Week 80, Day 5: David becomes king
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-25
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
David becomes king over all of Israel. Finally he has been raised up to the place he had been promised. Soon he takes up his seat in Jerusalem. Up till this time Jerusalem remained in the hands of the Jebusites. This text tells us in verse 8 how they were able to overthrow the city, “through the water tunnel”. David now understands that God has established him as king. God fulfilled His promise to David.
We are also told how David was able to defeat the long term enemy of the Philistines. The Philistines have always been a danger to Israel. But after David’s reign you do not hear of them being the same kind of danger. God put an end to the threat of the Philistines. And thus began the solidifying of Israel’s borders and security that would eventually come to the land.
Question: Why was it important for David, even after becoming the king, to still inquire of God whether to go against the Philistines?
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Week 80, Day 4: Ish-bosheth Murdered
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 4:1-12
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
After Abner is killed things just fall apart for Ish-bosheth. It sounds like from this account that Ish-bosheth was no “mighty man” and that Abner kept everything together for him. So with Abner gone things look very bleak for Ish-bosheth. One day these two men who are supposed to be commanders among his troops come in and strike Ish-bosheth and cut off his head. This does not seem to indicate that all of his troops wanted Ish-bosheth killed but these men came in by stealth and struck before they could be stopped.
David continues to display integrity and a great sense of honor in all his dealings. When these wicked men bring Ish-bosheth’s head to him, David addresses their wickedness and has them killed. Such acts of justice would spread among David’s men so that they knew what was expected of them and what kind of actions were not tolerated. I see in David’s actions a clear reflection of why a righteous ruler draws forth the godly. A righteous ruler does not mean that evil never happens again, but it does mean that the wicked have someone to fear and the godly have someone to rally around.
Question: Should David not have rejoiced that his enemy was now dead?
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Week 80, Day 3: Abner Killed
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 3:1-39
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Things are starting to work out for the kingdom to be completely under David. A conflict arises between Ish-bosheth and the captain of his forces, Abner. Abner makes an agreement to join forces with David and bring all of Israel over to him. But before everything is completely a done deal Joab comes in to mess things up.
Joab is apparently still angry with Abner over killing his younger brother. He wants revenge. The way Joab gets his revenge is without any sense of honor. He waylays Abner under the pretense of wanting to tell him something in secret. No warning, no sign of being agreesive. Joab just strikes. Joab also knows that David sent Abner away in peace and pays no heed to the wishes of his king. You can imagine how upset this must have made David.
Question: Would Joab have been justified in seeking his revenge in some other fashion (ex: a challenge to hand to hand combat)? What did Joab’s actions indicate about himself?
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Week 80, Day 2: Divided kingdom
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 2:1-32
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
David asks God what he should do and the Lord directs him to go up to Hebron. There Judah makes him king over them. There are quick references such as these that emphasize how David sought after God’s council. On the other hand you have Abner and Ish-bosheth. They continue after Saul’s example and will not accept that God has chosen to replace Saul as the king.
When the fighting begins it is clear that David’s men are superior. Whether this is because God strengthens them or because they are better men of war, David begins to gain the upper hand by his military victories. It is sad to see how many men died because some would not accept what God planned for His people. This is what happens though when men do not seek out God’s guidance. Had Abner and Ish-bosheth been willing to ask God like David did, then many men would not have lost their lives. But you have to be seeking to please God to inquire of him. These men were clearly not seeking to do God’s will but to do their own.
Question: How do we prevent ourselves from just following our own pursuits and instead pursuing God’s ways?
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Week 80, Day 1: David hears of Saul
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-27
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
This chapter details for us how David finds out about the death of Saul and Jonathan. Even after all that David went through he still shows respect for Saul. Even though Saul persecuted him and tried repeatedly to return evil for good, David still showed remorse over his death. And David even avenged Saul’s death on the man who claimed to strike him dead. We know from the account earlier what actually happened was Saul killed himself but here is a man proclaiming that he struck Saul dead (lying about it all) but he had the evidence in his hands – Saul’s crown. This man claims to have struck down the Lord’s annointed and for this David deals out justice.
Question: How easy would it be for David to rejoice over Saul’s death? What kept David from exalting in the calamity that fell on Saul?
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Week 79, Day 5: In His Time
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 31:1-13
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
The battle between the Philistine army and Israel’s army finally takes place. We have been leading up to this battle for several chapters now. Saul had been told by Samuel, through a medium, that he and his sons would be dead after this battle. Now it takes place that Saul and three of his sons are slain on the battlefield. Finally the day has come that God has removed David’s adversary. David had said that God would strike Saul at some point, but that he himself would not raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed – out of respect for his position. How many years this took is not easily determined. We sometimes sing a song about God taking care of things in His time. It is so hard for us to have this etched in our minds and heart when adversity comes or when we are faced with challenges in life. And yet here the day has finally come to punish Saul and remove the kingdom from his grip. It is sad to see that Jonathan, a good and just man is struck down with his father. We also have a hard time accepting when the good suffer with the wicked but here is a prime example of such an occasion. I wonder what it takes to reinforce in our minds that God is in control. That He will do what is right. That He is our only hope and refuge in this life, no matter what happens. And that things will work out for those who love the Lord, they will not happen according to our schedule but God will take care of us.
Question: What do you think we can do to help us remember to trust in God and not dispair or worry over things? How do we get ourselves to let go and accept God’s timing?
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Week 79, Day 4: Ziklag burned
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 30:1-31
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
When David and his men get back from being sent away from the battle they find their homes burned. The Amelekites, a nomadic tribe of people, have come and attacked the region. They have carried off their families and all their possessions. We have two reminders in this account of some of the type of men David had with him. When the men first find out about their things being taken they speak of stoning David. As if it is David’s fault that bad things had happened to them. Some of the men did not display a great sense of loyalty to David in this regard. They may have just been reacting from their sorrow but recall that the men who gathered to David were already some of those who were discontent or in trouble already. The other indicator of some of the men with David is how they treat their companions after the battle with the Amalekites is over. They speak of giving them only their wives and children and sending them off. They are described in the text as being evil men. For whatever reason David had allowed these men to remain among his troops. Perhaps it was only in occasions such as these that they exposed who they were. It is sad to see how men can mistreat others and it is also important to see how a real leader handles things. Saul often blamed the people for pressuring him into sinning against God (keeping some of the best for sacrifice). But David does not just go along with whatever the men wanted. Instead he sets things right and makes a new, just standard for the men to abide by. True leaders will not just go along with the flow of things but will do what is right, even if it is not popular.
Question: Was this victory over the Amalekites a great or small victory? What indication are found in the text?
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Week 79, Day 3: David sent away
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 29:1-11
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
The account of the pending battle now shifts from Saul and Israel’s perspective to the camp of the Philistines. The Philistine armies have gathered together and are preparing to go against Israel. King Achish brings David and his men with him. This is an interesting scene. David, the hero of Israel, is brought along with the enemy of Israel to fight against them. It is a very curious question to consider what David would have done in the battle. Would he have fought for or against Israel? I believe that he would have fought for Israel in the end. All along David has been setting out to fight against Judah’s enemies in the south. He has kept his activities and loyalty to Israel hidden from king Achish. And David has never actually said that he would fight for the Philistines. When Achish told him to come along, David had said that the king would, “you shall know what your servant can do” 28:2. They would see what David was capable of in the battle. This sounds to me like it leaves room for David to turn against the Philistines in the battle and show them his true allegiance to Israel.
But this is not to be. David is sent away by the rest of the Philistine lords. They rightly do not trust David and have not been enamoured of him as king Achish had. I am still impressed by how completely convinced king Achish was that David was his faithful servant.
Question: What song verse do the Philistine lords cite? What does this say about David’s reputation?
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Week 79, Day 2: Saul’s pending doom
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 28:1-25
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Facing the threat of the Philistine army, Saul goes looking for help from the Lord. How many times is this the way people act. Saul has been actively fighting against God’s will. He knows David is to replace him and yet he has been trying to find and kill him. It wasn’t just that Saul knew God’s plans and didn’t like them, he was actively working to try to subvert these plans. Now that danger is at hand he “turns” to God. Help me! So many times people have no use for God’s word and for having a relationship with the Lord and yet when tough times come they then run for help. It is sad to see this.
To add further insult to this Saul goes looking for a medium to consult. The man will cast aside God’s commands when it suits him. “But this is an emergency.” When we are hard pressed shows how much we really value keeping God’s commands. Saul quickly hits the panic button and runs for a medium, whom God had commanded not to be used and to be killed for their evil practices. Saul makes me think of those kind of people who know God’s commands but “bend” the rules because they consider their situation to be a crisis that justifies them violating God’s commands. For example: lying to keep your job or being willing to work Sunday’s for the overtime pay.
Question: Why do you think Saul was in such a state of shock after hearing what Samuel had to say to him?
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Week 79, Day 1: To the Philistines
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 27:1-12
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
David decides that he is never going to be safe, Saul will keep pursuing him until he catches him. Where can he go? If he goes to the Philistines then he knows Saul will not pursue him to the doorstep of his foe. It is impressive to me to think that David would even consider going to Israel’s enemy for an escape. But he must have known something that indicated this move would work out. So David is able to go among the Philistines and even have his own city. There he is able to remain in one place for a year and four months. This must have been a nice change for David whose life had been living in the wilderness of Judah for so long now. We can only imagine what David went through during these times of fleeing for his life and living in the outskirts of society.
Question: How did David keep the king of the Philistines believing he had turned against Israel?
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