Category: 1st and 2nd Samuel-BibleTrekToday
Trek through 1st and 2nd Samuel
How the mighty have fallen!
Scripture reading for March 30: 2nd Samuel 11-14
In my years in the church, I have witnessed a number of moral failures. Many of these have been in ministry and 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 in the church as well. These moral failures were often a result of pride, success, and lack of accountability.
In today’s reading, King David decides to stay home from the battlefield and take a break. He’s about 50 years old at this time, has had great success, and is looked upon as God’s anointed leader. While resting at home, he sees his neighbor’s wife bathing and sends for her. They have a sexual encounter and she conceives a child. (2nd Samuel 11:4-5) When David is notified, he sends for her husband, Uriah. David hopes to have Uriah spend time with his wife but the plan fails as Uriah has made a vow of abstinence while his army is fighting. King David sends Uriah back with orders for Joab, his army commander, to have Uriah killed in battle.
Sin always takes one farther than they want to go! David’s failure to restrain his passions brought an unwanted pregnancy. David essentially had Bathsheba’s husband murdered. (2nd Samuel 11:25-27) David then married Bathsheba. This turn of events displeased the Lord! Sin never makes God happy and its pleasure is passing for those involved!
What lessons are here for us today? First, sexual sins are always deadly! David’s son, Solomon, also born to him through Bathsheba, wrote about sexual sin and adultery in several places in Proverbs. (Proverbs 5-7) God’s Word warns us that we must not commit adultery! When we do, we violate a sacred union. God has joined the man and woman together as one in flesh and spirit. They are a picture of Christ and His bride, the Church! (Ephesians 5: 31-32) When we separate what God has joined together, we open the door to violence between the parties involved. (Malachi 2:15-16) David was moved on by Satan to have Bathsheba’s husband murdered. Bathsheba’s grief is mentioned as well. Not only that, but the child that was conceived died as a consequence. More death and grief result from a short time of stolen pleasure! Oh that we would learn from God’s Word and avoid all the death and grief!
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!
Sunday Rest and Reflection: A House for God!
Greetings on this day of rest! May the peace of Jesus Christ fill your heart today as you rest in His love and kindness!
As I stopped to ponder the reading of this past week, I thought of King David’s desire to build a house for the Lord. (2nd Samuel 7:1) This is one of the most important conversations found in the Old Testament pointing to Jesus Christ. King David had rest from his battles and had built himself a palace of cedar. He realized that God was living in a tent and wanted something better for God. He shared his desire with Nathan the Prophet who encouraged him to do whatever was on his heart.(2nd Samuel 7:3)
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”. (Psalms 37:4) David was a man who delighted himself in the Lord. As he put his faith and trust in God, God gave him desires that flowed from His heart! God did want to build a house for Himself. The house God desired was not made of wood or stone. It was not overlaid with silver and gold. The house that the Lord wanted built would have to come from the most precious of materials: His own Son’s Blood and Body! David was granted grace to become a part of God’s greater plan to build the ultimate house–a people from every tribe, tongue and nation who would believe on Him!
As you gather today to worship the Lord with others of like precious faith, remember that you are the living stones of that House for the Lord! (1st Peter 2:4-10) You are a royal priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices to the One who gave His own son as the foundation–God your Father! Delight yourself in Him today, and He will surely give you the desires of your heart!
Covenant Love!
Scripture reading for March 28: 2nd Samuel 8-10
Have you ever sought out a person who you knew needed help, but would not be able to do anything for you in return? What have you done to help that person? What was your motivation in helping him? If you are a Christian, this should be a way of life! In our reading today, King David does just such a thing!
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 following the death of Saul and Jonathan, his friend. This struggle was for leadership of the kingdom. God helped David and brought about victory over Saul’s son Ish-Boseth. 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. What an odd thing for a king to do: show kindness to their chief rival! (2nd Samuel 9:1)
It turned out that one son of Jonathan was still around. His name was Mephibosheth 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 to him 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) Wow! What a turn of events for this crippled son! What unexpected kindness from this mighty warrior towards a rival whose grandfather had chased him and hunted him for almost 13 years.
King David’s actions are much like that of our gracious God! God is a kind king who cares for His people. He 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 grace and favor because of the covenant made with the King’s Son!
Look for a way to show kindness to someone who is handicapped, needy, or hurting today. Try to show special kindness in the way that Jesus has shown the same to you! Remember, if you have done it to the least of these, you did it to Jesus Himself! God bless you as you follow our Master today in this kindness! (Matthew 25:40)
Whole-hearted Worship!
Scripture reading for March 27: 2nd Samuel 5-7
What constitutes worship that is acceptable to God? Does God really kill people who don’t do exactly what He wants? Does God want us to do bizarre things in order to worship Him? Is God wanting us to dance in His presence? Must we do things that others don’t appreciate in order to please God? These are the kinds of questions that come to our minds when we read about King David bringing the Ark of God back to Jerusalem.
King David had a heart for God and His presence. David was a psalmist, musician, and worshiper himself. He knew God by personal experience. Deciding to bring the Ark of God back to Jerusalem, they 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 down dead and the celebration ended abruptly! (2nd Samuel 6:7) David was angry and afraid of the Lord! (2nd Samuel 6:8-9) His good intentions and exuberant worship ended in tragedy. What went wrong?
After some time and careful research, David again decided to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem. This time the Ark was carried on the shoulders of the priests! 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. (2nd Samuel 6:12-15) 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)
These stories are recorded for us today and speak about true worship and its attributes. God wants us to enjoy His presence and has made specific instructions about how sinful man may come into His presence. When we come in our own way, we disrespect God and bring judgment. Uzzah died as a result of the king and priests failing to move the Ark in the prescribed way. We must be careful today to come humbly before the Lord and treat His presence with respect. We must be covered by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are to come wholeheartedly, offering ourselves to the Lord in spirit and truth.
Another aspect of this story concerns the heart of David to have the Presence of God in his city and the nation he ruled. David realized that God was King and that he owed Him whole-hearted worship. He disrobed and danced with all his might as an offering of himself to the Lord. This was acceptable to God because of David’s heart attitude! In Michal’s eyes, David’s worship wasn’t “dignified”! We must be more concerned with our own heart and pleasing the Lord than the opinions of others. We must also be careful not to be critical and judgmental of others’ ways of worship.
Take time today and examine your own worship of the Lord. Are you giving God “all your might”? Are you hungry to have His presence with you whereever you are? Show Him an extravagant act of worship this week!
Foolish competition!
Scripture reading for March 26: 2nd Samuel 1-4
When a leader dies or passes from the scene, there is often a struggle for one to fill that place. The Bible declares that it is God who raises up leaders and brings them down, too. (Psalm 75:6-7) The flesh, however, harbors a spirit of competition. It wants to exalt “self” and take over power, take over position, and have it’s own way. This leads to factions, murder, and war. A house divided against itself cannot stand! (Matthew 12:25)
In today’s reading, David becomes king over the house of Judah. Years before, the Lord had anointed him to be king. David sets up his kingship in Hebron as the Lord directed him. (2nd Samuel 2:1-3) David does not try and take over all of Israel or to destroy Saul’s house, either. He is a man of character and knows that it will be God placing him where He desires. Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, was made king over the rest of Israel by Abner, the commander of Saul’s army. There was competition between the two groups. Each desired to have power.
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. David grew stronger and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. (2nd Samuel 3:1)
Galatians 5:19-21 describes the works of the sinful nature. Some of these are dissensions, factions, envy, and selfish ambitions. These sins cause competition and the resultant discord and evil. When we center on self, as opposed to God’s will, trouble always results. God’s will is usually plain, if we have ears to hear it. In the case of David, he had already been anointed as king by Samuel. Saul’s offspring, 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.
Today, examine your own life for these works of the sinful nature. Are you filled with envy over a person who seems to have a job, position, or relationship that you would like or feel you deserve? Are you involved in factions and dissention every day? Do you have desires for power or position that come from an inner need for recognition? Give these to the Lord and allow Him to search your heart and bring peace. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace! He is able to place us where we need to be to accomplish His plan for our lives! (Galatians 5:22-26)
The “Witch” way to Trouble!
Scripture reading for March 25: 1st Samuel 27-31
Have you ever been curious about what will happen in the future? Our world is full of curious people and everyone would like to know about tomorrow. If we had that information, we feel that we could get rich, save ourselves from disaster, or control the world. God warns us not to seek any source other than Himself for this information! (Leviticus 19:31) He is the only source of Truth because He alone knows the things to come! (Isaiah 42:9)
Saul, tormented by the evil spirit that came as a result of his rebellion, sought information about the future by disguising himself and going to visit a medium. He had tried to seek the Lord first, but God didn’t speak through the priests or prophets. (1st Samuel 28:5-6) He was terrified and desperate for direction. He, himself, had banned all witches, mediums, and sorcerers from the land in accordance with the law of God. His disobedience showed that obedience to God was still not a priority in his life.
This incident is very perplexing because it seems that God allows the spirit of Samuel to be brought up from the dead through this medium. Samuel speaks prophetically to King Saul one last time, pronouncing his coming death the next day. (1st Samuel 28:16-19) Again, God’s Word is true and truth about what happened and will happen comes from Him alone. He can record our sin truthfully and still show mercy to us in the midst of our sin by speaking truth. When we are in rebellion and under God’s judgment, truth is hard to face. True repentance must be sought while the Lord may be found! (Psalm 32:6-7)
True to the Word of Samuel, Saul and his sons die the next day. Saul is wounded and asks his armor bearer to put him out of his misery. The armor bearer was terrified and refused, so Saul fell on his own spear, taking his own life! Even in his death, he took matters into his own hands! (1st Samuel 31:2-6)
The life and death of this first human king of Israel has much to teach us. Saul’s anointing by Samuel to become king was a wonderful opportunity to rule and lead under God’s guidance. Saul’s choices to disobey God’s clear instructions brought consequences that eventually lead to further rebellion and death by suicide. Someone has said, “sin truly takes us further than we want to go, holds us longer that we want to stay, and exacts a price higher than we want to pay”.
If you are doing something in clear disobedience to the Word of God, take time right now to get down on your knees and ask the Lord for mercy! God gives grace to the humble. Repentance is more than just saying you are sorry, it is getting up to go a new direction of willing obedience! (2nd Corinthians 7:9-11) Without repentance, there is no forgiveness of sins! “But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1st John 1:9)
Nabal, the fool!
Scripture reading for March 24: 1st Samuel 24-26
Have you ever known someone who was hard to get along with? Not only that, they were rich and had lots of money and refused to help those who helped them? Nabal was such a man whose record is written down for us to ponder.
Nabal was a “Calebite”, a descendant of Caleb, the faithful spy and conqueror of giants. Nabal was described as being “surly and mean in his dealings”. (1st Samuel 25:3) One of his own servants also described Nabal as a man who was “such a wicked man that no one could talk to him”. (1st Samuel 25:17) He liked to party and alcohol was also a factor in his reputation. (1st Samuel 25:36) If he were around today, he would fit in well with many men in our world: arrogance, alcohol, money, and beautiful women leading to a surly and mean disposition which most people find difficult to get along with. Looking at Nabal’s life is like watching one of today’s popular soap operas!
Nabal was married to a Abigail, a woman described as “intelligent and beautiful”. It is interesting how God places people together. Often our mate is the one who can help us with our own sins and weaknesses. It was that way in this marriage. Hearing how arrogantly her husband had treated the servants of David, who had helped protect Nabal’s herds, she quickly took action to avert a disaster. She was like the godly woman in Proverbs 31 who was working for her husband’s good. Abigail took goods and met David and his men as they were coming to seek revenge. She appealed to David, humbly asking for his favor. David listened and relented. Through his godly woman, he heard the voice of God and was spared the shedding of innocent blood.
Returning home, Abigail found her husband at a party, drunk. She waited until morning to tell him what she had done. When Nabal heard about her kindness, God struck him with what appears to be a stroke. The scripture says that Nabal “became like a stone”. When you are mean and surly and your heart gets hard, the consequences can be deadly. On the other hand, because of Abigail’s kindness and good sense, David asked her to marry him. What a turn of events!
What lessons can we learn for our lives today? First, mean and surly people cause trouble. Alcohol is a source of great trouble in families and costs individuals their health and often their soul! Second, revenge belongs to God alone. He can and will repay! Sometimes God’s timing is not as precise as in our story today, but God knows what is best and needed. He wants none to perish, but all to come to repentance if possible. He gives each person a chance. Third, when we are humble, kind, and respect others, God will and does reward us. Abigail was well taken care of. She was a good wife to her mean and surly husband. She could become a good wife to David, king of Israel! You reap what you sow!
True Friendship!
Scripture reading for March 23: 1st Samuel 20-23
When I was in school, I had a “best friend” named Kendal. He and I were in the same class at the same school from kindergarten until our junior year of high school. We tried to sit together and play together at recess. His father was a farmer, like mine, and we had a lot in common. We camped out during the summer and loved to hunt birds and fish. We had a great time, and often shared our hearts with each other. Kendal was drafted into the Army and went to Vietnam. I had gone to college and had enlisted in the Iowa National Guard. Kendal gave his life serving our country. I had the privilege of being a pall-bearer at his funeral! Best friends are hard to find, and even harder to loose!
David and Jonathan were best friends. The Scripture records their love for each other and how their hearts were knit together. (1st Samuel 18:1-4) Jonathan was Saul’s son and the probable heir to the throne of Israel. David was a shepherd and musician who God had selected to be the next king of Israel. God placed David in Saul’s court to prepare him for his kingship. Jonathan recognized the favor of the Lord on David and was drawn to him in a covenant love. They became best friends and shared their hearts with each other. They made a covenant that would bind them to help each other and even their extended families.
David’s anointing and the favor of the Lord did not bring love for him from King Saul, however. King Saul was jealous of David’s reputation and was afraid of David’s anointing. He was insecure and tormented by an “evil spirit from the Lord”. (1st Samuel 17:14, 23) David played his harp and the evil spirit would leave for a time. The evil spirit would return and sometimes turn murderous towards David. Saul tried to kill him on several occasions and David was forced to flee. Jonathan always tried to patch things up or help his friend. Real friends are there through thick and thin!
Finally, David realized that King Saul was going to kill him. Jonathan tried one more time to patch things up, but was himself attacked with a spear by his own father! Jonathan sent David away with tears and reaffirmation of their friendship. (1st Samuel 20:41-42) When he could, Jonathan would slip away and meet with David. He always encouraged him in the Lord! (1st Samuel 23:15-18) Jonathan maintained friendship even when he knew his own father was out to kill his best friend.
We have such a friend as Jonathan in our Lord Jesus Christ! He is faithful and true to us, even when the going gets rough! He provides encouragement and shares his armaments with us! We can call on him at any time and he will come. He will warn us of danger and help us to either face it or escape. He is a friend by covenant and promises to help our descendants as well! He is benevolent and can be trusted to do us good all of our lives! Praise the Lord–He has called us friends! (John 15:15-17)
Sunday Rest and Reflection–Handling Goliath
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of the Lord! Heaven and earth rejoice in His Glory! His Spirit hovers over the earth and the hearts of His own to impart life and grace. He rules in truth and justice! He shows mercy to those who call on Him and punishes the wicked. He jealously guards over his own Bride, the Church, providing for her every need and preparing Her for eternity with Him! What awesome thoughts to ponder on this day of rest and reflection!
Yet as God’s people gather today to worship, study and fellowship, many huddle in fear because of some haunting, taunting giant in their lives! The army of Israel was paralyzed for 40 days by Goliath, the Philistine giant. He taunted them daily to send out a man! The biggest man they had was their king, Saul. (This was at least true until David came on the scene!) The whole army was paralyzed because of walking by sight and the resulting intimidation.
Today is a day to live by faith! Faith is what brought David the courage to step up and fight the giant. Goliath’s size, strength, and armament was not the main consideration. His 9 foot six frame would come crashing down in David’s way of looking at this problem. The 15 pound spear-head would be useless against the Name of his God! David had tackled the lion and the bear with the same faith and they fell easily! What could this uncircumcised Philistine do to him? God’s honor and reputation were being mocked and God would use David, a man of courage and faith, to deal a death blow to this mocking giant!
If you are facing a giant who is mocking you and your God today, why not handle the giant like David did! He rejected Saul’s armor because it just did not fit either him or the situation. He knelt at the brook–humbly seeking God’s favor and direction. He selected the five smooth stones and got out the weapon he’d been using, his sling. He went running toward the battle, coming in the Name of his God! He did his part and God did the rest! Down came the giant and off came his head! A whole nation was motivated to faith and victory by the faith of one with courage to act! Go in the strength you have and topple your giant! May God bless you today with joy and peace in believing! Love, Pastor John
“God looks at the heart!”
Scripture reading for March 21st: 1st Samuel 16-19
Our culture prizes youth, beauty, intelligence, power, and money! We tend to judge people by what we see or know about their life. Where do they live? What kind of car do they drive? Are they handsome or beautiful? What position do they hold? Who are their friends? I don’t believe it has been much different since the fall of man. We are very driven by our senses and peer pressure. But God sees things differently!
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance, or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1st Samuel 16:7)
What does God see in our heart? What is he looking for? He is looking at the things we truly value. He is looking for a heart after God, a heart that will trust God and live by faith in His Word! (2nd Chronicles 16:9) When we put God first, and not our “self”, He is pleased! He is looking for a “humble and contrite” heart. (Isaiah 66:2) He needs a heart that can be taught, corrected, and shaped for His habitation. If a mere man is going to walk with God, he certainly must be humble and willing to learn. I believe God is looking for a pure heart too. Only those who are pure in heart can see God. (Matthew 5:8)
How does a mere man measure up? God Himself provided the way through a descendant of David, the man after God’s heart! Jesus Christ had the perfect heart! He was fully sold out to God, his Father. He did only what he saw His Father do and said only what He heard His father say!(John 5:19-20) Jesus was humble of heart–and wants to teach us the same! (Matthew 11:28-32) Jesus was pure of heart–completely without sin! He offered His own life on our behalf! If we confess our sins to Him, He will cleanse us of our sins and all unrighteousness! (1st John 1:9) We can have a pure heart too! We can learn from Him by receiving the Holy Spirit of Truth. We can live by faith in His Word! The just shall live by faith!
Praise the Lord, God still looks at the heart! Does He see Jesus Christ as Lord in your heart today? If He is not your King, why not humble yourself and invite Him to live in your heart today! You will be eternally grateful!
“The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” (John 3:35-36)