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MAY 23
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
2 Samuel 2:12-32
Vs. 12-17 We have no real description of the fighting that went on
between David's forces and Abner's forces. It went on for over seven years.
What we have here is a small battle that might have happened fairly early in
the civil war, after David had established himself in Hebron and organized his
army. It is a small battle, but it is huge in understanding some of the events
that followed. Also, it gives us tiny character sketches of the two main
players, Joab and Abner.
Joab is never mentioned as one of David's mighty men, but he does later
become the captain of his army. Joab and his brother were David’s half-nephews
and were probably the same age as David. It is probably a good guess that Joab
had been with David from the early days of David’s service for Saul. Apparently
he was a confident and commanding leader.
Abner would have been the older man, and it is likely that Joab had
been in the army under Abner just as David had been. They all knew each other.
V. 16 This wasn’t a sword fight, it was a dagger fight. The intent, I
guess, was to decide the war with the outcome of this fight; but BOOM, a
miracle - they all killed each other.
Vs. 18-23 Notice that Abner knew Asahel. Apparently Asahel’s pride was
his death. Abner was too good a prize to pass up; unfortunately, Abner was also
the experienced fighter. The most important part of this story is Abner killing
Joab's brother.
Vs. 24-28 Fueled by their need for vengeance, Joab and Abishai (who
wanted to kill Saul for David) drove the army of David. Abner tried to speak
peace to the situation and Joab listened. In a sense, Joab was blaming Abner
for the fighting, suggesting that if Abner had spoken sooner, they would have
stopped fighting sooner.
Vs. 29-32 The interesting thing here is the headquarters of Abner and
Ish-bosheth. It was in Mahanaim, way across the Jordan in the middle of Gad. It
was miles away from Hebron and the main life of Israel.
2 Samuel 3:1-39
V. 1 During this story, years are passing. What we actually read about
here will happen fairly close to the end of the civil war. We know this war
lasted seven years and six months.
Vs. 2-5 According to the law, the king was not supposed to have a lot
of wives. This would be a good place to look at what God said:
Deuteronomy
17:14-20 “When you come to the land that
the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess
it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the
nations that are around me,’ 15you may
indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God
will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You
may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16Only he must not acquire many horses for
himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses,
since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never
return that way again.’ 17And
he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor
shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. 18“And
when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book
a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. 1 And
it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he
may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all
the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20that his heart may not be lifted up above
his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to
the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he
and his children, in Israel.
Now, how many wives are too many? We guys ask ourselves that all the
time, and some days "one" is too many; but usually we would say,
"Who'd want more than one?" By v. 5, David has six wives and he'll
acquire some others along the way. This will quietly set up David for a fall,
one from which he will never fully recover. If the point of marriage is
completion and becoming "one" with one person, then the effect of all
of these women was that David remained incomplete and "one" with no
one. David would remain unsatisfied emotionally and sexually and he would keep
looking, in all the wrong places.
Vs. 7-8 This was a very serious thing that Abner did. To claim one of
Saul's wives as his own, even having sex with her, would have been a step to
the throne. When Solomon's brother tried to marry David's last concubine (which
would have been illegal under the law), Solomon had him killed, knowing it was
a ploy (instigated by Joab and Abiathar) so he could claim the right to the
throne over Solomon. It was a murky business and what Abner did here was
possibly preparation for becoming king himself. In Abner's defense, although he
never denies the charge, he seems offended by the insinuation. He still did
what he did and shouldn't have. I wonder if Abner was getting tired of fighting
against God. They all knew Samuel had anointed David king.
Vs. 9-11 Abner, as a political animal, would have to find a way to come
into David's favor. Ish-bosheth seems like a tragic figure here. If Abner
hadn’t fueled the civil war, I think Ish-bosheth, who was probably a friend of
David’s and was legally David’s brother-in-law, might have been happy with
making peace with David and endorsing David’s throne.
Vs. 13-16 This is all very interesting. David wanted Michal back. She
had been his wife, but also, she was the daughter of Saul and he was Saul's
son-in-law. It was justice, it was political and it could heal some things.
Notice that Ish-bosheth had her taken and separated from her husband.
Ish-bosheth doesn't seem like a bad guy, and the fact that David didn't kill
him during these seven years shows some respect. Before this whole fiasco, I’ll
bet they had been friends.
Somehow I feel bad for this poor schmuck Paltiel. His name sounds like
a sandwich from Panera and he is really moved and hurt by this thing. What a
mess. People were still paying for Saul’s ungodliness.
Vs. 17-19 Abner, a natural leader and very influential person, was
laying the framework for bringing all the tribes to David.
Vs. 20-21 There might be more to this than meets the eye. Abner had
been one of those former "friends" of David who had kept Saul’s fears
of and hate for David alive. This covenant was not only for peace with Abner,
but it might have been for Abner to have a position in David’s government.
Vs. 22-39 This story eventually brings the civil war to an end, and it
seems tragic to me for more than one reason.
V. 26 Joab not only acted without any obedience to David, but he showed
that he was very deceitful and ambitious.
V. 27 This verse explains God's view of why Joab did this.
V. 35 Unlike Saul, David’s resolve was firm.
Vs. 36-37 God used this situation to bring the people to David.
Politically speaking, removing Abner was a good thing, but the means by which
it happened would poison David’s reign. Although David rightfully said he
didn't know about this, and then cursed Joab's family, and cried and made a
poem, the just thing would have been to have put Joab to death. David saved
this job for Solomon. In the future, David will command Solomon to kill Joab
for this act.
I can only think that David was so fixed on getting things secure and
stable that he didn't want to lose a man like Joab, who was important to the
forming of Israel. You will get your own ideas as you read this, but year after
year I'm saddened by these stories.
I know we are all riddled by sin and weakness, and none of us is any
better than David; but these stories are here for us to learn. I guess I would
say that if we begin with faith and dependence on God, we have to end that way.
There have been ministries that have protected key players when they have
sinned, because if those sins had been exposed or that person treated justly in
accordance with their failure, it would have "hurt" the ministry. No
one is so important that their sin can be overlooked if it disqualifies them
from leadership. No ministry is so important that it can tolerate sin for the
greater good. All of us are prone to this, but in different areas and different
ways.
Here, at the beginning of David's reign, he is allowing poison to enter
the stream, and it will get worse. It might be that David's own tolerance for
his own lying also made him weak to dealing justly with those who were like
him. Again, we'll see the tragic result of that too.
John 13:1-30
The Gospel of John is very unique, and particularly after reading the
first three Gospels, there is a different kind of richness in the stories John
includes. If the other portions of John shine, this part is absolutely
brilliant. This Upper Room Discourse, beginning in chapter 13 and ending in
chapter 17, is amazing. It is uncut discipleship teaching. Jesus is preparing
His disciples to hold on to their faith, which will be severely tested at His
death. He is also preparing them for the ministry they will have after His
resurrection as they are guided by the Spirit. Understanding this portion of
Jesus' teaching is dependent on understanding the stress they all felt and the
fact that they were entering a very dark tunnel. This teaching would stay with
them the rest of their lives and mark their ministries, but here, it was meant
to give them hope following Him as His disciples on this mission.
We actually get the setting for chapter 13 from the other Gospels,
where they tell us that a fight broke out among the disciples as to who was the
greatest. They all knew that something was going to happen during this visit to
Jerusalem. Thomas had already said those sage words, Let us also go that we may die with Him (John 11:16). They all knew
there were threats against Jesus. And Jesus kept talking about His death and
resurrection. There was some expectation that something would happen, and they
must have been hopeful that Jesus would win and there would be a kingdom.
Vs. 1-11 Notice that Jesus served from a position of strength and He
had a goal and a message. We tend to think that those who "can,"
"do," and those who "can't," "serve." Not so.
Servant leadership always has a deep strength, a goal and a message. Notice,
too, that this was outside of Jesus' "job description" as a rabbi,
but not outside His job as a savior and maker of disciples.
V. 8 Jesus seeks to wash. How sad to resist.
Vs. 12-20 Jesus gave the explanation of what He had done. This was not
only teaching on leadership and servanthood, but there was something here about
preparing the disciples for the night ahead.
Vs. 21-30 Jesus was troubled in
His spirit again, but this time, because one of His own would betray Him.
V. 23 The disciple Jesus loved is the writer of this Gospel, John the
son of Zebedee, Jesus' cousin.
V. 27 This was Satan himself taking possession of Judas. Satan saved
the big job for himself.
Again, although Jesus knew what Judas would do, His love and actions
toward Judas never wavered. The disciples had no clue by Jesus' actions or
moods or words to Judas that Judas was a traitor. Judas always had the option
of saying, "No." Jesus never treated Judas unfairly. Judas' problem
was within himself.
V. 30 is very poetic and ominous in its ending, And it was night.
Psalm 119:1-16
I believe that David wrote this during his seven years in Hebron. I
think the view you have here of David's heart describes him as a man after
God's own heart in a way the stories about him do not. As much as I understand
that David was a contradiction in his life and actions, this psalm expresses
his heart. I know I'm a contradiction. All of us are. So what do we do? We
follow David's/the Spirit's advice in this psalm, if possible, and do it better
than David did. This psalm ought to be the cry of every disciple's heart.
Notice how often words like law, testimonies,
commandments, word, and other variants are used. Verse 11 is one of the famous
verses out of this section. How can we as disciples afford to live one day
without reading His Word and allowing it to flow through our hearts, cleansing
us? Reading the Word daily is a must. Memorizing is what truly leads to
meditation. On this earth, I think that is vital for us too.
In this psalm, each paragraph of eight verses begins with a successive
letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It’s kind of artsy.
Vs. 1-8 This paragraph begins with the letter “A.” Since it is the
introduction of the psalm, David uses it to describe blessing. The key to
blessing is not just keeping God’s Word, but fixing our eyes on it.
Vs. 9-16 The question asked in v. 9 is answered in this section. What a
great section of Scripture and v. 11 is definitely worth memorizing if you
haven’t done it already.
Our longevity and fruitfulness in the harvest is held in all that David
is saying here. Jesus said, If you abide
in Me and My words abide in you…. His words have to dwell in us and we are
all leaky vessels. We need to be pouring in the Word every day.
Proverbs 15:29-30
If our hope is set on the Lord, our good news each day comes from His
Word. And with His hope and His Word, we bring strength to His disciples and
His light to those who are lost in the dark fields of this world.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, 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 (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that will
keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are reading. Remember,
the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a supplement, a disciple’s
commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we will keep following our
Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make
disciples. Being in the Word every day,
sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the essential essence of
being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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