Tag: 2 Samuel

Read 2 Samuel 24 – Our last chapter in 2 Samuel!  What a fine accomplishment this is – to know our Lord so much more with the reading of 1&2 Samuel. 

Verse 24:1 put a question on my heart.  God was angry with Israel, so he made David sin against Him by taking a census?  That just doesn’t make sense – it is outside of the Lord’s nature to make a person sin so He can punish.  Upon searching for an answer (thank you, Jesus, that we have access to what your great theologians before us have discovered), it seems the ‘he’ in this verse is referring to Satan and not the LORD, as one might assume without looking deeper.  Ah ha! 

Yes, even Joab questions David on his order to take the census (24:3), and may we all have a few Joab’s in our lives, willing to speak up when we start to go astray!  David’s conscience brings guilt, confession and a plea for forgiveness (24:10). 

The Lord graciously gives David a choice on his consequences: Three years of famine, three months of persecution or three days of severe plague.  David chose plague, trusting the Lord for His mercy (24:14), which He gives, relenting just before Jerusalem (24:15).  

Our book concludes with David building an altar to the Lord, with offerings, and the plague is stopped. 

Even with forgiveness, sin has consequences that humble and sanctify the forgiven sinner.  Remember, God is good all the time, and when life is hard, God is especially good.🙌❤☝️

This is not the end for our David, his story continues in 1 Kings,  which we will get to later.   Tomorrow, we will move to 1 Peter, in the New Testament. To find it, start from the back of your bible, Revelation, and flip up a bit, between James and 1,2,3 John.

Read 2 Samuel 23 – Retirement reflections.   Remember in 2 Samuel 21:15,17, David became exhausted in battle.  Abishai saved him,  and David’s faithful men swore there would be no more battles for King David. Our valiant king was entering a new chapter and perhaps he was thinking about that when he penned these words.  David knows the Lord spoke the words through him (22:2).  He speaks of God saying he ruled in righteousness with fear of the Lord being like the sunrise on a bright,  cloudless morning, the brightness after rain that brings forth grass (23:3-4).  He uses beautiful language in summary on his life,  walking so close to the Lord and leading as truly,  one nation under God(23:1-8).  Then there is a tribute to his fighting men…. those who battled fearlessly alongside him all these years.   What is your perspective on God over your life?  Is Jesus tangible to you? He longs to be.  How about your warriors? Who has walked life’s battles alongside you?🤺☝️

Read 2 Samuel 16 – We see a very different King David than we are used to.  He seems to be in a very dark place, verse 16:14 describes it as weary.  

First, David makes a hasty turn against Mephibosheth, based on the testimony of Ziba (Mephibosheth’s servant).  

Second, David takes the verbal abuse of Shimel, expressing that Shimel is justified and that, perhaps, the Lord will see him and bless him for the curses.  Jesus tells us, “Bless those who curse you.  Pray for those who hurt you.” in Luke 6:28.  

Meanwhile, Absalom is up to more despicable behavior. On the advise of Ahithophel, he has sex with his father’s concubines (remember the 10 who were left to look after the palace 15:16) on the rooftop so that all might see this irreconcilable act. This is also what the Lord spoke against David for his sin in 2 Sam 12:11.  

It is for love’s sake that a father punish his child – how much more so from the Lord?  (see Proverbs 3:11-12)  Perhaps David was reflecting on this season when he penned:  “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”  Psalm 30:5  

Read 2 Samuel 13 – Grrrr!  What is love? 

Amnon loved Tamar, but his love turned to obsession and then hate.  When love of a person is played out in ones fantasy life, reality and right and wrong get blurry. (That’s just one reason that ponography is so dangerous.)  Amnon may not have acted had his crafty friend, Jonadab, not asked why he is so dejected,  I can almost hear whispers of the serpent asking Eve, “Did God really say…?” (Gen 3:1).  Jonadab then lays out a plan for Amnon to “HAVE” Tamar.  She is so kind and innocent as she falls into his plot.  When he asks her to lay with him (13:11), she does not reject him, but pleads for him to do things the right way (13:12-13).  They had a chance.  Tamar had a chance, but when Amnon’s selfish-love raped her, evil won. 

Tamar remained a desolate woman in her brother, Absalom’s house.  King David learns of this and is angry, but he seems to sweep it under the rug.  Absalom is patient to defend Tamar’s honor by killing Amnon 2 years later…. A heart that festers for vengeance is dangerous.  The most hideous atrocities must be dealt with.

Like Tamar, you may not have deserved the things that happened to you, but please, bring your wounded heart to Jesus.  Only he can bring beauty from ashes. 

Like Amnon, you may be trapped in a fantasy world that keeps you from reality, surrender your obsession to Jesus. 

Like Absalom, you may harbor a desire for vengeance, turn to Jesus. 

And like David, you may be putting off something you need to deal with.  Step out of denial and ask Jesus how to move forward. 

Jesus is the Author of Life.  You can trust him with ALL the details of yours.