Burunche’s Blog

2 Samuel 24:1 – 25 “Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

So, the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.” But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So, Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to count the troops of Israel.

They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer, south of the town in the middle of the valley, and proceeded toward Gad and Jazer. Then they went to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi and continued on to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon. They went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to the Negev of Judah, to Beersheba.

At the end of nine months and twenty days, having gone through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem. And Joab reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah there were 500,000.

After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

When David got up in the morning, a revelation from the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: “Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’”

So, Gad went and said to David, “Shall you endure three years of famine in your land, or three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”

David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

So, the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and of the people from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men died. But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely, I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So, David went up at the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded.

When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” Araunah said.

“To buy your threshing floor,” David replied, “that I may build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”

Araunah said to David, “My lord the king may take whatever seems good and offer it up. Here are the oxen for a burnt offering and the threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all these to the king.” He also said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.”

“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

So, David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. (1.26 lbs. or 569.8 gm. Of silver) And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague upon Israel was halted.”

When the story opens, God is not happy with Israel. Perhaps the Israelites have wandered off into idol worship and have forgotten the God Who has helped them all these years. At any rate, God moves David to take a census. The Israelites have taken censuses at other times, and God has never said anything about it, so why is this census so wrong?

Rick Phillips from Tenth Presbyterian Church gives us an excellent answer. (https://www.tenth.org/resource-library/articles/why-was-davids-census-a-great-sin/)

“What makes this more interesting is that the chapter begins by saying that the LORD incited David to do this, apparently by giving Satan permission to tempt him. The parallel account in 1 Chronicles 21 says, “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.” The record in Chronicles places this right after a great victory over the Philistines, so the sin was probably related to a problem with pride and self-reliance. A census was preliminary to a draft of soldiers and a levying of taxes. It seems, therefore, that David’s intent was to increase the royal power in a way that contrasted with humble reliance on God. As Deuteronomy chapter 17 so strongly insists, the human kingship of Israel was to be noticeably dependent on God’s divine kingship. For Israel’s king to build up the same kind of power common to pagan kings was tantamount to repudiating God’s over-kingship. This seems to have been the nature of David’s sin so that God was angered and acted to nip it in the bud.”

Just because David worshiped God did now mean that David could not make big mistakes. Deuteronomy 17 advises that a king of Israel should do 4 things: 1. But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ 2. He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. 3. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold. 4. When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.  It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.“

The only one of these commands that David followed was the one regarding acquiring lots of horses. David had many wives and at least ten concubines. David was a very wealthy man. And David never made a copy of the Law or studied it for himself.

God gave David three choices: Israel could suffer famine for three years, David could flee from his enemies for three months, or Israel could suffer three days of plague. David chose the plague, and seventy thousand men died. Just as the angel of death was approaching Jerusalem, God relented. David saw the angel at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. “When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely, I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”

God granted David’s request and ordered David to build an altar on the threshing floor. Araunah realized what was happening and offered the threshing floor and the oxen with their yokes for the sacrifice; however, David insisted on paying full price. David’s words echo down the centuries. “I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David paid full price for the threshing floor and the oxen and their yokes and built the altar. God honored this sacrifice and the plague was stopped.

APPLICATION: Even though David was a man after God’s own heart, David was sorely tempted by his kingly power. What might things have been like, had David carried out God’s command and had he made a copy of the Law for himself and then studied it? Had David made a thorough study of the Law in the first place, he might never have called for that census and he might have handled many other issues far more wisely.  In many respects, David was a very good man and he did worship God; however, David was also driven by his passions, something that might not have happened had he been better versed in God’s Law.

There is nothing more important to one’s spiritual life than regular Bible study. The Bible is an amazing book, for the longer you study it, the more you learn from it, and the more it shapes your life and your personality. I began reading the Bible through in a year when I was nine years old; since then, I have read it through innumerable times. No matter how many times I have read a passage or even memorized it, I always find new insights and new meaning. When computers first became popular, there was a saying “GIGO.” This acronym stands for “garbage in, garbage out.” If you enter garbage data, you will get garbage results. Our minds work the same way.

“But,” you say, “don’t I need to be trained before I can understand the Bible?” No. Really, the Holy Spirit will gladly train you. The prayer you need for Bible study is from Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I might see wonderful things in your law.” If you ask God for guidance and help, He will give it.

David never really studied God’s law and his people and he suffered as a result. But we can learn from David’s mistake. Find a quiet place and ask God to show you where to begin. You will find God ready to meet you in His Word.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to realize that studying Your Word will rejuvenate us and will bring us hope. Thank You for so many versions that there is one that will speak to each of us. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.    

2 Samuel 23:8 – 39 “These are the names of David’s mighty men:

Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.

And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So, the LORD brought about a great victory.

At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

So, the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.

And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men. He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.

Now these were members of the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Hele son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.”

Sometimes when reading the Bible, we are faced with long lists of names. There’s a temptation to just skip over an entire list; however, if you do this, you are missing superhero stories! People make jokes about Chuck Norris, an American actor and he – man, being able to do incredible stuff. But these men really are heroes, even though their deeds sound like the exaggerated tales people make up about Chuck Norris.

First of all, look at that painting. If those guys walked into a biker bar, all the tough guys would get up and leave quickly! These men are battle – hardened and ready to fight at any moment. When faced with overwhelming numbers of the enemy, these guys have just plowed through them!

Next, notice that thousands of years after these men lived, we still know their names, their fathers’ names, and their home towns. We know details for some of the most outstanding exploits these men have accomplished. Such careful records are no accident. God has arranged for these records. God knows the valor these men have exhibited, and God continues to honor them in His Word.

When David was thirsty and longed for water from the well at Bethlehem, the three mighty men broke through the Philistine guard to bring back water from that well. David was so touched that he refused to drink it, declaring that this water represented the life blood of those men. Instead, David poured the water out as an offering in much the same way that blood from an offering would be poured out. This story says as much about David and why men were willing to follow him as it does about the men themselves.

APPLICATION: On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied forces stormed the beaches at Normandy. Nearly 10,000 of those men died that day, with 2400 of them dying on Omaha Beach. The Allied troops disembarked from their ships under heavy German artillery fire. In some places, Allied soldiers had to climb steep cliffs to make it past the beaches. Allied paratroopers met with varying successes and failures, with some of them being captured. But D Day marked a major turning point in World War II; the exploits of those mighty men paved the way for victory over German forces and liberation for those in Nazi concentration camps. The French people who were liberated were so grateful that they erected monuments and established cemeteries for those who had freed them from Nazi oppression.

What can we learn from the exploits of David’s mighty men? The great lesson is that God knows our names and where we come from. God sees us, our struggles, our feeble efforts to do the right thing. Even if we feel we have failed, God still gives us credit for trying. Perhaps you are stuck in a losing situation, one from which you feel there is no way out. You have taken a stand for righteousness and you have been smacked down hard! Now your job may be in jeopardy, and you may even be getting threats from those around you. Take heart! God knows what you are going through!

The Bible only records this list of mighty men; however, God keeps His own lists. Someday, your heavenly Father may remind you of these times of struggle and of how He has brought you through. God knows the names of all those who were involved in D Day on all sides. God knows those who performed bravely and those who accomplished wonders. Take heart! You are known! You are appreciated! You are celebrated! You are loved!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Thank You for brave men and women in every generation. You know our names and our particulars just as You know theirs. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Help us to be willing to do exploits when You lead us to do so. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 23:1 – 7 “These are the last words of David:

“The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob,

and the sweet psalmist of Israel:

The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.

The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me,

‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’

Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire?

But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand.

The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.”

After all the battles, after all the trials, after everything has been said and done, David is now giving us his final message. The words are glorious and inspiring, but we feel a bit puzzled. Is David’s assessment of his reign really true?  Yes, David is the son of Jesse, and God has anointed him and raised him on high. Yes, David is the “sweet psalmist of Israel.” But what can we say about the rest of these verses?

‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’ These verses can readily describe David’s reign prior to the theft of Bathsheba. After the vagaries of Saul, who took offense readily and acted on impulse, the Israelites must have heaved a sigh of relief when David ascended the throne. There is no evidence to support the notion that Saul himself ever truly worshiped the One True Living God. David, on the other hand, was a worshiper and people realized this.

“Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire?” In the beginning, David’s house WAS right with God; however, David’s theft of Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah, and the subsequent attempts at cover up have torn the fabric of David’s family. If David’s house is right with God, it is only because of David’s repentance and not because of his own righteousness. True, God has established an everlasting covenant with David, and eventually God will send his son Jesus, born of David’s lineage, to occupy David’s throne. But God will do these things out of His great mercy, keeping His covenant with David because He is faithful and cannot violate His own agreements. God will bring about David’s full salvation and every good desire for David, for his family, and for Israel.

“But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand. The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.” David seems unaware of how close his family and he have come to being raked aside as worthless! The only thing that saved David was that when the prophet Nathan confronted him with the enormity of his sin, David immediately repented. There is no record of David ever arguing with the Lord even once. The only thing that David did was to pray and fast, begging God to spare the life of the baby he had fathered with Bathsheba. When God allowed the baby to die, David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the temple and worshiped. (2 Samuel 12:20)

APPLICATION: Heading a family, an organization, or even a nation brings crushing responsibilities. The head of any group sets the tone for the entire group. At one point, we had the opportunity to chat with a highly – experienced teacher at a missionary training school. This man told us that he had practically never seen a church – related organization that functioned along Christian principles. Our friend observed that almost without exception, most Christian organizations worked just like secular companies. The difference was the commitment of top – level leadership. If the leaders at the top conducted business along Christian lines and enforced that behavior, the organization would exhibit Christian principles. Lacking that firm commitment, the group would simply be one more secular organization with a Christian name plastered on it.

The story of King David is one of triumph and tragedy. Close examination of some of the aspects of David’s life leaves us wondering how God could possibly describe David as a man after His own heart, but yet God did so. The royal throne of Israel was referred to as the throne of David, and Jesus is honored as having come from the house and lineage of David. Only David’s repentance made such a thing possible.

One of the saddest parts of David’s reign is this question: what might have happened, had David gone to war with his troops and had he never stolen Bathsheba? If God wanted David and Bathsheba to get together so that Solomon would be born, God could have arranged that. Uriah might have fallen in battle without David’s machinations and David might have met Bathsheba innocently after Uriah’s death. Then David’s record would have remained unstained, and David would not have left a horrible example for his family and others to follow. But when David sinned with Bathsheba, that sin triggered ripples throughout David’s family and the kingdom as well.

David was respected throughout Israel, and he served as a sterling example for others. Only God knows how many men may have used David’s bad behavior as an excuse to do something terrible themselves. Only God knows how many families were damaged as a result. We know that in the battle between Joab and Absalom, twenty thousand men died. Had David not sinned, those twenty thousand men would never have found themselves in the forest of Ephraim in the first place.     

The encouraging thing about the story of David is that David is portrayed as a flawed and sinful man, not as some kind of a super – star. If we are honest with ourselves, each of us can name long lists of sins that we have committed, are committing, or might commit in the future. David may have glimpsed what God was going to do for all of us. Psalm 110 is attributed to David as one of the songs that he has written. Look at the opening verse:
“The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” Huh? Who is” my Lord?” This can only be Jesus the Messiah to whom David is referring.

“God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but should have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Acting as a prophet, David knew that Messiah would surely come and bring salvation. That salvation is free for anyone who will believe in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all those who read this to believe in Your salvation and in Your Son Jesus. Thank You for the blood sacrifice for our sins that Jesus made on the cross at Calvary. Amen.

2 Samuel 22:29 – 51 “29For You, O LORD, are my lamp; the LORD enlightens my darkness.

30For in You I can charge an army; with my God I can scale a wall.

31As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

32For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?

33God is my strong fortress and He makes my way clear.

34He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and stations me upon the heights.

35He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36You have given me Your shield of salvation; and Your gentleness exalts me.

37You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way.

38I pursued my enemies and destroyed them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.

39I devoured and crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.

40You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.

41You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me.

42They looked, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but He did not answer.

43I ground them as the dust of the earth; I crushed and trampled them like mud in the streets.

44You have delivered me from the strife of my people; You have preserved me as the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me.

45Foreigners cower before me; when they hear me, they obey me.

46Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds.

47The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! And may God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted—

48the God who avenges me and brings down nations beneath me,

49who frees me from my enemies. You exalt me above my foes; You rescue me from violent men.

50Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name.

51Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

This is definitely a warrior’s psalm! The two main themes here are God’s training and provision for David and the victories David has notched as a result of God’s provision and training. David leaves little to the imagination as he graphically describes what God has allowed him to do to his enemies. “They looked, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but He did not answer. I ground them as the dust of the earth; I crushed and trampled them like mud in the streets.”

At first, we might be horrified; however, consider those whom David was fighting. Anyone who has witnessed full – bore evil can tell you that there can be no compromise. Evil that is not completely defeated will always resurface somewhere else, generally in a form worse than the original one. Jesus warned his disciples that if demons left a man and the Holy Spirit did not come in, the demons would multiply and return and that man’s final condition would be worse than it was originally.

(Matthew 12:43 – 45 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” David was fighting very evil people, people who worshiped demons of all kinds. In such situations, only complete victory will do.

APPLICATION: As I am writing this devotional, we are nearing the one – week anniversary of the school shootings in Uvalde, Texas. When interviewed, the mother of the 18 – year – old shooter could only say, “I’m sure he had his reasons.” My first reaction was disbelief! “Reasons?” What reasons could you possibly give that would justify the cold – blooded murder of even a single person, let alone so many children and their teachers? If the news media quoted this woman correctly, it suggests a long history of compromises and excuse – making with little regard for moral absolutes.

Perhaps this lady was a single mother who had struggled just to keep the family going; in such situations, there is little time left to teach children values. Fragmented families leave children increasingly at risk. While there has been a great deal of outcry regarding weapons, the press has been remarkably silent on the matter of excessively violent video games and movies that teach children how to kill and also teach that killing is just another form of keeping score. Evidently, the shooter even boasted on Instagram that he was going to kill kids.

Proverbs 4:23 advises us “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Even if we guard our own hearts, we must also guard our children’s hearts and teach them to guard theirs as well. In an age when even small children may have access to cell phones and the internet, such teachings have become critically important. Not long ago, there was a post on Facebook describing a mother’s horror when she learned that young boys were sharing pornographic videos by typing in the word “rape.” The parents of these kids had no idea what was happening.    

Recently, I taught at one church in our small town in rural Ghana, and part of my message centered around the need for us to guard our hearts. Even in our area, smart phones are ubiquitous, and people share videos frequently.

David was right! Only God can rescue us from evil and make the paths of our hearts straight. Let us follow hard after God and also teach our children to do so as well!

“47The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! And may God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted—

 48the God who avenges me and brings down nations beneath me,

49who frees me from my enemies. You exalt me above my foes; You rescue me from violent men.

50Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name.”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, You are the only One who can help us defeat evil! By ourselves, we are powerless. But You will rescue us from violent men. Help us to praise You and to worship You! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

2 Samuel 22:1 – 51 “1And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.

3My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence.

4I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

5For the waves of death engulfed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.

6The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

7In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried out to my God. And from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached His ears.

8Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.

9Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals flamed forth.

10He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.

11He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.

12He made darkness a canopy around Him, a gathering of water and thick clouds.

13From the brightness of His presence, coals of fire blazed forth.

14The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.

15He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.

16The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

17He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.

18He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, for they were too mighty for me.

19They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD was my support.

20He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

21The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.

22For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23For all His ordinances are before me; I have not disregarded His statutes.

24And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity.

25So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His sight.

26To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, and to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;

27to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.

28You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

David’s song of victory recorded here is also known as the 18^th Psalm. Because of its length, we are only studying the first part of this song. There are several themes here: God’s mighty power to save, God’s glory and majesty, and God’s faithfulness. The verses glorifying God are some of the most luminous and transcendent verses in all of the Psalms. David describes storms, floods, even tsunamis, as only someone who has witnessed these phenomena might do. Many of these verses have been turned into hymns and songs of praise ever since David wrote them. But there’s a problem.

This is a young man’s psalm. Why? David still has a very high opinion of himself. “21The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. 22For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23For all His ordinances are before me; I have not disregarded His statutes. 24And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity. 25So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His sight. 26To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, and to the blameless You show Yourself blameless; 27to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.” In the arrogance of youth, David is sure that his heart is pure and that it will always remain that way. David contrasts himself with Saul, without mentioning Saul’s name. Saul has been pursuing David, abusing power. David is certain that he will NEVER do something remotely similar. At this point, David is not yet king, so he has no experience with unlimited power and its seductions. Obviously, this psalm was written before David abused his royal power to steal Bathsheba and have her husband killed.

APPLICATION: There’s a line from one of the songs from the musical Fiddler on the Roof: “Life has a way of abusing us, blessing and bruising us!” David’s song of victory is wonderful, awe – inspiring, and can lead one into worship. But this song is also a bit smug. David is sure that he is never going to behave like Saul, not ever, ever, ever! And David is wrong.

David’s sin with Bathsheba, his assassination of Uriah, and his attempts at covering up start a train of destruction that blights his family for several generations. We don’t know exactly the depths of evil to which Saul eventually sank, but we do know that his persecution of the Gibeonites was so bad that God approved having the Gibeonites hang seven of Saul’s male descendants. But David’s sins are also many. The one difference between Saul and David is that David repents while Saul does not. God blesses and honors David for his heart of repentance

For those of us willing to absorb the lessons life teaches us, we will endure abuse, blessing, and bruising. And much of that suffering comes from our own faults. If we are honest, many of us can point to decisions we have taken in our youth that have left deep scars. And if we are honest about our own failings, we should be far less ready to make snap judgements and to jump to conclusions about others. The Ghanaians have a saying that “Just because you hear the sound of fufu being pounded does not mean you know the kind of soup they will eat with it.” Fufu is a starchy staple made from boiled green plantain, cassava, West African yams – any of these separately or in combination. Once the plantain, cassava, or yams have been peeled and boiled, they are pounded in a huge mortar. When someone is pounding fufu, everyone in the neighborhood can hear the noise; it sounds like a small pile driver. But fufu ingredients are cheap while the ingredients for soup can be very expensive, particularly if the soup includes meat or fish. You cannot tell the financial status of a family by hearing them pound fufu. For all you know, the family may be eating dried okra soup, which is quite cheap.  

God is the only one who really knows the human heart, and therefore God is the only one qualified to judge. The rest of us need to cut one another a lot of slack. Remember, if you are pounding fufu, your neighbor may think you are enjoying an entire chicken in your soup; meanwhile, all you have is dried okra.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to always praise You but also help us not to judge those around us harshly. You are the only One qualified to judge. Thank You for Your goodness, Your majesty, and Your grace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 21:15 – 22 “Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines; but David became exhausted. Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels (7.5 lbs or 3.4 kg) and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him.

Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

And there was still another battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him.

So, these four descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.”  

David and his men are fighting the Philistines and four giants from Gath show up. Now, David was the one who proved to the Israelites that giants could be killed in the first place; however, that might have been 40 or 50 years ago. David is no longer a youth with whipcord muscles and a deadly aim with a slingshot. We don’t know the circumstances; however, we do know that David becomes exhausted during the battle and nearly faints. A giant named Ishbi – benob is about to pick off David when Abishai, Joab’s brother, kills the giant. At that point, David’s men insist that he remain back in Jerusalem, lest he be captured or killed. After this, heroes in David’s army slay three more giants, all of them descended from Rapha in Gath, Goliath’s family.

APPLICATION: No matter our ages, we will always have to face giants and we will have to deal with them somehow. David faced his first giant at the age of fifteen and may well have confronted others after that. But for David, the time for fighting giants personally has ended. Here, David’s men, whom he has helped train, basically tell David, “It’s OK, boss. We’ll take it from here.” These heroes go on to eliminate four giants, including the one that is threatening to kill David. David has shown the way, and now it’s the turn of these men to do exploits.

But aging does not always give us a free pass to get out of facing giants. I won’t tell you my age; however, recently, someone in the small Ghanaian town where I work referred to me as “Great – Grandma.” I am a general and pediatric surgeon, one of two doctors in a bush hospital in a rural area. This last week was full of giants! Here is what I wrote to one friend:

This last week was hellish! Back in the end of March I operated on an 8 – year – old boy from Togo with a typhoid perforation. Everything went fine and he went home successfully. BUT he went home and ate local fruit with seeds the size of cherry pits! People SWALLOW these seeds for some reason. The seeds backed up in this kid’s bowels and he got a bowel obstruction. Two weeks ago, a colleague operated this kid on a Sunday. Subsequently, the bowel failed to function. Monday the kid was draining feces from his wound; when I opened him up, there were holes everywhere. I have never had to close a patient without trying; however, I closed this kid and told the parents that only God could save him. God took him to Himself on Tuesday.

After that operation, I did an emergency C – section on a young lady with obstructed labor. Monday night/Tuesday morning a 20-year-old Fulani guy came in from Togo with a horrific wound on his left forearm. Somebody had attempted to kill him with a cutlass, and he had thrown his arm up to save himself. Amazingly, there was a blood supply; however, both bones in the forearm were broken and the laceration ran around 3/4 of the arm. We did a temporary closure in the middle of the night, and then a better closure/reduction on Tuesday.

Wednesday, I operated a lady with a small bowel obstruction. In addition to the scar tissue from a previous operation, this lady had also eaten a large quantity of that same local fruit, swallowing the seeds and making the obstruction far worse. Wednesday night a 4-year-old child was brought by his grandmother. The kid was pale and seizing from malaria. We transfused the kid and began treating him, only for the parents to arrive the next day, complaining that grandma had not consulted them before bringing the kid. That situation lasted until Friday morning, when they signed out against medical advice. The father was worried about money; however, the mother wanted to go home and do sacrifices to fetishes! Well, the kid was on oxygen, so he died shortly after we disconnected him.

My colleague was out from Monday through Wednesday evening; meanwhile, I had several OB problems I was managing in addition to the things I have just described. One lady with 5 previous pregnancies had a baby that died in the womb; we prayed and induced her and she delivered without an operation. A second lady who was on her seventh pregnancy had a delay in her labor. Just as we were wondering if we would have to operate her, she went into full labor and delivered.

On Thursday I did a recurrent groin hernia operation. The guy had his hernia fixed in 2007, but it came back only 3 months later – that tells me there was no repair in the first place. This operation took 3 hours, roughly three times as long as I would normally take! I have repaired thousands of hernias in my career, but this was one of the most challenging cases I have seen.”

What can you do when you find yourself facing giants? Ask God for help! God will either give you the strength and resources to meet the challenge or God will raise up others to help you. The operations I have described were made far easier by well – trained nurse anesthetists who cared for the patients while I was operating. In the old days, I either used local anesthetic or we did ketamine anesthesia. I had to train those giving the ketamine and then monitor the patient as well as operate. Praise God, I don’t have to handle anesthesia anymore, and the nurses assisting me have gained a great deal of experience. But I still rely on God for the strength and wisdom to carry out operations successfully.

One day, it will be my turn to hand over giant – killing to others. But until then, I will continue to look to the Lord, trusting that He will strengthen and enlighten me as He has done so many times in the past.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You that we never have to face giants alone. No matter the challenges, You are always with us. Lord, help us not to shrink back but to go forward, confident that if You bring us to a crisis, Your grace is sufficient to bring us through it. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 21:1 – 14 “During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)

So, David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”

The Gibeonites said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel for us.”

“Whatever you ask, I will do for you,” he replied.

And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel, let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.”

“I will give them to you,” said the king.

Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So, all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies, she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

When David was told what Saul’s concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done, he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung the bodies after they had struck down Saul at Gilboa.

So, David had the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan brought from there, along with the bones of those who had been hanged. And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish.

After they had done everything the king had commanded, God answered their prayers for the land.”

This is a gruesome story. The Gibeonites were part of the Amorite tribe destined for destruction by Joshua and his men. But the Gibeonites cleverly pretended to be from a distant land, and Joshua and his men foolishly entered into a covenant with them. (The story is told in Joshua 9.) Joshua and his men put the Gibeonites to hard labor, but they protected them. Saul violated that covenant when he tried to wipe out the Gibeonites. Allegedly, Saul’s actions stemmed from his zeal for Israel; however, Saul’s ancestral home town is listed as Gibeon. The wording of these passages suggests that not only Saul, but several of his family members also continued to wage war on the Gibeonites, further violating Joshua’s covenant with them.

Drought and famine have hit the land of Israel. Israel is a mountainous land that depends a great deal on seasonal rainfall. If the rains fail, conditions soon become dire. When this story opens, the rains have failed for three years and crops are shriveled and animals are dying. Famine is stalking the land, and David asks the Lord what he should do. God’s answer is a grim one: this famine has come because Saul and his family have violated the covenant with the Gibeonites and have been killing them. David needs to make things right with the Gibeonites.

When David summons the Gibeonites, their information is arresting. “We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel for us.” Although the Gibeonites deny that they want anyone to die, in fact, they are simply preparing the way for their next request. “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel, let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.” The Gibeonites are planning to execute seven of Saul’s descendants just outside the town that was his capital for 22 years while he was king. David complies with this request.

Why does God not only allow these executions to take place but even to set His seal of approval by lifting the famine? Saul and his family have evidently been blood – thirsty covenant breakers. It’s possible that these descendants of Saul have continued his vendetta against the Gibeonites. God knows the human heart, and God knows those members of Saul’s family who have continued to violate Joshua’s oath, putting all of Israel in jeopardy as a result.

One of the most striking parts of this story is the dedication of Saul’s concubine Rizpah. Rizpah cannot save her two sons; however, she refuses to let vultures and wild beasts get at the bodies. Rizpah camps out by the place of execution and stays there throughout the barley harvest until the rains start. King David is so moved by Rizpah’s devotion that he collects the bones of Saul and Jonathan from the city of Jabesh – gilead, along with the bones of the men who have been hanged, and buries all of them in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish in Zela in the land of Benjamin. Once these remains have been suitably buried, God answers the prayers of those praying for the famine to lift.

APPLICATION: There are many reasons why God does not answer our prayers immediately. Sometimes, we are asking for things that God wants to give, but the time is not yet ripe. Sometimes we are asking wrongly for things for ourselves or for loved ones, things that might actually be to our detriment. Many people pray for prosperity, not realizing that they can choke on riches and their children may never know God as a result. Sometimes we ask for things, but God sets conditions. This story is an example of God setting extreme conditions.

Saul and his descendants have continued to murder Gibeonites, even though Joshua’s covenant with them remains valid. The shedding of innocent blood brings curses on a land, and Saul’s family has brought curses on Israel. It is quite possible that Saul has more descendants than those listed; however, God will even protect the innocent in Saul’s family.

Rizpah’s faithfulness in protecting the bodies is magnificent. Rizpah knows that if someone does not remain there, horrible things will happen to those bodies. How does Rizpah do it? Does someone from the household bring her food and water all those weeks? We don’t know; we only know that Rizpah’s devotion wins David’s approval, and he buries the remains of those seven men along with the bones of Saul and Jonathan in the family tomb.

Notice that the famine only lifts after the burial of the bodies of Jonathan, Saul, and Saul’s seven male descendants. These men have had to die; however, even their bodies are to be handled honorably.

Many times, we choose to believe that our actions do not have spiritual consequences. There is no action without a spiritual consequence. Saul’s family has suffered because multiple generations have broken the covenant between the Israelites and the Gibeonites. We must guard our hearts and minds so that we do not break covenants with those around us and so that we don’t bring curses into our own families. May God help us!

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for loving us and for caring for us. Help us to be careful to respect covenants and to refuse to shed innocent blood at any time. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

2 Samuel 20:1 – 26 “Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!” So, all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

So, Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.

And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”

So, Joab’s men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sheba’s son of Bichri. And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa joined them.

Now Joab was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath. “Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

One of Joab’s young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the road into a field and threw a garment over it. As soon as Amasa’s body was removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel toward Abel-Beth-Maacah, through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him.

And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-Beth-Maacah and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city. As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to topple it, a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”

When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he replied.

“Listen to the words of your servant,” she said.

“I am listening,” he answered.

Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled. I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

“Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.”

“Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So, he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; Adoram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; and Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.”     

  In an unsettled situation, someone will always be bidding for power, and here you have Sheba and Joab: Sheba, son of Bichri, is a Benjamite, from the same tribe as Saul and Jonathan and Shimei. Shimei, the man who foolishly cursed David when David was fleeing Jerusalem, has brought 1,000 Benjamites to help carry David’s household and their things across the Jordan and to return them to Jerusalem. Unfortunately, just before that, David panicked and appealed to the men of Judah for help, resulting in a dispute between the men of Judah and the men from the other tribes over the honor of helping David. Had David prayed and waited on the Lord, help would have come without his playing the tribal card. Now David’s move has backfired, alienating the other tribes, and Sheba is trying to seize power by turning the hearts of the other tribesmen away from David. 

Joab has a grudge. While David was in panic mode at Mahanaim, he sent a message to Amasa that Amasa would become military commander in Joab’s place. Joab is furious; there is no way that Joab will allow anybody to take his place, let alone Amasa, who previously was commanding the troops of Absalom. Why should David honor a traitor and ignore Joab, who has remained loyal?

Amasa is supposed to be gathering the troops of Judah; however, he is wasting precious time. David realizes that Sheba must be stopped at once, so he dispatches Joab, his brother Abishai, and his troops to catch Sheba. When Joab meets Amasa at Gibeon, he grabs Amasa by the beard with his right hand as if to kiss him and stabs Amasa with a dagger held in his left hand. (Amasa does not anticipate an attack because he assumes that Joab is right – handed; evidently, Joab is ambidextrous.) Amasa dies, his body is dragged off to the side of the road and covered, and Joab continues to pursue Sheba.

Sheba takes refuge in the city of Abel-Beth-Maacah, a city traditionally known for the wisdom and sound judgement of its people. (Nobody asked the people of Abel if they wanted Sheba to enter their city!) Joab has already erected a siege mound against the city wall and is battering it to bring it down when a female counselor from the city calls to him. This sagacious lady tells Joab that there is no need to destroy the city; wait and the citizens of Abel will take care of Sheba and throw his head over the wall in proof. Relieved to have a possible way out of this situation, the citizens of Abel behead Sheba and throw this grisly trophy over the city wall so it lands at Joab’s feet. Joab disperses the troops and returns to Jerusalem, secure in his position as a successful military commander.

One sad footnote is the condition of the ten concubines whom David left to mind the palace and whom Absalom raped in public. These poor ladies are removed from the palace and placed in a house under guard. Although these women are provided for, the king never sleeps with them again. Was this guard to protect these women, or was it to keep them as virtual prisoners? These ladies were in an impossible position. Absalom had violated these women; therefore, David could no longer have sex with them. At the same time, David could not afford to marry these women off to other men for fear that those men might then assume that they had gotten power over David. The net result is that these ladies live as widows for the rest of their lives.

APPLICATION: Theodore Roosevelt is quoted as having said, “If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” This chapter fully illustrates that point! God has provided Shimei and 1,000 Benjamites to help move David and his followers back to Jerusalem. But while God is making this provision, David has panicked, appealing to his tribesmen of Judah for assistance. At this point, David is not thinking clearly, nor is he viewing himself as king over all of Israel, despite God’s anointing. Instead of finding a quiet place and praying, David is now taking making gut decisions based on emotions.

David’s second poor decision is his appointment of Amasa as commander of his troops, even though Amasa has previously commanded Absalom’s forces. Perhaps this decision has been taken in an attempt to solidify support from those who had previously backed Absalom. Perhaps David is subtly trying to get back at Joab for killing Absalom. At any rate, Amasa is not nearly as competent as Joab, nor is he as experienced a warrior. A savvy tactician would have moved as quickly as possible to organize the men of Judah to pursue Sheba. A more experienced warrior would also not have fallen for Joab’s pseudo – embrace.

Ask any leader and they can point to times when they made gut decisions that turned out to be disasters. Decisions taken during a time of emotional upheaval are frequently wrong. Far better to step back and pray about a situation than to act hastily, only to have to do damage control later.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all those in leadership to find quiet places where they can ask You for guidance. When You give guidance, help us to listen and obey. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 19: 31 – 43 “Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there. Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.

The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”

But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

Your servant could go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward? Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”

The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.”

So, all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.

Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king.

Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”

And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?”

“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?”

But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.”

When David fled to Mahanaim in the eastern part of Gilead, east of the Jordan, it was Barzillai the Gileadite who took care of the needs of David and his followers. Weary, distraught, and discouraged, David found Barzillai’s hospitality to be the refreshment he needed to go on. Now David has been restored to the throne and he wants to bless Barzillai for his kindness. Barzillai accompanies David and his followers across the Jordan, but then wishes to return home. David urges Barzillai to return with him to Jerusalem so that David can repay the kindness Barzillai has shown. But Barzillai at eighty is a very wise man indeed. Barzillai thanks David for his kind gesture; however, Barzillai feels that it would be far better for his son Chimham to accompany David.

Now that David has made it safely across the Jordan and is on his way back to Jerusalem, a new problem is arising. Even though Shimei and 1,000 men of Benjamin have helped David across the river and even though half the troops of Israel have also helped David cross, men from the other tribes come to David bringing complaints. These men from the other ten tribes of Israel begin accusing the men of Judah that they have taken David away secretly!

David is partially to blame for this mess because he did message the men of Judah to come help his followers and him cross the Jordan. Perhaps David appealed to the men of Judah because he wasn’t sure of his reception by the other tribes; however, it was a foolish and short – sighted move.

The men from the other ten tribes are embarrassed for having supported Absalom and are seeking a way to assuage their guilt. Now the men from these tribes are picking a fight with the Judeans and the Benjamites as a way of justifying themselves. At this point, David must have his hands to his head!

APPLICATION: David’s gratitude towards Barzillai illustrates why people were willing to follow him, despite his failings. Barzillai’s wise answers echo down the ages. For many of us, as we age, we realize that our wants and our needs become increasingly simpler. The things that seemed so vital and necessary at an earlier stage in our lives are no longer important. Barzillai has enjoyed everything his wealth could afford, but now he realizes that those things are of little importance. Perhaps Barzillai is becoming deaf or losing his sense of taste, but now all Barzillai wants is to live quietly and to be able to be buried at home.

Psalm 90:12 says, ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Wisdom does not always accompany old age. We can choose to ignore the lessons that God wishes to teach us. But if we will humble ourselves and listen, God can purify us and refine our lives, giving us hearts of wisdom.

As this chapter ends, we get hints of potential tribal conflict with the men of Judah and Benjamin on one side and the men of the other ten tribes on the other. David himself has played the tribal card, and there is trouble ahead. Tribal conflicts are a burden and a curse! We will have to continue our study to see how David is going to handle the problems that are brewing.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Please teach us to number our days so that we can gain hearts of wisdom and refuse to sink to manipulation of people. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

“Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David, along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants.

They rushed down to the Jordan before the king and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight.

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart. For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?” And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

So, the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” Then the king swore an oath to him.”

Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely. And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”

“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me, and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king.

Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes. For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”

The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”

And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”  

Remember Shimei? Shimei is a close relative of the late King Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. When David was fleeing Jerusalem, Shimei cursed at him and threw rocks at him. Now the tables have turned, and Shimei realizes that he needs to do damage control ASAP! Shimei and 1,000 Benjamites, plus Ziba, Saul’s former servant with his fifteen sons and twenty servants all rush to the Jordan to help bring King David’s household back across the river. Ziba, of course, is concerned because the lies he has told about Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth are about to be revealed.

As soon as Shimei has crossed the Jordan, he throws himself on the ground before David, begging for forgiveness. Slandering kings is always a risky business, and Shimei realizes that his earlier raging at David may now cost him his life. Notice that Shimei is accompanied by 1,000 Benjamites; Shimei hopes that the size of this retinue will impress David with his sincerity. Despite the urging of one of David’s army commanders, David graciously forgives Shimei, stating that he is sure of his kingship and does not need to spill any blood to prove himself.

Poor Mephibosheth! Mephibosheth is Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson and is crippled due to an injury in childhood. When David was fleeing Jerusalem, Mephibosheth wanted to accompany him on a donkey; however, Ziba and his household refused to assist him. Ziba, remember, rushed out to meet David with provisions and told an enormous lie that Mephibosheth was supporting Absalom. David is prepared to divide Saul and Jonathan’s property between Mephibosheth and Ziba; however, Mephibosheth wisely tells David to let Ziba have it all. From this point onwards, Mephibosheth prefers to trust David. Ziba has already proven to be treacherous. For Mephibosheth, it is far safer to have nothing to do with Ziba whatsoever.

APPLICATION: Here David gives a shining example of forgiveness. Shimei knows that David could have him killed, and some of David’s supporters are urging David to do so. But David’s reply is classic: “Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?” David doesn’t need to make any more dramatic gestures. God has restored David, and that’s the end of it.

This story illustrates some of the reasons that people looked up to David as a leader. David has the power to initiate a blood bath among the Benjamites, but he does not. David wants to provide for Jonathan’s son; however, he too realizes that Ziba is a manipulator. David has already promised Mephibosheth that he will care for him because of David’s covenant with Jonathan.

With leadership comes the temptation to abuse power and to take revenge on those who have attempted to undermine you in some fashion. But as leaders, we need to remember what God tells us in Galatians 6:7 – 8 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” And God specifically warns us against taking revenge in Romans 12:19. “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

God knows the human heart far better than we do, and it is much better to leave things to God and allow Him to sort out the people who have opposed us or undermined us. If someone has acted unjustly toward you, it is far better to allow God to bring that person to repentance. “But what if such a person never repents?” you ask. “How am I to get satisfaction?” Continue to pray for such people, asking God to reveal Himself to them, so that they will change and behave righteously. May God help us, so that we will respond to challenges in His Holy Spirit!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, You know the stresses of leadership far far better than anyone else. Help all leaders to look to You and to allow You to sort out those who rebel or undermine. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.