Category: 1st and 2nd Samuel-BibleTrekToday
Trek through 1st and 2nd Samuel
Cries up to Heaven!
Scripture reading for August 5: 1 Samuel 5:11-12 “They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.”
In today’s story from Scripture, the Philistines, enemies of Israel, had captured the ark of God and they were having great troubles everywhere that they took it. First they took it to the temple of Dagon and set it before their idol god. The next day, Dagon was lying on his face before the ark of God. They set the idol up again and the next morning, Dagon lay dismembered before the ark with the head and hands on the threshold of the temple. The people also noticed tumors growing on their bodies for God’s hand was heavy on them. There was great fear and panic in the whole city and countryside that caused them to cry out to heaven themselves. Their leaders devised a plan to move the ark of God out of their city. Offerings would be made of gold tumors and gold mice, five of them, for each of the lords of the Philistines. They put the ark on a new cart with two milk cows pulling it.
Have you ever had the ‘hand of the Lord’ heavy on you? These Philistines were Gentile idolaters but God had shown them mercy by coming near to them. They instead put God’s ark in their temple and continued their idolatry. Judgment from God fell and resulted in tumors and deathly fear and panic. They began to cry out and the cry went up to heaven. God showed them mercy in removing His presence and allowing them to continue in the darkness of idolatry.
As believers in Jesus, we are no longer under the curse of the law of sin and death. Jesus has bought and paid for our deliverance and for our healing. When attacked by cancer or disease, we go to our Father and He hears because He lives in us through His Holy Spirit. We trust His promises by faith. His hand is not heavy on us, but reaches out to lift us up and take us through! (Romans 8:37-38) Amen!
“Son of David”
Scripture reading for March 27: Luke 18
“As He drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he came near, He asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”” Luke 18:35-41
Jesus always honors faith and Scripture teaches us that without faith, no one can please God. (Hebrews 11:6) As Jesus heads for Jerusalem for His final week on earth, He encounters this blind beggar who is sitting beside the road. This man had to rely on other’s generosity for his support and for description of what was causing a crowd to pass by. Those in the crowd told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. But the crowd’s pronouncement brought forth a shocking response of faith from this seemingly insignificant person.
The blind man cried out with unashamedly, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This blind man had a revelation of Jesus’ divinity and connected Him with the promise in Scripture of a descendant of David Who would be the Jew’s Messiah and eternal King. (2 Samuel 7:8-13) The crowd tried to silence him but he persisted in his cry for mercy to the Son of David. His cry caught Jesus’ attention and Jesus invited him to come to him. Jesus asked what he wanted from Him, and the request for healing was immediately granted. Jesus responded that his faith had made him well! This caused great praise to God.
Have you ever sought Jesus for healing or help in an impossible situation? Have those you love or know told you to be quiet, your request is impossible? What do you want Jesus to do for you today? What are some insights that help you from this story told by Jesus?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending the “Son of David” as You promised in Your Word. Thank You for taking time to hear a cry for mercy, as I have also cried to You many times. Use me to encourage faith by sharing Your promises and crying out for mercy on behalf of the hurting. Amen.
Anguish of betrayal
Scripture reading for June 13: Psalm 55-59
Friendship is a precious thing. A friend is someone you can trust and confide in. They know you for who you really are and often love you in spite of what they see. They stick with you through thick and thin. They are there for you when you need them and you can count on them to be honest with you. Friendships take time to develop and close friends are rare and precious!
“Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; . .” Psalm 55:5-6
One of the most painful experiences is to have a close friend betray you and turn against you. This causes deep soul searching and deep hurts. David had such an experience. He wanted to take the wings of a dove and fly away to a secluded place to rest from the storm that he was experiencing. (Psalm 55:6) It would have been more understandable if it was an enemy who had insulted him and turned against him, but it was his close friend. It was a man with whom he had enjoyed sweet fellowship in the presence of God at the temple. (Psalm 55:13-14) He called on the Lord for help.
Psalm 55 can be contrasted in light of Psalm 32 and 51 which describe David’s trial of faith where he ended up betraying his friend Uriah the Hittite! We cannot be certain when this psalm was written and about whom. It may have been concerning Ahithophel, David’s close adviser, who sided with Absalom in his rebellion. (2 Samuel 15:12) It showed how David reaped what he himself sowed.
Jesus Christ also went through betrayal. Judas betrayed his own Teacher, Rabbi, and Friend. He enjoyed sweet fellowship with Jesus, even at the last supper. Jesus reached out to this one who would betray him and sought to win him over. (John 13:19-26) His love for sinners is amazing.
The good news today is that our Savior did not take flight with the wings of a dove! He could have called on legions of angels to rescue Him. (Matthew 26:53) Instead, He bore our betrayals, sin, and rebellion and loved us so much as to die in our place! Take time today to ask for His mercy and forgiveness of your betrayals. Invite Him to be your special Friend Who will stick closer than a brother! Enjoy sweet fellowship with One who will never betray you!
Leaving a legacy–last words!
Scripture reading for April 1: 2nd Samuel 21-24
These are the last words of David: ” The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’ (2nd Samuel 23:1-4)
David, the shepherd boy, anointed King by the Lord, speaks prophetically under the Spirit of the Lord. His last words are inspired by the “Most High”, “God of Jacob”, “God of Israel” and “Rock of Israel”. The Bible states that no prophet speaks on his own but is moved on by the Holy Spirit. ( 2nd Peter 1:20-21) After seventy years of walking with God, he writes not so much for himself, but for those who will follow him in the walk of faith.
David left a mighty legacy for us. His Psalms are prophetic of the coming Messiah, his life, suffering and death! As a young boy, he knew God as his own Shepherd. Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd Who so cares for His sheep that He lays His own life down for them. David knew God as the “Rock of Israel”! That Rock was a firm place to stand in the trials that continually came to this man. That Rock was a source of water and refreshment in a dry and weary land as David was being pursued by his enemies. His Psalms flow with an anointing of truth and grace that make them easy reading for people from every age and generation. His last words still speak to us and encourage us to press on to meet our great “High God”!
Have you ever thought about what your ‘last words’ might be? What legacy would you like to leave for the next generations? What names might you ascribe to God in your walk of faith today?
A Pardon from the King
Scripture Reading for March 30: 2nd Samuel 19-20
2 Samuel 19:18-20 “And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. For your servant knows that I have sinned.”
As David left the city when he fled from Absalom, Shimei yelled curses at him. (2nd Samuel 16:5-8) Although Abishai, a son of Zeruiah loyal to David, wanted to kill Shimei, David refused to do so. David realized that his current situation was a result of his own sin. God had warned him that trouble would come to him from his own household. (2nd Samuel 12:10-13) Shimei’s curses were reminding David of his sin and of God’s promise.
After Absalom’s rebellion had been stopped by his untimely death, David was returning to Jerusalem as King over God’s people. Shimei was one of the first to greet him. He immediately fell at the King’s feet and asked for mercy, confessing his sin and taking responsibility. (2nd Samuel 19:16-20) His humble attitude found a receptive heart in the King. The sons of Zeruiah still wanted to get revenge and had to be rebuked again by the King. (2nd Samuel 19:21-23) The King granted a pardon to Shimei! He understood God’s mercy when he, himself, cried out to God for it. (Psalm 51:1-2)
We can all identify with Shimei in that we have all sinned against the King of Heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ! We have rebelled against Him and deserve punishment. Our accuser, Satan, tries to condemn us to death. But the Lord has mercy on those who humbly confess and call upon Him for pardon. God forgives us our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness! (1st John 1:9) This is good news! We can have a pardon from the King! Honest confession and repentance will bring forgiveness and restoration. Take the action needed today to deal with sins against God or man who is made in God’s image! Psalm 51 is a great pattern. Forgive yourself too! We have a pardon from the King!
Honor God and your father!
Scripture reading for March 29: 2nd Samuel 15-18
“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16
“This is what the Lord says; ‘out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel'”.( 2nd Samuel 12:11-12)
God’s Word never returns void and the one who chooses to go against it does so to their peril. King David disobeyed God’s command against adultery and although he was forgiven, he reaped what he had sown in his own household. Absalom, a son of King David, chose to rebel against his own father and try to take the throne of Israel. His story has a boastful beginning and a sad ending.
Absalom was a master politician. He made all kinds of promises to win the hearts of the people. His heart was plotting a take-over of his own father’s throne and he did it by flattery and empty promises. (2nd Samuel 15:4-6) He secretly set himself up as king and secretly won over David’s trusted counselor, Ahithophel, who joined in the conspiracy. He was a man full of pride and self-promotion who would do anything to gain power. Sounds like some of our politicians today!
Ahithophel advised Absalom to take his father’s concubines and sleep with them in front of all Israel. This appealed to this rebel son and he willingly broke God’s commands and dishonored himself and his father, not to mention God! In doing so, he fulfilled Nathan’s word to King David as his own father was confronted with his own sin of adultery! (2nd Samuel 16:20-22) Absalom’s brief rebellion ended with his tragic death.
Are you honoring God by obeying His commandments in the area of proper sexual conduct? Are you honoring your own father and mother and their example and instruction? Today is a day of mercy.
How the mighty have fallen!
Scripture reading for March 28: 2nd Samuel 11-14
2 Samuel 11:2-4 “It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him and he lay with her.”
In my years in the church, I have witnessed a number of moral failures. Many of these were men and women of God who had powerful ministries and were great people of influence in the church and community. Those in ministry have caring hearts and are often the target of Satan. Satan knows that if he can get a man or woman of God to compromise, he has a good opportunity to trip up many others as well. These moral failures were often a result of pride, success, and lack of accountability.
King David decided to stay home from the battlefield and take a break. While resting at home, he saw neighbor’s wife bathing and sent for her. They had a sexual encounter and she conceived. (2nd Samuel 11:4-5) When David was notified, he sent for her husband, Uriah. David hoped to have Uriah spend time with his wife but the plan failed as Uriah has made a vow of abstinence while his army was fighting. King David sent Uriah back with orders for Joab, his army commander, to have Uriah killed in battle. This turn of events displeased the Lord! Sin takes us further than we want to go!
Check your own heart today in this area of sexual lust and sexual sins. Have you been looking at things you should not be looking at? Have you entertained temptation rather than resisting it? Are you emotionally involved with someone who is not your mate? Flee temptation today and turn to the Lord for forgiveness and help! David’s own advice can be found in Psalm 32: 1-6!
Extravagant grace
Scripture reading for March 27: 2nd Samuel 8-10
2 Samuel 9:6-7 “And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul you father, and you shall eat at my table always.”
David was a warrior and strong man of God. He was always ready to fight the Lord’s battles and sought the Lord for most of his battles. He had been involved in a struggle for leadership of the nation following the death of Saul and Jonathan, his friend. God had brought David victory over Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth. Now David was king, and one of the first acts of his rulership was to seek out any relatives of Saul or Jonathan that he might show kindness to based on his covenant promise to Jonathan. (2nd Samuel 9:1)
One son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth, was still around and he was crippled in both feet from a fall. David sent for Mephibosheth and greeted him warmly. He restored all his grandfather’s land and property and placed Ziba, his servant, in charge to work the ground for him. He gave Mephibosheth a seat at the king’s table like one of David’s own sons! (2nd Samuel 9:7) This covenant kindness from King David towards a rival was unprecedented.
King David’s actions are much like that of our gracious God! God honors those who are in covenant relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. When we are crippled because of sin, He takes us into His house and seats us as one of His own sons. He restores our property to us and lavishes us with blessing and restoration. (2nd Corinthians 5:17) We have this amazing kindness and mercy that we can never repay!
Is there someone that you can show kindness towards today? How has God’s covenant mercy affected you ability to forgive those who have wronged you? Can you show mercy for Jesus’ sake?
Holy fear and passionate worship
Scripture reading for March 26: 2nd Samuel 5-7
King David had a heart for God and His presence. David was a psalmist, musician, and worshiper who knew God by personal experience. David desired to bring the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and it was set it on a new cart pulled by oxen and guided by Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab the priest. David and the men of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, when the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark. God struck Uzzah dead and the celebration ended abruptly! (2nd Samuel 6:7) David was both angry and afraid of the Lord! (2nd Samuel 6:8-9)
After some careful research, David again decided to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem. This time the Ark was carried on the shoulders of the priests as God’s law commanded! David sacrificed to the Lord a bull and a fatted calf. He took off his kingly robes and put on a linen ephod and danced before the Lord with all his might. The house of Israel followed with the sounding of trumpets and loud shouting. As the procession entered the city, Michal, David’s wife, saw David dancing and leaping before the Ark and despised him in her heart. She judged that he was putting on a show for the women. As a result, she became barren and was judged by the Lord for her disrespect! (2nd Samuel 6:20-23)
2 Samuel 6:14-15 “And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.”
Are you giving God “all your might” in worship and service? How would you describe your desire to have God’s presence in your heart? What is your attitude towards others who are passionate in worship and express themselves?
Grabbing leadership?
Scripture reading for March 25: 2nd Samuel 1-4
The Bible declares that it is God who raises up leaders and brings them down. (Psalm 75:6-7) The flesh, however, harbors a spirit of competition. It desires to take over power, take over position, and have it’s own way. This leads to factions, murder, and war. Galatians 5:19-21 describes some of the works of the sinful nature as dissensions, factions, envy, and selfish ambitions. These sins cause competition and the resultant discord and evil.
David became king over the house of Judah. David set up his kingship in Hebron as the Lord directed him. (2nd Samuel 2:1-3) David did not try and take over all of Israel or to destroy Saul’s house. He was a man of character and knew that God would place him where He desired. Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, was made king over the rest of Israel by Abner, the commander of Saul’s army. There was rivalry between the two groups. The spirit of Saul was still at work, even though he was gone.
This competition took a deadly turn as Joab, commander of David’s army and Abner, commander of Ish-Bosheth’s army met one day at the pool of Gibeon. A contest of hand to hand fighting resulted in the deaths of 19 of David’s men and 360 of Abner’s men! (2nd Samuel 2:30-31) The war between these two factions went on for a long time. If both factions would have simply listened to God and to David, the anointed king, all the strife and bloodshed could have been avoided.
2 Samuel 3:1 “There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.”
When we center on self, as opposed to God’s will, trouble always results. God makes His will plain, if we have ears to hear it. In the case of David, he had already been anointed as king by Samuel. Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, and the commander of Saul’s army, Abner, refused to listen or seek the Lord. The result was war and discord that caused the death of innocent people and turmoil among God’s people.
Are you filled with envy over a person who seems to have a job, position, or relationship that you feel you deserve? Are you involved in factions and dissention? Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and He will place us where we need to be to accomplish His plan for our lives! Walk honestly with Him and others.