2 Samuel Series - Week 18: Owing Up

  As a child, did you ever do something that warranted your parents to correct you. Like steal a piece of candy from a store, just to have your parents haul you back inside to confess? The reason why parents do this is because, the old saying is true, “Honestly is the best policy.” 

That was true of a civil engineer names Othmar Ammann. In the early 1900s, Othmar was a leading bridge designer on the east coast of the US. He oversaw the construction of eight bridges and several other transit corridors. He was sought after mainly because he was able to bring projects in under budget and before the deadline. This was especially important because some of his first projects were during the Depression Era. 

But what is even more impressive about Othmar, is that he was able to own up to his own mistakes. Othmar designed, and began to build the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge in the late 1930s. In order to save costs, reduce the bridge’s weight, and to make the project look sleek, he removed the deep steel girders that he original designed for the bridge. Then, in 1940, the Tacoma Narrows bridge collapsed due to high wind vibrations. Othmar, who was a student of bridge collapses, realized that his own bridge, which had opened a year prior, had the same problem, and could collapse as well. 

When Othmar realized the issue, he contacted the Triborough Bridge Authority and reported the danger. Over the next five years, steel cables, and trusses were added to strengthen the bridge. Later on, triangular shaped lightweight fiberglass aerodynamic fairings were added to mitigate the wind issue. 

Othmar, owned up to a mistake, that could have cost him his reputation, and future projects. But because he owned this mistake, and thereby corrected it, he went on to build four more major bridge projects. He has been honored many times with awards, statues, and plaques.

It’s this idea of owning our mistakes that brings us back to our summer series, where we’ll be picking it back up in Second Samuel Chapter 18, verse 1. And as we open up to Second Samuel 18:1, let’s look back on how we got here.

David’s personal sin of lustful eyes, led to adultery, conspiracy, and murder. Out of it, divine judgment was passed. His child from the adultery died, then his first born son violated his sister, then another son killed that son, then the son who killed the other, conspired against his father and tried to take the throne for himself. From all of this we talked about how unconfessed and unrepented sin festers and brings about more destruction, and so we are to confess, repent and seek the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit as an antidote to festering sin.

We also saw that through this whole ordeal, David had grown in his faith. Which is one of the reasons, God called him a man after his own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts13:22). Form David’s growth we understood that, God calls us to a faith that is always growing; a growing faith is one that is content in Jesus and seeks his purposes.

With that fresh in our minds, we can turn our attention to Second Samuel 18, where we’ll be reading through Chapter 19 verse 8. However, we won’t be reading everything, so, again, your homework is to read the rest of the passage. Let’s read together. 

18:1 Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.” 3 But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.” 4 The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.

6 So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 7 And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.

9 And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’ 13 On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. 15 And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.

16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them. 17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King's Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's monument to this day.

18:1-18

The chapter begins with David organizing his men for battle outside the city of Mahanaim. He separates them into three groups, each under one of his generals. David knows the battle plan of his son, and so prepares for the attack. One of the important details here, is that he has decided to go out to fight with his men. Hopefully this is because he learned his lesson from the last time he stayed behind. 

However, his men convinced him to stay behind, because he’s too valuable to be lost. If David is killed, then the fight is over and Absalom wins. So he stays behind. But notice where he stays. He doesn’t go up on a roof, where he had sinned before. No, this time he goes down to the gates, and waits for word of the battle. The gates are the first place you could hear news; so David foregoes the cushy waiting place, so that he could be as close to the battle as possible.

Yet he had one request of his army. In verse 5 he tells them, "Deal gently … with the young man Absalom.” What he’s requesting is that they not kill his son. This is heard by all the soldiers. 

Then the battle ensues. David’s men overcome Absalom’s, and 20,000 people die in this fight for the throne. Then, as Absalom tries to escape, he gets caught in a tree.  It is possible that one of the reasons we were told back in Chapter 14 about Absalom’s thick hair, was because it got caught in the tree here, and that has been the popular view. However, it doesn’t tell us that directly in the text if this is the case. However he was stuck, and unable to get out. He now posed no threat, because he couldn’t defend himself.

It’s here that a man of David sees this and reports back to Joab about Absalom’s situation. When Joab asks why the man hadn’t killed Absalom, the man tells him that David didn’t not want that. This enrages Joab, who takes javelins and strikes Absalom himself. Then Joab’s armor bears join in to finish the job.

The battle ends with Absalom’s men fleeing, and the would be king, being buried in the forest, instead of with the monument he made for himself.

Summarize - 18:19-33

Then comes verses 19-33. One man, Ahimaaz, wants to go tell David the good news, but Joab knows that there’s a possibility that whoever brings the news of Absalom’s death to the king, might die. This has happened twice: once when David was told about Saul (Ch 1) and the other when he was told about Ish-bosheth (Ch 4). In those cases the one’s who did the killing, also died. So Joab sends another man in Ahimaaz’s place. However, eventually Joab relents and allows the first man to go.

Even though the first man leaves second he reaches David first, but doesn’t disclose what happened to Absalom, instead he deflects the question when asked. This actually blunts the death of Absalom, because David was given the good news of the victory, before the bad news. Then the second man arrives and tells David that Absalom had been killed.

And this what we read in verse 33, “And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, ‘O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!’”

David mourns the death of his son. Even though Absalom was his enemy, this is not how he wanted things to end. Yet, this is just another reminder that the consequences of our sin can have effects that destroy the people around us.

While David is mourning his son, we read Joab’s response starting in Chapter 19, verse 1.

19:1 It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. 4 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, 6 because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 7 Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” 8 Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king.

19:1-8a

We see that Joab confronts David about mourning for Absalom. Telling David that its as if he cares more for his enemies than for the people around him. If that’s the case, then Joab will see to it that the people will leave him. Now, this may seem mean, but there is some truth to Joab’s confrontation.

There is two sides to this. David, as a father, should mourn for his son. This situation might have been avoided if David had been faithful to God. However, David is also the king. The people love him and have sacrificed to keep him in power. Absalom was an enemy, even if he was also a son. David cannot mourn like a father, when he also has to lead as a king. That is the burden of leadership. Sometimes our personal issues get pushed to the back, as we deal with issues that go beyond ourselves.

Here’s the reality, David should have never been in put in this situation to have to mourn his son’s death because of a civil war. David’s sin led to this moment, and he knows it. From his words in verse 33, “Would I had died instead of you …,” there is a hint that David wishes that he would have died in place of his sin. But the reality is, Absalom died because of his own sin. It is true that David was a catalyst, but Absalom had his own hand in it. He didn’t have to kill Amnon, he didn’t have to conspire against his father, he didn’t have to rebel against his king. In the end, David is not at fault for his child’s choices, even if he was a bad role model.

Each of us will stand before God and give an account of what we have done, not what has been modeled for us. 

Paul writes in Romans 14:10-12, “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

In Second Corinthians 5:10, Paul writes, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

There is a sense where we should mourn over our sin which has been a bad example to those around us. I have been a bad example many times, and I have to live with that understanding that I have failed many people. However, it cannot be an excuse for us to point to others and blame them for our sin. We will stand before God and give an account on what we have done, not what has been done to us. Others will given an account for their own lives.

Absalom will not stand before God and point to David and say, “David should have done better!” Because if he did, God will respond with, “No, you should have done better in spite of David.”

This is why God calls each of us to a personal faithful walk. God never calls us to walk the same walk as another, but a unique walk that’s all our own. We might have overlap, we might have influences, but at the end of our lives, it will not be by other people’s sin that we will be judged by, it will only be by what we have done.

So praise God, that anyone who puts their trust into Jesus, will not be condemned for their sin. It is the one and only instance, where God looks to another at our judgment. If we have placed our trust into Jesus as our Savior, we can accept that we have fallen short of his righteous standard, and yet stand tall in the righteousness bought by the blood of Jesus, that covers us.

My challenge for you this week is this: First are you holding grudges against people who have sinned against you? Are you using them as an excuse for what has happened to you, and so live in state where they still have sway in your life? I’m not downplaying the pain and suffering they have inflicted on you, and they will give an account to God because of it. But you are not them, Jesus wants to free you of that bondage. So take this week to seek forgiveness for that person, giving them over to God, and for you to walk more faithful.

Second, repent of the bad example you have been. Maybe you have hurt others, and showed them what it’s not like to follow Christ. Repent of that before the Lord, and if possible, reach out to that person and repent. That is a great example of humility and could be a catalyst for healing and forgiveness in their lives. 

Each of us has fallen short of the standard of God, we are no greater than anyone. But God has called us into his greatness by keeping the standard for us. Let us therefore be a people who stand in his righteousness work and not our own unrighteousness. Amen.

2 Samuel Series - Week 17: Unthwartable Plans

 By the mid 1500s, the Spanish Empire was set to be a world power. They had discovered the New World by way of Columbus, and riches were pouring in. Other European powers moved quickly to get their foot into the New World. This brought Spain and England into direct conflict, and scrimmages began to break out. Finally, Spain had enough and chose to invade England. The Spanish mobilized a massive armada of around 130 ships. They set sail for England, carrying tens of thousands of soldiers. On their way, they were met by a very small English fleet. Yet, the smaller long rang vessels of the English were able to destroy six ships and caused the Armed to rethink their attack. Then a storm rose up. Out of the 130 ships, upwards of sixty-four were lost or destroyed in the tempest. This defeat broke the Spanish’s maritime power and led to the rise of England as the global power.

The Spanish crown believed their plan was a sure thing, yet one storm led to their downfall. This idea that our plans can fail so quickly and massively, is what brings us back to our summer series, where we’ll be picking it back up in Second Samuel Chapter 16, verse 15. As we open up to Second Samuel 16:15, let’s look back on how we got here.

David’s sin with Bathsheba led to a series of rampant sin. People have died, a daughter has been violated, justice has not been served, and now David’s kingdom is starring down another civil war. Sin has compounded upon sin. We have noted that, the festering of sin is what has caused these issues, and that God calls us away from allowing sin to fester in our lives. The antidote to festering sin is confession, repentance and seeking the cleansing work of the Spirit in our lives. Because even when we want good things like reconciliation, if we’re not in a place where we are waiting on God to move, we will just exasperate the problems.

This is God’s calling in our lives, that we would be people who are not stagnant in our faith, but rather we are always growing in our trust and obedience. One way we can grow is in our contentment. As we saw in David’s life, we are to be content in the good and bad circumstances we find ourselves in, because our satisfaction needs to be found in God alone. 

And its in the circumstance of David’s son poised to attack, that we return to Second Samuel 16:15. Where we’re going to look at two chapters. However, we’re not going to read Chapter 17, verses 15-29, so I encourage you to read those verses this week. Now, let’s read together.

16:15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.

17:1 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king, 3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.” 4 And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.” 6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak.” 7 Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.” 8 Hushai said, “You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people. 9 Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there.” 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.

v.16:15-17:4

David was on his way to the Jordan river to rest and prepare for the enviable clash with his son. This is where we ended last week. Now we get what happened when Absalom entered Jerusalem. 

First, Absalom seeks the counsel of Ahithophel. This is actually a really good idea. Because Ahithophel’s counsel was so wise, and always seemed to turn out so good, that he was seen as if someone was talking to God (v.16:23).

Ahithophel gives Absalom two points of counsel: First, he encourages the son to sleep with his father’s concubines. We might think this is a weird thing to do, except this was a common practice in the Ancient Near East. When a new king came to power, after either defeating the previous king, or the previous king’s natural death, they would sleep with the previous king’s concubines as a sign that he had replaced the old king. We actually saw this brought up earlier in Second Samuel, Chapter 3. Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son and crowned king of Israel, had accused Abner, the king’s general, of going into Saul’s concubines. Ish-bosheth was accusing Abner of practicing this as a way to seize power. Now, Ahithophel is counseling Absalom to make this type of power move.

The second counsel is for Absalom to give Ahithophel an army of 12,000 men to pursue David while he was “… weary and discouraged … (v.17:2)” This would have been a really good idea. David was in a vulnerable situation. He had taken with him women and children, which made him slow. And we have already seen the discouraging state he was in, though he himself wasn’t discourage. David had left behind the stronghold of his kingdom, he had been told that “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom (.v15:13)” In other words, all of Israel had turned against him. And we saw how there were other usurpers, specifically Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth, who had been outwardly supportive of David, but inwardly lay in wait to take the kingdom for themselves. Everything seemed against David. So, from a human perspective, Ahithophel’s counsel was really good.

Absalom takes Ahithophel’s first counsel, and sleeps with concubines; showing that he really is his father’s son. They both easily succumb to their lustfulness. But Absalom isn’t too quick to follow the second part of Ahithophel’s counsel. 

v.17:5-14

Instead, Absalom decides to ask counsel from Hushai, and Hushai gives a counter approach: Hushai’s counsel is: don’t move too fast because David is a skilled warrior, and he has many skilled warriors with him. Hushai reminds Absalom that David’s men are battled hard and ready. Their reputation would be enough to make other men quiver. So if they attack and then are routed by David, Absalom’s reign with end before it begins. Hushai’s counsel then is, not to go out right away, like Ahithophel suggests, but rather, gather a force that Absalom himself leads. 

Hushai is playing into Absalom’s high view of himself. Remember, Absalom believes himself to be a better king that David, even though he has done nothing to prove it. 

In the end, Absalom and the other men, go with Hushai’s advice. Notice that it’s here that the Lord is mentioned for the first time since his word of peace was sent concerning David’s second son with Bathsheba. God has seemingly been inactive as his judgment has unfolded, yet, this shows that he is working behind the scenes. The Lord will not have Absalom on the throne of Israel, and so has worked to route the counsel of Athithophel. Even the wise counselor cannot overcome the plans of the Lord himself. 

But since Ahithophel’s counsel wasn’t followed, we’re told in verse 23 of Chapter 17, that he takes his own life. This is most likely because he foresaw Absalom’s defeat and knew he would be executed for his role in the conspiracy to overthrow David. 

v.17:15-29 (Not reading this part)

The last verses of Chapter 17, play out how David finds out about Absalom’s next move. This is done through the spy network that was set up on his way out of Jerusalem.

The story plays out reminiscently like the spies at Jericho: two spies are looked for, they’re concealed by a woman, and succeed in their relaying the information to their superior. 

The chapter ends with war on the horizon, as Absalom marches out to face his father in battle.

The main theme of this passage of Scripture is the plans of humans. There are two rival counsels being give. Athithophel’s and Hushai’s. In reality, if Absalom would have followed Athithophel’s advice, there’s a good chance he would have overcame his father. However, it is the plans of God that win the day. Though God’s intention wasn’t to have David sin and be in this very predicament, God carries out his plan in spite of human desire.

Proverbs 19:21 state, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Through the prophet Isaiah, God said, “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose …’ (v.46:8-10)”

Job realized this and declared, “I know that you can do all things,
    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted (v.42:2).”

As believers we must hold to the reality that, even though it may seem at times that God is inactive in our lives, he is actually working things out behind the scenes to bring about his purposes. That’s another reason why we can be content, because God is working, even when we don’t hear him, or see him. 

This is why Romans 8:28 is so key in our waiting upon the Lord to move. Paul states, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” When we are seeking God’s purposes, then everything that is happening will work for the good. We might have to face down an army while we’re in a discouraging situation, but we can hold to God’s working out his goodness, because we are seeking his purpose.

Last week I asked you to write down those areas that you’re suffering in. This week I want you to add at the very top these words, “God’s Purpose Cannot Be Thwarted.” Every circumstance we come into, every moment of suffering, every plan of people and demons, can not overcome the purposes of the Lord. So we, as his people, must seek those purposes. Because in God’s purposes, will we find contentment through the plans set against us. So every time you face something that comes against you, seek the Lord, that you would be in his purposes, and content in them.

Let us be a people of God’s plans, not our own, nor of other peoples. Because its only his plans and purposes that will never be thwarted. Amen.

2 Samuel Series - Week 16: Suffering Contently

  In the Refreshment room of in our church building, we have magazines from Voice of the Martyrs. In them you can read stories of what is happening all over the world to the Church of Christ. One of the stories that comes out of the Voice of the Martyrs is about Tanmay, a Christian in India. He is a prominent Christen in his village, who would gather with another family to pray at their house. One night, while they were having their prayer meeting, a Hindu extremist group set fire to Tanmay’s house and shop. The families escaped with only the clothes on their backs, but everything else was destroyed. Due to this, Tanmay and his family had to move in with his brother’s family. With the help of believers from around the world, they are in the process of rebuilding Tanmay’s house and shop. When interviewed about the situation, Tanmay expressed his desire to start up, not just a prayer meeting, but a fellowship of believers in his new home. 

It’s this type of attitude in the midst of suffering, that brings us back to our series, where we’ll pick it back up in Chapter 16 of Second Samuel. And as we open up to Second Samuel 16:1-14, let’s remind ourselves where we are so far. 

The section we’ve termed, the Dark Days of David, began when David let his eyes wander, which led to his adultery with Bathsheba, the death of Uriah, the death one of David’s sons, then the violation of one if his daughters by a different son, then the death of that son by another son, and eventually that son rebelling against him. Through all of this we understood that, God calls us to not allow sin to fester, because it will grow and destroy as much as it can, yet we cannot reconcile relationships ahead of God’s direction. The antidote to sin festering in our lives, is through the blood of Jesus, we can confession, repent and seek his cleansing. This type of attitude keeps us from allowing sin to take back control and continue to destroy our lives.

Yet, as we saw last week, David was growing as a follower of God. Though he isn’t perfect, and has done immense damage to his family, we see that he still seeks to be faithful. His act in sending the ark of the covenant back shows that growth. Its that action where we understood that, God is calling us to a faith that doesn’t stay stagnant, but grows in trust and obedience. Even when we falter in our faith, God is calling us to continue to grow, because growth in trusting and obeying him, proves that the work of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection power has been and is doing work in us.

With that in mind, let’s read together, Second Samuel 16:1-14.

1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 And the king said, “And where is your master's son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”

5 When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.” 13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. 14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.

David encounters two people as he is leaving Jerusalem: Ziba, and Shimei; the blesser and the curser.

v.1-4

Ziba is a servant of Mephibosheth, who is the grandson of Saul and the one whom David took into his house and provided for back in chapter 9. Here, we find out that Ziba is doing this out of his own desire to support David, because Mephibosheth believes that, with David leaving the city, the people of Israel will make him king and restate his family as rulers. 

Back in Chapter 3 we talked about how, even when we try to live righteously, wicked people will do wicked things, and there are times, when the righteous will be hurt by it. It’s a wonder how Mephibosheth, who, in any other kingdom would have been killed, because he was both crippled and the grandson of a previous dynasty. Yet, David showed mercy upon him, and now it’s revealed that Mephibosheth didn’t honor David as David had honored him. 

So in response to Ziba’s loyalty, David decides that he will give all that he had given to Mephibosheth, to this servant, because of the honor one had, where the other didn’t.

This also shows us that not everyone was out to get David. He still had loyal people in the land.

v.5-14

But the honor quickly goes away as David encounters Shimei, a family member of Saul. Shimei believes that David usurped Saul’s throne, and that God was now punishing David for his treachery. However, we know the behind the scenes reality. We know that God took the kingdom from Saul because of his pride. We know that God gave Saul many chances to repent, but he didn’t and acted as if he were the true king of Israel, when in reality he was an underling to the true King. We know how David avoided killing Saul, though he had at least two situations where he could have. And we know how David honored Saul and his family, even after his death. 

In addition to this, we know why David is in the plight he’s in. David caused his own problems through his own sin. It is divine judgment that David’s experiencing, but it’s not like Saul’s judgment. Though David has sinned, he, unlike Saul, is repentant, and so his kingdom will not be taken away, but will continue. 

But Shimei doesn’t know any of this. Shimei only sees David as a threat to his own family, and begins cursing the king.

In response, we see again, the growth of David. We’re told that David’s men are on all side of Shimei. The king could easily had the man killed. But David doesn’t go that route. Instead, when given the option to silence the curser, David says, “Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today. (v.11-12)”

David understood that this could be from God, so he allows it, because if the curse is from God, then God is right to have sent it. However, if this is a wrongful curse, then David trusts that the Lord will repay him for the evil. That’s an immense amount of growth by David. 

It incapsulates Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:38-39, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

This is why God chose David when others wouldn’t, because David, though he was a sinner just like his predecessor, he would grow in his faith. And one of the hardest areas for the follower of Jesus to grow in, is the area of suffering. Repaying evil for evil is one of the easiest things we can do. It’s so natural in our fallen state to respond to the evil people throw on us, that once we enter into the new life of Christ, its one of the hardest areas of our old self to leave in the grave.

We talk about our rights, but our rights are nothing compared to the obedience Christ calls us to. And so we must learn this lesson, as followers of Christ, we are the best people to suffer, because we follow the suffering Jesus.

Peter is a great example of a man who didn’t get this lesson, until he did. He was the one who stood between Jesus and the cross (see Matt. 16:23; Mk. 8:33), and it was Peter, who cut the ear off the guard who came to arrest Jesus (Jn. 18:10). Peter knows what it means to fight against suffering, but then, after years of following the risen Jesus in his suffering, Peter wrote this in his first letter, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’ Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (1 Pet. 3:8-17)”

Suffering is one of those issues that none of us wants to experience, yet what both David and Peter understood is the lesson God has for us: God is calling us to be content in our circumstance, good or bad, finding our satisfaction in him alone.

 

Our Lord suffered to bring the gift of salvation to humanity. The King of the universe descended to the muck and mire of our world, so that we could be raised to his glorious life. We have all eternity a head in his blessed new perfect creation. So all the suffering on our part now is a drop in the bucket compared to his, and what is to come.

So my challenge this week is to write down the areas where you are suffering. It could be financially, physically, relationally, emotional, mentally, or another area. Write it down, and then write next to it, “Lord let me see the blessing through this.” The Lord doesn’t allow his people to suffer willy-nelly, he has purpose in it. Sometimes the purpose is to teach or correct us, and sometimes its to teach others. Either way, his purposes and glory will be seen in his children who suffer with their eyes on him.

Let us be a people who suffer, and count that suffering as our Lord did, as joy. Amen.

2 Samuel Series - Week 15: Stumbling Into the Lord

  It was October of 1986, the Red Sox had finally made it back to the World Series after a decade of being knocked out of the running. It was game six, and the Red Sox were up 3-2, one more win, and they would have ended a World Series drought that had lasted since 1920.  The game went into extra innings. The Sox retired two batters, and were one out away from the  championship. But they gave up three hits in a row, which brought the opposing team up to just two points from victory. 

What happened next shaped Red Sox fans for a generation. Mookie Wilson came up to bat for the Mets, and dinged off six foul balls, then this is happened next: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18caPNisP2U.

Bill Buckner, the first baseman, later said, “I can’t remember the last time I missed a ball like that, but I’ll remember this one.”

His stumble over that routine ground ball is considered one of the greatest blunders in Major League Baseball history.

And it’s this idea of stumbling that brings us back into our Second Samuel series, where we’ll be picking it back up in Second Samuel Chapter 15, starting in verse 13. And as we jump back into Second Samuel 15:13-37, let’s remind ourselves where we are in the life of David.

The situation we’re currently working through started with David’s sin with Bathsheba, which led to the death of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah, which led to the death of David’s first son with Bathsheba, which led to the breakdown of the spiritual covering in the family, which led to Amnon violating his sister Tamar, which led Tamar’s brother Absalom to kill Amnon, which led to Absalom being prematurely reconciled back to David, and finally led to Absalom seeking to overthrow his father David and install himself as king. From these weeks we have walked away with the idea that, God calls us to not allow sin to fester, because it will grow and destroy as much as it can. However, we cannot jump ahead of God in the reconciliation of relationships or it might end just as badly.

And now we’ll see how David responds to the threat of Absalom as we read Second Samuel 15:13-37.

13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 And the king's servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house.

18 And all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness.

24 And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there.

30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. 31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

32 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” 37 So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

v.13-17

The passage transitions from Absalom calling on the people of Israel to join him, to David receiving a message that, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom. (v.13)” Now it may seem like that, but we know it’s not the case. Absalom is creating a conspiracy that actually has very few supporting it. But it was done in such a way that it seemed like everyone had turned against David.

So David does something that, at first, doesn’t seem like a good idea, he leaves the protection of the city. The reason this doesn’t seem like a good idea is because a city is a good place to fortify against an attacking army. Siege weapons, like the trebuchet, won’t be invented for thousands of years, so sieging a city is a hard task. You need a large army, and a willingness to spend months choking the resources of the city. Earlier in Second Samuel, we saw that Joab besieged the city of Rabbah (12:26-27), which took a while to overcome.

So, why doesn’t David wait for Absalom to beside the city and fight it out there? Well for a few reasons: First, unless you can outlast your opponent, or have allies outside the city who will fight for you, being stuck in a city isn’t such a good idea. There’s no retreat once you’re in the city. Second, David doesn’t know the strength of Absalom’s military. True we know there’s only about fifty people that will actually fight for Absalom, but David doesn’t know that. He knows that there were two hundred that went with Absalom to Hebron, and now he’s hearing that all of Israel is with his rebellious son. So It appears to David that he won’t have reinforcements coming to help him in a siege situation. 

So instead, David decided to leave the city and take his chances out in the wilderness. This actually plays to David’s strengths. He has won his greatest victories out in the wilderness. He spent years roaming all over Israel as he escaped from Saul. So out of the city is actually a better strategy for him, than would be staying in it.

v.18-23

But as he leaves Jerusalem, he stops at the last house and watches everyone who is coming with him march out of the city. It’s here that we’re told of three groups of foreigners that are marching with David. These are most likely foreign mercenaries who have come to fight for David in other capacities. Except they’re more than just mercenaries. Through Ittai we’re shown that these foreigners are actually faithful to David. His response to David questioning him about just starting, reveals that he believes David is the rightful king appointed by God. 

These foreigners may be there because they don’t have anywhere else to go back to, but even given the chance to change sides, they still choose David, even if it’s a loosing cause. So, even if all of Israel is against David, which it’s not, David’s actions still develop loyalty in the men who fight for him. This also shows us how militarily powerful David actually was. He had many battle harden men compared to Absalom’s “drafted” men.

v.24-31

It is then that the priests bring out the ark of the covenant, however David sends it away. This is something that David wouldn’t have done a few years earlier. By sending it back David shows that he learned his lesson about placing his trust in the ark rather than in God (2 Sam. 6).

In fact, his focus on God in this moment leads to the creation of Psalm 3. That Psalm reads,  “O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! (Ps. 3:1-8)”

David once believed that it was the ark that housed God’s power, but he had learned to revere God as holy, and not trust in artifacts, but in the Living God himself. David doesn’t need the ark, he only needs the Lord.

v.32-37

The passage ends with David setting up his own spy network to gain intel on his son. He doesn’t trust his advisor Ahithophel, so he leaves behind a trust advisor to relay information through the priests to the outside. Through David’s actions he sets up the best possible situation as to cause the least amount of blood shed. Many people would have died at the besieging of Jerusalem, but David allowed his son to conquer it with no bloodshed. But there’s still a war on the horizon, and we’ll see the battle in a few chapters. 

Coming out of this passage we can see that, though David has his deficiencies in some areas of faith, he was still strong in others. Yes, he was weak in his sexual desires, and weak when dealing with his family, but he was still beloved by those who served under him. He was still a good military tactician. He still cared for the non-military personnel that lived under his rule, and he still trusted God above all else. 

This should give us encouragement. Just because we fail in some areas, doesn’t mean we can’t still be faithful. David had failed, and failed miserably. His situation was his own doing. If he didn’t follow his lingering eyes, Uriah would most likely be alive, and there would be no child that would have died. If David hadn’t failed, he might have seen his son’s sexual desire for Tamar and stopped it before it happened. And if it did happened he might have brought justice upon his son, so that it would have not led to his other son eventually rebelling.

Yes, David’s situation is because of his sin, but that’s the beauty of God’s grace. Though we are unfaithful, God never is. John, writing in his first letter to the Church, tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn. 1:9)” God is always faithful, all he requires is a recognition of the sin we commit, because when we recognize our sin and confess it to God, we’re taking ownership of what we have done wrong. Only when that happens can true restoration occur.

David has accepted that he has sinned, he has even confessed it, now he holds only to God to save him. David has done something that shows that inner work of God which God saw when he first called him to be king, that though he may fail, he returns to God and accepts whatever God decides is right.

That’s the kind of faith God is calling us to, a faith that doesn’t stay stagnant, but grows in trust and obedience. We’re going falter in our faith like we’re Buckner in the 10th inning of the world series, there’s not question in that, but how we respond in turning towards God or away, shows whether we fail in our faith. 

I have always had the mindset that I only fail something if I don’t learn from it. I was told once that it was a cocky attitude, but I don’t think it is. Failure to me is if I keep doing the same thing again and again and never grow out of it. Growth is stumbling on something and learning to not step in the same spot.

God is calling us to growth, and that means when we stumble in our faith, we turn to him to cleanse us and grow us so that we don’t stumble in the same place twice. Its the turning to God for all things that will grow us out of stumbling, not just trying to be better. 

My challenge for you this week is pray these words daily, and especially when you stumble and falter because of sin, “Lord I confess that I faltered in sin, and I thank you for the forgiveness you gave me through Jesus’ work on the cross. Lord help me to rely on you that I may grow from this more trusting of you. Amen.”

Let us be a people who, when we stumble, we fall on to the Lord and nothing else. Amen.