A Famine

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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A wise woman

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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The pursuit

1. March 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

 

Our text for today is as follows:

 

II Samuel 20: 4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present . 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. 7 And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out . 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again ; and he died . So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said , He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. 12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still , he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still . 13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together , and went also after him. 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down .

 

From our last lesson, there is another trouble maker on the scene by the name of Sheba.  David is concerned that Sheba may do more harm to him than Absalom and orders Amasa, to gather the men of Judah together within three days and be present. 

 

If you will remember, it was Absalom that made Amasa captain of the army in Joab’s place and David allowed Amasa to maintain that position when he secured his kingdom.

 

While they are out pursuing the Sheba and his men, Joab runs upon Amasa and kills him without the orders of David.   Now if you recall, it was also Joab that finished Absalom off without David’s knowledge and clearly against the king’s wishes. 

 

The men gather to the place where Sheba is and prepare for battle.  Please keep in the back of your mind all the underhanded things that Joab keeps doing, he will pay for them shortly. 

 

We will see how this battle turns out on tomorrow.

 

 

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

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More Trouble

26. February 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

 

I was really running today so I am sorry for the last post.  I’ll just do a couple of scriptures since it is so late in the day and many of you probably will not log in again until Monday, so I don’t want you to get behind.

 

We left off on our story about how Israel and Judah were fighting over brining David back into the city.   Today, we will show what the outcome of that dispute was:

 

Here is our text:

 

II Samuel 20: 1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said , We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. 2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem. 3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death , living in widowhood. 

 

 

As you can see, the trouble maker in this situation is a man by the name of Sheba who blows his trumpets and tells all the Israelites to go to their tents for they disowned David.  

 

David goes on to his house in Jerusalem and takes his ten concubines and feeds them and takes care of them for the rest of their life but David never has sex with them again.  They lived in widowhood yet they belonged to David. 

 

Now David has another fight on his hand.   He is still not totally secure in his kingdom.

 

Have a great weekend everyone and I’ll see you in web land on Monday. 

 

 

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

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The controversy

25. February 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

 

In our story today, we conclude with the bringing back of David
into the city:

 

Here is the story:

 

II Samuel 19: 39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over , the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people
of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away , and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan? 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? or hath he given
us any gift? 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said , We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did
ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

 

Barzillai is the 80 year old man that we talked about from the
last lesson that was wealthy and that assisted David when he was on the
room.  He gives him his servant Chimham
and even though David invited him to come back to Jerusalem with him, the old
man declines because he wants to die in his own land.   When David is brought over the Jordan by the
men of Judah there is a controversy from the people of Israel as to why the
Judahites were the ones to bring David over.

 

The text indicates that there words were fierce.  The issue was about who had more right to
David.  The Israelites claimed that they
had 10 parts in the king.  This refers to
the fact that the entire land of Israel was made up of twelve tribes.

 

Judah contained the two tribes Judah and Benjamin and the other
ten tribes made of the land of Israel.   
If you remember, David was king over Judah first before the elders of
Israel came to him and then he became king of “all Israel.”

 

We will continue our journey on tomorrow.

 

 

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

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A Kind Man

23. February 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

In our text today, we have another story of how God provided for David through a rich 80 year old man that was kind to him while he was on the run. 

 

Here is that story:

II Samuel 19: 31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. 34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live , that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink ? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women ? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? 36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again , that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. 38 And the king answered , Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee. 39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over , the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

 

As you can see, GOD is faithful.  This is the first time we hear of the specifics of the gesture of love towards David and our text teaches us that David offers to bring him into Jerusalem with him but the man is old and wants to die in his own land and he offers David his servant Chimham to take with him as his own and David accepts. 

God is faithful.  No matter what you’re going through and no matter how bad it looks, God will bring you through it and while you’re going through it there will always be someone who will offer a kind hand of support.  Don’t be so overwhelm with what you’re going through that you neglect to see the goodness of the Lord.  It’s all around you.

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

 

 

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Who’s Telling the Truth?

22. February 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

 

We left off on Friday with the story of Shimei’s request for David’s forgiveness when he curse David and his men as they were leaving the city on the run from Absalom.  Today, we will study what Mephibosheth (Jonathan’s son) has to say concerning his actions of betrayal.

 

Here is the story:

 

II Samuel 19: 24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. 25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? 26 And he answered , My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said , I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. 28 For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? 29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said , Thou and Ziba divide the land. 30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.  

 

 

Wow.. we see quite an interesting account than the one that Ziba told when he came out to meet David.   

 

Let’s review that story:

 

II Samuel 16:1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled , and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said , The asses be for the king’s household to ride on ; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat ; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink . 3 And the king said , And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said , To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. 4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said , I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

 

As you can see with the two stories, they are totally opposite.

 

According to Mephibosheth, he was told by Ziba to stay behind because of his lameness and he would go to David to bring him help and show him that he was loyal to him but when Ziba gets there, he betrays him and tells David that Mephibosheth thinks that God is going to restore the kingdom back to his household and was happy for David’s betrayal by his son.  David cuts Mephibosheth off and gives all his property to Ziba.   When Mephibosheth finally reaches David, he tells him that he has always been loyal to him and that he was grateful that he took him in and he would have never betrayed him.  The text does not expose which story was true and David splits the belongings between the two of them. 

 

What is interesting to note though is that Mephibosheth does not want the property and says that Ziba can keep it all because he was just excited that David was safely back home. 

 

Ummmmmm……. Which one do you think is telling the truth.

 

We will continue our journey on tomorrow.

 

 

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

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The ones who Cursed David

19. February 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

 

We left off on yesterday with David taking his seat in the gateway of the city but he had not yet returned to the city, he was simply sitting in the gateway.    For the next couple of days, we will encounter some of the men that betrayed David and their response to David’s return. 

 

Here is our first story:

 

II Samuel 19: 15 Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan. Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 16 Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul’s household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. 18 They crossed at the ford to take the king’s household over and to do whatever he wished. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king 19 and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. 20 For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.” 21 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD’s anointed.” 22 David replied, “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him on oath.

 

 

If you recall, when David fled the city, Shimei came out and begin to curse David and threw stones at him and his men. 

 

Let’s review that story.. Here it is:

 

II Samuel 18: 5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6 He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7 As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel! 8 The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!” 9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’ “

 

 

Now this same Shimei is coming to ask David for forgiveness nd is concerned that David will order him killed.  David again shows mercy.

 

On Monday, we will look at what Mephishobeth, Saul’s son has to say.    Remember when he betrayed David and David turned his property over to his servant.   It is quite interesting what happens when he meets David in person.  We will discuss on Monday.

 

Have a great weekend. 

 

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

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David returns to his seat

18. February 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

 

In our story today, we get David’s response to Joab’s accusation that because of his mourning for his son, he has showed that he cares more for his enemy than the men of Israel who risked their lives for him in battle and brought victory.

 

Here is the text:

 

II Samuel 19:8 So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they all came before him. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes. 9 Throughout the tribes of Israel, the people were all arguing with each other, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country because of Absalom; 10 and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?” 11 King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? 12 You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab.‘ ” 14 He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man.

 

 

David does get up from his mourning and takes his seat in the Gateway.  The Israelites have all fled to their homes for they are embarrassed that they chose Absalom over David and that David and his men have now defeated the men who tried to take away his kingdom. 

 

Under normal circumstances when a king or kingdom is under attack when the victory is won, the elders of the city would restore the king to his rightful place, however this time, they are embarrassed and arguing among themselves.    No one knows what to do and there is no talk about bringing the king back.

 

David reaches out to them and tells them that they are his brothers, his own flesh and blood and instructed them that they should not be the last ones to bring him back or welcome him back to his position.  David also does something else very strategic.  He replaces Joab with Amasa and makes him the new commander of his army.

 

David still has not addressed how Absalom dies.  We will continue our journey on tomorrow.

 

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

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The Pain Continues

17. February 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

 

In our story today, we get more detailed information about David’s mourning for his son.   

 

 

Here is the text:

 

II Samuel 19: 1 Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. 4 The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. 6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. 7 Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now.”

 

 

Wow….   Tomorrow, we will study what David’s response will be to Joab.

 

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

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