2 Samuel 15:1 It happened after this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Samuel 15:2 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, “What city are you from?” If he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” 2 Samuel 15:3 Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.” 2 Samuel 15:4 He added, “If only someone would appoint me to judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice.” 2 Samuel 15:5 When a person approached to pay homage to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him. 2 Samuel 15:6 Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:7 When four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. 2 Samuel 15:8 For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram, saying: If Yahveh really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship Yahveh in Hebron.” 2 Samuel 15:9 “Go in peace,” the king said to him. So, he went to Hebron. 2 Samuel 15:10 Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron! ‘” 2 Samuel 15:11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited and were going innocently, because they did not know the whole situation. 2 Samuel 15:12 While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David’s adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city of Giloh. So, the conspiracy grew strong, and the people supporting Absalom continued to increase.
kissing conspiracy
David so much wants to believe that the worst is over for him. He does not choose to see that Absalom is planning a conspiracy against him. It is difficult to keep positive faith while not falling for every con job and getting the wool pulled over our eyes. We need to be harmless as doves, but wise as serpents. This world will not treat us right. We need to come into relationships expecting God to work, but also realizing the potential for the devil to work.
2 Samuel 14:1 Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s mind was on Absalom. 2 Samuel 14:2 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Pretend to be in mourning: dress in mourning clothes and don’t put on any oil. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. 2 Samuel 14:3 Go to the king and speak these words to him.” Then Joab told her exactly what to say. 2 Samuel 14:4 When the woman from Tekoa came to the king, she fell facedown to the ground, paid homage, and said, “Help me, O king!” 2 Samuel 14:5 “What’s the matter?” the king asked her. “Sadly, I am a widow; my husband died,” she said. 2 Samuel 14:6 “Your servant had two sons. They were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. 2 Samuel 14:7 Now the whole clan has revolted against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will eliminate the heir! ‘ They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the land.” 2 Samuel 14:8 The king told the woman, “Go home. I will issue a command on your behalf.” 2 Samuel 14:9 Then the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me and my father’s family, and may the king and his throne be innocent.” 2 Samuel 14:10 “Whoever speaks to you,” the king said, “bring him to me. He will not trouble you again!” 2 Samuel 14:11 She replied, “Please, may the king invoke Yahveh your God, so that the avenger of blood will not increase the loss, and they will not eliminate my son!” “As Yahveh lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son will fall to the ground.” 2 Samuel 14:12 Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?” “Speak,” he replied. 2 Samuel 14:13 The woman asked, “Why have you devised something similar against the people of God? When the king spoke as he did about this matter, he pronounced his own guilt. The king has not brought back his own banished one. 2 Samuel 14:14 We will certainly die and be like water poured out on the ground, which can’t be recovered. But God would not take away a life; he would devise plans so that the one banished from him does not remain banished. 2 Samuel 14:15 “Now therefore, I’ve come to present this matter to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought: I must speak to the king. Perhaps the king will grant his servant’s request. 2 Samuel 14:16 The king will surely listen to keep his servant from the grasp of this man who would eliminate both me and my son from God’s inheritance. 2 Samuel 14:17 Your servant thought: May the word of my lord the king bring relief, for my lord the king is able to discern the good and the bad like the angel of God. May Yahveh your God be with you.” 2 Samuel 14:18 Then the king answered the woman, “I’m going to ask you something; don’t conceal it from me!” “Let my lord the king speak,” the woman replied. 2 Samuel 14:19 The king asked, “Did Joab put you up to all this?” The woman answered. “As you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or left from all my lord the king says. Yes, your servant Joab is the one who gave orders to me; he told your servant exactly what to say. 2 Samuel 14:20 Joab your servant has done this to address the issue indirectly, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, knowing everything on land.” 2 Samuel 14:21 Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.” 2 Samuel 14:22 Joab fell with his face to the ground in homage and blessed the king. “Today,” Joab said, “your servant knows I have found favor with you, my lord the king because the king has granted the request of your servant.” 2 Samuel 14:23 So Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 14:24 However, the king added, “He may return to his house, but he may not see my face.” So, Absalom returned to his house, but he did not see the king. 2 Samuel 14:25 No man in all Israel was as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw. 2 Samuel 14:26 When he shaved his head — he shaved it at the end of every year because his hair got so heavy for him that he had to shave it off– he would weigh the hair from his head, and it would be five pounds according to the royal standard. 2 Samuel 14:27 Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman. 2 Samuel 14:28 Absalom resided in Jerusalem two years but never saw the king. 2 Samuel 14:29 Then Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab was unwilling to come to him. So, he sent again, a second time, but he still would not come. 2 Samuel 14:30 Then Absalom said to his servants, “See, Joab has a field right next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set fire to it!” So, Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. 2 Samuel 14:31 Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?” 2 Samuel 14:32 “Look,” Absalom explained to Joab, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? I’d be better off if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king. If I am guilty, let him kill me.” 2 Samuel 14:33 Joab went to the king and told him. So, David summoned Absalom, who came to the king and paid homage with his face to the ground before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.
partial fix
Did Joab’s trick work? yes, and no. He succeeded in getting David to allow Absalom back into Jerusalem from which he had been banished. He did not succeed in reconciling the two. It was a partial fix which would result in more heartache and shame later. Such is the fate of our attempts to do God’s work in our own way.
What we see in a number of the stories from this period is the use of deception to gain one’s objective. The unnamed author of these stories seems to be highlighting this trend, to show the ultimate consequences of the deception. Great houses fall when we seek to use our lies to obtain our objectives, whether good or bad.
2 Samuel 13:23 Two years later, Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 2 Samuel 13:24 Then he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired sheepshearers. Will the king and his servants please come with your servant?” 2 Samuel 13:25 The king replied to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he wasn’t willing to go, though he did bless him. 2 Samuel 13:26 “If not,” Absalom said, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” 2 Samuel 13:27 But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons. 2 Samuel 13:28 Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and valiant!” 2 Samuel 13:29 So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each fled on his mule. 2 Samuel 13:30 While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom struck down all the king’s sons; not even one of them survived!” 2 Samuel 13:31 In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 2 Samuel 13:32 But Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, because only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this ever since the day Amnon disgraced his sister Tamar. 2 Samuel 13:33 So now, my lord the king, don’t take seriously the report that says all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.” 2 Samuel 13:34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain. 2 Samuel 13:35 Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have come! It’s exactly like your servant said.” 2 Samuel 13:36 Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons entered and wept loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly. 2 Samuel 13:37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 2 Samuel 13:38 After Absalom had fled to Geshur and had been there three years, 2 Samuel 13:39 King David longed to go to Absalom, for David had finished grieving over Amnon’s death.
page from Daddy’s playbook
Absalom took a page from David’s playbook when he plotted to kill Amnon. His motive was revenge for the rape of his sister, while David ordered the death of Uriah to cover up his own infidelity. But both men sought to cover up their sin by having the murder done by others. In neither case did it work.
2 Samuel 13:1 After this, David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David’s son Amnon loved her. 2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her. 2 Samuel 13:3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man, 2 Samuel 13:4 and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miserable every morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 2 Samuel 13:5 Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you’re sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare a meal in my presence so I can watch and eat from her hand.'” 2 Samuel 13:6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my presence so I can eat from her hand.” 2 Samuel 13:7 David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare a meal for him.” 2 Samuel 13:8 Then Tamar went to his house while Amnon was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his presence, and baked them. 2 Samuel 13:9 She brought the pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Everyone leave me!” And everyone left him. 2 Samuel 13:10 “Bring the meal to the bedroom,” Amnon told Tamar, “so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom. 2 Samuel 13:11 When she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come sleep with me, my sister!” 2 Samuel 13:12 “Don’t, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t disgrace me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Don’t commit this outrage! 2 Samuel 13:13 Where could I ever go with my humiliation? And you– you would be like one of the outrageous fools in Israel! Please, speak to the king, for he won’t keep me from you.” 2 Samuel 13:14 But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he disgraced her by raping her. 2 Samuel 13:15 So Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that the hatred he hated her with was greater than the love he had loved her with. “Get out of here!” he said. 2 Samuel 13:16 “No,” she cried, “sending me away is much worse than the great wrong you’ve already done to me!” But he refused to listen to her. 2 Samuel 13:17 Instead, he called to the servant who waited on him: “Get this away from me, throw her out, and bolt the door behind her!” 2 Samuel 13:18 Amnon’s servant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a long-sleeved garment because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. 2 Samuel 13:19 Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved garment she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away crying out. 2 Samuel 13:20 Her brother Absalom said to her: “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So, Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom. 2 Samuel 13:21 When King David heard about all these things, he was furious. 2 Samuel 13:22 Absalom didn’t say anything to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon since he disgraced his sister Tamar.
results of indiscretion
The consequences of David’s sin with Bathsheba continue to play out in the lives of his children. Had David been able to see all that would happen as a result of his indiscretion perhaps it would have given him pause. As it turns out, David seems helpless to stop the world he created from spiraling into despair. In spite of the fact that he had been forgiven, his choices brought great harm to his family, and great shame to himself, his nation, and his God. Oh, Christian, run from sin.
LORD, give us insight into the consequences of our choices.
2 Samuel 12:26 Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city. 2 Samuel 12:27 Then Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah and have also captured its water supply. 2 Samuel 12:28 Now therefore, gather the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise, I will be the one to capture the city, and it will be named after me.” 2 Samuel 12:29 So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; he fought against it and captured it. 2 Samuel 12:30 He took the crown from the head of their king, and it was placed on David’s head. The crown weighed seventy-five pounds of gold, and it had a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city. 2 Samuel 12:31 He removed the people who were in the city and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at brickmaking. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
to the king
Joab would risk his life and do his job well, but he wanted the glory of the victorty to go to his king. Such should be out ambition as well. We should seek excellencer in everything we do. But our king Jesus should be the focus and purpose of our work.
2 Samuel 12:1 So Yahveh sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him: There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. 2 Samuel 12:2 The rich man had very large flocks and herds, 2 Samuel 12:3 but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised her, and she grew up with him and with his children. From his meager food she would eat, from his cup she would drink, and in his arms she would sleep. She was like a daughter to him. 2 Samuel 12:4 Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man did not want to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest. 2 Samuel 12:5 David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan: “As Yahveh lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 2 Samuel 12:6 Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.” 2 Samuel 12:7 Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what Yahveh God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from Saul. 2 Samuel 12:8 I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. 2 Samuel 12:9 Why then have you despised Yahveh’s command by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hethite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife — you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword. 2 Samuel 12:10 Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your own wife.’ 2 Samuel 12:11 “This is what Yahveh says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them in broad daylight. 2 Samuel 12:12 You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.'” 2 Samuel 12:13 David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahveh.” Then Nathan replied to David, “And Yahveh has taken away your sin; you will not die. 2 Samuel 12:14 However, because you treated Yahveh with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.” 2 Samuel 12:15 Then Nathan went home. Yahveh struck the baby that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became deathly ill. 2 Samuel 12:16 David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground. 2 Samuel 12:17 The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day the baby died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Notice, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.” 2 Samuel 12:19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he guessed that the baby was dead. So, he asked his servants, “Is the baby dead?” “He is dead,” they replied. 2 Samuel 12:20 Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to Yahveh’s house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested something to eat. So, they served him food, and he ate. 2 Samuel 12:21 His servants asked him, “Why have you done this? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.” 2 Samuel 12:22 He answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? Yahveh may be gracious to me and let him live.’ 2 Samuel 12:23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I’ll go to him, but he will never return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba; he went to her and slept with her. She gave birth to a son and named him Solomon. Yahveh loved him, 2 Samuel 12:25 and he sent a message through the prophet Nathan, who named him Jedidiah, loved by the Lord.
great mercy, severe judgment
David’s confession before Nathan was a sign of true repentance, so the LORD chose to forgive his sins. But because his actions had brought dishonor to God, the consequences remained. Bathsheba’s child would die. God’s mercy is great, but his justice is also severe. No one should presume upon God’s mercy. Not even David was immune to his judgment.
We respect you LORD. Forgive us our sins, and may our lives hallow your name.
2 Samuel 11:1 In the spring of the year — when kings march out to war — David sent Joab with his officers and all of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing — a very beautiful woman. 2 Samuel 11:3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hethite?” 2 Samuel 11:4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Afterward, she returned home. 2 Samuel 11:5 The woman conceived and sent word to inform David: “I am pregnant.” 2 Samuel 11:6 David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hethite.” So, Joab sent Uriah to David. 2 Samuel 11:7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going. 2 Samuel 11:8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So, Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. 2 Samuel 11:9 But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house. 2 Samuel 11:10 When it was reported to David, “Uriah didn’t go home,” David questioned Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home?” 2 Samuel 11:11 Uriah answered David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camping in the open field. How can I enter my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live and by your life, I will not do this!” 2 Samuel 11:12 “Stay here today also,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So, Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 2 Samuel 11:13 Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. He went out in the evening to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home. 2 Samuel 11:14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 2 Samuel 11:15 In the letter he wrote: Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest fighting, then withdraw from him so that he is struck down and dies. 2 Samuel 11:16 When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were. 2 Samuel 11:17 Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell in battle; Uriah the Hethite also died. 2 Samuel 11:18 Joab sent someone to report to David all the details of the battle. 2 Samuel 11:19 He commanded the messenger, “When you’ve finished telling the king all the details of the battle– 2 Samuel 11:20 if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall? 2 Samuel 11:21 At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall so that he died? Why did you get so close to the wall? ‘– then say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hethite is dead also.'” 2 Samuel 11:22 Then the messenger left. When he arrived, he reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell. 2 Samuel 11:23 The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the city gate. 2 Samuel 11:24 However, the archers shot down on your servants from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s servants died. Your servant Uriah the Hethite is also dead.” 2 Samuel 11:25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this matter upset you because the sword devours one and then another. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him.” 2 Samuel 11:26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned for him. 2 Samuel 11:27 When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, what David had done was evil in Yahveh’s eyes.
he sees all
This passage stands as a warning for all of us who consider ourselves faithful to the LORD. David did not get away with his sin. Yahveh sees all and knows all.
When we sin, it displeases him – it makes no difference how loyal we have been in other matters. He sees. He knows. His holiness is repulsed by our acts of unrighteousness. Even if no one else knows, he knows.
LORD, we beg your forgiveness. We fail you often, and usually no one else knows. You know. Forgive us.
2 Samuel 10:1 It happened afterward that the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place. 2 Samuel 10:2 Then David said, “I’ll show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So, David sent his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. However, when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, 2 Samuel 10:3 the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn’t David sent his servants in order to scout out the city, spy on it, and demolish it?” 2 Samuel 10:4 So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved off half their beards, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away. 2 Samuel 10:5 When this was reported to David, he sent someone to meet them, since they were deeply humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then return.” 2 Samuel 10:6 When the Ammonites realized they had become repulsive to David, they hired twenty thousand foot soldiers from the Arameans of Beth-rehob and Zobah, one thousand men from the king of Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob. 2 Samuel 10:7 David heard about it and sent Joab and all the elite troops. 2 Samuel 10:8 The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were in the field by themselves. 2 Samuel 10:9 When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some of Israel’s finest young men and lined up in formation to engage the Arameans. 2 Samuel 10:10 He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai. They lined up in formation to engage the Ammonites. 2 Samuel 10:11 “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you will be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll come to help you. 2 Samuel 10:12 Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May Yahveh’s will be done.” 2 Samuel 10:13 Joab and his troops advanced to fight against the Arameans, and they fled before him. 2 Samuel 10:14 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab withdrew from the attack against the Ammonites and went to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 10:15 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped. 2 Samuel 10:16 Hadadezer sent messengers to bring the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam with Shobach, commander of Hadadezer’s army, leading them. 2 Samuel 10:17 When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans lined up to engage David in battle and fought against him. 2 Samuel 10:18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach commander of their army, who died there. 2 Samuel 10:19 When all the kings who were Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. After this, the Arameans were afraid to ever help the Ammonites again.
Hanun’s war
Hanun’s war was a major mistake. The tragedy is that people still die in wars like that. Sometimes good people die because of human stupidity. Someday the Lord will come back and put an end to those kinds of things. Until then, the best we can do is try to find honor in the human tragedy of warfare. We must remember that true justice will only be found at the judgment seat of Christ. It will not be gained on the battlefield.
LORD, hasten the day when the faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trump shall resound and the Lord shall return. Even so, it is well with my soul.
2 Samuel 9:1 David said, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show kindness to for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied. 2 Samuel 9:3 So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was crippled in both feet.” 2 Samuel 9:4 The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.” 2 Samuel 9:5 So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. 2 Samuel 9:6 Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant, ” he replied. 2 Samuel 9:7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.” 2 Samuel 9:8 Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?” 2 Samuel 9:9 Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. 2 Samuel 9:10 You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 2 Samuel 9:11 Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.” So, Mephibosheth ate at David’s table just like one of the king’s sons. 2 Samuel 9:12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants. 2 Samuel 9:13 However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been crippled.
demonstrating his kindness
Jonathan was dead and gone, but his kindness to David was still alive, as David sought to repay him by showing good will to Mephibosheth and Ziba. That is how the kindness of God works. Your acts of love result in gratitude, which produces other acts of love, which result in gratitude, etc. It may be something as simple as a pleasant conversation, or looking out for someone’s interest. We will never know how deep the ripple of an act of kindness may go.
LORD, may we never forget to be thoughtful of others. Show us ways to demonstrate your kindness.
2 Samuel 8:1 After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from Philistine control. 2 Samuel 8:2 He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one full length of those to be kept alive. So, the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute. 2 Samuel 8:3 David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. 2 Samuel 8:4 David captured seventeen hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses and kept a hundred chariots. 2 Samuel 8:5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand Aramean men. 2 Samuel 8:6 Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. Yahveh made David victorious wherever he went. 2 Samuel 8:7 David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 8:8 King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities. 2 Samuel 8:9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 2 Samuel 8:10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him. 2 Samuel 8:11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued– 2 Samuel 8:12 from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 2 Samuel 8:13 David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in Salt Valley. 2 Samuel 8:14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. Yahveh made David victorious wherever he went. 2 Samuel 8:15 So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people. 2 Samuel 8:16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian; 2 Samuel 8:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was court secretary; 2 Samuel 8:18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials.
administering justice and righteousness
After succeeding in gaining control over the nation, David wins battles which cause his enemies to fear him, and the wise nations to respect him. He then sets his heart to administer justice and equity to all his people (15). He believed his people were endowed by their creator with unalienable rights, and that his government was instituted among men to secure these rights.
LORD, instill in us a commitment to govern well, and to respect those who do.
Devotions 