15. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

I am so sorry; I don’t know how I overlooked the 24^th chapter of Samuel.  This is one of the famous stories concerning David and his numbering of his men and how God viewed it.  We will look at the text today and study it in detail on tomorrow. 

Here is the story:

II Samuel 24: 1 Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.” 3 But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?” 4 The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel. 5 After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. 6 They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. 7 Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah. 8 After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand. 10 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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12. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Our chapter closes with the list of David’s mighty men and some of the awesome things that they did.  Yesterday we did the first part of the story and today we will close out the book of II Samuel.  Wow.. we have come a long way.  On Monday we will be beginning the book of kings.

Here is the end of our story:

18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. 20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. 23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. 24 Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, 27 Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash, 31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan 33 son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite 39 and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

The end of David’s reign…

Have a great weekend everybody…

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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11. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Our chapter closes with the list of David’s mighty men and some of the awesome things that they did.  We will break it up into two parts since we are so close to the weekend and we can start another subject on Monday.

Here is our text:

II Samuel 23: 8 These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. 9 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered [at Pas Dammim] for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, 10 but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. 11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory. 13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty

men.

We will finish this chapter on tomorrow. 

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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10. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Today’s lesson has one of my favorite types of speeches in it.  I call them the death bed speeches.  They are the last and final thoughts of a person before they die.  They carry some of the most profound and powerful wisdom ever recorded. 

In today’s lesson, we will read the last words of David.  They are poetic in nature but every time I read them, I tear up knowing that his last words talked about how all along God had a plan for him “an everlasting covenant” and it had everything in it that he needed to be happy and secure.    We so often stress about what’s going to happen and how will things turn out for us when all along there is a plan for our lives designed by God,  ordered in all things and sure and it is more awesome than anything we could have planned for ourselves.

Let’s read the last words of David:

II Samuel 23: 1 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: 2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 3 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, 4 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.’ 5 “Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire? 6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. 7 Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie.”

Make it a great day and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Stay encouraged..

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9. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Today, we are in Chapter 22 and this entire journey is a song that David wrote and it tells the story of what has, is and shall be for him.  The song tells the history of his life thus far. 

Let’s look at the song:

II Samuel 22:1 David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior– from violent men you save me. 4 I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. 5 “The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 6 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 7 In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. 8 “The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens shook; they trembled because he was angry. 9 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 10 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 11 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. 12 He made darkness his canopy around him– the dark rain clouds of the sky. 13 Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth. 14 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. 15 He shot arrows and scattered [the enemies], bolts of lightning and routed them. 16 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of breath from his nostrils. 17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. 20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. 21 “The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not done evil by turning from my God. 23 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. 24 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. 25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. 26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 27 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. 28 You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. 29 You are my lamp, O Lord; the LORD turns my darkness into light. 30 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. 31 “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 33 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. 34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. 35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great. 37 You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. 38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 40 You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. 41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. 42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them– to the Lord, but he did not answer. 43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets. 44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of my people; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know are subject to me, 45 and foreigners come cringing to me; as soon as they hear me, they obey me. 46 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. 47 “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! 48 He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, 49 who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. 50 Therefore I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. 51 He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

I know this was lengthy but I didn’t want to break the song up. 

We will continue our journey into the monarchy on tomorrow. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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8. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Welcome back from the weekend.  It was a beautiful weekend here in Atlanta.   We needed it so, I was going crazy feeling so shut in with all the cold weather we’ve been having lately but it was great to see everyone out and about and just enjoying the sunshine.   Ohhhhhhh…….  God has a way of making us just appreciate his beauty.

We ended on Friday, with when David discovered what Rizpah had done in protecting the dead bodies of her sons, he gave them a proper burial instead of leaving their bodies exposed and he also retrieved the bones of Saul and Jonathan and buried them in their father’s Kish tomb.

Today, the chapter closes with showing Israel’s own going battle with the Philistines and the story that caused Israel to vow that David would never go out to battle with the troops again for fear that he would one day be lost in a battle.

Here is the story:

II Samuel 21: 15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new [sword], said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.” 18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha. 19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod. 20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot–twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him. 22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

We will continue our story on tomorrow and see what new adventures of the king that we shall encounter on this week.

Make it a great day and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Stay encouraged..

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5. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In our text today, we pick up with what the mother of the two of the seven sons of Saul does when she finds out her children were killed.

Here is the story:

II Samuel 21:  10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night. 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.

Rizpah was one of the concubines of Saul.  If you are familiar with Pastor Jackie McCullough, who is a phenomenal woman of God has a ministry called “daughters of Rizpah” and this is the story that it was taken from.

We don’t know much about this woman Rizpah.   Her name means “coal or hot stone.”   After the death of Saul, Abner took her as his wife and this led to a quarrel between him and Saul’s son and successor Ishbosheth.  The quarrel caused Abner to flee to the side of David who was currently ruling the kingdom of Judah.    The incident actually led to the downfall of Ishbosheth and the rise of David’s reign over both Israel and Judah.

We do not hear of Rizpah again until this incident with famine in the land and her sons being killed to compensate for Saul’s bloody destruction of the Gibeonites during his reign.

Rizpah stayed with the dead bodies of her sons to make sure that the birds and wild animals would not desecrate them and did it during the rainy season.   “From the beginning of the harvest until the rains poured down from heavens” indicates that she watched over her son’s bodies for almost five months.    Typically in Israel there was a five month period from the beginning of harvest until the rainy season poured in.    

She was determined to make sure that her sons had an honorable burial.  When David heard of the love and determination of this mother to guard the dead bodies of her children, he not only gathered their bodies but also went and got the bones of Saul and Jonathan and gave them a proper burial in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish.

Have a great weekend everyone.  It’s going to be a beautiful weekend here in Atlanta and I am so grateful for beautiful weather again.   Think I’ll spend some time outside this weekend.  Can’t wait for spring. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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4. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:   

In our text today, we will learn David’s response to the Gibeonites demand for the death of Saul’s sons in payment for the slaughter of the Gibeonites during Saul’s reign.   

Let’s look at the story: 

II Samuel 21:4b-”What do you want me to do for you?” David asked. 5 They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul–the LORD’s chosen one.” So the king said, “I will give them to you.” 7 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning. 

Wow…. David agrees to turn over the sons of Saul.  He gives them two sons from a concubine by the name of Rizpah and five sons from Saul’s daughter Merab.   David spares the life of Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan based on the oath before the Lord between David and Jonathan (Saul’s son).   

Tomorrow, we will close our week by studying the reactions of the mothers of these children.   

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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3. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In our text today, David is now secure in his throne and the threats against his kingdom have been destroyed but there is a problem in the land.  

Let’s look at the story:

II Samuel 21: 1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered , It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. 2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) 3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement , that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? 4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said , What ye shall say , that will I do for you. 5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, 6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose.

When the children of Israel crossed over the Jordan and were conquering the land being led by Joshua, there were a group of people called the Gibeonites who were occupants of the land and feared that they would be destroyed during the Israelites conquest.   They dressed up as strangers who had been on a long journey and presented themselves as foreigners to Joshua and asked that their life would be spared.  Joshua took them in to discover later that they were lying.   Because he had given his word that he would protect them, he had to honor it but made them slaves to the Israelites and their job was to be woodcutters and water carriers for the entire Israelite community. 

Here is the conversation between the Gibeonites and Joshua once Joshua found out he had been deceived by them. 

Joshua 9: 22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? 23 You are now under a curse: You will never cease to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” 24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.” 26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

The exact details of the circumstances of Saul killing the Gibeonites is not recorded in Scripture, but the above treaty is what Saul broke when many of the Gibeonites were killed during his reign.

Israel is now going through a famine because of the violation of this oath made by Joshua long before Saul ever got into power.    It is amazing how eventually things will catch up with you even if you are not the one that personally caused the problem.  David has inherited problems from his past administration and is suffering the consequences from the acts of his predecessor. 

Wow… that is such a familiar scene.  A lot of times in government and in our own business places and even our personal lives, we are left to clean up the problems from people who came before us. 

Well, tomorrow, we will see what happens when David answers the Gibeonites requests for seven sons of Saul.  What will he do and what will happen to Meshipbosheth, the son of Jonathan that David has been protecting all these years.

Tune in tomorrow.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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2. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our
text for today is as follows:

II Samuel 15b “While they were battering the wall to bring it
down, 16 a wise woman called from the city,
“Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” 17 He went toward
her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he answered.
She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.” “I’m
listening,” he said. 18 She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your
answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. 19 We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a
mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?” 20 “Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it
from me to swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not the case. A man named
Sheba son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand
against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from
the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head
will be thrown to you from the wall.” 22 Then the woman went to all the
people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of
Sheba son of Bicri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men
dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the
king in Jerusalem. 23 Joab was over Israel’s entire army;
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; 24 Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 25 Sheva was
secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 26 and Ira the
Jairite was David’s priest.”

A few
things I want to point out in our story today.

1.  A wise woman saves the city by getting
   the people to agree to kill the man that Joab and his men were after which
   was Sheba. 
2. At the close of this chapter, you
   discover who David’s current officers are:
   1. Joab = commander of army.
   2. Benaiah= over the Kerethites
      and Pelethites
   3. Adoniram= in charge of
      forced labor
   4. Jehoshaphat= recorder
   5. Sheva= secretary
   6. Zadok and Abiathar =
      priests
   7. Ira = David’s priest.

David’s
enemy is now dead.  Both Absalom and
Sheba tried to steal the kingdom from him and his enemies are now dead.

What
will happen next? 

We will continue our
story tomorrow.

Stay
encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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