2 Samuel 23:24-24:25
2 Sam. 23:24-39
The designation, "THE THIRTY," must either have been a special name with a special meaning at that time, and/or the group always added others to replace a fallen comrade to keep it at thirty. Verse 39 seems to indicate that in their history, THE THIRTY only had 37 members, seven of them apparently falling in battle or leaving the group.
V. 24 Notice that Asahel was one of this group. That would tell us that the group was formed before David was made king in Hebron, because Asahel died very early in that civil war.
V. 34 It doesn't always bear fruit to make a connection and hunt down a name, but understanding who Eliam the son of Ahithophel was adds deeper understanding of what David did when he sinned against Uriah and Bathsheba; and then, why God judged him so strongly and why others, like Ahithophel, did what they did. I can only encourage you to take the time, as the Spirit brings things to your attention, to search and study and make connections.
I wonder if Eliam stayed with David, in THE THIRTY, or hung up his sword and moved to Gilo where he buried his father.
V. 39 This is the second guy I recognize in the list who fell in battle. A tragic death for many families and for the entire nation.
2 Samuel 24
V. 1 So, where does the "again" come from? My only suggestion is that it comes from the final verse of the last chapter, where, because of David's action with Uriah, God brought judgment on Israel.
Now, this is where reading through the Bible every year leads you to make some interesting connections if you notice them. This same story is found in 1 Chronicles 21:1. It adds a much different twist to the event.
Back when the spies went into the land, it says in Numbers that God sent them in; and in Deuteronomy, Moses says that the people demanded from Moses that spies go into the land and Moses approved it. Putting this all together gives you some insight into how God will use the desires of people, sinful as they are, and allow them to follow those desires to work some purpose in His plan, including the judgment of the people, glory to His name and blessing to another generation. In this case here, God not only furthers His purpose in judging Israel, but He allows David to express a sinful arrogance instigated by the enemy. And in all of it, God brings glory to Himself by humbling David and then by putting a very important "X" on the map.
V. 2 There was nothing wrong with a census per se, but this was pride on David's part wanting to know his military might in contrast to the nations around him. His victories were never dependent on numbers.
"Dan to Beersheba" was a phrase that meant all of Israel, from top to bottom.
Vs. 3-9 You know that this request had to be pretty bad, if Joab, that spiritual genius, knew it was bad.
V. 9 shows you the true intent of the numbering. David wanted to see his military strength. Instead he should have been working, as any disciple knows, to be making more and better disciples. Israel's strength was in the closeness of its people to the Lord. This was simply, as the French would say, "Baloney."
Vs. 10-14 David was moved to repentance, but God would still judge the entire nation, just as in the situation with Uriah.
After reading all the psalms we have read, it made sense that David would put himself in the Lord's hands, knowing that His mercy is great.
Vs. 15-17 God cleaned up Israel. I'm sure not all of these were "innocent lambs;" but again, for anyone close to the Lord, "dying" means graduation, early retirement, joy and some R&R from this land of the walking wounded.
In David seeing this angel, a lot of things happened. Not only did he see God's judgment, but he saw Israel's true military might. The other part of the story has to do with where the angel stopped.
Vs. 18-25 The place the angel stopped, where David built his altar and made peace with God, would become the Temple. This is where Solomon would build the Temple. In fact, it would have been built there even if David hadn't sinned. God brings good out of bad, but "bad" isn't necessary to His plan. As disciples, I feel safer looking at Paul as a model, very busy, very fruitful, very needy and he finished well in the harvest following Christ.
Acts 3
Vs. 1-10 What’s interesting to me is that Peter and John are in the forefront and that what is being shown here is not strategy in growing the church, but being led by, and responding, to the opportunities the Spirit gave them. Our tendency is often to look for strategies, rather than simply following and observing what opportunities the Spirit is placing in our paths.
Note that this man had been a regular at the Beautiful Gate; and Jesus had seen him, but not healed him.
Vs. 11-26 The simplest definition of being a witness is saying what happened, in this case, how this guy was made well.
V. 17 Peter wasn't afraid to get to the point, gently.
Notice in the rest of this short sermon, that sin, judgment, the resurrection and the offer of forgiveness are all mentioned, very simply and naturally.
Psalm 123
This would have been a great song to sing on your way to Jerusalem for worship. Not only does it have the elements of need, humility and longing, but it points to the only source of our hope, the Lord.
It is interesting that in Paul's first letter to Timothy, written after the history we have in the book of Acts when churches were falling apart and Roman persecution was heating up, Paul mentions three times that those who follow Christ must have their hope set on God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtAjrNqEsoM
Proverbs 16:21-23
At the end of 1 Timothy 6:11 Paul exhorts Timothy to be different; "But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." This is a familiar list, but suddenly steadfastness and gentleness are added. Wisdom that comes from God's righteousness, the desire to honor God in everything, faith in God and the love of Christ, can be steady and gentle in any and all circumstances. When that is your heart, it's easy to control your mouth and bring steadiness and calmness to any situation.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment