Readings for 4/10-4/16
APRIL 10
When David went to fight against the Philistines “he became exhausted.” Was it because he was fighting in his own power and not depending on God?
In 2 Samuel 21:18-22 are listed several names and descriptions of battles with the Philistines. There is mention of a Bethlehemite named Elhanan, who killed Goliath. The man who actually killed Goliath was David who was from Bethlehem and not Elhanan.
1 Chronicles 20:5 states that Elhanan killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath, not Goliath. This obviously is a mistranslation according to the companion verse in 1 Chronicles. Just another example of reading and studying ALL of Scripture and letting the Bible speak. Goliath had a least four brothers. This may be why David selected five stones for his slingshot when he fought the giant Goliath. (1Samuel 17:40)
There is an absence of David inquiring of the Lord before going into battle. His men suggested that he stay out of the battle. So in the spring “when kings go off to war” David stayed (KJV says “tarried”) in Jerusalem. Bad idea! It was because David “tarried” that he had time on his hands to give in to his wandering eye and to lust after Bathsheba. And if the lusting weren’t enough, he sent for her, slept with her and she conceived. After finding out that Bathsheba was pregnant, David sent for her husband Uriah to come home in hopes that he would sleep with her and that the baby would be mistaken for Uriah’s. This would let David off the hook. However David's plan didn’t work, Uriah refused to go home to his wife. David sunk to an unprecedented low when he ordered that Uriah be sent to the front line of battle, setting a trap for Uriah, so that he would be killed by the enemy. At the death of Uriah, David was then free to marry Bathsheba.
Uriah was a man of honor. He was devoted to his troops and his commander David, and would not indulge himself by going home to his wife when his men were not able to go home to their wives. Even in a drunken stupor, Uriah maintained his integrity. Oh, by the way, Uriah was one of David's Mighty Men.
David was given authority and absolute power over everything possessed by Saul, even to Saul's wives and concubines. Taking the whole harem of King Saul was sure proof that David was king. Most of David's wives may have been from Saul's harem. This may be why God told Nathan the prophet that He (God) had given the master's wives into David's arms.
Through Psalm 51 David repents of his sin with Bathsheba.
"Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."
(see John 3:17-18)
Using the parable of the "one little ewe lamb," the prophet Nathan confronted David ("You are the man!") with his double sin, the murder of Uriah the Hittite and his adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife (2 Samuel 12:1-15) David in effect pronounced his own sentence when he responded to the prophet Nathan’s story about the poor man and his ewe lamb. David's reign was one of constant battle with his enemies.
And yet, David is known as a man after God’s own heart. What grace! I believe it’s called Amazing Grace.
APRIL 11
When David heard about the death of his son by Bathsheba, he stopped his fasting and weeping, washed, dressed, refreshed himself and went into the house of the Lord. At this time the tabernacle was at Gibeon. Then David spoke these words concerning his son:
2 Samuel 12:23b
I will go to him, but he will not return to me."
David is making in this one little sentence a huge statement. He is acknowledging of course that he will at some time die and be buried, but he is also acknowledging eternal life, not only for him but for his child. They cannot be together now but will be in eternity.
God gave David victory in subduing his enemies. These military conquests were in lands that Abraham walked - even as far north and east as Damascus, Syria - as Abraham rescued Lot from captivity. (Genesis 14:13-16 - page 28). The military actions were done with God's blessing. This provided an era of peace that David's son Solomon would enjoy during his reign as king.
David captures and/or defeats Rabbah, Moab, Hadadezer, Damascus, Edom. (Abraham walked these places) "The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went." (Remember, God had promised earlier in Genesis 13:17 and Exodus 32:13 that He would give His people every place they set their foot. This applies in land procurement as well as military success.)
In subduing his enemies David took quite a bit of plunder in the way of bronze, silver, gold, and other riches that would be used later in the building of the temple in Jerusalem.
David's mighty men were certainly Mighty Men! Just read about some of their exploits. Notice in the list of the other mighty men on page 459 (I Chronicles 11:26-47) is Uriah the Hittite, husband of Bathsheba who was killed in battle at the order of David.
David started with several hundred before he became king, then out of the several hundred were thirty special mighty men and then there were three extraordinary men.
David laments the following at the cave of Adullam.“Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
Ponder this verse. When we think of Bethlehem, we automatically think of Jesus, born in Bethlehem. Remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well?
John 4:10
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
So when David longed for a drink of water from Bethlehem, was he speaking prophetically?
Even though David was thirsty and his men risked lives to get him the water, David then poured the water on the ground without drinking any of it. This may sound confusing to us. What David was doing was pouring out the water as a sacrificial act of worship. Because procuring the water was so great a risk for his men, it made the water so valuable to David that it could only be used as an offering to God.
Even though David had victory over his enemies, he had to be constantly at war. The Lord didn't do all of David's fighting for him, David had to do most of it himself. He was given victory over the people living in all the lands that Abraham walked, which included the land known as Syria and Jordan and Lebanon today. Great lesson for us...in all our spiritual battles, the Lord is more than willing to do the fighting for us - if we are obedient to Him and allow Him. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
APRIL 12
A son is born to David and Bathsheba. The Lord sent word through Nathan, the prophet that this son was to be named Jedidiah, and yet they named him Solomon. Why? Jedidiah means "loved by the Lord" - what a great name to have. Does this mean that God loved Jedidiah above and beyond that of others?
In 2 Samuel 3:2-5 are listed sons born to David in Hebron - six sons in all. In 1 Chronicles 3:4-9 the sons of David born in Jerusalem are listed - nine sons in all. David's sons as recorded in Scripture (those that we know about) are 15 total. Only one daughter is named but it doesn’t mean that David only had one daughter. In fact in the following Scripture, it says there were daughters (plural).
2 Samuel 5:13
After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
With as many wives and concubines that David had, there surely were several daughters. Since Tamar is listed as the sister of Absalom, they must have had the same mother. Tamar was the half-sister of Amnon. Amnon raped Tamar which led to the murder of Amnon by Absalom's men.
According to the law David should have taken action against Amnon for the rape of Tamar. And he should have taken action against Absalom for the premeditated murder of Amnon each of these offenses required death by stoning.
Even though David had some bloodthirsty offspring, one was not bloodthirsty and was singled out for some great things...Solomon.
The wise woman sent to David from Joab utters some very profound words spiritually speaking in
2 Samuel 14:14
But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.
How very true for all unbelievers. God does not take away their eternal life. He offers many, many opportunities for the unbeliever to know Him. Some of those opportunities may come through believers. We may never know the impact we may have on others, through our witness to them, or the words we say, or the way we live. After all, we are His ambassadors here on earth.
APRIL 13
Interestingly, David's son Absalom was praised for his physical appearance. And he was evaluated by men by how he looked. This is contrary to the way God looks at a person. When speaking of Saul, God said:
1 Samuel 16:7
But Jehovah said to Samuel, Do not look on his face, nor on his height, because I have refused him. For He does not see as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart.
When Absalom sent word to his father King David that he wanted to come back to Jerusalem, he sent Joab with this question for the king, "If I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death." What a stupid statement! IF I am guilty of anything???Absalom was a murderer and an arsonist.
When he summons Absalom back to Jerusalem, David displays that he is blinded by his love for his son. Justice has not been served in Absalom's case. Absalom should have been executed for the pre-meditated murder of Amnon. As a result of David's lack of administering justice, the backlash is severe.
How easily the people fell for Absalom’s trickery. “If only I were appointed judge of the land!” He ingratiated himself to the people. What he said and what he did sounded good. Sounds like some of our politicians and even some of our spiritual leaders today.
Absalom told David that he wanted to go back to Hebron to worship the Lord. What he really wanted to do was to go there to position himself to take over David's throne. Absalom was able to convince others that he should be the king. As a result... “They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently…” Isn’t that what Satan does? He works in the hearts of men. What he says sounds good and the “innocents” are led astray. But as believers in Jesus, we should not be among the "innocents".
2 Corinthians 2:11
in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
How can we be aware of Satan’s schemes and not be like the “innocents” who are easily led astray? If we participate in all the spiritual disciplines; prayer, Bible study, worship, and fellowship with other believers, we will become very well aware of Satan's schemes.
It seems as if David left Jerusalem for fear of Absalom, however, David had the power and authority to stop Absalom. Did David's love for Absalom cause him to run from the fight? David surely knew that any conflict between David's forces and Absalom's forces would result in the defeat and probable death of Absalom. Also note that there is no evidence that David ever consulted God for these decisions.
When leaving Jerusalem David crossed the Kidron Valley and “continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went”.
This is the first mention of the Mount of Olives in the Bible (at least the Bible we have today). This ascent was probably east of the City of David, near the village of Silwan. Portions of the mount are called the Mount of Corruption, named for the idol worship there begun by King Solomon who build altars to the gods of his Moabite and Ammonite wives. This site continued to be infamous for idol worship through the reigns of many of the kings until Josiah, king of Judah finally destroyed the high places there.
At the Mount of Olives lies the Garden of Gethsemane. The Mount of Olives is frequently mentioned in the New Testament. Jesus spent much time on the mount, teaching and prophesying to his disciples (Matthew 24–25) and resting and sleeping there. This is also the place where Jesus was betrayed and arrested. And it is from the Mount of Olives where Jesus ascended into heaven and where He will return. (Zechariah 14:4).
APRIL 14
The consequences of David's sin with Bathsheba come into play yet again. Earlier God rebuked David with the following words:
2 Samuel 12:9-12
Why have you despised the Word of Jehovah, to do evil in His sight? You have stricken Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. (Just as God allows people to be killed. David allowed Uriah to be killed.) And therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. So says Jehovah, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor. And he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.
And then, strangely, Ahithophel gives this advice to Absalom, which he is quick to follow.
2 Samuel 16:21-22
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines, that he left to keep the house. And all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred by your father. And the hands of all who are with you will be strong. And they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
The exact thing that God told David earlier came to pass.
Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba, and one of David's counselors, who joined Absalom in revolt against David, and later committed suicide when Absalom did not heed his counsel.
Interesting thing happens with Absalom. He was left hanging in midair after his hair got caught in the tree. In 2 Samuel 14:11 a woman from Takoa tells King David a story about her sons. David says to her, “not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.” Seems prophetic on the part of David. Not one hair of David’s son Absalom falls to the ground.
Notice when David sends out troops, he doesn’t inquire of the Lord. He only says to his men “I will do whatever seems best to you.”
He was listening to the advice of men and not asking the will of God. How often do we do that as well?
David’s Son Absalom Compared to the Antichrist
Absalom Antichrist
APRIL 15
It seems as if the readings for today have a theme of lies, betrayal, painful truth, and repentance.
Soon after the messengers had brought the news of the defeat and death of Absalom to the court of Mahanaim, Joab and his victorious army followed expecting King David to meet them joyfully with thanksgiving for their military success. Instead they found the king in tears for Absalom's death, which they construed as a token of displeasure against them for what they had done.
Pretty gutsy of Joab to call David to task. David had dishonored the fighting men by mourning over Absalom, their enemy. Joab told David to go out and encourage the men. Does David know that it was Joab who struck the three javelins in Absalom’s heart?
Earlier, when David was fleeing from Absalom, Shemei, a Benjamite, of the family of Saul, met David at Bahurim. He shouted curses at King David and threw stones at him. But when David's faithful companions would cross the ravine to make quick work of Shimei, King David granted Shemei mercy.
Ziba the steward of Saul's grandson Mephibosheth earlier lied to David about Mephibosheth's intentions. Mephibosheth stayed in Jerusalem after David left and Absalom came in. Ziba told David that Mephibosheth had defected to Absalom, because he thought that Saul's kingdom would be returned to him. However, Mephibosheth sets the record straight, showing David that he had been in mourning for him (David) by not taking care of his feet, or trimming his mustache or washing his clothes (all tokens of mourning) since the day King David left the city.
What a great illustration we have in Barzillia. He remained faithful and waited for the king’s return. Wow! Can we say that about ourselves? Are we faithful as we wait for THE King’s return?
APRIL 16
A famine spread throughout the land of Israel because of Saul's destruction of the Gibeonites. Earlier, Joshua had made a covenant with the Gibeonites, which was in direct violation of God's orders not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land. Even though it was proven that the Gibeonites tricked Joshua into making the treaty, Joshua still honored the covenant made with man and not the covenant made with God. (Joshua 9)
In many cases today, people come, falsely claiming to be seeking Jesus or Christianity in order to get the material "goodies" offered by churches.
Quite an overcorrection on the part of the Gibeonites and David, killing so many innocent descendants of Saul. Did David allow this because they would be considered successors to Saul's throne? When Rizpah protected the fallen bodies of the men, she did so for a period of about six or seven months - from the beginning of the barley harvest in late spring to the rainy season in late fall. She did this to protect the bodies from desecration. The bodies decayed naturally and David ordered that their bones be buried with the bones of Saul and Jonathan, at the tomb of Saul's father Kish.
David succumbed to the temptation of Satan to take a census. Was David feeling pride in his own strength? Pride…something Satan is very familiar with. And something that we should always be on our guard against!
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
David captured the land that Abraham walked. It seems as if he wanted more land. He wanted to count the fighting men in anticipation of taking more land - something contrary to God's plan.
Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering. Joab knew it was wrong. Once David realized that God was going to punish Israel, he cried out to God. Instead of speaking to David directly, God spoke to him through David’s seer, Gad.
The angel of the Lord stood at the threshing floor with a drawn sword in his hand. David and the elders fell facedown. A similar thing happened with Joshua (Joshua 5:13) and Balaam (Numbers 22:23). When the four sons of Araunah saw the angel, they hid. Quite a commanding presence this angel of the Lord! (manifestation of the Son of God) David redeemed himself when he bought with his own money the threshing site and built an altar there (very prophetic). This is the place where the temple will be built, but not by David. He shed too much blood. His son Solomon will have that honor.
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