Day 97: 1 Kings 4, 5 and 6

Solomon also had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. (1 Kings 4:7)

The nation of Israel was growing up. During the reign of Saul, Israel was at war, subject to, or at the very least tormented by the Philistines. During the reign of David, Israel conquered its enemies and its borders were expanded. In Solomon's time, Israel enjoyed a season of peace and prosperity - at least temporarily.

As enemies were conquered, they were required to pay tribute to Israel. That partially accounted for its prosperity. Under Solomon, however, the kingdom quit expanding even though its bureaucracies did not. Chapter 4 gives us our first glimpse of Solomon organizing Israel into 12 administrative districts (read tax districts), coordinating roughly with tribal borders. Each district was responsible to provide the funding for one month's national budget.

No longer were the costs of doing business covered by tribute from other nations (there was still tribute to be sure, but not enough to cover expenses); now Israel's own people were being taxed to help pay for the nation's many levels of bureaucracy.

We think of the reigns of David and Solomon as the golden age of Israel. We would be wise to consider how their decisions affected future generations.

How will your decisions this week affect your great grandchildren?

Day 96: 1 Kings 1, 2 and 3

Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. (1 Kings 3:4)

At some point, probably soon after the devastating military loss at the Battle of Shiloh, the tabernacle was moved to Gibeon. But what's a tabernacle without the Ark of the Covenant? After the ark was captured by the Philistines, and then returned, it would never again be housed in Moses' Tabernacle. For many years (throughout the reign of Saul and beyond) it was sheltered in the house of Abinadab. When David conquered Jersualem, he set up a new tent for the ark called Zion, but Moses' Tabernacle remained at Gibeon.

There was no altar for burnt offerings at Zion, so Solomon went to Gibeon, where he offered up a thousand sacrifices. In return for this act of worship, or more likely because of Solomon's heart behind the worship, God offered the king anything he asked for, and Solomon asked for wisdom. In addition to wisdom, God promised Solomon all the wealth and power he could have asked for.

Extravagant worship. Extravagant blessing.

Could there be a connection?

And your argument for dignified, restrained worship was what again?

Day 95: 2 Samuel 22, 23 and 24

Enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are. (2 Samuel 22, 23 and 24)

David is the greatest warrior-king ever recorded in the Old Testament. He's never lost a battle. Why? Was it because he was such a great tactician? Because of his military machine? Or overwhelming numbers? No; it was because God was with him. David is always careful to give God the glory for each victory, acknowledging the source of his success.

And yet here in the evening of his days, when he has defeated every enemy and subjugated every opposing kingdom, doubt creeps in. Do I have the strength to hold on to what is mine? And so he orders his faithful friend Joab to implement a census,... really a registration for a possible future draft.

Was there something wrong with taking a census? God had ordered Israel to take a census shortly after exiting Egypt and again before entering Canaan. Nothing wrong with a census. Was there something wrong with being prepared? Would Jesus not illustrate a thousand years later: Will [a king] not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand (Luke 14:31)? Nothing wrong with being prepared.

The sin was in not trusting God. God had never let him down, never left him on his own, but now David was acting like God wasn't even part of the equation.

For what do you need to trust God?

Day 94: 2 Samuel 19, 20 and 21

Whoever is for David, let him follow Joab! (2 Samuel 20:11)

Maybe he felt bad for sending Absalom away when he avenged his sister by killing her rapist (his half-brother Amnon), but when it came to his favorite son, David was loyal to a fault.

Absalom had finessed the kingdom away from his father, causing David and those loyal to him to run for their lives. Joab had the opportunity, so out of loyalty to David, he killed Absalom. Joab knew it had to be done if the king were ever to regain the throne. And how does David reward him? He spitefully replaces him with none other than Amasa, the general who had supported Absalom's coup.

But being in trouble is a good way to find out who your friends are. Amasa, sensing David's vulnerability, drags his feet allowing David's enemies more time to strengthen their position. Joab, still loyal to David, sees what Amasa is up to and executes him. He then chases down the king's other enemies, reuniting the kingdom under David.

A friend loves us in spite of our shortcomings. A friend sticks by us when the chips are down. Those seeking the advantage over us constantly scrutinize us to find where we are weak. And once they discern a chink in our armor, they use it against us.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17).

Who do you know that needs a friend?

Day 93: 2 Samuel 16, 17 and 18

[Shimei] threw stones at David and his officers, but the people and soldiers gathered all around David. (2 Samuel 16:6)

As leaders, it's a fact of life that people will throw stones at us. What a blessing to be surrounded by people who love us, and who are willing to put themselves between us and our detractors. It is not self-serving for a leader to teach those around him their responsibility in this matter. It is not dictatorial or cultish to ingrain this kind of loyalty and sacrifice into the hearts and minds of followers. Leaders in training will be blessed by following the example of David's soldiers. After all, one day someone will be throwing rocks at them.

There is another lesson here. David doesn't just dismiss out of hand Shimei's curses. If he is cursing me because the Lord told him to, who can question him (16:10)? David understood the necessity of spreading out before the Lord accusations made against him. David knew that, only after honest examination, if there was nothing there that would be the time to dismiss those curses. He was also humble and teachable. If there was a foundation of truth in Shimei's curse, or if God was trying to speak to him, he was prepared to receive from the Lord his message of correction.

When's the last time you expressed appreciation to people in your life who care enough about you to shield you? And those who care enough to lovingly confront you?

Day 92: 2 Samuel 13, 14 and 15

Amnon had a friend named Jonadab . . . a very shrewd man. (2 Samuel 13:3)

These chapters illustrate the influence of a well-placed whisper. Our story begins with Amnon, a prince of Israel, who is head over heels in lust with his half sister. His friend Jonadab conceives an evil plan, and whispers it in Amnon's ear, leading to the travesty of King David's virgin daughter being raped by her half brother.

After Tamar confides in Absalom the terrible thing that has happened, her older brother nurses a scheme of vengeance and two years later kills Amnon for raping his sister, before finding asylum in a neighboring kingdom.

David is in a difficult position. Absalom (his father's favorite) has killed another of his sons. Societal conventions do not allow David to bring his son home (no doubt the two years between Tamar's rape and Amnon's death, not to mention the careful planning involved, make it difficult to argue against premeditation).

Joab, the king's trusted general, intervenes. Though he convinces David it is time to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem, David still refuses to see his son. Though back in his home, he is still exiled from his father's presence.

After another two years has passed, Absalom sends Joab to plead his case before David, and the king finally reconciles with his son.

Whispers. Jonadab whispered in Amnon's ear to indulge his appetites. Joab whispered in David's ear to do the right thing.

Who's your Jonadab? Who's your Joab?

Day 91: 2 Samuel 10, 11 and 12

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war . . . David remained in Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11:1)

Seemingly insignificant decisions can reap giant consequences.

Israel was going to war with Ammon. David had an able general in Joab, and entrusted the Ammonite military campaign to him, leaving the king with some free time on his hands. One sleepless night, David was strolling around the palace rooftop, when he spied his neighbor's wife bathing. He was intrigued and had her summoned. While his neighbor (Uriah) was at the battlefront, David became sexually entangled with Bathsheba (Uriah's wife). Their relationship resulted in an unwanted pregnancy and a potentially embarrassing scandal for the king.

Rather than seeing this as an opportunity to come clean and confess his sins, David went the way of the cover-up. He brought Uriah home from the front lines, thinking he would sleep with his wife and everyone would think the baby was his. No flag no foul, but Uriah had too much integrity for that. In a final act of desperation, David arranged with Joab for Uriah to become a casualty of war, a sure-fire solution to his problem with plausible deniability for all. David was in the clear... and a murderer.

What would have happened if David had led his own troops into battle, and that first wayward step not taken?

All for the want of a nail.

Has a seemingly insignificant decision ever led to big consequences for you?