2 Samuel 14:1-15:22
In what happens in the next chapters, you see, little by little, the effect David's own sins and lengthy refusal to confess his crimes, had upon his ability to discern and make good judgments.
1 Sam. 14
David was very conflicted morally and emotionally. Absalom should have died for what he did, but David should have died also.
David had been promised that one of his sons would be on the throne, but rather than trust God to be true to his word, David, after losing the hope he had for Amnon, now put his hope in big, tall, handsome Absalom.
David wanted to forgive his son and bring him back, but his sense of justice and anger (guilt too, knowing he had brought this on his family) held him back.
V. 3 Joab was a crafty man.
Vs. 4-17 Apparently David was a sucker for a good story. Nathan had moved David to repentance with a story.
V. 24 This shows how emotionally/judgmentally hamstrung David was.
Vs. 25-27 Absalom was a dude's dude, and the kind of guy you'd want as king. In mourning for what happened to his sister Tamar, he named a daughter Tamar. Though it mentions here that he had 3 sons, later we'll find out that he had no one to carry on his name. Did they die? I don't know.
Vs. 28-33 This was completely dysfunctional and David was party to it. Talk about awful parenting and horrible communication skills. Emotionally, there was something wrong with David. Old Jerusalem was not that big.
1 Sam. 15
Vs. 1-6 So now that Absalom is completely bitter and has no regard for his father, he plots to steal the hearts of Israel away from David (whose credibility was probably low). Obviously, there is much more going on here to put together this coup.
This went on for four years. Don't you think someone would have noticed how weird this looked? I suspect that David noticed and didn't stop him, thinking it might prepare Absalom to be king, that maybe God was in it. Since Absalom was providing counsel to the people, it might be that because of what he had done, that David had become something of a recluse.
Vs. 7-12 Hebron would be important because that is where David was crowned king.
V. 12 This is the last chance to figure out on your own who Ahithophel was. Tomorrow I'll tell you.
Vs. 13-22 If the people were won over to Absalom, David would be trapped in Jerusalem. His only chance was to run into the wilderness and fight.
V. 16 David shouldn't have left those 10 wives/concubines in Jerusalem, but how could he have known?
V. 19 The men who had been with David when he ran from Saul were still loyal. The leader of these guys showed that despite his age and the discomfort, he would remain with David. I'm sure David's "mighty men" were with him. What is significant when you think of loyalty, is that David had men who were extremely loyal to him, but he might not have been that loyal. You'll see that tomorrow.
John 18:1-24
John doesn't mention that Jesus prayed in the garden after He and the disciples had crossed over to the Mount of Olives.
V. 4 Jesus confronted the mob primarily to save the disciples. Verse 9 shows this. Peter tries to intervene but Jesus tells him to cool it.
V. 15 That unknown disciple, again, was John, the writer of this gospel. Apparently John had some family connections to the high priest (that's why he knew the name of the earless servant) and was able to get Peter into the courtyard.
Vs. 19-24 This is the only time we see Jesus speaking to defend himself. Oddly enough, almost the exact same thing happens to Paul years later.
They had two high priests at this time in Israel's history, bad and badder.
Psalm 119:97-112
Keep looking at the words that are used for the Word, and the alternating cries for help and then the refuge taken in the Word of God.
V. 105 I feel a song coming on. The video is also interesting because the song is sung by a disciple who made it famous, got lost, and is, apparently, back on track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig8dO3VVayw
Proverbs 16:8-9
Amen and Amen!
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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