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?

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?