Psalm 46:1-7 Confidence in Chaos
Observations: When your world is doing the Watusi remember 46:5. One word from the God who spoke the world into being, melts it. This is the God who dwells in the midst of His people.
Application: There is always reason to trust God, regardless of the trouble around us.
Prayer: God, You are my refuge, strength, and help in the midst of trouble, therefore, I will not fear but trust You to protect and prosper me according to Your will. Amen.
Proverbs 12:24-28 Diligence Rules
Pr 12:24 (21 No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.) “The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. 25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. 26 A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. 27 The slothful man doesn’t roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized. 28 In the way of righteousness is life; in its path there is no death.“
Observations: 12:24-28 In the end of this chapter the author warns of dangers the wise and righteous should avoid, and advocates behaviors to adopt. Diligence, the ability to keep focused at a worthy task until it is done (because one values it as the will of God), is a precious possession. It is something every righteous person who seeks the will of God should possess. The diligent rule, the lazy drool (as in desire and have nothing). The lazy want to be in positions of power, influence and privilege, but aren't willing to put in the effort necessary to reach those goals. Before returning to diligence, the author inserts two tasks appropriate to rulers: the first is that of encouraging others (good to do), the second is being cautious in friendship, not making alliances with the wicked hypocrites (good to avoid). The sluggard will start a project (catch something to eat) but doesn't roast it so it becomes something worthwhile (See outline about the Saga of the Sorry Sluggard on Truthbase.net). The diligent values what he has, and keeps it in a useful state, so it can be used for worthy objectives. The righteous person, diligently pursuing the will of God, is on the path to life, rulership, and dominion. It's all good, no death.
Application: Tie in each task to the will of God, and then diligently do it until it's done; don't get sidetracked by the ways of the unrighteous.
Prayer: Lord, help me righteously discern and do Your will each day, until it is done. Amen.
2 Samuel 4-6 David gets the Kingship, Jerusalem, and Ark, but loses the girl. He seems to demonstrate better leadership in the public sphere and less so at home. Nevertheless, God uses him to shepherd and bless His people.
2 Samuel 4 Reward of Wickedness
9 David answered Rechab and Baanah "As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 when someone told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?" 12 David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
Observations: 4:1-8 Hearing of Abner's death caused puppet king Ishbosheth fear, and serving him a liability. Two captains of his troops assassinate him and bring the head to David hoping to be rewarded for eliminating David's rival. Mephibosheth will reappear in chapter 9.
4:9-12 David justly pays them back for killing an innocent man, whom he calls “righteous,” by removing them from the earth. David is intent on God placing him on the throne and on not doing anything that would politically alienate the ten tribes.
Application: The right objective done the wrong way is still wrong. Developing an accurate and fluent knowledge of God's word, and cultivating a sensitivity to His Spirit, will keep us on the road to blessing.
Prayer: God, keep me from the folly of trying to do Your will my way. Amen.
2 Samuel 5 Doing the Will of God
6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here, the blind and the lame can repel you;" thinking, "David can’t come in here." 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. 8 David said on that day, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame can’t come into the house." 9 David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. David built around from Millo and inward. 10 David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.
11 Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house. 12 David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. 13 David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 14 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
Observations: 5:1-5 With Ishbosheth removed from the picture, the ten tribes acknowledge David as king, saying they knew all along that God chose him to protect and shepherd them. So why did they chose Ishbosheth? David is anointed (third time's a charm) and will rule for a total of 40 years.
5:6-10 David captures Jerusalem, also referred to as Zion and the city of David. He becomes greater and greater because God is with him. 1 Chronicles 11, written after the exile, gives a little more detail, highlighting the role of Joab: “6 David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general!" So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander.7 David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David.8 He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; Joab restored the rest of the city.9 David's power steadily grew, for the LORD who commands armies was with him.”
5:11-15 Hiram, the king of Tyre sends sends David trees and carpenters to build him a nice cedar house as a means of acknowledging and honoring David (please don't attack me). David understands that God has raised him up, not to benefit himself, but for the sake of the people of Israel. Civilizations advance when they have leaders who serve the people (rather than themselves), a rare and vanishing breed. See “Let's Play Civilization” in the sidebar. Some date Hiram's kingship of Tyre during the last nine years of David's rule, creating debate over whether these chapters are chronological or topical.
5:17-25 This is a great passage for understanding that the will of God is not determined by circumstances. Faced with identical circumstances (Philistines attack, spread out in the Valley of Rephaim) David inquires of the Lord for His will both times, and gets two different means of obtaining victory. Remember Satan can open (trap) doors. See Will of God on Truthbase.net.
Application: Experiencing God's will requires knowing it, seeking it, waiting for it, and doing it. Sometimes it's difficult, but totally worth it.
Prayer: Please guide me God, to doing the things for which You put me on this planet; keep me from doing the good at the expense of the best and acting independently of You. Amen.
2 Samuel 6 Retrievers of the Lonely Ark
6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled. 7 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 8 David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken forth on Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah, to this day. 9 David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, "How shall the ark of Yahweh come to me?" 10 So David would not move the ark of Yahweh to be with him in the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of Yahweh remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months: and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom, and all his house.
Observations: 6:1-11 David goes to get the ark from where the Philistines had returned it in 1Samuel 6. God had given explicit instructions about carrying the ark using the poles, and not touching it, under penalty of death (Ex 25:14; Num 4:15). God didn't say to use carts. When the oxen passed the threshing floor, where there was probably scattered grain, they might have stopped for a snack, causing the cart to lurch, and the ark to slide. Well intentioned, Uzzah reaches out and steadies the ark, violating the rule against touching it (unauthorized intrusion into the presence of God), and gets struck dead by God (cursed). David leaves the ark in anger and fear, but three months later comes to get it again, when he hears of how Yahweh was blessing the people where the ark resided. Enthusiasm and religious ritual are no substitute for obedience (as Saul demonstrated). The law put a big emphasis on worship being controlled by the word of God (emotion under the control of reason informed by revelation). Michal erred in the other direction.
6:12-19 According to the parallel account in 1Chron 15, David consults God's instructions for ark transport, and it is successfully carried (by the priests) to Jerusalem with great joy and celebration. After moving six steps without anyone getting killed, sacrifices are offered (by the priests) and everyone celebrates. It should be obvious that David didn't personally carry the ark, nor offer the sacrifices, since both acts would be violations of the law (remember why Saul lost the kingdom). 1Chron 16 tells us that on this occasion, David first gave a song of thanks to Asaph, which is also recorded in Psalms 96 and 105. David danced with all his might wearing just a flimsy ephod, which causes “Saul's daughter” (cx “David's wife”) Michal to despise his flashy dancing. David blesses everyone with dates and raisins (fertility motif) and all depart to their homes to continue the blessing celebration.
6:20 When David returns to “bless” his house, he is greeted with sarcastic “cursing” from Saul's daughter, berating him for exposing himself while dancing. She cared more about what others thought than what God thought, and effectually rebelled against her lord and the God who blessed and exalted him. Rather than demonstrating leadership on the home front by taking the initiative to restore the relationship, and bring Michal's thinking into a Biblical perspective so there would be unity, David fires back in kind, and rips the relationship further. Consequently Michal gets cursed by being barren for the rest of her life. There are bunches of resources on Truthbase.net for preparing, repairing and building marriage relationships. Start with mastering the Feast or Famine outline and the roles paradigm (under resources), and then apply the seven relationship principles, then you can live happily ever after.
Application: Our worship must be in spirit and truth, wholeheartedly responding to revelation with obedience rather than mere ritual, caring more about what God thinks than what others may think.
Prayer: God, You are worthy of every speck of praise I can give You, for Your redemption and blessing of me. I want to express my love to You with all my heart and soul; show me how I can live to be totally pleasing in Your sight, regardless of what others may say or do. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: God is working out a plan to accomplish His purposes, using frail humans who obey His revelation. He blesses their dependent, wholehearted obedience, and curses those who have a different value system, who don't know and do His will. He raises up leaders who seek Him first, to shepherd His people. There is no substitute for obedience, including good intentions and enthusiastic singing. The last half of Psalm 81 is vital to understand: God wants to totally satisfy us with His blessings, giving us the best the earth has to offer, yet, God lets us choose to eschew His plan and forfeit His blessings.
Us in a nutshell: We lose when we don't seek and do God's will. It's a simple concept that some folks just can't keep in their craniums. Their dumb desires do them in. We can enjoy the finest fruit of following God, when we have obedience as a priority. We enjoy domestic bliss by following God's instructions for relationships, and endure blight by not doing things God's way. We lie in the bed of our making in all areas of life.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
Resources for preparing, repairing and building marriage relationships.
2 Samuel 4-6 complete text
2 Samuel 4
9 David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 when someone told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?" 12 David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
2 Samuel 5
5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’" 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "Unless you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here"; thinking, "David can’t come in here." 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. 8 David said on that day, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame can’t come into the house." 9 David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. David built around from Millo and inward. 10 David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.
11 Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house. 12 David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. 13 David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 14 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19 David inquired of Yahweh, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?" Yahweh said to David, "Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand." 20 David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and he said, "Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 They left their images there; and David and his men took them away. 22 The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 23 When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, "You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them over against the mulberry trees. 24 It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall stir yourself up; for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines." 25 David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer.
2 Samuel 6
6:1 David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David arose, and went with all the people who were with him, from Baale Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name of Yahweh of Armies who sits above the cherubim. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 They brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5 David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and with tambourines, and with castanets, and with cymbals.
6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled. 7 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 8 David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken forth on Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah, to this day. 9 David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, "How shall the ark of Yahweh come to me?" 10 So David would not move the ark of Yahweh to be with him in the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of Yahweh remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months: and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom, and all his house.
12 It was told king David, saying, "Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that pertains to him, because of the ark of God." David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with joy. 13 It was so, that, when those who bore the ark of Yahweh had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. 14 David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 It was so, as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in the ark of Yahweh, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. 18 When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Armies. 19 He gave to all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed everyone to his house.
20 Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" 21 David said to Michal, "It was before Yahweh, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel. Therefore will I celebrate before Yahweh. 22 I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in my own sight. But of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, they shall honour me." 23 Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
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