Friday, December 16, 2005
2 Samuel 21-24 :: Epilogue (FINAL INSTALLMENT)
These last chapters contain records of events in David’s reign. The author brings 2 Samuel to a conclusion by including a selection of literature representing periods of David’s life. In a skilful way, these chapters wrap-up what has gone before. But it’s more than a mere summary, it presents Israel’s greatest king as a man who both inherited problems from his predecessor and created them himself; who fought and won victories with the help of many others who are remembered here, and whose joy and strength was his God, whom he praised with total abandon because everything he was and everything he had achieved was to be attributed to the faithful Lord God of Israel.
I appreciate the way David, “a man after the Lord’s own heart”, is depicted as entirely human, hampered by weaknesses that were the counterpart of his strengths. He is shown as indulgent towards his sons and, on occasion, towards himself. Unlike Saul, David received rebuke and correction by humbly admitting his faults. In a very real sense, during his reign, the Lord was King; David was just the Lord’s deputy, exercising delegated power. His successors for the most part did not live up to that and were pointed back to David, for whose sake the dynasty was permitted to continue until the kingdom was swept away by the Babylonians. Even then, hopes were kept alive by God’s promise to David, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever (2 Sa. 7:16). The NT takes up the theme when Jesus in introduced as a descendant of David in Matthew’s genealogy (Matt. 1:1), often being referred to as the “Son of David”. O the faithfulness of the Lord to keep his promises to us…
This will be the last installment of Soul Food. I'd like to do other studies in the future, but want to know about the interest level.
If you have found it useful and helpful please let me know by leaving a comment below.
I’ve enjoyed serving you.
~mikeT
Thursday, December 08, 2005
2 Samuel 21:1-14 :: Making Things Right Again
The story of Israel’s pact with Gibeon is told in Joshua 9:3-27. Saul had broken the treaty and this injustice had gone unpunished. The guilt of this crime remained on the heads of Saul and his family. Now, years later, Israel is in the middle of a three year famine. The Lord tells David that Israel was suffering this disaster because of Saul’s offense. The king was eager to take action in order to relieve the country of this famine and asks the Gibeonites, “How can I make this horrible injustice you have suffered, right?”
David is told that money wouldn’t do, but only the giving of life for life. Saul had committed the wrong, and since he was dead, seven of his grandchildren were to be handed over to be put to death, as payment for the sin committed against them. David did not shirk this heart-breaking task. Because justice had been served and honor had been satisfied, the rains came, the famine ended, and the land was healed.
I wonder why the writer included this story? It seems out of place. But as I read it I can’t help but be reminded of the terrible truth that, without the shedding of blood there can be no amends for sin and the incalcuable price God paid on our behalf. The words of Saint John come to me, “God showed how much he loved us by sending His only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through His death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but His love for us when He sent His Son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins” (1Jn. 4:9-10 LNT).
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Day off.
Mike has taken a day off from his 2 Samuel study. It will resume tomorrow...
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
2 Samuel 19:9-20:25 :: Joab
In the aftermath of the rebellion David attempts to win back his kinsmen, Judah who had backed Absalom. He appoints Amasa, his nephew, former head of Absalom’s army, to replace Joab as the commander of his army. David is effect punishing loyalty and rewarding rebellion and will lead to further trouble down the road,
Joab is as quick to kill Amasa as he was to kill Abner, when his position was threatened before. In both cases he displayed cold-blooded treachery. The kiss and the sword thrust into Amasa bring to my mind Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.
Abner is ruthless but effective. After putting down yet another attempt at a revolt by Sheba he returns to Jerusalem brazening out the murder of Amasa, and his self-appointment to command the army. I guess he expected to get away with all this because of his success in ending the insurrection against the king. Though David could only be thankful that this second attempt to strike at his throne had been overcome, he was saddled with a general who persisted in killing men whom the king had put in authority, and taking over the command of the army. The problem was that Joab was capable and confident, and came home victorious, but from David’s point of view he was a murderer whom he could not control or bring to justice. Joab killed Abner; he killed Absalom, and now Amasa. David can hardly have welcomed him with open arms, and yet he had saved the kingdom.
David would not forget or forgive. On his deathbed he warned his son Solomon and made it clear, “do not let his grey head go down to Sheol in peace” (1 Kings 2:5-6). With friends like Joab, who needs enemies?
Monday, December 05, 2005
2 Samuel 18:19-19:8 :: The Intervention
“O my son Absalom, my dear son Absalom! Why not me rather than you, my death, not yours, O Absalom, my dear, dear son!”
David receives the news of his son’s death. His heart is broken and filled with grief. However, allowing for all that a loving father would go through on the death of his son, there seems to be something in David’s behavior that is unsound. I think his grief is mixed with a huge amount of guilt. After all the roots of all the problems of his family rested squarely on his shoulders! He had contributed to Absalom’s tragic life through his adultery and his failure as a father to take steps to correct his wounded, ambitious and spoiled son. Now David’s mourning has turned into an indulgence in self-torment that is blinding him to the effect his conduct is having on his people. His valiant army was left unrewarded and the country leaderless and vulnerable to another attempt at an overthrow.
Joab confronts David. His tough talk brings the king face-to-face with reality and saves David from political disaster. The king cannot bring his son back but there are people to look after. They still need a leader. Immediate action is called for in order to retain the loyalty of his army and unite a divided nation again. Joab’s hard-hitting honesty snaps David out of his funk.
Guilt and self-condemnation are extremely paralyzing and destructive forces that can attack our lives. We will sin. We will fail. We won’t live up to others’ expectations at times. But we must go on. “Absalom’s gone and you’ve contributed to this mess, but you have to pick-up the pieces and move on. You must!” With Christ’s help and our humility we can. There is life after failure and shame.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 7:28; 8:1)
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