II Samuel 20: Ruthless Bloodshed

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

David’s return to Jerusalem in the previous chapter was not without its drama and power struggles. A rebellion of a very serious nature follows in chapter 20. Sheba leads a rebellion against King David in chapter 20. Perhaps Sheba, son of Bichri, was inspired by Absalom’s rebellion and the support he was able to garner against King David. The text suggests that Sheba was a scoundrel of sorts, and he inspired a general rebellion among the northern tribes. Sheba instructed the men that were with him to go back to their homes, to rebel against David from there. 

Amasa was the commander of Absalom’s armies, but had since been recommissioned to lead the armies of David after Absalom’s death. David gave Amasa three days to prepare his armies to follow Sheba and his men and defeat them. However, Amasa took longer than David had directed. Because of this, David asks Abishai, Joab’s older brother, to gather up armies and to quell Sheba’s revolt. Joab now enters the story and goes with the men assembled under Abishai with his own elite fighting force of men. 

As Abishai and Joab were leading their men in pursuit of Sheba’s rebellion, they come in contact with Amasa at a large stone in Gibeon. Joab, bold and rash as ever, approaches Amasa under the pretext of giving him a brotherly greeting but instead underhandedly stabs him in the belly with his sword. Amasa dies in the dirt and is moved to the side of the road and covered so that Abishai and Joab’s men are not worried by the sight of one of their countrymen ruthlessly killed in the road. They continue to pursue Sheba and the rebellion.

Sheba in the interim is gathering support for his rebellion all throughout Judah. But Abishai and Joab catch up with him in Abel and they begin to besiege the city using a siege mound. A siege mound was the gathering of dirt and debris against the side of a fortified city wall so that it could be overcome and entered. 

But just as they are battering the wall, presumably atop the mound to throw it down, a wise woman cries from within and is able to speak directly to Joab. Her and Joab’s exchange is as follows: “…I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?” And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy! That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.”

After this exchange, the woman says that she will throw Sheba’s head over the wall of the city. The woman was actually able to get help from others within the city to do just that. Sheba’s head is cut from his body and thrown over the wall. When Joab sees it, he blows a trumpet, and all of the men of the rebellion surrender, returning to their tents. Summarily, David’s army returns to Jerusalem. The chapter ends with the description of the ancient org chart of David’s leadership team, with Joab now as the commander. 

What can we learn from this bloody chapter? Here are four things:

  1. Partial or slow obedience can jeopardize the mission.
    1. Amasa’s delay was not absolutely detrimental to the mission – you can thank Abishai and Joab for that. But his delay could have resulted in Sheba’s ability to consolidate power and perhaps return to Jerusalem to take it over again. When we delay what is needed, someone else more competent will often step in to save the situation. However, if there is no one to step in, calamity can result.
  2. When evil is bold, violence is sometimes necessary.
    1. David, just having gotten back his kingdom at a great cost, is vulnerable to lose it again. King David is purposeful and decisive in his action to stop the rebellion. When Amasa is incapable of being immediately effective, enter Joab, the seemingly bloodthirsty yet loyal warrior under David. Yet even Joab, as forceful and strong as he was, could see the wisdom proffered by the wise lady at Abel. His agreement to stop the attack upon the deliverance of Sheba’s decapitated head was a wise one. 99 times out of 100, violence is not the answer. Indeed, it is a last resort. But sometimes, when evil is bent on destruction and overtaking, the righteous must take up arms to defend goodness, the innocent, and what is rightfully theirs. 
  3. Wisdom can diffuse destruction – often from unlikely places.
    1. The wise unnamed woman in Able was able to save an entire kingdom from further mass bloodshed and the fortified city of Abel from complete destruction. Always be willing to hear advice, for you never know from where a solution might appear.
  4. Division starts small but can grow quickly
    1. Whether you are the leader of a team, a family, or serve in the brotherhood as one, be wary of and on the lookout for division among the team. What starts as a whisper can grow into a murderous cancer capable of destroying everything if it is not addressed quickly and utterly.

II Samuel 19: Bittersweet Homecoming

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

As David mourns the loss of Absalom, Israel mourns with him. David is still in the mountains as he mourns, and has not yet returned to Jerusalem. Joab, however, true to character, rebukes David in verses 5-7: “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”

Joab’s threat was likely meant to spur David on to more kingly action than it was meant to be sincere. Joab’s perspective was that of a warrior; he had fought and sacrificed on David’s behalf and it was shameful that David would mourn his traitorous son rather than celebrate the victory won by his armies. 

Support for him throughout the kingdom was not unanimous. David was meant to return, but many still felt that he may not deserve to because they had anointed Absalom king. But David saw this and persuaded them “as one man” to support him, which they did. David and all his house were welcomed back.

As David returns to power, there are some issues that he must settle. You will recall in II Samuel 16:5-8 how Shimei cursed David as he fled Jerusalem. David bore that public display with grace and mercy. Shimei knows that he is vulnerable now that David is back in power so he throws himself on David’s mercy. He admits his sin against David and he asks David to forget what he did. Abishai, who had called Shimei a “dead dog” when he first cursed David, calls for Shimei’s death “because he cursed the Lord’s anointed.” But David retains his kingly authority over both Abishai and Shimei when he displays mercy and says to Shimei, “You shall not die.”

Another reunion takes place as Mephibosheth comes to David. Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul, had been given a seat at David’s table as well as many other blessings. This was largely due to David’s loyalty to Jonathan. Mephibosheth mourned the parting of David by not caring for himself; he had not cared for his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes since David had left Jerusalem. His appearance must have been striking. David asks why Mephibosheth did not accompany David when he left Jerusalem. To this, Mephibosheth says that Ziba had deceived him. For Ziba’s part, he had slandered Mephibosheth in II Samuel 16, and had taken steps to try and keep him in Jerusalem. Many Biblical scholars believe Mephibosheth’s word over Ziba’s because Ziba had motive to keep the estate. Also, Mephibosheth visually appeared to have mourned the loss of David as king. David’s judgment is to have Mephibosheth and Ziba equally divide the land. Mephibosheth, out of humility to the king, submits that Ziba take it all.

The third individual that David must deal with is Barzillai. He was a foreigner, a Gileadite, that had provided David with many good supplies while David was in exile. He had come with David to cross the Jordan, but would not go into Jerusalem to be honored, as David offered him. Instead, he cited his age, physical infirmities, and his desire not to be a burden to the king as reasons to pass on the offer. Instead he gives one of his servants to David named Chimham, whom David gladly receives and blesses. Barzillai, being eighty years old, then returns back to his home.

In the last verses of this chapter, we get a preview of the divided kingdom that will be the new status quo after the death of Solomon in the future. Judah and Israel are squabbling over a matter that has little consequence. It is interesting to witness this fight and reflect on how minor disagreements that reveal fundamental differences between groups can culminate in large-scale divisions. 

Here are three valuable lessons that we can take from this chapter:

  • Wisdom in loyalty: sometimes it will not always be clear who should receive your loyalty, particularly when it shifts. Many things need to be considered, such as reasons for switching loyalty and if they are worthwhile. 
  • Mercy: What would you have done with Shimei if he had publicly humiliated you and you were in a position of power over him? Think about your other personal relationships where you may have harmed others. Do you deserve punishment? Now think about your relationship with God. How many of us have committed sins against God and not received the penalty? Although it is difficult and sometimes feels opposite to what we should do, forgiveness and mercy are what is best. Why do you think that is? 
  • Opportunism pays…at first. Do not be like Ziba. Look how he started out, as a servant of David’s house. His relationship with Mephibosheth begins innocently enough when he tells David about Mephibosheth’s existence. But in the activity of Absalom’s takeover and David’s return, we see Ziba taking advantage of Mephibosheth’s disability, and he ends up receiving Mephibosheth’s land (originally Saul’s). At the end of chapter 29, Ziba has the land, but at what cost? Also, whay do you think Mephibosheth gave all the land to Ziba?

II Samuel 18: The Importance of Loyalty and Truth

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

After David escaped Absalom’s army, he finds rest with allies and regroups. David divides the people that are with him under three leaders: Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. This information reveals a couple of insights: one is that David was able to attract a large amount of people to his side in the wake of Absalom’s takeover. The second is that his battle savvy is still alive and well as the divisions would have given him more flexibility in taking the fight to Absalom.

David wants to join the people as they go out to battle with Absalom’s forces but the people will not allow this as they fear for his safety. So David listens to them and remains but he does provide the following instruction, showing that despite all of the conflict and betrayal, he still loves his son: “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.”

The battle between David’s amassed forces and Absalom’s “Israel” begins and takes place within the woods of Ephraim. David’s strategy to thin out Absalom’s forces across the wilderness is a successful one as Israel is defeated. Many fall prey to natural obstacles in the unfamiliar terrain. Throughout the course of the battle, Absalom gets caught in a tree and is stranded there for a time. During this period, a man with David’s army found him there and reported it to Joab. When Joab comes to know about Absalom’s vulnerability, he questions why the messenger did not kill Absalom, to which the faithful messenger replies in verses 12 and 13:

“Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’ Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”

This messenger’s wisdom and integrity are admirable, especially as he seems to assume that Joab would have felt the same way if he were to have discovered Absalom. But this was not the case. We should remember Joab’s character from II Samuel 3:22-30, where he killed Abner, who had recently killed Joab’s brother Asahel. Killing Abner was not something that David had ordered Joab to do, but Joab did it out of vengeance and because he believed it to be right. Joab’s loyalty was in the right place, but his actions betray an unwise and self-righteous will. Joab’s will supersedes the will of the king, both in II Samuel 3 and in this chapter. In the same way does Joab kill Absalom, thinking it best and right, but in so doing he goes against the will of the king. Absalom’s body is put in a pit where a heap of stones is laid over him. His “monument” is a sad pillar that he leaves behind, testifying that he had no sons. 

When it is time for David to be notified of Absalom’s death, Joab stops Ahimaaz from running to deliver the news and has a Cushite go instead. But after the Cushite leaves, Ahimaaz asked Joab if he could also run to give the news (even though he has no news to deliver as the Cushite is the one delivering the news). Joab allows it and Ahimaaz actually outruns the Cushite. This is consequential because when David sees Ahimaaz coming to bring news, it brings him relief that all was well with Absalom. This was likely a motivator for Ahimaaz to run quickly and deliver the news first because he did not want to see David aggrieved at the death of his son. When Ahimaaz delivers the news, he does so without mentioning that Absalom has died. But then the Cushite arrives, David seeks his news as well. The Cushite does reveal to David that Absalom has died in verse 32:

“And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”

Naturally this affects David greatly. He weeps and laments that he would have died rather than Absalom. 

What are some lessons that we can learn from this chapter?

  • Honor the King.
    • The unnamed messenger honored David’s wishes concerning having mercy on Absalom and assumed that Joab would as well. Even though Joab took matters into his own hands, the messenger gave Joab an opportunity to think twice and do the right thing. The fact that Joab ignored the opportunity is something that Joab will ultimately pay for in time. Standing up for what is right is its own reward. Although it can go unrecognized, God sees it, and God rewards it. 
  • Loyalty can be misguided, especially when one is overzealous, hotheaded, or does not consider the mind of the one to whom they are loyal.
    • Look at Joab. He had the best of intentions, but they went too far when he went beyond the wishes expressed by David. There is a great lesson here for us in our relationship with God. Do we take vengeance, when God tells us that it is His to take? Or do we follow His instructions and guidance even when it is not what we want to do or not what we feel should be done? What we want and what we feel can and will very often impede us from fulfilling God’s will.
  • Adulterating the truth will backfire
    • Ahimaaz, even though he had the best of intentions and even though he put up great effort, still failed in his attempt to protect David from the news of Absalom’s death. Some news, although seemingly impossible to deliver, is better to be delivered in all honesty and truth. It should be done with sensitivity and compassion to the situation, but should not be altered because eventually, all truth has a way of coming out.

II Samuel 17: The Conflicting Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

You will remember Ahithophel, a counselor that was esteemed by many in the kingdom as one that gave advice directly from God (II Samuel 16:23). Ahithophel had been a counselor to David but was now with Absalom. At the start of chapter 17, he advises to Absalom the details of a plan wherein David might be destroyed. But Absalom says in verse 17:14: ““The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.” Recall that David has deliberately sent Hushai back to Absalom so that Ahithophel’s advice could be foiled. It is interesting that Absalom, trying to overthrow David completely, consulting the wisest that he knew, ultimately does exactly what God wants Him to. Do you ever think that you are being directed by God in this way? If you were, how could it be known?

Hushai was a sort of undercover agent in Absalom’s court, along with Zadok and Abiathar, who had carried the ark back to Jerusalem when they had initially tried to flee with David. Hushai works with Zadok and Abiathar to warn David that Ahithophel’s plan could defeat David. The men (Jonathan and Ahimaaz) were spotted and reported to Absalom. After this, Absalom’s servants went looking for them. But they were not found because they were hidden by an ally of David’s in a well as they were searched for. The men eventually find David and warn him.

David flees over the Jordan river, away from the threat of attack. The precaution was unnecessary, because Absalom did not end up heeding the advice of Ahithophel in any case. The fate of Ahithophel is revealing after he finds out that his plan did not work: “Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.”

Absalom goes after David starting in verse 24, but David is ahead of him and is cared for by allies, one of which was Machir, who had cared for Mephibosheth before David took him in. In Mahanaim, David was met by these allies, who cared for David’s and his men’s needs so that they could rest and recharge. The chapter ends with David safely resting with those that had respect for him. 

There are three good lessons that we can learn from this chapter:

  1. Planning ahead can mean the difference between life and death.
    1. David knew his men, their personalities, and he was shrewd enough to pay attention to the situation that he was leaving behind. He knew that Ahithophel represented danger, so he countered that danger with Hushai. Also, Zadok and Abiathar were there to assist. It makes us wonder, do we pay enough attention to our surroundings to anticipate future threats and plan for them? It does little good to pray and then wait when there are things we can do within our control to influence a situation. We must be diligent and willing to act!
  2. Acting selfishly can paint us into corners.
    1. Ahithophel was wise, and while his designation as being one that spoke directly from God was not true, he had the opportunity to seek God and use his wisdom for good. But when we seek glory for our own and not for the Lord, the tendency to self-destruction increases.
  3. Doing good for others has a way of coming back around.
    1. Where would David have been without the help of his allies late in this chapter? Of course we do not do good in expectation of what others will do for us, but that help can come when we need it most. Such is the beauty of God’s design in human relationships. But all should be done for His glory!

II Samuel 10: Conquer and Divide

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

The king of Ammon mentioned in verse 1 was highly likely to have been the same Nahash that was defeated by Saul as recorded in I Samuel 1:1-11. Saul’s victory over the Ammonites at that time was a bright place in his kingship, where God was with Saul.

Moving ahead to David and the Ammonites, David remembers Nahash fondly because at some point (unrecorded in the Bible), Nahash was kind to David. Some suppose that this kindness was when Nahash gave Aid to David while David warred with Ishbosheth, Saul’s son that became king of Israel after Saul’s death. 

But no good deed goes unpunished, especially when it comes to political busybodies in Ammonite hierarchy: “And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?” II Samuel 10:3

Hanun, impressionable to the point of foolishness, humiliates the comforters David sent due to this supposed threat and shaves off half of their beards and removes half their garments. 

David hears of this and sends word to the men that they should wait at Jericho as their beards grew back. This sets off a chain of events where the Ammonites hire mercenaries to help defeat the Israelites, David hears of it, so he sends reinforcements to Jericho to help defend it. Along with his brother Abishai, Joab defeats the hired Syrians and the Ammonites.

The Syrians’ defeat got the attention of Hadadezer, a Syrian king. He sent for more Syrian warriors and brought them closer to David’s kingdom for battle. David, unthwarted and unthreatened, gathers all Israel and comes to Helam. There the army of Israel led by David completely defeats the Syrians. 

The net results of all this fracas is that David was able to conquer first, then divide his enemies: “And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.”

Once more, David has faith in his people, himself, and his God. David’s confidence in the Lord and his commitment to support and be loyal to his subjects rewards the entire nation. What is the lesson for us? 

  • Steadfastness
  • Willingness to do good even to our enemies
  • Support and help the weak
  • Stand up for the goodness and righteousness of God

Whenever you are discouraged and grow tired of doing good and maintaining righteousness in thought and deed, remember David in this chapter. He did not fail to represent God and the interests of the nation in all of his deeds. So should we be with our responsibilities and our commitment to ourselves and our Creator.

II Samuel 8: His Plan, Not Mine

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

In this chapter, David gets to work in fulfilling God’s promises to Him (aka the Davidic Covenant) that were made in chapter seven. 

First, David attacks and subdues the Philistines, no small task considering their cultural and military might. As it says in verse fourteen of this chapter, “…the Lord preserved David wherever he went.” This statement is an important one as we consider the ramifications of the Davidic Covenant. God will deliver the promises of kingdom and conquest to David, and He will do it through David himself. This concept may remind us of the adage: “The Lord helps those who help themselves.”

After the Philistines, David turns his gaze toward Moab. The Moabites were a group of people that came from the incestuous offspring of Lot and his older daughter (Genesis 19:36-37). David forcibly subdues the Moabites, adding their number to those he led by killing the adults and assimilating the young Moabites as his servants. The fact that they brought tribute to David shows loyalty, not an easy attribute to garner from the surviving Moabites considering the circumstances. 

Verses three and four show David adding to his army as he takes back territory near the Euphrates river. Likewise, David adds to his treasury by taking things of value from Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. When the Syrians come to Hadadezer’s aid, David kills many thousands of them, subduing them. The Syrians will also bring David tribute and become his servants, once again showing loyalty in an unlikely situation. 

Toi, king of Hamath, had been warring with Hadadezer. When Toi heard of David defeating Hadadezer’s army, he sent David many riches. Toi was impressed and grateful, wanting to get on the good side of the one that defeated his enemy. 

David, with the riches from all of these conquered peoples, guided by the power of God, brings these riches back and dedicates them to Almighty God. David’s installation of garrisons ensured that he would retain control over these lands and defeated peoples. 

The lesson from this chapter is basic but important: God will surely help you – but action and faith are required on your part. We might pray endlessly, waiting for something to happen despite the answer or course of action being plain to others. Why can we not see it? Oftentimes unlike David, we are stuck in thinking that is unhealthy, we are afraid, or we doubt. Inaction will get us nowhere. Pray, look, seek, and act. That is what David did. And as David acted with bravery and confidence in God’s plan for him, God made David’s way clear and his actions successful. So it can be for each of us. 

We may seek and seek for the way out of a situation when all the while God was hinting at us to go through the situation, to see it through to the end. We may pray for something to begin when in fact that thing’s impetus may be years in the future, or might never come at all. One of the most disappointing facts of life can be when we realize that God’s answer to what we want can sometimes be a clear and firm “No.” Our job is to seek and find God and His will for us. We are happiest, most joyous, and most complete as beings when our actions align with those desired for us by our heavenly Father.

II Samuel 7: Covenant & Submission

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

Going into II Samuel 7, the ark is now back where it should be, in Jerusalem, referred to as the City of David. It does not take David long to notice a disparity: How is it that he, an earthly king appointed by God and in all subjection to God, lives in a house made of strong cedar, while the ark resides in a lowly tent?

Nathan, David’s personal advisor and a prophet, agrees with David that the ark should have a refined structure built around it. He says to David, “Go do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” Nathan did not make this initial utterance as a prophet, speaking for God. We know this to be true because God comes to Nathan and delivers a twofold message. The first part of the message is an enlightening one for David, and for us. In verses 5-16, God tells Nathan to instruct David about God’s supposed needs for a structure on earth. The basic message is that God does not need a structure for His presence and if He wanted it, He would have commanded it be built. In His message to David through Nathan, God then lays out His blessings to David. It would seem that God would rather have David meditating on what God has done for him rather than supposing what David thinks God wants without being commanded.

God says in verse 9: “And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.” God speaks of how He will care for Israel and protect them from their enemies. The prophecy matures in verses 12-16 when God reveals His Davidic Covenant, a promise to David that He will uphold for David’s future and the future of His progeny. 

Do not be fooled that this is a messianic prophecy, for it is not. This is a covenant that God makes with David so that the kingdom on earth will be known forevermore and will come through David’s son (Solomon). God’s primary aim towards David in this chapter is to redirect David’s focus from what David thought God needed from David towards what God has done and will continue to do for David. The effect hits the mark as David expresses worship, gratitude, praise, adoration and loyalty to Almighty God in verses 18-29.

David’s prayer is something that we can all learn from. The case with many of us is that we go to God in prayer primarily to ask for something that we think will benefit our situation. Sometimes we will ask if it is in accordance with God’s will, but mostly I fear that we ask based on what we would like to happen, and not necessarily how we think God would like things to progress based on His character we get from the Bible. 

By contrast, David’s prayer to God is full of love, recognition, belief, and awe. He tells God what God has done and he affirms that God will do what He has said. In this way, David’s prayer is a form of worship and one that we would do well to emulate. David says everything in service to God, asking that God do as He wills as it pleases God. This deference, this dedication to God’s preference over man’s, is a perspective that we do not often encounter. Yet, as David prays in these verses, we are left wishing that our prayers could be more like his. 

II Samuel 5: The Fruits of Patience and Seeking God’s Counsel

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

The people in the kingdom of Israel saw David’s actions of caring for Ishbosheth’s remains and the punishment of the captains that killed him as honorable. Because of this, David earns yet more of their loyalty. These acts were in a series of bold actions that were godly and in alignment with what is best for God’s people. Because of this, the people come to David and anoint him as king in verses 1 – 3: 

“Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel.”

David had been reigning as king in Judah only, and this had been going on for the past seven years. Prior to this, we should remember that as a young man, David had been anointed as the future king of Israel in I Samuel 16 by the prophet Samuel. Even though David did not officially become king until this many years later, the scripture says that “the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” David, as God’s anointed king of Israel, was to reign as a righteous king, but still a man with faults. The arc of his forty-year kingship demonstrates this and underscores the idea that God was showing the people that they did not need an earthly king; they need only serve the one true and living God. 

One of the first things David did as king was to complete God’s request to remove the native people from the land and he went with the Jebusites first in Jerusalem. The Jebusites were in a strategic location for a siege, as they had a water source as well as mountainous boundaries to defend. Because of this, the Jebusites taunted David, saying, “the lame and the blind will repel you.” David, having cunning skills as a warrior, was able to defeat the Jebusites. After this, David stayed in Jerusalem and Hiram king of Tyre had a house built for David there. 

David took more concubines and wives at this time. David’s additional wives reflect the custom of the time for kings to marry daughters of other participants in treaties. Concubines were also a sign of the times, the size of a harem often reflecting the prestige of the king. We should recall Deuteronomy 17:17 if we attempt to look favorably at David’s exploits here: “Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.” We can count these indiscretions among David’s faults. Again, as an earthly king, David was the best, but he would never be perfect. That was to be for the Christ yet to come. 

The philistines hear of David’s kingship and they seek to defeat him. Two battles follow. In the first, David seeks God’s guidance on whether or not he should proceed to fight the Philistines. God advises David to proceed and David and his army defeat them and take their idols in the process. We know from elsewhere in the Word of God that David would burn these idols (I Chronicles 14:12). 

But the Philistines were not done and they went into the Valley of Rephaim as a threat once more. Again, David inquires of God what he should do and God instructs David to wait until “you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees.” At that point, David attacked and he and the Israelite army was victorious over the Philistines once more.

We can see from this chapter that God intended David to have been king since the first anointing he had as a young man. Saul was chosen by God to be Israel’s first king and he failed in a very public and embarrassing way. David, as the counterpoint, behaved with respect, righteousness, and in good faith at every stage as he inched closer to the throne. Now that David has made it to the kingship, he does not let his meager pride overtake him. Instead, he takes Jerusalem, expelling the Jebusites. He then responds in an exemplary manner to the threat of the Philistines by seeking and following the counsel of God. David, although imperfect, provides a shining example of how a leader not only acts decisively but also seeks God’s help when the path and footing ahead are unclear. 

II Samuel 2: Dedicated to God’s Path

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

Verses 1-11

David, ever the faithful man of God, models goodness and righteousness in the wake of Saul’s death. Despite Saul’s waywardness, David still honors the men that properly buried Saul: 

“So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. And now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.” 

II Samuel 2:5-7

The root reason for David honoring these men’s work in burying Saul is that Saul respects that God ordained Saul as the king of Israel. Even though his character and his strategies were self-centered rather than God-centered, David still honored the man because it was God that made him king. 

David is then anointed king of Judah and Ishbosheth is anointed king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin. Ishbosheth will reign over these areas for two years while David will reign over Judah for seven years and six months. 

Verses 12-32

There was an obvious conflict now between Ishbosheth and David. Ishbosheth wanted to retain control over the entire kingdom of Israel, but David had the loyalty of many and was anointed King of Judah. As Ishbosheth had been anointed king over pretty much the rest of the kingdom of Israel, Ishbosheth now wants to defeat David so that the kingdom can be complete under Ishbosheth. So Ishbosheth proposes a battle between their mutually strongest warriors. When the faction under Ishbosheth, led by Abner, fails under David’s men, led by Joab, a fast man named Asahel pursues Abner, to kill him. Asahel knew that if he killed Abner, the power would be again consolidated under David. 

Abner ends up killing Asahel and Abner proposes a truce of sorts to Joab. Joab agrees, seeing the wisdom in avoiding further bloodshed (the men under David experienced far less losses than the men under Ishbosheth). We will see in the next chapter that the houses of Saul and David will end up warring against one another for quite some time to come, with the house of David slowly gaining the advantage (II Samuel 3:1).

What can we learn from this chapter? It progresses the story of David nicely. David was first anointed as king in I Samuel 16 by Samuel when Saul was still king. So, while we see David as the eventual rightful ruler of Israel in God’s eyes, we see his earthly progression towards the throne guided by God and taking place in God’s time. We can learn that God has a plan for everything and all will come to pass in His time, not in our own. David’s patience and diligence to do the right thing even though it is not convenient or even just is admirable. This is an example for us to persevere in our own lives through difficult or confusing stages, even when things are particularly hard. It can seem near impossible, but we have so many examples in our own lives and in God’s Word of people persevering through difficult times and keeping the faith. No matter their reward on earth (which is often substantial), the heavenly reward trumps all.

I Samuel 26: Cat & Mouse?

Posted on by byrdmanbloggeth

Another profound chapter in the midst of a profound book, I Samuel 26 has us watching David and Saul playing cat and mouse once again. But which is which? Saul pursues David, but despite this David always comes away with the upper hand. Who is chasing whom?

Saul is told of David’s whereabouts and seeks to track him down. Ultimately, David has the chance to take Saul’s life for a second time, but he relents. David again has to restrain a fellow soldier in Abishai, who desires greatly to kill Saul as he sleeps. Later, they will converse across a great distance, David speaking from the top of a hill.

In the big picture, David knew that it is not up to him to decide when Saul should be removed as King. This was of course up to God to determine. These events flow according to the pattern His will, under which nothing happens that He does not allow.

At this point, we can ask ourselves, to what extent do we behave like David and let events take their course, behaving righteously? Or do we sometimes take matters into our own hands when they are not ours to take? Naturally there are times when intervention is needed, and in these situations, we must not hesitate. But David knew that in this situation, and in the cave of chapter 24, it was not appropriate to act. How do we know the difference? How did David know the difference?

The answer is that David was close to God in thought, prayer, and action. Because of his closeness to God, his faith was great. Because his faith was great, he was better attuned to the right course of action, being sensitive to what was most appropriate and what was right or wrong. We can of course experience the same thing today, and we should strive for it every morning.

Notice that Saul, when speaking with David in verse 17, refers to him as “my son.” What does this say about Saul, when we consider the totality of his actions? Is this endearment sincere?  

David, understanding how impressionably weak Saul is, appeals to Saul asking him if he is following the directive of God or of men when he decides to pursue David. It must have been surprising to David to find that Saul had pursued him yet again (with three thousand men). Surprising or not, David understands the foolishness in Saul’s pursuing him. He seems to have an understanding that Saul is motivated by jealousy and the chiding words of men close to him. He says openly to Saul in verse 20 that he is not worth Saul’s time: “So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

This statement is not based on the character of the two men, but rather on the fact that one has been chosen as king and the other, his subject. Now of course David knows, having already been anointed king by Samuel in chapter 16, that he would likely replace Saul. But until that time, David remains in full respect of God’s will and the natural flow of events as he sees them dictated by God.

Verses 23 and 24 encapsulate the highly righteous attitude of David. Who else but God’s true anointed could see events and capture them in speech so perfectly?

“May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.” I Samuel 26:23-24

Based off of these verses, here is what David knows:

  • Man is repaid for his righteousness and faithfulness
  • God rewards mercy
  • To request mercy is not foolish
  • The true giver of mercy is Almighty God

Saul’s meager rejoinder betrays a shallow heart and lips that want to please. It is difficult not to see Saul as a hollow man because that is exactly what he appears to be based on his words and actions. Saul was a long way from the condition Paul expounds on in Ephesians 4 as he addresses kingdom unity, for Saul was “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind…” Saul was not swayed by doctrine however, but by the persuasive words of evil cohorts.

Saul is a great case study of how not to act, how not to think, and who not to listen to. When we seek God as our primary source of truth and excellence, we ourselves put on the attributes of truth and excellence, much like the armor of God of Ephesians 6.

This would be the last meeting between Saul and David.