Psalms 8:1 and 16:2.

The LORD is my shepherd, He lays me down in His green pastures, where He feeds His sheep—His Word! He leads me beside the still waters, where I reflect on insights He gave me from His words. He meets me in the valley of the shadow of death, there shadowed by His Cross; there I take up my cross to follow Him. We start at His table, where He anoints my head with His oil and fills my cup till it overflows with His grace. We walk together into His fields, goodness and mercy following near behind. (Psalm 23)

Today, He laid me down in 1 Chronicles 29, and the Mind of the Spirit touched the spirit of my mind in the last sentence of the book, verses 29-30:

1Chronicles 29:29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,

1Chronicles 29:30 With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

Chronicles I concludes with the end of the reign of David. Chronicles II begins with the reign of his son, Solomon. The Spirit informs us the Chronicles of David were sourced in three books: “the book of Samuel the seer … the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer.” Samuel anointed David to be King and continued during David’s exile till he died while Saul was pursuing David in the wilderness of Ziph (the West Bank, near the Hebron Hills) (1 Samuel 23:14; 25:1). Unless Samuel completed his book at some unknown point between David’s exile and Samuel’s death, Nathan’s book picks up the story sometime during David’s exile to his retirement and the service of Gad as court prophet (2 Samuel 24). The Book of the Prophet Gad picks up the story sometime between Nathan’s death or retirement and the numbering of the people by David, recorded in 2 Samuel 24.

Three different but related terms are used to identify these prophets. Samuel was called “the seer” (הָרֹאֶ֔ה  — Ha (the) rooah (one who has “eyes to see”—Matthew 13:16; see 2 Kings 6:16). Nathan is called a prophet (הַנָּבִ֔יא — Ha (the) Naw-bee—a divinely appointed spokesman for God). Gad is called a seer, but this is a different word than what was used for Samuel. This word is הַחֹזֶֽה ‚ Ha (the) Cho-zeh—dreamer, or seer of visions, practically a synonym for Ha-rooah. Most believe the expressions identify the same office and together bring out specific characteristics of that office. The court prophet had divinely inspired discernment; he could “see” the will and way of God to give the king direction. The court prophet spoke God’s word to the king, to show the mind of God. And the court prophet was given divine illumination to guide the king.

Along the still waters, I prayed for President Trump. He could be happier in his choice of “court prophet.” It appears, however, that he does not depend on her for counsel on war or policy. God’s obvious blessing upon his life, and the blessing He is pleased to extend to us through his ministry as President, no more proves all he does is right than does God’s blessings upon you or me proves all we do is right. Neither does the fact that he or we have some blemishes mean all he or we do should be dismissed. Let’s pray that when our President needs divine guidance, he will find it, or it will find him.

Kneeling in the valley of the shadow of death, at the wounds of the feet of my Shepherd, I sought to obtain the mercy necessary to find the grace required to help us all in this time of our great need. Although we are blessed with an administration that acknowledges Christ is King, Satan will always poke around seeking some place to get in and make havoc. We prayed for this and rejoice at the much good God is giving to us, but beware, we must pray through to the end. Pray for President Trump and his administration.

And deny yourself, and take up your cross daily, and follow the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of your soul and mine (Luke 9:23; 1 Peter 2:25).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed us into the Harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏