Seeking God in Sad Days

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there. 30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. 

As we have seen the fallout and consequences of David's sin, he has tried to return to life as usual, while at the same time ignoring problems, hoping they will go away. Instead, his popular son Absalom has come back and taken over the kingdom. David is forced to flee, wondering if his rejection by his family and people will be forever. After he sends messengers to bring him a response, David and his followers go to the Mount of Olives to watch and wait.  What a picture pointing us to Christ struggling and praying on the Mount of Olives. Only He knew the future. He would face much sorrow and rejection, but in the end, have His kingdom.  Sad times are times to seek Him. He knows and cares and can bring new hope and a future.

Trying to Ignore the Issue

II Samuel 14:25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king's weight. 27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king's presence. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. And he sent a second time, but Joab would not come. 30 Then he said to his servants, “See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.”

As we have seen, David's family life was beginning to unravel. After issues of rape, boiling bitterness, and murder, there was a definite lack of communication. This caused was uncertainty and mistrust. Joab had been instrumental in getting Absalom back to Jerusalem, so Absalom hoped he would intercede and help open the way for conversation with David. Not wanting to get caught in the middle, Joab stayed away.  As you can imagine, this fire got Joab's attention and he did make the meeting happen, but like bitterness, mistrust becomes engrained and hard to remove. Trying to ignore the issue does not make it go away. What are you ignoring today?

The Pot Boils Over

II Samuel 13:24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.

We saw yesterday that after David's sin against Bathsheba things seemed to get back to "normal," with the couple having another child after losing the baby and David getting back to work as king. But there were long-lasting consequences to David's fall.  His son Amnon had a more deeply rooted lust towards his half-sister Tamar and he shamed her. David was angry and Tamar's full brother Absolom was angry, yet no one did anything, for a while. Finally, things get to a boiling point, Absalom kills Amnon, creating a division in the family, which will further fracture the family in days to come.  What is there in your heart and life that is ready to boil over? How can you turn the heat down before it's too late?

Back on the Job

II Samuel 12: 26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters. 28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.” 29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it. 30 And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.

This chapter begins with the first fall out of David's sin with Bathsheba.  He was rebuked by Nathan the prophet and the child of his adultery died. It had all started when David did not lead his troops in battle and ended up sinning during his time of idleness.  This account shows that David is "back in the saddle," and has returned to his responsibilities as king, leading his troops in battle. Also important here is that David took time to help Bathsheba through the guilt and pain of the lost child. He was no longer all wrapped up in his own pleasure. He is back on the job.  Have you failed or fallen? Do you understand that God does not want you to wallow there? He wants you to confess, care about others, and get back to work.

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?