The Lord Delivered David (2 Samuel 22:1-19)

10/31/2010 9:05:08 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                   Focus:  The Lord delivered David

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                    Reference:  2Samuel 22:1-19

 

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  And David spoke the words of this song to the LORD in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

    “2 ¶  He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3  My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence. 4  "I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. 5  "For the waves of death encompassed me; The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me; 6  The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 7  "In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears. 8  "Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of heaven were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry. 9  "Smoke went up out of His nostrils, Fire from His mouth devoured; Coals were kindled by it. 10  "He bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. 11  "And He rode on a cherub and flew; And He appeared on the wings of the wind. 12  "And He made darkness canopies around Him, A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky. 13  "From the brightness before Him Coals of fire were kindled. 14  "The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice. 15  "And He sent out arrows, and scattered them, Lightning, and routed them. 16  "Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare By the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of His nostrils. 17  "He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. 18  "He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. 19  "They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support.”

 

            Some background is needed before heading into the first nineteen verses of this Psalm, which is very close to Psalm 18. 

            There are some differences between 2Samuel 22 and Psalm 18 that Warren Wiersbe notes in his introduction to his eleventh chapter of his commentary on 2Samuel.  “It’s likely that 2Samuel 22 is the original version, but when the song was adapted for corporate worship David wrote a new opening:  ‘I will love the, O Lord, my strength’ (Ps. 18:1KJV).  The Hebrew word used here for ‘love’ means ‘ a deep and fervent love,’ not just a passing emotion.  He also deleted from verse 3 ‘my savior; thou savest me from violence.’  There are other differences, but they do not deter us from grasping the glorious message of this song of praise.”

            Dr. Wiersbe goes on to write that this Psalm was probably written right after the Lord had given His covenant to David that he would always have a descendent on the throne of Israel.

 

           

National Conflict in Israel (2 Samuel 21:15-22)

10/30/2010 10:09:01 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                               Focus:  National conflict

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                        Reference:  2Sam. 21:15-22; 1Chron. 20:4-8

 

            Message of the verses:   “15 ¶  Now when the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. 16  Then Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David. 17  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall not go out again with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish the lamp of Israel." 18  Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was among the descendants of the giant. 19  There was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20  There was war at Gath again, where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also had been born to the giant. 21  When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck him down. 22  These four were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.”

            “4 ¶  Now it came about after this, that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and they were subdued. 5  And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 6  Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants. 7  When he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. 8  These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.”

 

            This SD describes the forth conflict of David that is described in this tenth chapter of Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on 2Samuel with sections coming from 1Chronicles. 

            In this section there are four battles with the Philistines and four giants that are killed by David’s men.  This probably happened after David had conquered Jerusalem and made it the capital of Israel.

            In the first battle described it is seen that David becomes weary in fighting one of the Philistine giants and Abishai had to come to his rescue or David would have been slain.  After this battle was won the leaders of David’s army concluded that David should not go directly into the battle so that the “lamp of Israel would not be put out.  There are three other battles written about here and three other giants slain, and three other battles won by the children of Israel.  One giant had twelve fingers and twelve toes, and one giant was killed by another nephew of David.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Dr. Jeremiah wrote a book about slaying the giants in your life as he took a physical battle that was fought by David in Israel and made a spiritual point.  The spiritual point is that everyone faces giants in their lives, and I am speaking of believers, and there are times when we all need help in slaying those giants that come into our lives.  I have had a number of giants in my life that have caused a great deal of stress and problems, and others have come to my aid in defeating those giants.  Some of the giants in my life I am still fighting and may be fighting until I go to meet the Lord in the air or go the way everyone has gone to this point with the exception of two OT saints.  The point is that I need help as all people need when facing the giants in their life.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.       Continue to trust the Lord for His will to be done concerning this job.

2.       Put on the spiritual armor.

3.       Trust the Lord to guide my steps this day.

4.       I am thankful for the love, grace, mercy, and judgment of my God.

10/30/2010 10:46:50 AM

Compassion for the Dead (2 Samuel 21:10-14)

10/29/2010 9:10:08 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                               Focus:  Compassion

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference:  2Sam. 21:10-14

 

            Message of the verses:  “10 ¶  And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until it rained on them from the sky; and she allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night. 11  When it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done, 12  then David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the open square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them on the day the Philistines struck down Saul in Gilboa. 13  He brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there, and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. 14  They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the grave of Kish his father; thus they did all that the king commanded, and after that God was moved by prayer for the land.”

 

            Today’s SD brings an end to this very unusual story in the book of 2Samuel.  There is a woman who was a concubine of Saul whose sons and nephew were the ones who were given to the Gibeonites that went out and stayed watch over the bodies until it began to rain and this was told to David.  David had compassion on this situation and when it began to rain he ordered the bones of Saul and Jonathan to be removed from Jabesh-gilead when they were buried because the men of that town stole them from the Philistines, and David move them along with these men who were hanged and put them all in the grave of Kish, the father of Saul.  It was important for the people of Israel to be buried with their families, and I suppose that this may have come about because of Abraham and his family.

            Dr. Wiersbe writes the following to help understand this very unusual story:  “Whatever questions remain concerning this unusual event, this much is true: one man’s sins can bring sorrow and death to his family, even after he is dead and buried.  We must also give credit to David for dealing drastically with sin for the sake of the nation, and yet for showing kindness to the house of Saul.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This statement from Dr. Wiersbe reminds me of the importance of finishing strong in my life here on earth, and my walk with the Lord for all could be ruined if I do not finish strong.  It also reminds me the importance of being kind even when others do not deserve my kindness, for that is grace and mercy all in one for I would be giving kindness to someone who needs something worse, and holding back what they do deserve.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.       Put on the spiritual armor for the battle today.

2.       Remember to give grace and mercy to others who do not deserve it.

 

10/29/2010 9:32:35 AM

Retribution for Past sins of Saul (2 Samuel 21:5-9)

10/28/2010 9:34:11 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                         Focus:  Retribution

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                               Reference:  2Samuel 21:5-9

 

          Message of the verses:  “5  So they said to the king, "The man who consumed us and who planned to exterminate us from remaining within any border of Israel, 6  let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD." And the king said, "I will give them." 7  But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the oath of the LORD which was between them, between David and Saul’s son Jonathan. 8  So the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Armoni and Mephibosheth whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9  Then he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before the LORD, so that the seven of them fell together; and they were put to death in the first days of harvest at the beginning of barley harvest.”

 

          This is one of those passages in the Old Testament that is very difficult for a person who lives in the New Testament era to understand, and yet this is what was required of the Lord to stop the famine that had been going on for three years.  As New Testament believers we know of grace and love and also mercy, which is shown in the Old Testament as well, but this was done in order to satisfy the Law and so David had to chose seven men to die because they were related to Saul who had done this crime, a crime of breaking a covenant that Israel had made with the Gibeonites.  David had made a covenant with Jonathan and therefore he did not all his son Mephibosheth to be one who would die, but chose seven others who were related to Saul.

          It is not said how these men died, but they were hanged and their bodies left for a long period of time hanging until God sent the rains on the land.  It was against the Law of the Lord to allow someone to hang after sun down, but these were people who were not under the Law.

 

          Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that what I can learn from this section is to keep my word to someone and especially to keep my word to the Lord.  I have made two vows to the Lord, both of them in late 1980.  I have vowed to read my Bible at least five minutes a day, and to pray at least five minutes a day and the great majority of the time I have kept that vow.  I think I have missed only six days of reading God’s Word and perhaps a dozen days of not praying to the Lord.  This is serious to me to keep my vow to the Lord and the reason that I made it was so that I would stay in His Word each day and to communicate to the Lord each day through prayer.  I almost made another vow to the Lord, but a very wise man told me a story about a person who had made a similar vow and when he did not keep that vow it drove him crazy, and thankfully I did not make that vow to the Lord and have made no others since then.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.   Put on the spiritual armor.

2.   Trust the Lord to work out the details of our job and allow us to be truly ready to leave for the job when it comes about.

 

10/28/2010 10:02:41 AM

Sin (2 Samuel 21:1-4)

10/27/2010 9:36:56 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                 Focus:  Sin

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference: 2Samuel 21:1-4   

 

Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the LORD. And the LORD said, "It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death." 2  So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the sons of Israel made a covenant with them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah). 3  Thus David said to the Gibeonites, "What should I do for you? And how can I make atonement that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?" 4  Then the Gibeonites said to him, "We have no concern of silver or gold with Saul or his house, nor is it for us to put any man to death in Israel." And he said, "I will do for you whatever you say.’”

 

          I have a great desire to learn about the type of things that are being taught in this section of Scripture, and it is because of my overall study of the Bible and the great help of Warren Wiersbe, and most of all the aid of the Holy Spirit who has given me this desire to learn the Scriptures that these things are so important to me.  Way back in my study of the book of Joshua I looked at the sin that Joshua had sinned by not contacting the Lord when the Gibeonites came to him and told him the lie that they were from a far off country that this story in today’s SD is made clear.  The Gibeonites were very crafty in pulling off this lie to Joshua.  It is believed that the Devil is the one who caused this to happen, for after all he is crafty and clever as seen in the third chapter of Genesis.  Israel was not allowed to make a covenant with any of the peoples, who were living in the land that the Lord was going to give them, and somehow the Gibeonites knew this and that is why they disguised their appearance to make Joshua think that they were from a far off country.  Romans 8:28 can be seen in what happened as the Lord surely used this to work together for the good of Israel and also for His glory as Joshua made these people wood cutters for the work of the tabernacle and this kept them close to the Lord and this brought about salvation to some of these people.  Dr. Wiersbe points out that from a study of 1Chronicles 8:29-33; 9:35-39 that Saul’s great-grandfather was the progenitor of the Gibeonites so in effect the sin that Saul committed was to his own relatives.

          The sin that he committed was killing off some of the Gibeonites, something that is not recorded in Scripture other than what is seen here.  It was because of this sin that the Lord brought a famine on the Land of Israel, something that is spoken of in His Law.  David found out about why the Lord was bringing a famine on Israel and he was doing something about it, which will be seen as a part of the next SD. 

          Saul’s spiritual life is surely a mystery and this is a case in point as to why he was destroying the Gibeonites, whom he was not to destroy and not killing the Amalekites whom he was to destroy.  Another thing seen here is the patience of the Lord as He waited for thirty years before bringing this famine on the land of Israel.

 

          Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I can see God’s patience and God’s judgment in this section of Scripture and I am thankful for the patience of God, for He gives me time to repent and I am thankful for the justice and judgment of God for He has taken the judgment that I deserve and judged my Lord and Savior on my behalf.  All I can do is praise the Lord and serve Him for doing this on my behalf.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today: 

 

1.   Put on the Spiritual armor.

2.   Thank the Lord for His patience and for His judgment.

 

10/27/2010 10:38:31 AM

 

Personal Conflict from 2 Samuel 20:4-13

10/26/2010 8:37:55 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Personal Conflict

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Samuel 20:4-13

 

            Message of the verses:  “4 ¶  Then the king said to Amasa, "Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself." 5  So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6  And David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight." 7  So Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 8  When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; and as he went forward, it fell out. 9  Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10  But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. 11  Now there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, "Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab." 12  But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still. 13  As soon as he was removed from the highway, all the men passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.”

 

            This section of Scripture describes another murder committed by Joab that did not need to happen.  Joab was the cousin of David along with his brother Abishai, but so was Amasa, for he was David’s cousin also.  It was because Joab had killed Absalom that David had taken him from the position of the leader of his troops, the “general” so to speak. 

            David had given Amasa an order to go after Sheba in order to stop the problems that he was creating, for this could be worse that the Absalom problem, but Amasa did not respond in time and so David gave the job to Abishai for he may have thought the Amasa had joined Sheba, for after all he had joined Absalom.

            As Abishai was leading the troops he runs into Amasa and so Joab take that opportunity to kill Amasa in cold blood just as he had killed Absalom and also Abner earlier in all most the same spot.  Joab again takes over the leadership position of the army and goes off to take care of Sheba, which was in yesterday’s SD.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  David again has problems within his family as wittiness in this section of Scripture.  I know that whenever I work for Tim who is not a blood relative, but who is in our family none the less that I have to obey orders that are given to me by him and not take advantage of being related to the “boss.”  I believe that if I do this and if I pray that the Lord will bless Tim and this upcoming job then things will go well.

 

Spiritual meaning for my life today: 

 

1.      Put on the spiritual armor as instructed in the Word of God.

2.      Trust the Lord to work out the details of this job so that it will be good for us and that it will bring glory to the Lord.

 

10/26/2010 9:01:07 AM

Tribal Conflict in Israel from 2 Samuel 19:41-20:3 14-26

10/25/2010 9:37:34 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Tribal conflict

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  2Sam. 19:41-20:3, 14-26

 

            Message of the verses:  “41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, "Why had our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan?" 42  Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is a close relative to us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense, or has anything been taken for us?" 43  But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, "We have ten parts in the king, therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?" Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.”

    “1 ¶  Now a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said, "We have no portion in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, O Israel!" 2  So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem. 3  Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and placed them under guard and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.

 

            “14 ¶  Now he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they were gathered together and also went after him. 15  They came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah, and they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall. 16  Then a wise woman called from the city, "Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, ’Come here that I may speak with you.’" 17  So he approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." 18  Then she spoke, saying, "Formerly they used to say, ’They will surely ask advice at Abel,’ and thus they ended the dispute. 19  "I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?" 20  Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! 21  "Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall." 22  Then the woman wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

    23 ¶  Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; 24  and Adoram was over the forced labor, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; 25  and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 26  and Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David.”

 

            Today’s SD has a lot of verses in it as Dr. Wiersbe has divided this tenth chapter in his commentary on 2Samuel into four different conflicts that David had to deal with after Absalom’s rebellion had been crushed.  He entitles this chapter “David’s New Struggles.” 

            This first section speaks of the conflict between the tribes and in his commentary Dr. Wiersbe gives a short history of how the nation of Israel became divided as it actually began with Saul when he has his army divided between Judah and Israel (the ten northern tribes).  Matthew 12:25 is a quote from Jesus Christ and the background of this verse is that Jesus is accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan and His response was the following:  “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.”  This is exactly what happened to the nation of Israel and this portion of Scripture is just microcosm of what will happen after king Solomon dies and his son Rehoboam takes over.

            There is as section in the middle of this section that explains how Joab is again in charge of David’s army and that is to be taken up in the next SD. 

            Sheba is the trouble maker in this crisis and he begins his trouble over something very silly, which is an argument that Judah should have waited before they brought the king over the Jordan River until the representatives of all the tribes were there.  Judah said that David was part of their family and Israel said that they had ten parts of David because they had ten tribes, like I said silly.

            Eventually he gets some support and begins to lead this support and there is another war happening, actually another civil war, but this time it doesn’t last too long.  Sheba ends up being chased by the army of David, and at this time is headed by Joab, and Sheba goes into a city and so Joab is ready to tear down the city when a wise woman speaks to Joab and prevents this from happening.  I love how Dr. Wiersbe puts this into perspective when he writes, “Sheba wanted to be head of the army, but instead, his head was thrown over the wall to the army.”  This is exactly what happened to Sheba as this wise woman told Joab that there was no need in destroying their city because she would hand over the head of Sheba to Joab.  This is the third wise woman in the life of David that made a difference; the first was Abigail, and then the woman of Tekoa, and now this wise woman. 

            At the end of this chapter in 2Samuel there is a list of David’s officers and two new officers are added:  Adoram and Ira who served as David’s chaplain.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Dr. Wiersbe quotes from a humorous poet named Ogden Nash who said “People could survive their natural troubles all right if it weren’t for the trouble the make for themselves.”  OUCH! 

            I totally agree with this statement as I think back at the huge mistake that I made with our investment and now the trouble that it has caused it, for Dr. Wiersbe also writes the following:  “How painful are the consequences of forgiven sin!”  I totally have to agree with that too as I am dealing with it as are many people.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Put on the spiritual armor as instructed by Paul in Ephesians six.

2.      Trust the Lord for the outcome of this job, and for the outcome of the money that Andrew owes us.

 

 

10/25/2010 11:08:24 AM

 

 

 

             

David Rewards the Faithful (2 Sam. 19:31-40)

10/24/2010 8:36:04 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  David rewards the faithful

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Samuel 19:31-40

 

            Message of the verses:  “  31 ¶  Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to escort him over the Jordan. 32  Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33  The king said to Barzillai, "You cross over with me and I will sustain you in Jerusalem with me." 34  But Barzillai said to the king, "How long have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35  "I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36  "Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward? 37  "Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant Chimham, let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight." 38  The king answered, "Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you require of me, I will do for you." 39  All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.

   “ 40 ¶  Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also half the people of Israel accompanied the king.”

 

            Verse thirty-one speaks of Barzillai as being a Gileadite and one who helped to take care of the needs of David when he was holding out at Mahanaim.  A person who is a Gileadite is one who lived on the West side of the Jordan River, but still belonged to the nation of Israel.  It must be remembered that there were two-and-a-half tribes of Israel on the west side of the Jordan River for they asked Moses if they could claim that land after the armies of Israel defeated the nations in that area.

            Dr. Wiersbe has some interesting things to say concerning people who are older and Barzillai was eighty years old, which was old for this time period, older than eight would be during the time that we live in, in the US.  “Older people don’t like to pull up their roots and relocate, and they want to die at home and be buried with their loved ones.  At his age, Barzillai couldn’t enjoy the special pleasures of life at court, and he would only be a burden to the king, who had enough to think about.”  Matthew Henry writes, “They that are old must not begrudge young people those delights which they themselves are past the enjoyment of, nor oblige them to retire as they do.”  Barzillai wanted David to take his son with him instead of him going and so David took Chimham with him and in the second chapter of 1Kings David tells Solomon, “"But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for they assisted me when I fled from Absalom your brother.’”  In Jeremiah 41:17 we find “And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt.”  Now it is not known for certain if this is the same Chimham they are speaking of here, but it could be.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I suppose that I had often wondered why it was that mom and dad did not stay in Florida, but come home to Lodi after spending thirteen winters there, and why it is that mom does not want to go to Hawaii and live there and I guess the answer is found right here in 2Samuel speaking of a man named Barzillai.  I still have a hankering to live elsewhere for a while, but I don’t know if this is in the will of the Lord.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Put on the whole armor of God.

2.      Trust the Lord to see us through this day living for Him.

 

 

10/24/2010 9:05:23 AM

King David Corrects a Mistake (2 Samuel 19:24-30)

10/23/2010 9:38:13 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  David correct an error

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Samuel 19:24-30

 

            Message of the verses:  “24 ¶  Then Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. 25  It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?" 26  So he answered, "O my lord, the king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said, ’I will saddle a donkey for myself that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27  "Moreover, he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. 28  "For all my father’s household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should complain anymore to the king?" 29  So the king said to him, "Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have decided, ’You and Ziba shall divide the land.’" 30  Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house.’”

 

            I have to concur with Dr. Wiersbe when he implies that this section is hard to understand, especially the response that David gave to Mephibosheth about dividing the land with Ziba for it seems that Ziba had betrayed not only his master but also David and David does not really fully address this matter.  In the end Dr. Wiersbe points out that Mephibosheth was cared for by Ziba as he was before, but to me the story does not have an ending.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I would suppose that there are times in my life when things do not have and ending to them, at least not the way that I would want them to end up, but just as this story is confusing to me I know in my heart that God is equitable in all things this gives me confidence that I can be content with things that don’t seem to end well or do not end in a fair way as far as I’m concerned.  Case in point is the situation that we have with our funds that have been taken from us and never returned.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Put on the spiritual armor in order to walk with the Lord in confidence today.

2.      Be content with things that seem to be unfair knowing that God loves me and will never leave me and in the end will make all things work out for our good and His glory.

 

10/23/2010 9:57:36 AM

King David Decares a General Amnesty (2 Samuel 19:16-23)

10/22/2010 9:30:32 AM

                                  

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  David declares general amnesty

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Samuel 19:16-23

 

            Message of the verses:  “16 ¶  Then Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17  There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, with Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they rushed to the Jordan before the king. 18  Then they kept crossing the ford to bring over the king’s household, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. 19  So he said to the king, "Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart. 20  "For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king." 21  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, "Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’S anointed?" 22  David then said, "What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be an adversary to me? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?" 23  The king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." Thus the king swore to him.”

 

            In this section of 2Samuel 19 we meet Shimei again, the man who had cursed David while he was leaving Jerusalem, which was punishable by death and yet David did not kill him because he thought that the Lord had sent Shimei to curse David.  Now on the way back Shimei confesses to David that what he did was wrong, and you wonder if this was just to save his own skin, but by forgiving Shimei David is showing a general amnesty to all of the people who had sided with Absalom. 

            David gave Shimei mercy in not killing him for he did deserve death, and when David was about to die he spoke to Solomon about Shimei and Solomon gave him grace, giving him what he did not deserve by putting him under house arrest in the city of Jerusalem, but Shimei left Jerusalem and Solomon had him killed, for Shimei could not follow the leadership put over him.  “Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.”  (Jude 8)

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  I would suppose there are times in my life when I seek the Lord’s forgiveness and not seek his cleansing from the unrighteousness that I have committed against Him making me like Shimei, someone I do not want to emulate. 

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Put on the spiritual armor this morning.

2.      Be honest with the Lord in my prayers not just smooth talking and saying things that I don’t mean.

 

10/22/2010 9:49:20 AM