Burunche’s Blog

2 Samuel 14:1 – 33 “Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for Absalom. So, Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time. Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.

When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell face down in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”

“What troubles you?” the king asked her. “Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead. And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the air as well!’ So, they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”

“Go home,” the king said to the woman, “and I will give orders on your behalf.”

But the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me and on my father’s house, and may the king and his throne be guiltless.”

“If anyone speaks to you,” said the king, “bring him to me, and he will not trouble you again!”

“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!”

“As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground. “Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?”

“Speak,” he replied.

The woman asked, “Why have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, since he has not brought back his own banished son? For surely, we will die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.

Now therefore, I have come to present this matter to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king. Perhaps he will grant the request of his maidservant. For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who would cut off both me and my son from God’s inheritance.’

And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’”

Then the king said to the woman, “I am going to ask you something; do not conceal it from me!”

“Let my lord the king speak,” she replied.

So, the king asked, “Is the hand of Joab behind all this?”

The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king says. Yes, your servant Joab is the one who gave me orders; he told your maidservant exactly what to say. Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.”

Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.” Joab fell face down in homage and blessed the king. “Today,” said Joab, “your servant knows that he has found favor with you, my lord the king, because the king has granted his request.”

So, Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must not see my face.” So, Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the king.”

Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw. And when he cut the hair of his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy—he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, (5 pounds, or 2.3 kg) according to the royal standard. Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.

Now Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king. Then he sent for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come. So, Absalom sent the second time, but Joab still would not come.

Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!”

And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.

Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

“Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.”

So, Joab went and told the king, and David summoned Absalom, who came to him and bowed face down before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.”

This passage is long but difficult to break up without losing the story. When David ordered Joab to place Uriah in the hottest part of the battle so that Uriah would be killed, he put Joab in a terrible position, fracturing Joab’s loyalty to him in the process. For the sake of the battles David and Joab have fought together, Joab remains somewhat loyal; however, he is beginning to transfer that loyalty over to David’s exiled son Absalom.

Joab arranges for a woman to present herself as if she were a widow with two sons, one of whom killed the other. If the clan were to kill the remaining son, this woman would have no heir and no representation left in Israel, so she is begging the king to spare her son’s life. When David agrees, the woman asks David why he has not brought Absalom back, since the circumstances are similar. David rapidly realizes that Joab has engineered this situation, but he agrees for Absalom to return to Jerusalem. But David feels that there must be some kind of punishment for Absalom having murdered his half – brother Amnon, so David refuses to see Absalom. When Joab refuses to get David to lift this partial ban, Absalom sets Joab’s barley field on fire, getting Joab’s immediate attention! Joab persuades David to reinstate Absalom, and David does so.

Did Absalom deserve reinstatement? No. Absalom murdered Amnon. But the whole situation is a mess. Had David protected Tamar in the first place, nothing would have happened. Perhaps David was feeling guilty for not having paid more attention to Amnon, so when Amnon requested that Tamar come, David granted the request. Obviously, nobody asked Tamar whether or not she agreed, but then, Tamar was only a woman. Once Amnon raped Tamar, David should have punished Amnon in some fashion; however, David did nothing but sit and fume. Had David punished Amnon, perhaps by banishing him from Jerusalem, that might have helped the situation greatly. There is never any indication that David troubled himself to meet Tamar or to comfort Tamar, even though she was his own daughter. Had David behaved like a truly loving father to Tamar, none of this would ever have happened.  

And then there was Absalom’s murder of Amnon. Was Absalom REALLY that upset about Amnon raping Tamar, or did he have other motives? Amnon was the eldest son and therefore, the natural heir to the throne. Amnon’s death would clear the way for Absalom to succeed David.

APPLICATION: David allowed Absalom to return to the palace and reinstated him as a sign of forgiveness. But Absalom had other ideas. God had already promised to spare David’s life; however, He also foretold that someone would drag David’s wives out and rape them publicly. It was Shakespeare who wrote, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” David’s failures as a leader and a father were beginning to bear bitter fruit.

We might look at the mess into which David’s family descended and question how such a man could possibly be considered “a man after God’s own heart.” But the plain fact is that all of us are human and none of us is perfect. Oswald Chambers describes us well when he says that we generally have “spiritual measles.” The meditation for June 12^th from My Utmost for His Highest says this: “God writes our new name only on those places in our lives where He has erased our pride, self-sufficiency, and self-interest. Some of us have our new name written only in certain spots, like spiritual measles. And in those areas of our lives, we look all right. When we are in our best spiritual mood, you would think we were the highest quality saints. But don’t dare look at us when we are not in that mood. A true disciple is one who has his new name written all over him— self-interest, pride, and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.”

David did a lot of things wrong; however, he repented and he truly worshiped God. Only God knows how much of David had his new name written on him by the time David died. One lesson to learn from David’s story is to guard your heart! David was anointed by God to be king and was given all kinds of success in battle. David became a very wealthy man, fathering a number of children. But David did not guard his heart, and that became his downfall. What happened to David can happen to any of us. Guard your heart!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to guard our hearts! If someone as close to you as David was can fall, so can we. Help us to follow hard after you all the days of our lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 13:23 – 39 “Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons. And he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired shearers. Will the king and his servants please come with me?”

“No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.

“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”

“Why should he go with you?” the king asked.

But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons. (Some sources add that Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king.)  

Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”

So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each one fled on his mule. While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left!”

Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar. So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him, along the side of the hill. (And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.”)

So Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have arrived! It is just as your servant said.”

And as he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.

Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. (Geshur was a kingdom east of the Jordan River and Absalom’s mother was a Geshurite princess.) But David mourned for his son every day.

After Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed there three years. And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.”

It sounds like a Bollywood soap opera! Ever since David’s son Amnon raped his half – sister Tamar and then rejected her, Tamar’s brother Absalom has been scheming to get revenge. If David had punished Amnon for violating Tamar, Absalom might have been satisfied; however, some sources indicate that Amnon was David’s first – born son, and David loved him so he refused to punish him. Besides, everybody knew that David had sent for Bathsheba in the middle of the night and had then forced her to have sex with him. Everybody also knew that David had then arranged for Bathsheba’s loyal husband to be killed in battle. At this point, even if David attempted to discipline Amnon, Amnon could have thrown David’s own misdeeds back in his face. David has no moral ground on which he can stand to discipline anybody at this point.

Absalom is shearing sheep and as tradition demands, he arranges for a feast and invites his father and the entire family. David sensibly replies that the entire court would be too much of a burden. Next, Absalom urges the king to send Amnon and his brothers and half – brothers. The predictable happens: Absalom gets Amnon drunk and then has him murdered. David’s other sons take off for Jerusalem. Meanwhile, somebody tells David that all his sons have been murdered. David is distraught, tears his clothes, and falls down on the ground in despair. But then Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, speaks up, saying that only Amnon is dead and that Absalom has been planning this ever since Amnon raped Tamar.

Hmmmmm! Where have we heard of Jonadab before? Jonadab was the same dude who gave bad advice to Amnon in the first place! Allegedly, Jonadab and Amnon were great buddies. When Amnon was lusting after Tamar, Jonadab was the one who suggested that Amnon fake illness and then beg David to send Tamar to fix food for him. Obviously, Jonadab knew what Amnon was going to do to Tamar. Now Jonadab is virtuously informing David that Absalom has been planning revenge ever since the rape took place. Jonadab is the very model of a politician, of whom it might be said that you know when he is lying and manipulating; his lips are moving. Jonadab is David’s nephew, and there may be some strong residual resentment among David’s brothers that God did not choose one of them to become king after Saul. Certainly, Jonadab has attached himself to the court and is now doing anything he can to maintain a sphere of malignant influence.

APPLICATION: What a mess! The prophet Nathan told David that the sword would never depart from his house and that God would raise up adversity against David from his own house. Now that prophecy has begun to manifest, and this is only the beginning. Things are about to get much worse for David’s household. When did Jonadab gain entry into the court? It’s possible that as long as David remained righteous and virtuous, Jonadab couldn’t gain entry because he felt the holiness of God in the court. But once David sinned with Bathsheba, that protective holiness was no longer there, and Jonadab slithered in to work his mischief.

Actions have consequences. Even when we repent, our actions will still affect all those around us, and the results will be horrific. David has ignored his responsibilities as a father and as a leader and has yielded to lust, abusing his royal power. Now David’s family is suffering. As I am writing this, the ministry of an internationally – known megachurch is unraveling. Nobody can tell what the final toll will be from the Hillsong Church scandals; however, the New King James translation for 2 Samuel 12:14 seems to apply. “However, because of this deed, you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” Other translations say, “you have shown utter contempt for the word of the Lord;” however, that translation fails to indicate the spiritual and emotional tsunamis that evil deeds naturally generate.    

There are many lessons for all of us in this story, but the chief one is this: You cannot sin in a vacuum. Your sins have consequences, not only for you but for all around you. There are moral absolutes, and when you violate those, things will fall apart, not only for you, but for your family and for those around you. May God help us to keep our eyes always on Him, so that we do not follow David’s example!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, every one of us can easily fall into the same traps that caught David. Help us to always look to You for guidance and not to be swayed by our own emotions or lusts. Help us to remember that our friends, our family members, and those we work with are watching us, and that our actions may sway them in a right or wrong direction. We pray in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

2 Samuel 13:1 – 22 “After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom. Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her.

Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man, so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”

Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’”

So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”

Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare a meal for him.”

So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked them. Then she brought the pan and set it down before him, but he refused to eat. “Send everyone away!” said Amnon. And everyone went out.

Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, so that I may eat it from your hand.”

Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom. And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come, lie with me, my sister!”

“No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! Where could I ever take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” But Amnon refused to listen to her, and being stronger, he violated her and lay with her.

Then Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that his hatred was greater than the love he previously had. “Get up!” he said to her. “Be gone!”

“No,” she replied, “sending me away is worse than this great wrong you have already done to me!”

But he refused to listen to her. Instead, he called to his attendant and said, “Throw this woman out and bolt the door behind her!”

So Amnon’s attendant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a robe of many colors, because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe. And putting her hand on her head, she went away crying bitterly.

Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.”

So, Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom.

When King David heard all this, he was furious. And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar.”

It’s a horrible story, but one springing from the problems of a polygamous household headed by a morally ambiguous father. Tamar and Absalom are siblings – same mother, same father; meanwhile, Amnon is a step – brother fathered by David but with a different mother. Amnon lusts after Tamar and finds a way to get her to come to him by pretending to be sick. Amnon sends for David, his father, and then begs for Tamar to come make cakes for him and feed him. Say what??? David must be a special kind of stupid if he can’t see what’s going to result from this request. This is the palace, and there are servants all over the place. Why doesn’t David ask some more pointed questions, questions such as “Why are you asking for Tamar to come, and why does she have to prepare the food in front of you?” Surely, David knows in his heart what Amnon is about to do. Tamar is David’s daughter, for goodness’ sake! What father is careless enough to allow his virgin daughter into such a situation? But David goes ahead to order Tamar to go, and Tamar has no choice. The result is a horrible tragedy for Tamar.

Even when Tamar finds out what Amnon wants, she urges Amnon to do the honorable thing, to ask for her hand in marriage from their father. But Amnon isn’t interested in a wife; he just wants Tamar and he wants her right now! Amnon rapes Tamar and then despises her because she reminds him of the sin he has just committed. Now Amnon throws Tamar out of his house as if she is the one who raped him, rather than the other way around. Tamar runs to Absalom, who shelters her but who hates Amnon for disgracing his sister. David is furious but does nothing. What can David do? Everybody knows what David did with Bathsheba; it was virtually the same thing that Amnon has just done, only worse. At least Amnon only raped an unmarried virgin; David raped a married woman and had her husband killed.

APPLICATION: It was one of the saddest cases I have seen. A beautiful 15 year – old girl came to see me with her head and face nearly completely covered. When I spoke with this young lady, she didn’t even make eye contact with me, an unusual thing in the local culture. The girl persistently hung her head down and spoke in a low monotone when questioned. What was wrong? This girl was from a small village with a single male school teacher. Nine months earlier, the girl’s mother had sent her to the school teacher, carrying food for his supper. Why did the mother do this? Perhaps the mother thought that the school teacher would fall in love with her daughter and would want to marry her. But instead, the school teacher had raped her and had then paid for her to have an abortion when she became pregnant. (This kind of thing happens frequently in rural villages.) The family had just now learned of the situation and wanted to make a police case of the incident. The family was demanding that I should do a physical examination on the girl. All that I could tell the family was that the girl was definitely not a virgin. Now this poor girl was traumatized, her life wrecked, with little hope for a better future, all because her mother was a foolish schemer.

Let’s be blunt! King David was a lousy father! Not only did David insist on satisfying his lust for a married woman, but he arranged for her husband to be killed. As a result of David’s misdeeds, his family and subordinates lost much of their respect for him. Given David’s horrible example, David’s son Amnon had no remorse about raping his half – sister. Why should he marry a half – sister when he might get more money by marrying some other rich young lady? Fathers are supposed to protect their daughters, but David set Tamar up to be violated. There’s no way that David was so naïve that he failed to realize what Amnon intended. So David was “furious” after the fact; big deal! Tamar’s life was still wrecked, and her brother Absalom now hated Amnon for the rape and David for facilitating it in the first place.

When Nathan confronted David over the incident with Bathsheba, David repented for that incident. But David failed to change his attitude toward his own children. For kings, fathering children was a mark of strength and power; however, that was the extent of it. David failed to teach his children, to guide them, or to be careful in his own actions so that he set a good example for his kids. As far as David was concerned, Tamar was just one more pretty daughter, but he did not value her as he should have. Poor Tamar!

Many of us have fathers who may have failed us in some fashion, and it’s tempting to be resentful and angry. But we have a Heavenly Father who is not like David and who does value us. We are not dependent on whatever our earthly fathers did or failed to do. We can turn to God and ask Him to make up the deficiencies.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us feel that our fathers have failed us, but we know that You will never fail, that You will always be with us. Lord, please help all who read this devotional to turn to You and to trust Your love. Heal the hurts and mend broken hearts. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 12:24 – 31 “Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So, she gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved the child and sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because the LORD loved him.

Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress. Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city. Now, therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise, I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.”

So, David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; and he fought against it and captured it. Then he took the crown from the head of their king. It weighed a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city.

David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.”

The first son David has fathered with Bathsheba has died. David has repented. (For David’s prayer of repentance, see Psalm 51.) Now Bathsheba becomes pregnant again, and the result is Solomon, the son who will eventually become king. The prophet Nathan carries a message from the Lord ordering David and Bathsheba to give Solomon a second name, Jedidiah, which means “Beloved of the Lord.”  You might be surprised. After all, David had Bathsheba’s first husband murdered. What is it about Solomon that attracts the Lord’s special attention?

The infant Solomon has nothing to do with David’s previous sin, and the Lord recognizes that fact. God wants Solomon to have a certain genetic makeup; evidently, Bathsheba and David together create a DNA combination that will result in one of the wisest and most intelligent men of all time.

Earlier, we spoke about the ripple effect of David’s sin. Here in Joab’s message, you can already see that Joab has lost some of his respect for David. Had David gone to the battlefield with Joab and the troops, he would never have seen Bathsheba, and Uriah would still be alive. While Joab might have been willing to murder Abner in revenge for Abner having killed Joab’s brother, it’s quite likely that Joab is very angry at being ordered to place Uriah’s life in jeopardy so that the Ammonites would kill him. Joab sends a message to David that is barely respectful: “assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise, I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.” David realizes that Joab is correct and takes the necessary action. The battle of Rabbah ends David’s wars against the Ammonites, with David putting the Ammonites to forced labor.

APPLICATION: Somehow, it almost seems unfair that Bathsheba should become the mother of the wisest king of all time, the king who will succeed David. Why couldn’t Abigail have become the mother of Solomon? Abigail is a virtuous woman. But God chooses Bathsheba. Perhaps Abigail and some of the other wives have already reached menopause or are not even alive at this point. We know that Michal is barren. Solomon’s mother has to be a full – fledged wife and not a concubine; otherwise, his kingship will be in jeopardy from the start. In addition, Bathsheba is innocent. In a time when the king’s word is law, any woman summoned to the palace has no choice. Arguing with the king would not only be useless but possibly dangerous. In some respects, Bathsheba and her first child by David are both victims of David’s pride and lust.

The story of Solomon’s birth should encourage any woman who has given birth to a child under forced circumstances. God blesses Solomon, even though Solomon’s father has sinned. God does not blame an innocent baby for the circumstances of his or her conception. Even if the circumstances of conception are difficult, God can still bless any child.

What is missing from this account? There is nothing to indicate that David is grateful to the Lord for his victory over the Ammonites; in fact, from this point onwards, we hear less about David’s psalms of praise. David’s sin has begun affecting his family, and things are only about to get worse. God has kept His promise and has not killed David; however, David is about to face far bigger problems within his own household.

What can we learn from this story? David repented completely; had he not, Solomon would never have been conceived. God can bless any child, regardless of the circumstances of his or her conception or birth. But sin will still have lasting and far – reaching consequences. If you demand that subordinates do something wrong to help you cover up your sins, they may follow your orders, but you will lose their respect.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, bless all children, no matter the circumstances of their conception or birth. But Lord, help all of us to realize that we are always before You and that no secret is hidden from You. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 12:1 – 23 “Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms and was like a daughter to him.

Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.”

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”

Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.

Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own, for you have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight. You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

“The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”

After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.”

When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he perceived that the child was dead. So, he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?”

“He is dead,” they replied.

Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

“What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.”

David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

DAVID FAILED MISERABLY!!! Forgetting his responsibilities as a husband to his current wives, as a father to his children, as a commander to his troops, and as a king, David abused his authority to have sex with the wife of one of his commanders, Uriah. When this act resulted in pregnancy, David corrupted Joab, the commander of his army, by demanding that Joab place Uriah in the fiercest part of the battle, so that the Ammonites would slay Uriah. Once Uriah’s wife finished mourning her husband, David married her.

If David thought that he had successfully covered up his sin, he was absolutely wrong! By this point, all of Jerusalem was probably buzzing with the scandal, and already other men were following David’s example to behave indiscriminately. After all, everyone knew that David had God’s approval; if David could get away with something so foul, then why shouldn’t others do the same?

Anyone who has worked for a large organization of any kind can tell you that leaders have no secrets. There are always subordinates who are fully aware of everything a leader does. Sooner or later, information regarding misdeeds will certainly leak out. God gave Nathan the prophet a stern message for David, couched in a parable. Nathan recounted the heartbreaking story of a poor man who had only a single ewe lamb that was as close to him as a child. When a neighboring rich man wanted to entertain visitors, he seized the poor man’s ewe lamb, slaughtering it to feed his guests. David’s sense of fairness came to the fore and he was outraged….. until Nathan confronted him with the fact that he, David, had behaved just as heartlessly.

Sin is never a private matter! The incident with Bathsheba began because David chose to remain in Jerusalem while his troops were on the battlefield. Had David accompanied his troops, all would have been well. Then David kept watching Bathsheba when he could have quickly left the parapet of the palace. David could have said, “Wow! That Uriah is a lucky man!” and gone back inside to his own wives. But David was seduced by the power of kingship – after all, other kings would have taken any woman they wanted, so why not David? David definitely did NOT pray over the matter, nor did he stop for an instant to consider the ripple effects such a sin might have.

Eventually, David’s act corrupted his own family, Bathsheba, everybody in the palace, and everybody in the army who knew about Uriah’s death. Because of David’s sin, his first son by Bathsheba died. Because of David’s sin, later at different times, two of his sons rebelled against him. Because of David’s sin, the sword would never depart from his house. And because of David’s sin, someone else would take his wives and have sex with them in broad daylight before all Israel. Truly, David fouled his own nest and created a terrible legacy for his family.

APPLICATION: Once birth control became widely available in the 1970’s, many people abandoned the idea of chastity as a virtue. The hedonistic philosophy of “If it feels good, do it” became popular, with many people chanting “I’ve got to do my own thing, man!” But the results of this paradigm shift have been disastrous. Nearly 50% of all marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. Many young people who have come from broken homes refuse to marry, feeling that it is a useless exercise. A divorce is like a death, only without a body to bury. The repercussions of divorce can last for years. (Note: This is not a criticism of those who find themselves divorcing. My first marriage ended in a divorce.)

One of the saddest consequences of these shifts is the loss of the understanding of fatherhood. While God created fathers to love, cherish, protect, guide, and provide for their families, many have been raised by working mothers trying to fulfill both roles. Frequently, husbands and fathers have either proven to be abusive or have decided that being an adult is too difficult or too boring and so have simply abandoned their families.  

When David invited Bathsheba to the palace, all he could think about was satisfying his lust. David wasn’t thinking about anything or anyone else. Even though kings were generally regarded as being fathers to their subjects as well as to their own families, this was the furthest thing from David’s mind. It was a supreme tragedy that this leader who generally placed a high value on his men and their loyalty could so swiftly betray a man who was later described as one of David’s “mighty men.” Uriah wasn’t just some common foot soldier; Uriah was one of the assistant commanders in the army. (2 Samuel 23:8 – 29)

The Jews had a saying that “the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” Like it or not, a father’s actions will always have consequences. Is it possible that David’s father Jesse had more than one wife, and that David was the son of a less – favored wife? Perhaps Jesse set a bad example for David as a father. Certainly, David’s record as a father was not stellar. David’s sin with Bathsheba and his later marriage to her created extreme resentment among his other children and led to the rebellions of Absalom and Adonijah.     

In Numbers 32:23, God warns those tribes who settled east of the Jordan that they must follow through with their commitment to help conquer the Promised Land. “But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD—and be assured that your sin will find you out.” What can we do about sin? We can confess to God, so that we can receive forgiveness.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, this morning we want to confess ______________ to You. Please forgive us for this sin and help us to turn away so that we do not keep repeating it. If we need to make life changes to avoid that temptation, help us to make those changes. Thank You for Your forgiveness. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 11:1 – 27 “In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his servants and the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. So, David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. And the woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

At this, David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So, Joab sent him to David.

When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing with the war. Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.”

So, Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.

When David was told, “Uriah did not go home,” he questioned Uriah, “Have you not just come from a journey? Why did you not go home?” Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!”

“Stay here one more day,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So, Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and he got Uriah drunk. And in the evening, he went out to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”

So as Joab besieged the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he saw the strongest enemy soldiers. And when the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of David’s servants fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.

Joab sent to David a full account of the battle and instructed the messenger, “When you have finished giving the king all the details of the battle, if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall? Who was the one to strike Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’

If so, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’”

So, the messenger set out and reported to David all that Joab had sent him to say. The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants were killed. And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.”

Then David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Do not let this matter upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him with these words.”

David Marries Bathsheba

When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. And when the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son.

But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.”

Yesterday, we described one of David’s most successful battles. Today, we must look at the worst crime David ever committed, acts so foul that it is nearly impossible to believe that he could have done something so terrible.

The whole things began very quietly. David should have accompanied his army to the battle against the Ammonites, but for some reason, he remained in Jerusalem. If David had been on the battle field where he belonged, this tragedy would never have happened. One night, David was strolling around the roof of the palace and saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, bathing. Bathsheba was gorgeous and David was bored and lustful. The result was an unmitigated catastrophe. David sent for Bathsheba and had sex with her that night.

When Bathsheba became pregnant, David was desperate to try to manipulate things. David’s first attempt was to get Uriah to return from the battlefield so that he could have sex with Bathsheba. If Uriah would just have sex with Bathsheba, then the pregnancy could be attributed to Uriah. But Uriah refused, even when David got him drunk. Eventually, David became so desperate that he arranged for Joab to place Uriah in the hottest part of the battle so that he would be killed. Once Uriah was out of the way, David married Bathsheba. Several months later, Bathsheba delivered a son.

APPLICATION: This story is one of the saddest stories in the Old Testament. This is David, who wrote in Psalm 17:3– 5 “Though you probe my heart,  though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.”

This was David, who had sworn that he was honest and that he would not plan evil. But David committed adultery and then tried to cover that up with murder. Whom did David think he was fooling? There were no secrets in the royal palace. Someone knew that David was up on that roof, and someone else had to invite Bathsheba to come to the palace that night. When David eventually ordered Joab to send Uriah to the hottest part of the battle, Joab knew exactly what David was doing.

We often focus on David as the central figure in this tragedy, but what about all those around David? David has a reputation as a righteous man, a man after God’s own heart. Everyone working with David knows that David is squeaky clean and that he will not tolerate any corruption. But what happens when a righteous person falls? What are the consequences for all those around him or her? To quote an earlier psalm of David, Psalm 12:1 “Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.”

David’s horrific mistakes marked everyone in the palace and everyone who worked with him, particularly Joab, the army commander. Once David’s sins were known, how long was it before others began misconducting themselves? And when if someone behaved corruptly, what could David say?

The story of David’s sins with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah finds its equivalent in recent events. Companies more interested in profits than in ethics have left disaster in their wake as they have fallen under the burden of their own evil. Political leaders interested only in expediency encourage those interested in their own schemes and welfare. David’s story must serve as a warning to all who are leaders of any organization. May God keep us from falling and taking our subordinates with us!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain humble and to continue to seek Your guidance so that those who work with us will be encouraged to follow You as well. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 10:1 – 19 “Sometime later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.”

So, David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.

On hearing of this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men. The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance to their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. And he placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue. Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

So, Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So, Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped. Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him. But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty-thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.

When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.”

George Santayana is frequently quoted as having said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Too bad that Hanun, son of Nahash, never learned that lesson. Somehow, David and King Nahash had become friends, perhaps during the time that David was escaping from King Saul. At any rate, David sent a delegation to honor Nahash upon his death. But Hanun, Nahash’s son, failed to ask his older advisors, who could probably have recounted the entire story. Instead, Hanun listened to presumably younger advisors who claimed that David’s delegation was actually nothing but a bunch of spies. Full of his own importance, Hanun chose to humiliate David’s peaceful delegation as much as possible, shaving half of each man’s beard, and cutting off their garments at the hips, so that their genitalia would be exposed. This decision would prove to be disastrous.

When David found out what happened to his poor delegates, he ordered them to remain in Jericho until their beards grew back. Presumably, they would have already secured appropriate clothing. In the meantime, the Ammonites belatedly realized that they had created a major mess for themselves, so they rapidly hired 33,000 Aramean mercenaries to bolster their own army. While those numbers might have been impressive, the mercenaries proved no match for the Israelites. The Ammonite army guarded the city gate while the Arameans were in the open country. The Israelites routed both groups, with the Arameans taking to their heels while the Ammonites retreated back into their capital city.

King Hadadezer sent for the rest of his army as well as Shobach, his commander; meanwhile, David gathered the entire army of Israel and met them at Helam on the east side of the Jordan. The Arameans suffered a humiliating defeat. David’s army slaughtered 40,000 foot soldiers and 700 charioteers. Even Shobach, the Aramean commander, died during the battle. At that point, the Arameans lost all desire to assist the Ammonites any further and made peace with Israel.

APPLICATION: The numbers in this story seem huge, but we must remember that climate change is not a recent phenomenon. Many of the countries that are now semi – arid supported much larger populations in the ancient world.

Why is this story included in the Old Testament? This story documents one of the most decisive victories David ever accomplished. But David was beginning to rely more on himself instead of God and to listen to those willing to flatter him. It is important to note that there is no mention of David having thanked the Lord after this amazing victory.

It’s incredibly easy to become a legend in your own mind! All that’s needed is a few major successes and you might feel that you can do nothing wrong. Did David make a mistake in sending a delegation to Hanun in the first place? There might have been more than one kings named Nahash; however, it was one King Nahash whose threats to the people of Gilead led to Saul’s first major battles. That King Nahash was threatening to rip out the right eye of every man in Gilead. Was this the king whom David befriended? We can’t tell.

God delivered David and Israel from the Ammonites and the Arameans, but David was changing spiritually, and it wasn’t for the better. Perhaps David was beginning to listen to too many of those ballads the people were singing in the streets.

There are several lessons for us here. Be careful of those with whom you form alliances. If God gives you incredible successes, remember that it’s God who is magnificent, not you. Tomorrow we will learn of David’s worst mistake, one that would blight the rest of his life.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that You are the One who gives success and protects us, and that it’s not because of our efforts. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 9:1 – 13 “Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
And there was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?”
“I am your servant,” he replied.
So, the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show the kindness of God?”
Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”
“Where is he?” replied the king.
And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”
So, King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell face down in reverence.
Then David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“I am your servant,” he replied.
“Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely, I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.”
Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.”
So, Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. So, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.”
David and Jonathan loved each other dearly, and Jonathan knew that God had selected David to become king instead of Jonathan’s father Saul. Even Saul realized that God had anointed David as king in his place. David had promised Jonathan that he would care for Jonathan’s family and later promised the same thing to Saul. 1 Samuel 24:20 – 22 “Now I (Saul) know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.” So, David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”

Consider Ziba. Ziba had probably gained great wealth under Saul. Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants and may have been farming Saul’s land on the sly, assuming nobody would ask any embarrassing questions. After all, the only surviving members of Saul’s family were a cripple and his young son. But things were about to change for Ziba. When David asked Ziba for information about those surviving members of Saul’s family, Ziba might have worried about what was to happen, but he had to answer the king truthfully. The upshot was that David invited both Jonathan’s son and grandson to join him at the palace and restored to Mephibosheth everything that belonged to Saul and to his house. In addition, David commanded Ziba, his sons, and his servants to work the land for Mephibosheth. (But don’t waste too much sympathy on Ziba; later on, he betrayed Mephibosheth. Ziba hadn’t survived for years because he was stupid.)

The name “Mephibosheth” means “from the mouth of shame.” Why anybody would give such a name to their son is the question. Perhaps Mephibosheth was born when Saul was still pursuing David, and Jonathan was ashamed of his father’s actions. Mephibosheth was lame in both feet, probably from a spinal injury he suffered as a child. The story is told in 2 Samuel 4:4. Mephibosheth was five years old when Jonathan and Saul died. When the news of Mephibosheth’s father’s death came, his nurse panicked. Grabbing Mephibosheth, the nurse was attempting to escape when she dropped Mephibosheth, injuring him. Despite this injury, Mephibosheth had fathered a son, Mica. Now David plucked both Mephibosheth and Mica from obscurity, seating them at the royal table and treating them like family members.

APPLICATION: The story of Mephibosheth and Mica could easily be made into a Hallmark movie. Mephibosheth was a helpless cripple from a displaced royal house. Most kings would have allowed Mephibosheth to suffer in poverty, depending on charity. But David was a promise keeper, and David had promised both Saul and Jonathan that he would care for any surviving members of their families. (The women of these families were never mentioned, apart from Saul’s daughter Michal.) Now instead of groveling in someone else’s home, Mephibosheth and Mica were living in the royal palace, enjoying the same status as members of David’s family, all because King David kept his promises.

The analogy is not original, but it is still valid. Each and every one of us is in a position similar to that of Mephibosheth and Mica. We have a sin problem, and we are helpless. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” There is nothing we can do to deliver ourselves from that problem; however, there is a heavenly King who has graciously done for us what we could not do for ourselves. King Jesus left his heavenly throne, came to earth to live as a man, and died a cruel death on a cross as the ultimate blood sacrifice for our sins. Because of that sacrifice, all those who believe on Jesus Christ will be saved from eternal damnation and will join Him in His heavenly kingdom. Just as King David took Mephibosheth and Mica into the palace and treated them as if they were his own sons, so Jesus will receive anyone who will believe on Him into his heavenly kingdom.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You for shedding your blood for us to save us from our sins. Help everyone who reads this to receive what You have done for us. Amen.

2 Samuel 8:1 – 18 “Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah (The name means “bridal of the mother city) from the hand of the Philistines. David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River. David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty-thousand-foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots. When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand men. Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze, and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued— from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people: Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.

God is giving David victories on every side, and David is extending the kingdom. In addition, David is collecting a great deal of silver and gold and bronze. Remember those things, because later on, Solomon will use this loot to beautify his temple in Jerusalem. If these conquests sound bloody, it’s because David had no choice. But notice that David is not multiplying chariots and horses, hamstringing most of the horses so that they can walk but not run. If you go back to the instructions for kings in the Law of Moses, kings are specifically forbidden from multiplying horses and chariots, a command that Solomon will later ignore.

God has promised to help David, and He is fulfilling His promises. But there are two sides to this covenant. David also must obey God’s commands; otherwise, he cannot expect God’s help. The most important statement is the description of David’s reign. David administers justice and righteousness for all his people and also selects high quality heads of departments. The only puzzling thing is the statement about David’s sons being priests. David is not from the tribe of Levi, so his sons have no right to become priests; moreover, later on, two of his sons will rebel against David, not exactly appropriate behavior for a priest. Nothing further is ever said regarding David’s sons and their priestly roles, so perhaps his sons are fulfilling minor assisting functions in the tabernacle.

APPLICATION: Proverbs 16:7 tells us, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” At this point in David’s career, David is being careful to please the Lord, and the Lord is bringing peace. If you are familiar with David’s story, you realize that later on, David becomes complacent and commits a grievous sin as a result.

How can we reconcile this verse from Proverbs 16 with Jesus’ assurance to his disciples that “in this world you will have tribulation?” This question is a thorny one, for many times, people assume that anyone having problems must deserve those problem. The answer is that we all have seasons in our lives when things go well, and other seasons when things become stressful and seem overwhelming. There are times when we are forced to take a stand for righteousness; and at those times, we can expect criticism and slander. But blessedly, there are other times when things become calm, giving us respite.

Whether we are facing affliction or whether things seem smooth, God remains on His throne and He is still in charge. One of the reasons David’s psalms have remained so popular throughout the years is that these poems reflect the struggles of a righteous and honest man. Some of the psalms were obviously written when David was in despair or when he feared for his life. David made no bones about demanding to know where God was and why God wasn’t doing something about his problems!

Psalm 69:1 – 4 says, “Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.

I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing;

I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.

I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head;

many are those who would destroy me— my enemies for no reason.”  

How’s that for despair? And these verses were written by someone God himself described as a “man after his own heart.”

Has God given you rest from your enemies? Praise Him! Do you identify with David, feeling that you are up to your neck in slime with no way out? Continue to praise God anyway. As David proved, God can and will deliver. Even if things are miserable now, God can still make a way for you out of your problems. Trust Him!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, there are many who are struggling with all kinds of problems. They wonder if You even exist, or if You exist, do You really care for them? Lord, make Yourself so real to these people that they will KNOW that You can give them everything they need. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 7:18 – 29 “Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O Lord GOD? What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. For the sake of Your word and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed it to Your servant. How great You are, O Lord GOD! For there is none like You, and there is no God but You, according to everything we have heard with our own ears. And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself? You performed great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt. For You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised, so that Your name will be magnified forever when it is said, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David will be established before You. For You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found the courage to offer this prayer to You.

And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”

Throughout the Bible, we may read lots of prophecies with Jeremiah, Isaiah, and others delivering God’s words in tones of thunder; however, there are very few times in the Bible when we get a glimpse of the relationship a man or woman of faith actually has with God. This prayer of David is one such time.

The prophet Nathan has just related all God’s incredible promises to David, and David is overwhelmed. What does it mean that “David went and sat before the Lord?” Perhaps David entered the tabernacle, but it’s far more likely that David simply went into a room by himself where he could be quiet and then addressed the Lord. David and the Lord have been meeting together for years in remote pastures on mountainsides, in caves where David was hiding from Saul, in Ziklag when David fled to the Philistines, and now in Jerusalem. The Ghanaians would say that the Lord and David “know themselves,” that they are comfortable together.

Notice the content of David’s prayer. David repeatedly praises God’s greatness and His power, describing the wonders that God has already done for Israel. Next, David repeats the promises that God has given him through the prophet Nathan. And finally, David begs God to confirm those promises and to fulfill them. Is David trying to butter God up or to curry favor with God? Far from it! David knows that God knows his heart. But David is quite conscious of the facts of his life. David knows how he started out as the marginalized youngest son, exiled to herding sheep. David remembers the chaos that ensued after Samuel anointed him and how Saul pursued him, hounding him so much that David actually hid with the Philistines for a time. David fully realizes that only God could have brought him this far, and now David is asking God to continue to hold him and keep him and his family.

APPLICATION: There’s a slogan written on Ghanaian busses, taxis, and tro – tro’s that reads “If not for God…” One of the most common Adinkra symbols in Ghana is the “Gye Nyame” symbol. “Gye Nyame” means “Except (for) God” and is a symbol of reliance on God. Psalm 127 tells us, “If the Lord does not build the house, they who build it labor in vain.” The Gye Nyame symbol carries a similar meaning. David fully realized that it was only God who had brought him and his family to this point, and only God would be sufficient to carry them into the future. Ghanaians would agree.

Each one of us can do what David did. Find a quiet corner, sit comfortably, and then ask God to join you. You may not hear anything or see anything, but you will soon feel the peace of the Holy Spirit. Speak to God just as you would to a close friend, knowing that He already knows your needs and the things that make you anxious. But don’t spend lots of time talking; instead, lay out your concerns and then quietly wait for God to speak to your heart. Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue. If you want answers from God, you must listen. Will God speak in an audible voice? Possibly, but that’s extremely rare. What God will do is to quiet your heart, to guide your thoughts, and to give you His peace. Once you have asked God for guidance, rest assured that He will give it.

A few nights ago, I awoke to answer a call from the hospital where I work. While I was up, God impressed me that I should call a friend in America who is facing surgery for herself. Recently, this friend’s husband was hospitalized with health problems. When I called my friend, I learned that she was considering postponing her surgery. As we spoke together, God impressed me that my friend needed to proceed with her surgery. As it turned out, my friend’s pastor, her husband, and her sons had already told her the same thing. But my call from Ghana helped her decide completely and have peace with that decision.

Proverbs 3:5 – 6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When we ask God for guidance, He will give it to us. God might even wake someone up at midnight to call you from Africa if necessary!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help everyone who reads these words to learn to sit before You and to wait for Your leading. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.