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Ecclesiastes 1-3, 11-12 A Worthy Purpose

Bill Blurb: We'll just survey the major theme of the book in this post, and look at the individual chapters when we finish Proverbs.

Psalm 71:1-13 God's Our Rock and Refuge

71:1 “In You, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed. 2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn Your ear to me, and save me. 3 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 5 For You are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth. 6 I have relied on You from the womb. You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise You. 7 I am a marvel to many, but You are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth shall be filled with Your praise, with Your honor all the day. 9 Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails. 10 For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together, 11 saying, "God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him." 12 God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me. 13 Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me...”

Observations: 71:1-4 For being God's favored servant, David sure had his share of frightening times. It looks like God has forsaken him and his enemies are closing in. (71:9-11)

71:5 David bolsters his confidence in God by recalling that God has been his hope and help and source of praise from youth. Having a good foundation of trusting God gives him confidence to not only wait for God, but ask Him to turn the tables on his enemies (quickly please). We'll see how it turns out when we revisit the Psalm in about six months. Odds are, it will have a happy ending.

Application: We need to build an early track record of trusting God and praising Him for deliverance, so that when the stakes get higher, our hope in His salvation and deliverance also increases.

Prayer: Trustworthy God, I know that I can always rely on You to help and deliver me from those opposed to You. Be my Rock and Refuge, and give me a calm confidence in Your rescue. Thanks. Amen.

Proverbs 18:14-16 Sustained and Healed

18:14 “A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear? 15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.“

Observations: 18:14 When physically sick, one's spirit, as in emotional outlook, can sustain him/her, with hope or expectation of recovery. But, a crushed/broken spirit, doesn't sustain a person, but contributes to their demise. A crushed spirit can be due to sorrow/wound of the heart (Proverbs 15:13), or false hopes and dashed expectations. Some people view a wounded spirit as arising from bitterness due to real or perceived ill-treatment. The context is too limited to make a decisive determination of what causes the crushed spirit, but the solution is found in

Psalm 147:3 "He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds."

18:15-16 The discerning and wise weren't born that way, nor got there by accident, but purposefully sought knowledge, and continue to do so. The word for “gift” in verse 16 is usually used for an offering or present to secure favor, and not in the modern sense of talent or ability. However, having something to offer, such as knowledge, skill, wisdom, etc, does open doors, for those are things of which the great have need, and usually desire.

Application: Fixing our hope on God's providence, His help, and healing can sustain us through all kinds of difficulty.

Prayer: Great Physician, thanks for being the sustainer of my life and soul; make me whole, so I can serve You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Amen.

Ecclesiastes: Solomon is trying to figure out what's worth doing with his life during his stay on earth. It's a classic pursuit of a worthwhile purpose to give meaning and direction to his life. Both the quest and conclusion are little disappointing, especially for the world's wisest guy. The problem is that Solomon is looking under the sun, and it's not until he looks above the sun to the Creator, that life under the sun makes sense (a lot like Job). Solomon tries everything, to see what's worth doing, and concludes it's all vanity, a vapor, a meaningless chasing and grasping the wind. He should have been able to figure out what is good by understanding what God had revealed, but we know spending time in God's word wasn't Solomon's strong suit. (See posts on Dt 17 and 1Kg 11.) Then again, some folks learn best by experience; so for those who don't grasp principles easily, Solomon's pursuit yields some practical insights to spare them the folly of going down the wrong paths. For all his wisdom Solomon misses the secrets to daily and eternal delights which his father David espoused in the Psalms.

Ecclesiastes 1 What's A Worthy Purpose for Life?

1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." 3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, "Behold, this is new?" It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.

12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. 16 I said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." 17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Observations: 1:1-3 Since Solomon's thesis is that all is vanity, it might be a good idea to get a firm grip on it. Problem is, vanity is an elusive vapor, a breath, nothing substantial, and therefore meaningless. What does man gain from all his labor? He expends all his energy and comes up empty. There is no enduring gain or profit.

1:4-11 The cycles of life yield a pessimistic fatalism, far different from the joyful contemplations of creation in the Psalms and other Scriptures.

1:12-18 Solomon uses his great wisdom to the wrong ends, and rather than resulting in joy and peace and gratitude, he finds himself in grief and sorrow. God and His will isn't in the picture.

Application: Find out what's worth living for, and go for it with gusto.

Prayer: Gracious God, I thank You for revealing the paths to joy, peace, and prosperity in Your word. Don't let me fall into the trap of seeking it in the world, for that is a fool's errand. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 2 Pursuit of Power, Pleasure & Possessions

2:1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure"; and behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, "It is foolishness"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" 3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4 I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit. 6 I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared. 7 I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem; 8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. 10 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor. 11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

12 I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all. 15 Then I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity. 16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!

24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? 26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Observations: 2:1-11 Solomon takes all his wisdom and wealth in the pursuit of the three innate (pre-Fall) desires of power (security/significance), pleasure, and possessions in his futile quest for happiness and joy in life. And when he evaluates what he's gotten (1:11), he concludes “goose egg” :( It isn't worth it.

2:12-16 He does conclude that wisdom is better than folly, but meaningless in death (that's because he's not considering the possibility of laying up treasure in heaven).

2:17-23 So having everything he desires, he despairs of life, and hates it. Most people are caught up in the chase, and never consider if what they are chasing after will satisfy them if they get it (like a dog chasing a car). You probably don't have Solomon's wisdom, nor wealth, so what makes you think you'd do a better job of enjoying your attainments?

2:24 Solomon reaches a conclusion that is restated throughout the book, that there is nothing better to do than please God, because He is the one who gives the ability to enjoy food and drink and satisfying labor. Poor Solomon, he never quite figured out how to enjoy God.

Application: Pleasing God and enjoying Him is the path to satisfying pleasures forevermore.

Prayer: God, at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore; You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. May my ways be pleasing in Your sight, and my highest joy be abiding in Your presence. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 3 Time and Eternity

3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven...

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. 13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.

16 Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. 17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." 18 I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals. 19 For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?" 22 Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Observations: 3:1-10 There is a time for everything. We tend to cause ourselves problems by having our own timetable, rather than embracing God's timetable. We will always have time to do God's will. If you've sought God's will, depended upon His grace and prioritized your time to do it, then at the end of the day, you've done what God expected, even if some things are undone (unless, of course, you've squandered the time God entrusted to you as a stewardship, and done your will rather than His). For help see the Time Of Your Life Seminar on Truthbase.net.

3:11-15 God gives people a sense that there must be something more, yet they can't comprehend God's purposes, apart from Revelation. So Solomon defaults to just enjoying what life has to offer, but recognizes that such a path isn't satisfying. God has eternal purposes in what He does (such as attaching blessing to obedience and cursing to disobedience), which are irrevocable, therefore men should fear Him.

3:16-22 At this point you begin to wonder if Solomon had a little too much wine, because he isn't being too smart. He knows that there is eternity, and that God's purposes are eternal, but has a very materialistic view of the future. He ignores revelation, and the spiritual aspects of both the present and the future, and concludes that men and animals share the same fate. If that's the case, then all you can do is find pleasure in your work. He misses finding pleasure in God and in the future He's promised to those who are His loyal servants. Silly Solomon.

Application: A purely temporal, material mindset misses the present and future delights of a vibrant relationship with God.

Prayer: Eternal God, thanks that You created us for a relationship with You that transcends the death and decay syndrome of our world. Thanks that I can find pleasure in You, now and forevermore, regardless of my circumstances. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 11 Following Our Desires or God's

7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity. 9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12 Fear God and Keep His Commandments

12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; 2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened 5...and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher. "All is vanity!" 9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

Observations: 11:7-10 Solomon correctly warns that life is fleeting, so gather rosebuds while ye may, but know that God will bring everything into judgment. He suggests we follow our desires (like he did) but admonishes us to remove sorrow and evil, so we can better enjoy life. Somehow he misses the emphasis in the law (oh, he didn't read it) that the blessed and prosperous life is the result of doing God's will, and not our own. He never learned to rejoice in God as David did, so His view of God is mainly that of a judge, and not a joy.

12:1-7 It is wise to remember our Creator every day, because life is short, and then we die. Solomon seems more concerned with temporal desire being jaded than the eternal delights and joy in the presence of God. He recognizes that the spirit returns to God, but doesn't seem to understand that eternal life goes on. Perhaps he was so stuffed with the temporal, he had no appetite for the eternal.

12:8-12 Despite viewing life as a fleeting vapor, Solomon still taught the people wisdom, because that's what wise people do. In verse 12 he mentions what every good student knows.

12:13-14 He sums up his perspective of life under the sun with a final look above the sun. The whole duty of humans is to fear God and keep His commandments, because God will bring everything into judgment (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). That's the duty, but delighting ourselves in God should be our wholehearted desire.

Application: Decreasing our consumption of the temporal increases our appetite for the eternal and yields present and future joy.

Prayer: God, my ambition is to be pleasing in Your sight, by obeying You and living for Your desires, because that is my greatest good and highest happiness. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

The fact that there is nothing new under the sun, means that truth (our understanding of reality) can be discovered through our senses in any time or culture. The moronic and myopic view of some “scholars” that because Ecclesiastes has elements of Epicureanism and Stoicism, it must be influenced by them is ludicrous. Historically, it would have been the other way around, since Solomon wrote a over half a millennium before Greek philosophy hit its heyday. An alternative view is that most truth, (apart from the infinite realities which must be revealed by an infinite Being to finite man), can be observed and induced by those who observe and think, and therefore would be found where such individuals are found.

God in a nutshell: God is the Creator, and Judge of us and our world. He has eternal purposes which are realized during our fleeting time on earth. (What we do on earth echoes throughout eternity.) He's designed life to be imperfect and incapable of being fully enjoyed apart from dependently pleasing Him. He gives those who please Him the ability to enjoy what they have. He will judge everything that we do, both good (with accompanying blessing) and evil (with accompanying unpleasant consequences).

Us in a nutshell: We have limited time during our stay here on earth and need to use it wisely if we are going to enjoy it, and our future. We will not be satisfied, nor find enduring joy in merely temporal, vain things like power, pleasure and possessions. Our ability to enjoy such things is dependent upon pleasing God. Living for all this world has to offer is a vain and futile pursuit. It won't satisfy. Pursuing God's pleasure and purposes is the path to happily ever after, and a joyful journey along the way.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net
Wise Lessons from the Life of Solomon

Ecclesiastes 1-3, 12 complete text

Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 2

17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 18 I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. 19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? 26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 3

3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What profit has he who works in that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. 13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.

Ecclesiastes 12

12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; 2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain; 3 in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened, 4 and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 5 yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be in the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

2 Samuel 1-3 Life Isn't Easy for a Reason

Psalm 45:8-17 Bride of a King

Ps 45:8 (6 Your throne, God, is forever and ever. 7 You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.) 8 All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad. 9 Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.

10 Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house. 11 So the king will desire your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord. 12 The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor. 13 The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold. 14 She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you. 15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king’s palace. 16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth. 17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever."

Observations: 45:1-7 See this post for vv 1-7, in which the psalmist uses the imagery of a royal wedding (perhaps Solomon to Pharaoh's daughter, although he wasn't the warrior type) to contemplate responsibilities of God's people and the coming of the Messiah. The author of Hebrews uses verse 6-7 in Heb 1:8-9 to demonstrate the superiority of the Son, the Messiah over angels since He received a kingdom because of His righteousness.

45:8-17 This second half of the psalm shifts from the king to his bride, and gives her advice. John had this in mind when he wrote Revelation 19 about the marriage supper of the Lamb, but the application to Israel is obscure. Israel was the bride of Yahweh in a number of places (Hosea 1; Jeremiah 31:32) although she was largely unfaithful. The psalm has an application in OT times to encourage Israel to forget her past and look forward to the blessings He has to offer.

If Israel is responsive to Her King gladness and rejoicing and eternal blessings will follow.

Application: Fully embracing God and our relationship with Him is the only way to enjoy what He has to offer, which is far better than anything we could get ourselves.

Prayer: God, thanks for desiring a relationship with me; may I respond totally and completely to You, and bring delight to both of us. Amen.

Proverbs 12:17-23 Wise and Foolish Words

Pr 12:17 “He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies. 18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals. 19 Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary. 20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace. 21 No mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil. 22 Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight. 23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.“

Observations: 12:17-23 Those who speak and deal truthfully delight God, and He blesses them to encourage such behavior. Those who lie and deal falsely will suffer His wrath, because they are an abomination to Him. Our words, as well as our deeds, can wound or heal others. The wise person, who has the right objectives for their comments, and the right timing, builds up others so they can be blessed and experience God's peace. Sometimes it is wiser to say nothing even if it's true, if the timing isn't right. The one who just blurts out foolish words from a foolish heart, doesn't build up, but wounds. The wrong objective is to just say what one is feeling, without thinking of the other-centered implications. Those who speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) will have both a legacy and protection from God. Those who don't, will wish they had.

Application: Since words and works are reflective of our hearts, we need to be sure that righteousness (being rightly related to God and others) is the objective our heart embraces.

Prayer: Lord, may my words today be pleasing in your sight and the ears of my hearers; may they accomplish Your objectives and result in peace and blessing. Amen.

2 Samuel 1-3 God's will is rarely easy, since His objective is not to have something done, but to have His people deepen their dependence upon Him. He gets more glory (as do we) when His people trust Him in perilous times rather than just praising Him in peaceful times. Thus He allows or engineers difficulties to cause us to seek Him. The sooner we learn this truth, the easier the life of faith becomes. God's objective was not just to have David be King, or Israel be delivered, but to have His people live in loyal obedience to Him. These next chapters describe David's rise to the Kingship, which could have easily happened by eliminating Saul and all of his sons many chapters ago. However, God has lessons for us to learn, just like He did for David and company.

2 Samuel 1 Bitter-free Song of the Bow

1:1 After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and stayed two days in Ziklag; 2 On the third day, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head: when he came to David, he fell to the earth, and showed respect. 3 David said to him, "Where do you come from?" He said to him, "I have escaped out of the camp of Israel." 4 David said to him, "How did it go? Please tell me." He answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also." 5 David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?" 6 The young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him. 7 When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.’ 10 So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord."

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him. 12 They mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite." 14 David said to him, "How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?" 15 David called one of the young men, and said, "Go near, and fall on him." He struck him, so that he died. 16 David said to him, "Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’"

17 David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18 (and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar): 19 "Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. 24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"

Observations: 1:1-10 The Amalakite probably came upon Saul's crown and brought it to David, lying about the events, hoping to be rewarded for killing David's enemy.

1:11-15 David mourns the multiple loss and executes the liar on the basis of his own testimony.

1:16-24 David composes a lament for Saul and Jonathan, called “Song of the Bow” (a symbol of might). It's amazing that David is able to speak well of Saul, eulogizing him as the glory of Israel, loved and delightful, and the one who delivered and blessed the daughters of Israel. Unfortunately Saul's shield (protection) was not anointed, and it failed him. There is no hint of bitterness toward Saul, nor rejoicing that his persecutor had perished. This speaks volumes about David's ability to draw on the grace of God to deal with the difficulties Saul had caused him. Satan uses bitterness to ensnare believers who fail to forgive those who wrong them and acknowledge God's sovereign goodness in permitting the difficulties.

1:26-27 David gives greater praise for his relationship with Jonathan. The Scriptures are not hesitant to talk about sex as it occurs in various contexts. There is a word for sexual love (to know), which is not used here. The word for love in this passage is that of an emotional bond that is used of friendship, or of our love for God (Dt 6:5), or God's love for His people (Dt 23:5). It is specifically differentiated from sexual love in (Gen 29:20,32) There has not been and is not a breath about a sexual relationship between David and Jonathan, which would have been a clear violation of the Scriptures on which both men staked their lives (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Dt 23:17; Job 36:8-14). The essence of love is not self-centered eroticism, but giving/sacrificing of oneself in serving the needs and looking out for the interests of others. That's the kind of love God demonstrates toward His people, a covenantal loyal love, hesed. That's the kind of love Jonathan demonstrated towards David, in sacrificing his own right to the throne in favor of God's choice, and risking his life to encourage David in the Lord.

Application: If you can't fully forgive those evil peoples (especially those of your own family) who have sinfully wronged you, you need to roll up your sleeves and root bitterness out of your heart. Roam around Truthbase.net for more help.

Prayer: Father, I recognize that all You allow into my life is for my benefit; help me demonstrate Christlike forgiveness to those who've sought to hurt me, knowing that You have forgiven me. Amen.

2 Samuel 2 Two Kings and a Truce

2:1 It happened after this, that David inquired of Yahweh, saying, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" Yahweh said to him, "Go up." David said, "Where shall I go up?" He said, "To Hebron." 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron. 4 The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul." 5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, "Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this hesed/loyal love to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him. 6 Now may Yahweh show hesed/loyal love and faithfulness to you. I also will reward you for this goodness, because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them."

8 Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Abner said to Joab, "Please let the young men arise and play before us!" Joab said, "Let them arise!" 15 Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 They each caught his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called Field of Swords, which is in Gibeon. 17 The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, "Is it you, Asahel?" He answered, "It is I." 21 Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?" 23 However he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. It happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. 24 But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?" 27 Joab said, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother." 28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29 Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim. 30 Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred sixty men died. 32 They took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.

Observations: 2:1-7 David asks God if and where he should go. We frequently ask only the latter, and wonder why there's no answer. In Hebron, the men of Judah anoint David as their king. David blesses the men of Jabesh Gilead for the loyalty they showed to Saul, who had delivered them in his first victory. Their loyalty to Saul, David's enemy might be interpreted as hostility toward David, but he assures them that they did the right thing, and he is not their enemy. He mentions that the men of Judah have acknowledged him as king (hint, hint), but his diplomacy falls on deaf ears, as the rest of the chapter reveals.

2:6-11 Abner, the captain of Saul's defeated army (who should have stayed with Saul to the bitter end, but fled) appoints a puppet king, Ishbosheth. Saul's last son (1Ch 8:33). Ishbosheth means “man of shame” an upgrade or downgrade from his original moniker, Eshbaal “man of Baal”. God has specifically said that Saul's kingdom would not continue (1Sam 13:14) but Abner didn't get the memo.

2:12-24 A meeting between Abner and Joab, David's loyal chief of staff and army turns into a battle in which David's men mightily defeat Saul's men. Joab's brother was a casualty for his refusal to stop chasing Abner, who struck him with the blunt end of his spear, and unintentionally killed him in self-defense.

2:25-32 Abner and Joab call off the conflict so Israelites aren't killing each other.

Application: Just when we think it's smooth sailing, God raises an other storm to cause us to depend more deeply upon Him. It's not just about the product, but the process to get the product. Remember Jonathan won points for doing the right thing, but didn't experience the fruit of his loyalty (but the kingdom story still isn't over).

Prayer: Father, don't let me be so focused on short term objectives, that I lose sight of the bigger objective of why you have me breathing on this planet. Thanks. Amen.

2 Samuel 3 Wait For God's Justice

3:1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 2 To David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?" 8 Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman! 9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him; 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba." 11 He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. 12 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" and saying, "Make your covenant/alliance with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you." 13 He said, "Good; I will make a covenant/treaty with you; but one thing I require of you. That is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face." 14 David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, "Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines." 15 Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go! Return!" and he returned. 17 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, "In times past, you sought for David to be king over you. 18 Now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’" 19 Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast. 21 Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires." David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22 Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do." 26 When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it. 27 When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread." 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 The king lamented for Abner, and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies? 34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell." All the people wept again over him. 35 All the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun goes down." 36 All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 The king said to his servants, "Don’t you know that there a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evildoer according to his wickedness."

Observations: 3:1-3 In fulfillment of God's promises, David, the one blessed by God, gets stronger while the house of Saul, cursed by God, gets weaker. This theme is seen in the blessing of the fertility of David's wives, some of whom we hear about for the first time. God cites them positively, and since He makes no negative comment about them, neither will I.

3:4-21 Abner gets grief and religion. Ishbosheth gives Abner grief for taking one of Saul's concubines (who could bear an heir for the throne), and alienates the man who made him king. So Abner switches allegiance to David.

3:9-10,18 Abner acknowledges that Yahweh had promised the kingdom to David! An amazing admission for a guy who supported Saul against David and set up Ishbosheth as king against David.

3:11-21 Abner and David make a covenant, with the stipulation that David gets Michal, his first wife and Saul's daughter back. This gives the ten tribes, who are loyal to Saul's house, a reason to be loyal to David, since he is Saul's son-in-law.

3:22-38 Joab returns from a victory and hears of David's interaction with Abner (his military rival, and slayer of Joab's brother) and expresses concern that Abner will attack David. Joab sends a message to Abner and meets him at the gate of Hebron (a city of refuge) and kills him to avenge Asahel (although it looked like self-defense). David goes ballistic, asserting his blamelessness, and cursing the house of Joab and his father. David laments Abner like he was Jonathan, and experiences no political fall-out from the ten tribes. David exhibits great loyalty to God, but looks like he values his enemies over his loyal friends (and nephews). Joab, the mighty man of valor and action, apparently didn't learn from David the benefits of waiting for God to fight his battles and execute justice. By taking matters into his own hands, he got them dirty.

3:39 Zeruiah was David’s sister, and the mother of Joab, Abishai,and Asahel his loyal nephews (1Ch 2:16) and leaders of David’s men.

Application: Waiting upon God to right wrongs is usually the best course of action unless there is a clear command of God to do otherwise.

Prayer: God, grant me patience to trust in Your goodness and timing, and not usurp Your role in my life by acting independently of Your will. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God can arrange circumstances and move hearts to bring about His perfect will. His will is not just for us to get what we think we want or need, but to have us demonstrate dependent trust in His goodness and justice, expressed in obedience to His revelation. He blesses and prospers those who are loyal to Him, and eventually curses and destroy those who follow their own agenda. He doesn't make things easy for us, because He has better plans for our lives than we do.

Us in a nutshell: We tend to get bitter and angry when we are wronged and can't have our own way. Sometimes we succumb to the temptation to take matters into our own hands rather than seeking God's will and awaiting its fulfillment. This usurping of God's authority in our lives results in cursing rather than blessing.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Faithfulness with our Time. The outline is also at the end of the TOYL Booklet.

Saga of the Sorry Sluggard.

Rooting out Bitterness

2 Samuel 1-3 complete text

2 Samuel 1

1:1 It happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag; 2 it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and showed respect. 3 David said to him, "Where do you come from?" He said to him, "I have escaped out of the camp of Israel." 4 David said to him, "How did it go? Please tell me." He answered, "The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also." 5 David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?" 6 The young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him. 7 When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.’ 10 So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord."

17 David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18 (and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar): 19 "Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. 24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"

2 Samuel 2

2:1 It happened after this, that David inquired of Yahweh, saying, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" Yahweh said to him, "Go up." David said, "Where shall I go up?" He said, "To Hebron." 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron. 4 The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul." 5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, "Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him. 6 Now may Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them."

8 Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Abner said to Joab, "Please let the young men arise and play before us!" Joab said, "Let them arise!" 15 Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 They each caught his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called Helkath Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, "Is it you, Asahel?" He answered, "It is I." 21 Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armour." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?" 23 However he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. It happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. 24 But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

2 Samuel 3

7 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?" 8 Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman! 9 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him; 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba." 11 He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. 12 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" and saying, "Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you." 13 He said, "Good; I will make a treaty with you; but one thing I require of you. That is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face." 14 David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, "Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines." 15 Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go! Return!" and he returned. 17 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, "In times past, you sought for David to be king over you. 18 Now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’" 19 Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast. 21 Abner said to David, "I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires." David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

Joshua 1-4 Lessons for Leaders and Followers

Psalm 32:6-11 Mules Get Into Trouble

Ps 32:6 (5 I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.)

6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.

7 You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you. 9 Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you. 10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but hesed/loyal covenantal love shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh. 11 Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!"

Observations: 32:1- See post on Leviticus 16 for vv 1-5, on how to name your sin and claim forgiveness, so you can experience forgiveness.

32:6 According to the inscription, this is a “Maschil” or “instructional” psalm, the first of thirteen. The “instruction” (root of “Maschil”) appears at verse 8, the first element of the chiastic center, whose complement is verse 9. Those who are forgiven, need to learn to walk in the righteous ways that lead to blessing, then they will be surrounded by God's hesed. Then they will have the protection and joy which belong exclusively to the righteous and upright of heart. Those who are not receptive to God and seek Him, are like a horse or mule that need external restraint. They don't understand that their highest happiness comes from faithfully seeking God's ways and trusting Him to be faithful to His promises.

Application: If you embrace God's instruction, you will avoid sorrow and find joy; if not, you must like the taste of a bit in your mouth.

Prayer: God, help me not be a stubborn mule, but be quick to confess sin, and embrace Your truth; thanks that You want to surround me with Your hesed/love. Amen.

Proverbs 9:1-6 Take Your Choice

Pr 9:1 “Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city: 4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him, 5 "Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed! 6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."

Observations: Both personified Wisdom and Folly (Proverbs 9:16) issue the same invitation to the open-minded. Folly's way leads to death, Wisdom's to life.

Application: Feast on Wisdom's banquet and live without regrets.

Prayer: Infinitely Wise God, may I learn and follow Your wisdom in every decision I make today. Amen.

Joshua 1-4 After the death of the Mighty Moses, the miracle mantel passes to Joshua as God demonstrates that He is who He said He is, and will do what He said He'd do (Hebrews 11:6).

Joshua 1 The Secret to Being Strong and Courageous

1:1 After the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I give to them 3 I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. 4 From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

9 Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go."

12 Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying, 13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, saying, ‘Yahweh your God gives you rest, and will give you this land. 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock, shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valour, and shall help them 15 until Yahweh has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which Yahweh your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’"

16 They answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may Yahweh your God be with you, as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him, he shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous."

Observations: 1:6,7,9,18 All these verses mention the command to be strong and courageous, yet in different contexts:

1:6 to lead the people against a scary enemy;

1:7 to obey (adds the modifier “very” = exceedingly) - apparently it takes strength and exceeding courage or bravery to obey all that God reveals;

1:9 reminds Joshua of the basis of strength and courage: the God who commands both (along with not being fearful nor dismayed) is with Him;

1:18 The people exhort Joshua to not falter so they can follow.

Being strong and courageous is our job; it is not something God does for us, but it is ultimately a result of how we process our perceptions. (See Resources and series on Perception and Performance on Truthbase.net).

1:8-9 These are two of the most important verses for getting the most out of life, both materially and spiritually. Meditate means to “revolve in the mind” or look at from different angles. The purpose of meditation is application (do it). You think about how God's instructions can apply to different aspects of your life. See Truthbase.net or Digging Deeper (below) for Suggestions on Application. Then, as a consequence you get blessing, prosperity, and success. This yields the mantra:

Meditation is thinking through implications for applications.

1:9 follows verse 8 for a reason. If God commands us, it's doable. He provides the resources to make it happen, foremost of which is His word.

1:11 Joshua executes two tasks of leadership: planning/preparation, and perspective/vision. He prepares the people to get physically ready, but then reinforces the perspective they will need, namely, God is the one who will give them the land to do their job of possessing it (by driving out the pagan idolaters).

1:12-18 In this section Joshua takes on a key leadership task of problem prevention (particularly as it relates to personnel), by going to the trans-Jordan tribes personally and reminding them of their promises and obligation. They graciously honor their word to Moses and encourage Joshua to do his job courageously, indicating that anyone who didn't follow him would be “taken care of.” If only all leadership problems were so easily resolved.

Questions: Have you memorized Joshua 1:8-9?

Application: If you want to be prosperous and successful in all you do, memorize Joshua 1:8-9 and put it into practice.

Prayer: Mighty God, if You are with me, I have no need to fear; help me know and do Your will so I can be assured of Your protection and prosperity. Amen.

P.S. Did I mention you should memorize Joshua 1:8-9? Write it out (in your favorite version) on a number of post-its, and put them on your mirror, monitor, screen saver, refrigerator, remote control, kitchen table, dashboard, scale, phone, kid's forehead, etc. Review and recite it until you can write it out perfectly from memory. See guaranteed guide to Scripture Memory in TOYL on Truthbase.net. GT and the Halo Express has a kid's song for Joshua 1:9; I found this one on Youtube for both verses. If you know of others, please post them in the comments section.

Joshua 2 Spies Make an Honorable Deal with a Prostitute

2:1 Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, including Jericho." They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and slept there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, "Behold, men of the children of Israel came in here tonight to spy out the land." 3 The king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered into your house; for they have come to spy out all the land." 4 The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they came from. 5 It happened about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went, I don’t know. Pursue them quickly; for you will overtake them." 6 But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof. 9 she said to the men, "I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings Sihon and to Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 As soon as we had heard it, our hearts melted, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you: for Yahweh your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have demonstrated hesed/covenant loyalty with you, that you also will demonstrate hesed/covenant loyalty with my father’s house, and give me a true token; 13 and that you will save...and will deliver our lives from death." 14 The men said to her, "Our life for yours, if you don’t talk about this business of ours; and it shall be, when Yahweh gives us the land, that we will demonstrate hesed/covenant loyalty and faithfulness with you." 15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was on the side of the wall, and she lived on the wall. 16 She said to them, "Go to the mountain, lest the pursuers find you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward, you may go your way." 17 The men said to her, "We will be guiltless of this your oath which you have made us to swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which you used to let us down. You shall gather to yourself into the house your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. 19 It shall be that whoever goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood will be on his head, and we will be guiltless. Whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand is on him. 20 But if you talk about this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless of your oath which you have made us to swear." 21 She said, "According to your words, so be it." She sent them away, and they departed. She tied the scarlet line in the window. 23 Then the two men returned, descended from the mountain, passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, "Truly Yahweh has delivered into our hands all the land. Moreover, all the inhabitants of the land melt away before us."

Observations: 2:1 Rahab's was good place to stay while doing undercover work. For her commitment to God's people she and her family are spared in the upcoming destruction of the city (Joshua 6:17); she makes it into Faith's Hall of Fame - Hebrews 11:31 for receiving the spies by faith; and James uses her as an illustration of someone justified by her works for not betraying them. The biggest blessing of all is she becomes Boaz's mom, who marries Ruth, making Rahab the great-great-grandmother of King David, and an ancestor of the Messiah (Matthew 1:5)! Not bad for a self-preserving, unpatriotic, deceiving, prostitute. The truth does strange things to people.

2:9-11 God desires that His dealings with His people “evangelize” others. Rahab became a believer in the true God. She recognizes Him not only as the sovereign Creator (who sets the rules), but also actively involved in the affairs of men on earth. She then takes responsive action to God's revelation (worship) in switching her allegiance, and risking her life to be loyal to her God. Modern “believers” could learn a lot from her. She was then used by God to encourage His people.

Hebrews 11:31 "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace."

2:12-14 Hesed is covenant loyalty, faithfulness to what one promised.

Application: Those who develop an accurate view of God and take appropriate action live happily ever after, regardless of their past.

Prayer: Supreme God in heaven above and on earth below, may I demonstrate Hall of Fame faith in what You've revealed, and works worthy of Your blessing. Amen.

Joshua 3 Miracles For Those Who Walk By Faith

Jordan River is about a half
a mile wide when flooded.

7 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’" 9 Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of Yahweh your God." 10 Joshua said, "Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite out from before you. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man. 13 It shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap."

14 When the people moved from their tents to pass over the Jordan, the priests bore the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and when the feet of the priests who bore the ark had dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest), 16 the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people passed over right oppposite Jericho. 17 The priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.

Observations: 3:3 Usually you have to move from where you are to follow God. Sometimes following Him means staying put. So cultivate a relationship with Him, so you know His word, and hear His voice. Proverbs says getting wise counsel couldn't hurt either.

3:7 God gives the miracle mantle to validate Joshua in the sight of the people so they will trust him. Leadership requires trust, earned by knowledge and performance. It also involves selling people on change by demonstrating what's in their best interest, so having the best interest of others at heart, helps.

3:10 These are the same folks God told Abe about in Genesis 15:19-21.

3:12 They'll need these guys next chapter.

3:13 God didn't dry up the water first as in the Exit from Egypt. He first required faithful obedience, when they could only “see” the promise of God, and a swollen river. Biblical faith is always a response to what God has revealed. Faith is a step into the light of God's revelation, not ever a leap in the dark (that's Satan's territory). By the way, if you can “see” the outcome, it isn't faith. First you obey, and that brings into being what God has promised (Hebrews 11:1 “proof/evidence” is properly “reproof”, which means “to bring to light” or from our perspective, existence.). Belief after the fact is relatively worthless.

3:17 Not only did God part the water, He dried up the ground so their feet wouldn't get muddy (how considerate). If you're doing miracles, you might as well go all out.

Application: You have to take the first step of faith into the light of God's revelation to see the fruit of your faith.

Prayer: God of flooded rivers and dry ground, help me see the steps You want me to take as revealed in the light of Your word, so I may experience the consequences that glorify You. Amen.

Joshua 4 Making Memories

4:1 When all the nation had completely passed over the Jordan, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 "Take twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging place, where you will lodge tonight.’" 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared out of every tribe. 5 Joshua said to them, "Pass over before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder 6 that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’ 7 then you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’" 8 The children of Israel did as Joshua commanded...10 the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded...and the people hurried and passed over. 14 On that day, Yahweh magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life. 15 Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, 16 "Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan." 18 When the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before. 19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.

20 Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan 21 He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 23 For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you had passed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had passed over; 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.’"

Observations: Leaders help people remember their successes and progress, so they will be motivated for the challenges ahead. By building a memorial in Gilgal, people had a tangible record of God working on their behalf. Recall how long the Exodus generation feared God in remembering the passing through the Red Sea.

4:18 Note that the presence of God is what makes the miracle happen.

4:19 Gilgal might have been the same place where Abe built his first altar to God in Genesis 12.

4:24 God has broader purposes than just meeting the Israelites needs, or even fulfilling His promises. He wants the whole world to come to know Him, and His people to always fear Him. Unfortunately, God doesn't always get what He desires. He does however, get what He's decided will happen. Those are two different things, depending upon people's wills. Free will is one of those things He's decided or decreed to exist. Obedience is what He wants, but that's up to you.

Application: Remember what God has done for you in a tangible way (keep a journal, or heap up stones), so you will do for Him, what He wants, all of your days.

Prayer: Mighty God who does wonders, my I always remember to remember what You've done in my life, so I will fear to wander from Your presence, and others may see You through my life. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

SUGGESTIONS FOR APPLICATION

Although application is a natural outcome of Bible study, there are some specific areas to consider as you seek to make your study more personal and meaningful. The following questions could be used in applying Scriptural truths to your life:

1. FAITH - What does the Bible passage teach me about personal faith? What do I learn about God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit and my relationship to them? What specific truths should I believe? Why should I believe them?

2. ATTITUDES - What do I learn about good or bad attitudes? What are the results of each kind? What should be my attitude? How can I change negative ones? What do I learn about emotions? Is there help suggested for release from destructive emotions such as fear, worries, anxieties, hates resentments, jealousies?

3. ACTIONS - What should be my actions? Are there errors to avoid? Are there any actions which I need to change?

4. SINS - What sins are pointed out in my life? Are there some which I need to confess to God? To others? Which I need to forsake? What safeguards should I build?

5. EXAMPLES - What examples are there to follow? Not to follow? Why?

6. CHALLENGES - What are some admonitions/warnings which I should make my own? How can I follow these admonitions in a concrete way: In my relationships in my home? In school? In work? With others? With friends?

7. PROMISES - What promises can I claim for my own? Are there any conditions which I must fulfill in order to claim these promises? Are there any specific prayer promises to claim?

God in a nutshell: God offers success and prosperity to those who purposefully apply His word. He works through His people to reveal His might to the world so they have a point of contact in relating to Him (as with Rahab). [Seeing His might in a fearsome thunderstorm is impressive, but what's the next step of a relationship with Him? A whirlwind or His word?]. He wants His people to have a concrete and rational basis for their steps of faith (His word and works). He graciously accepts whoever observes His doings and comes to Him in faith. He requires us to exercise faith in what He's revealed, and fulfills what He's promised so we will continue to walk in the light of His truth, and fear departing from the way.

Us in a nutshell: We are offered the blessings of success and prosperity if we meditate on God's word so we figure out how to apply it to our lives. We are commanded to be strong and courageous and not fear nor dismayed. We need to be strong and courageous to take the steps of faithful obedience to what God has revealed, and then we will see Him do mighty things on our behalf. It doesn't matter how shadowy our past was, God wants us to walk in the light of His truth, and will reward our faith. If you don't believe that you can't please God

Heb 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Keep the Faith

Faith: Use it or Lose it

Perception and Performance There is a whole series on re-working your emotions, using Scriptural and psychological insights to apply Biblical truth.

Joshua 1-4 complete text

Joshua 1

1:1 Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. 4 From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. 9 Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go."

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 "Pass through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which Yahweh your God gives you to possess it.’" 12 Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying, 13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, saying, ‘Yahweh your God gives you rest, and will give you this land. 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock, shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valour, and shall help them 15 until Yahweh has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which Yahweh your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’"

Joshua 2

8 Before they had laid down, she came up to them on the roof; 9 and she said to the men, "I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and to Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 As soon as we had heard it, our hearts melted, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you: for Yahweh your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a true token; 13 and that you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death." 14 The men said to her, "Our life for yours, if you don’t talk about this business of ours; and it shall be, when Yahweh gives us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you." 15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was on the side of the wall, and she lived on the wall. 16 She said to them, "Go to the mountain, lest the pursuers find you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward, you may go your way." 17 The men said to her, "We will be guiltless of this your oath which you have made us to swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which you used to let us down. You shall gather to yourself into the house your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. 19 It shall be that whoever goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood will be on his head, and we will be guiltless. Whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand is on him. 20 But if you talk about this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless of your oath which you have made us to swear." 21 She said, "According to your words, so be it." She sent them away, and they departed. She tied the scarlet line in the window.

22 They went, and came to the mountain, and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had returned. The pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but didn’t find them. 23 Then the two men returned, descended from the mountain, passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, "Truly Yahweh has delivered into our hands all the land. Moreover, all the inhabitants of the land melt away before us."

Joshua 3

3:1 Joshua rose up early in the morning; and they moved from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. They lodged there before they passed over. 2 It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall move from your place, and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Don’t come near to it, that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way before." 5 Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you." 6 Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people." They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.

7 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’" 9 Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of Yahweh your God." 10 Joshua said, "Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite out from before you. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man. 13 It shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap."

14 It happened, when the people moved from their tents to pass over the Jordan, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people, 15 and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark had dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest), 16 that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people passed over right against Jericho. 17 The priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.

Joshua 4

4:1 It happened, when all the nation had completely passed over the Jordan, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 "Take twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging place, where you will lodge tonight.’" 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 5 Joshua said to them, "Pass over before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; 6 that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’ 7 then you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’" 8 The children of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as Yahweh spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.

10 For the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and passed over. 11 It happened, when all the people had completely passed over, that the ark of Yahweh passed over, with the priests, in the presence of the people. 12 The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them. 13 About forty thousand men, ready and armed for war passed over before Yahweh to battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day, Yahweh magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life. 15 Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, 16 "Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan." 17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, "Come up out of the Jordan!" 18 It happened, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up to the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before. 19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.

20 Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal. 21 He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 23 For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you had passed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had passed over; 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.’"

Ecclesiastes 1-3, 11-12 A Worthy Purpose

2 Samuel 1-3 Life Isn't Easy for a Reason

Joshua 1-4 Lessons for Leaders and Followers

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