May 12

1 Samuel 26

[1] Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?” [2] So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. [3] And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, [4] David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come. [5] Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.

[6] Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” [7] So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. [8] Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” [9] But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” [10] And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. [11] The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” [12] So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

[13] Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. [14] And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” [15] And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. [16] This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.”

[17] Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” [18] And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? [19] Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ [20] Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

[21] Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” [22] And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. [23] The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. [24] Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” [25] Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

1 Samuel 27

[1] Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” [2] So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. [3] And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. [4] And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.

[5] Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” [6] So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. [7] And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.

[8] Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. [9] And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. [10] When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” [11] And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. [12] And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.”

1 Samuel 28

[1] In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” [2] David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

[3] Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. [4] The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. [5] When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. [6] And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. [7] Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

[8] So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” [9] The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” [10] But Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” [11] Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” [12] When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” [13] The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” [14] He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

[15] Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” [16] And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? [17] The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. [18] Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. [19] Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

[20] Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. [21] And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. [22] Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” [23] He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. [24] Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, [25] and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

Psalm 106:1-23

    [1] Praise the LORD!

    Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

        for his steadfast love endures forever! 

    [2] Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD,

        or declare all his praise? 

    [3] Blessed are they who observe justice,

        who do righteousness at all times!

    [4] Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people;

        help me when you save them, 

    [5] that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones,

        that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,

        that I may glory with your inheritance.

    [6] Both we and our fathers have sinned;

        we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. 

    [7] Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,

        did not consider your wondrous works;

    they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,

        but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. 

    [8] Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,

        that he might make known his mighty power. 

    [9] He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry,

        and he led them through the deep as through a desert. 

    [10] So he saved them from the hand of the foe

        and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. 

    [11] And the waters covered their adversaries;

        not one of them was left. 

    [12] Then they believed his words;

        they sang his praise.

    [13] But they soon forgot his works;

        they did not wait for his counsel. 

    [14] But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,

        and put God to the test in the desert; 

    [15] he gave them what they asked,

        but sent a wasting disease among them.

    [16] When men in the camp were jealous of Moses

        and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD, 

    [17] the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,

        and covered the company of Abiram. 

    [18] Fire also broke out in their company;

        the flame burned up the wicked.

    [19] They made a calf in Horeb

        and worshiped a metal image. 

    [20] They exchanged the glory of God

        for the image of an ox that eats grass. 

    [21] They forgot God, their Savior,

        who had done great things in Egypt, 

    [22] wondrous works in the land of Ham,

        and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 

    [23] Therefore he said he would destroy them—

        had not Moses, his chosen one,

    stood in the breach before him,

        to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

2 Corinthians 11:1-15

[1] I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! [2] For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. [3] But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. [4] For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. [5] Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. [6] Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

[7] Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? [8] I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. [9] And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. [10] As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. [11] And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

[12] And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. [13] For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. [14] And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. [15] So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Mark 13:1-13

[1] And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” [2] And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

[3] And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, [4] “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” [5] And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. [6] Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. [7] And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. [8] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

[9] “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. [10] And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. [11] And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. [12] And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. [13] And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Are You Hearing the Real Thing?

PRAY OVER THIS

And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Peter 2:2-3

 

READ THIS

Yesterday, we considered how to spot a counterfeit according to his message. Today, we will consider what the Bible says about spotting a counterfeit according to his method and motive.

Good counterfeiters will lay false teaching alongside good teaching in order to confuse their listeners. Their words are feigned, like plastic; they are malleable and easy to contort.

You can also spot a counterfeiter by his motive, which is to manipulate his people for his own profit or gain. The desperate need in these last days is authentic biblical teaching; God will not spare the false prophet.

The world is full of counterfeits; make sure you have the real thing. There are some counterfeit Christians, but don’t you let that keep you away from Jesus. Jesus is real, salvation is real, and you can be real if you’ll repent of your sin and trust Him.

CONSIDER THIS

How might you prepare to identify false teaching mixed with or alongside good teaching?

How does the Holy Spirit work to help us identify false teachers? How might you rely on the Holy Spirit when seeking to discern a teacher’s motive?

DO THIS

To understand what is false, we need to know what is real. Set aside time today to read your Bible, so that you may grow in knowledge of the truth.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Go on to the Meal

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)

To you who say you have never tasted the glory of God, I say, you have tasted many of its appetizers.

Have you ever looked up at the sky? Have you ever been hugged? Have you ever sat in front of a warm fire? Have you ever walked in the woods, sat by a lake, lain in a summer hammock? Have you ever drunk your favorite drink on a hot day or eaten anything good?

Every desire is either a devout or a distorted enticement to the glory of heaven.

You say you haven’t tasted God’s glory. I say, you have tasted the appetizers. Go on to the meal. Go on to God himself.

You have seen the shadows; look at the substance. You have walked in the warm rays of the day; turn and look at the sun itself — yes, through the protective and sharpening lens of the gospel. You have heard echoes of God’s glory everywhere; tune your heart to the original music.

The best place to get your heart tuned is at the cross of Jesus Christ. “We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

If you want the most concentrated display of the glory of God, look at Jesus in the Gospels, and look especially at the cross. This will focus your eyes and tune your heart and waken your taste buds so that you will see and hear and taste the glory of the true God everywhere.

That is what you were made for. I plead with you: don’t throw your life away on shadows. God made you to see and savor his glory. Pursue that with all your heart and above all else. You have tasted the appetizers. Now go on to the full banquet.

John Piper 

May 11

1 Samuel 24

[1]  When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” [2] Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. [3] And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. [4] And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. [5] And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. [6] He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” [7] So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

[8] Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. [9] And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? [10] Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ [11] See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. [12] May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. [13] As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. [14] After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! [15] May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”

[16] As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. [17] He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. [18] And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. [19] For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. [20] And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. [21] Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” [22] And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 Samuel 25

[1] Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. 

 Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. [2] And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. [3] Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite. [4] David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. [5] So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. [6] And thus you shall greet him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. [7] I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. [8] Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”

[9] When David’s young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited. [10] And Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. [11] Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?” [12] So David’s young men turned away and came back and told him all this. [13] And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.

[14] But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. [15] Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. [16] They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. [17] Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.”

[18] Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. [19] And she said to her young men, “Go on before me; behold, I come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. [20] And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them. [21] Now David had said, “Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. [22] God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.”

[23] When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. [24] She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. [25] Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. [26] Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. [27] And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. [28] Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. [29] If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. [30] And when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, [31] my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”

[32] And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! [33] Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! [34] For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” [35] Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition.”

[36] And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light. [37] In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. [38] And about ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.

[39] When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the LORD who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The LORD has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife. [40] When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.” [41] And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” [42] And Abigail hurried and rose and mounted a donkey, and her five young women attended her. She followed the messengers of David and became his wife.

[43] David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives. [44] Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

Psalm 105

    [1] Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;

        make known his deeds among the peoples! 

    [2] Sing to him, sing praises to him;

        tell of all his wondrous works! 

    [3] Glory in his holy name;

        let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! 

    [4] Seek the LORD and his strength;

        seek his presence continually! 

    [5] Remember the wondrous works that he has done,

        his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, 

    [6] O offspring of Abraham, his servant,

        children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

    [7] He is the LORD our God;

        his judgments are in all the earth. 

    [8] He remembers his covenant forever,

        the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 

    [9] the covenant that he made with Abraham,

        his sworn promise to Isaac, 

    [10] which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,

        to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 

    [11] saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

        as your portion for an inheritance.”

    [12] When they were few in number,

        of little account, and sojourners in it, 

    [13] wandering from nation to nation,

        from one kingdom to another people, 

    [14] he allowed no one to oppress them;

        he rebuked kings on their account, 

    [15] saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,

        do my prophets no harm!”

    [16] When he summoned a famine on the land

        and broke all supply of bread, 

    [17] he had sent a man ahead of them,

        Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 

    [18] His feet were hurt with fetters;

        his neck was put in a collar of iron; 

    [19] until what he had said came to pass,

        the word of the LORD tested him. 

    [20] The king sent and released him;

        the ruler of the peoples set him free; 

    [21] he made him lord of his house

        and ruler of all his possessions, 

    [22] to bind his princes at his pleasure

        and to teach his elders wisdom.

    [23] Then Israel came to Egypt;

        Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 

    [24] And the LORD made his people very fruitful

        and made them stronger than their foes. 

    [25] He turned their hearts to hate his people,

        to deal craftily with his servants.

    [26] He sent Moses, his servant,

        and Aaron, whom he had chosen. 

    [27] They performed his signs among them

        and miracles in the land of Ham. 

    [28] He sent darkness, and made the land dark;

        they did not rebel against his words. 

    [29] He turned their waters into blood

        and caused their fish to die. 

    [30] Their land swarmed with frogs,

        even in the chambers of their kings. 

    [31] He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,

        and gnats throughout their country. 

    [32] He gave them hail for rain,

        and fiery lightning bolts through their land. 

    [33] He struck down their vines and fig trees,

        and shattered the trees of their country. 

    [34] He spoke, and the locusts came,

        young locusts without number, 

    [35] which devoured all the vegetation in their land

        and ate up the fruit of their ground. 

    [36] He struck down all the firstborn in their land,

        the firstfruits of all their strength.

    [37] Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,

        and there was none among his tribes who stumbled. 

    [38] Egypt was glad when they departed,

        for dread of them had fallen upon it.

    [39] He spread a cloud for a covering,

        and fire to give light by night. 

    [40] They asked, and he brought quail,

        and gave them bread from heaven in abundance. 

    [41] He opened the rock, and water gushed out;

        it flowed through the desert like a river. 

    [42] For he remembered his holy promise,

        and Abraham, his servant.

    [43] So he brought his people out with joy,

        his chosen ones with singing. 

    [44] And he gave them the lands of the nations,

        and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil, 

    [45] that they might keep his statutes

        and observe his laws.

    Praise the LORD!

2 Corinthians 10

[1] I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—[2] I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. [3] For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. [5] We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, [6] being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

[7] Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. [8] For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. [9] I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. [10] For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” [11] Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. [12] Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

[13] But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. [14] For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. [15] We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, [16] so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. [17] “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” [18] For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Mark 12:35-44

[35] And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? [36] David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, 

    “‘The Lord said to my Lord,

    “Sit at my right hand,

        until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

    [37] David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

[38] And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces [39] and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, [40] who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

[41] And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. [42] And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. [43] And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. [44] For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Do You Spot the Lies?

PRAY OVER THIS

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:1

 

READ THIS

In the Bible, there is no greater crime than being a false prophet. It’s bad to tell a lie, and it’s worse to teach a lie; but it is evil to teach a lie about God. Don’t let false teachers take you by surprise; when you look for the devil, never fail to look in the pulpit. We must learn how to spot a counterfeit teacher.

Scripture tells us that false teachers are among us and warns us of the dangers of their doctrine.

We can identify counterfeits by their message. There are five tests we should run in our minds as we listen to a preacher:

Source Test: What is the basis of his teaching?

Savior Test: Does he believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah?

Subject Test: Is the primary source of his teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Salvation Test: Does he teach salvation by grace, or does he try to mix works or baptism or anything else into salvation?

Sanctification Test: Does he teach, and endeavor to live, a holy life?

CONSIDER THIS

Which of the five tests for identifying a counterfeit by his message stood out to you?

How might you work to remember these measures and actively use them when listening to a new teacher?

DO THIS

Use a concordance this week to look up what the Bible says about each of these tests so that you might better prepare yourself to identify false teaching.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

A People for His Name

“Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.” (Acts 15:14)

It is scarcely possible to overemphasize the centrality of the name of God, that is, the fame of God, in motivating the mission of the church.

When Peter had his world turned upside down by the vision of unclean animals in Acts 10, and by the lesson from God that he should evangelize Gentiles as well as Jews, he came back to Jerusalem and told the apostles that it was all owing to God’s zeal for his name. We know this because James summed up Peter’s speech like this: “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name” (Acts 15:13–14).

It’s not surprising that Peter would say that God’s purpose was to gather a people for his name; because the Lord Jesus had stung Peter some years earlier with an unforgettable lesson.

You recall that, after a rich young man turned away from Jesus and refused to follow him, Peter said to Jesus, “See, we have left everything and followed you [unlike this rich fellow]. What then will we have?” (Matthew 19:27). Jesus responded with a mild rebuke, which in effect said that there is no ultimate sacrifice when you live for the name of the Son of Man. He said, “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).

The truth is plain: God is pursuing with omnipotent delight a worldwide purpose of gathering a people for his name from every tribe and language and nation (Revelation 5:9; 7:9). He has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the fame of his name among the nations.

Therefore, when we bring our affections in line with his, and, for the sake of his name, renounce the quest for our own worldly fame and comforts, and join his global purpose, God’s omnipotent commitment to his name flies like a banner before us, and we cannot lose, even if we must walk through many tribulations (Acts 14:22; Romans 8:35–39).

John Piper 

May 10

1 Samuel 21

[1]  Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” [2] And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. [3] Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” [4] And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” [5] And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” [6] So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

[7] Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s herdsmen.

[8] Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.” [9] And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”

[10] And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. [11] And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, 

    ‘Saul has struck down his thousands,

        and David his ten thousands’?”

    [12] And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. [13] So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. [14] Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? [15] Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

1 Samuel 22

[1] David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. [2] And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

[3] And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.” [4] And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. [5] Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

[6] Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. [7] And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, [8] that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.” [9] Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, [10] and he inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

[11] Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. [12] And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” [13] And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” [14] Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? [15] Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.” [16] And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.” [17] And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the LORD. [18] Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. [19] And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.

[20] But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. [21] And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. [22] And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father’s house. [23] Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.”

1 Samuel 23

[1] Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” [2] Therefore David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” [3] But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” [4] Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” [5] And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

[6] When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. [7] Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” [8] And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. [9] David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” [10] Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. [11] Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” [12] Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.” [13] Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. [14] And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

[15] David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. [16] And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. [17] And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” [18] And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

[19] Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon? [20] Now come down, O king, according to all your heart’s desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.” [21] And Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me. [22] Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning. [23] See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.” [24] And they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. 

Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon.  [25] And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. [26] Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, [27] a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” [28] So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. [29]  And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of Engedi.

Psalm 104

    [1] Bless the LORD, O my soul!

        O LORD my God, you are very great!

    You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 

    [2]     covering yourself with light as with a garment,

        stretching out the heavens like a tent. 

    [3] He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;

    he makes the clouds his chariot;

        he rides on the wings of the wind; 

    [4] he makes his messengers winds,

        his ministers a flaming fire.

    [5] He set the earth on its foundations,

        so that it should never be moved. 

    [6] You covered it with the deep as with a garment;

        the waters stood above the mountains. 

    [7] At your rebuke they fled;

        at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. 

    [8] The mountains rose, the valleys sank down

        to the place that you appointed for them. 

    [9] You set a boundary that they may not pass,

        so that they might not again cover the earth.

    [10] You make springs gush forth in the valleys;

        they flow between the hills; 

    [11] they give drink to every beast of the field;

        the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 

    [12] Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;

        they sing among the branches. 

    [13] From your lofty abode you water the mountains;

        the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

    [14] You cause the grass to grow for the livestock

        and plants for man to cultivate,

    that he may bring forth food from the earth 

    [15]     and wine to gladden the heart of man,

    oil to make his face shine

        and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

    [16] The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,

        the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 

    [17] In them the birds build their nests;

        the stork has her home in the fir trees. 

    [18] The high mountains are for the wild goats;

        the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

    [19] He made the moon to mark the seasons;

        the sun knows its time for setting. 

    [20] You make darkness, and it is night,

        when all the beasts of the forest creep about. 

    [21] The young lions roar for their prey,

        seeking their food from God. 

    [22] When the sun rises, they steal away

        and lie down in their dens. 

    [23] Man goes out to his work

        and to his labor until the evening.

    [24] O LORD, how manifold are your works!

        In wisdom have you made them all;

        the earth is full of your creatures. 

    [25] Here is the sea, great and wide,

        which teems with creatures innumerable,

        living things both small and great. 

    [26] There go the ships,

        and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

    [27] These all look to you,

        to give them their food in due season. 

    [28] When you give it to them, they gather it up;

        when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 

    [29] When you hide your face, they are dismayed;

        when you take away their breath, they die

        and return to their dust. 

    [30] When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,

        and you renew the face of the ground.

    [31] May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

        may the LORD rejoice in his works, 

    [32] who looks on the earth and it trembles,

        who touches the mountains and they smoke! 

    [33] I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

        I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 

    [34] May my meditation be pleasing to him,

        for I rejoice in the LORD. 

    [35] Let sinners be consumed from the earth,

        and let the wicked be no more!

    Bless the LORD, O my soul!

    Praise the LORD!

2 Corinthians 9

[1] Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, [2] for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. [3] But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. [4] Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. [5] So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

[6] The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. [9] As it is written, 

    “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;

        his righteousness endures forever.”

    [10] He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. [11] You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. [12] For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. [13] By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, [14] while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. [15] Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Mark 12:28-34

[28] And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” [29] Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [31] The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” [32] And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. [33] And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” [34] And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.