+ DAILY PRAYER +
The Friendship of David and Jonathan When he finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan became attached to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him on that very day and did not allow him to return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 Jonathan stripped off the robe ?that he was wearing? and gave it to David, along with his fighting attire, and even his sword, his bow, and his belt….
This Daily Devotion covers the first five books of the Bible, Genesis through Deuteronomy also called the Books of Moses or the Pentateuch, in a period of one year in a Monday through Friday format, the Psalms and order of devotion follow those presented in The Treasury of Daily Prayer from Concordia Publishing House.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan,
and he hears my voice.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;
He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 148:1-6
1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Reading for Friday November 17th 1 Samuel 18
The Friendship of David and Jonathan
18 ?When? he finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan became attached to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him on that very day and did not allow him to return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 Jonathan stripped off the robe ?that he was wearing? and gave it to David, along with his fighting attire, and even his sword, his bow, and his belt.
David’s Successes Arouse Saul’s Suspicions
5 David went out ?whenever? Saul sent him, and he succeeded. So Saul appointed him over the men of the war, and it ?pleased? all the people and even ?pleased? the servants of Saul. 6 ?When they were coming back? after David had returned from striking down the Philistine, the women went out from all the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments. 7 And the women sang as they danced, and they said,
“Saul has struck down his thousands,
but David his ten thousands!”
8 ?Saul became very angry?, and ?this saying displeased him?, and he thought, “They have attributed to David ten thousands, but to me they have attributed thousands! ?What more can he have but the kingdom??” 9 So Saul was watching David with suspicion from that day onward.
10 ?On? the next day, the evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. Now David was playing the lyre with his hand on that day ?as usual?, and the spear was in Saul’s hand. 11 Then Saul hurled the spear and thought, “?I will pin David to the wall?.” But David eluded him twice. 12 ?Now Saul was threatened by the presence of David? because Yahweh was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him ?from his presence?, and made him commander of a thousand, ?so he marched in and out at the front of the army?. 14 And David was achieving success in all his ways and Yahweh was with him, 15 but when Saul saw that he was very successful, ?he was severely threatened by him?. 16 However, all of Israel and Judah were loving David, for he was going forth and marching ahead of them.
David Marries Saul’s Daughter Michal
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife. Only be ?a brave warrior? for me and fight the battles of Yahweh.” For Saul thought, “My hand will not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, the clan of my father in Israel, that I should be a son-in-law to the king?” 19 ?But? at the time Saul’s daughter Merab was to be given to David, she was given instead to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, so they told Saul, and the matter ?pleased him?. 21 And Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she may be a snare for him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time you can become my son-in-law today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. So then, become a son-in-law of the king.’ ” 23 And Saul’s servants spoke these words ?to David privately?. But David said, “Is it insignificant ?in your sight? to become the son-in-law of the king, as I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?” 24 So the servants of Saul informed him, saying, “?This is what David said?.” 25 Then Saul said, “This is what you must say to David: ‘?The king desires no bride price? except for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to avenge himself on the enemies of the king.’ ” (Now Saul had planned to allow David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.) 26 So his servants told David these words, and the matter ?pleased David? to become the son-in-law of the king as ?the specified time had not expired?.
27 And David got up, and he and his men went and struck down two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and ?they presented the full number? to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife. 28 When Saul ?realized? that Yahweh was with David and ?his own daughter Michal? loved him, 29 Saul ?was threatened by David still more?, so Saul ?became a perpetual enemy of David?. 30 Then the commanders of the Philistines went out for battle, and as often as they went out, David succeeded more than all the servants of Saul, and his name became very esteemed.
Lord’s Prayer
Daily Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, as the healer of nations, You released many from their bondage to sin, death, and the devil, but when it came time to release You, the crowd chose a murderer instead. Through our co-crucifixion with You in the waters of our Baptism, may we continually be released from our sins as we confess You to be our everlasting King; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Concluding Prayer
Heavenly Father, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to direct and rule us according to Your will, to comfort us in all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
