2 Samuel 12

WEEK   24                                         2 Samuel 12

FRIDAY  Reflections

It has been said that it is easier to see the sin in others than to see it in yourself. Nathan's story allowed David to see the enormity of his sin in the life of the fabled rich man. This is the great power of story and is why I believe so much of the Bible contains the real ugly life of so many of its characters. Seeing their sin makes it easier to see and confess ours. Also, consider Psalm 51 was written after this confrontation.

There is much more in this chapter but I want to pause and consider God’s proclamation of the sword not leaving his house and his wives would be taken. It sounds as if God is being cruel. Yes, David sinned but why would God do this. Actually, I believe this isn't God causing these events but they are the result of David's own sin. People David hurt, family members of Uriah specifically, would encourage the sad events which unfolded later. This isn't God's vengeance but God's warning that David's sin would bring tragic consequences. Even to Joab becoming more of the person who is trying to fix David's image and kingdom problems, begins here when he reminds David he needs to be seen winning in battle. 

Our actions always have consequences, forgiveness may make us right with God for eternity but even then it cost Jesus his life on the cross.

2Sa 12:1-31
(1)  And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
(2)  The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
(3)  But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
(4)  And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
(5)  And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
(6)  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
(7)  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
(8)  And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
(9)  Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
(10)  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
(11)  Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
(12)  For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
(13)  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
(14)  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
(15)  And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
(16)  David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
(17)  And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
(18)  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
(19)  But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
(20)  Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
(21)  Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
(22)  And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
(23)  But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
(24)  And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
(25)  And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
(26)  And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
(27)  And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
(28)  Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
(29)  And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
(30)  And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
(31)  And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

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Romans 14

WEEK  24                                          Romans 14

THURSDAY  Reflections

When considering this Scripture and 1 Corinthians 8, some people use them to bolster their ego rather than to walk in love. I have also seen this scripture used to justify sin.

 

 Paul here refers specifically to foods (vegetarians or those that might eat meats sacrificed to idols) and those that give recognition of certain days. This scripture can refer to anything of which there can be disagreement concerning the living out of truth. This scripture can't be used to claim what you are doing isn't sin because I don't believe it's sin. This scripture covers the gray areas in the living out of our faith.

 

The ultimate rule here is to live by faith and in love. Everything we do needs to be by faith if it isn't we are in trouble. If something we do can cause others to fall then we refrain from it. For example, if I invite someone over to dinner and they feel it is sacrilegious to eat meat during lent, I don't have it on the menu during lent. At the end of the day, we need to exercise true tolerance and love. This includes giving in to the weaker not because they are less but because they are your brother or sister in Christ that you do not want to offend.

Rom 14:1-23
(1)  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
(2)  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
(3)  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
(4)  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
(5)  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
(6)  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
(7)  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
(8)  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
(9)  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
(10)  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
(11)  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
(12)  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
(13)  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
(14)  I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
(15)  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
(16)  Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
(17)  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(18)  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
(19)  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
(20)  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
(21)  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
(22)  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
(23)  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

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Psalm 51

WEEK   24                                      Psalm 51

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

This plea for repentance is one of the best in all of the Psalm and is the result of one of the worst sins recorded in the Bible. The sin is so bad not because others haven't done worse, though adultery and murder are some of the big ones. What makes this sin so bad is David was so good. He is the hero, God's chosen man. This is the man God's Messiah would come from and here he is disregarding the law of God just to suit his own desires. 

David sinned against so many but ultimately he sinned against one, God. This is what really resounds in this psalm. David cries out, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight" (Verse 4a KJV). This is the cry we must take up when we go to God because it is him we have sinned against.

Psa 51:1-19
(1)  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
(2)  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
(3)  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
(4)  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
(5)  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
(6)  Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
(7)  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
(8)  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
(9)  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
(10)  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
(11)  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
(12)  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
(13)  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
(14)  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
(15)  O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
(16)  For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
(17)  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
(18)  Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
(19)  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

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2 Samuel 11

WEEK  24                                           2 Samuel 11

TUESDAY  Reflections

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

 

In the old movie, Karate Kid 2, the master tries to teach his apprentice the best defense against any attack. The words fit perfectly into Christian discipleship. The master said, “Best defense against punch, no be there when it comes.”[1] This is so true when we look at the life of David. In 2 Samuel 11:1 it is recorded, “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”

 

The kings were supposed to be going to war, but David stayed home. If he had been in the field, there would have been no affair with Bathsheba, no illegitimate child, no murder of a husband and none of the related consequences. All because David wasn’t where he was supposed to be.

 

The scripture I quoted at the top here promises God will keep us from temptation beyond what we can handle. I can’t help but think that God’s answer is often the same as in the movie, don’t be there. If you don’t place yourself in a position to fall you won’t fall. If you can’t resist cookies at midnight, don’t buy cookies and put them in your house. If gossip or pornography are problems when you get online get rid of the computer or set protections, so you will not go to those sites, or only get online when a friend or your spouse can see your screen.

 

However, the best defense against temptation is to be where you are supposed to be. For David, it was to be in the field. For you, it may be at work, or most probably in church and Bible study. You will be surprised at the temptations that won’t come if you are where you belong. 

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[1] The Karate Kid Part II is a 1986 American martial arts drama film written by Robert Mark Kamen and directed by John G. Avildsen. Distributed by Columbia Pictures. 

2Sa 11:1-27
(1)  And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
(2)  And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
(3)  And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
(4)  And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
(5)  And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
(6)  And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
(7)  And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
(8)  And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
(9)  But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
(10)  And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
(11)  And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
(12)  And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
(13)  And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
(14)  And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
(15)  And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
(16)  And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
(17)  And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
(18)  Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
(19)  And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
(20)  And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
(21)  Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
(22)  So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
(23)  And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
(24)  And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
(25)  Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
(26)  And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
(27)  And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

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2 Samuel 10

WEEK  24                                      2 Samuel 10

MONDAY  Reflections

Personally, when the children of Ammon knew David was angry with them perhaps they should have sent an apology rather than prepare for war. However, history is full of people making poor choices. Throughout this story is bad choice after bad choice for Hanun and the Children of Ammon. However, when your heart is evil then you see the same in others. It is very possible the children of Ammon believed if they were so shamed they would go to war and prepared accordingly. They ended up getting exactly what they prepared for: war and they lost. How much better if they thought David was spying just to send the men away but that isn't human nature.

Let's strive to be better. Don't assume people always have an ulterior motive. When needed, apologize, don't prepare to fight.

2Sa 10:1-19
(1)  And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
(2)  Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
(3)  And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
(4)  Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
(5)  When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
(6)  And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
(7)  And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
(8)  And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
(9)  When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
(10)  And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
(11)  And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
(12)  Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.
(13)  And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
(14)  And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
(15)  And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
(16)  And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
(17)  And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
(18)  And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
(19)  And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

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