Displeasing the Lord...

 II Samuel 11:26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. 27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

We talked yesterday about the covenant God had made with David, full of promises and expectations. David was filled with expectation about what would happen in the kingdom and with his family. The next few chapters are full of David's victories on every side and show us his softer side, showing compassion to Saul's son Mephibosheth.  But so as not to give us the picture of perfection, the account shows us how devious our hearts can be. When we pause to view our blessings and get comfortable with our spiritual achievements, we can be blindsided by sin in our own hearts. David's downfall has become the subject of even secular media, and a blight to God's reputation and that of His people.  In the following chapters we see the devastation on his household and the trickle effect that had on the stability of the nation, but what is most disappointing is that the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. God still loved David, and did keep His promises to him, but there were still consequences of his choice. We can expect the same when we follow his example.

God's Name Magnified

 II Samuel 7:25 And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.

After a number of key events and victories, David is established as king, and God makes a covenant with him and His people, promising blessings for David's family and the nation, as well as the privilege of being used for His glory.  David responds to God with a prayer of gratitude and humility. As he wraps up his prayer, he makes the statement above, asking God to do as He promised. He appeals to the very character of God: He is good and true.  David realizes he is really a small part in God's perfect plan, and the ultimate thing is for God to be Magnified. May we have that same response to God's working in our lives.

The Fall-Out from Failing to Forgive

 II Samuel 3:26 When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!”

We saw yesterday that there was a lot of bitterness that had built up between the followers of Saul and of David.  Many were able to move on and work together. For those who did not, things did not go well.  As the general for Saul, Abner had a long record of faithfulness and victory.  Joab had faithfully served David throughout the years.  But when his brother died in battle, Joab struggled and never forgave.  His revenge did not satisfy his bitterness; it only brought further pain on his family.  David goes on to mourn over Abner, despite his part in Saul's pursuit of David. How deep does bitterness reside in our hearts and minds?

Pursuing Peace

 II Samuel 2:24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” 27 And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.

David had been waiting for years to finally become king.  Even though God had promised it, it did not happen immediately.  Even after the disappointments during Saul's downfall, some did not quickly embrace following David.  Over the years bitterness had set in - not towards David - but between the sides who had been caught up in Saul's bitterness and envy.  How easy it is for us to get caught up the same way.  We can even get to the point where we wondering why we were fighting in the first place.  It leads down a long path where, where someone has to stop and ask: "Why are we doing this? We need to stop." Are you ever the one to do so?

Amazing Lament

 

II Samuel 1:23 “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
    In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
    they were stronger than lions.
24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
    who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
    who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 “How the mighty have fallen
    in the midst of the battle!
“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26     I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
    your love to me was extraordinary,
    surpassing the love of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen,
    and the weapons of war perished!”

As we transition from the death of Saul in I Samuel to II Samuel, the first thing we find is this lament of David, written in loving memory of both Saul and Jonathan.  David's kind words for Jonathan make sense, as he and David were friends "closer than a brother." But the words he uses for the two together are almost baffling. Saul was vicious in his pursuit to destroy David, but all David does here is sing his praises and call for people to weep over his passing. Do we respond to others' downfall in the same way?

A Culture of Sharing

 I Samuel 30:22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” 23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24 Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” 25 And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day. 26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord.”

We have begun to see the stark contrast in character between Saul and David. This chapter begins with David's wives being captured by none other than the pesky Amalekites, always a thorn in the flesh for Israel. David gathers troops to help rescue them, and as a way to thank those who helped, he divides the spoil among all who assisted in any way.  This was both generous and wise.  David demonstrated that he knew it was not all about him, by him, and for him.  This was much different than Saul. David's act of sharing helped unite the people behind them so that when his time as king did come, they would stand together. Sharing helps create an atmosphere of unity. 

Historical Characters

I Samuel 25:23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 25 Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 26 Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. 27 And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. 

Having seen the foolish, rash decisions Saul was making, we see a sharp contrast with the wise decisions others were making, like David and Abigail. Abigail saw the foolishness of her husband, Nabal, in his opposition to David and disrespectful treatment of David's men.  She was wise and discerning enough to see that God's hand was on David to become the king and she sought to smooth over the rough road her husband had created. She was able to discern character and courage and to demonstrate them herself. Which character do you resemble? Saul? Nabal? David? Abigail?  What would a historian say about you?