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Monday 12th May 2025

“That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” ¹⁹So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him. ²⁰When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. ²¹“Why have you come, my lord the king?” Araunah asked. David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.” ²²“Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. ²³I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the Lord your God accept your sacrifice.” ²⁴But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. ²⁵David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.” 2 Samuel 24:18-25 NLT
“But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and give it to the Lord. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!” ²⁵So David gave Araunah 600 pieces of gold (shekels) in payment for the threshing floor.”” 1 Chronicles 21:24-25 NLT

Lord and God,

The writers here differ in what payment was made for the threshing floor land. We may never know which it was and I am not sure that matters but what both say is that David demanded to make full payment. He could not give to You, God what was another’s free offering, that cost him nothing. And it was not a token offering the Chronicler wants us to know it was the full price.

Jesus when he sat beside the collection box in the Temple pointed out the widow, who gave the least, but at greater cost to herself than any others did. You gave the greatest cost, you’re only Son for us and then grace and mercy unlimited – and a future. Help us to be generous with all You have given us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 12th May 2025

Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.

For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

Lyrics: Robin Marks

Sunday 11th May 2025

“Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” ²So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.” ³And Joab said to the king, “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times more than there are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king desire this thing?” ⁴Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. Therefore Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel. ⁵And they crossed over the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the town which is in the midst of the ravine of Gad, and toward Jazer. ⁶Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; they came to Dan Jaan and around to Sidon; ⁷and they came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went out to South Judah as far as Beersheba. ⁸So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. ⁹Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king. ” 2 Samuel 24:10-14 NKJV

“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. ²So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.”³And Joab answered, “May the Lord make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” ⁴Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. ⁵Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. ” 1 Chronicles 21:1=4

God of Righteousness,

Same history different view. Samuel added all the details of places. He knew the sins of his people and he explains that You pushed David to count. The Chronicler omits the places and attributes the sin of counting to Satan.

It made me think how sometimes we blame Satan for things that were not him. Sometimes we feel You, God are against us. Sometimes life itself causes us trouble, or our circumstances. David, regardless of why he numbered Israel, felt condemnation as soon as it was done. (2 Samuel 24:10, 1 Chronicles 21:8). He prays. Perhaps he should have apologised to Joab and the Captains of the Army (leaders of the people) too, for over nine months they spent counting people!

Sometimes I have known that inner condemnation, as I have missed doing something You asked or when I have done something I wished I could undo. Words or actions done or not done. Then I understand the difference Jesus makes. I can be forgiven and try to put it right. David had to suffer the consequences. Sometimes we have to to – but with Your help. David still threw himself into Your mercy God, rather than mans. Keep us sensitive to Your promptings and repentant at the cross.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 11th May 2025
Timeless hymn

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me.

Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.

Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

Lyrics: Fanny Crosby

Saturday 10th May 2025

Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. ²And he said:“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
³The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
My stronghold and my refuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.
⁴I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
⁵“When the waves of death surrounded me,
The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
⁶The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
⁷In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry entered His ears.
⁸“Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken.” 2 Samuel 22:1-8 NKJV (Also Psalm 18)

My Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

Here we find a repeat of Psalm 18 written by David inserted in the timeline when he penned it. And I only include a snippet of this wonderful peon of praise. A hymn of worship but also including his admission of his own weakness and fear. Honest and gritty. As a people belonging to Christ we call upon You, Your Holy Spirit or on Jesus in prayer. We know You as Trinity and that speaking to One is speaking to all three . Do we sometimes forget Your majestic awesome magnificence and power?

The Psalms remind me You are God Almighty. No matter how big my trouble seems it is put into perspective by visions of You. And yet in my smallness the Psalms reminds me of Your gentleness (2 Samuel 22:36, Psalm 18:35). You turn and hear and respond to even my smallest need. I may not feel the earth shake and tremble, the foundations of the earth quake or shake. Sometimes a small doubt may even cross my thoughts . . . Then I remember too the times you have heard and answered my prayers. Sometimes miraculously, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, sometimes in a very different way than I expected. But You answered.

David sang Your praise. The Psalms give us words to say more than thank you. They show us the heart of David. The good heart (not perfect) spoken about to Saul through Samuel (1 Samuel 13:14). Remind us how great, mighty and awesome You are and remind us that You deal with us in gentleness through Jesus. And keep us praising, praising and worshipping as we should.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 10th May 2025
I love this, it could be a Psalm for today . . .
“This song literally came out of a conversation of us just questioning, how does someone doubt what they’re going through? Because if you remember that this is the God that is so big, so huge that He and only He tells the stars when to shine. And if we can recall these things, who are we to ever not worship Him?” Mercy Me.

I’m losing sight of all that matters
Blinded by questions I can’t answer
I’m paralysed by what I don’t know
That holds me hostage and won’t let go

Breathe out, breathe in
Raise my hands and remember
You’re the one, You’re the one
Who makes mountains move
Stars will not shine
Unless You tell them to, tell them to
Conquered the grave
To make all things new
So, who am I, who am I
To not worship You?
Wooh-oh-oh-oh
Who am I, who am I
To not worship You?

Remind me who I am because of You
Tell me I’m not the man I once knew
‘Cause I still feel so undeserving
What could You see in someone like me?

Chorus: Breathe in . . .

Holy, holy, You are God Almighty
Who was and is, and will always be
Holy, holy, You are God Almighty
You are my song, You are my hope, my strength Repeat . . .

Let everything that breathes sing

You’re the one, You’re the one
Who makes mountains move
Stars will not shine
Unless You tell them to, tell them to
Conquered the grave
To make all things new
So who am I, who am I
To not worship the one Repeat . . .

Wooh-oh-oh-oh
Who am I, who am I
To not worship You?
Wooh-oh-oh-oh
Who am I, who am I
To not worship You?

Lyrics: Mercy Me.