2 Samuel 19:11-20:13
David's mess was far from over and his thinking and judgment was far from clear.
2 Sam. 19:11-15
The problem here is that most of Absalom's strong supporters were of Judah. David urges Judah to invite him back to Jerusalem as the king. As a special political incentive, he tells Amasa, Joab's cousin and the leader of Absalom's army, that he will become the commander of his army. No telling what Joab thought about that.
2 Sam. 19:16-23
It is interesting to me that both Shimei and Ziba are mentioned together here. Again, Ziba is “only” there to serve and win David's heart, right? Shimei gets off easy, for now.
Vs. 24-30 So finally, Mephibosheth (M) shows up. Notice that he hadn't taken care of himself since the king departed until the day David returned. What does that mean? Mephibosheth was in mourning for David. Not taking care of yourself is how you mourn and fast, it isn't how you go about making yourself king. The text/the Spirit is giving us proof that M was innocent. Read M's explanation of what happened. He was telling the truth and that rat, Ziba, lied about everything. Why? Because Ziba wanted to have everything for himself, the way it had been before David helped M.
So what is David's response to bring fairness and justice to this situation? How does David show true loyalty to the son of his best friend, the guy who willingly gave David the crown and strengthened him in the Lord?
V. 29 David cuts M off and tells him to shut up. That is the import of his response. David was tired and rude to Mephibosheth. David had been tricked and trapped again. So the compromised king got a fantastic idea: He split the property (that was the issue) between Ziba, the liar, and M, the victim.
V. 30 Once again, just as in the case with Uriah, David is shown up by a humbler, more spiritual man. M tells David that Ziba can have it all. He is just happy that David came home safely. I'm just sad when I read this.
Mephibosheth was like Jonathan, a good, honest, spiritual man. He was five years old when his father died, but something good happened in those five years. To think, not only was Jonathan a great man and spiritual leader, but he also turned out to be a better father than David and he only had five years to pull it off.
For me, what David did here to M was a disgrace. David the liar, the murderer, could not bring himself to do the right thing and judge another liar, especially since Ziba had helped him and David had received his gift, especially since he had rashly believed Ziba and judged M before witnesses and then publicly, given everything to Ziba. David was ruined.
Vs. 41-43 This is where communication skills could have helped. Apparently David thought everything would go back to normal, but I don't think he realized the depth of his neglect. God still had more chastening to do to really break David.
2 Sam. 20
V. 1 Another Benjaminite causing problems and another civil war.
Vs. 9-10 This was cold-blooded murder. How do we know? Later David will tell Solomon it was murder and he makes Solomon promise that Joab will die in a way that pays for this. The political situation was too fragile (for David's human thinking) to punish Joab. With this "stroke" Joab kills his cousin and keeps his position of power as commander of the army. Obviously, Joab was his own man and did things his way.
V. 11 Amasa had already been given a promise by David and was seen as a loyal man. What happened here, it seems, is that when the men looked at Amasa's body, it brought up thoughts of treachery and double dealing. Maybe, they thought, David was going back on his word. So they covered the body and everyone was unified again so they could go after the bad guy.
John 21
Vs. 1-14 Jesus had commanded them to meet Him in Galilee and seven of the eleven were there waiting at some appointed place. Whereever it was, it was a lonely place and there were no crowds.
V. 3 Some suggest that Peter had gone back to his trade, but it clearly looks like he was just passing the time, trying to catch breakfast.
V. 4 They didn't recognize Jesus, because he had either changed his appearance or gave them some mental block.
V. 11 There is a slight miracle noted here, probably something the Lord did to encourage Peter. Not only did Peter do this alone, but it is noted that the net didn't break.
V. 12 It is interesting that Jesus made them have to deny their sight and go with their hearts regarding His identity.
Vs. 15-19 I think this portion here is the primary reason John and the Spirit included this story. It is all about Jesus' restoration of Peter.
Notice that Peter is brought to confess his love for Jesus three times, just like he denied Jesus three times.
Notice, too, that Peter's love for Jesus is to be expressed in service. He is not to become the executive head of anything. He is to be like Jesus, a servant. In making disciples, the key element is serving people, being with them, teaching them to follow Christ in the harvest.
V. 19 This is a very interesting assurance for Peter and for all of us. As we are following Christ, He actually designs our death so that by it, we will glorify God.
Even though Peter had publicly denied Jesus, Jesus restored him publicly. Loving Christ means following Him, sharing His love to make disciples. Peter had been broken and was now humble enough to lead and make disciples. He followed.
Vs. 20-23 Apparently, this is written here to dispel some false information regarding John never dying. John was probably an old man when he wrote this, possibly 50 or more years after the resurrection.
Vs. 24-25 This Gospel is traditionally thought to be the last of the Gospels, written after the deaths of Peter and Paul and well after the destruction of Jerusalem. John was an old man, possibly the last of the Apostles, living in Ephesus as he wrote this, and then as an exile on Patmos when he wrote the book of Revelation.
Psalm 120
Psalms 120-134 are called "Songs of Ascents," and were to be sung by the pilgrims coming to Jerusalem one of those three times of the year when all of the men were to appear before the Lord at the feasts. This one is anonymous. Some of them are from David and one is from Solomon. These were probably sung to "tune" the hearts of the worshipers to be longing for God and to be confessing their own sins as they came before Him.
Proverbs 16:16-17
I don't think anyone who has lived for Christ in the harvest and seen fruit regrets not being wealthy; in fact, there are other blessings they would value more, "riches" that confirm the hand of God on their lives. On the other hand, there are masses of Christians who have forged comfortable lives, with little or no fruit, who would gladly go back and redirect their lives and choose other values to follow.
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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