Week 82, Day 3: Amnon is repaid
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 13:1-39
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Amnon’s “love” and hatred for his half sister Tamar has always been intriguing to me. He had pined away longing after his sister. The text tells us that he loved his sister and that is what made him sick. I think of this as being puppy love. He saw her and desired her. Based on how quickly his love turned to hate I would say that he had in his mind some made up fantasy of how Tamar would love him as well and welcome his advances. When she refused to lie with him and instead tried to talk reason into him he raped her. No person who loves another would do such a thing. Amnon lusted for his sister and was consumed with his desire. The thoughts of his mind then bore fruit by producing action. Amnon then hated Tamar with a greater hatred. Perhaps this is because she rejected his advances to have a fling with him. But he then just throws her out of his house. What a horrible scene.
Thus the fruits of David’s adultery start to come forth. For from Amnon’s actions we see the beginnings of the evil that will be raised up against David from within his own household. Amnon’s sin begins a course that we will soon see costs David very dearly.
Question: How should David have handled the situation with Amnon when he found out what he had done?
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Week 82, Day 2: You are the man
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-31
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
The prophet Nathan is sent to confront David regarding his adultery. Some period of time had passed between David’s sin and when Nathan is sent. Remember that David had Urriah killed, Bathsheba mourned for her husband, David took her to be his wife and she had the baby. In all this time David had not been moved to make amends for his sin through prayer and sacrifice. Nathan now confronts David of his sin and tells him what his punishment will be.
We see that although David was forgiven of his sin, there were still consequences. The consequence of sin may be severe at times. I wonder how often David wished he had not sinned. His life and the life of his family would have been very different if he had refrained.
Question: Why do you think David reacted so strongly to Nathan’s story about the rich man taking the poor man’s sheep? Why did this story apply so well to David?
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Week 82, Day 1: David’s fall
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-27
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
David was a man like any of us. He had to have sinned in his life often. But here we have recorded for us one sin in particular. Why? I wonder if it is because the difference perhaps is how willful this sin is and how David labored to cover up his actions. We are not told such details so it avails little to speculate but it is interesting to think about.
David commits adultery. Knowingly takes another man’s wife. A man whom he knows because this is one of his mighty men. Uriah fought bravely for his king and servced faithfully in the army. Here David sees his wife bathing and sends for her to lie with her. What was David thinking? How could he have done such a thing? All the whys are not given but we have recorded for us the downfall of a great man of faith. David has already shown such devotion to God. Here at David’s height, he falls to willful sin. God will hold David accountable for his actions and oh how great the price will be.
Question: What reasons can you think of for why David might have gone ahead and commited this sin? How can we guard our ways so that we do not fall prey to the same kind of situation?
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Week 81, Day 5: Battle again
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 10:1-19
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Battle again comes to David’s doorstep. Instead of it being from a long standing adversary, war comes because a king who had formerly been friendly to David died. This demonstrates to me how fragile politics has always been. David did not have problems from the former king, he had problems because the king’s heir was foolish. David sent his messengers to carry his condolences to the king’s son and because of distrust, the son mistreats them. This action leads to much ruin to come upon his newly inherited realm. This occasion makes me think of the passage in Ecclesiastes 2:18-19. The wise man wrote about all our labors and who knows what the man will do who inherits the fruit of our labors. Will he be wise or a fool. Will he preserve, build up or destroy all that you have labored for in life? This kind of an account should serve as a reminder for us. Man can pursue wealth and riches, but they do not last. What if your son is a fool and wastes all that you have worked hard for? What would man say of all your labors then? We must always keep in mind what really matters in life and make sure to leave something behind that will be more important than wealth or possessions – faith. If we instill faith in our children then we will have done well and leave behind something that will continue to shine in the lives of men. Fools devour riches but a man rich in faith will have much joy in life.
Question: What lesson might we learn about what the king’s son should have done in this situation? What does this say about who you pick to be your counselors?
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Week 81, Day 4: Mephibosheth
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 9:1-13
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Now that David has secured his throne and been granted rest from his enemies, he turns his eyes to accomplishing another work. David and Saul’s son Jonathan had made a vow to have peace between their houses. David now sought to honor that covenant by seeking out Jonathan’s son. It is sad that Jonathan’s only son was now lame. He had been injured by Saul’s servant. After Saul died, the servant gathered Mephibosheth up in order to flee but fell and it damaged both of his feet. So now Mephibosheth has been living many years in some kind of seclusion. David brings Mephibosheth and grants him all the lands that Saul had once owned. He has just made this man rich overnight and given him servants to tend to his new lands. David has extended great mercy to Mephibosheth and has kept his word to Jonathan.
Question: How easy would it have been for David to forget about the oath he made with Jonathan? What does the keeping of this oath show about David?
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Week 81, Day 3: David’s victories
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 8:1-18
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
We are now told about David’s victories. God provided him numerous and great victories over his enemies. There appears to be no limit to David’s might. He is finally able to subdue the Philistines, even taking their chief city. That would be like someone taking Jerusalem from Israel. He also conquers Moab, Edom, Damascus, and a king named Hadadezer. We are told of some of the treasure that he began to acquire through these victories. Soon there will be a great store of wealth for building the temple. It is sometimes very difficult to imagine just how much treasure David had stored up for the temple. We will talk about this after a little while.
Another thing to note is that the son of Abiathar, the priest who followed David during his days fleeing Saul, is now serving as priests. This is the family that Saul had almost wiped out because they had aided David when he fled. Now David has restored them to serving God.
Question: Why do you think king Toi felt compelled to send a gift to David by the hand of his own son?
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Week 81, Day 2: Overwhelming
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-29
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
David has news brought to him that would be hard to take in. Have you ever felt that God blessed you or is blessing you so much? Have you ever realized that your cup overflows with blessings from God’s hand? I see David in that realm in chahpter 7. David had enough concern for doing good towards God that he recognized that here he was living in a house of cedar and yet the ark remained in a tent. But the answer to David was that he wasn’t the man to build the temple. This might have been hard for David to hear. Why not me? But this let down was followed by news that God would give him rest from his enemies and would establish his throne forever. David expresses his sense of how good God has been to him by saying, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?” When David considered that God had taken him from following the sheep and made him an established throne. Amazing. You can understand how overwhelming these blessings must be to all take in.
Our challenge is to always keep things in perspective. Has God blessed us? How much has He blessed us? Let us stand in awe of what God does for us. Great is His mercy and great is His lovingkindness.
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Week 81, Day 1: David moves the ark
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-23
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Chapter 6 has one of my favorite examples for showing that good intentions do not trump everything else. David decides it is time to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. We are not told why he did not return it to wherever the tabernacle was. But David has erected a tent for the ark and intends to bring it to be near him in Jerusalem. They make a new cart for the occasion and begin to move the ark. But when the oxen pulling the cart stumble it unsettles the ark so that the priest, Uzzah, fears that it will tip over. He reaches out his hand to simple steady the ark and God strikes him dead for his irreverence. No one was to touch the ark. It was a holy article that represented the presence of God among Israel. No man was to touch it and few were allowed to look upon it.
David is of course stunned by this event and fears bringing the ark on up to be with him in Jerusalem. Instead of investigating to see what they did wrong he acts like the ark is dangerous. Firstly, they were moving the ark in an incorrect manner. Someone today would say, “oh, what does it matter how we move it.” Israel had been told to carry the ark using poles inserted on the arks sides. The cart could move the ark but it was not the manner specified. When God specified the manner to use that was what they were supposed to follow. Uzzah did not have bad intentions or ill motives for what he did. But good intentions do not make things right. Today we can do all sorts of things in Jesus’ name but if we are practices sin or acting without authority then we are practicing lawlessness. How do we know that God will not view our actions are irreverence towards Him instead of viewing our actions as alright because we meant well? Thus scriptural guidance is needed for us to know that what we are doing pleases God and shows Him honor. We show disrespect for the Lord when we refuse to listen to His words.
Question: What reaction do you think David should of had initially to Uzzah’s death?
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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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