And there was war in Heaven:  Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.The great dragon was hurled down -- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:...  Read More

The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.. . . During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived i...  Read More

Now two prostitutes came to the king . . . One of them said . . . "This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby.. . . "During the night, this woman's son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep.  . . ....  Read More

Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David . . .The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices . . . and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon, the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness ...  Read More

When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son."I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said, "So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and tha...  Read More

When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him.. . . Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, " will be king."  So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. (His father had never rebuked him by asking, "Why do you behave as you do?’’ He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)Adonijah ...  Read More

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit -- with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again b...  Read More

Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;Then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.Unseal my lips, O LORD, that my mouth may praise you.     Psalm 51:11-15 As David continu...  Read More

For I was born a sinner -- yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.Purify me from my sins and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me -- now let me rejoice.Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a lo...  Read More

Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.Psalm 51:2-4 (NLT) The pain of hurting someone you truly love can be unbearable. When a truly caring heart is bruised by our callou...  Read More

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. Psalm 51:1 (NLT) In a rather unsettling way, David, the "man after God’s own heart" had sinned against God.He had committed adultery and senselessly ordered the husband of the woman to be killed both as a cover-up and to pave t...  Read More

On that day Gad went to David and said to him, ‘’Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.’’ So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad.When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.Araunah said, ‘’Why has my lord the king come to his servant?’’...  Read More