2 Samuel 22
I have noticed in my prayer life before that there was one major problem in the way that I prayed. I was really good at asking God for many different things, whether it be for healing of someone who was sick, help in a tough situation I was currently in, or just general requests about life. However, one thing that I neglected to do was praise God for the many gifts He had given me. Or when a prayer request was answered, I would forget to thank Him for helping me out in that situation. Our prayer lives should not consist of just making a list of requests to God. If we truly have a relationship with Him and desire to get to know Him better, then that is not the way to communicate with Him. If someone were to ask us for various things constantly, and that was the extent of their conversations with us, I do not think we would want to keep that friendship. After a while, it would get annoying as there would be no substance to the relationship. In the same way, we should not be so limited in our prayer life. We should talk with God, which requires listening to Him as well. We can still ask for help and guidance, for He wants to be there for us, but we must also learn to not limit our prayers to only requests.
In 2 Samuel 22 we see a song from David explaining how he went to God in his time of need, one of the many times in which he had been pursued by his enemies. While David initially went to God asking for help (deliverance), he later returned to God with a spirit of thanksgiving and praise. He took the time to sit and think back on all God had done for him, how God had protected him and delivered him. Remembering God’s provision led David to a spirit of thankfulness for all God had done, and he made a point to thank God.
This song also shows how God looks out for those who follow Him. David mentions that he was a righteous man and had followed the commands of the Lord. As a result, God was sure to look after him and take care of him in his troubles. In the same way, God will look out for us. Like David, we too are God’s children, and He loves us. He will look out for us in the same way He looked out for David. Does that mean that hard times will not come? Of course not! Look at the life of David. Except for the mistake he made with Bathsheba, David lived a fairly righteous life, after all Scripture says that he was a man after God’s own heart, but even David experience hard times. However, the purpose of those trials was to draw David closer to God. In the midst of his pain, he reached out to God, and God was there for him every time. So yes, hard times will come, but we can always depend on God to be there for us.
I encourage you to really think about the way you pray. Do you bring a list before God of requests that you want answered? Do you take the time to praise God? Do you think back to the ways He has provided for you in the past? I challenge you to incorporate all of these different types of prayers into your prayer life. That is the example that David gives us, and it is a great example to follow.
Matt
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
2 Samuel 21
2 Samuel 21
Even though the wars with both Absalom and Sheba were over, there were still problems in the land of Israel. A three year famine had come over the land, and the people cried out to God for relief. David himself went to God and questioned why they had not been spared of the famine. God explained that there was still some strife in the land. From the days of Saul, there had been problems between Israel and Gibeon, and if you recall, there were problems when Joab traveled through that land in 2 Samuel 20 on his way to find Sheba. What had happened was that Saul had desired to kill the Gibeonites back during his reign when the nation had already decided to spare the Gibeonites. From that point forward there were hurt feelings between the two nations, and God wanted that conflict to end.
So David went to Gibeon to see what could be done, seeking a resolution. Through much talk he discovered that were really no problems between the two nations themselves. The only problem that still existed was between the people of Gibeon and the family of Saul. There were still hurt feelings from what Saul had done them several years before. So they asked that David bring them 7 of Saul’s sons so that they might be killed in order to restore the relationship between Israel and Gibeon.
David did as they requested, and he gathered together 7 direct descendants of Saul. One man that was spared from this number was Mephilbosheth, Jonathan’s son. He was the one that David had taken in from the very beginning, promising to look out for and protect him as long as he reigned over Israel. Although he was a direct descendant of Saul, and although many would have viewed him as the enemy, David vowed to protect him and provide for him. Even when Mephilbosheth had sought to take the throne away from David during David’s absence, David sought reconciliation and their relationship had been restored. So David did not even consider adding Mephilbosheth to the number of men who would be handed over to the Gibeonites. After the 7 men were taken to Gibeon and killed, the two nations were able to find common ground again. Israel took Gibeon in as one of their own and all was well in the land again. The famine eventually came to an end.
An almost forgotten enemy of Israel, the Philistines, were rarely mentioned in the book of 2 Samuel (especially recently). Earlier in David’s life, he had had many battles with the Philistines, and God had given him great victories in those battles (such as Goliath). But near the end of his life, the threat of the Philistines returned, and 4 great men, descended from the giants (like Goliath) began to attack Israel. On 4 separate occasions, David and his men went out to battle against the Philistines, but in the first battle, David almost lost his life. His age was finally catching up with him, and some of his servants realized that he could no longer physically go to battle. From that point forward they fought the battles for David and put an end to the threat of the Philistines. So just like the early days of David’s reign, God was giving him the victories. God was still in control, and He still protected Israel. There had been many hard times, and mistakes had been made along the way. But the nation had returned to God, and God continued to bless Israel.
Matt
Even though the wars with both Absalom and Sheba were over, there were still problems in the land of Israel. A three year famine had come over the land, and the people cried out to God for relief. David himself went to God and questioned why they had not been spared of the famine. God explained that there was still some strife in the land. From the days of Saul, there had been problems between Israel and Gibeon, and if you recall, there were problems when Joab traveled through that land in 2 Samuel 20 on his way to find Sheba. What had happened was that Saul had desired to kill the Gibeonites back during his reign when the nation had already decided to spare the Gibeonites. From that point forward there were hurt feelings between the two nations, and God wanted that conflict to end.
So David went to Gibeon to see what could be done, seeking a resolution. Through much talk he discovered that were really no problems between the two nations themselves. The only problem that still existed was between the people of Gibeon and the family of Saul. There were still hurt feelings from what Saul had done them several years before. So they asked that David bring them 7 of Saul’s sons so that they might be killed in order to restore the relationship between Israel and Gibeon.
David did as they requested, and he gathered together 7 direct descendants of Saul. One man that was spared from this number was Mephilbosheth, Jonathan’s son. He was the one that David had taken in from the very beginning, promising to look out for and protect him as long as he reigned over Israel. Although he was a direct descendant of Saul, and although many would have viewed him as the enemy, David vowed to protect him and provide for him. Even when Mephilbosheth had sought to take the throne away from David during David’s absence, David sought reconciliation and their relationship had been restored. So David did not even consider adding Mephilbosheth to the number of men who would be handed over to the Gibeonites. After the 7 men were taken to Gibeon and killed, the two nations were able to find common ground again. Israel took Gibeon in as one of their own and all was well in the land again. The famine eventually came to an end.
An almost forgotten enemy of Israel, the Philistines, were rarely mentioned in the book of 2 Samuel (especially recently). Earlier in David’s life, he had had many battles with the Philistines, and God had given him great victories in those battles (such as Goliath). But near the end of his life, the threat of the Philistines returned, and 4 great men, descended from the giants (like Goliath) began to attack Israel. On 4 separate occasions, David and his men went out to battle against the Philistines, but in the first battle, David almost lost his life. His age was finally catching up with him, and some of his servants realized that he could no longer physically go to battle. From that point forward they fought the battles for David and put an end to the threat of the Philistines. So just like the early days of David’s reign, God was giving him the victories. God was still in control, and He still protected Israel. There had been many hard times, and mistakes had been made along the way. But the nation had returned to God, and God continued to bless Israel.
Matt
Saturday, January 29, 2011
2 Samuel 20
2 Samuel 20
Although the political system of the day was beginning to shift more in David’s favor after the death of Absalom, 2 Samuel 20 introduces yet another setback for David. This time it was Sheba who decided to stand in his way, claiming that he and his tribe (Benjamin) had no part in the kingdom of David. He did not want to submit to David’s rule, so he spoke out against David and took with him many of the same people that had previously followed Absalom. What is interesting is that two forces were created as a result of this rebellion. First were parts (and probably most of) every tribe of Israel except Judah. The largest tribe of Israel was Judah, and they stood by David, for the capital city was in their land. These two opposing forces, although they would soon be reunited, would play a key role in the political system at the end of Solomon’s life. For there came a time in Israel’s history when they did split into two separate “countries,” and there were two separate kings in the land.
But as for 2 Samuel 20, a complete separation would not occur. For David it was just one more setback. So he assembled his men together yet again and sent them out to pursue Sheba. Their orders were to stop Sheba at any cost. When David told them to go after Absalom he asked that Absalom’s life be spared. David did not make this type of request with Sheba. He did not give them any real specifics either. Ultimately, David wanted Sheba stopped before he found refuge and was able to gather together a great force of people that could fight against Judah.
So Joab and the rest of David’s men set out, and along the way they encountered problems. Their first problem was in Gibeon, where they had trouble getting through. Joab took care of that situation by killing Amasa, their leader. This sign of power gave them a chance to pass on through Gibeon without any further problems. Then they entered the land of Abel, the city where Sheba had taken refuge. They were beginning to batter down the walls of the city when a woman stopped them. I must admit that at first reading I was wondering if this woman could be trusted. There have been several examples already in Israel’s history where men have fallen to the false words of various men and women. I was especially concerned when she was begging them not to destroy the city. It appeared as if she might actually be trying to protect Sheba. However, this woman was not a false prophet, she was concerned about the welfare of the men and women in her city. Once she discovered that Joab was after Sheba, she promised that she would bring him Sheba’s head if he promised not to destroy their city. Joab agreed, and the woman threw Sheba’s head over the city walls to Joab.
In the end, it did not take brute force to stop Sheba. Although Joab and his men were prepared to go to battle for David and Judah, they were able to settle matters with the woman in Abel, and another force of opposition was stopped. While most situations such as these, when nation rises against nation, must be resolved by force, talking it out usually is not the best option. But for most of us today, if we are not part of the military in some way, we never encounter situations such as these. We do however face opposition quite frequently, and many times those situations can be resolved through conversation. Although it is hard to confront someone who has hurt you, and it is hard to find it within yourself to forgive them, that is what we are called to do. We should not let conflict divide us from others, especially when it is our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is always a resolution to be found, and instead of remaining divided or stirring up an even bigger problem, we should confront the issue and seek a resolution sooner than later.
Matt
Although the political system of the day was beginning to shift more in David’s favor after the death of Absalom, 2 Samuel 20 introduces yet another setback for David. This time it was Sheba who decided to stand in his way, claiming that he and his tribe (Benjamin) had no part in the kingdom of David. He did not want to submit to David’s rule, so he spoke out against David and took with him many of the same people that had previously followed Absalom. What is interesting is that two forces were created as a result of this rebellion. First were parts (and probably most of) every tribe of Israel except Judah. The largest tribe of Israel was Judah, and they stood by David, for the capital city was in their land. These two opposing forces, although they would soon be reunited, would play a key role in the political system at the end of Solomon’s life. For there came a time in Israel’s history when they did split into two separate “countries,” and there were two separate kings in the land.
But as for 2 Samuel 20, a complete separation would not occur. For David it was just one more setback. So he assembled his men together yet again and sent them out to pursue Sheba. Their orders were to stop Sheba at any cost. When David told them to go after Absalom he asked that Absalom’s life be spared. David did not make this type of request with Sheba. He did not give them any real specifics either. Ultimately, David wanted Sheba stopped before he found refuge and was able to gather together a great force of people that could fight against Judah.
So Joab and the rest of David’s men set out, and along the way they encountered problems. Their first problem was in Gibeon, where they had trouble getting through. Joab took care of that situation by killing Amasa, their leader. This sign of power gave them a chance to pass on through Gibeon without any further problems. Then they entered the land of Abel, the city where Sheba had taken refuge. They were beginning to batter down the walls of the city when a woman stopped them. I must admit that at first reading I was wondering if this woman could be trusted. There have been several examples already in Israel’s history where men have fallen to the false words of various men and women. I was especially concerned when she was begging them not to destroy the city. It appeared as if she might actually be trying to protect Sheba. However, this woman was not a false prophet, she was concerned about the welfare of the men and women in her city. Once she discovered that Joab was after Sheba, she promised that she would bring him Sheba’s head if he promised not to destroy their city. Joab agreed, and the woman threw Sheba’s head over the city walls to Joab.
In the end, it did not take brute force to stop Sheba. Although Joab and his men were prepared to go to battle for David and Judah, they were able to settle matters with the woman in Abel, and another force of opposition was stopped. While most situations such as these, when nation rises against nation, must be resolved by force, talking it out usually is not the best option. But for most of us today, if we are not part of the military in some way, we never encounter situations such as these. We do however face opposition quite frequently, and many times those situations can be resolved through conversation. Although it is hard to confront someone who has hurt you, and it is hard to find it within yourself to forgive them, that is what we are called to do. We should not let conflict divide us from others, especially when it is our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is always a resolution to be found, and instead of remaining divided or stirring up an even bigger problem, we should confront the issue and seek a resolution sooner than later.
Matt
Thursday, January 27, 2011
2 Samuel 19:16-43
2 Samuel 19:16-43
The second half of 2 Samuel is a great picture of forgiveness and love. If you recall from the very beginning of Absalom’s rebellion, there were several men that betrayed David in those first few days. As he fled from Jerusalem, some of his closest friends and servants either remained in Jerusalem, betraying David, or turned on him after he had left. One of these men was the last remaining son of Saul, Mephilbosheth. This is the same man (who was lame) that David took in after Saul’s death. David made Mephilbosheth as if he were one of his own and provided for him whatever he needed. Yet when David left Jerusalem, Mephilbosheth was one of the men who turned on him and sought the throne.
So why would David forgive these men who had betrayed him in his greatest time of need? Why would he act as if none of it had ever happened and be willing to move on and start over? To me, it is a picture of the love God has for us. While David had every right to sentence most of these men to death or at least have them sent out of the country, he chose to forgive them. In the same way, none of us are good enough to inherit eternal life with God in Heaven. We have all messed up and turned our backs on God at some point in our life. All it takes is one sin. So that one time you lied to your parents or that one bad thought you had was enough to separate you from Him forever. However, God sent His only Son into this world to die as a sacrifice for our sins, and thanks to His resurrection, His triumph over death, we can now live with Him forever. We can turn from our sin, turn to God, and inherit eternal life. Although we do not deserve it, and although God has every right to send us to Hell, this is His gift to us. It is because of His great love for us that we can live for Him and with Him.
So in a way, this picture of forgiveness given to us by David is very similar to what God does for us. But 2 Samuel does not only focus on those who had rebelled against David. It later shifts its focus to those who had been of great help during those trials. There was one 80 year old man in particular, Barzillai, who had helped take care of David while he was in hiding. He had given David anything that he needed during that time. So when David reinherited the throne, he extended an offer to Barzillai to come back to Jerusalem with him to live in his palace. Although Barzillai was honored to be considered, he politely refused, requesting that he be able to remain in his hometown. He knew that he did not have much longer to live, and he wanted to be at home when he died. So at Barzillai’s request, David took one of his servants, Chimham, and blessed him instead.
Israel was still in a time of readjustments by the end of 2 Samuel 19. There were hurt feelings between the tribes. There were still unresolved conflicts stemming from who had supported David and who had deserted him. Although life was beginning to get back to normal in the nation of Israel, there was still a lot of work to be done. David was back on the throne, but that did not mean that everyone was happy with the way things had turned out. It is sad to see how a once unified nation became a divided nation, and there was no quick or easy resolution to this conflict.
Matt
The second half of 2 Samuel is a great picture of forgiveness and love. If you recall from the very beginning of Absalom’s rebellion, there were several men that betrayed David in those first few days. As he fled from Jerusalem, some of his closest friends and servants either remained in Jerusalem, betraying David, or turned on him after he had left. One of these men was the last remaining son of Saul, Mephilbosheth. This is the same man (who was lame) that David took in after Saul’s death. David made Mephilbosheth as if he were one of his own and provided for him whatever he needed. Yet when David left Jerusalem, Mephilbosheth was one of the men who turned on him and sought the throne.
So why would David forgive these men who had betrayed him in his greatest time of need? Why would he act as if none of it had ever happened and be willing to move on and start over? To me, it is a picture of the love God has for us. While David had every right to sentence most of these men to death or at least have them sent out of the country, he chose to forgive them. In the same way, none of us are good enough to inherit eternal life with God in Heaven. We have all messed up and turned our backs on God at some point in our life. All it takes is one sin. So that one time you lied to your parents or that one bad thought you had was enough to separate you from Him forever. However, God sent His only Son into this world to die as a sacrifice for our sins, and thanks to His resurrection, His triumph over death, we can now live with Him forever. We can turn from our sin, turn to God, and inherit eternal life. Although we do not deserve it, and although God has every right to send us to Hell, this is His gift to us. It is because of His great love for us that we can live for Him and with Him.
So in a way, this picture of forgiveness given to us by David is very similar to what God does for us. But 2 Samuel does not only focus on those who had rebelled against David. It later shifts its focus to those who had been of great help during those trials. There was one 80 year old man in particular, Barzillai, who had helped take care of David while he was in hiding. He had given David anything that he needed during that time. So when David reinherited the throne, he extended an offer to Barzillai to come back to Jerusalem with him to live in his palace. Although Barzillai was honored to be considered, he politely refused, requesting that he be able to remain in his hometown. He knew that he did not have much longer to live, and he wanted to be at home when he died. So at Barzillai’s request, David took one of his servants, Chimham, and blessed him instead.
Israel was still in a time of readjustments by the end of 2 Samuel 19. There were hurt feelings between the tribes. There were still unresolved conflicts stemming from who had supported David and who had deserted him. Although life was beginning to get back to normal in the nation of Israel, there was still a lot of work to be done. David was back on the throne, but that did not mean that everyone was happy with the way things had turned out. It is sad to see how a once unified nation became a divided nation, and there was no quick or easy resolution to this conflict.
Matt
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
2 Samuel 19:1-15
2 Samuel 19:1-15
In 2 Samuel 18 we questioned the actions of Joab. We looked at his disobedience to David’s command about how to deal with Absalom, and then we looked at how he dealt with telling David the news about his son. So was Joab in the wrong? I think it can be argued either way. In one instance, he disobeyed David’s commands and tried to deceive him into believing that Absalom was not dead (at least not yet). On the other hand, it can be argued that Joab was protecting David from himself. Joab remembered how much grief David felt when he lost Amnon, and maybe Joab did not want David to go into that state of mourning again. 2 Samuel 19 gives us more insight into this situation, for now that Absalom is dead, we do see David’s reaction. He goes back into a deep state of mourning and depression over the death of his son, and it almost seems as if he had forgotten what it was Absalom had tried to do. Did he not remember that Absalom was trying to take the kingdom away by killing David and his men?
Joab picked up on this and scolded David for the way he was reacting. While Joab probably understood that David was suffering a great loss, he was upset at David’s reaction. For Joab and the rest of David’s men, they felt as if they were the enemies, that David would have preferred for Absalom to have succeeded, killing all of David’s men just so Absalom would still be alive. Now while David probably did not feel this way and was grateful that these men had defended him in battle and brought victory back to Israel, his actions did speak differently. In the eyes of his servants and the people of Israel, many might have had the same concerns that Joab raised before David.
In the end, all was restored to the way it once was. David sent a message to the men in Jerusalem asking for his return. They were quick to accept his offer, realizing their mistakes. They had not only lost their king when he fled in fear of his life, but they had also lost their new king in battle who they had placed over Israel themselves. They recognized their mistakes and were ready to once again bring David back to Jerusalem to reign over Israel until his death. So what started in 2 Samuel 11 when David first saw Bathsheba was finally resolved in the middle of 2 Samuel 19. He was back on the throne as the king of Israel. He was back in good standing with God, having repented of his sins and turned his life around. Israel was once again ready to support him, although there would still be days of healing ahead for all of them. And even though he had lost a few children in the process, he still had other children, one of which had already been chosen to be the next king of Israel.
I must admit that this section of David’s life has been one of the most challenging to work through. At times I am not sure that I read the story right. The lines are blurred between who we should consider the “good guys” and who the “bad guys” are at several points throughout these 9 chapters. I hope I have stayed accurate with what the Scripture is saying, and as always I hope you actually read the Scripture yourself and do not depend on my observations alone. While I do try to summarize the main points of the story, I do not hit every little detail. I love the story of David and the book of 2 Samuel, but it is not always an easy read. So if you have not already, I encourage you to go back and read these chapters for yourself. From here on out we will look at the last few chapters of David’s life as we finish the Samuels and enter the Kings.
Matt
In 2 Samuel 18 we questioned the actions of Joab. We looked at his disobedience to David’s command about how to deal with Absalom, and then we looked at how he dealt with telling David the news about his son. So was Joab in the wrong? I think it can be argued either way. In one instance, he disobeyed David’s commands and tried to deceive him into believing that Absalom was not dead (at least not yet). On the other hand, it can be argued that Joab was protecting David from himself. Joab remembered how much grief David felt when he lost Amnon, and maybe Joab did not want David to go into that state of mourning again. 2 Samuel 19 gives us more insight into this situation, for now that Absalom is dead, we do see David’s reaction. He goes back into a deep state of mourning and depression over the death of his son, and it almost seems as if he had forgotten what it was Absalom had tried to do. Did he not remember that Absalom was trying to take the kingdom away by killing David and his men?
Joab picked up on this and scolded David for the way he was reacting. While Joab probably understood that David was suffering a great loss, he was upset at David’s reaction. For Joab and the rest of David’s men, they felt as if they were the enemies, that David would have preferred for Absalom to have succeeded, killing all of David’s men just so Absalom would still be alive. Now while David probably did not feel this way and was grateful that these men had defended him in battle and brought victory back to Israel, his actions did speak differently. In the eyes of his servants and the people of Israel, many might have had the same concerns that Joab raised before David.
In the end, all was restored to the way it once was. David sent a message to the men in Jerusalem asking for his return. They were quick to accept his offer, realizing their mistakes. They had not only lost their king when he fled in fear of his life, but they had also lost their new king in battle who they had placed over Israel themselves. They recognized their mistakes and were ready to once again bring David back to Jerusalem to reign over Israel until his death. So what started in 2 Samuel 11 when David first saw Bathsheba was finally resolved in the middle of 2 Samuel 19. He was back on the throne as the king of Israel. He was back in good standing with God, having repented of his sins and turned his life around. Israel was once again ready to support him, although there would still be days of healing ahead for all of them. And even though he had lost a few children in the process, he still had other children, one of which had already been chosen to be the next king of Israel.
I must admit that this section of David’s life has been one of the most challenging to work through. At times I am not sure that I read the story right. The lines are blurred between who we should consider the “good guys” and who the “bad guys” are at several points throughout these 9 chapters. I hope I have stayed accurate with what the Scripture is saying, and as always I hope you actually read the Scripture yourself and do not depend on my observations alone. While I do try to summarize the main points of the story, I do not hit every little detail. I love the story of David and the book of 2 Samuel, but it is not always an easy read. So if you have not already, I encourage you to go back and read these chapters for yourself. From here on out we will look at the last few chapters of David’s life as we finish the Samuels and enter the Kings.
Matt
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
2 Samuel 18
2 Samuel 18
As 2 Samuel 18 opens, David’s men are preparing for war. David gathered all his men together and then divided them into three separate groups. He also prepared himself for battle, and told his men where he would be. But those closest to David asked him to remain away from the heat of the battle lest he die. They understood his worth and knew that they needed his guidance once they regained the throne of Israel. So David listened to their requests, gave them further instructions, and remained by the gate of the city as they went out to battle.
At first glance it might appear as if David was retreating from the battle. Some might even think that he was frightened to go out to battle his son. But I do not believe that is the case here. An example of David selfishly remaining home away from battle was the time when he saw Bathsheba. As the king he should have been out with his men, and yet he stayed at home, and that one bad decision led to a series of bad decisions. In this case, David was prepared and willing to go, but his men persuaded him to stay. In this case, David was the target, not the entire nation of Israel. All Absalom was really concerned about was killing his father. Therefore, it was much better for Israel as a whole to allow David to remain away from the battle.
David’s men went out to battle against the rest of the Israelites, and it was a quick battle. The Lord was with David and his men, and He gave them the victory that day. The battle was widespread, and the death count was great. One of the many who were killed was Absalom. Now when David had given his men instructions for battle, he asked them to deal kindly with Absalom. In other words, David did not want them to kill him. So when one young soldier saw Absalom hanging in a tree (for he had been caught in a tree while riding his mule, and his mule ran off away from him), he ran to Joab to tell him that he had seen Absalom in battle. This angered Joab, and he asked the young man why he had not killed him, fearful of what Absalom could and would do as long as he was alive. The young man reminded Joab of what David had told them prior to the battle, but that is not what Joab wanted to hear.
Joab then went out to the place where the young man had seen Absalom, and along with then of his men, they killed Absalom as he was hanging in the tree. Knowing that this went against David’s commands, Joab did not want David to know about Absalom’s death yet. Furthermore, he knew that David would be upset with the one who brought the news. So first Joab did not allow anyone to leave and give David news of the victory, knowing that they would also have to give him news of Absalom’s death. So when one of David’s trusted men said he would go anyways, Joab also sent another soldier to go as well. The first man lied to David about Absalom’s death. He knew that Absalom had been killed, but afraid to upset David he hid that news from him. The other young soldier was truthful with David and told him all he knew. This sent David into another state of mourning, for he had lost yet another son.
So who was right in this situation? Absalom had to die or be contained if David ever wanted to regain the throne, but the cover up that surrounded Absalom’s death seems as if it could have been controversial. Should Joab have killed Absalom when David had asked them not to? Although it would help his king take the throne back, it was disobedience to his commands. Furthermore, should he have tried to cover up Absalom’s death? David would eventually find out, and would it not have been better to be truthful rather than David to find out that Joab had kept it from him? Finally, what about the first man that brought news to David? Why did he lie when he knew that Absalom was actually dead? In the end, Absalom’s death was the key to helping David return to power in Jerusalem. And although it would hurt David to know that his son had been killed, that was news that he needed to know. Even if it is hard, we should always tell the truth. Although that seems like such a simple lesson to draw from this passage, we all know how serious the consequences for lying can be. Think about some of the scandals we hear in the news. Many times the truth does not come out for years, but it does come out! We cannot hide from our lies and secrets forever, and when the truth does come out, it can be devastating. So although it may seem like such a simple lesson, one thing we can learn from this passage and from much of 2 Samuel in general, is to just tell the truth.
Matt
As 2 Samuel 18 opens, David’s men are preparing for war. David gathered all his men together and then divided them into three separate groups. He also prepared himself for battle, and told his men where he would be. But those closest to David asked him to remain away from the heat of the battle lest he die. They understood his worth and knew that they needed his guidance once they regained the throne of Israel. So David listened to their requests, gave them further instructions, and remained by the gate of the city as they went out to battle.
At first glance it might appear as if David was retreating from the battle. Some might even think that he was frightened to go out to battle his son. But I do not believe that is the case here. An example of David selfishly remaining home away from battle was the time when he saw Bathsheba. As the king he should have been out with his men, and yet he stayed at home, and that one bad decision led to a series of bad decisions. In this case, David was prepared and willing to go, but his men persuaded him to stay. In this case, David was the target, not the entire nation of Israel. All Absalom was really concerned about was killing his father. Therefore, it was much better for Israel as a whole to allow David to remain away from the battle.
David’s men went out to battle against the rest of the Israelites, and it was a quick battle. The Lord was with David and his men, and He gave them the victory that day. The battle was widespread, and the death count was great. One of the many who were killed was Absalom. Now when David had given his men instructions for battle, he asked them to deal kindly with Absalom. In other words, David did not want them to kill him. So when one young soldier saw Absalom hanging in a tree (for he had been caught in a tree while riding his mule, and his mule ran off away from him), he ran to Joab to tell him that he had seen Absalom in battle. This angered Joab, and he asked the young man why he had not killed him, fearful of what Absalom could and would do as long as he was alive. The young man reminded Joab of what David had told them prior to the battle, but that is not what Joab wanted to hear.
Joab then went out to the place where the young man had seen Absalom, and along with then of his men, they killed Absalom as he was hanging in the tree. Knowing that this went against David’s commands, Joab did not want David to know about Absalom’s death yet. Furthermore, he knew that David would be upset with the one who brought the news. So first Joab did not allow anyone to leave and give David news of the victory, knowing that they would also have to give him news of Absalom’s death. So when one of David’s trusted men said he would go anyways, Joab also sent another soldier to go as well. The first man lied to David about Absalom’s death. He knew that Absalom had been killed, but afraid to upset David he hid that news from him. The other young soldier was truthful with David and told him all he knew. This sent David into another state of mourning, for he had lost yet another son.
So who was right in this situation? Absalom had to die or be contained if David ever wanted to regain the throne, but the cover up that surrounded Absalom’s death seems as if it could have been controversial. Should Joab have killed Absalom when David had asked them not to? Although it would help his king take the throne back, it was disobedience to his commands. Furthermore, should he have tried to cover up Absalom’s death? David would eventually find out, and would it not have been better to be truthful rather than David to find out that Joab had kept it from him? Finally, what about the first man that brought news to David? Why did he lie when he knew that Absalom was actually dead? In the end, Absalom’s death was the key to helping David return to power in Jerusalem. And although it would hurt David to know that his son had been killed, that was news that he needed to know. Even if it is hard, we should always tell the truth. Although that seems like such a simple lesson to draw from this passage, we all know how serious the consequences for lying can be. Think about some of the scandals we hear in the news. Many times the truth does not come out for years, but it does come out! We cannot hide from our lies and secrets forever, and when the truth does come out, it can be devastating. So although it may seem like such a simple lesson, one thing we can learn from this passage and from much of 2 Samuel in general, is to just tell the truth.
Matt
Monday, January 24, 2011
2 Samuel 17
2 Samuel 17
With roles reversed, David found himself in hiding while Absalom sat on the throne in Jerusalem. In order to gain full control, Ahithophel presented a plan to Absalom that would ultimately lead to David’s death. He planned to gather a group of men who would set out and find David. Without harming anyone else, they would kill David and bring the rest of his men back to Jerusalem, hopefully leading to a reunification of Israel. When this plan was presented to Absalom, he initially approved, but he also wanted the approval of Hushai. Now remember that Hushai was in a sense a mole left behind by David to serve Absalom. So of course Hushai did not approve of this plan. But the problem was that Hushai could not come right out and give his disapproval for fear that Absalom might figure out where his true allegiance was. So he also set forth a plan that would ultimately lead to David’s death just to make Absalom think that he was still supporting Absalom’s decisions. In reality, his plan would ultimately save David’s life.
The amazing thing about this part of the story was that it was all part of God’s plan to leave Hushai in Jerusalem and have him put in this predicament. It would be one of the pieces that would ultimately lead to David’s ability to regain the throne in Jerusalem, but it was also God’s way of promoting Hushai above Ahithophel. As God continued to work the situation out for David’s good, He also began setting up obstacles for Absalom that would lead to his demise.
As Absalom began to prepare for battle, people once again began to scramble. Ahithophel was distraught because his plan had not been accepted. As a result, he fled to his hometown where he hung himself. Meanwhile, Hushai was secretly aligning with the few Israelites in Jerusalem who still supported David. He prepared two men to travel to David that very night (the night before Absalom would leave) and warn David about what Ahithophel and Absalom were up to. However, some of Absalom’s men heard about what these two men were up to, and their chance at saving David was almost shot. Thankfully, there was a woman who was able to hide them while Absalom’s men passed by. They were finally able to complete their journey and get David across the river and into safety for the time being.
In 2 Samuel 16, it seemed as if David’s time as the king of Israel was over. With the circumstances the way they were, it seemed doubtful that David would ever regain the throne. Absalom was gaining more and more control, and he had successfully gained the approval of a large portion of Israel. Yet while many Israelites spent their time cursing David, David did not give up. He was on the run in fear of his life, being pursued by his own son, but he knew that no matter the outcome, God was in control. If he had the opportunity to regain the throne, he would be grateful, but he ultimately knew that God had to make that decision. He sent men back to Jerusalem who were able to help him from the inside, and in 2 Samuel 17, the power began to shift back to David thanks to the efforts of Hushai. We never know how God is going to work, but one lesson we can learn from Hushai is to be ready to be God’s instrument. We must always be willing to allow God to use us for whatever He needs. Hushai had remained faithful to David and most importantly to God, and as a result, God was able to use Hushai to further carry out his plans. May we, like Hushai, remain faithful and be willing to do whatever it is that God has called us to do.
Matt
With roles reversed, David found himself in hiding while Absalom sat on the throne in Jerusalem. In order to gain full control, Ahithophel presented a plan to Absalom that would ultimately lead to David’s death. He planned to gather a group of men who would set out and find David. Without harming anyone else, they would kill David and bring the rest of his men back to Jerusalem, hopefully leading to a reunification of Israel. When this plan was presented to Absalom, he initially approved, but he also wanted the approval of Hushai. Now remember that Hushai was in a sense a mole left behind by David to serve Absalom. So of course Hushai did not approve of this plan. But the problem was that Hushai could not come right out and give his disapproval for fear that Absalom might figure out where his true allegiance was. So he also set forth a plan that would ultimately lead to David’s death just to make Absalom think that he was still supporting Absalom’s decisions. In reality, his plan would ultimately save David’s life.
The amazing thing about this part of the story was that it was all part of God’s plan to leave Hushai in Jerusalem and have him put in this predicament. It would be one of the pieces that would ultimately lead to David’s ability to regain the throne in Jerusalem, but it was also God’s way of promoting Hushai above Ahithophel. As God continued to work the situation out for David’s good, He also began setting up obstacles for Absalom that would lead to his demise.
As Absalom began to prepare for battle, people once again began to scramble. Ahithophel was distraught because his plan had not been accepted. As a result, he fled to his hometown where he hung himself. Meanwhile, Hushai was secretly aligning with the few Israelites in Jerusalem who still supported David. He prepared two men to travel to David that very night (the night before Absalom would leave) and warn David about what Ahithophel and Absalom were up to. However, some of Absalom’s men heard about what these two men were up to, and their chance at saving David was almost shot. Thankfully, there was a woman who was able to hide them while Absalom’s men passed by. They were finally able to complete their journey and get David across the river and into safety for the time being.
In 2 Samuel 16, it seemed as if David’s time as the king of Israel was over. With the circumstances the way they were, it seemed doubtful that David would ever regain the throne. Absalom was gaining more and more control, and he had successfully gained the approval of a large portion of Israel. Yet while many Israelites spent their time cursing David, David did not give up. He was on the run in fear of his life, being pursued by his own son, but he knew that no matter the outcome, God was in control. If he had the opportunity to regain the throne, he would be grateful, but he ultimately knew that God had to make that decision. He sent men back to Jerusalem who were able to help him from the inside, and in 2 Samuel 17, the power began to shift back to David thanks to the efforts of Hushai. We never know how God is going to work, but one lesson we can learn from Hushai is to be ready to be God’s instrument. We must always be willing to allow God to use us for whatever He needs. Hushai had remained faithful to David and most importantly to God, and as a result, God was able to use Hushai to further carry out his plans. May we, like Hushai, remain faithful and be willing to do whatever it is that God has called us to do.
Matt
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