2 Samuel 21-24 David's Swan Song

2 Samuel 21-24 David's Swan Song

Psalm 49:1-15 Wealth Doesn't Redeem From Death, God Does

Ps 49:1 “Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor together. 3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp. 5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me? 6 Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches 7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. 8 For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough, 9 that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption. 10 For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves. 12 But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish. 13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah.

14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. Selah.

Observations: The Psalmist ponders the prosperity of the wicked, exposing their foolish attempts to live beyond the grave by means of their wealth. All die, and face decay, just like the animals. Only God can redeem or “buy back” from Sheol (the grave), and He does redeem/save the upright from the grave, and gives them dominion and life over the foolish rich. The introductory verse 5 serves as a summary: there is no need for the wise and upright to fear death, a future awaits them, rather than the fate of the foolish rich.

Application: Work on being wise and upright, and you'll have nothing to fear.

Prayer: My Redeemer and Shepherd, thanks that Your wisdom not only benefits us in this life, but also in the next, so I have nothing to fear. Amen.

Proverbs 13:14-15 Spring of Life or Snare of Death

Pr 13:14 “(13 Whoever despises instruction will be destroyed, but he who fears a command will be rewarded.) 14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death. 15 Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.“

Observations: 13:14-15 Having just established in verse 13 that despising God's instruction results in destruction while fearing (being really really concerned about doing what is right in His sight, i.e., obeying) results in reward, the author elaborates with a couple of metaphors. The teaching of the wise (folks who've mastered Proverbs and God's ways and thus choose the right objectives in life) gives life like a spring. Those who have a good understanding of God's word (and follow it) experience favor. Those who don't understand, don't obey it, are unfaithful, and experience difficulties.

Application: How has God's word turned you from sin?

Prayer: Lord, help me understand and faithfully follow Your wisdom and avoid the snares of death. Amen.

2Samuel 21-24 The final four chapters of the book contain a pair of punishments for disloyalty (first and last chapters), arranged around a pair of listings of David's loyal men, which sandwich a pair of psalms in the middle (chiastic structure). When an author uses this structure, he wants to emphasize the content in the middle, David's trust in the Lord, and God's exaltation of him in response to that trust.

2 Samuel 21 Covenantal Curse Removed

21:1 There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, "It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites." 2 The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah); 3 and David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of Yahweh?" 4 The Gibeonites said to him, "It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel." He said, "Whatever you say, that will I do for you." 5 They said to the king, "The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel, 6 let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh." The king said, "I will give them." 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Yahweh, and all seven of them fell together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.

10 Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night. 11 It was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa; 13 and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that God was entreated for the land.

15 The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint; 16 and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being armed with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don’t quench the lamp of Israel." 18 It came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant. 19 There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, killed him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Observations: 21:1-14 The Gibeonites had tricked Israel into making a treaty with them during the conquest under Joshua (Josh 9). Apparently Saul had violated it, although the Scriptures don't record the specific account. Sometime in David's reign a famine ensued as the curse for Saul breaking the covenant (lack of fertility). The author of 2Samuel sometimes records events topically rather than chronologically, so it's difficult to pinpoint when this event happened. Three years into the famine David asks God why, and finds out the cause. The Gibeonites gruesomely demand the death of seven of Saul's descendents. David complies, sparing Mephibosheth, out of hesed to Jonathan, and the curse ends with the blessing of rain. David notes the loyalty of Rizpah to her sons, and he takes care of the bones of Saul and Jonathan, demonstrating again his hesed to Jonathan.

21:15-22 This account of the death of four giants underscore the loyalty of David's “servants” in protecting the “lamp” of Israel.

Application: Disloyalty to covenant obligations results in cursing/death; loyalty to covenant obligations results in blessing/life.

Prayer: Lord, help me be loyal to my obligations to obey and serve You, so You can bless rather than discipline me. Amen.

2 Samuel 22 Does God Delight in You?

22:1 David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 2 and he said, "Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; 3 God, my rock, in him I will take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence. 4 I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies. 5 For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 6 The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me. 7 In my distress I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears. 8 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. 14 Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice. 15 He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them. 16 Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17 He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters. 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 19 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.

20 He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands. 22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity. 25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.

26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect. 27 With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 28 You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.

29 For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness. 30 For by you, I run against a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. 31 As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God, besides Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God? 33 God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect. 34 He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places. 35 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of brass. 36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentle favor has made me great. 37 You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped. 38 I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. I didn’t turn again until they were consumed. 39 I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can’t arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet. 40 For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 41 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. 42 They looked, but there was none to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them. 43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad. 44 You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me. 45 The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. 46 The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places. 47 Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, 48 even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me, 49 who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. Will sing praises to your name. 51 He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows hesed/loyal love to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore."

Observations: 22:1-19 This is basically the same text as Psalm 18. It is the largest repeated text in the Bible (Deuteronomy being a summary of the law, not an exact repeat). It's probably worth ingraining its principles in our thinking. The salvation referred to is not the forgiveness of sins/justification (which is based upon believing in God's revelation about His gracious provision for our sins, which in the OT was belief/participation in the Day of Atonement, and in the NT, belief in Christ's atoning sacrifice on our behalf), but rather, the ongoing life of faith that trusts God for daily help and experiences His blessing/deliverance. David wrote it after being delivered from Saul and before Bathsheba, probably around the time of the Davidic Covenant (2Sam 7). David praises God because when he called, God answered, mightily.

22:20-25 The secret of how to get God to answer mightily and bless, is to have God delight in you.

Quick Question: Does God delight in you? (Why or why not?)

The reason why God would delight in one of His people is because of the personal experiential righteousness and faithfulness of the person. Contrast this with how God felt about Saul. This is an obvious point for those who read the Scriptures, but totally missed in the oral tradition of our day. As a result many people don't live to please God. God rewards us for the effort and work we've put into being righteous in His sight. If you don't totally buy that last sentence, study these six verses (and David's life) and see if they teach anything else.

22:26-28 The truth of these verses is almost as absent from the modern oral tradition as the section above, to which they are a corollary. God responds to people based upon their free-will choices, which would include decisions to believe, be faithful, obey, expend effort to do His will, do good works, etc. God changes how He responds, again based upon what we chose, to either repent or rebel, believe, or persist in unbelief. I don't like jumping ahead, but Romans 11 summarizes this concept neatly. If you want to stay in the OT, God blesses or curses based upon our actions (Dt 29-30). God has sovereignly attached the consequences to our possible choices; now we need to daily choose the right consequences.

22:29-51 These verses describe how God empowers and equips those who believe in Him so they can serve Him. They also combine human effort/responsibility in service and the life of faith. If you have time, go back over the verses and note what David does and what God does (and why each does what they do).

Application: If we want God to delight in us, deliver and bless us, then we need to do what is pleasing in His sight, there is no other option (22:20-25).

Prayer: God, I praise You because You make possible a life that is beyond the natural course of events and expectations; may I know, love, and serve You all of my days, as You desire. Amen.

2 Samuel 23 David's Swan Song

23:1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: 2 "The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me. His word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, 4 shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.’ 5 “If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire. (NIV) 6 But all of the ungodly shall be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand, 7 But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb..against eight hundred slain at one time. 9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away. 10 He arose, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil. 11 After him was Shammah. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory. 

15 David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" 16 The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh. 17 He said, "Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t it the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things. 18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. 19 Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn’t attain to the three. 20 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada...who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow. 21 He killed an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard. 24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; 26 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite 29 Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

Observations: 23:1-8 David's swan song reflects on how God had raised him up and blessed him beyond his dreams, even revealing His words and will through David. When one rules righteously in the fear of God, life is good. Otherwise it's bad (See Let's Play Civilization in the sidebar).

23:5 This verse is correctly translated in harmony with the immediately preceding and following context, as well as chapter 22, and the record of David's life and his psalms by the NIV, NASB, ESV, HCSB, NET, etc. The WEB, following the KJV and NKJV totally misses the point and translates it in direct contradiction to the main point David is making. It is because of David's righteousness that God has blessed him, and made the Davidic Covenant with him, ensuring an permanent legacy (which was a big deal in OT times). The grammar could go either way, so the translation needs to be made according to the flow of thought in the context (a skill which is sadly lacking in some translators).

23: The listing of David's mighty men and their exploits is also recorded in 1Chronicles 11. The interesting feature is how the individual exploits are recorded, and God gets the credit. It is He who energizes the sword they swing. Noteworthy is that Joab is not mentioned, although his brothers are.

23:15-18 The loyalty of the mighty men to David, God's anointed, is shown by risking their lives to get him a drink from the well at Bethlehem. David pours it out as an offering to God.

23:19-39 The diverse group that came together to accomplish God's purposes in preserving and promoting David is a good illustration of the principle that unity is found, not in the lowest common denominator, but in all striving for the greatest good, irrespective of personal background, practices, and preferences. This is applicable to marriages, corporations and churches.

Application: God will exalt and fulfill the desires of those who fear Him and are rightly related to Him.

Prayer: God, You are clearly the one who raises up and puts down people based upon how they obey You. May I value obedience more than any deceptive passing pleasure. Amen.

2 Samuel 24 Pick Your Plague

24:1 Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." 2 The king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, "Now go back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the sum of the people." 3 Joab said to the king, "Now may Yahweh your God add to the people, however many they may be, one hundred times; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" 4 Notwithstanding, the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the army. Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. 8 So when they had gone back and forth through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 10 David’s heart struck him after that he had numbered the people. David said to Yahweh, "I have sinned greatly in that which I have done. But now, Yahweh, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly."

11 When David rose up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12 "Go and speak to David, ‘Thus says Yahweh," I offer you three things. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you."’" 13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, "Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now answer, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me." 14 David said to Gad, "I am in distress. Let us fall now into the hand of Yahweh; for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into the hand of man."

15 So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning even to the appointed time; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. 16 When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, "It is enough. Now stay your hand." The angel of Yahweh was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father’s house."

18 Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, build an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." 19 David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded. 20 Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 21 Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people." 22 Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood: 23 all this, king, does Araunah give to the king." Araunah said to the king, "May Yahweh your God accept you." 24 The king said to Araunah, "No; but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 David built an altar to Yahweh there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

Observations: 24:1-10 God's anger against Israel's sin results in Him prompting David to number the people over the objections of Joab and the captains. When a leader doesn't listen to wise counsel everyone suffers. Numbering the people was usually a prelude to military action, possibly due to an external threat. It looks like David was trusting in his military might rather than the Lord in the numbering. 1Chronicles 21 state that Satan (which can also be translated “adversary”) provoked David to number the people. So perhaps the chain of events is that Israel's sin, results in God's desire to discipline them, using Satan's scheming (or an adversary) and David's desire for power or security to bring about the calamity. David's heart tells him he sinned, and he asks God to put away/forgive his iniquity.

24:11-17 Nevertheless, God sends a prophet, Gad, with three options for punishment: famine, fleeing, or pestilence, and tells him to choose one. David reasons that falling into the hand of a merciful God is a less painful option than being chased by enemies. So God sends a plague. After 70,000 were killed (approximately three times those who died in Absalom's rebellion), God stops the destroying angel at Jerusalem. David repents again and asks that the punishment be upon him and his house.

24:18-25 God sends Gad again, with a message to build an altar and offer a sacrifice where the plague stopped. David hastens to obey, and refuses Araunah's offer of the animal and wood, saying that he would not offer God something which cost him nothing. The very nature of sacrifice is that it should cost us.

Application: Both sin, and service are costly, but God is worth everything we could possibly give Him.

Prayer: God, thanks that you forgive and relent when we repent; spare me from the folly of relying on my own strength or choosing foolish objectives for my life. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God takes covenants seriously, both those made with Him, and those made in His presence. He punishes covenant breakers with curses, deprivation and death. He blesses those who keep covenantal promises of loyalty (hesed), with fruitfulness and fulfillment of their heart's desire (the better choice). He gives people freedom to choose to be loyal or not, and sovereignly attaches consequences to their choices. He forgives and pardons, but doesn't immediately relent from punishment when we repent. He moves forces in both heaven and earth, as well as angels and men, to fulfill what He has promised. He raises up individuals to accomplish His purposes in blessing those loyal to Him.

As David said in 22:21 “Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands. 26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect. 27 With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 28 You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down. 29 For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness.”

Us in a nutshell: We have the opportunity to give God grief or glory. Delighting Him requires loyal effort, but yields the best life we could desire. Disloyalty and covenant breaking results in pain and death. We cannot escape the consequences of our actions. Being rightly related to God and equipped by Him still requires dependent trust in His protection and empowerment. As David said in 22:22 “For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity. 25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.”

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

2Samuel complete text

2 Samuel 21

21:1 There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, "It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites." 2 The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah); 3 and David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of Yahweh?" 4 The Gibeonites said to him, "It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel." He said, "Whatever you say, that will I do for you." 5 They said to the king, "The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel, 6 let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh." The king said, "I will give them." 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Yahweh, and all seven of them fell together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.

10 Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night. 11 It was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa; 13 and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that God was entreated for the land.

15 The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint; 16 and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being armed with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don’t quench the lamp of Israel." 18 It came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant. 19 There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, killed him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

2 Samuel 22

22:1 David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

2 and he said, "Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; 3 God, my rock, in him I will take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My saviour, you save me from violence. 4 I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies. 5 For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 6 The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me. 7 In my distress I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears. 8 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. 9 Smoke went up out of his nostrils. Fire out of his mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it. 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. 11 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind. 12 He made darkness pavilions around himself: gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13 At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled. 14 Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice. 15 He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them. 16 Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17 He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters. 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 19 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support. 20 He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands. 22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity. 25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight. 26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect. 27 With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 28 You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down. 29 For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness. 30 For by you, I run against a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. 31 As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God, besides Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God? 33 God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect. 34 He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places. 35 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of brass. 36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great. 37 You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped. 38 I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. I didn’t turn again until they were consumed. 39 I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can’t arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet. 40 For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 41 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. 42 They looked, but there was none to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them. 43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad. 44 You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me. 45 The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. 46 The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places. 47 Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, 48 even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me, 49 who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. Will sing praises to your name. 51 He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore."

2 Samuel 23

23:1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: 2 "The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me. His word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, 4 shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.’ 5 Most certainly my house is not so with God, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he doesn’t make it grow. 6 But all of the ungodly shall be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand, 7 But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time. 9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away. 10 He arose, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil. 11 After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory. 13 Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" 16 The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh. 17 He said, "Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t it the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things. 18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. 19 Wasn’t he most honourable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn’t attain to the three. 20 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow. 21 He killed an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men. 23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard. 24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash. 31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armour bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

2 Samuel 24

24:1 Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." 2 The king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, "Now go back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the sum of the people." 3 Joab said to the king, "Now may Yahweh your God add to the people, however many they may be, one hundred times; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" 4 Notwithstanding, the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the army. Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. 5 They passed over the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and to Jazer: 6 then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; and they came to Dan Jaan, and around to Sidon, 7 and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beersheba. 8 So when they had gone back and forth through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

10 David’s heart struck him after that he had numbered the people. David said to Yahweh, "I have sinned greatly in that which I have done. But now, Yahweh, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly." 11 When David rose up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12 "Go and speak to David, ‘Thus says Yahweh," I offer you three things. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you."’" 13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, "Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now answer, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me." 14 David said to Gad, "I am in distress. Let us fall now into the hand of Yahweh; for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into the hand of man." 15 So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning even to the appointed time; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. 16 When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, "It is enough. Now stay your hand." The angel of Yahweh was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father’s house."

18 Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, build an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." 19 David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded. 20 Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 21 Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people." 22 Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood: 23 all this, king, does Araunah give to the king." Araunah said to the king, "May Yahweh your God accept you." 24 The king said to Araunah, "No; but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 David built an altar to Yahweh there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

2 Samuel 15-17 Absalom Rebels and David Runs

Psalm 47:5-9 The King is Exalted

Psalm 47:5 (2 For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He subdues nations under us, and peoples under our feet. 4 He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loved. Selah.)

5 God has gone up with a shout, Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praise to God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding. 8 God reigns over the nations. God sits on His holy throne. 9 The princes of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted!"

Observations: 47:1-4 See this post for vv 1-4, on exalting Yahweh the King who has prospered Jacob's descendants.

47:5-9 The psalmist praises God for His ascent as King over all the earth. In the first half of the psalm He is seen as the one who subdues their enemies under them. In the second half He is envisioned as reigning over the nations from His holy throne, in Jerusalem, in fulfillment of the promises to Abraham (Gen 12). The rulers of the nations/peoples will be the people of the God of Abraham. His rule will bless the entire earth in the future, and at that time He will be greatly exalted, which is His purpose in creation. God will be exalted and seen as ruler over all; we don't yet see this (Hebrews 2:8) but we will.

Application: Just because we don't see the immediate fulfillment of God's promises doesn't mean they won't happen; trust the God who will do what He's promised.

Prayer: My God, thanks for the victories You've brought about in my life, may I never doubt the total and complete fulfillment of all You've promised. Amen.

Proverbs 13:10 Path to Peace and Intimacy

Pr 13:10 “ Pride only breeds quarrels, but with the well-advised is wisdom.“

Observations: 13:10 The proud sinner has to have things their way, and they fight until they get it, doing the devil's will. The humble seeks advice in the fear of God, gaining wisdom (the right, God-glorifying objectives) and a lower blood pressure. James elaborates on this theme of how prideful desires are demonic and alienate us from both God and others.

James 3:13 Who is wise...show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition...15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive/willing to yield...4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 6 “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. (NIV)

Application: Humbly seeking God's will rather than our own results in doing the right thing and peace.

Prayer: Lord, may my worth and value come from seeking and doing Your will, and not from arrogantly insisting upon my own way. Amen.

2 Samuel 15-17 David fails to faithfully exercise the authority God gave him to judge Israel. As a result, a vacuum was created into which Absalom stepped, and he stole the hearts of Israel. David reaps the promised consequences of his sins, yet God still watches out for him. Friends and foes combine to work out God's plan to judge evil behavior and bless righteous behavior.

2 Samuel 15 Absalom Absconds with the Hearts of Israel

15:1 It happened after this, that Absalom prepared a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. It was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, "What city are you from?" He said, "Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel." 3 Absalom said to him, "Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you." 4 Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!" 5 It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. 6 Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 It happened at the end of four years, that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’" 9 The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose, and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’" 11 Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything. 12 Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 A messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom." 14 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom. Make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword." 15 The king’s servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses." 16 The king went forth, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house. 17 The king went forth, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak. 18 All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile. Return to your own place. 20 Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Hesed/covenantal loyalty and faithfulness be with you." 21 Ittai answered the king, and said, "As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall is, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be." 22 David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him. 23 All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

24 Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people finished passing out of the city. 25 The king said to Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation; 26 but if he say thus, ‘I have no delight in you’; behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him." 27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me." 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem; and they stayed there. 30 David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31 Someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." David said, "Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." 32 It happened that when David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head. 33 David said to him, "If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me; 34 but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’ 35 Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear." 37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Observations: 15:1-6 David didn't do a good job of exercising oversight and executing judgment as shown in the years he neglected bringing Absalom back into relationship, and way in which Absalom was able to sway the heart of the Israelites. To steal their affection from David, who had made their survival and prosperity possible says much about both the fickleness of Israel and the failure of David. He was occupying his lazy-boy recliner, and not the throne. Just as David failed to carry out his kingly responsibility to lead the army and fell with Bathsheba, so now, he reaps the consequences of failing to be the shepherd and judge of Israel.

15:7-12 Deceit is a hoofmark of the devil, as is rebellion. Absalom is guilty of both in usurping the throne.

15:13-23 David, the slayer of Goliath and subduer of the Philistines, flees, rather than rely on God to protect and deliver him as he had in the past. The moral compromise with Bathsheba undermined his confidence in God. In contrast, Ittai, a foreigner like Ruth, demonstrates the kind of trust and commintment that David used to have. He will eventually reap the reward of faithfulness (18:2).

15:24-37 David sends Zadok and the ark back into the city in the hopes that God will look with favor upon him. On the Mount of Olives, David prays specifically that God will bring the counsel of his former adviser, Ahithophel, to naught. He sends Hushai as an undercover spy to undermine the counsel of Ahithophel.

Application: Neglecting God given responsibility, especially on the home front, results in ruin.

Prayer: All-wise God, show me where I might not be fulfilling the responsibilities You've entrusted to me, so I may repent and reform. Thanks. Amen.

2 Samuel 16 Friends and Foes

16:1 When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 The king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 The king said, "Where is your master’s son?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’" 4 Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours." Ziba said, "I do obeisance. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king."

5 When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came. 6 He cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 Shimei said when he cursed, "Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow! 8 Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!" 9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head." 10 The king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, ‘Curse David’; who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’" 11 David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, "Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him. 12 It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will repay me good for the cursing of me today." 13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, threw stones at him, and threw dust. 14 The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.

15 Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 It happened, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" 17 Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?" 18 Hushai said to Absalom, "No; but whomever Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him I will stay. 19 Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence." 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel what we shall do." 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father’s concubines, that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong." 22 So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

Observations: 16:1-5 David meets Ziba who demonstrates hesed, and when asked, tells David how Mephibosheth is disloyal. David gives all that Mephibosheth has to Ziba. 2Sam 19:24-30 tells another story about Mephibosheth's loyalty, the true one. David was too quick to believe the bad report and act on it, perhaps influenced by kindness in his time of distress.

16:6-14 David responds well to another member of Saul's house, Shimei, who curses him for being a man of blood, and destroying Saul's house (not exactly the facts, another hoofprint of the devil). David knows the cursing is unjust, yet doesn't retaliate, hoping that God will notice and bless him instead.

16:15-23 Ahithophel's counsel to sleep with David's remaining concubines fulfills one of the judgments of God against David for sinning with Bathsheba in secret. God is using the rebellion of Absalom, the ingratitude and faithlessness of Israel, and the schemes of Satan to bring about His purposes, and fulfill His promise to judge David for His sin.

Application: There is no limit to what God can do, or whom He can use to bring about His purposes. People can bless or curse, but God orchestrates everything to give us the consequences we've earned.

Prayer: God, let me not put undue confidence in friends, nor fail to learn the lessons You intend from my enemies; in all, may I recognize Your hand at work. Amen.

2 Samuel 17 Conflicting Counsel

17:1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight. 2 I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him shall flee. I will strike the king only; 3 and I will bring back all the people to you. The man whom you seek is as if all returned. All the people shall be in peace." 4 The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. 5 Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says." 6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, "Ahithophel has spoken like this. Shall we do what he says? If not, speak up." 7 Hushai said to Absalom, "The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good." 8 Hushai said moreover, "You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 9 Behold, he is now hidden in some pit, or in some other place. It will happen, when some of them have fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’ 10 Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person. 12 So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not leave so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he be gone into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there isn’t one small stone found there." 14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For Yahweh had purposed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have counseled this way. 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’" 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David. For they might not be seen to come into the city. 18 But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there. 19 The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out bruised grain on it; and nothing was known. 20 Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman said to them, "They have gone over the brook of water." When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 It happened, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, "Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you." 22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.

23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and went home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father. 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 27 It happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, roasted grain, 29 honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat: for they said, "The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness."

Observations: 17:1-14 Despite the fact that Ahithophel's counsel was like “an oracle of God” (16:24), Hushai is able to overturn it as David prayed. This was because God was working out His plan to bring judgment upon Absalom, who didn't bother to inquire of God.

17:15-22 Reminiscent of Rahab's hiding of the spies, David's spies get protection as well, and so do David and his men.

17:23 Ahithophel probably foresaw that since his counsel was not followed, Absalom would be defeated, and those who deserted David to aid him were as good as dead.

17:24 Absalom and all Israel went after David, according to Hushai's “bad” counsel. David gets blessed in finding loyal support from Machir and others who had sheltered Mephibosheth when David showed hesed to him for Jonathan's sake (9:4).

Application: God is able to overturn the wise plans of men to bring about His purposes, so it makes sense to seek His counsel first and foremost.

Prayer: God, thanks that You can guide me toward what's best, and thwart the plans of the wicked. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God can and does use multiple means to carry out His purposes to bless righteous behavior and punish wrongdoers, even though they may be His most choice servants. In the midst of judgment, He shows mercy, and raises up faithful people to bless and unfaithful people to curse. He orchestrates the free will choices of people to bring about His promised consequences. He overturns the counsel of the wise and adds persuasiveness to the lips of His servants to move people toward His desired ends.

Us in a nutshell: We reap what we sow; we lose when we fail to obediently do God's will, and we win when we obediently trust Him, even when reaping judgment for past sin. Failing to take proper action is as bad as actively doing what's wrong (sins of omission and commission). If we deceive and rebel against God's authority, we're doing Satan's will, and we can't possibly win in the long run, although in the short term appearances can be deceiving.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

2 Samuel 15-17 complete text

2 Samuel 15

15:1 It happened after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. It was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, "What city are you from?" He said, "Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel." 3 Absalom said to him, "Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you." 4 Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!" 5 It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. 6 Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 It happened at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’" 9 The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose, and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’" 11 Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything. 12 Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 A messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom." 14 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom. Make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword." 15 The king’s servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses." 16 The king went forth, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house. 17 The king went forth, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak. 18 All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile. Return to your own place. 20 Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you." 21 Ittai answered the king, and said, "As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall is, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be." 22 David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him. 23 All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

24 Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people finished passing out of the city. 25 The king said to Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I find favour in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation; 26 but if he say thus, ‘I have no delight in you’; behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him." 27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me." 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem; and they stayed there. 30 David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31 Someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." David said, "Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." 32 It happened that when David had come to the top, where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head. 33 David said to him, "If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me; 34 but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’ 35 Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear." 37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 16

16:1 When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 The king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 The king said, "Where is your master’s son?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’" 4 Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours." Ziba said, "I do obeisance. Let me find favour in your sight, my lord, O king."

5 When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came. 6 He cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 Shimei said when he cursed, "Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow! 8 Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!" 9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head." 10 The king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, ‘Curse David’; who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’" 11 David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, "Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him. 12 It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will repay me good for the cursing of me today." 13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, threw stones at him, and threw dust. 14 The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.

15 Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 It happened, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" 17 Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?" 18 Hushai said to Absalom, "No; but whomever Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him I will stay. 19 Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence." 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel what we shall do." 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father’s concubines, that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong." 22 So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

2 Samuel 17

17:1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight. 2 I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him shall flee. I will strike the king only; 3 and I will bring back all the people to you. The man whom you seek is as if all returned. All the people shall be in peace." 4 The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. 5 Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says." 6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, "Ahithophel has spoken like this. Shall we do what he says? If not, speak up." 7 Hushai said to Absalom, "The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good." 8 Hushai said moreover, "You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 9 Behold, he is now hidden in some pit, or in some other place. It will happen, when some of them have fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’ 10 Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person. 12 So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not leave so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he be gone into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there isn’t one small stone found there." 14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "Ahithophel counselled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have counselled this way. 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’" 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David. For they might not be seen to come into the city. 18 But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there. 19 The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out bruised grain on it; and nothing was known. 20 Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman said to them, "They have gone over the brook of water." When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 It happened, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, "Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counselled against you."

22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan. 23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and went home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father. 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 27 It happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, roasted grain, 29 honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat: for they said, "The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness."