, Samuel, meaning, I have asked him from God. Samuel grew to be a man of God, and God used him greatly as he was the last of the mighty judges and the first of the faithful prophet who would anoint the first 2 kings of Israel, namely, kings Saul and David. God refused Israel to have their king, like the rest of the countries, because He was truly their one and only perfect King. However, due to the hardness of men, God relented, and knew that they would have to learn the painful lessons of the failure of most of their kings who would rule over them. (1 Samuel 8:1-22)

3. Salvation (2:1-36)
And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. (2:1)

Hannah prayed and thanked God for her salvation and for the birth of her son, Samuel, and she looked to God, the Giver, rather than her gift, as only God shall never fail her. Subsequently, God gave her 3 more sons and 2 daughters. While she rejoiced in God, Eli grieved in God, because a man of God had prophesied to him that God shall judge and slay his 2 wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Indeed, let us only seek God, and His righteousness, and all the things that we desire shall be granted to us. (Matthew 6:33-34) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please remove the bitterness of my soul as I pray and trust in You.

Ruth 3 & 4: I Will Redeem It
Verse of the Day: (4:4) And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 

1. Ruth (3:1-18)
And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. (3:9)

In order for Naomi to perpetuate the lineage of her husband, Elimelech, and also to redeem their land, she must have a kinsman to marry her daughter in law, Ruth. This was why Ruth upon Naomi’s advice went to Boaz, Naomi’s kinsman, and requested him to marry her. Boaz was delighted to marry Ruth as he knew that she was a virtuous woman. However he told Ruth that there was another kinsman who was the closest to Naomi, and he would have to find out whether he would marry her. Indeed, Ruth was an epitome of a virtuous widow who was willing to remain faithful and loyal to her mother in law. Like Ruth, let us always be faithful and loyal to our God as well as others. (Proverbs 31:10-31) 
    
2. Redeem (4:1-12)
And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. (4:6)

The closest kinsman of Naomi refused to marry Ruth and redeemed her land because he was fearful of marring his own inheritance, and thus allowed Boaz to redeem it. Boaz willingly redeemed the land and married Ruth because he loved Ruth. As a result of the redemption, Boaz perpetuated the lineage of Elimelech to the great joy of Naomi. Indeed, Boaz was the type of Christ, because Christ willingly and lovingly left the splendour of heaven to come to this earth to die on the cross, and shed His precious blood to redeem the sins of the world, including yours and mine. Whoever therefore believes in Christ shall never perish in hell, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. (Ephesians 1:7-12)

3. Restorer (4:13-22)
And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. (4:15)

Boaz married Ruth and they had a son named Obed who not only was a restorer of their lives to support them in their old age, but from his lineage came forth Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Saviour. Indeed, though Ruth was a Moabitess or a Gentile, as well as a widow, yet she was more precious than even if Naomi had 7 sons, because she was truly faithful and loyal to her, and above all, to the true God of Israel. (Matthew 1:1-5)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You redeem me from my sins by Your precious blood.

Ruth 1 & 2: A Full Reward
Verse of the Day: (2:12) The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

1. Rest (1:1-13)
The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. (1:9)

Naomi was gracious to her two daughters in law, as she told them to return to their mothers’ homes since her two sons or their husbands had died, so that they could find new husbands and settled down and rest in the God of Israel. During those days as it is today, we can only find true rest when we let God build our families, otherwise we build in vain. Indeed, except the Lord builds our family, we shall build in vain. (Psalms 127)
    
2. Ruth (1:14-22)
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. (1:14)

Unlike Orpah, Ruth refused to leave Naomi, but cleaved to her and promised her that she shall go where she would go, and shall stay where she would stay, and her God would be her God, and she shall die and bury where she would die and bury and until death do them part. This demonstrated the great faith and trust that Ruth had in the God of Naomi. Though Naomi was sad and sorrowful by the departure of her beloved husband and two precious sons, yet she was greatly comforted and encouraged by Ruth’s faithfulness and loyalty to her, and to her true and living God. In fact, Ruth’s promises had become the famous wedding vows throughout the centuries where couples commit themselves to one another. This is the prelude to Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love for the world, in particular, His church or bride, when He left heaven and came to earth to die for her. Jesus is the Husband and the church is His wife, and as He loves His wife and gave His life for her, so must the husband loves his wife and willing to give his life for her. (Ephesians 5:21-27)

3. Reward (2:1-23)
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. (2:20)

At the end of Ruth’s life, God not only reward her trust in Him with her new husband, Boaz, who loved her, and was her kinsman redeemer, but He also blessed her with spiritual blessings in glorious heaven. Indeed, Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer as He redeems all who believe in Him from fiery hell to pearly heaven. Let us therefore keep loving and serving God amid great trials knowing that He is with us and He shall bless us with a full reward which we shall humbly place at His feet. (Revelation 22:12-13)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for Your full reward which is awaiting me as I serve You.

Judges 21: One Tribe Lacking
Verse of the Day: (21:3) And said. O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?

1. One (21:1-4)
And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; (21:2)

The tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out after Israel defeated them for siding with the wicked people of Gibeah, and they swore never to have their women married to them. However, God must have spoken to them and pricked their conscience as they worshipped Him in His sanctuary. They became guilty and repented of their sins and wept before Him. They then thought of ways as to how they could preserve the tribe of their youngest brother from extinction. Let us therefore forgive and love one another as our God is forgiving and loving so that we shall be His one big family. (Ephesians 4:1-32)
    
2. Oath (21:5-24)
And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death. (21:5)

God led Israel in preserving the Benjamites by destroying the people of Jabesh-gilead who earlier failed to honour their oath when they did not show up at Mizpeh for the fight against the Benjamites who had sided with the wicked men of Gibeah. Israel fought and defeated the people of Jabesh-gilead and brought their women to the Benjamites so that they could marry them, and thus preserve themselves from extinction. Beside the women of Jabesh-gilead, God through Israel also commanded the Benjamites to capture and marry the women of Shiloh, and the tribe of Benjamin was preserved. Indeed, God never failed Israel even though they failed Him many times. Till today, God still keeps His oath, as He not only preserved the Benjamites, but the entire nation of Israel. Let us therefore believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and we shall never perish in fiery hell, but shall be preserved through all eternity with Him in glorious heaven. (Deuteronomy 7:7-10)

3. Own (21:25)
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 

Israel failed God time and again, because they did what was right in their own eyes, and there was no king to lead and guide them. However, they should have look to God as their King, and trusted and obeyed Him. Indeed, let us trust and obey God with our hearts, and acknowledge Him as our King, and never be wise in our own eyes. (Proverbs 3:5-7) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fully trust You, and be not wise in my own eyes.
 

Judges 19 & 20: I Will Deliver
Verse of the Day: (20:28) And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

1. Divide (19:1-30)
And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. (19:29)

Israel rebelled against God, that even a Levite had a concubine who left him for other men, and then returned to her own home. He went after her and persuaded her to return to him, and she finally agreed. They were on their way home passing by Gibeah when they stayed at an old man’s house for the night. Then there came a group of wicked men who demanded the old man to turn his male guest to them so that they would commit immorality with him. He refused, but instead offered his daughter and the Levite’s concubine to them. They took the concubine and abused her and eventually she died. The Levites was devastated with her death, that he divided her into 12 pieces and sent them with messages to all Israel, telling them that the people of Gibeah had violated and killed his concubine. Indeed, our hearts are desperately wicked without God. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)
    
2. Death (20:1-25)
Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel: (20:13)

Israel prayed to God, and He answered them, and commanded them to fight against the wicked people of Gibeah who were actually with the tribe of Benjamin. However the Benjamites refused to hand them over to Israel, and hence the civil war began. Israel lost to the mighty Benjamites, and they prayed to God, and He commanded them to fight again. Finally, God gave them victory over the Benjamites. Indeed, the wages of sins is death, but God’s gift is eternal life with Him when we trust and obey Him. (Romans 6:23)

3. Deliver (20:26-48)
And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword. (20:35)

Though Israel kept sinning against God, yet when they called upon Him, He delivered them. Indeed, our God shall always deliver us when we call upon Him. (Psalms 50:15)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for delivering me as I call upon You in the day of trouble.

Judges 17 & 18: No Magistrate In The Land
Verse of the Day: (18:7) Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and there were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. 

1. Mother (17:1-13)
And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son. (17:2)

Be careful of our hearts and tongues, as out of them, we bless and curse God and man. Micah’s mother cursed the one who had stolen her money, then blessed her son as she realised that he stole it. Micah and her mother lived in Israel during the time when everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Instead of worshipping the true God, they worshipped idols, and Micah even consecrated one of his sons to be the priest, when they were not even from the tribe of Levi. They had indeed forsaken God and His holy commandments which He had given them through His servant, Moses. (James 3:1-12)
    
2. Magistrate (18:1-29)
In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. (18:1)

Not only Micah forsook God, even the tribe of Dan forsook God when they stole the idols from Micah’s house to worship them, while they were on the way searching the land to possess their inheritance. This is the pride and depravity of man that we will rather worship idols that we make than the true God who creates us. The Danites then chose to possess the land where there was no king or magistrate so that they could do what they pleased including shameful and evil deeds. This was the state of affairs and it must have grieved God very much. Let us therefore repent of our sins, and worship God who is our King and Magistrate, and do what is pleasing and good before Him. (Titus 3:1)

3. Micah (18:30-31)
And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. (18:31)

Not only Micah and the tribe of Dan, but the whole of Israel worshipped idols for a long time until their captivity. Indeed, man is full of himself, and this is why he makes idols to worship his own inventions, and refuse to acknowledge God who creates him. Let us flee from idolatry, and worship only the true God and our Saviour. (1 Corinthians 10:12-14)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my King and Magistrate whom I worship.

Judges 15 & 16: Remember Me
Verse of the Day: (16:28) And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

1. Revive (15:1-20)
But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day. (15:19)

Though God chose Samson to be His judge of Israel yet he sinned against Him time and again because he walked in the lust of his flesh and eyes. Though Samson failed to acknowledge God who gave him great victory over the 1,000 Philistines, Israel’s enemy, when He helped him to destroy them with just a jawbone, yet God refreshed and revived him with water from the hollow place of the jawbone when he called upon Him out of great thirst. Indeed, great is God’s faithfulness to His people! (Lamentations 3:22-23)
    
2. Razor (16:1-20)
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. (16:17)

Though God gave Samson strength that no man ever had, yet he failed God many times as he fell into the sins of immorality which eventually destroyed him. After several requests, Samson gave in to Delilah, a woman whom he loved yet she betrayed him to the Philistines for money, and told her the secret was in his hair that once they were shaven he would lose his strength. Let us obey God, and flee from immorality. (Proverbs 6:20-35)

3. Remember (16:21-31)
And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. (16:30)

Delilah betrayed Samson to the Philistines who then blinded him and threw him in the prison, and subsequently made him a sport. While he was before the Philistines, he called upon God, and God remembered him, and strengthened him, and restored his strength back after his hairs grew while was in prison. He then pulled down the house where the Philistines were watching him, and destroyed all of them including himself. In his death, he destroyed more Philistines than when he was alive. Indeed, God truly remembers Samson as his name is even penned in the book of Hebrews of the Bible. (Hebrews 11:32)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please remember me as I fully trust and obey You and flee from sins.
 

Judges 11 & 12: The Spirit Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (11:29) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

1. Son (11:1-28)
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. (11:1)

Everyone including Christians has strength and weaknesses and we will only be perfect when we get to heaven. Though Jephthah was a mighty man of valour, yet he was the son of an harlot and was rejected by his people. However the day came when the Ammonites declared war against them that the elders of Israel pleaded with Jephthah to be their captain. Jephthah agreed to their request provided that they made him the head of Israel if he would succeed in overcoming the Ammonites. Subsequently he led Israel to victory and became the judge of Israel. Indeed, though we are sinners rejected by God, but once we believe in and receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we become His sons. (John 1:12)
    
2. Spirit (11:29-40)
And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. (11:33)

The Spirit of God was with Jephthah, and he led Israel to completely subdue the Ammonites. However, Jephthah was too rash in making his vow to God as he offered to Him the first individual who would meet him at the door of his house if he would win the war. He never thought that the first person to meet him was his only child instead of his servants. As a result of his vow, his only daughter was offered to God, and she remained single for the rest of her life. Indeed, though we are God’s children, and His Spirit is in us, yet let us be careful of what we vow to Him, otherwise we live to regret. (John 14:15-17)  

3. Shibboleth (12:1-15)
Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand. (12:6)

Pride is the main cause of divorce, church splits and the fall of organisations. There was civil war in Israel as the Ephraimites fought against Israel because they were angry that they were not called to fight against the Ammonites. However, the real reason was their pride. Subsequently, Israel defeated the Ephraimites, only when they would pronounce Shibboleth as Sibboleth, and this was how Israel distinguished them. Indeed, let us humble ourselves before God knowing that without Him, we are nothing. (James 4:1-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Your Holy Spirt dwells in me now and forever.

Judges 13 & 14: Seeing It is Secret
Verse of the Day: (13:18) And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

1. Secret (13:1-23)
But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink: neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. (13:7)

Certain things happened to us will always remain a secret to us, until the day we meet God. Though we know all things work together for good to them who love God, yet sometimes we find it hard to accept the loss of our loved ones, just like I lost my younger son through sudden death. God’s angel told Manoah that his name was a secret after he had prophesied that his wife shall have a son who shall be a Nazarite for life, and he shall be the judge of Israel. The Nazarites were never to take strong drink, or eat or touch any unclean thing because their lives were solely dedicated to God. Indeed, let us solely dedicate our lives to God as He is our Saviour, Lord and everything. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
    
2. Samson (13:24-25)
And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. (13:24)

Manoah’s son was none other than Samson, the strongest man in all ages, who was also mentioned in the hall of faith in the Book of Hebrews of the Bible for his faith in God, though he actually failed God many times. Indeed, only by God’s grace are we saved through our faith, and not of ourselves, lest we should boast of it. (Hebrews 11:32-34)

3. Sweet (14:1-20)
And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. (14:18)

Samson gave the Philistines a riddle when he was about to marry one of their women. He knew from birth that the Philistines were his enemies and this was the great opportunity to mock them with a riddle that they could never solve. However, they went to his fiancé, and threatened to burn her and her father’s house if she refused to tell them the answer. She then wept and pleaded with Samson, and after 7 days, which was the deadline for the riddle, he told her. When they told Samson the answer, he knew that it must be his wife who snitched on him, because he had only told her that the answer that the strong was the lion, and the sweetness was the honey, because he had killed a lion, and subsequently the bees came and produced honey in the carcass of the lion. Instead of Samson mocking them, they mocked him. Indeed, let us trust God as only He never fails us. (Psalms 118:8)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to accept by faith the secret things of my life from You.

Judges 9 & 10: God Reigns!
Verse of the Day: (9:2) Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 

1. Reign (9:1-55)
And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. (9:5)

Only God reigns, and no one else! God is indeed the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Gideon knew that only God deserved to reign, and therefore he refused to rule Israel when the people asked him to rule over them. However, Gideon’s son, Abimelech, from his concubine who was in Shechem, eyed the throne of Israel, and with the help of the people of Shechem he killed his 70 step-brothers, except Jotham, the youngest brother, who hid himself. Abimelech then became the judge of Israel for 3 years. However, God spoke to Jotham that Abimelech’s rule shall not be for long, just like the bramble that shall catch fire and be destroyed, he shall be judged and punished. (Revelation 19:11-21)
    
2. Render (9:56-57)
Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: (9:56)

God is not mocked as we shall reap what we sow. If we sow our belief and trust in God, we shall reap His blessings, however if we sow unbelief and wickedness, we shall reap His judgment. Let us commit everything to God, especially the wicked, because He shall eventually judge them. God judged Abimelech as the people of Shechem who once helped him now fought against him. During the battle, a woman from a tower threw a millstone upon his head, and injured him. Instead of seeking for help, he ordered his armour bearer to kill him as he refused to die in the woman’s hand. (Galatians 6:7-10)  

3. Ride (10:1-18)
And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. (10:4)

God desires leaders to lead their people so that they have a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty, yet many times they fail to trust and obey God, and therefore the people experience chaos and conflict because of unbelief and dishonesty. Unlike Jerubbaal, who strayed from God, the next judge, Jair, who had 30 sons riding 30 ass colts, walked with God and judged Israel for 22 years. Let us therefore pray for our leaders that they be godly so that we shall lead a quiet and peaceful life. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for being the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Judges 7 & 8: Faint Yet Pursuing
Verse of the Day: (8:4) And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

1. Pitcher (7:1-25)
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. (7:16)

God’s greatest desire is for man who is made in His image to worship Him and acknowledge Him, that without Him, man is nothing. This was why God chose Gideon, an unknown man, to lead Israel against their enemies. God commanded Gideon to reduce his army from 32,000 to 300 men, and to use pitchers, lamps and trumpets, instead of shields, swords and spears, to fight against the Midianites. God wanted them to know that it was never about them or their instruments, but Him who shall defeat their enemies. Gideon chose 300 men who were not just courageous, but vigilant, as they drank water by putting their hands to their mouths looking around for their enemies, instead of the rest who bowed down to drink. Indeed, we must be courageous and vigilant, as we wrestle not just against our flesh and enemies, but against the dark forces of the devil. (1 Peter 5:8-11)
    
2. Pursuing (8:1-21)
And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. (8:5)

Let us not only start well in our Christian race, be it a sprint (some like my beloved son only lived for 16 years) or a marathon, but persevere and finish well, even when there are many challenges along the track. Though Gideon and the 300 men were fainting, yet they kept pursing after the two kings of Midian to eliminate them, otherwise there shall be no peace in Israel. Finally, God gave them the victory as they managed to destroy them. Let us therefore not only start well, but finish well our race with patience and perseverance, and always looking to Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)  

3. Prey (8:22-35)
And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) (8:24)

Though Gideon was a man of God yet in his last days he led Israel to sin against God when he made an ephod of gold from all the spoils of their enemies. Israel began worshipping the golden ephod which they could see with their eyes, instead of by faith worshipping the invisible and true God who loved and delivered them from their enemies. Indeed, let us worship the true God, who is a Spirit, in spirit and in truth. (John 4:21-24)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to start and finish well my Christian race with You.

Judges 5 & 6: I Will Be With Thee
Verse of the Day: (6:16) And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. 

1. God (5:1-31)
Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. (5:3)

God has blessed His people made in His image to praise Him, and this is why many, if not all the people, love to sing, and especially, Christians, who are thankful to Him for saving our souls as we believe in Him. Every time when God delivered Israel from their enemies, they sang praises to Him for His deliverance. Deborah and Barak sang the song of praise to God for His deliverance of Israel from the Canaanites. Not only God delivered Israel from their enemies, but He also taught them that He could use the women to be the help meet of men to accomplish His work. Indeed, not only God used Deborah, He also used another woman, Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, to destroy Sisera, the captain of the army of Canaan. Thus Israel overcame the Canaanites. (Colossians 3:15-17) 
    
2. Gideon (6:1-32)
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. (6:13)

Many times, if not all the time, God uses the most unlikely people for His will and work to prove to man that it is not man, but God, who enables and empowers man to achieve and accomplish His work. God chose and called Gideon, the most unlikely man, as he was the youngest of a poor family of the tribe of Manasseh. However, God encouraged Gideon that He shall be with him to lead Israel to overcome their enemies, the Midianites. Indeed with God we can do everything but without Him we can do nothing. (John 15:1-5)  

3. Ground (6:33-40)
And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. (6:40)

There is nothing that our God cannot do, as He is the Creator and Saviour of the entire world and universe. Though God had called Gideon, yet he doubted Him and tested Him by requesting Him that the dew be on the fleece of wool only, and all the ground be dry, and God answered his request the next day. However, Gideon was not fully convinced, and this time he asked God to have the dew on all the ground only, and the fleece be dry, and again God answered his request the next day. By now, Gideon was fully convinced that God was with him to help him lead Israel to overcome the Midianites. (Luke 1:37)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my Saviour who is with me now and forever.

Judges 3 & 4: Deborah, A Prophetess
Verse of the Day: (4:4) And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 

1. Deliverer (3:1-11)
And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. (3:9)

God sends crises and challenges to prove and test our faith and trust in Him. Time and again, Israel sinned against God, such as committing immorality, corruption and marrying the unbelievers and worshipping their false gods and idols, and thus straying from Him. However, when Israel repented their sins, immorality and corruption and called upon God, He would send deliverers and judges to deliver them out of their sins and enemies. Othniel was the first deliverer of Israel that God sent to lead them to overcome their enemy, Chushan-rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia. As a result, Israel and the land had rest for 40 years. Indeed, let us repent of our sins and call upon God, and He shall deliver us, and grant us rest for our souls now and forever. (Matthew 11:28-30) 
    
2. Dagger (3:12-31)
But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. (3:16)

Though men may think we are great and talented, yet without God who is our Creator and Saviour, we are nothing. Indeed, God’s deliverers were ordinary people, and even their instruments were ordinary ones, such as daggers and goads, and it was God who was behind all their victories and successes over their enemies. Ehud, the next deliverer, used a dagger to destroy Eglon, the king of Moab, and delivered them out of the Moabites. Let us put on God’s armour of His salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, faith and Word, and above all, prayers, to defeat the Devil and all his evil temptations. (Ephesians 6:10-19)  

3. Deborah (4:1-24)
And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. (4:9)

Though the husband is the head of his wife, and man is the leader of the home, yet God, our Creator, treats both men and women with love and grace. In the beginning, God took one of the ribs of the first man, Adam, and not his skull or toe bone, to make the first woman, so that she was equal with him, and a help meet for him, and not his master or his slave. Indeed, God used a woman deliverer, Deborah, a prophetess, to mobilise Barak, the general of the army of Israel to overcome Sisera, the captain of army of Canaan. God then honoured Deborah for her role in taking down Israel’s enemies. (Genesis 2:20-25)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You save and sanctify us regardless of our sex or race.

Judges 1 & 2: Who Shall Deliver You?
Verse of the Day: (1:2) And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 

1. Deliver (1:1-18)
Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? (1:1)

God always deliver us as we trust and obey Him and call upon Him. Though Joshua led Israel to victory over their enemies and possessed the Promised Land, yet he failed to have a leader to succeed him. After his death, Israel cried to God as to which leader or tribe would lead them into battle against their enemies, and He commanded them that the tribe of Judah shall lead them. Though they had victory over the Canaanites, yet they did not completely destroyed them because of unbelief. Indeed, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came from the tribe of Judah, and He shall lead the world in overcoming Satan, our greatest enemy. In the beginning, Satan deceived Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit and thus sinned against God. However, God’s redemption plan is to send Jesus to die for the sins of the whole world that whoever repents his sins and believes in Him shall never perish in hell but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. (Matthew 1:1-3)
    
2. Drive (1:19-36)
And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. (1:28)

Be careful of the little foxes or sins that will slowly but surely ruin our lives. Though time and again God delivered Israel from their enemies as they called upon Him yet they did not completely destroy their enemies, but allowed a remnant to remain which subsequently grew in numbers and became thorns in their lands even to this day. Let us therefore confess and repent our sins, even the so-called little sins, though they may seem insignificant, but slowly and surely they will destroy our lives. (Song of Solomon 2:15)

3. Distress (2:1-23)
Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. (2:15)

If God is for us, who can be against us? However, if God is against us, we are in trouble! Israel was in distress as God was against them because they disobeyed and rebelled against Him. Time and again God delivered them as they called upon Him, yet Israel was unthankful and ungrateful to Him. Let us hence be thankful and grateful to God each time as we call upon Him, and He delivers us from all our challenges and crises. (Romans 8:31)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for always delivering me as I trust and obey You.

Joshua 23 & 24: Serving The LORD
Verse of the Day: (24:15) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 

1. Souls (23:1-16)
And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. (23:14)

What matters most is where you will go after you die. You may not believe in God, and you may think that death is final, but what happen if there is a God, and that you have a soul, and your soul will either go to God’s heaven or the devil’s hell. Indeed, there is a God, and when we believe in Him, we shall not die, but our souls shall live forever in glorious heaven. However, if we reject God, our souls will be condemned in hell because of our sins and wrongdoings. Joshua came to the end of his life story, and he truly believed with all his heart and soul that when he would depart from this earth, he shall be promoted to heaven to be with his God forever. In his last words, he encouraged Israel to keep loving and serving God, as His promises never fail, not even once. (Mark 8:34-38)
    
2. Serve (24:1-15)
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. (24:14)

Unless we serve God with sincerity and truth and as living sacrifices, He shall never accept our service. Joshua’s last challenge to Israel was that they must choose to serve God, and put away their idols, including their career and family, or anything that, or anyone who, stood between God and them. Indeed, God desires us to seek Him first and love Him with all our hearts because He first loves us, and gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins, so that we shall have everlasting lives with Him in heaven. (Romans 12:1)
 
3. Servant (24:16-33)
And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. (24:29)

God’s servant is one who serves Him sincerely until the day He calls him home. Joshua was God’s servant as he served Him without wavering to the end. Israel was indeed blessed by his testimony, and they too served God to the end. Let us leave a legacy of service to God so that our next generation will also serve Him like us. (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to serve You until the day You call me home to heaven.

Joshua 21 & 22: All Came To Pass
Verse of the Day: (21:45) There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

1. Aaron (21:1-42)
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities. (21:4)

Except for the tribe of Levi, God blessed Israel with the inheritance of the Promised Land. However, there were still 12 lots as God chose to bless Joseph with 2 lots for his 2 sons, namely, Ephraim and Manasseh. Though the Levites had no inheritance yet God blessed them with 48 cities that were scattered over the Promised Land, and of which 6 were the cities of refuge, where alleged murderers took refuge until sufficient evidence had been gathered for their judgment, or they were released upon the death of the high priest. God blessed the descendants of Aaron as His chosen priests, and gave them 13 cities as their inheritance. Today, we, who believe in Jesus, are chosen as God’s priests. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

2. All (21:43-45)
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. (21:44)

God’s Word and promises shall surely come to pass. God promised Israel that He shall fight for them and grant them rest. Indeed God fought for Israel, and delivered all their enemies into their hand, and grant them great victory. However, Israel failed to possess all the Promised Land, neither did they had rest, because of their unbelief. (Hebrews 4:11)

3. Altar (22:1-34)
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God. (22:34)

Be sober and vigilant and find out the truth first before jumping to conclusion as the Devil seeks to divide and destroy God’s family and ministry. Israel almost had a civil war when they found out that the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh had erected an altar on the east side of Jordan River, which was their inheritance. Israel assumed that they rebelled against God by erecting another altar for their sacrifices beside the altar at the tabernacle which resided with them. However, they explained to Israel that they erected the altar as a memorial so that their descendants would know that God had blessed them with an inheritance, and that they had helped Israel, their people, to fight against the enemies. Israel was pleased with their clarification, and called the altar, Ed or Witness, as it was a witness to all Israel that the LORD is God. (1 Peter 5:8) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that all Your Word and promises shall surely come to pass.
 

Joshua 19 & 20: Too Much For Them
Verse of the Day: (19:9) Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them. 

1. Judah (19:1-48)
And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. (19:1)

God loves His children so much that He blesses them with much more than they ask from Him. In the allocation of the Promised Land, God gave the tribe of Judah too much that they had to share it with their fellow tribe, Simeon. Indeed, God blessed Judah, because Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, shall come from this kingly tribe. All the 12 tribes gladly received God’s allotment, because they knew that without Him miraculously opening the Red sea and river Jordan, and destroying the walls of Jericho, and overcoming all their enemies, they would never have inherited all the Promised Land. (Ephesians 3:20-21) 

2. Joshua (19:49-51)
According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein. (19:50)

God remembered all His children especially His leaders, and He shall richly reward and bless them. God rewarded Joshua with the city of Timnathserah that he had asked for, because he had victoriously led Israel in overcoming their enemies and possessing the Promised Land. Indeed, let us pray and ask God for all our needs and desires, and He shall fulfil them according to His will, and for His glory and praise. (Matthew 7:7-12)

3. Judgment (20:1-9)
And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled. (20:6)

God is just and fair, and He only punishes those who intentionally sin or rebel against Him. God through Joshua commanded Israel to appoint 6 cities of refuge where those who were accused of murder shall seek refuge in them. They would dwell in these cities until the day when they were called by the people for judgment after they had gathered evidence against them, or upon the death of the high priest. When we believe in God, we must be just and fair in our dealings with others, as one day, we shall appear before His judgment seat, and He shall judge us for our works on earth. Indeed, let us be found faithfully and diligently doing His works for His glory and praise. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You give me everything in abundance for Your glory.

Joshua 17 & 18: Great People, Great Power
Verse of the Day: (17:17) And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only

1. Joseph (17:1-18)
But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. (17:18)

God blessed the 2 sons of Joseph; Ephraim and Manasseh, each with an inheritance, and hence Joseph had 2 lots and was regarded as 2 tribes of Israel, because Joseph helped Pharaoh of Egypt in providing for his people during the time of famine, as well as the people of Israel, and the rest of the world. Now Joshua challenged the 2 sons of Joseph, the 2 great peoples with great power, to completely drive out the Canaanites, and possessed all the Promised Land. Though there were 12 sons of Jacob yet Levi had no inheritance because God was their inheritance, and therefore the 2 sons of Joseph made up the rest of the 12 tribes. Though God blessed Israel, yet she must believe in Him, otherwise, they could not claim all the Promised Land. Today, we must believe in God, and claim His promises, otherwise we are still in the bondage of sins. (Romans 7:22-25) 

2. Joshua (18:1-10)
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you? (18:3)

Though we are God’s people, yet we must believe in Him and continually walk in His Spirit, instead of our flesh. Though God gave Israel the victory over their enemies, yet there were still 7 tribes who had not completely received their inheritance. Joshua rebuked them for their slothfulness. Even today, Israel have yet to claim all the Promised Land because of their slothfulness and unbelief. Indeed, God shall only richly bless and keep us, when we walk in His Spirit, and not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Romans 8:1-6)

3. Jerusalem (18:11-28)
And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families. (18:28)

Though Benjamin was one of the smaller tribes, yet one of its cities, Jerusalem, was the site of the temple of God as well as the palace of the King of Israel. In fact, one day, during the Millennium, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, shall reign and destroy the old Jerusalem and create a new Jerusalem on a new earth. During this period, He shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there shall be no more pain or even death. (Revelation 21:1-4)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am a great people with great power because of You.

Joshua 15 & 16: Give Me A Blessing
Verse of the Day: (15:19) Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs. 

1. Caleb (15:1-62)
And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. (15:16)

Whose fathers shall not give the best to their children if they truly love them? This is even more so for the perfect and heavenly Father, who loves His children or those who believe in Him, that He shall give them the best. Caleb, one of God’s servants gave his best to Achash, his daughter, when she asked him for springs of water. Not only did he gave her both the upper and the lower springs, he also gave her and her husband a south land. Caleb also fulfilled his promise when he gave his daughter in marriage to Othniel, as he had offered her to anyone who could overcome the city of Kirjathsepher, their enemy. Othniel did, and thus he married Achsah. God always fulfil His promises, and shall grant the desires of those who call upon Him according to His will. (Matthew 7:7-12)

2. Children (15:63)
As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day. 

Though God promises us to grant us His rich blessings, yet we must first seek and obey Him first. This was why the children of Judah could not completely drive their strong enemies, the Jebusites, from the land. In fact, until today, Israel has never fully claimed all the Promised Land. Let us seek God and His righteousness first, and He shall grant us all our desires and needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Let us live one day at a time and never worry about the future as God is already there. (Matthew 6:33-34)

3. Canaanites (16:1-10)
And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute. (16:10)

It is not easy to live victoriously for God if we have not fully trust and obey Him, and put on His whole armour consisting of the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the sword of His Word and above all, prayer. Beside the children of Judah who failed to fully drive out the enemies, the children of Ephraimites, also could not totally drive out the enemies, the Canaanites. What went wrong? They failed to obey God and put on His armour and thus unable to overcome all the enemies and inherit all the Promised Land. (Ephesians 6:10-19)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please give me Your richest blessings as I fully trust and obey You.

Joshua 13 & 14: Wholly Followed The LORD
Verse of the Day: (14:8) Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

1. Five (13:1-33)
From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: (13:3)

God’s work can never be completed even until the day we die, as there will always be millions of souls who have yet to hear the Gospel that Jesus saves. The harvest of souls is plenty, but the labourers are few. This was why though God blessed Joshua at his dying moment, yet He told him that there was still much land to be possessed as He promised Israel the entire Canaan, but they had not fully completed their conquest. Indeed, life is short, and like Joshua and Apostle Paul, may we declare at the end of our lives that we have indeed fought a good fight, finish our course, and keep the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

2. Follow (14:1-9)
And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. (14:9)

It is easy to believe in God, but to repent of our sins, and wholly follow and obey Him is the hardest. Caleb was one of the few men who truly believed in God, and repented of his sins, and wholly followed Him. Subsequently, God through Moses blessed him the land of Hebron as his inheritance. Let us keep on following and serving God as He remembers our obedience and labour of love, and shall truly reward us in due time. (Hebrews 6:10)

3. Fourscore (14:10-15)
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. (14:10)

Age is only a number, and it is our mind and heart that truly determines how much zeal and passion we live for God and His Word. Though Caleb was 85 years old, yet he proclaimed that he was as strong as he was 45 years ago when Moses first sent him out as a spy. In fact, only he and Joshua, the 2 out of the 12 spies, came back and assured Israel that they could overcome their enemies, while the rest refused to fight claiming that their enemies were too strong for them. Subsequently, Israel fought and won and inherited the Promised Land, because it was God who fought for them! (1 Corinthians 15:57-58) 

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to wholly follow You, and obey Your Commandments.

Joshua 11 & 12: A Long Time
Verse of the Day: (11:8)
Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

1. Tomorrow (11:1-14)
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. (11:6)

Divide and conquer. This was the strategy that God gave to Joshua and Israel, and since then many army generals used this strategy to battle and win wars. Joshua led Israel to attack and defeat Jericho, the central area of Canaan, before they moved to the South to overcome their enemies. They then moved to the North, and faced off with their enemies who were countless in numbers. Joshua and Israel feared their strong and formidable enemies and thought this time they would surely fail in their mission to possess their Promised Land. However, again God encouraged and promised Joshua and Israel that the next day He shall fight for them and they shall surely defeat their enemies if they would only trust and obey Him. Indeed, God overcame their enemies, and they immobilised their enemies’ horses and burn their chariots so that there shall be no more weapons of war in the future. Though the best strategy of winning wars is to divide and conquer, yet the best strategy of God for His people is to unite and love one another! (Psalms 133) 

2. Time (11:15-23)
As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. (11:15)

God shall deliver us from all our troubles only when we obey Him and wait patiently for Him. Moses and Joshua obeyed God and wait patiently for Him, and this was why He opened the Red Sea and delivered Moses and Israel from the Egyptians, and He opened the Jordan river and let Joshua and Israel crossed it dry to fight their enemies and possessed their Promised Land. Both Moses and Joshua took a long time before God finally grant them victory over their enemies. Indeed, it may take a long time for us to accomplish God’s plan, but let us keep obeying and waiting upon Him. (Isiah 40:31)

3. Thirty-one (12:1-24)
The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one. (12:24)

We shall live victoriously when we obey God and wait patiently for Him in everything. Joshua and Israel obeyed God and fought a long time with their enemies before they overcame the 31 kingdoms of their enemies and finally possessed their Promised Land. Indeed, let us pray and wait patiently for God as though everything depends on Him, and let us work and serve Him as though everything depends on us. (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to obey You, and wait patiently for You in everything.

Joshua 9 & 10: Sun Stood Still
Verse of the Day: (10:13) And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 

1. Shoes (9:1-27)
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. (9:5)

Let us first seek God in everything, otherwise, we shall reap the consequences of our disobedience. This was exactly what happened to Joshua and Israel when they sought not God, and was deceived by the Gibeonites who wore old clothes and shoes telling them that they were from a far country. Instead of destroying them as God had commanded them, Israel made allegiance with them. Subsequently, Israel reaped the consequences of their rebellion as the Gibeonites became their perpetual enemies. (Matthew 6:33)

2. Sun (10:1-14)
Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sin, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. (10:12)

God answers prayers when we pray to Him according to His will. As Israel were fighting the 5 kings of the Amorites, Joshua prayed to God to let the sun and the moon stood still, so that they could have more time to destroy their enemies. Indeed, God miraculously answered them, as the sun and moon stood still the whole day until they destroyed all their enemies, except for the 5 kings who escaped and hid in the cave. (Jeremiah 33:3)

3. Stones (10:15-43)
And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day. (10:27)

We can never prevail against God as He is the Almighty God. Joshua and Israel came to know that the 5 kings were hiding in the cave, and immediately rolled great stones to block their exit. After they had completely destroyed their enemies, they captured the 5 kings and hanged them upon the trees. They then brought their corpses into the same cave they hid, and covered the entrance with the great stones. Indeed, God helped Israel to overcome all their enemies who were wicked people so as to tell the whole world and you and me that He is the Potter and we are the clay. Whoever believes in Christ shall never perish in fiery hell, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven. (Isaiah 64:8)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to trust fully You that You can do all things except fail.

Joshua 7 & 8: Fear Not
Verse of the Day: (8:1) And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land

1. Few (7:1-26)
And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. (7:3)

Why Israel manage to defeat a great city like Jericho, but failed to overcome a small city like Ai? Sins in the camp and complacency! Joshua and Israel thought that they could defeat Ai with only 2,000 to 3,000 men as Ai had only few people, but they failed to realise that it was God who shall grant them victory over their enemies. The reason for the defeat of Ai was that there were sins in the camp, as Achan had stolen and kept the forbidden spoils of their enemies. Subsequently, God revealed to Joshua that Achan from the tribe of Judah was the culprit. Achan, his family and possessions were then stoned and burnt to death. Though Achan was from Judah, and her reputation had been tarnished, yet God did not condemn her, and even blessed her as out of her came forth Jesus, the Saviour of the world. Indeed, God is fair in His dealing with mankind. (Matthew 1:1-3) 

2. Fear (8:1-23)
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. (8:18)

Just like God commanded Moses to fear not, and to stretch out his hand with his rod, as He miraculously opened the Red Sea to let Israel crossed it dry so as to escape the pursuing Egyptians, He also commanded Joshua to fear not, and to stretch out his hand with his spear, as He shall miraculously defeat Ai for them. Indeed, God taught Moses, Joshua, Israel, you and me, that it is not really the rod or the spear or anything or anyone, but God alone, who shall overcome all our struggles and storms. (Exodus 14:13-22)

3. Fallen (8:24-35)
And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword. (8:24)

Indeed, God gave Joshua and Israel great victory over Ai, as all the people, except their King (who was subsequently hanged) were fallen and destroyed, as they trusted and obeyed Him. They then built an altar before God to thank Him for His great deliverance.

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fear not, but to trust and obey You and You alone.
 

Joshua 5 & 6: And Joshua Did So
Verse of the Day: (5:15) And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. 

1. Jordan (5:1-8)
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. (5:1)

When God is with us, no one, not even the Devil, can be against us. The great enemies of Israel were fearful of them when they heard that God had miraculously dried up the Jordan River for them to cross dry to their territory to fight against them. (Romans 8:31)

2. Joshua (5:9-15)
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. (15:9)

Gilgal means “rolling away”, and God rolled away the shame of Egypt from Israel as they repented their sins of rebellion. God then commanded Joshua to circumcise the young generation who were 19 years and below who survived the 40 years’ wilderness journey, while those 20 years and above, except for Joshua and Caleb, died because of their disobedience. Today, we no longer practise circumcision, but God shall circumcise our hearts to make us holy as we believe in and receive Jesus, His Son, as our personal Saviour. Joshua obeyed God without questioning, and God sent His Captain, Jesus, to encourage him just before he led Israel to their victory over Jericho. (Numbers 14:29-30)

3. Jericho (6:1-27)
And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. (6:2)

God assured Joshua before he even led Israel to overcome Jericho that He had already given Jericho to them. This is God’s promise to every of His children that He shall grant us victory over all our trials, troubles and temptations, as we trust and obey Him. God commanded Joshua and Israel to go round the city of Jericho once for 6 consecutive days, and 7 times on the 7th day, and as the priests would blow the trumpets, and Israel shall shout with a great shout, and the walls shall fall. The wall did fall, and Israel defeated Jericho. Though in the book of Hebrews, God mentions “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days” yet there was no mention of Joshua’s name when God commends a number of them for their faith. Indeed, it is never about man’s great achievements, but it is all about God, and His great work. (Hebrews 11:30)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to obey Your commandments without questioning.
 

Joshua 3 & 4: Be Sanctified
Verse of the Day: (3:5) And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

1. Sanctify (3:1-8)
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. (3:8)

Unless we yield our lives to God and let Him sanctify us from all our sins, He cannot use us for His holy work and glory. This was why God commanded Israel through Joshua to sanctify themselves before He would miraculously open the Jordan River so that they could cross it dry into the land of Canaan where they shall then fight against their enemies to possess their Promised Land. God commanded Israel not to panic or worry, but to stand still when they would come to the brink of the water and believe that God shall indeed perform a great miracle for them, and for His glory. Let us therefore be still and sanctify ourselves so that God can use us for His holy work and glory. (Romans 6:13)

2. Soles (3:9-17)
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. (3:13)

The ark of the LORD represented God, and His command was that when the soles of the priests carrying the ark touched the waters of Jordan River, the waters shall stop flowing and shall stand like a heap. It was beyond their imagination when God did that, and Israel knew that He was indeed the true God, and Joshua was their leader after Moses, whom God also used him to perform the miracle of the opening the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:21-22)

3. Stones (4:1-24)
Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. (4:7)

We are to bring up our children in the admonition of God, and most importantly share the gospel to them so that they receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, at a young age, as death comes to everyone young or old. This was why God commanded twelve men out of the twelve tribes of Israel to gather a stone each and carry it to the other side where Joshua shall set them up at Gilgal, to remind their children and their future generations of how God had miraculously opened the River Jordan for them to cross dry. (Ephesians 6:4)     

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please sanctify and use me for Your holy work and glory.
 

Joshua 1 & 2: Be Strong
Verse of the Day: (1:6) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 

1. Strong (1:1-18)
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. (1:7)

Why did God keep encouraging Joshua, the successor of Moses, the leader of Israel, to be strong and courageous? It was because Joshua knew that what he was about to do for God was impossible in the human mind. He was to lead Israel to cross the river Jordan and fight the enemies on the other side so as to possess God’s Promised Land. Without boats how could Israel cross the river Jordan? Without swords, spears, shields and armours how could Israel fight the enemies and possess the Land? Yet God encouraged and enabled Joshua that He shall be with him and Israel, and He shall open the river Jordan, just like He had opened the Red Sea for Moses. Indeed God fought for Israel, and they managed to overcome their enemies and possessed the Promised Land. The only thing that Joshua and Israel did was to trust and obey God and His commandments. Indeed, let us trust and obey God, and be strong and courageous, and believe that God is able to help us overcome our struggles and storms, just like He did for the nation of Israel. (Psalms 46)
  
2. Spy (2:1-8)
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there. (2:1)

Moses and Joshua failed to trust God when they sent out spies to their enemy’s territories. When God promises, He shall deliver, yet man fails to believe in Him. Just like Moses, Joshua send spies to Jericho to assess how great their walls and army were. Though he failed God, yet God still protected his spies, and used Rahab, a prostitute, to help the spies escaped, when the king of Jericho discovered that Israel had sent out spies to infiltrate their land. Though Rahab was an immoral woman, yet when she repented of her sins, and believed in the God of Israel, God used her to delivering the spies. Let us repent of our sins, and God is always faithful to forgive us our sins and to bless us. (1 John 1:9)

3. Save (2:9-24)
And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. (2:13)

As a result of Rahab delivering the spies out of Jericho, and her request to the spies, God delivered her and her entire extended family when Israel defeated Jericho. (Joshua 6:25)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be strong even as I go through life’s hardest trial.
 

Deuteronomy 33 & 34: Servant Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (34:5) So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

1. Saints (33:1-25)
Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words. (33:3)

Everyone shall die, and all of us shall have our life stories that people may talk about, and so what is your life story? May our life story be that of Moses, a servant of the LORD, who loved and feared God, though he failed God many times, but God had never failed him, not even once! In Moses’ dying moment, he blessed Israel and all the tribes, and admonished and encouraged them that God truly loved them, His saints and servants, and His rich blessings shall always be upon them and their descendants when they chose to obey and fear Him. However, Moses also reminded and warned them of the grave consequences of their sins and rebellion if they chose to disobey and rebel against Him. God knew Israel including every tribe and every man, and He knows us too, even the number of hairs we have on our head, because He is our Creator. God truly loves us with an everlasting love, and His greatest desire is that we confess and repent our sins, and believe and trust in Him, and He shall be with us forever. However, if we choose to reject God, He shall eternally condemn us to fiery hell. The choice is yours! (Jeremiah 31:1-3)    

2. Shield (33:26-29)
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. (33:29)

Moses’ last breath was to encourage Israel to be happy and rejoicing in the Lord knowing that God was their shield, salvation and sword, and He shall always protect, save and fight for them now and forever. Indeed, God is our shield and sun, and He shall grant us grace and glory, and all things to enjoy, as we trust, obey and fear Him. (Psalms 84:9-12)

3. Servant (34:1-12)
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, (34:10)

Moses was the greatest prophet because God knew him face to face. Throughout Moses’ life, though he was imperfect, yet he kept fearing the perfect God. Though God forfeited him from entering the Promised Land, because he disobeyed Him by striking instead of speaking to the rock for water to flow out, yet by His grace He promoted him to the perfect Promised Land, His home in Heaven. Indeed, let us be servants of the LORD who fear no one except the LORD and who preach nothing except the LORD. (Galatians 1:10)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to be Your servant who always fear and obey You.

Deuteronomy 33 & 34: Servant Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (34:5) So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

1. Saints (33:1-25)
Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words. (33:3)

Everyone shall die, and all of us shall have our life stories that people may talk about, and so what is your life story? May our life story be that of Moses, a servant of the LORD, who loved and feared God, though he failed God many times, but God had never failed him, not even once! In Moses’ dying moment, he blessed Israel and all the tribes, and admonished and encouraged them that God truly loved them, His saints and servants, and His rich blessings shall always be upon them and their descendants when they chose to obey and fear Him. However, Moses also reminded and warned them of the grave consequences of their sins and rebellion if they chose to disobey and rebel against Him. God knew Israel including every tribe and every man, and He knows us too, even the number of hairs we have on our head, because He is our Creator. God truly loves us with an everlasting love, and His greatest desire is that we confess and repent our sins, and believe and trust in Him, and He shall be with us forever. However, if we choose to reject God, He shall eternally condemn us to fiery hell. The choice is yours! (Jeremiah 31:1-3)    

2. Shield (33:26-29)
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. (33:29)

Moses’ last breath was to encourage Israel to be happy and rejoicing in the Lord knowing that God was their shield, salvation and sword, and He shall always protect, save and fight for them now and forever. Indeed, God is our shield and sun, and He shall grant us grace and glory, and all things to enjoy, as we trust, obey and fear Him. (Psalms 84:9-12)

3. Servant (34:1-12)
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, (34:10)

Moses was the greatest prophet because God knew him face to face. Throughout Moses’ life, though he was imperfect, yet he kept fearing the perfect God. Though God forfeited him from entering the Promised Land, because he disobeyed Him by striking instead of speaking to the rock for water to flow out, yet by His grace He promoted him to the perfect Promised Land, His home in Heaven. Indeed, let us be servants of the LORD who fear no one except the LORD and who preach nothing except the LORD. (Galatians 1:10)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to be Your servant who always fear and obey You.

Deuteronomy 31 & 32: Be Strong
Verse of the Day: (31:7) And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. 

1. Strong (31:1-15)
Be strong, and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake. (31:6)

Everyone must die, but the most important question is - Do you know where you are going when you die? The world may think that after death, we just vanished and life ceases, but what happen if there is life after death? Indeed, there is a God, the Creator, who creates us, and give us souls, and our souls shall either be with Him in heaven when we believe in Him, or without Him in hell when we reject Him. Moses shared with Israel that he was dying, and he endorsed Joshua to be his successor. Moses assured Joshua to be strong, because God shall fight for them, and grant them great victory. (Joshua 1:1-9) 

2. Song (31:16-30)
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put in in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. (31:19)

God’s last command to Moses was that he shall write a song to teach Israel to worship and praise Him for who He was, and what he had miraculously done for them, especially saving their souls, the opening of the Red sea so that they be freed from the Egyptians, providing all their needs in the wilderness, and preparing them to cross the river Jordan dry so that they could overcome their enemies and possess their Promised Land. Indeed, spiritual songs are important in our worship of God as they prepare our hearts to thank Him for who He is, and what He has done for, in, through and with us. (Colossians 3:16)

3. Salvation (32:1-52)
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. (32:15)

It was tragic that as God blessed and prospered Jeshurun (Israel), they became proud, and forsook Him, and worship the idols of the world. God judged and chastised them for their sins and pride. They failed to see that God was their Rock of salvation, and without Him, they were nothing, and they had nothing. Indeed, there is no other name, except Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who has the power to save us from our sins and eternal condemnation, and richly bless us with abundant life with Him in His home in heaven. (Romans 1:16)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to be strong and fear not as I go through life storms.

Deuteronomy 29 & 30: God Will Circumcise Thine Heart
Verse of the Day: (30:6) And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. 

1. Covenant (29:1-29)
These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. (29:1)

God’s covenant with Israel was that He shall bless and prosper them when they chose to keep His words. However, God’s anger and curses shall be upon them when they chose to rebel against Him. God warned Israel the severity of His judgment upon them, just like He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with brimstone and fire when they rebelled against Him. Today, God’s covenant is still with Israel, and He is waiting for them to repent their sins and turn to Him, so that His blessings shall be upon them. We, who are the Gentiles, too have God’s covenant, when we believe in Jesus, God’s Son, and He shall not only forgive us of our sins, but give us everlasting life with Him in heaven. (Romans 10:9-11)     

2. Circumcise (30:1-14)
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, (30:1)

To sum up God’s dealing with Israel – God’s great and abundant blessings shall be upon them when they trust and obey Him, while His judgement and curses shall be upon them when they reject and rebel against Him. Let us therefore trust and obey God, and He shall circumcise our hearts, so that we shall love Him with all our hearts and souls. Indeed, when we trust and obey God, not only we shall receive His blessings, even our children shall receive them, when we encourage them to believe in Him. (Colossians 3:20-21) 

3. Choose (30:15-20)
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (30:19)

God is our Creator, and He makes us in His image so that we have choices and are not just robots. However, the first man and woman failed God when they chose to disobey Him, and henceforth, all have sinned and come short of His holiness. However, God has a salvation plan for man that whoever believes in Him shall never perish in hell but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. Let us choose to believe and obey Him, like Joshua, who proclaimed that, as for him and his family, they shall serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You for circumcising my heart when I believe and trust in You.

Deuteronomy 27 & 28: THE LORD THY GOD
Verse of the Day: (28:58) If thou wilt not observe to do all the word of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD.

1. Law (27:1-26)
And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee. (27:3)

God’s law is perfect as He uses them to convert souls to Himself of those who believe in Him. God assured Israel that He shall lead them to cross the river Jordan dry, and fight against their enemies, and give them victory, so that they shall inherit their Promised that was overflowing with milk and honey, when they fully trusted and obeyed Him. Indeed, God’s law is to be desired than fine gold, and it is sweeter than honey, as we read and apply its principles in our lives, and therewith receiving His blessings. (Psalms 19:7-14)

2. LORD (28:1-59)
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: (28:1)

God truly loves Israel as He promises them that He shall exalt them above all nations of the world, and bless them both materially and spiritually when they humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. He also promises them that He shall bless their labour, and open His good treasure of rain from heaven upon their land, so that they shall have bountiful and plentiful harvest not only for themselves, but also to lend to others, rather than borrow from them. However, time and again, Israel sinned and rebelled against God, and they were judged, chastised, and now they are scattered all over the world. Indeed, let us humble ourselves, pray, seek God and turn from our wicked ways, so that we shall receive His rich blessings and perfect peace. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

3. Life (28:60-68)
And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: (28:66)

God warned Israel that they shall live in doubt and fear, when they refused to acknowledge and believe in Him that He is their true and living God. Indeed, God shall grant us abundant and everlasting lives when we fully trust and obey Him, otherwise we shall be eternally condemned if we keep rejecting and rebelling against Him. (John 10:10)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to trust and obey You, the LORD, my GOD.

Deuteronomy 25 & 26: READY TO PERISH
Verse of the Day: (26:5) And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous.

1. Perform (25:1-19)
And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother. (25:7)

God’s command to Israel was that they must take good care of their own kindred, and when one of them died, one of his brothers must marry his wife, so that they shall carry on their lineage. If all his brothers refused to marry his wife, she shall approach the leaders of their tribe, and they shall call them, and she shall then spit on their faces declaring that all his brothers-in-law were unwilling to carry on their lineage. It was indeed a shame to the dead man’s family. The lineage was important, because Jesus Christ, God’s Son, shall come from Israel, namely, the tribe of Judah. (Matthew 1:1-17)    

2. Perish (26:1-15)
That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there. (26:2)  

Gratitude is what God’s desires most from His people. God commanded Israel to offer their first-fruits through His priests to Him before His altar to show their gratitude to Him for His deliverance of them from the Egyptians. God called Abraham, a Syrian, to be the founding father of His nation, Israel. God knew Abraham’s heart that he was ready to perish for Him because he had the faith in Him. Indeed, let us be like Abraham, and also Esther, the Jewish Queen of Persia, who was ready to perish for her true God of Israel, and her people, the Jews. Let us therefore be ready to pray, preach and perish for our God, as our lives belong to Him, and only what is done for Him shall last forever. (Esther 4:16)

3. Praise (26:16-19)
And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken. (26:19) 

Again, God commanded Israel to love, fear and obey Him, so that His rich blessings shall be upon them and their descendants. Indeed, we are God’s special, chosen and holy people when we believe that He is the true God, and let us keep praising and thanking Him for who He is, and what He has done in, for, with and through us. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to be ready to pray, preach and perish for Your praise.

Deuteronomy 23 & 24: WASH WITH WATER
Verse of the Day: (23:11) But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again. 

1. Water (23:1-25)
If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp: (23:10)

God is clean and holy, and He desires His people to be clean and holy physically as well as spiritually. God commanded Israel to literally wash themselves with water before they entered into their camp as this was personal hygiene and for their health benefits. God also commanded them to daily wash themselves spiritually with His holy Word by obeying His Ten Commandments, that of loving others and their properties and possessions. Indeed, water represents God’s Word, and we must daily read and apply His holy Word in order to spiritually clean ourselves from the dirt of sins. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

2. Wife (24:1-16)
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. (24:1)

Marriage is of and from God, and it is honourable for two hearts to become one heart. God commanded Israel to honour their marriages, and the only reason for divorce was for fornication and adultery. Once it was proven that the wife was unfaithful, her husband could then divorce her. It is a painful process as God commands us that marriage is for life, until death does the couple apart. In fact, God has never approved of divorce as an option, but because of the hardness of man’s heart. Let us truly love and cherish our wife, just like Christ loves and cherishes His church now and forever. (Matthew 19:3-9)

3. Widow (24:17-22)
Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s raiment to pledge: (24:17)

God loves and cares for the weak and helpless, including the widows. Many times in the Bible, God’s holy Word, He always commands His people to love and care for the widows. Indeed, we ought to love and care for all, especially those who lost their loved ones, as it is beyond imagination how the flashbacks came to them, as they see the empty chairs and beds, that were once occupied by their loved ones. Let us truly love and care for all, and pray for those who lost their loved ones, that God shall grant them peace and comfort in this life, before they finally are reunited with their loved ones. (James 1:27)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that I am washed by Your precious blood and holy Word.

Deuteronomy 21 & 22: THE FIRSTBORN
Verse of the Day: (21:17) But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

1. Forgive (21:1-14)
Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them. (21:8)

God is fair and just, and He shall vindicate the innocent. God commanded Israel that the elders and the priests of the city that was nearest to the corpse found on their land, offered a heifer, that had never laboured the field, for the slain, and then they would investigate the cause of his death. Even though God knew who the murderer was, yet He was testing the faith and obedience of Israel. God knows our secret sins, and let us therefore confess and forsake them, and He shall forgive us, and purify us, for His glory. (1 John 1:9-10)

2. Firstborn (21:15-21)
Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that ne may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: (21:16)

God is not a respecter of persons. God commanded Israel that their fathers must give double portions of their inheritance to their firstborns, even though they hated them. This was God’s law to protect and honour the firstborns. Indeed, God shall richly bless us when we show no favouritism, but treat everyone equally, and obey Him. (Acts 10:34-35)

3. Father (22:1-30)
And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her; (22:16)

One of God’s Ten Commandments, and the only one with a promise, is that we shall have longevity when we honour our parents. Indeed, parents are from God and they are our authority. Though they may not be perfect and godly parents, we must still obey them unless they are unreasonable and evil. God commanded Israel of how they must love others and their properties and never to commit dishonest or wicked deeds. One of the commands was concerning marriage, and unless the wife had committed fornication, the only reason for divorce, the father of the wife must protect her from her husband’s false accusation. This was not only to protect the innocence of his daughter, but also to make sure that her reputation was honoured. Children, let us honour and respect our parents as they raise us up for God’s glory. Let us, as parents, love and raise our children in God’s way, so that they shall know Him, and make Him known to others. (Ephesians 6:1-4)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that You are the Firstborn, my Saviour, who died for me.
 

Deuteronomy 19 & 20: THE CAPTAIN
Verse of the Day: (20:9) And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people. 

1. Cities (19:1-21)
Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee. (19:7)

God commanded Israel to separate three cities from all the cities that they conquered so as to protect the alleged murderers until they were proven guilty by witnesses and evidence. Our God is a just and loving God, and He shall protect and preserve the innocent until they are proven guilty. However, we are all sinners, and though God loves sinners, He hates sins. This is why God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins, and whoever believes in Him shall never perish, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. Thank God that He loves us so much that He shall keep us safe on earth, and one day, He shall promote us to His holy city in heaven. (Revelation 21:1-4)

2. Chariots (20:1-4)
When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (20:1)

Everyone fears the unknown, and most of us fear death, and Israel was no different. They feared their enemies who had more horses and chariots than them, and they thought they shall never prevail against them, and possess their Promised Land. However, God kept encouraging them to look to Him, and assured them that He was with them, and He shall fight for them, and grant them victory over their enemies. Let us never trust in chariots or horses or material wealth, but in God who never fails us, not even once. (Psalms 20:7-9)

3. Captains (20:5-20)
And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. (20:5)

Though God is a holy and just God yet He is also a loving and kind God as He commanded Israel that those who had new houses or just planted vineyards or just married, to return and enjoy their houses, vineyards or wives. He also commanded those who were fearful not to join the army as they might demoralise the rest of the army. God then appointed captains to lead the armies, and commanded them that they shall destroy all their enemies except the women, the children, the livestock and possessions. God loves and cares for Israel, and He is the Captain who shall lead them to victory and possess their Promised Land. Indeed, Jesus is the Captain of our salvation, and He shall lead us to victory over temptations as we follow Him to the end. (Hebrews 2:9-10)
 
Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that You are the Captain of my salvation now and forever.

Deuteronomy 17 & 18: A PROPHET
Verse of the Day: (18:18) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

1. Priest (17:1-20)
And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: (17:9)

God chose the priests, the descendants of Aaron, from the tribe of Levi, not only to serve at His sanctuary, but also to judge the affairs of Israel, and passed judgments upon them. Though these priests, like the Levites, had no inheritance, yet God was their spiritual inheritance, and had commanded the rest of the tribes to provide for all their needs by offering them the first-fruits of their crops or livestock. Today, we who believe in Jesus Christ are God’s priests, and are blessed with His wisdom and insights to judge and discern the affairs of others, and help them to resolves their differences. In fact, one day, in heaven we shall judge the angels. Let us therefore thank God for redeeming us from our sins, and choosing us to be His priests and judges for His glory. (1 Corinthians 6:1-8) 
  
2. Perfect (18:1-14)
Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. (18:13)

God commanded Israel to be perfect before Him and to obey Him and His commandments, and never to worship idols and commit wickedness before Him. In fact, there were some who rebelled against Him, and worshipped idols of other nations, and even followed their evil ways by offering their children as sacrifices to these idols. God therefore judged and destroyed them for all their wicked deeds. Indeed, God’s blessings shall only be upon us as we strive to be perfect and holy before Him. (1 Peter 5:10-11)

3. Prophet (18:15-22)
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; (18:15)

God knows the hearts and souls of man since He creates man. This is why though He knows the first couple, Adam and Eve, would choose to disobey Him, He had a redemption plan for them and the rest of mankind by the offering of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for our sins so that we shall be reconciled to Him when we believe and receive Him as our personal Saviour. Even before Jesus came, God also prophesied to Israel that one day there shall be Prophet, who was none other than Jesus, from their own people, to come to this earth to preach and minister to them, and eventually to die on the cross and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. Whoever truly believes in Him shall never perish, but have everlasting life with Him in pearly heaven. (Acts 3:22) 

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that You are my Prophet, Priest and my personal Saviour.

Deuteronomy 15 & 16: THE LORD’S RELEASE
Verse of the Day: (15:2) And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’s release.

1. Release (15:1-23)
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. (15:15)

The LORD’s release is like the LORD’s redemption for our sins. As God, by His great love for Israel, miraculously delivered them out of slavery in Egypt and to their Promised Land, He commanded them to likewise release the debts their fellow Hebrews owed them, at the end of every seven years, so as to demonstrate not only their love for them, but their love for Him. Indeed, by God’s great love and amazing grace, He fully redeems us from our sins and fiery hell, and purifies us to be His peculiar people zealous of good works, and one day, He shall promote us to His glorious home in heaven. (Titus 2:11-15)
  
2. Rejoice (16:1-11)
And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there. (16:11)

God commanded Israel to rejoice in Him for His everlasting love and deliverance of all their troubles, especially His great deliverance of them out of Egypt, by observing the Passover and offering sacrifices to Him. God also commanded them to observe the feasts of unleavened bread, the feast of weeks and the feast of tabernacles, three times a year, where all the males shall offer their sacrifices, as He had blessed them with, before Him at the place where He chose. Indeed, let us rejoice in God always, in good and bad time, all the time, as He is always with us, and has never leave nor forsake us. (Philippians 4:4)
 
3. Remember (16:12-22)
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes. (16:12)

God commanded Israel to observe the Passover because He desired them to remember that without Him they were nobody, and could do nothing. In fact, time and again, Israel forgot God and rebelled against Him, and He had to judge and chastise them, until they remembered that there was no one, except Him, their only hope and help, who could help them in all their troubles. Indeed, let us remember to thank God for His Son, Jesus Christ, who died and shed His precious blood for our sins, so that we are miraculously delivered from eternal condemnation, and are bound for glorious heaven. (Ephesians 2:11-17)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that I am released and redeemed by Your precious blood. 
 

Deuteronomy 13 & 14: A PECULIAR PEOPLE
Verse of the Day: (14:2) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. 

1. Prophet (13:1-18)
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (13:3)

God warned Israel of false prophets who would come and preach to them, and the only way to test them was to know that whatever they prophesied must come to pass. Indeed, the prophecy of God’s prophets shall come to pass, and this was the evidence that they were His prophets. God was also proving the faith of Israel, and their love for Him, when He tested them of their discernment in knowing the true from the false prophets. Let us therefore be careful when we hear God’s Word from His preachers, that they preach nothing except His Word, and that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God. (1 John 4:1-6)
  
2. Peculiar (14:1-21)
Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk. (14:21)

God’s people are peculiar or holy people, and they are the minority in the world, because most people refuse to repent their sins and wickedness, and believe in the true and living God. Many in this world believe in themselves, just like the days of Moses, and until the day, when they encounter crises, then they realise they desperately need God to help them. God also commanded Israel for their health benefits to eat only the creatures that He approved of, such as ox, sheep, goat and deer. The creatures that God disapproved of were camel, hare, swine, and especially the dead creatures. God also forbad them to boil their young goat in his mother’s milk. Indeed, let us confess and repent our sins, and God is faithful not only to forgive our sins, but to make us His peculiar people. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

3. Place (14:22-29)
Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: (14:25)

God is a reasonable God, as He commanded Israel to sell their sacrifices, such as corn, wine, oil and flock for money, instead of carrying them to the faraway place where He had chosen for them to offer to Him. Indeed, God is reasonable, and He shall reason with you, and plead with you to confess and forsake your sins and believe in Him. (Isaiah 1:18)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that I am Your peculiar people because I believe in You.

Deuteronomy 11 & 12: The Eyes Of The LORD
Verse of the Day: (11:12) A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. 

1. Egypt (11:1-9)
And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursed after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day; (11:4)

The main reason why God kept reminding Israel of how He had miraculously delivered them out of slavery in Egypt, and opened the mighty Red sea, so that they could cross dry to the other side, was because they kept forgetting His greatness, goodness and grace. Israel time and again failed God, but not once did He ever fail them. Indeed, let us always be thankful and grateful to God in everything, especially our precious salvation, that we are forgiven of our sins, and redeemed by His precious blood, and are spared from eternal condemnation, and bound for His home in glorious heaven. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
  
2. Eyes (11:10-32)
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. (11:28)

God’s eyes were not just upon the Promised Land, that was filled with milk and honey, which He shall give to Israel, but they were especially upon the people of Israel, because He truly loved them. Though time and again, Israel rebelled and sinned against God, yet He always forgive them when they repented their sins, and returned to Him. However, God’s curse shall be upon them if they worshipped and followed the gods of the world, and refused to repent of their sins and wickedness, and believe in their God, the God of Israel, the true and living God. Indeed, God’s eyes are upon the righteous, and let us fully trust and obey Him, and He shall deliver us from all our afflictions. (Psalms 34:15-22)

3. Eat (12:1-32)
And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee. (12:7)

God through Moses commanded Israel to enjoy the food that they had offered to Him, and rejoiced for all their blessings from their hard work. However, they must remember that everything they had were from God, and that was nothing that truly belonged to them. God commanded them never to eat blood from their sacrifices, as it represented life, and truly life belonged to Him. Indeed, whatsoever we do, whether we eat or drink, let us do all for the glory of God, as He freely gives us all things to enjoy. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that Your eyes are upon me, my family and my everything.

Deuteronomy 9 & 10: Fearing The LORD
Verse of the Day: (10:12) And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

1. Fire (9:1-6)
Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. (9:3)

God is a consuming fire, in other words, He is a holy Judge who shall destroy all the sins and wickedness of the people. Israel was chosen to be God’s special nation, not for their righteousness, but because the rest of the nations were evil and wicked. God chose Israel to be His example of righteousness so that the rest of the world shall see their good works, and glorify, believe and follow Him. Indeed, our righteousness is in God. In the Old Testament era, God’s righteousness was with all believed in Him by faith, that one day, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, shall come to this earth and offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Today, Jesus already came and died for our sins, and His righteousness is in us when we truly believe in Him. (Romans 5)
  
2. Forty (9:7-29)
When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: (9:9)

The number forty means testing. Indeed, God tested Moses’ faith for forty days and nights, and he proved to be faithful to Him. Moses fasted and waited at the mountain for God’s Ten Commandments, in the form of tablets, so that he could bring them down to teach Israel to live by them. When Jesus came to earth, He too was tested for forty days and nights without food by the devil, and He passed the tests with flying colours. Let us be like Moses and Jesus, and endure God’s testing so that we shall come forth victoriously as gold tried in the furnace of fire of trials and tribulations. (Matthew 4:1-11)

3. Fear (10:1-22)
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. (10:20)

Again, God through Moses reminded Israel to fear and obey Him and His holy Commandments, as this was the only way that His abundant blessings shall be upon them and their future generations. Indeed, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and let us fear and serve Him and give Him all the glory, honour and praise. (Proverbs 9:10)   

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to fear and obey You and Your holy Commandments.

Deuteronomy 7 & 8: Are You Special?
Verse of the Day: (7:6) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

1. Special (7:1-16)
But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (7:9)

Israel is a special nation because God chooses to love them, and promised Abraham, their founding father that He shall bless them provided they believed and obeyed Him. However, Israel failed God many times, yet He does not give up on them. Today, God is still pleading with them to believe in Him and turn to Him. There is nothing special in us, in fact, we are sinners, yet God loves us, and not only He forgives us, but He saves us from fiery hell, and one day, He shall promote us to His glorious heaven. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
  
2. Signs (7:17-26)
The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. (7:19)

One of God’s great signs was the opening of the majestic Red sea. Israel cried out to God when they were sandwiched between the Red sea, and the Egyptian army, who wanted to destroy them. God’s servant, Moses, by faith obeyed God, and stretched out his hand over the sea, and God miraculously opened it, so that they could cross it dry to the other side, and then miraculously closed it upon the pursuing Egyptians. (Exodus 14:15-22)

3. Suffering (8:1-20)
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (8:3)

No one enjoy suffering, yet Moses chose to suffer. As a baby, Moses’ parents cast him out in an ark so that others could save and raise him up. By God’s providence, Pharaoh’s daughter found him, and raised him as her own son. Again, by God’s providence, Moses’ mother was chosen to raise her son. When Moses grew up, by faith, he chose to deliver Israel, his own people, from the Egyptians, than to be their prince. He suffered for 40 years before God eventually used him to deliver Israel out of Egypt. (Hebrews 11:23-29)   

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that I am special because I receive You as my Saviour.

Deuteronomy 5 & 6: Ten To Two
Verse of the Day: (5:10) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

1. Commandments (5:1-33)
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (5:29)

Trust and obey God for there is no other way if we truly desire His rich and abundant blessings. God through Moses time and again reminded Israel to trust and fear Him, and keep and obey His commandments if they truly desired His blessings. When Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of the whole world, He taught the people to obey the Ten Commandments and summarised them into Two Commandments. Jesus’ first commandment is that we must love God with all our hearts, souls and minds, which actually covers the first four commandments of the Ten Commandments: 1. There is only one God. 2. Do not worship idols. 3. Do not take the name of God in vain. 4. Keep the Sabbath holy. Jesus’ second commandment is that we must love others as ourselves, which wraps up the rest of the Ten Commandments: 5. Honour your parents so that you have longevity. 6. Do not kill. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not bear false witness. 10. Do not covet. Indeed, God’s blessings shall be upon us if we love Him with all our hearts, souls and minds, and love others as ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40)
  
2. Children (6:1-15)
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (6:7)

Way before man knows the value and importance of education and discipline, God already through Moses commanded Israel that they shall be blessed and prosperous if they would teach their children the Ten Commandments whenever and wherever they were. Indeed, God’s blessings shall be upon us and our children as we teach them in believing Him, and trusting and obeying His Word and commandments. (Proverbs 22:6)

3. Cast (6:16-25)
To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken. (6:19)

Again, God through Moses, assured Israel that He shall fight for them, and cast out their enemies, and grant them victory to possess their Promised Land. Never did God failed Israel, yet they failed Him many times. Let us commit and yield our lives to God, and He shall cast out our enemies, the likes of the Devil, death and temptations, and grant us victory through Jesus. Indeed, God can do anything except fail! (1 Corinthians 15:55-58)   

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to love You with all my heart, and to love others too.

Deuteronomy 3 & 4: Who Will Fight For You?
Verse of the Day: (3:22) Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you. 

1. Fight (3:1-29)
But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. (3:28)

God through Moses reminded Israel to be strong, and fear not, and that He shall fight for them and they shall eventually possess their Promised Land. In fact, this was Moses’ last service before he passed his leadership to Joshua, and his prayer to God was that he would be able to enter the Promised Land. However, God denied Moses’ prayer, because he had disobeyed Him, when he struck instead of speaking to the rock, so that water flowed out of it, and Israel could quench their thirst. Even though Moses did not enter the Promised Land, but God promoted him to the perfect Promised Land, Heaven! Indeed, let us pray according to God’s will, and though our prayers maybe denied, let us remember that He knows best what is best for us. Even though God shall fight for us, and grant us victory, yet we must on our part work hard in everything, whether be it our study, career, ministry, etc. Finally, let us put on God’s armour, and let Him fight for us, and we shall surely overcome the Devil and temptations, and claim His victory. (Ephesians 6:10-19)
  
2. Forget (4:1-13)
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; (4:9)

God through Moses commanded Israel never forget to teach His Ten Commandments and all His related laws to all his descendants so that He shall richly bless them. In fact, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is from the line of Israel. Indeed, let us teach our children and future generations, and bring them up in God’s nurture and admonition, so that He shall bless us with His perfect peace and prosperity all the days of our lives! (Ephesians 6:1-4)

3. Fire (4:14-49)
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. (4:24)

Even though Israel had yet to cross the river Jordan and fight with their enemies, God through Moses already warned them never to take Him for granted, and rebel and disobey Him, otherwise He shall judge and discipline them, and they shall fail in their inheritance of their Promised Land. Indeed, God is a consuming fire, and a jealous God, and He desires that all His people trust and obey Him so that they shall have great victory over the Devil and temptations, and always enjoy His rich blessings. Indeed, whom God loves, He chastises, just like a father chastises his children for their good. (Hebrews 12:6-11)   

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that You shall fight for me in everything as I trust in You.

Deuteronomy 1 & 2: Forty Instead Of Eleven
Verse of the Day: (1:2) There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.

1. Eleven (1:1-21)
And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them; (1:3)

Instead of eleven days, Israel took forty years wandering around in the wilderness, before they began to possess their Promised Land! Why? Unbelief. Israel failed to believe that what God had promised, He shall fulfil, instead, they used their own understanding, and wandered aimlessly for forty years. Though God chose Moses to be their leader, and Aaron, his assistant, yet they also failed to believe that they could take eleven days to reach their Promised Land. After forty years, Moses now led the younger generation after God destroyed the older ones who were twenty years and above, except for Joshua and Caleb, because of unbelief. Moses encouraged the younger ones to believe in God that He shall fight for them, and grant them victory over their enemies. Let us believe that God shall fulfil all His promises to us in His time and according to His will. (Hebrews 3:15-19)
  
2. Eyes (1:22-46)
The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; (1:30)

Though Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness, yet God was with them all the time, as the pillar of cloud in the day, and the pillar of fire at night, to lead them, until they reached the Promised Land. No matter how disobedient and rebellious Israel was, God was longsuffering and merciful, and He kept convicting their hearts to repent of their sins of unbelief and fear. Indeed, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but power, love and strong mind, and let us keep our eyes on Jesus amid our life storms. (2 Timothy 1:7)

3. Esau (2:1-37)
And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: (2:4)

Jacob, which means “the deceiver” deceived Esau his older twin brother, the firstborn of Isaac their father, of his birthright and blessings. Subsequently God chastised Jacob and he repented his sins and God named him, Israel, meaning “the prince with God’s power”. Though Jacob deceived Esau, yet both their descendants forgave each other and the descendants of Esau allowed the descendants of Israel to advance to their Promised Land. Indeed, let us forgive one another, even as God also forgives us. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to fully believe and trust in You in everything.

Numbers 35 & 36: Marry Your Own Tribe
Verse of the Day: (36:6) This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. 

1. Moses (35:1-8)
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, (35:1)

Leadership is vital for the success of any organisation, and it is even more so for God’s church. God’s way is to choose His leader, and then work with him to accomplish all that He has for His church and people according to His will. God chose Moses, and He worked with him to lead Israel until the day He called Moses to His home in heaven. This time, God through Moses commanded Israel to give forty-eight cities to the tribe of Levi as they did not have any inheritance, and then to designate six of these cities as refuge for alleged murderers who were considered innocent until proven guilty. Indeed, God loves and cares for His people, and He is our refuge and present help in time of trouble, and shall surely protect and preserve us, as we fully trust and obey Him. (Psalms 46:1-11)
  
2. Murderer (35:9-34)
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. (35:30)

Though God loves all yet He shall judge those who sinned against Him, especially the murderers. During the time of Moses, the murderers received capital punishment if there was sufficient evidence and reliable witnesses to prove that they were guilty. However, alleged murderers were sent to the cities of refuge pending investigation, and the only time they could be released was after the death of the high priest. Indeed, God is merciful and full of compassion, and let us commit and yield our lives to Him. (Lamentations 3:22) 

3. Marry (34:1-29)
And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. (36:12)

God loves His people and He desires us to have the best of everything. This was why God commanded the daughters of Zelophehad to marry their own tribe, Manasseh, so that their tribe could continue to keep their inheritance that God had blessed them with. Today, God’s command for His people is that we must marry another Christian to receive His spiritual blessings. The Christian couple can then attend the same church and worship the same true and living God, and one day, by His amazing grace, lead their children to believe in and receive Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to marry my own tribe, Your people and children.

Numbers 31 & 32: Will Your Sins Be Found Out?
Verse of the Day: (32:23) But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

1. Separation (31:1-54)
Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. (31:23)

To be holy before the holy God we must repent our sins, and believe and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. God commanded Israel to destroy the wicked Midianites as they cursed and harmed them. Israel destroyed them including the false prophet, Balaam. However, Israel sinned against God when they had earlier listened to the counsel of Balaam by sparing the women of Midian and then marrying them and worshipping their idols. God then commanded Israel to destroy all the women of Midian except the unmarried girls. God also commanded those men who destroyed the Midianites to put the gold, silver, brass, iron, tin and lead they took from them through the fire and the water of purification. Those things that could not be passed through the fire they put them through the water, and finally they must wash their clothes on the seventh day before they returned to their camp. Indeed, let us be holy as God is holy. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
  
2. Sit (32:1-19)
And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? (32:6)

God’s ways are not man’s ways as He is the Creator and man is only the creature. When the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh saw the lands of Jazer and Gilead, they chose to sit and reside on these lands than to be with the rest of Israel to cross the river Jordan and to fight against their enemies so as to possess their Promised Land. God rebuked them and they realised that they could never hide their sins of unbelief and cowardice before Him. Let us be strong and courageous, and seek God and His Word, and one day God shall grant us His Promised Land in Heaven! (Joshua 1:8-9)

3. Sin (32:20-42)
But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith. (32:27)

Thank God the tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, chose to obey God as they sent their men together with the rest of Israel, led by their new leader, Joshua, to cross the river Jordan, fought many battles before possessing their Promised Land. Indeed, it was their faith in God that they did the impossible. Let us therefore have faith in God that we can do all things through Christ who strengthen us. (Philippians 4:13)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, please help me to repent my sins as You even know my secret sins.
 

Numbers 33 & 34: Is God With You In Your Life Journey?
Verse of the Day: (33:2) And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out. 

1. Journey (33:1-49)
These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. (33:1)

Our life journey is really beyond our control as we do not exactly know when it will end. However, as Christians who believe in Jesus Christ, we know that our journey shall end in our eternal home called Heaven, and best of all, Jesus is with us throughout all our journey, and even in heaven, He is with us as we worship Him forever. At the last chapter of Moses’ life, God inspired him to write in details their journey through the wilderness for forty years before they finally entered their Promised Land. Though the names of all the places seemed insignificant, the fact is, God was with them all the time, as a pillar of cloud in the day, and a pillar of fire at night, at every station of their journey, leading and guiding them, and demonstrating His everlasting love for them. (Hebrews 13:5-8)
  
2. Jordan (33:50-56)
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, (33:50)

We all have our milestone in life, and in particular, we remember what God had done for and with us during our happiest as well as the darkest moment of our lives. Israel too had their milestone in their life journey, especially through their wilderness journey before entering the Promised Land, such as God miraculously opening the Red Sea and river Jordan for them to cross to the other side. Indeed, let us be thankful for every milestone of our lives, including the hardest one, because we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) 

3. Joshua (34:1-29)
These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun. (34:17)

Though the church may vote for their next pastor or the pastor appoints his successor, ultimately it must be God who chooses His leader, just like He appointed Joshua to succeed Moses as the next leader of Israel with Eleazar as the next high priest after Aaron. Now God through Joshua and Eleazar allotted the Promised Land to the twelve tribes of Israel with the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh receiving their inheritance on the east of Jordan, while the rest of the tribes received them on the west. Indeed, though God loves all, yet He hates sins and only saves those who repent their sins and believe in Him, and condemn those who refuse to repent to fiery hell. (2 Peter 3:9)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that You are always with me in my life journey to heaven.

Numbers 29 & 30: How Is Your Soul Today?
Verse of the Day: (30:2) If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

1. Seven (29:1-5)
And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. (29:1)

Seven is mentioned many times in the Bible as it is God’s number, and it means completion. God through Moses commanded Israel to offer burnt offerings before Him on the first day of the seventh month, and that they must worship Him for who He is and what He had done for them, and so find rest and completion in their lives and souls. Indeed, God’s desire is that all His creatures, especially man, make in His image, please and live for Him and Him alone. However, God gives man choices, and the first couple, Adam and Eve, chose to sin against God. As a result, we are born sinners and our final destination is hell because of our sins. The only way we can be reconciled with God is to repent our sins and believe in and receive Jesus Christ, His Son, as our personal Saviour. Before Jesus came, the people offered sacrifices to God to atone for their sins, and by faith believe that Jesus shall one day come to this earth and be the ultimate sacrifice to die for the sins the world. Today, Jesus already came, and had died for us, and when we by faith believe in Him, our souls shall be with Him in heaven forever. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
  
2. Sacrifice (29:6-40)
Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. (29:6)

God desired Israel not just to offer their sacrifices to Him, but to trust and obey Him, so that their sacrifices shall be sweet smelling and well pleasing to Him. Today, let us offer our lives as the sweet smelling sacrifice to God, by trusting and obeying Him, because He truly loves us and gave His only Son as the final sacrifice for our sins. (Philippians 4:18)

3. Soul (30:1-16)
Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. (30:13)

People may break their vows and promises, but as God’s people, we must be very careful when we make our vows and promises, because we must keep them. Indeed, God always keep His promises, especially, when He promises us eternal life with Him as we believe in Him. Let us therefore commit our lives and souls to Him forever. (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that my soul is well as I am bound for heaven, Your home.
 

Numbers 27 & 28: Who Is Your Shepherd?
Verse of the Day: (27:17) Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

1. Son (27:1-11)
Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father. (27:4)

God is fair, and He treats everyone equally. Even though Adam is the head of the family, with Eve as his wife, yet He blessed both of them. Though God blessed the sons of Israel with inheritance, yet He also loved the daughters of Israel. Indeed, whether the sons or the daughters received the inheritance, they must all use them for God’s glory, because everything belongs to Him. The daughters of Zelophehad did the right thing when they asked God for their inheritance since their father had no son. God then blessed them not only with their father’s inheritance, but also commanded Israel to adhere to the law of inheritance whereby the priority of inheritance would begin with the sons, followed by the daughters, the brothers, the uncles and finally the relatives. Today, our inheritance is eternal life with God in heaven when we believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son. (John 3:16) 
  
2. Shepherd (27:12-23)
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; (27:18)

Though the church or the pastor himself may appoint his successor, ultimately, it must be God who appoints His leader for His church, just like He appointed Joshua to succeed Moses. God knows the hearts and spirit of man, and He knew the heart and spirit of Joshua, that he had the heart after His heart. Indeed, the sheep must have their shepherd to lead them to green pasture and still waters, and so must man have God appointing them His leader to lead them to higher ground of holiness and humility. (Psalms 23)

3. Sacrifice (28:1-31)
Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. (28:2)

Let us thank God for His Son, Jesus Christ, who became the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world when we repent of our sins, and believe and receive Christ as our personal Saviour. Before Christ became the final sacrifice, the people of Israel, with the service of their priests, had to offer daily, weekly, monthly and yearly sacrifices to atone for their sins at the tabernacle before God. Indeed, Christ is our everything! (Hebrews 9:28)

Prayer of the Day: 
Dearest God, thank You that You are my great Shepherd, my personal Saviour.
 

Numbers 25 & 26: Are You Zealous For God?
Verse of the Day: (25:13) And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

1. Plague (25:1-9)
And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. (25:8)

Though the false prophet Balaam and Balak the king of the Moabites failed to curse and destroy Israel, yet they persisted in their evil deeds by deceiving the men of Israel into marrying the daughters of Moab thus resulting in widespread idolatry. Immediately, God judged Israel, and many were destroyed for their sins of rebellion and idolatry. However, God stopped His judgment when Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, destroyed the couple who had blatantly disobeyed God by their intermarriage as they presented themselves before Moses and Israel. God then blessed Phinehas, and covenanted with him that his descendants shall be blessed with an everlasting priesthood. (Hebrews 7:11)
 
2. Phinehas (25:10-18)
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. (25:11)

God commended Phinehas as he was zealous for Him and His Word, and he did what was right before Him. Let us be like Phinehas, and especially, Jesus, God’s Son, who was obedient to His Father, even the death on the cross, which was the most humiliating death, though He did not sin, yet He bore the sins of the whole world. (Philippians 2:5-8)
 
3. People (26:1-65)
Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt. (26:4)

This was the sad and tragic history of Israel when God commanded Moses to take the census of Israel, and thereafter He had to destroy all those who were twenty years old and above, except for Joshua and Caleb and those nineteen years old and below, because they kept rebelling against Him, and doubted that He was able to bring them to the Promised Land. In fact, God gave them many opportunities to repent of their sins, but they persisted to disobey and rebel against Him. Let us therefore trust and obey God, and believe that He can do anything and everything, even saving our souls from eternal condemnation, and promoting us to be with Him in heaven glory land! (Hebrews 3:12-19)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be zealous for You and Your Word now and forever.

Numbers 23 & 24: Will You Believe In The Star?
Verse of the Day: (24:17) I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

1. Seven (23:1-12)
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. (23:1)

Seven is God’s number and it means completion. Though Balaam completed all that God commanded him as he requested Balak to build him seven altars so that he could offer seven oxen and rams on each of the altar, yet he was actually conspiring with Balak to curse Israel. However, instead of cursing, God made Balaam to bless Israel. Many people, like Balaam, profess to be Christians actively serving God, but in fact, they are actually serving the Devil to get the best deal in their pursuit of material wealth. Indeed, only God knows our hearts, and let us search them that they be after His heart. (Acts 13:22-24)
 
2. Son (23:13-30)
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (23:19)

No matter how much bribe Balak offered to Balaam, he could never get him to curse Israel, because God controlled Balaam’s mouth just like He controlled Balaam’s ass, and Balaam had to keep blessing Israel. Man, like Balaam, wavered between God and the Devil, the spiritual and the material, because man is a sinner and a creature made in God’s image. However, God is the Creator of everything, including man, and He never wavers but fulfils whatever He promises. We must therefore strive to be like Christ that we mean what we say from our hearts which are after God’s heart. (2 Corinthians 1:18-20)
 
3. Star (24:1-25)
And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. (24:10)

Though Balaam conspired against Balak, and attempted to curse Israel three times, yet God was with Israel, and instead of cursing, God made Balaam to bless Israel three times. In fact, God also used Balaam to prophesy the great coming of the Star or the Sceptre out of Israel, who was none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to die for the sins of the whole world. Whoever believes in Jesus shall have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven, and shall escape eternal condemnation. Indeed, nothing not even death, and no one, not even the devil, shall separate us from God’s eternal love! (Romans 8:31-39)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I believe in You, the Star, God’s Son and my Saviour.

Numbers 21 & 22: Will You Look To The LORD?
Verse of the Day: (21:8) And the LORD said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

1. Look (21:1-16)
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. (21:9)

Again, Israel murmured and complaint against God and Moses, as to why God delivered them out of Egypt and then to suffer and die in the wilderness. They failed to see God’s grace, and that God was testing their faith in Him. God then judged them by sending fiery serpents to bite and destroyed them. Israel pleaded with Moses, and he prayed to God to deliver them. God answered Moses, and commanded him to make a fiery serpent on a pole, and whoever was bitten shall be healed and live when they looked at the pole. Indeed, this was the prophecy that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, shall bear the sins of the whole world on the cross, and the fiery serpent represented the sins of the world, while the pole represented the cross that was lifted up, and whoever looks upon Jesus shall never perish in hell, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven. (John 3:14-16)
 
2. Lawgiver (21:17-35)
The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah: (21:18)

After God healed Israel from the bite of the fiery serpents, they praised and sang to Him, and obeyed Moses, His lawgiver, who then directed them to dig wells for their own water consumption. Indeed, though we depend on God, yet we must do things for ourselves too. This was the very rare moment when Israel sang to God and obeyed His law as most of the time they murmured and rebelled against Him. Let us praise God, and obey and delight in His laws as they are good for us, and keep us safe and sound. (Romans 7:22-25)
 
3. LORD (22:1-41)
And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? (22:28)

God can do anything and everything as He is the Creator and Saviour of the world. Balak, the king of Moabites, had bribed Balaam, the false and greedy prophet, to curse Israel, God’s people, for they were a great threat to him and his people. However, God was with Israel, as He opened the mouth of Balaam’s ass to stop him from cursing Israel. In fact, the ass saved Balaam’s life not once but thrice as he could have been killed by God’s sword if not for his ass stopping him. Indeed, God shall protect His people as we call upon Him and He shall answer us, and show us great and mighty things. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to look to You in everything as You are my Saviour.

Numbers 19 & 20: Water Out Of The Rock
Verse of the Day: (20:8) Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

1. Red (19:1-22)
This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: (19:2)

God commanded Israel to offer a red heifer without blemish and never been yoked as a sacrifice before Him. Eleazar the priest had to bring the sacrifice outside the camp to slay her and then sprinkled her blood directly before the tabernacle seven times. This ordinance signified that Israel had been spiritually cleaned and sanctified before the holy God. The heifer was red in colour to symbolise the blood of Jesus Christ, and this was the great prophecy that Jesus, the Lamb of God, shall be the ultimate sacrifice to die on the cross, and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. (Hebrews 9:19-22)
 
2. Rock (20:1-21)
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. (20:12)

Israel again murmured against God, and this time they complained that they was no water for them and their flock. God then commanded Moses to speak to the rock, however, he disobeyed God, and instead, struck the rock twice. Nevertheless, God graciously allow water to flow miraculously out of the rock! Indeed, with God everything is possible, and He can even raise the dead and promote them to heaven if they trust in Him. (Luke 1:37)  
 
3. Rebel (20:22-29)
Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. (20:24)

God disciplined Moses and Aaron by forfeiting them from leading Israel to the Promised Land, because they had rebelled against Him, when Moses struck instead of speaking to the rock at the water of Meribah. Though they did not enter the Promised Land with Israel, yet God’s grace was with them, as when they died, they were promoted to Heaven, His Promised Land! Though they were imperfect, yet they believed in the perfect and loving God who chose Moses to be His greatest prophet in Israel, and appointed Aaron as His first High priest serving at His tabernacle. (Deuteronomy 34:10-12, Hebrews 5:1-4)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, I believe in You, and that I can do all things through and in You.

Numbers 17 & 18: Will Your Rod Yields Almond?
Verse of the Day: (17:8) And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

1. Almond (17:1-13)
And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. (17:10)

Time and again, there shall always be challenges for those who are in leadership or with special appointments. This was the case when the people murmured against Aaron and his descendants as they were appointed as the priests of Israel to serve God at His tabernacle. God then commanded Moses to have every prince of the twelve tribes of Israel to take a rod and laid it at the tabernacle. The next day, only Aaron’s rod miraculously budded, bloomed and yielded almonds, confirming that God had appointed Aaron and his descendants to be His priests. Indeed, Aaron’s rod yielding almonds symbolises resurrection, in other words, when we truly believe in Jesus Christ, we shall never die, but live forever, because He is the Resurrection and the Life. (John 11:25-26)
 
2. Altar (18:1-7)
And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. (18:3)

While the tribe of Levi served at God’s tabernacle, only Aaron and his descendants, God’s priests, had the privilege to minister at God’s altar and vessels. Beside Aaron and his descendants, whoever would come near the altar, God shall judge and destroy them including Aaron and his descendants. Indeed, this is the high calling of the priests, as Jesus Christ, the High Priest, died for the sins of the world, and the third day, He rose again, and is now at the right hand of God’s throne interceding for us. (Hebrews 7:25-28)  
 
3. Aaron (18:8-32)
Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD’s heave offering to Aaron the priest. (18:28)

God through Moses commanded Israel to give their tithes or the tenth of all their harvests to the tribe of Levi, including Aaron and his descendants, the priests, because they had no inheritance of land, and were unable to provide for themselves and their families. Let us therefore financially support our full-time preachers and staff as they give their lives to serve God in peaching and ministering to the people in the church. (1 Corinthians 9:9-13)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, like the rod that yields almonds, I trust in You and I shall live forever.

Numbers 15 & 16: Are You Going Against The LORD?
Verse of the Day: (16:2) And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

1. Forgiven (15:1-41)
And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance: (15:25)

Whatever sins we have committed, whether they are ignorant or wilful, God shall forgive them if we confess and repent them, and believe in and receive Jesus, the Son of God, as our personal Saviour. Throughout the Old Testament, God commanded Israel and even the Gentiles, that by faith, they shall offer the different types of sacrifices for their sins, believing that one day, Jesus, shall be their ultimate sacrifice, the Lamb of God, who shall die and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. (Hebrews 9:27-28)
 
2. Famous (16:1-15)
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? (16:3)

In God’s eyes, nothing, not even fame or fortune matters except submission and yielding to Him. Korah, Dathan, Abiram and the two hundred and fifty famous princes challenged the leadership of Moses and Aaron that they should also allow them to be God’s leaders. However, Moses explained to them that God only chose and ordained him and Aaron to be His leaders, and that they should submit to them. Indeed, let us obey our leaders as they are ordained by God, and submit to them as they submit to God. (Hebrews 13:17)
 
3. Fire (16:16-50)
And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. (16:35)

God commanded Moses and Aaron as well as Korah and his rebels with their families and children to bring their censers with incense in them to offer before Him. The glory of God then appeared before them and He commanded Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from Korah and his rebels. God immediately opened the earth swallowing Korah and his rebels as well as their possessions. God also sent a fire to burn the two hundred and fifty famous princes who rebelled against Him. Though Korah and his rebels offered sacrifices to God, yet their hearts were filled with wickedness and pride. Let us therefore submit and yield to God than offering sacrifices to Him. (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to completely and willingly submit and yield to You.

Numbers 13 & 14: Will You Still The People?
Verse of the Day: (13:30) And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

1. Spy (13:1-29)
These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua. (13:16)

Today the world’s operation of spying are unlike that of God’s. The world’s motto is, The end justifies the means, which may include wicked deeds, while God’s motto is, Be truthful and honest. Moses sent out twelve spies, who were rulers from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, to search out the enemies’ land so that they would plan and execute their attack. After forty days, the spies returned, and ten of them, excluding Joshua and Caleb, reported to Moses that though the land was filled with milk and honey, they were too strong, and their walls too high, and there could never defeat them. Though they were right, they left out God. On the other hand, Joshua and Caleb, by faith believed that God was with them, and they could overcome their enemies. Sadly, Israel chose to believe the report of the majority, the ten spies, and refused to launch their attack. (Philippians 4:8-9)   
 
2. Still (13:30-33)
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight (13:33)

Joshua and Caleb believed that they were able to overcome their enemies, though they were giants before them. In fact, Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah where the lineage of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, shall come forth, stilled the people and assured them that with God’s help, their enemies shall be like grasshoppers, and that they could easily overcome them. Indeed, let us be still, even when we are going through great storm knowing that our God is still on the throne, and He can do anything even raising the dead and promoting our souls to heaven if we truly believe in Him. (Psalms 46:10-11)
 
3. Signs (14:1-45)
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? (14:11)

God loves Israel as He showed them all His signs, such as, when He sent the ten plagues to inflict the Egyptians so that Pharaoh freed them from slavery, and He opened the Red sea for them to cross dry so that they could escape from the Egyptians. However, Israel kept refusing to believe in God. As a result, God destroyed Israel who were aged twenty years and above, and only helped Joshua and Caleb and those who were nineteen and below, to overcome their enemies, and possessed the Promised Land. (Hebrews 3:16-19)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be still, and know that I can do all things with You.

Numbers 11 & 12: Is The LORD’s Hand Shortened?
Verse of the Day: (11:23) And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

1. Heavy (11:1-22)
I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. (11:14)

Pray for your leaders as it is not easy to lead a country, community, company, church or family. Moses, the leader of Israel, prayed to God to spare Israel as God sent fire to burn them for their continual rebellion against Him. The people complaint that they would rather be in Egypt enjoying the meat, than to eat manna from God as He led them through the wilderness to inherit the Promised Land. They failed to see God’s manna was the best, and He was bringing them to the Promised Land that shall be filled with milk and honey. Moses cried to God that he could not lead Israel anymore as he was too tired of the people’s rebellion. God answered him by counselling him to gather seventy leaders to help him in his leadership. Indeed, as leader we must mobilise godly leaders to help us in our leadership. Though the world may choose to pursue after material wealth and enjoy the pleasures of sin that eventually lead them to destruction, let us as God’s leaders and people choose to seek after His spiritual blessings and rewards. (Hebrews 11:24-26)   
 
2. Hand (11:23-35)
And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. (11:25)

When the leaders believed God, they shared His Word so that all might believe in their God that He is the true and living God. Indeed, when we believe God, we shall not only have great joy and contentment in receiving His Word and power, but we shall also be His witnesses to share the gospel, that Jesus saves, to all the people around us. (Acts 1:8)
 
3. Heal (12:1-16)
And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. (12:13)

Do not be surprised when your loved ones oppose you as you serve God. This was the case with Moses as Miriam and Aaron, his siblings, rebelled against him by accusing him of marrying an Ethiopian wife when he should be marrying his own race. However, God was with Moses, and God disciplined them, and inflicted Miriam with leprosy. Moses then prayed to God to heal Miriam as he loved his siblings and people even though many times they rebelled against his leadership. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the perfect example of loving and forgiving His enemies, as even at the cross, suffering for the sins of the whole world, Jesus cried out, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for extending Your hand to help me as I call upon You.

Numbers 9 & 10: Will You Obey God’s Commandment?
Verse of the Day: (9:5) And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.

1. Command (9:1-14)
And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. (9:8)

Obedience and gratitude are what God values most, as we come to this world with nothing, and it is God who gives us everything. God commanded Israel to observe the passover to remind them that it was He who freed them from the Egyptian’s bondage. While God excused the uncleaned, who came into contact with a corpse, from observing the passover, yet He punished the cleaned, who disobeyed Him by failing to observe it. Let us obey God, like Jesus who was obedient even to die for mankind. (Philippians 2:8)
 
2. Cloud (9:15-23)
And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. (9:15)

Israel was the most blessed nation of all nations during Moses’ time as God’s holy presence, in the form of the cloud during the day, and the fire during the night, was with them throughout their journey. Though through unbelief, they wandered for forty years in the wilderness instead of eleven days, yet God never forsook them, but was with them throughout their journey. Indeed, let us repent our sins, and obey God. (Deuteronomy 1:2)
 
3. Call (10:1-36)
Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. (10:2)

As the population of Israel grew, Moses could only lead them by using the silver trumpets to effectively communicate with them concerning their movement and readiness for battle. The long blast signalled that all Israel gathered together. If the long blast was from only one trumpet, it meant that the princes of the twelve tribes shall gather together. If it was a short blast, the camps that were on the east parts shall go forward, and if it was another short blast, then the camps on the south side shall go forward. The priests were responsible for the blowing of the trumpets. Indeed, one day, God’s trumpet shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and we, who believe in Him and are alive, shall be caught up together with them to meet Him in the air, and then shall we all be with Him forever. Let us therefore comfort one another with this promise. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to obey Your commandments as they are best for me.

Numbers 7 & 8: Will You Offer Yourself To God?
Verse of the Day: (7:11) And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar. (7:11)

1. Oxen (7:1-9)
And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. (7:6)

God commanded all the tribes, excluding the tribe of Levi, but including the two tribes of Joseph, namely, his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which made up the twelve tribes, to offer and dedicate their wagons and oxen before His altar in the tabernacle after it had been fully erected and all the instruments had been anointed and sanctified. The wagons and the oxen were only given to two of the three families of the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon and Merari, to assist them in moving the instruments, while there was none given to the family of Kohath. God had commanded the family of Kohath to only carry His ark and the specified instruments on their shoulders. These instruments, particularly, the ark, represented God’s holy presence, and they must be holy before Him, and personally carry them on their shoulders. God desires us to have a close fellowship with Him by placing Him upon our shoulders, and especially in our hearts. (Numbers 3:27-32)
 
2. Offer (7:10-89)
And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: (7:12)

All the twelve princes of the twelve tribes of Israel gave the same offerings on each consecutive days lasting twelve days. On the first day, Nahshon, the prince of Judah, dedicated his offering to God. Though Judah was not the firstborn of Jacob’s twelve sons, yet God commanded him to offer first, because from his lineage shall come forth Jesus, God’s Son. (Matthew 1:3) God knows our hearts and how much we give to Him. When Jesus was on earth, He praised the poor widow as He saw her giving her two mites or her all to Him. Indeed, let us give our lives to God who owns and saves us. (Luke 21:1-4)
 
3. Old (8:1-26)
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: (8:24)

The Levites were called upon to serve God in the tabernacle only when they reached the age of twenty-five because they must be trained for His service. After they reached the age of fifty, they ceased to serve as they were too old to carry some of the heavy instruments of the tabernacle. However, they still continued to serve God by training and supervising the young Levites. Indeed, it is a great joy to serve God, and even greater joy to pass the baton to the younger ones who shall continue to serve Him. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to offer myself to You as You truly own and save me.

Numbers 5 & 6: Will The LORD Bless And Keep You?
Verse of the Day: (6:24) The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

1. Without (5:1-10)
And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel. (5:4)

God through Moses commanded Israel to quarantine the lepers and get them out of the camp where Israel stayed so that they would not infect others. Leprosy is the analogy of sins as we must confess and forsake sins otherwise not only we reap the consequences of our sins, even our family members reap the consequences of our sins. As in the case of alcohol addiction, not only the drunkard harms his health, but he becomes violent and abuses his family. God loves sinners but He hates sins, and let us confess and forsake our sins, and believe and trust in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord. (1 John 1:9)
 
2. Water (5:11-31)
And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: (5:18)

Marriage is sacred and it is of and from God. During Moses’ time, when the people of Israel suspected that their wives were unfaithful, they would bring them to the priests, and present to God the offering of jealousy. The priests shall then uncover the woman’s head, put the offering in her hands, charge her with an oath and serve her with the bitter water. God shall then miraculously revealed to them that the belly of the guilty shall swell and her thigh shall rot, while the innocent shall instead conceive her child. Today, we no longer have this practice, nonetheless, it is important for us to keep our marriage honourable, and never be unfaithful, otherwise God shall surely judge us. (Hebrews 13:4)
 
3. Wine (6:1-27)
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. (6:3)

During Moses’ time or the Old Testament era, God commanded Israel that those who desired to dedicate their whole lives to God must vow a vow of a Nazarite, and must observed the three requirements; firstly, he must abstain from wine, vinegar of wine or strong drink, liquor of grapes, moist or dried grapes, secondly, he must not cut his hair, and thirdly, he must not come near or touch a corpse. Today, when we believe and trust in Christ, though we are not subject to the Nazarite vows, but by the mercies of God, we must present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him, by trusting and obeying Him, and He shall surely bless and keep us now and forever. (Romans 12:1)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You richly bless and keep me as I trust and obey You.

Numbers 3 & 4: Are You The Priest Of God?
Verse of the Day: (3:3) These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.

1. Death (3:1-16)
And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father. (3:4)

Serving God is the greatest joy of my life as for me to live is Christ and to die is gain, yet it is not easy, as we must be obedient otherwise He shall chastise us. This was the case when God took the lives of Nadab and Abihu, the priests, who offered unauthorised fire to Him. It was a warning to Israel and in particular, to the priests, the sons of Aaron, that God’s service must be rendered in obedience otherwise His judgment shall be upon them. Today, when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we are not only God’s priests, but temples, as His Holy Spirit indwells in our hearts. Let us therefore trust and obey God so that we shall receive His fullness of mercy and blessings. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
 
2. Door (3:17-51)
And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, (3:25)

God commanded the priests consisting of the three families, the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath and Merari, of their responsibility at His sanctuary. The family of Gershon was responsible in setting up the tent, covering and the hanging of the door, while the family of Kohath was responsible in setting up the ark, table, candlestick, altars and vessels, and the family of Merari was responsible in setting up the boards, bars, pillars, sockets and vessels. This was God’s leadership before any leader wrote his first leadership book. Leadership is about accountability and every member must have a role so that there is no chaos in running the organisation or family. (1 Corinthians 12:27-31)
 
3. Dishes (4:1-49)
And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: (4:7)

We must do our best in whatever role entrusts to us, even though it may seem insignificant, like the priests putting the dishes at the sanctuary. Indeed, every member of our body, whether our ear or eye, is important, as every member makes up our whole body, so that we can fully function and enjoy life. This is the analogy of Jesus Christ as the Head of His church, and we are members of His church. (1 Corinthians 12:12-18)  

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am Your priest and child as I trust and obey You.

Numbers 1 & 2: Does God Knows Your Name?
Verse of the Day: (1:2) Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;

1. Names (1:1-16)
And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur. (1:5)

God knows all our names but the vital question is whether our names are written in His book of life so that our souls shall eternally be with Him when we believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, otherwise our souls shall be eternally condemned in the lake of fire because of our sins. Since the beginning of time, and until today, God loves man and His greatest desire is that man acknowledges Him as his Creator and Saviour, and trust and obey Him. This was why God commanded Israel to record all the names of Israel, because every name, person and soul was precious and important to Him. In fact, the record of all the names of Israel was important, as firstly, Jesus Christ shall come from the tribe of Judah, and secondly, God’s priests must come from the tribe of Levi, and both were from the twelve tribes of Israel. Indeed, let us thank God that when we believe in Jesus Christ, our lineage shall be from Jesus Christ, and we shall be God’s precious children and priests, and our names shall be written in His book of life. (Revelation 20:15)  

2. Number (1:17-54)
But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. (1:47)

God commanded Moses to number all Israel, except for the tribe of Levi, before they would go to war and fight against their enemies to claim their Promised Land, because every man must be accounted for, as they were all precious in His sight when they would repent of their sins, and believe Him as their personal Saviour and Lord. (2 Peter 3:9)

3. North (2:1-34)
The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. (2:25)

God commanded the twelve tribes of Israel to camp in specific positions; North, South, East and West, so that there was order in the camp, and they shall always be ready to set off for battle when called upon. God also through Moses appointed captains or leaders for each tribe as He worked through them to lead Israel to fight their enemies and to claim their Promised Land. Though God is our leader, yet we have human leaders and pastors to lead and guide us as He uses them for His glory and honour. Indeed, let us worship and serve God decently and in order, as He is a God of order and peace. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You know my name as I believe and trust in You.

Leviticus 27: Are You Fully Redeemed By The Blood Of The Lamb?
Verse of the Day: (27:13) But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.

1. Redeem (27:1-15)
And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his. (27:15)

Man says, Pay me and I shall serve you, while God says, Pay Me to serve Me. Indeed, it is a great privilege to serve God as He is the Giver of lives. God through Moses commanded Israel to keep their vows once they vowed to Him otherwise He shall judge and chastise them. Many of them vowed to serve God, and were willing to give God their money for all that He had blessed them. Unlike the Levites, including the priests, the only tribe out of the twelve tribes of Israel, whom God had commanded them to serve Him in the sanctuary without giving Him money, the rest of the tribes who vowed to serve Him must pay the priests as a form of their service to Him. If they then decided that they could not keep their vows, they must pay a penalty, which was an additional fifth part of the money vowed, to fully redeem their vows. Today, let us keep our vows when we vow to serve God, as He takes them seriously. Indeed, let us fear God, and obey His commandments since we are fully redeemed by His precious blood. (Revelation 5:9-10)  

2. Reckon (27:16-25)
But if he sanctify his field after the jubile, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubile, and it shall be abated from thy estimation. (27:18)

If the people vowed to give their fields to God, then decided that they could not keep them, they must pay a penalty reckoning the remaining years till the year of the jubile, which was the year when every slave shall be freed, and every land shall be returned to the original owner. Indeed, everyone and everything under the sun belongs to God, and there is nothing that man owns. Let us fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man as to why He creates us and He shall receive us when truly believe in and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

3. Rod (27:26-34)
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. (27:32)

God promised Israel that He shall open the windows of heaven and shall pour blessings upon them as they gave their tithe or the tenth of everything they had, such as their herd as they counted each one of them passing through their rod. Today, God commands us to present our lives as living sacrifices, redeemed by His precious blood. (Romans 12:1)
 
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am fully redeemed from sins by Your precious blood.

Leviticus 25 & 26: Will You Rest In The LORD?
Verse of the Day: (25:4) But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

1. Rest (25:1-23)
And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. (25:10)

God reminded His people that not only they must rest, but their land must also rest from the sowing and harvesting, otherwise, like our bodies, the land will worn out and become useless. God loves His people whom He makes in His image, and He also loves the land, and He knows what is best for man and the land. God’s command is that man must rest on every seventh day of the week, while the land must rest on every seventh year. Seven is God’s number, and it means completeness, and God desires us to find completeness and rest in Him before we work and serve Him again, and He also desires His land to find completeness and rest before the next sowing and harvesting time. (Hebrews 4:9-11) In fact, God commanded Israel that in every fiftieth year or the year of Jubilee, the most important year of their calendar, they must free every slave and return every land to the original owner, even though they had bought them, because all that they had belonged to Him. Let us therefore rest in God, and wait patiently for Him, knowing that He owns everything, including our very lives, and only He knows what is best for us. (Psalms 37:7)

2. Redeem (25:24-55)
If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. (25:25)

The redemption of land as well as slaves was the prophecy that God shall send His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, from glorious heaven to live on earth, and subsequently died on the cruel cross, and shed His precious blood, to redeem man from his sins. Whosoever therefore believes in and receives Jesus as his personal Saviour and Lord shall never perish in fiery hell but have everlasting life with Him in pearly heaven. (Hebrews 9:22)

3. Remember (26:1-46)
Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. (26:42)

Unlike man who many times forget or ignore our covenants, God always remembers His covenants since the days of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the beginning of time, and He shall surely fulfil them. Indeed, God’s greatest covenant is that we shall be His sons when we truly believe that Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, died for our sins. (John 1:12)
 
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to rest in You as You are my Redeemer and Saviour.

Numbers 7 & 8: Will You Offer Yourself To God?
Verse of the Day: (7:11) And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.

1. Oxen (7:1-9)
And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. (7:6)

God commanded all the tribes, excluding the tribe of Levi, but including the two tribes of Joseph, namely, his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which made up the twelve tribes, to offer and dedicate their wagons and oxen before His altar in the tabernacle after it had been fully erected and all the instruments had been anointed and sanctified. The wagons and the oxen were only given to two of the three families of the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon and Merari, to assist them in moving the instruments, while there was none given to the family of Kohath. God had commanded the family of Kohath to only carry His ark and the specified instruments on their shoulders. These instruments, particularly, the ark, represented God’s holy presence, and they must be holy before Him, and personally carry them on their shoulders. God desires us to have a close fellowship with Him by placing Him upon our shoulders, and especially in our hearts. (Numbers 3:27-32)
 
2. Offer (7:10-89)
And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: (7:12)

All the twelve princes of the twelve tribes of Israel gave the same offerings on each consecutive days lasting twelve days. On the first day, Nahshon, the prince of Judah, dedicated his offering to God. Though Judah was not the firstborn of Jacob’s twelve sons, yet God commanded him to offer first, because from his lineage shall come forth Jesus, God’s Son. (Matthew 1:3) God knows our hearts and how much we give to Him. When Jesus was on earth, He praised the poor widow as He saw her giving her two mites or her all to Him. Indeed, let us give our lives to God who owns and saves us. (Luke 21:1-4)
 
3. Old (8:1-26)
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: (8:24)

The Levites were called upon to serve God in the tabernacle only when they reached the age of twenty-five because they must be trained for His service. After they reached the age of fifty, they ceased to serve as they were too old to carry some of the heavy instruments of the tabernacle. However, they still continued to serve God by training and supervising the young Levites. Indeed, it is a great joy to serve God, and even greater joy to pass the baton to the younger ones who shall continue to serve Him. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to offer myself to You as You truly own and save me.

Leviticus 23 & 24: Will You Rejoice?
Verse of the Day: (23:40) And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

1. Rest (23:1-3)
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. (23:3)

Time and again, God reminded His people to work only six days, and rest on the sabbath day, as it is not only good for the body, but also the soul, as we reflect upon His grace.

2. Rejoice (23:4-44)
These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. (23:4)

God through Moses commanded Israel to celebrate His seven feasts for Israel to remind them of His grace in delivering them from the bondage of Egypt as well as His continual presence with them in the wilderness. The seven feasts were - 1. The LORD’s Passover (the time when God delivered them out of Egypt) 2. The feast of unleavened bread (the time when they ate the unleavened bread for seven days after the LORD’s Passover) 3. The Firstfruits (the first harvest of their crops after they inherited the land of Canaan) 4. The Fifty days or Pentecost (fifty days after the Firstfruit) 5. Trumpets (trumpets were used for their movement in the wilderness) 6. Day of Atonement (the day of the year where the high priest offered the sacrifice not only for his own sins but the sins of Israel) 7. The feast of tabernacles (the days they dwelt in booths in the wilderness). Indeed, let us be thankful and grateful to God, and to always rejoice in Him for His grace, knowing that He is too wise to make a mistake, and too loving to be unkind. (Philippians 4:4)

3. Restore (24:1-23)
And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death. (24:21)

Throughout man’s way, it is the principle of sowing and reaping and restoring - you reap what you sow, and you restore what you have broken. However, God’s way is even higher than man’s way as even when others do us evil, we still love them, and do them good. Indeed, Jesus, the Son of God, is the best and perfect example of unconditional and sacrificial love, when He died and shed His blood, not for His own sins, but for the sins of the world. At the cross, Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Indeed, let us love all including our enemies, and rejoice all the time even bad time, knowing that God is good all the time. (Luke 23:34)
 
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to rejoice all the time, including bad time, trusting You.

Leviticus 21 & 22: Are You Sanctified?
Verse of the Day: (21:8) Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.

1. Sanctify (21:1-24)
Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him. (21:15)

Throughout the Bible, holiness of God’s people is His utmost concern. Without holiness, no one can be with God forever because He is holy, and therefore He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the whole world. Whoever believes in Christ shall never perish in fiery hell, but shall be sanctified before Him, and one day be with Him in heaven forever. During the Old Testament era, God’s desire for His priests, and especially His high priest, including their families, who represented Him in their services at His holy sanctuary, was that they be examples of holiness to Israel and the rest of the world. God through Moses gave laws and ordinances to His high priest and priests as to how they must sanctify themselves and be holy in everything; from not touching the dead, to their marriage of a virgin, otherwise they shall be severely punished. Today, after Christ came and died for our sins, Christians are now God’s priests, and we must also be saved and sanctified to serve Christ, and be an example of His holiness. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

2. Separate (22:1-3)
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD. (22:2)

Not only the high priest and the priests must be sanctified, even the things of God must be sanctified and separated from the profane ones. This is an important lesson for us as God can never be with the devil, or Light be with darkness. Let us therefore separate ourselves from sinful activities, and be serving God in His church. (2 Corinthians 6:16-18)

3. Soul (22:4-33)
The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water. (22:6)

There are two things that last forever – God’s Word and man’s soul. (1 Peter 1:25, Luke 16:19-31) Since the beginning of time when God created Adam and Eve, and the time of Moses, and even today, God’s desire is that all souls be saved by the redemption of His only begotten Son, because He already knew that Adam and Eve shall sin against Him. God’s desire is that our souls be with Him in heaven after our death, if we believe in Him, otherwise, He shall blot our names in His book of life, and condemn us to hell because of our sins. Let us therefore believe in Jesus Christ, and be sanctified and holy, as He is holy.
 
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please sanctify and purify me, as I repent my sins before Your holiness.

Leviticus 19 & 20: Will You Be Holy?
Verse of the Day: (19:2) Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

1. Holy (19:1-37)
Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD. (19:37)

God through Moses gave Israel His commandments as to how they must live holy lives before His holiness. If there is only one word to describe God, it is His holiness. This is the reason why God creates fiery hell not because He desires man to be cast into it, but because of His holiness. The only way for man to be holy, and to be with God on earth and one day in heaven, is to believe that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the whole world, and that whoever believes in Jesus shall never perish but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. Indeed, God’s commandments were similar to the Ten Commandments He had given earlier to Israel. (Exodus 20:1-17) In summary, God’s commands required Israel to believe that He is the only true God, and that man must honour their parents, keep the sabbaths and be contented with life. Today, these laws are still applicable, and we must obey them, as God desires us to be holy before His holiness.  

2. Hide (20:1-21)
And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not: (20:4)

If there is one thing that God hates most, it must be dishonesty. God knows everything and He sees everything, and there is nothing that He does not know or see, and let us not hide anything from Him. God warned Israel that whoever hid the sins of the man who sacrificed his child to Molech (one of the idols) and not punished him with death as He had commanded Israel, shall be guilty himself and be punished with death. (Galatians 6:7)

3. Honey (20:22-27)
But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people. (20:24)

God knows those who believe in Him, and He shall richly bless them with milk and honey or the richest of His blessings. During Moses’ time or the Old Testament era, God’s milk and honey was literally milk and honey in the land of Canaan where they had plenty of milk from the cattle, and honey from the bees. Today or the New Testament era, after Jesus Christ came and died for the sins of the whole world, God’s milk and honey to those who truly believe and trust in Him is the abundant and everlasting life with Him. Indeed, with God we have everything, and without God, we have nothing! (John 10:10)  
 
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be holy as You are holy.

Leviticus 17 & 18: Are You Washed In The Blood Of Christ, The Lamb?
Verse of the Day: (17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

1. Burn (17:1-7)
And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD. (17:6)

God commanded Moses and Aaron that only the priests could offer the various types of offerings to God at the door of the tabernacle, and any man who offered any sacrifice without the priests shall be severely punished. The priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar signifying that the blood of the sacrifices had taken the sins of the people, and they then burnt the fat as sweet fragrance to God signifying that they desired to please Him with their sacrifices and had repented their sins. God knew the hearts of Israel that many still committed idolatry and were worshipping false gods, and making sacrifices to them as they did in Egypt. Let us truly repent of our sins and be sweet fragrance that all who come in contact with us shall experience the love of God in us. (2 Corinthians 2:15)

2. Blood (17:8-16)
For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. (17:14)

Without the shedding of the blood of Christ, there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22) God commanded Israel that they must not consume the blood of any flesh as it was the life of His creatures. This was why when the priests sacrificed the offerings, they sprinkled the blood and burned the fat, and only the flesh remained for consumption for the priests and the people. Today, we are under God’s grace and we can eat and do whatever for His glory since Jesus came and died for our sins. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

3. Beast (18:1-30)
Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. (18:23)

Man reaches his lowest point when he commits immorality with the beast that must have hurt God who created man in His image. (Genesis 1:26) God has created man with a living soul, and makes him far superior and smarter than the beast, yet man has degraded himself to a beast because of lust. God commands man to have only one wife, and give him laws of marriage, such as no sexual relationship with the same sex, and with his siblings, etc., that are still applicable today, so as to keep man holy before His holiness.  
 
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am washed by the blood of Christ, Your only Son.