2 Samuel 4

 

WEEK  22                                                                                 2 Samuel 4

 

MONDAY  Reflections

 

Here in this chapter, there again is someone, actually two brothers, who think they can get a reward by murder. Though Ishbosheth was a rival king, David didn't think of him as an enemy. David remembered his vow to Saul and rewarded the murderers as they deserved. Here, David once again is ruling as God would have him. David was trusting God to deal with his rival for the king of Israel. These men offered David a shortcut, which he again refused to take.  

Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

Jeremiah 33

WEEK   21                                            Jeremiah 33

SATURDAY  Reflections

God has brought and is bringing destruction on Judah, yet here we find a great promise (Jeremiah 33). God is again promising to bring them back and raise up the Messianic Kingdom. Part of this has been fulfilled in Jesus and part is yet to come but there is hope. Jeremiah knew he would never see it but as many a parent has had there is hope for those who come later. It is this kind of hope, which inspires people to sacrifice and even lay down their lives. It is this kind of hope which gives people the courage to face pain, not run, or surrender.

Since the promise has been partly fulfilled in Jesus doing what was just and right, we can know that one day He will do the rest and make all things right. We too have hope.

Jer 33:1-26
(1)  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
(2)  Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;
(3)  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
(4)  For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;
(5)  They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.
(6)  Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
(7)  And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
(8)  And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
(9)  And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
(10)  Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,
(11)  The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.
(12)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
(13)  In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.
(14)  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
(15)  In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
(16)  In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
(17)  For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
(18)  Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
(19)  And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,
(20)  Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
(21)  Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
(22)  As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
(23)  Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
(24)  Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.
(25)  Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
(26)  Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

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2 Samuel 3

WEEK   21                                        2 Samuel 3

FRIDAY  Reflections

“A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel” (Proverbs 18:19). This scripture came to mind as I read 2 Samuel 3. Ishbosheth accused Abner of sleeping with his father’s concubines. Abner had been a loyal supporter of Saul’s house. He had fought against David’s claim to kingship repeatedly, and now he is accused of being unfaithful in that role (taking a king’s concubines was akin to claiming kingship). Abner was so offended that he left Saul’s family and promised to deliver all of Israel into David’s hand.

Abner’s death is a tragedy, but what I want to look at here is what happens if we accuse someone wrongly. There is an old saying, “Be careful of the words you speak, keep them soft and sweet, for you never know which ones you may have to eat.” Ishbosheth felt the consequence of his actions, as we all do. In life, God may grant forgiveness, but often there are consequences for our actions that we still have to face. Our words need to be guarded because the consequences may have greater repercussions than we could possibly imagine. How much greater loss can there be than that of a family friend and supporter?

2Sa 3:1-39
(1)  Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
(2)  And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
(3)  And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
(4)  And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
(5)  And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
(6)  And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
(7)  And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
(8)  Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
(9)  So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
(10)  To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
(11)  And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
(12)  And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
(13)  And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
(14)  And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
(15)  And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
(16)  And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
(17)  And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
(18)  Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
(19)  And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
(20)  So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
(21)  And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
(22)  And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
(23)  When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
(24)  Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
(25)  Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
(26)  And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
(27)  And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
(28)  And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
(29)  Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
(30)  So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
(31)  And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
(32)  And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
(33)  And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
(34)  Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
(35)  And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
(36)  And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
(37)  For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
(38)  And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
(39)  And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

Romans 11

WEEK  21                                             Romans 11

THURSDAY  Reflections

There can be no anti-Semitism in Christianity. At least none that is justified by scripture. Paul warns the Gentiles in this chapter that those grafted in should not boast against those who are broken off due to their unbelief.

 

Once all is looked at in this chapter, being part of the body of Christ, the true vine, is a matter of belief, not birth. God's hope was that all of Israel would accept Jesus but they like others in the past refused to accept God's ways and thus were broken off from God’s promises. God's plan is to use the salvation of the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy so they will return. We have not seen this happen en masse, but who knows what God will do in the future. This isn't a guarantee of salvation for all Jews, but the plan of God to bring Israel as a people group back to be associated with Jesus' kingdom.    

Rom 11:1-36
(1)  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
(2)  God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
(3)  Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
(4)  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
(5)  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
(6)  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
(7)  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
(8)  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
(9)  And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
(10)  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
(11)  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
(12)  Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
(13)  For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
(14)  If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
(15)  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
(16)  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
(17)  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
(18)  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
(19)  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
(20)  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
(21)  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
(22)  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
(23)  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
(24)  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
(25)  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
(26)  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
(27)  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
(28)  As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
(29)  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
(30)  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
(31)  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
(32)  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
(33)  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
(34)  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
(35)  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
(36)  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

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Proverbs 18

Week 21                                                                     Proverbs 18

In Proverbs 18:21, we are reminded just how powerful words are. They have the power of life and death, the writer says. They do but this is not the verse I want to concentrate on today. I want to look at the next verse.

 

He that finds a wife finds a good thing. I would expand that a bit and say that when someone finds a good spouse, they have found a great thing. It is like gaining God's favor. Those that have such a marriage can understand this truth, but for those who haven't been married or don't have a good one, you might not be able to imagine marriage as a wonderful thing. In truth, the bad examples of marriage have hidden its greatness, behind the images of abuse and hardship. This doesn't mean that marriage is bad, but as with many things when done wrong it looks that way.

 

A car is a great tool but used wrongly or driven while under the influence turns it is an instrument of destruction. This is true with marriage also, just as the problem with the car is the driver, so in marriage, it isn't the institution it's the people driving it.

Pro 18:1-24
(1)  Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
(2)  A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
(3)  When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
(4)  The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
(5)  It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
(6)  A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
(7)  A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
(8)  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
(9)  He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
(10)  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
(11)  The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
(12)  Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
(13)  He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
(14)  The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
(15)  The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
(16)  A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
(17)  He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
(18)  The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
(19)  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
(20)  A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
(21)  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
(22)  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
(23)  The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
(24)  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

2 Samuel 2

WEEK  21                                      2 Samuel 2

TUESDAY  Reflections

Even now after the death of Saul, David still had problems. The tribe of Judah proclaimed him king but the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin proclaimed one of Saul's son king. God told David to go to Hebron so he was obeying God but this didn't mean everything was going to be easy. It rarely is.

For a time civil war broke out. This chapter begins to introduce us to a servant of David called Joab. Joab though defending David's throne was certainly not like David. We will see him use war, murder, description, and treachery to accomplish the goals he thinks are right. I point him out because though he is part of the story he isn't a person we want to emulate.   

2Sa 2:1-32
(1)  And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
(2)  So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.
(3)  And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
(4)  And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
(5)  And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
(6)  And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
(7)  Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
(8)  But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
(9)  And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
(10)  Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
(11)  And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
(12)  And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
(13)  And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
(14)  And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
(15)  Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
(16)  And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
(17)  And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
(18)  And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
(19)  And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
(20)  Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
(21)  And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
(22)  And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
(23)  Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
(24)  Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
(25)  And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
(26)  Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
(27)  And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
(28)  So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
(29)  And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
(30)  And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.
(31)  But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
(32)  And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

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2 Samuel 1

WEEK 21                                    2 Samuel 1

MONDAY  Reflections

2 Samuel begins with David receiving word that Saul was dead. It has been guessed that perhaps the young man who came to David was lying about killing Saul and found him dead and made up the story to gain favor with David. We don’t know, it could have been that the sword-bearer was wrong when he thought Saul was dead before he killed himself 1 Samuel 31:4. However, if this young man was telling the truth there is a strange irony that might be easy to miss.

 

In 1 Samuel 15, God told Saul to go and utterly destroy the Amalekites (some argue this may have been just one of their city-states). In verse 20, Saul claims he did kill all the Amalekites except the King. Yet over and over we see Amalekites showing up. The one which really stands out is here in 2 Samuel 1. The person who claims to have killed Saul was someone who Saul claims he had killed. There is irony here. Could it be that Saul’s own disobedience caused his death? Perhaps if nothing else it is an example of one’s actions having unintended consequences.

 

 It also reflects the warning God gave Israel in Deuteronomy 32:23 about not driving out the inhabitants of the land, “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

2Sa 1:1-27
(1)  Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
(2)  It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
(3)  And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
(4)  And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
(5)  And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
(6)  And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
(7)  And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
(8)  And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
(9)  He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
(10)  So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
(11)  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
(12)  And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
(13)  And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
(14)  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?
(15)  And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
(16)  And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.
(17)  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
(18)  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
(19)  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
(20)  Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
(21)  Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
(22)  From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
(23)  Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
(24)  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
(25)  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
(26)  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
(27)  How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

Jeremiah 32

WEEK  20                                         Jeremiah 32

SATURDAY  Reflections

Jeremiah had prophesied things would eventually turn and God would deliver. Now God was asking Jeremiah to invest in that future. Jeremiah was being asked to become the kinsman-redeemer for a piece of property and God told him to do it.

If someone comes to you and says, "My company is going bankrupt next week would you like to lose your money and invest in it?" You don't invest. A bankrupt company has no future. My wife has some money from the former Soviet Union, other than a collector it has no value. I wouldn't pay real money for it any more than I would Monopoly money (fake money if you don't know the game).

However, if a company is nearly bankrupt but is getting ready to make a revolutionary breakthrough, it is a perfect time. Everyone looks and see the bad but you know it’s only a temporary setback. This is what God is asking Jeremiah to demonstrate to those around him. He was not just saying words of hope he was putting his money where his mouth was.    

Jer 32:1-44
(1)  The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
(2)  For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.
(3)  For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
(4)  And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
(5)  And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
(6)  And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
(7)  Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
(8)  So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
(9)  And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
(10)  And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
(11)  So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
(12)  And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
(13)  And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
(14)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
(15)  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.
(16)  Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,
(17)  Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
(18)  Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
(19)  Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
(20)  Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;
(21)  And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;
(22)  And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;
(23)  And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:
(24)  Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.
(25)  And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
(26)  Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
(27)  Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
(28)  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:
(29)  And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.
(30)  For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.
(31)  For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
(32)  Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(33)  And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
(34)  But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.
(35)  And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
(36)  And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
(37)  Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
(38)  And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
(39)  And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
(40)  And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
(41)  Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
(42)  For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.
(43)  And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
(44)  Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.