Prayer

My prayer today is not to be healthy but to be holy; not to be rid of pain but to be righteous. May God live in me with a full measure of freedom and with my full obedient cooperation in everything. Just as hunger makes me crave food may pain cause me to crave my Creator and the Lover of my soul. Thank you Jesus for Salvation. You have redeemed me and justified me; when the Father looks at me, He sees You and in love accepts me. To God be all the glory. Amen.

2 Samuel 21

As the leader and representative of Israel, David seeks the LORD's face when famine grips the land for three years without relief. The LORD reveals that the sin of Saul has not been dealt with, and that has resulted in God withdrawing His hand of blessing from the nation. 

Saul's disobedience in killing the protected Gibeonites (see the story of their protected status in Joshua 9) continues to wreak havoc upon his family, as seven of Saul's descendants are put to death as payment for his bloodshed (Numbers 35:33 lays out the rationale). Again and again we have seen that someone has to die as payment for sin. 

David puts the sad tale of Saul's family to rest by having Saul and his descendants buried in the family tomb. The sin having been dealt with, God's hand of blessing returns to His people.

Questions: 1) In your leadership roles as father and/or employee, do you frequently seek the face of the LORD to identify areas that you need to make right? The well-being of your family and other areas of responsibility may depend on it! 2) Thanks be to God that our sins have been forgiven, and fellowship with God restored, by the shed blood of Jesus!

2 Samuel 20

This chapter is rated R for violence, as we get the gory details of Joab dispatching his rival Amasa, and David's rebellious subject Sheba 'losing his head' over the wise woman at the wall at Abel Beth Maacah. Lest it be said that the Bible provides sanitized versions of the men of the Old Testament, exhibit A is this ongoing picture of Joab's treachery, and the seeming willingness of the tribes of Israel to follow anyone who speaks against the King.

David has long ago been publicly anointed by God for the throne, but Sheba incites the people to declare that they 'have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son' (v. 1). Faced with unmistakable God-ordained leadership, Sheba and the others nonetheless reject His man - desiring to throw off his mantle. Several hundred years later, God would again indicate His pleasure in His Anointed One...and many would still reject Jesus' rule.

Questions: 1) Read Luke 3: 21-22 for the affirmation God provided to Jesus. 2) In 2 Samuel 20:2 we are told that the men of Judah 'stayed by their king all the way'. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you stay by your King, Jesus, when you encounter opposition or persecution for your steadfast decision to stay with Him.

2 Samuel 19

David, the King, reaffirms his status as the insurrection against him is put to rest. As he returns to Jerusalem in triumph, he encounters several individuals with whom he has a personal history: Barzillai, David's elderly benefactor (v. 32); Mephibosheth, Saul's relative to whom David showed mercy (2 Samuel 9) but whom Ziba accused of treason (2 Samuel 16); and Shimei. We first met Shimei in chapter 16 as well - the one who pelted David with rocks and cursed him has come to his senses. Shimei falls down before David, confesses his sins (v. 20), and asks for mercy. 

Abishai, the one who initially wanted to remove Shimei's head from his shoulders, reminds David again of the sins of Shimei, and the penalty he deserves for sinning against the LORD's anointed. But David responds in mercy, promising Shimei on his own authority that he shall not die for his sins.

What a picture of God's grace to us! When we realize for the first time that we've sinned against the Anointed One, Jesus, we come to Him and admit that our rebellion against him was wrong. Satan, our accuser, reminds God of our sins, and the penalty we deserve. But the only one with the right to pronounce the death penalty on us - the King, Jesus - declares that on His authority, and because of what He has done for us, we will not die!

Questions: 1) Read Colossians 1:21-22 for a picture of what Christ has done to make you 'free from accusation'.  2) Recall in the notes on 2 Samuel 16 that David entrusted his ill treatment to the Lord first - which enabled him to forgive later. As you practice enduring ill treatment from others by entrusting it to the Lord, may He help you to extend forgiveness accordingly.

2 Samuel 18

And so the saga of Absalom's rebellion comes to a close. Absalom's tall stature and long hair (2 Samuel 14:25-26) results in him getting caught in a low-hanging tree branch, where he is no match for Joab's javelins. As so often happens with all of us, that which we take such pride in becomes the seeds of our downfall.

God's words to David continue to ring true: 'the sword will never depart from your house' (2 Samuel 12:10). The death toll now stands at three of David's sons - a high price to pay indeed for a few moments of pleasure with Bathsheba.

Take note also of David's 'father heart', as he mourns over the loss of his son Absalom...his rebellious, scheming, murderous son Absalom. Instead of rejoicing over the death of his wicked enemy, David is crushed by the passing of his beloved offspring. Amazingly in v. 33, he even says, 'If only I had died instead of you, my son, my son!'

Questions: 1) What is God the Father's heart for His enemies? Read Ezekiel 33:11 to see His heart for the wicked. Moreover, God in His mercy takes David's lament one step further, saying to you and me in essence, 'I did die instead of you, My son, My son!' Jesus - who was fully God - was willing to die for us, the rebellious wicked sons. Tell somebody this good news of the gospel today! 

2) In what areas is your pride setting you up to be snared? Ask God to show you where you are walking in pride, and to help you through His Spirit to walk humbly with Him.

2 Samuel 17

As in every great military battle, Absalom's insurrection against David reaches a critical point. The advice that Ahithophel and Hushai are giving him is contradictory, and he must choose one of two paths to take out his father, the king.

Unbeknownst to Absalom, however, there are spiritual forces at work. Recall that in 2 Samuel 15:31, David had prayed a fervent, timely, specific prayer as he fled the city- "O LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness." God in His grace is pleased to answer David's prayer, as Absalom values Hushai's counter-intelligence more highly than the wisdom of Ahithophel. As noted (2 Samuel 17: 14), this decision will bring disaster upon Absalom. 

Questions: 1) Are your prayers fervent? Timely? Specific? Read Philippians 4: 6-7. What is the scope of what we are called to pray about? What is the attitude we are to have? What is the promise given?

2 Samuel 16 - How to Handle Criticism

What God had ordained in Nathan's words to David (2 Samuel 12:11-12) is now coming to pass. As David originally sinned on the rooftop by lusting after Bathsheba secretly, his son Absalom lies with David's concubines on the rooftop in full view of all Israel. As prophesied, calamity has come upon David from his own household.

To (literally) add insult to injury, as David flees to safety, one of Saul's relatives does his best Ernest T. Bass impression (apologies to those who aren't Andy Griffith fans). Shimei pelts David and his men with stones, cursing David and accusing him unjustly of being responsible for Saul's blood.

With all he is encountering, David must surely be tempted to grant Abishai's request to remove Shimei's head. Watch, however, how David responds...first, with an acknowledgment that the Lord has allowed this criticism, or maybe even engendered it (v. 11). Secondly, David entrusts this ill treatment to the Lord (v.12), hoping that God in His judgment and justice may ultimately make it right. Many hundreds of years later, David's great great great etc. grandson Jesus would perfect for all time the endurance of unjust treatment in view of God's sovereign control.

Questions: 1) Read 1 Peter 2:20-23. Note Jesus' approach to unjust treatment and criticism - not only to endure it, but to do so in full knowledge that God will ultimately judge the situation justly. 2) Reflect on your last week. Are you being ill-treated, slandered, unfairly criticized? Can you entrust yourself to the sovereign God who judges justly, and endure?

2 Samuel 15

Palace intrigue rears its ugly head, as Absalom over a period of years plants the seeds  to overthrow his own father's kingdom. Notice how he 'stole the hearts of the men of Israel' (v. 6): through intercepting and ingratiating himself to visitors who sought justice from the king. Under the pretense of worshiping in Hebron, Absalom uses the city instead as a launching pad for his coup attempt - complete with co-opting David's trusted counselor Ahithophel. 

Not to be outdone, David flees from Jerusalem but sets up counter-intelligence in the person of the priests Zadok and Abiathar, as well as the 'double agent' Hushai. 

David's trust in the sovereignty of God remains, as he refuses to use the ark of God as a good luck charm, but orders it to be returned to the Lord's dwelling place in Jerusalem. David weeps as he ascends the Mount of Olives on his way out of Jerusalem. His fervent hope is that the LORD will let him return, but he ultimately entrusts his fate to his God. 

Questions: 1) Read Luke 22:39-48. See how David's great great great etc. grandson Jesus also agonized on the Mount of Olives. What was His fervent hope (Luke 22:42)? What was His attitude towards His fate?

2 Samuel 14

Remember crafty Joab from 2 Samuel 2 & 3? In an attempt to cut through David's family entanglements of murder, animosity, and bad communication, Joab arranges to send a lady from far away to pretend to seek wisdom from the king. Joab is hopeful that the king will recognize the folly of his current state of affairs by providing a solution to a similar, vicarious situation.

Once the lady fesses up, David recognizes the hand of Joab in the matter (v. 19). Absalom is allowed to come back to Jerusalem, but is in effect under house arrest. Joab has intervened, but time will tell whether his intervention turns out well. Based on his track record to date...

And what does the Bible has to say are Absalom's redeeming characteristics? Physical attractiveness (and heavy hair - v. 26). We have seen in 1 Samuel that stature and other physical characteristics are a poor indicator of leadership qualities, haven't we?

Questions: 1) How is Joab's way of confronting David with a 'back door' approach in chapter 14 similar to the one used by Nathan in chapter 12? How is it different? 2) See the gospel in the woman's comments in v. 14: "But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him." Many hundreds of years later, Jesus would come and claim to be THE way for a banished person to not be estranged from God. Praise His name for devising this way to relationship with Him through Christ!

2 Samuel 13

The consequences of David's sin continue to plague his household, as God's promise that the sword would never depart from his house (12: 10) is manifested in the story of Tamar, Amnon, and Absalom. Like his father, Amnon desires someone he cannot have, so he too concocts a scheme to gain her illicitly. The result? Rape, ruin, and revenge. David's virgin daughter is disgraced, and (ultimately) his first-born son is murdered to pay for it.

Note that David was 'furious' (v. 21)...but his fury didn't include direct intervention with his sons. Consequently, Absalom takes matters into his own hands - setting the stage for further 'reaping and sowing' in David's family.

Questions: 1) Who can take away our disgrace when we sin, or someone grievously sins against us? God's first-born son Jesus was willing to be murdered to redeem our disgrace! Take a moment to express your gratitude today.

2 Samuel 12: 15-31

David begins immediately to experience the consequences of his actions that (as we will see) will plague him from now on. Though his sins are forgiven (v. 13), the repercussions of those sins will reverberate throughout his household...starting with the death of the son from his illicit affair.

Though God has told David through Nathan that the boy will die, David beseeches God, in fasting and prayer, for His favor in the hope that He will change His mind. Note what happens when, in spite of David's fervent pleadings, his son dies. David gets up and after cleaning up, his first act is to worship the sovereign LORD. 

And one final point of grace - God is able to redeem even our worst mistakes for His glory. Though David would reap great sorrow from his actions, in due time the LORD granted him a son with Bathsheba named Solomon (v. 24)...a son that would ultimately be included in the lineage of Jesus (see Matthew 1).

Questions: 1) Read Galatians 6: 7-8. The principle of 'reaping what you sow' is just as prevalent in the New Testament as in the Old Testament. God has sovereignly crafted this universe with a 'ripple effect' from our actions. What conclusions can you draw about the long term impact of your short-term actions? 2) When the 'hard word' comes to us - cancer, job loss, abandonment - how do we respond? When we beseech the LORD to change his mind and intervene (and Scripture is filled with examples of God's people doing so), and He does not, can we too respond with worship?

2 Samuel 12: 1-14

The prophet Nathan uses a creative parable to address 'the thing David had done [which] displeased the LORD' (11:27). Note the insight and wisdom of God's man Nathan in confronting David, such that David unknowingly condemns himself before Nathan even says anything about David's specific sin.

And isn't David just like us! Seeing with clarity the sins of others, and burning with anger over their clear unrighteousness, while being unaware or unwilling to see our own grievous sins. And Nathan - fearing the LORD more than the king - calls him on it...rebuking David with specificity for his evil acts. The LORD characterizes David's sins as a personal rebuke of Himself: 'you despised me' (v.10).

To His credit, God's man David doesn't offer excuses, justifications, rationalizations, or threats to the messenger when confronted with his sins. His heart...though laced with the potential for great evil...is sensitive enough to recognize his sin and confess it.

Questions: 1) Do you have a Nathan in your life...someone who loves you enough to confront you when you are wrong? Who is it? If you don't have that, how can you cultivate a deeper accountability relationship in your life? Contact the church or let me know if you would like to become part of an accountability group. 2) How do you respond when confronted with your shortcomings...with anger, defensiveness, or with a heart which knows of God's great grace and forgiveness? Read 1 John 1:8-10, and consider memorizing 1 John 1:9 if you haven't already.

2 Samuel 11 (part two)

The wisdom and creativity in leadership that God has gifted David with, is now used to concoct an increasingly desperate scheme to cover up his sin with Bathsheba. When David learns of Bathsheba's pregnancy, he brings her husband home from the front to sleep with her. Ironically, Uriah's commitment to David and the other troops lets him make the same principled stand that David had modeled in 1 Samuel 21: 4-5, and refuse to have sexual relations. 

Next, David tries to overcome Uriah's resistance by getting him drunk. When that still doesn't work, David plots with Joab to have him killed in battle...a plan that results not only in Uriah's death, but the lives of other loyal, innocent soldiers (v. 17). 

How complete is the self-deception of our hearts when we start down the path of sin!  A second look at a naked woman has now led to adultery, pregnancy, deception to cover it all up, and eventually murder and 'collateral damage'.  

Questions: 1) Reflect...where has God gifted you with talents and abilities? Are any of your areas of giftedness being used for things contrary to His purposes? 

2 Samuel 11, and a Wedding

Well, I'm off to my eldest daughter's wedding in Boston this week...so blogging will be suspended until next week (unless I get some free time :))

 

Are you shocked by David's vile behavior in this chapter, given his track record of walking so closely to God? What a picture of how every man's heart is capable of being led astray by the pleasures of sin. See the downward spiral of sin, and how each succeeding bad decision leads to a worse one: David is in a place he shouldn't be (he should be at war with the troops instead of in the palace in Jerusalem - v.1); he's looking at something he shouldn't be (a naked lady bathing - v. 2); instead of ignoring her, he obsesses about what he's seen (v. 3); instead of fleeing from this married woman, he directs his messengers to bring her back so he can commit adultery (v. 4)! 

If you think this is bad, in future entries, we'll see how the sins just keep coming - as David's adultery leads to deception and eventually, murder. A seemingly innocuous decision, where David momentarily lets his guard down, has enormous consequences for David and countless others.

Questions: 1) Read Hebrews 11: 24 -26. The Bible is nothing if not realistic...sin has a short-term pleasurable component. Why did Moses not give in to the short-term pleasure? 2) Is there any place you shouldn't be, looking at something you shouldn't be looking at...on the Internet, on TV, in magazines or movies? Ask God to empower you to say NO now through His Spirit within you, before the inevitable spiral of sin takes you down a deadly path.

2 Samuel 10

At first glance, this chapter seems to be just another story of David's successful military exploits. But, taken in conjunction with the following chapter, the Bible gives us a subtle glimpse into the path that temptation takes.

Notice that David is just busy doing his 'king thing', responding to the dishonor shown his delegation - and the amassing of Ammonite and hired gun Aramean troops - by preparing for battle. But what is missing? Remember 1 Samuel 22, 23, 30 as well as 2 Samuel 2 and 5: over and over again we are told that "David inquired of the LORD" before making leadership decisions. Here, there is no indication that David sought the LORD; instead, the text just says that David heard about the gathering troops and sent the army out. David - blessed with success in whatever he does - apparently defaults to his common sense instead of remaining dependent on the LORD's leading. 

And since the results are good, there is no immediate indication that in this act of warfare - and the decision David makes in chapter 11 to let others continue this battle without him - that temptation will soon strike at his weakest area and lay his kingdom low. See, temptation doesn't announce it's on the way. More likely, we're just busy doing our thing... maybe even enjoying some success... and living off of our past walk with the LORD rather than in a vibrant, daily relationship with Him. And like David, we are getting ready to be blindsided.

Questions: 1) Are you enjoying a fresh connectedness with the LORD every day... or are you living off of the 'fumes' of previous experiences with Him? Stop right now and reaffirm your desire to "inquire of Him" always.

2 Samuel 9 - the Gospel in the Old Testament

Out of his great love for his late friend Jonathan, David asks if there is anyone to whom he can show grace. The lame son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth (meh-FIBB-o-sheth), is the sole remaining heir (see 2 Samuel 4:4). Rather than dispatch this last remaining, feeble threat to his monarchy, David instead showers him with kindness, as if he were one of David's own sons.

Jerry Bridges, in his great book Transforming Grace, points to this episode as a picture of the gospel for us today. Like Mephibosheth, we are unable to do anything for ourselves. We want to set up our own kingdom, but instead of wiping out this feeble threat to His Kingdom, Christ has made it possible for us - in God's grace - to sit and eat at the King's table with Him! Note also that in v.13, the text repeats itself...telling us again that Mephibosheth always ate at the King's table, and that he was lame in both feet. It's a reminder that we are in need of God's continuous grace - we stay 'lame' and in need of His goodness all our lives.

Question: 1) Read Ephesians 2: 6-7. Where are we seated now? In order that God might show what?

Good Article

Men-
A change of pace...good article on our role in family vacations:

FamilyVacations

2 Samuel 8

The borders of Israel, David's kingdom, now expand well beyond those established by his predecessor Saul. In case we missed it, the text tells us twice why that is (v. 6; v. 14): 'the LORD gave David victory wherever he went'.

David shows that he understood that principle, as he dedicated to the LORD all the silver and gold and bronze that were plundered in battle. David knows that it's not his prowess, wisdom, strength, or wealth that are providing the victories he is enjoying, and he acts accordingly. Once he gets that part straight in his heart, 'doing what is just and right for his people' (v. 15) follows logically.

Questions: 1) Are you giving honor to God for the victories you are enjoying personally or professionally, or are you (even subtly) becoming proud over what you think you have done? 2) Read Psalm 72. Apparently David's son Solomon (more on him later) learned David's lessons about wise leadership of the people. What are your sons and daughters learning from your example?

2 Samuel 7:18-29

In response to God's message of blessing, David rightly reflects (in effect): "Why me? Why my family? Given who we are, why do we deserve these unbelievable blessings?" (v. 18). This is a great habit to cultivate, isn't it? Most of the time when we say, "Why me?", it's to complain about unfortunate circumstances. Do we spend at least as much time thanking the LORD when, as David says in Psalm 16:6, "the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places"?

David sits before the Sovereign LORD (a term for God used 7 times here and nowhere else in 1 or 2 Samuel) and acknowledges a) that it's all by the LORD's hand and for His purposes, and b) that he is completely known by this same LORD (v. 20). His gratefulness is not only for himself, but for the nation he rules, Israel. Someone has said that the best proof for the existence of God is the continued survival of the nation of Israel, in spite of thousands of years of being the target of nations bent on its destruction.

Questions: 1) Ponder for a few minutes the blessings that God has given to you and your family. Think what He has called you to, and what He has done in your life to bring you to this point, and thank Him for that specifically. 2) Is it scary to think that you are completely known by God - all the innermost thoughts, hopes, fears. lusts in your heart? Read 1 John 3: 19-24 and be reassured that God knows it all and only asks that we believe in the Son He sent to forgive what's in our hearts, and pass it along to others.

2 Samuel 7:1-17

As David's life enters a season where he can 'slow down' a little bit, it is interesting to note what consumes his thoughts. Rather than thinking about what how much more 'stuff' he can add to the palace, David does an internal accounting on his lifestyle vs. God's glorification (v.2). His conclusion: it's not right that my house exceeds God's house.

Note that Nathan the prophet - observing the king's single-minded walk - is confident that David's plans are aligned with God's plans (v. 3). But God has something much more magnificent in mind than David building Him a house...He wants to establish a house for David that will last forever (v.11, 13).

As with Abraham in Genesis 12 & 15, God reveals more of His long term plan for blessing His people in vs. 11-16. One of David's offspring will be God's son (v. 14). His kingdom will be established forever. God's love will never be taken from the son as it was from Saul, but wrongdoing will be punished with the rod of men and floggings.

Questions: 1) In the busyness of your life, take a few minutes to do your own internal accounting. How much of our focus is on stuff for 'our house', vs. seeing God's kingdom advanced? What is a tangible way (e.g., supporting a missionary, donating time to help flood victims) that you can begin to change the balance sheet? 2) Read John 19: 1-3. Amazingly, Jesus had no wrongdoing of his own to be punished, but he was flogged and ultimately crucified for my sins and your sins. Let's be thankful this very day that He took the punishment for our wrongdoing.