Daily Devotions
Date:
May 26, 2020
Scripture:
I Chron. 17-19 John 10:1-21
Who are Ammonites? I decided to dig out some background about them. Ammonites are the descendants of Ben-Ammi, son of incest between Lot and his younger daughter (Gen 19:38). Their immoral ancestry did not stop God from watching over them. When Israelites were on their way to receive the Promised Land, God told them not to harass or provoke them to war (Deut 2:19). He had already given their land to Lot.
The Ammonites did not seem to appreciate it. During the period of Judges, Ammonites caused trouble for Israel and God raised Jephthah to save Israel from them (Jdg 11). They retreated for a while, but came back during the time of Saul again for further trouble (1Sam 11). That was actually the event which triggered the reaffirming of Saul’s kingship (1Sam 11:15).
In today’s OT reading, Ammonite was causing more problems for David. Apparently, king Nahash was kind to David when he was being pursued by King Saul (1Ch 19:2), and David wanted to return the favor. Nevertheless, his goodwill was taken as means to overthrow the country (19:3). The Ammonites humiliated David’s messengers, and that resulted in a military confrontation which ended in a great victory by David (20:1-3). It was not the end of Ammonites, though. They continued to harass Israel even after their return from Babylonian exile (Neh 4:3).
Although Ammonites were not allowed to be in the assembly of the LORD (Deut 23:3), they were not in the list of people for Israelites to eliminate upon entering the Promised Land either. Amazingly, they actually got into the genealogy of Jesus through Rehoboam (1Ki 14:21). God’s grace never stops to surprise me.
Why didn’t God just destroy Ammonites altogether? I honestly don’t know. It’s God’s grace of course, but I would also think there was a purpose for their existence. “The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble” (Prov 16:4, ESV). Such trouble is meant to build endurance and characters and, in turn, hope (Rom 5:3-4). When a man is totally free from trouble, it may just be the beginning of decline.
Do you have Ammonites around you? You probably do. See them as God’s gifts to build you up as his disciples. You never know. One day, the Ammonites could become your brothers.
Keep on reading,
Your pastor
Past Devotions
Date | Scripture |
|---|---|
12/31/2020 | Malachi Revelation 22 |
12/30/2020 | Zechariah 13,14 Revelation 21 |
12/29/2020 | Zechariah 10-12 Revelation 20 |
12/28/2020 | Zechariah 7-9 Revelation 19 |
12/27/2020 | Zechariah 4-6 Revelation 18 |
12/26/2020 | Zechariah 1-3 Revelation 17 |
12/25/2020 | Haggai Revelation 16 |
12/24/2020 | Zephaniah Revelation 15 |
12/23/2020 | Habakkuk Revelation 14 |
12/22/2020 | Nahum Revelation 13 |
12/21/2020 | Micah 6,7 Revelation 12 |
12/20/2020 | Micah 4,5 Revelation 11 |
12/19/2020 | Micah 1-3 Revelation 10 |
12/18/2020 | Jonah Revelation 9 |
12/17/2020 | Obadiah Revelation 8 |
12/16/2020 | Amos 7-9 Revelation 7 |
12/15/2020 | Amos 4-6 Revelation 6 |
12/14/2020 | Amos 1-3 Revelation 5 |
12/14/2020 | Amos 1-3 Revelation 5 |
12/13/2020 | Joel 1-3, Revelation 4 |
12/12/2020 | Hosea 12-14 Revelation 3 |
12/11/2020 | Hosea 9-11 Revelation 2 |
12/10/2020 | Hosea 5-8 Revelation 1 |
12/09/2020 | Hosea 1-4 Jude |
12/08/2020 | Daniel 11,12 3 John |
12/07/2020 | Daniel 9,10 2 John |
12/06/2020 | Daniel 7,8 1 John 5 |
12/05/2020 | Daniel 5,6 1 John 4 |
12/04/2020 | Daniel 3,4 1 John 3 |
12/03/2020 | Daniel 1,2 1 John 2 |
12/02/2020 | Ezekiel 47,48 1 John 1 |
12/01/2020 | Ezekiel 45,46 2 Peter 3 |
11/30/2020 | Ezekiel 43,44 2 Peter 2 |
11/29/2020 | Ezekiel 41,42 2 Peter 1 |
11/28/2020 | Ezekiel 40 1 Peter 5 |
11/27/2020 | Ezekiel 38,39 1 Peter 4 |
11/26/2020 | Ezekiel 36,37 1 Peter 3 |
11/25/2020 | Ezekiel 34,35 1 Peter 2 |
11/24/2020 | Ezekiel 32,33 1 Peter 1 |
11/23/2020 | Ezekiel 29-31 James 5 |
11/22/2020 | Ezekiel 27,28 James 4 |
11/21/2020 | Ezekiel 24-26 James 3 |
11/20/2020 | Ezekiel 22,23 James 2 |
11/19/2020 | Ezekiel 20,21 James 1 |
11/17/2020 | Ezekiel 16 Hebrews 12 |
11/17/2020 | Ezekiel 17-19 Hebrews 13 |
11/16/2020 | Ezekiel 13-15 Hebrews 11:20-40 |
11/15/2020 | Ezekiel 10-12 Hebrews 11:1-19 |
11/14/2020 | Ezekiel 7-9 Hebrews 10:24-39 |
11/13/2020 | Ezekiel 4-6 Hebrews 10:1-23 |
11/12/2020 | Ezekiel 1-3 Hebrews 9 |
11/11/2020 | Lamentations 3-5 Hebrews 8 |
11/10/2020 | Lamentations 1,2 Hebrews 7 |
11/09/2020 | Jeremiah 51,52 Hebrews 6 |
11/08/2020 | Jeremiah 49,50 Hebrews 5 |
11/07/2020 | Jeremiah 46-48 Hebrews 4 |
11/06/2020 | Jeremiah 43-45 Hebrews 3 |
11/05/2020 | Jeremiah 40-42 Hebrews 2 |
11/03/2020 | Jeremiah 36,37 Philemon |
11/03/2020 | Jeremiah 38,39 Hebrews 1 |
11/02/2020 | Jeremiah 33-35 Titus 3 |
11/01/2020 | Jeremiah 31,32 Titus 2 |
10/31/2020 | Jeremiah 29,30 Titus 1 |
10/30/2020 | Jeremiah 27,28 2 Timothy 4 |
10/29/2020 | Jeremiah 25,26 2 Timothy 3 |
10/28/2020 | Jeremiah 23,24 2 Timothy 2 |
10/27/2020 | Jeremiah 20-22 2 Timothy 1 |
10/26/2020 | Jeremiah 17-19 1 Timothy 6 |
10/25/2020 | Jeremiah 14-16 1 Timothy 5 |
10/24/2020 | Jeremiah 11-13 1 Timothy 4 |
10/23/2020 | Jeremiah 9,10 1 Timothy 3 |
10/22/2020 | Jeremiah 7,8 1 Timothy 2 |
10/21/2020 | Jeremiah 5,6 1 Timothy 1 |
10/20/2020 | Jeremiah 3,4 2 Thessalonians 3 |
10/19/2020 | Jeremiah 1,2 2 Thessalonians 2 |
10/18/2020 | Isaiah 65,66 2 Thessalonians 1 |
10/17/2020 | Isaiah 62-64 1 Thessalonians 5 |
10/16/2020 | Isaiah 59-61 1 Thessalonians 4 |
10/15/2020 | Isaiah 56-58 1 Thessalonians 3 |
10/14/2020 | Isaiah 53-55 1 Thessalonians 2 |
10/12/2020 | Isaiah 48,49 Colossians 4 |
10/11/2020 | Isaiah 45-47 Colossians 3 |
10/10/2020 | Isaiah 43,44 Colossians 2 |
10/09/2020 | Isaiah 41,42 Colossians 1 |
10/08/2020 | Isaiah 39,40 Philippians 4 |
10/07/2020 | Isaiah 37,38 Philippians 3 |
10/06/2020 | Isaiah 34-36 Philippians 2 |
10/05/2020 | Isaiah 31-33 Philippians 1 |
10/04/2020 | Isaiah 29,30 Ephesians 6 |
10/03/2020 | Isaiah 27,28 Ephesians 5 |
10/02/2020 | Isaiah 24-26 Ephesians 4 |
10/01/2020 | Isaiah 22,23 Ephesians 3 |
09/30/2020 | Isaiah 19-21 Ephesians 2 |
09/29/2020 | Isaiah 16-18 Ephesians 1 |
09/28/2020 | Isaiah 13-15 Galatians 6 |
09/27/2020 | Isaiah 10-12 Galatians 5 |
09/26/2020 | Isaiah 7-9 Galatians 4 |
09/25/2020 | Isaiah 4-6 Galatians 3 |
09/24/2020 | Isaiah 1-3 Galatians 2 |
09/23/2020 | Song of Songs 6-8 Galatians 1 |
09/22/2020 | Song of Songs 4,5 2 Corinthians 13 |
09/21/2020 | Song of Songs 1-3 2 Corinthians 12 |
09/20/2020 | Ecclesiastes 10-12 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 |
09/19/2020 | Ecclesiastes 7-9 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 |
09/18/2020 | Ecclesiastes 4-6 2 Corinthians 10 |
09/17/2020 | Ecclesiastes 1-3 2 Corinthians 9 |
09/16/2020 | Proverbs 30,31 2 Corinthians 8 |
09/15/2020 | Proverbs 28,29 2 Corinthians 7 |
09/14/2020 | Proverbs 25-27 2 Corinthians 6 |
09/13/2020 | Proverbs 23,24 2 Corinthians 5 |
09/12/2020 | Proverbs 21,22 2 Corinthians 4 |
09/11/2020 | Proverbs 19,20 2 Corinthians 3 |
09/10/2020 | Proverbs 17,18 2 Corinthians 2 |
09/09/2020 | Proverbs 15,16 2 Corinthians 1 |
09/08/2020 | Proverbs 13,14 1 Corinthians 16 |
09/07/2020 | Proverbs 11,12 1 Corinthians 15:33-58 |
09/06/2020 | Proverbs 9,10 1 Corinthians 15:1-32 |
09/05/2020 | Proverbs 7,8 1 Corinthians 14:21-40 |
09/04/2020 | Proverbs 5,6 1 Corinthians 14:1-20 |
09/03/2020 | Proverbs 3,4 1 Corinthians 13 |
09/02/2020 | Proverbs 1,2 1 Corinthians 12 |
09/01/2020 | Psalm 148-150 1 Corinthians 11:16-34 |
08/31/2020 | Psalm 145-147 1 Corinthians 11:1-15 |
08/30/2020 | Psalm 142-144 1 Corinthians 10:14-33 |
08/29/2020 | Psalm 139-141 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 |
08/28/2020 | Psalm 136-138 1 Corinthians 9 |
08/27/2020 | Psalm 132-135 1 Corinthians 8 |
08/26/2020 | Psalm 128-131 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 |
08/25/2020 | Psalm 124-127 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 |
08/24/2020 | Psalm 120-123 1 Corinthians 6 |
08/23/2020 | Psalm 119:105-176 1 Corinthians 5 |
08/22/2020 | Psalm 119:49-104 1 Corinthians 4 |
08/21/2020 | Psalm 119:1-48 1 Corinthians 3 |
08/20/2020 | Psalm 116-118 1 Corinthians 2 |
08/19/2020 | Psalm 112-115 1 Corinthians 1 |
08/18/2020 | Psalm 109-111 Romans 16 |
08/17/2020 | Psalm 107,108 Romans. 15:21-33 |
08/16/2020 | Psalm 105,106 Romans 15:1-20 |
08/15/2020 | Psalm 103,104 Romans 14 |
08/14/2020 | Psalm 99-102 Romans 13 |
08/13/2020 | Psalm 96-98 Romans 12 |
08/12/2020 | Psalm 93-95 Romans. 11:22-36 |
08/11/2020 | Psalm 90-92 Romans 11:1-21 |
08/10/2020 | Psalm 88,89 Romans 10 |
08/09/2020 | Psalm 85-87 Romans 9 |
08/08/2020 | Psalm 82-84 Romans 8:19-39 |
08/07/2020 | Psalm 79-81 Romans 8:1-18 |
08/06/2020 | Psalm 78 Romans 7 |
08/05/2020 | Psalm 75-77 Romans 6 |
08/04/2020 | Psalm 73,74 Romans 5 |
08/03/2020 | Psalm 70-72 Romans 4 |
08/02/2020 | Psalm 68,69 Romans 3 |
08/01/2020 | Psalm 65-67 Romans 2 |
07/31/2020 | Psalm 62-64 Romans 1 |
07/30/2020 | Psalm 59-61 Acts 28:16-31 |
07/29/2020 | Psalm 56-58 Acts 28:1-15 |
07/28/2020 | Psalm 53-55 Acts 27:26-44 |
07/27/2020 | Psalm 50-52 Acts 27:1-25 |
07/26/2020 | Psalm 47-49 Acts 26 |
07/25/2020 | Psalm 44-46 Acts 25 |
07/24/2020 | Psalm 41-43 Acts 24 |
07/23/2020 | Psalm 38-40 Acts 23:12-35 |
07/22/2020 | Psalm 36,37 Acts 23:1-11 |
07/21/2020 | Psalm 34,35 Acts 22 |
07/20/2020 | Psalm 31-33 Acts 21:15-40 |
07/19/2020 | Psalm 28-30 Acts 21:1-14 |
07/18/2020 | Psalm 25-27 Acts 20:17-38 |
07/17/2020 | Psalm 22-24 Acts 20:1-16 |
07/16/2020 | Psalm 19-21 Acts 19:21-41 |
07/15/2020 | Psalm 17,18 Acts 19:1-20 |
07/14/2020 | Psalm 13-16 Acts 18 |
07/13/2020 | Psalm 10-12 Acts 17:16-34 |
07/12/2020 | Psalm 7-9 Acts 17:1-15 |
07/11/2020 | Psalm 4-6 Acts 16:16-40 |
07/10/2020 | Psalm 1-3 Acts 16:1-15 |
07/09/2020 | Job 40-42 Acts 15:22-41 |
07/08/2020 | Job 38-39 Acts 15:1-21 |
07/07/2020 | Job 35-37 Acts 14 |
07/06/2020 | Job 33-34 Acts 13:24-52 |
07/05/2020 | Job 31-32 Acts 13:1-23 |
07/04/2020 | Job 29-30 Acts 12 |
07/03/2020 | Job 26-28 Acts 11 |
07/02/2020 | Job 23-25 Acts 10:24-48 |
07/01/2020 | Job 21-22 Acts 10:1-23 |
06/30/2020 | Job 19,20 Acts 9:23-43 |
06/29/2020 | Job 16-18 Acts 9:1-22 |
06/28/2020 | Job 13-15 Acts 8:26-40 |
06/27/2020 | Job 10-12 Acts 8:1-25 |
06/26/2020 | Job 7-9 Acts 7:44-60 |
06/25/2020 | Job 4-6 Acts 7:20-43 |
06/24/2020 | Job 1-3 Acts 7:1-19 |
06/23/2020 | Esther 7-10 Acts 6 |
06/22/2020 | Esther 4-6 Acts 5:17-42 |
06/21/2020 | Esther 1-3 Acts 5:1-16 |
06/20/2020 | Nehemiah 12,13 Acts 4:23-37 |
06/19/2020 | Nehemiah 9-11 Acts 4:1-22 |
06/18/2020 | Nehemiah 7,8 Acts 3 |
06/17/2020 | Nehemiah 4-6 Acts 2:14-47 |
06/16/2020 | Nehemiah 1-3 Acts 2:1-13 |
06/15/2020 | Ezra 9,10 Acts 1 |