Day 130: Nathan Condemns David (2025)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) Episode: Day 130: Nathan Condemns David (2025)
Release Date: May 10, 2025

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Introduction and Overview

In Day 130 of The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz delves into a pivotal moment in King David's life as narrated in 2 Samuel 12 and 1 Chronicles 16, accompanied by a heartfelt prayer from Psalm 51. This episode, inspired by Jeff Cavins' The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, offers listeners a profound exploration of repentance, forgiveness, and the enduring relationship between God and His people.

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Scripture Readings

1. 2 Samuel Chapter 12: Nathan Condemns David

Fr. Mike begins by recounting the story of the prophet Nathan confronting King David over his grievous sins. The narrative highlights David's misconduct with Bathsheba and the ensuing consequences. Key moments include:

• The Parable of the Rich Man and the Poor Man's Lamb: Nathan uses this story to illustrate David's abuse of power.

  "David, you are the man," Nathan declares vividly at [02:48], emphasizing David's wrongdoing.

• God's Judgment: God pronounces severe consequences for David's actions, including turmoil within his household and the death of the child born from his union with Bathsheba.

  "The sword shall never depart from your house," God declares at [02:55], signaling ongoing strife and loss.

• David's Repentance: Upon realizing his sin, David confesses earnestly.

  "I have sinned against the Lord," David admits at [03:30], showcasing his remorse.

• The Death of the Child: Despite David's repentance, the child succumbs to illness, underscoring the serious repercussions of his actions.

2. 1 Chronicles Chapter 16: David's Song of Thanksgiving

Transitioning to 1 Chronicles 16, Fr. Mike explores David's efforts to centralize worship and honor God through organized praise:

• Ark of the Covenant: David ensures the Ark is properly housed and honored.

  "And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God," details the reverent practices at [07:09].

• Appointment of Levites: Specific Levites are appointed to lead in worship, emphasizing structured and continual praise.

  "Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah..." at [07:20], highlighting the organized approach to worship.

• David's Song of Thanksgiving: A powerful hymn celebrating God's covenant and merciful nature.

  "Glory in his holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice," David proclaims at [07:48], encapsulating the essence of gratitude and praise.

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Reflection: The Broken Heroism of David

Fr. Mike offers a deep reflection on David's character, portraying him as a "flawed hero." He emphasizes that David's imperfections make him relatable and a testament to God's redemptive grace.

• Relatability in Flaws:

  "I think a lot of us... see ourselves in these characters in scripture," Fr. Mike shares at [15:09], encouraging listeners to find comfort in their own struggles mirrored in David's story.

• God’s Salvific Love: Despite David's sins, God's unwavering love and desire to save him are evident.

  "He does this because he loves you," Fr. Mike affirms at [16:34], highlighting the compassionate nature of God's correction.

• Repentance as a Path to Restoration: David's sincere repentance serves as a model for listeners to seek God's forgiveness and restoration.

  "God forgives you," Fr. Mike reminds listeners at [16:00], reinforcing the message of hope and renewal through repentance.

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Prayer: Psalm 51 – A Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon

The episode features a guided prayer centered on Psalm 51, traditionally attributed to David, seeking God's mercy and purification.

• Confession and Plea for Mercy:

  "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your abundant mercy," the prayer begins at [11:33], setting a tone of heartfelt repentance.

• Desire for Inner Transformation:

  "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me," expressed at [12:28], underscores the yearning for moral and spiritual renewal.

• Commitment to Teach and Lead:

  "Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you," at [12:50], reflecting a commitment to guiding others towards righteousness.

• Concluding Affirmation:

  "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen," concludes the prayer with a trinitarian blessing at [14:48].

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Key Insights and Takeaways

1. The Necessity of Confrontation for Growth: Nathan's bold confrontation of David illustrates the importance of addressing wrongdoing to foster personal and communal growth.

2. God’s Justice and Mercy Coexist: While God enacts just consequences for sin, His mercy remains accessible, offering a path to redemption.

   "The Lord also has put away your sin," Nathan conveys at [03:35], balancing judgment with forgiveness.

3. Structured Worship Enhances Spiritual Life: David's organization of worship practices in 1 Chronicles 16 demonstrates how intentional praise and gratitude can strengthen faith communities.

4. Repentance is a Continuous Journey: The integration of repentance into daily life, as modeled by David, encourages listeners to regularly seek God's forgiveness and strive for personal holiness.

5. Relatable Spiritual Lessons: By presenting David as a flawed but redeemable figure, Fr. Mike connects biblical narratives to contemporary spiritual struggles, offering encouragement and practical lessons for living a faith-filled life.

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Conclusion

In this enriching episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz masterfully intertwines scripture, reflection, and prayer to illuminate the complexities of David's life and his profound relationship with God. Listeners are invited to reflect on their own lives, recognize their imperfections, and embrace the transformative power of repentance and thanksgiving. As Fr. Mike aptly states, understanding David's journey helps us comprehend how all pieces of the Bible interconnect to narrate an enduring story of salvation that resonates in our lives today.

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Additional Resources:

• Download Your Bible in a Year Reading Plan: Visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear
• Support the Podcast: Consider making an ongoing financial contribution at ascensionpress.com/support

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Thank you for joining us on this spiritual journey. Stay tuned for Day 131, where we continue to explore the depths of Scripture and its relevance to our lives.

Transcript

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Before we get started, I just wanted to offer a quick thank you to all those who have supported the Catechism in a Year or the Bible in a Year podcast. We hear stories every day about how those shows have transformed people's lives and because of your prayers and financial gifts, you are a significant part of that. You might ask a question though. Question is, what does Ascension do with these financial gifts?

Great question.

The answer is we make authentically Catholic podcasts and videos and other digital content to help people know the Catholic faith and grow closer to God. And we do it all for free. If you found this podcast to be helpful in your life and would like to help us continue making free Catholic content we can post online, please consider making a financial contribution, an ongoing financial contribution, by going to ascensionpress.com support that's ascensionpress.com support. Thank you and God bless.

Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz and you're listening to the Bible in.

[Jeff Cavins]

A Year podcast where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll.

[Jeff Cavins]

Read all the way from Genesis to.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story.

[Jeff Cavins]

Today it is day 130, and today.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

We'Re reading from 2nd Samuel chapter 12, reading 1st Chronicles chapter 16, and we're.

[Jeff Cavins]

Praying Psalm 51, the Psalm of repentance.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Of David, because as we're going to see here in second Samuel chapter 12, he is going to be called to.

[Jeff Cavins]

A place of repentance. As always, the Bible translation that I am reading from is the Revised Standard.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Version, the second Catholic Edition. I'm using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension, and if you want to download.

[Jeff Cavins]

Your own Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com bibleinayear. You also can subscribe to this podcast.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

If you're interested in doing something like that.

[Jeff Cavins]

As I said, it is day 130.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

We are reading from 2nd Samuel, chapter 12, 1 Chronicles, chapter 16. And we are praying Psalm 51:2 Samuel, chapter 12. Nathan condemns David and God punishes him.

[Jeff Cavins]

And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Him, there were two men in a.

[Jeff Cavins]

Certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he had bought. And he brought it up and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

In his bosom, and it was like.

[Jeff Cavins]

A daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him. But he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Had come to him.

[Jeff Cavins]

Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, as the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die. And he shall restore the lamb fourfold. Because he did this thing, and because he had no pity, Nathan said to.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

David, you are the man. Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel.

[Jeff Cavins]

And I delivered you out of the hand of Saul, and I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your bosom and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Thus says the behold, I will raise.

[Jeff Cavins]

Up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

This sun, for you did it secretly.

[Jeff Cavins]

But I will do this thing before all Israel. And before the sun David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, the Lord also has put away your sin.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

You shall not die nevertheless, because by.

[Jeff Cavins]

This deed you have utterly scorned the Lord. The child that is born to you shall die.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Then Nathan went to his house, and the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became sick.

[Jeff Cavins]

David therefore besought God for the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night upon the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him to raise him from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, behold, while the child was yet alive. We spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him, the child is dead. He may do himself some harm. But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, is the child dead?

[Father Mike Schmitz]

They said, he is dead.

[Jeff Cavins]

Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes and went into the house of.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The Lord and worshiped.

[Jeff Cavins]

He then went to his own house, and when he asked, they set food.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Before him and he ate.

[Jeff Cavins]

Then his servants said to him, what is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive. But when the child died, you arose and ate food.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

David said, while the child was still alive.

[Jeff Cavins]

I fasted and wept. For I said, who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me that the child may live. But now he is dead, why should I fast?

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Can I bring him back again?

[Jeff Cavins]

I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Solomon is born. Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba and.

[Jeff Cavins]

Went in to her and lay with her. And she bore a son. And he called his name Solomon.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Solomon.

[Jeff Cavins]

And the Lord loved him and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah because of the Lord.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The Ammonites crushed.

[Jeff Cavins]

Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city. And Joab sent messengers to David and.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Said, I have fought against Rabbah.

[Jeff Cavins]

Moreover, I have taken the city of waters. Now then, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city. And take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name. And so David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it. And he took the crown of their king from his. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And it was placed on David's head.

[Jeff Cavins]

And he brought forth the spoil of the city, a very great amount. And he brought forth the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Cities of the Ammonites.

[Jeff Cavins]

Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The first Book of Chronicles, chapter 16. The ark placed in a tent.

[Jeff Cavins]

And they brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent which David had pitched for it. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord and distributed to all Israel, both men and women, and to each a loaf of bread, a portion of.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Meat and a cake of raisins.

[Jeff Cavins]

Moreover, he appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the Ark of the.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Lord, to invoke, to thank and to.

[Jeff Cavins]

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shimeiremoth, Jehiel, Mattathiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed, Edom, and Jeiel, who.

[Jeff Cavins]

Were to play harps and lyres. Asaph was to sound the cymbals and Benaiah and Jahaziel, the priests, were to.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Blow trumpets continually before the Ark of.

[Jeff Cavins]

The covenant of God.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

David's Song of Thanksgiving Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be.

[Jeff Cavins]

Sung to the Lord by Asaph and.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

His o give thanks to the Lord.

[Jeff Cavins]

Call on his name. Make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him, Tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice, seek the Lord and his strength, Seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works that he has done, the wonders he wrought, the judgments he uttered. O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God. His judgments are in all the earth. He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded for a thousand generations, the covenant which he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed as a statute.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

To Jacob, as an everlasting covenant to.

[Jeff Cavins]

Israel, saying to you, I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance. When they were few in number and of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them. He rebuked kings on their account, saying, touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm. Sing to the Lord all the earth. Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

To be praised and he is to.

[Jeff Cavins]

Be held in awe above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols. But the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him Strength and joy are in his place. Ascribe to the Lord. O families of the peoples. Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in holy attire.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Tremble before him all the earth yes.

[Jeff Cavins]

The world stands firm, never to be moved. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice and let them say, among the nations the Lord reigns Let the sea and all that fills it Let the field exult and everything in it. Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Say also, deliver us, O God, of.

[Jeff Cavins]

Our salvation, and gather and save us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel. From everlasting to everlasting.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Then all the people said, Amen and praised the Lord.

[Jeff Cavins]

Regular worship maintained. So David left Asaph and his brethren there before the Ark of the covenant of the Lord, to minister continually before the Ark, as each day required. And also Obed edom and his 68 brethren, while Obed Edom the son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. And he left Zadok the priest and his brethren, the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon to offer burnt offerings to the Lord upon the altar of burnt offering continually, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, which he commanded Israel. With them were Haman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to give thanks to the Lord for his mercy endures forever. Haman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate. Then all the people departed, each to his house, and David went home to bless his household.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Psalm 51 Prayer for cleansing and Pardon to the choirmaster A Psalm of David.

[Jeff Cavins]

When Nathan the Prophet came to him.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

After he had gone in to Bathsheba.

[Jeff Cavins]

Have mercy on me, O God, according.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

To your merciful love, according to your.

[Jeff Cavins]

Abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Cleanse me from my sin, for I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

[Jeff Cavins]

Against you. You only have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

So that you are justified in your.

[Jeff Cavins]

Sentence and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you desire truth in the inward. Therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones which you have broken rejoice.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Hide your face from my sins and.

[Jeff Cavins]

Blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a clean heart, O.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me.

[Jeff Cavins]

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from blood guilt, O God, O God, of my salvation. And my tongue will sing aloud of.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Your deliverance, O Lord. Open my lips and my mouth shall.

[Jeff Cavins]

Show forth your praise. For you take no delight in sacrifice. Were I to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure.

[Jeff Cavins]

Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bowls will be offered on your altar.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Father, in heaven, we give you praise and we thank you. We thank you for your calling us to repentance. We thank you for reminding us and.

[Jeff Cavins]

Reminding us of our sin. Thank you for reminding us of our.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Sin and our need for mercy. And also thank you for offering your gift of mercy. Lord God, we find ourselves so often.

[Jeff Cavins]

Sliding like David did yesterday in yesterday's reading. Sliding away from where you're calling us on mission to live off mission.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Sliding from where you. Where you anointed us to be, from.

[Jeff Cavins]

Belonging to you to rejecting you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And we find ourselves so often, as David does today, where Nathan said you.

[Jeff Cavins]

Thought this was done in the dark.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

But the Lord God is going to.

[Jeff Cavins]

Bring this into the light.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And Lord God, you to save us. You oftentimes reveal our wounds to save us. You oftentimes reveal our sins to save us. You oftentimes bring what needs to be.

[Jeff Cavins]

Brought into the light, into the light.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And so, God, we say yes to that. We just say, okay, go ahead, Lord, whatever you need, whatever you need to do in my life so that I may not be lost, whatever you need.

[Jeff Cavins]

To do in my life so that I can be yours again.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

You have my permission.

[Jeff Cavins]

So be it.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Amen. Help us to say this, Lord God, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

[Jeff Cavins]

In the name of the Father and.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Jeff Cavins]

Golly, amen.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Oh, man. Oh, man. So I've said many times, in other contexts that how much I love David, not because of this and not because of the next chapters. David is a flawed hero. And here in chapter 11, chapter 12 today, chapter 13 tomorrow, I mean, in.

[Jeff Cavins]

The chapters that follow, we. We are going to see a very.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Very clear vision of David the broken man, David the sinner. I guess maybe even that's one of the reasons why I am a fan of David, is not because I'm a fan of his choices when he. When he chose evil, when he chose sin, but because, you know, I think a lot of us, we see ourselves in these characters in scripture, hopefully we see ourselves in these characters in scripture when he had Saul and King Saul.

[Jeff Cavins]

Who was so preoccupied with what other people thought of him, hopefully we saw.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Ourselves in that, in the times that.

[Jeff Cavins]

Vanity can creep in and can lead us away from being the people that.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

God has called us to be and lead us away from God himself. And here, even with David, here he is living off mission, having a dual identity, having one life here and one life there.

[Jeff Cavins]

Here's David choosing to sin in the.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Dark and God needing to, in order to save David, needing to bring that.

[Jeff Cavins]

Sin into the light.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

That's one of the reasons I love David as again, not because he is fully heroic, but because he is an image to me of God's ability to save, God's desire to save, even if he saves painfully. And that's a thing for us, right? Is that God loves you. You're listening to this.

[Jeff Cavins]

God loves you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And there are times when in God's love, what he has to do is he has to uncover what's been covered. He has to bring into the light.

[Jeff Cavins]

What'S done in the dark.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And he doesn't do this because he hates you. He doesn't do this because he just.

[Jeff Cavins]

Wants to punish you. He does this because he loves you.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And sometimes the only thing that stops.

[Jeff Cavins]

A slide is a break, right?

[Father Mike Schmitz]

The only thing that stops a slide is a break. And here is God, who sends Nathan the prophet to David to stop the slide and to break him. You know, it says very clearly that God forgives you. Nathan says to David, God forgives you, but there are consequences to your decision. And the sword will not depart from your house. In fact, chapter 13, tomorrow we're going to hear one of the first signs.

[Jeff Cavins]

Of David's family crumbling, David's family falling apart, and David really failing as a father. He might be successful as a king.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Super successful as a king, but David.

[Jeff Cavins]

Fails as a father.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And we see that first crack tomorrow in chapter 13 and then we have 1 Chronicles 16, which is 1 of these where we're kind of going back and forth in time a little bit. Again, just like Deuteronomy and Numbers, but going back and forth in time. Here's David in second Samuel. He's already established in Jerusalem. Here is David in 1 Chronicles 16, where he's just establishing the ark in the tent. But there's something important about this. Remember, 1 Chronicles is really directed at highlighting two things.

[Jeff Cavins]

One is the royal kingdom and the other is temple worship. These things that are on the mind of Ezra the scribe. He knows that God wants this kingdom to be a kingdom that goes throughout the entire world.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

It's going to be re established, reconstituted.

[Jeff Cavins]

Somehow he doesn't know how we know how in Jesus.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And he also highlights the fact that God has called this people to worship.

[Jeff Cavins]

Him in this particular way.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And so here's David, his song of thanksgiving. We have David's regular worship maintained.

[Jeff Cavins]

And at the beginning we have the.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Ark of the Covenant placed in a tent. And it goes on to say in 1 Chronicles 16, it says in verse 4, it says, moreover, David appointed certain.

[Jeff Cavins]

Of the Levites as ministers before the.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Ark of the Lord to do three things. To invoke, to thank and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. And that's so important if our prayers.

[Jeff Cavins]

Simply encompassed those three things to invoke, like, you know, petitions.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

We call upon the Lord for ourselves, to call upon the Lord for other people to thank, to thank God for.

[Jeff Cavins]

The gifts that he's done, what he's.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Done in our lives, and to praise.

[Jeff Cavins]

God for who he is.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

That would be so good if our prayer lives looked like that.

[Jeff Cavins]

Those three elements of invoking, of thanking and of praising.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Also we have this fourth element that David reveals in chapter 51 of book of Psalms, which is repentance. When God has corrected me, he's brought me into the light to live in.

[Jeff Cavins]

The light, to turn away from evil.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

And turn to the Lord is repentance. So those four elements, invoking, asking God.

For our help, for ourselves, for others.

Thanking God, praising God and turning back to God in repentance, that would just be so good. If our prayer lives look like that, our prayer lives would be pretty healthy. Gosh, we're going to continue this journey together.

[Jeff Cavins]

It's day 130.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

You guys are doing so incredibly well. Just being faithful and being committed and.

[Jeff Cavins]

Being part of this community. And I truly please know that I.

[Father Mike Schmitz]

Am praying for you every single day. I know I experience the grace of your prayers as well, so please pray for each other. Other, My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.