The mighty men were known for three attributes:
The LORD provided a team of warriors who stayed with David during the rebellion and desertion of the crowd.
LORD, give us team members who stay loyal to us and to you. May they stay loyal and strong during trying times.
These are the words of a man who had faced tremendous challenges in his life – internally and externally. David’s words show confidence in God for what he has done by grace. But there also sounds like a bit of bragging here, which – I admit – makes me uncomfortable. The only way I can reconcile David’s claims of personal integrity– in spite of what we all know about him – is to see life as he did. God’s rescue loomed so large in his life that it overshadowed his shame and rebellion. From eternity’s standpoint, that is how we will all view ourselves – saved by grace.
LORD, make our testimony of your grace loom large in our life.
David’s major battles had been fought and won. His tragic mistake with Bathsheba and its consequences are now bad memories. But there is more to do. Life will always throw us unfinished business. Avenging the Gibeonites and removing a few more Philistine giants are all part of the job. David would leave behind a legacy of warfare as well as a legacy of spirituality. Both were aspects of who he was. God does not call us to eradicate our personality, not to divest ourselves of all things that would not be considered religious or spiritual. He calls us to be real, to be relevant.
LORD, give us the courage to live our whole lives for you, not just the religious part.
Another rebellion, this time led by Sheba from the northern tribes, highlights the instability of David’s kingdom after his sin. Also, Joab’s murder of Amasa shows his unwillingness to submit to David’s choice of commander. The whole event shows that although David had succeeded against Absalom’s rebellion, there is still a sickness in his dominion.
Leadership demands integrity. Getting one’s authority back after lapses of integrity is like trying to put a broken egg back together.
LORD, protect us from failing you.
The fighting is over,the rebellion put down, and David is restored as king over Judah and Israel. But there is still conflict. There are still disagreements, ill feelings, tensions that would later disrupt into a divided kingdom after Solomon’s death. The best that we can hope for in this life is doing some good while we have the chance. We do not know if the seeds we sew will bear lasting fruit, or be destroyed by the ravages of time. Each victory does not mean we have progressed to a higher level. The decisive victory will be won by the LORD himself when Jesus returns.
LORD, we trust in you. We wait for you.
The good news which these runners brought to David that day was bittersweet. He had been delivered from the rebellion that had temporarily cost him his throne. But his deliverance came at the cost of the death of his only son.
The good news that Christians proclaim is also news of a costly deliverance. Believers have been set free from the penalty of their own sin: death and hell. Yet that freedom was bought by the death of God’s own Son on the cross.
LORD, may we never forget the price you paid for our eliverance.
Absalom called upon the wisdom of two counselors. Ahithophel gave him counsel that would have succeeded in finding and killing David. Hushai (who was acting secretly for David) advised another tactic. The LORD sovereignly directed the people to accept Hushai’s advice. The result was that David was spared. When Ahithophel discovered that the people did not listen to him, he committed suicide.
In times like this, when it seems that there are no right solutions, we can pray and trust God to move the hearts of the people. He can turn events so that even in our rebellion, his will is done.
LORD, thank you for not relinquishing control over our destiny.
Due to the rebellion of his son Absalom, David finds himself in transition after years of ruling Israel. He must flee Jerusalem, some friends going with him, and others staying behind to communicate to him later. This transition brings out the best and the worst in people. The loyal Gittites are a contrast to cursing Shimei. David’s attitude is that the LORD has allowed these events to happen, and so the LORD may return him. In the mean time, David must make the best of these trying times.
LORD, when we face times of transition, give us the courage to accept what is, and the faith to hope for what might be.
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 a 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.
LORD, give us discernment.
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.
LORD, inspire us to be honest.
2 Samuel 23:8-39
2 Samuel 22:1-23:7
2 Samuel 21
2 Samuel 20
2 Samuel 19
2 Samuel 17:24-18:33
2 Samuel 16:15-17:23
2 Samuel 14:25-15:12
2 Samuel 14:1-24
