Daily Devotions · April 30
Reading for April 30
Read the whole Bible in a year, a few chapters a day.
2 Samuel 6 · 1 Chronicles 13 · Psalm 68 · Matthew 17
2 Samuel 6 · 1 Chronicles 13 · Psalm 68 · Matthew 17, Berean Standard Bible
2 Samuel 6
David again assembled the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in all. 2 And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, 4 bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark. 5 David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. 6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. 7 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day. 9 That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” 10 So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household. 12 Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. 14 And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD, 15 while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn. 16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. 19 Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each to his own home. 20 When David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.” 21 But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD, 22 and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
1 Chronicles 13
Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. 2 And he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, so that they may join us. 3 Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul.” 4 And because this proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to it. 5 So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name. 7 So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart. 8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God. 11 Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day. 12 That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” 13 So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.
Psalm 68
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence. 2 As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God. 3 But the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy. 4 Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds—His name is the LORD—and rejoice before Him. 5 A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy habitation. 6 God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. 7 O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland, Selah 8 the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. 9 You sent abundant rain, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance. 10 Your flock settled therein; O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor. 11 The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it: 12 “Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder. 13 Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.” 14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like the snow falling on Zalmon. 15 A mountain of God is Mount Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan. 16 Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling, where the LORD will surely dwell forever. 17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands—thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai. 18 You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation. Selah 20 Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death. 21 Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways. 22 The Lord said, “I will retrieve them from Bashan, I will bring them up from the depths of the sea, 23 that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes—the tongues of your dogs in the same.” 24 They have seen Your procession, O God—the march of my God and King into the sanctuary. 25 The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines. 26 Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel. 27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali. 28 Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf. 29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts. 30 Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, until it submits, bringing bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war. 31 Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God. 32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord—Selah 33 to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds. 34 Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies. 35 O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
Matthew 17
After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror. 7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist. 14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17 “O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. 19 Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 “Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 21 22 When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved. 24 After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” 25 “Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” 26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain.
How to SOAP
Grab a journal and a pen. Read the chapters above and watch for the verse that stops you. Then take it through four steps.
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Scripture
Write out the verse that stood out to you.
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Observation
What is it saying? Who is speaking, and to whom?
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Application
What does it mean for your life today? Be specific.
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Prayer
Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you live it.
Your SOAP journal
Write your SOAP here. Tap any verse in the reading to add it to Scripture. Your journal saves on this device only, so no one else sees it.
Added to your journal. Go to journal
Why daily devotions?
Devotions are time set aside each day to read God's Word and let Him speak. The point isn't checking off chapters. It's meeting with Him.
Ten or fifteen minutes is enough to start. Pick a time and a place and keep the appointment. Mornings work well for a lot of us, before the phone and the day start talking.
Missed a day? Don't start over. Read today's chapters and keep going.