Burunche’s Blog

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.

2 Samuel 7:1 – 17 “After the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

And Nathan replied to the king, “Go and do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build for Me a house to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling. In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’

Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make for you a name like the greatest in the land.

And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.

The LORD declares to you that He Himself will establish a house for you. And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

But My loving devotion will never be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I moved out of your way. Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.” So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire vision.”

David’s heart is very tender toward the Lord, and he really feels guilty. Here God has moved King Hiram of Tyre to send stone masons and carpenters and magnificent cedar logs to build David a handsome palace; meanwhile, the Ark of the Covenant is still lodged in the tent that David has constructed. David calls Nathan the prophet, his advisor, suggesting that he (David) should build a temple to house the Ark. Nathan’s first reaction is “Great!” but then God weighs in with Nathan speaking on His behalf.

1. At no point in the history of Israel has God ever required any leader to build a temple.
2. God reminds David that He picked David out of the sheep pasture to be king and that He has cut off all David’s enemies and has protected David.
3. God promises to make David famous and to establish a safe dwelling place for Israel, planting them so that nobody can disturb them.
4. God further promises that He will establish David’s throne and that David’s son will build the temple and that God will establish David’s son’s throne forever.
5. God also promises that if David’s son does wrong, God will discipline him, but God will never remove His loving devotion from him as God did with Saul.
6. Finally, God promises again to establish David’s house and kingdom forever.

APPLICATION: WOW! JUST WOW! Although David began his life as the youngest son, someone only fit to herd sheep, he is now enjoying the favor of God. Filled with gratitude, David wants to do something special for God. Why should the Ark of the Covenant remain in a tent while David occupies a stone palace with cedar paneling? David’s heart is in the right place, but God has other ideas.

By necessity, David has become a man of war. God wants David’s son Solomon, a man of peace, to build His temple. But God is thrilled that David cares so much for the symbol of God’s holiness and makes many amazing promises to David.

“But,” you ask, “have those promises actually come true? Wasn’t there a period in history where the Jews were taken captive and carried off to Babylon and Assyria?” Yes. When the Israelites forsook God, God allowed their enemies to overrun them and carry most of them away. But then God moved King Cyrus, King of Persia, to suddenly proclaim that the Jews should return to Israel and re – build the temple.

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’” (2 Chronicles 36:22 – 23)

Astounding! A pagan king suddenly proclaims that God has appointed him to build a temple for him in Jerusalem. Led by Ezra and later by Nehemiah, groups return to Jerusalem to re – build. But this move by Cyrus is only the beginning. Centuries later, God uses the horrific genocidal campaigns of Nazi Germany to drive Jews from around the world back to Israel. Today, the nation of Israel stands as a shining tribute to the mercy and goodness of God. Years ago, one friend told me that it was the return of the Jews to Israel after World War II that convinced her that the Bible could truly be trusted.

What about the throne of David? Here, God is foreshadowing the coming of Jesus Christ, whose human father Joseph came from David’s house and lineage. Born as a man, Jesus Christ is the true King who has come to occupy David’s throne forever. Jesus is truly King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and His Kingdom is an everlasting one that can never be shaken. If we follow Jesus Christ, we are assured of being citizens of that everlasting kingdom. No matter what life may throw at us, no matter the pain and suffering, no matter the sorrow, we can rest in the knowledge that God’s kingdom will last forever. God has planted His people Israel, but God will also plant us, if we will allow Him.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, let everyone who reads these words trust in You, so that they become citizens of Your unshakeable kingdom. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 6:12 – 23 “Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.”

So, David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing. When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD, while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.

As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

So, they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. Then he distributed to all the multitude of Israel, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each for his own home.

As soon as David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”

But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD, and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.”

And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.”

Remember Michal? Michal was Saul’s daughter, whose hand David won by killing 200 Philistine soldiers and presenting their foreskins to Saul. At one point, Michal loved David so much that she risked her own life to deceive her father and to allow David to escape. But that was a long time ago. Later, when Saul was trying to kill David, Saul gave Michal away to a man named Paltiel, who evidently loved her dearly. When David ascended the throne, he demanded that Michal return to him as a sign of his kingship. Bad move! It broke Paltiel’s – and possibly Michal’s – heart. Although Michal was David’s first wife, by this time, there were several other wives and concubines and Michal was now only one of many members of David’s harem. What a mess!

After failing to assure that the Ark of the Covenant was handled correctly, David left the Ark in the household of Obed – edom. But once God began blessings Obed – edom and his household, David decided to re – think the situation. Perhaps it was at that point that one of the priests consulted the Law of Moses and reminded everyone of the fashion in which the Ark was actually to be carried. This time, everything went off perfectly. The priests carried the Ark as they were supposed to, and David was so thrilled that he danced ahead of the Ark wearing a linen ephod.

Was David half – naked? No. Most sources feel that David was wearing a long linen garment similar to that worn by the priests and was not exposing himself. But David was NOT behaving the way Michal thought a king should behave! Michal might have had problems with her father Saul, but Saul never let anybody forget that HE was the king! At least, Saul had dignity, but here David was making a spectacle of himself. How embarrassing!

David was leaping and dancing and making sacrifices. With the trumpets and shofars blowing, and people singing, David was transported by joy and thrilled beyond all measure. Once the Ark was in place in the lovely tent that David had constructed for it, David acted as a priest, offering burnt offerings and peace offerings and blessing the people. Then David liberally distributed cakes of raisins and dates and bread and everyone went home to enjoy their feast.

 Poor Michal! It’s likely that Saul never truly worshiped the Lord, and we know that Michal had household gods available when she helped David escape. Michal had no faith of her own. Whatever love Michal had for David had died a long time ago, and now she was only one wife out of many. While the people of Jerusalem were joining in the celebration surrounding the return of the Ark, Michal could think of nothing except how ridiculous David looked. Little wonder that when David finally came home flushed and excited, all Michal could do was to reproach him. But that reproach spelled disaster for Michal, for her bitterness so tainted her body that she was never able to bear children, suffering the ultimate disgrace of barrenness.

APPLICATION: Our emotions are very powerful and they can harm us. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” While Michal once loved David, she had found a stable relationship with Paltiel. Bitter at being torn away from a loving husband, all Michal could think of was finding fault with David. Having no relationship with the Lord, Michal could not possibly understand why David would humble himself as he did. Michal cursed herself with her negative attitudes.

How powerful are emotions? Right now, in the Newborn ICU where I work, we have a set of premature twins. One twin is much larger than the other and is growing. The second twin continue to remain at the same low weight, even though she is taking relatively large amounts of breast milk for her size. We suspect that the mother of these babies wants only the larger one to survive and is literally cursing the smaller one by her negative attitude.

There have been several studies done in which cancer patients have been taught to visualize their white blood cells defeating the cancer cells in some fashion. Some of these patients have made remarkable recoveries.

How can we guard our hearts? The Bible advises us to take every thought captive. 2 Corinthians 10:3 – 5 says, “For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Our thoughts can lead us to God or to Satan. If we insist on harboring bitterness in our hearts, we will not be open to God, nor will we be able to hear His voice.

Beware of self – pity! Self – pity feels so comforting, but it is a deadly emotion. Give way to self – pity and quite soon you will find yourself descending deeper and deeper into an emotional abyss. The writer of Proverbs was quite correct! Guard your heart.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to learn from the story of Michal and to guard our hearts. Help us to appreciate those who feel free to worship You enthusiastically, even when we might hesitate. And help us also to worship You in spirit and in truth. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Samuel 6:1 – 11 “David again assembled the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand in all. And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name— the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.

They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.

That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. Thus, the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.”

Now that David was king in Jerusalem, he wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem where it belonged. The Ark was the chief symbol of the Israelite religion, and as such, it was vitally important for it to be located in the center of religious worship and political power. David realized that anybody who possessed the Ark might pose a political threat.

God gave Moses complete instructions as to the handling of the ark and how it should be carried. God further instructed that any king of Israel should personally write out his own copy of the Law, so that the king would know the Law well and would follow it wisely. But that was a few hundred years ago, and meanwhile, Israel had descended into a kind of Dark Ages, a time when many judges appeared long enough to deliver Israel from their enemies but when men did whatever they wanted to do. The last verse of the Book of Judges tells us that “In those days, there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25) Other versions say “there was no constant vision.” At any rate, God’s instructions had been forgotten.

By the time King David ascended to the throne, probably only a handful of priests remembered God’s instructions regarding the handling of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was designed to be carried with poles borne on the shoulders of the priests. Even the priests had to be very careful about how they handled the Ark. All those details were captured in the Laws of Moses, but nobody was paying attention. David and the priests loaded the Ark onto a new cart and began the procession to Jerusalem. But at one point, one of the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and a man named Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark on the cart. God struck Uzzah dead on the spot! David named that spot “Perez Uzzah,” which means “outbreak against Uzzah.” But is that what really happened? If the cart was a stable one, it shouldn’t have mattered whether an ox stumbled or not. It’s far more likely that Uzzah was using this incident as an excuse to peek into the Ark, and that’s why God struck him dead. If merely touching the Ark meant death, how could anybody have loaded the Ark onto that cart in the first place? No, Uzzah was guilty of transgressing against God; he was not as innocent as we might suppose.

At this point, David really didn’t know what to do, so he ordered that the Ark be left in the closest household, that of Obed – edom, the Gittite. Who were the Gittites? According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, the Gittites originally came from Gath; however, numbers of them emigrated to Judah, probably under the influence of David. 600 Gittites served as a body guard for David, with Ittai as their head. The Gittites were remarkable for their great stature. Did Obed – edom simply leave the Ark on the cart? We don’t know; however, Obed – edom and his family must have handled the Ark reverently, because God blessed him and all his household.

APPLICATION: David had good intentions and his heart was right before the Lord; even so, he needed to learn that he couldn’t just do God’s work in his own way. One American evangelist noted for his humor described how he began his ministry by trying to copy every other evangelist then ministering. Nothing was working. Finally, this man asked the Lord, “What’s wrong? I’m doing what You called me to do!” The Lord said, “No, you’re doing your will in My Name. I didn’t call you to imitate anybody else. I called you to be just what you are.” “What’s the difference?” asked the frustrated evangelist. “Results!” answered the Lord.

David thought he knew how to handle the Ark; after all, he was doing just what the Philistines had done when they returned the Ark to Israel. But the difference was that the Philistines were unaware of God’s orders concerning the treatment of the Ark while the Israelites should have known better. It was bad enough that Phineas and Hophni had hauled the Ark off to the battlefield as if it were a fetish. But this cavalier treatment of the Ark by the Israelites had to stop. When Uzzah seized the opportunity to touch the Ark inappropriately, God demonstrated His power.

What did David do wrong? There is no mention of David praying and asking God for counsel before loading the Ark onto that cart. Even though David worshiped God, David didn’t realize just how holy the Ark really was. David had not studied the Law of Moses enough to understand the fashion in which the Ark was to be handled. Sometimes we do good things on our own, assuming that we can copy what someone else has done in a similar situation. But action without prayer can bring disaster. Just look at Uzzah!

Most of us have little or no idea just how holy God is. We throw God’s name around, even abbreviating it in text messages. We use God’s name as a swear word or as an exclamation. If not for God’s mercies, we would all be cinders. But God IS merciful, and He does forgive us when we repent because of the Blood of Jesus. We should go through our days prayerfully, mindful that God’s ways are higher and better than ours.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us not to take You for granted, but to look to You for guidance. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.